"What Lady Guuji Yae says is not without reason," Sangonomiya Kokomi replied calmly after a moment of somber reflection.
"However, even so, this is a trial that the people of Watatsumi Island must face this time."
Maintaining her previous stance, she addressed Yae Miko before shifting her gaze to Ei upon the high dais.
Her eyes were resolute, brimming with a certain confidence, and she met Ei's gaze without the slightest hint of timidity.
"Therefore, I beseech Her Excellency the Shogun to leave this matter to Watatsumi Island to handle on our own. We will certainly deliver a satisfactory resolution to the Shogun."
Sangonomiya Kokomi spoke candidly, reaffirming her position and making a promise.
"Very well," Ei said. "I grant your request. The Shogunate will not intervene."
After pondering the matter again, Ei ultimately agreed to Sangonomiya Kokomi's plea. In truth, she held a similar view in her own heart. Although Watatsumi Island now fell under Inazuma's jurisdiction, it was, in essence, still the territory of Orobashi.
The resolve Orobashi had shown back then—to seek a path of survival for his people and accept a noble death—had moved her deeply and earned her profound respect.
For that reason, she had agreed to Orobashi's dying wish to look after his people.
However, this care was reserved only for crises of life and death. Short of such moments, she was reluctant to meddle in the internal affairs of Watatsumi Island.
It was because of this approach that she had been remonstrated by her ministers many times. In today's case, it was clearly difficult for her side to intervene directly, which was why she preferred that Watatsumi Island handle the matter internally.
Fortunately, the current Divine Priestess of Watatsumi Island possessed such resolve, proactively coming to her and stating they could resolve it themselves.
Had the priestess instead requested Shogunate support right from the start, that would have put Ei in an awkward position.
Hearing that Ei had agreed, the tension on Sangonomiya Kokomi's face eased. She quietly turned her head to the side and cast a smug look at Yae Miko, as if flaunting her victory.
Seeing this, Yae Miko pursed her lips and made a soft "tsk" sound, seemingly dismissing it as nothing.
Sangonomiya Kokomi felt a bit indignant at Yae Miko's expression, but then, a sudden realization struck her, and she found it strange.
Strange. Why did I feel such a need to show off in front of Lady Guuji Yae?
Just as she was lamenting inwardly, her peripheral vision caught Yuki standing beside Yae Miko, and it dawned on her.
It wasn't that she had any issue with Yae Miko; rather, she was simply very conscious of Yuki, who was standing right next to her. Seeing the two of them leave together, return together, and now stand together had prompted her to compare herself to Yae Miko.
The purpose of it all was simply to let Yuki see her excellence.
Upon reaching this thought, a faint blush of crimson crept onto Sangonomiya Kokomi's cheeks. She glanced shyly at Yuki, and her previously confident demeanor instantly transformed into that of a bashful young girl.
And just as her mind was swirling with wild thoughts, Ei on the dais spoke again.
"However, your promise must be fulfilled. You must handle this matter properly. If it is not handled well..." Ei began, but before she could finish, Sangonomiya Kokomi took the initiative.
"Kokomi is willing to accept any punishment!" she declared.
"Good! It is well that you have such resolve!" Seeing her willingness to take responsibility, Ei nodded in acknowledgment.
Soon after, with the agreement reached between both parties, the audience concluded. Once it was over, Ei still had other matters to attend to and asked Yuki and Yae Miko to take the leader of Watatsumi Island away for some rest.
She herself still needed to receive other ministers and could not play host. Sangonomiya Kokomi expressed her understanding, and then followed Yuki and Yae Miko to another place for casual conversation.
Walking along the corridor of a side hall within Tenshukaku, Sangonomiya Kokomi allowed herself to relax completely.
Her eyes continuously roamed around, filled with novelty and curiosity about the courtyard scenery they passed along the way.
"Little Miss Sangonomiya, are you quite interested in the courtyard decorations?"
Yae Miko asked, seeing the young priestess looking as innocent and curious as a child.
"Would you like me, your big sister, to introduce them to you? That over there is a decorative rock mountain, and on top of it is a bamboo waterwheel."
"That won't be necessary, Lady Guuji Yae. I can recognize a rock mountain and a waterwheel," Sangonomiya Kokomi replied with a smile, though inwardly she was grumbling.
Is this fox treating me like some ignorant fool? How could I possibly not know what those are?! This woman is truly wicked, utterly wicked! It's still Yuki-kun beside me who's kind. He always keeps a smile whenever he looks at me. He's just too handsome!
While grumbling to herself, Sangonomiya Kokomi didn't forget to inwardly praise Yuki, stealing a secret glance at him beside her. But the moment she did, she found herself meeting Yuki's eyes and realized that he was looking at her.
The girl's heart fluttered in panic, and she hastily averted her gaze.
Yuki-kun is still looking at me?! Oh my, how embarrassing! Being stared at like this all the time... it really makes one feel so terribly shy! Honestly, Yuki-kun! Sangonomiya Kokomi was secretly delighted, thinking to herself with bashful embarrassment.
In reality, however, Yuki had merely happened to glance her way at that moment. After all, no matter how pretty she was or how much he might like her, he wasn't some kind of pervert—there was no way he'd just stare at her nonstop.
But clearly, this young lady had completely misunderstood the situation. This made Yuki's brows twitch involuntarily, rather speechless.
"Oh!" Yae Miko put on a look of surprise, then directed an apologetic expression toward Sangonomiya Kokomi. "It seems I was mistaken! I'm so sorry, little Miss Sangonomiya."
And during this apology, when Yae Miko called her "little miss," she deliberately placed a hand gently upon her own chest, drawing Sangonomiya Kokomi's attention.
When Sangonomiya Kokomi noticed Yae Miko's vast, magnificent assets, and caught the fleeting hint of teasing in her eyes, she froze for a brief moment. But then, she lowered her head, slowly trailing her gaze down her own figure.
As her eyes settled on her own assets and she made a rough visual comparison...
An expression of utter defeat surfaced on Sangonomiya Kokomi's face.
I lost! I actually lost on this front!!! Sangonomiya Kokomi wailed inwardly, heartbroken and deeply aggrieved.
Perhaps, in her view, her level of beauty was equal to Yae Miko's. Yet there was one decisive gap—the very assets the two of them had just compared. On this point, Sangonomiya Kokomi had been thoroughly defeated by Yae Miko.
This instantly made Kokomi feel that what had previously been an even playing field had suddenly shifted into a severe disadvantage.
But quickly, Sangonomiya Kokomi quietly comforted herself. Bigger isn't necessarily better! Maybe Yuki-kun prefers someone like me! That's right! Perhaps that's exactly the case!
While Sangonomiya Kokomi busied herself with self-consolation, Yae Miko gave a sly, cunning smile.
Clearly, she had done it on purpose, and her goal was quite simple: just to tease this little girl a bit.