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"Enough. The time for coddling has passed. You are the Shogun of Inazuma now, so you cannot keep on weeping like this."
Raiden Ei pulled away from the embrace only after Raiden Miko had soothed her for a long while.
"These past years have been difficult for you."
The thought that Ei had been forced to shoulder the burden of all Inazuma alone because of her own death filled Raiden Miko with deep guilt. Even if the state of Inazuma under her sister's rule was far from ideal, she could not bring herself to cast blame. This burden had been thrust upon Ei without a second thought as to whether she could bear it.
"But just being able to see you here is enough for me."
Even if it were only a dream, even if it were entirely false, Raiden Ei was willing to lose herself within it.
Raiden Miko felt a pang of sorrow. She was not ignorant of the nature of this dream, nor of the stranger's intentions behind it, but she had chosen not to refuse. Her only objective now was to make up for everything she had owed Ei all these years. She knew she could never truly compensate for the lost time, but until this dream concluded, she had to ensure Ei felt happy. Being able to stand face-to-face, walking on the same soil—it was something she never dared to hope for after her death. Though this was merely a dream, it was a dream that linked all the people of Inazuma. In this place, there was no difference from the land of Inazuma itself.
"Ei, let us go for a stroll in Inazuma City."
Raiden Miko took Ei by the hand, eager to witness the Inazuma she had not seen in five hundred years. As they passed by, Su Ran and his group were still watching the scene unfold like spectators at a play.
"Now, who was it that claimed they wouldn't cry or make a scene?"
Su Ran muttered to himself, as if reflecting on a past event. The comment left Raiden Ei feeling deeply ashamed, yet she had no desire to waste time or make a fool of herself in front of her sister. She decided to simply ignore them.
"Beautiful ladies, might I ask you to stay for a moment?"
Raiden Ei had no intention of stopping, but Raiden Miko halted, forcing Ei to remain as well. Facing Su Ran's playful gaze, Ei could not summon the courage to look him in the eye. Thankfully, Su Ran decided not to continue pushing her to embarrassment.
"May I ask if you two lovely ladies agree that the world-renowned Genius, Mr. Su Ran, possesses beauty and wisdom unrivaled under the heavens?"
Raiden Ei rolled her eyes, having no intention of entertaining such a narcissist. Raiden Miko, however, proved to be an excellent straight man. She clapped her hands with an expression of pure adoration.
"Indeed, Mr. Su Ran's beauty and wisdom are unrivaled."
Seeing Miko act this way left Raiden Ei feeling incredibly uneasy.
"Very well. Since you both agree, I shall gift this beloved little fox to you."
Su Ran held up the pink-furred fox in his hand. Its adorable appearance instantly captured Raiden Miko's attention.
"What a truly delightful pet."
Raiden Ei shot a sidelong glance at the creature. What was so interesting about that stinking fox?
"My thanks for the gift, sir."
Raiden Miko gathered the pink fox into her arms, cradling it just as she had done long ago. Raiden Ei's mood, which had been improving, plummeted instantly. So much for the private time between her and her sister. Now, they had Yae Miko in tow.
Ei let out a sharp, clicking sound of annoyance. Yae Miko, hearing the noise, could not help but glance back at the dense girl before burying herself deeper into Miko's embrace. There was no helping it; being a pet came with significant advantages. One could hardly act like a certain adult who, despite her age, remained a crybaby clinging to her sister—and one who couldn't even manage to do that consistently. Perhaps, once Ei eventually realized the truth about this Miko, she would regret not fighting for affection the way this fox did.
After accepting the pink fox, Raiden Miko and Ei departed from Mt. Yougou, continuing toward Inazuma City.
"I hope the play proceeds exactly as I envisioned."
Watching the two sisters head down the mountain, Su Ran began to contemplate the future. When the Traveler entered the dream of Inazuma, what kind of struggle would they have with Ei? If the Traveler could sway the people of Inazuma, whose wish would prove stronger—the masses, or the god?
The Shogun watched the sky, before turning her gaze to Su Ran.
"Once everything is over, will you give this dream to me?"
Only Raiden Ei was naive enough to believe this dream would not shatter. The Shogun had known the truth from the start. A dream might be eternal, but that did not mean it could not be broken. There were simply too many variables within this one that could cause it to collapse. The Shogun could only wait for the end, for when the consciousness of the mortals returned to reality and left behind a dream devoid of all variables. That was the eternity she truly longed for, not this one, as fragile as a soap bubble.
"I can do that. Consider it my betrothal gift."
***
Within the Sangonomiya Shrine on Watatsumi Island, Sangonomiya Kokomi slowly opened her eyes. She looked at the desk before her in a daze.
"Did I... fall asleep?"
Last night, she had only felt a wave of exhaustion wash over her and intended to rest for a moment. She had not expected to wake up only to find the sun had already risen.
"I wonder if the Shogunate will accept the peace talks?"
Still groggy, Kokomi felt a sense of confusion. She had only meant to nap for a short time, so why did her body feel more refreshed than it had after a long night of deep sleep?
***
Within Tenshukaku, Kamisato Ayaka blinked her eyes open, feeling dazed. The first thing she saw was a familiar face, while Kujou Sara stood to one side, looking incredibly awkward. Sara hadn't woken up much earlier than her, but the source of her embarrassment was not the trio themselves.
Following the direction of Kujou Sara's gaze, Kamisato Ayaka turned her head. A man with shoulder-length, pale blue hair was kneeling on the floor, head bowed and expressionless.
"Brother?"
Kamisato Ayaka stood up instantly, smoothing her attire. Her heart raced with panic, a feeling akin to being caught by one's family while harboring a secret puppy love.