Ayather

Ayather is the het ship between Kamisato Ayaka and Aether from the Genshin Impact fandom.

Archon Quest
In Act 1 of Inazuma's Chapter, Aether first meets Ayaka in the Kamisato Estate, though only hearing her voice as she was sitting right behind a traditional Inazuman screen, similar to a Japanese Shoji. Ayaka asks him to help her fight the Vision Hunt Decree, but Aether, who visited Ayaka in hopes of meeting the Raiden Shogun, promptly declines and tells her he's going to leave. Ayaka begged him to stay and promised that she'll help him meet the Raiden Shogun under one condition; Aether had to fulfill three small wishes for her, namely meeting three people who had their visions taken from them by the Vision Hunt Decree.

After meeting them, Aether comes back to the Kamisato Estate. When stepping inside, there was no voice, until Ayaka came out behind the screen. Seeing him for the first time Ayaka told him that she was delighted to meet him face-to-face. Ayaka states that she now considers Aether a friend. Aether (and Paimon) both accept her friendship, which Ayaka, who is later revealed to have few friends, is very thankful for.

Ayaka asks him again if he could help her fight the Vision Hunt Decree. Aether, having reconsidered his decision, finally accepts her request, now willing to help her, provided she keeps her promise of helping him meet the Raiden Shogun.

In Act 2 of Inazuma's Chapter, Aether arrives at Komore Teahouse to meet up with her and Thoma, the latter being absent. Ayaka suddenly storms in, asking if he saw Thoma, which he declines. Ayaka was worried for him and told Aether that he was taken away by the Tenryou Commission and that the Raiden Shogun will take his vision. Ayaka wanted to go and save him, but as a member of the Yashiro Commission, everything she does is seen as politically motivated. Fearing that her actions might be viewed as a declaration of war, Aether volunteers to save Thoma instead, which Ayaka reluctantly accepts.

Grus Nivis
After leaving Komore Teahouse, Ayaka had requested Aether, the Traveler, to accompany her to do some errands. All of the errands are related to international stuff such as materials and cuisine, Aether having traveled from other nations shared his knowledge about them to help solve the problem. It is later revealed that all of the errands are from the diary of Ayaka’s mother, Kamisato Kayo, who wishes to participate in activities outside of her role as the Lady of the Kamisato Clan. It resonated with Ayaka and summoned her courage to ask Aether to go with her to a festival. Ayaka, Aether, and Paimon all went to a festival on Amakane Island.

In the festival, they meet people who were helped by the Yashiro Commission, Kamisato Clan, and by Aether and Ayaka as well. They were given a kitsune fox mask and a recipe for Sakura Mochi, a food that Ayaka will master herself. They also took the opportunity to hang wishes, Ayaka wished for Inazuma’s happiness while Aether hung an image of him and his sister Lumine. It was time for them to leave the festival and the three made their way to Chinju Forest. Ayaka was very thankful for this day to Aether, being her first time going to a festival. Before parting ways Ayaka had one last gift for Aether as she dashed through the stream and performed a dance like no one was watching. Having said their goodbyes, Aether and Paimon left Chinju Forest but Aether can be heard humming the tune Ayaka was humming before in her performance.

Voice-Overs
"What I want to say next is perhaps not befitting of a member of the Inazuma Shogunate, Yashiro Commission, Kamisato Clan, but... unless I am mistaken, I trust that you will not take issue with this slight departure from convention on my part... That is to say... I'm a little tired, may I rest my head on your shoulder? Just for a moment."

- More About Kamisato Ayaka: V

"Come with me! We're not going far away — I promise it won't delay you too much. I managed to find out when your birthday was well in advance, so I could prepare in good time. Hopefully this wasn't assuming too much, but I guessed you might prefer this to an expensive gift. In honor of your birthday, please allow me to perform a fan dance for you."

- Birthday

""Though I cling to that which has given me the strength to hold on, the weight of letting go is ever-foreboding." My apologies, it should be a happy occasion, and yet it is such a sad phrase that comes to mind. Our time together has been so pleasant that I am fearful of losing what I have gained. I'm sorry, I must compose myself."

- Feelings About Ascension: Conclusion

Dishes
"Kamisato Ayaka's specialty. This is almost like a small, lovely, and intricate artwork, with its pale red outer coat covering the feelings that the young maiden began to harbor from that moment on. If one had the honor of enjoying such a treat while having tea with a princess as graceful and noble as a white heron, one would surely yearn to have that moment stretch into eternity."

- The description of Ayaka's special dish, "Snow on the Hearth"

Birthday Mails
"Before we met, my birthday routine was meeting guests and receiving gifts. It embarrasses me to admit that although I tried my best to maintain proper etiquette, I felt a certain fatigue. It was as if my birthday was no different from other days. They were all... like a pond of still water. But I no longer feel this way now, because ever since we met, your adventure stories have shown me that there's a vast world out there. The plants in the outskirts, the nations in distant lands... You've always told me about things that I aspire to experience. I will be a year older after today, and I would like to mark the passing of time with something - I wish to become a better person and bring warmth and sunshine to people around me. Ah, it is fascinating how even trivial matters become interesting in our conversations. Perhaps, this is a talent only you possess. Now, I wonder if we could meet again beneath the moonlight?"

- Shall We Meet Again...

"The Kamisato Clan's meals are primarily planned for the purpose of entertaining guests and discussing important matters. As such, etiquette is the highest priority, and the food itself is of secondary importance. Though the chef takes such great care to prepare a variety of dishes, I do not have the chance to properly savor them, and it is an awful shame indeed. On the date of my birthday, I always leave some time after the matters of the day have been taken care of. So I paid Komore Teahouse a visit alone, just to relish those flavors which I normally cannot enjoy fully. Yet after carefully appreciating the dishes, I found that the taste seemed to be missing a certain something. Looking around the empty private room, I suddenly recalled the get-togethers we've had, and you. Perhaps, the company of someone important is the indispensable seasoning these delicacies are lacking? Please forgive me for being so impulsive, inviting you so abruptly for such a reason... But perhaps if you were here, only then would the pleasure of enjoying such a fine meal... be complete."

- This Familiar Place...

Fanon
Ayather is a small ship within the Genshin Impact fandom, it's often overshadowed by Ayaka and Aether's more popular ships such as Thomaya, Ayamiya, Chilaether and Xiaother, as well as its counterpart ship AyaLumi. It currently has over 200 works on AO3. It currently one of the most popular Aether het ship in the community.

There were lots of implications that Ayaka had a crush on the Traveler due to her Story Quest and her special dish description, which was the reason why Ayather sailed.

A general meme in the Genshin Impact fandom is that Aether has a 'harem' of girls, this harem often involves characters, like Ayaka, Keqing, Shenhe, Nilou and Noelle. There are many videos and fan arts that depict Ayaka as jealous whenever Aether interacts with another woman or just portray her as having a obvious crush on him.

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Trivia

 * Aether was Ayaka's second friend, with her first one being, Thoma.

Variations

 * AyaThother refers to the ship between the two and Thoma