"Akio!" As Akio was walking through Chinju Forest, he suddenly heard a lively voice calling out from behind.
"Yoimiya? What are you doing here?" Akio turned around, surprised to see Yoimiya.
"Ah, I came to deliver fireworks to Ayaka," Yoimiya explained. "I was supposed to come this morning, but something unexpected happened, and I could only make it here in the evening."
"Yoimiya, there's no need to go," Akio stopped her.
"Huh? Why not?" Yoimiya asked, puzzled.
"I just came from the Kamisato Estate. By now, she's probably already resting," Akio said.
"This early?" Yoimiya was a bit confused. Even though the young lady had a regular schedule, she couldn't possibly be sleeping this early, could she?
"Ayaka had a bit to drink," Akio explained. "She's not much of a drinker, so she probably went to bed early."
"Ah, I see," Yoimiya nodded.
However, Yoimiya's expression darkened slightly. She knew Ayaka well—she hardly ever drank. If Ayaka had been drinking with someone, could it mean…?
"Aside from delivering fireworks to Ayaka, do you have anything else to do?" Akio asked, looking at Yoimiya.
"Not really. I was just planning to head home after delivering them," Yoimiya shook her head.
"Then how about keeping me company for a while?" Akio invited.
"Sure!" Yoimiya quickly nodded.
The two of them strolled along the stream. The sky had darkened, and fireflies began to flit about, like stars scattered across the earth.
"Tomorrow, there's a human who's going to challenge Kujou Sara to a duel before the Raiden Shogun at Tenshukaku. Did you know?" Akio suddenly brought up.
"I've heard," Yoimiya nodded. "I plan to go and watch. I admire his courage to face the Shogun's might for the sake of his wishes and beliefs. I don't think I'd have the courage to do that."
"Just thinking about the Shogun's presence makes me feel scared. He's actually going to face her divine might," Yoimiya sighed. "Kujou Sara is the general of the Tenryou Commission. Can he really defeat her?"
"Unlikely," Akio shook his head. After all, in the story, this woman had beaten Arataki Itto into the ground. And she's not an ordinary human—she's a tengu. Even though she's still young and her demonic powers aren't fully developed, she could grow to be as powerful as the great tengu Sasayuri.
"Sigh… another life lost," Yoimiya sighed. Losing a duel before the Shogun meant facing her divine punishment, and almost no one had ever survived her blade.
"The Sakoku Decree and the Vision Hunt Decree are clearly wrong, but why did the Shogun enact such policies?" Yoimiya felt a bit melancholic. As a commoner, she usually didn't think much about politics, but these two decrees had severely affected people's lives.
"Akio, do you know? Ever since the Vision Hunt Decree was enacted, I've been hiding and running around, afraid that the Tenryou Commission would spot my Vision," Yoimiya said. "I've seen someone who had their Vision confiscated—they became completely listless."
"A Vision carries a person's most fundamental wish. Once it's taken away, they lose the very core of their desires," Yoimiya said. "Losing one's wish is the most terrifying thing."
"The Vision Hunt Decree and the Sakoku Decree are indeed the most misguided policies, but don't blame the Shogun," Akio shook his head. "The Shogun has lost so much along her journey. The pain of pursuing eternity has weighed heavily on her, and that pain has made her stubborn. Her original intention was to bring true eternity to Inazuma, so that she wouldn't lose everything she loved."
"It's just that her excessive obsession has blinded her to the truth, allowing corrupt politicians to cloud her judgment."
"Alright," Yoimiya pouted slightly. Spotting a sunsettia tree nearby, she ran over, plucked two fruits, and handed one to Akio.
Yoimiya wiped the sunsettia on her clothes and took a big bite.
"Haven't you eaten yet?" Akio asked.
"Nope. The Kamisato Estate is quite far from Inazuma City, and I've been traveling all afternoon," Yoimiya said. "I haven't had time to eat."
"Just ahead is the Grand Narukami Shrine. By now, it should be the time when the shrine maidens have their meal," Akio calculated the time. "Come on, let's go to the shrine. I'll treat you to the shrine's dining hall."
"Really? Won't that be a bother?" Yoimiya rubbed her hungry stomach and asked.
"Of course not. Sometimes, when people who come to pray stay late, the shrine prepares extra meals and accommodations for them," Akio explained.
"Besides, it's so late now, and the road to Inazuma City is long and filled with monsters. It's dangerous. How long would it take you to get back?" Akio said. "Let's go back to the shrine. You can stay there tonight. Tomorrow, Yae Miko, Kitsune Saiguu, and I are going to watch the duel. We'll take you back to Inazuma City then."
"Alright, then I'll trouble you," Yoimiya thought it over and nodded in agreement.
Before long, the two of them arrived at the Grand Narukami Shrine.
"Lord Akio!"
"Lord Akio!"
The shrine maidens were delighted to see Akio and greeted him warmly. Akio smiled and responded to each of them.
At the dining hall, many shrine maidens were sitting and eating. Akio and Yoimiya each got a portion of food.
Akio led Yoimiya to sit next to Kuki Miyuki.
"Lord Akio!" Seeing Akio, Miyuki's face turned red as she recalled the time he had pinched her cheek.
"Miyuki, have Yae Miko and Kitsune Saiguu eaten yet?" Akio asked.
"Yes, the Guuji and Saiguu-sama just finished their meal and went back," Miyuki nodded, then looked curiously at Yoimiya. "And this is…?"
"This is Naganohara Yoimiya, the owner of Naganohara Fireworks," Akio introduced. "It's late, so I've brought her to stay at the shrine for the night. Miyuki, could you arrange a guest room for her later?"
"Of course," Miyuki nodded, then said, "So you're Yoimiya? I've heard your fireworks are amazing!"
"Hehe, nice to meet you," Yoimiya greeted with a smile.
Soon, they finished their meal. Just as they stepped out of the dining hall, they heard Yae Miko's voice.
"Akio! You're back?"
The three of them turned to see Yae Miko walking over quickly.
"Guuji-sama!" ×2
"Miko."
Seeing Yae Miko, Yoimiya and Miyuki greeted her.
"Hello," Yae Miko glanced curiously at Yoimiya before throwing herself into Akio's arms.
"They…?" Yoimiya was stunned as she watched the two of them being affectionate.
"You didn't know?" Miyuki said with a smile. "The Guuji and Lord Akio are lovers. They're super sweet together."
A/n - One extra chapter at 200 Powerstones :)