"She really is just like a little child... Shogun-sama."
Kokomi looked at the sleeping beauty lying on Ei's lap and could not help softly sighing in admiration.
"She already counts as a child by our standards... Under five hundred years old can basically still be called a child. More accurately, she should be considered a 'minor.' For example, the Shogun still hasn't reached five hundred years old yet, hehe."
After hearing that, Miko shrugged and teasingly joked.
"Then what about Lady Guuji? Are you an adult already?"
Pandora, the little witch who had only just passed five hundred years old herself, suddenly interrupted.
"Me? Hah... of course I'm an adult."
Miko proudly flicked her hair as if showing something off.
"Don't listen to her bragging. She's only a little over five hundred herself. She's basically just a brat who barely became an adult."
Ei narrowed her eyes and mercilessly exposed her.
Pfft~ ×3
Ayaka, Kokomi, and Pandora all burst into laughter before quickly restraining themselves.
"Eh——you can't do that, can you? I'm your familiar, you know. It's one thing not to side with me, but you're even roasting me this mercilessly? Ei... don't you feel bad for me~?"
Using a spoiled tone, Miko complained to the purple-haired beauty before her. This was the first time the others had ever heard the Guuji Yae acting spoiled toward someone.
And it was toward Ei-sama at that.
So Lady Guuji had this side to her too?
Kokomi thought in surprise.
"Haa... precisely because you're my familiar, I need to keep you in line properly. Isn't that also a form of 'caring for you?'"
Ei sighed and helplessly rebutted her.
"Hah~ my life is so hard~"
Miko sprawled across the tatami like a salted fish and lazily complained.
"But I think, Ei-sama, you also deserve some credit in this matter, you know?"
Ayaka spoke up.
"Hm? Me? I merely planted a seed."
Ei looked at her and spoke as though it were nothing important.
"..."
Listening to this exchange, Kokomi felt countless emotions rise within her heart.
In her eyes, the woman before her was far too humble. Everyone knew this was not something as simple as merely planting a seed. Everything she had experienced, including her battle with the Shogun, had all been brushed over by her so casually, as though these were simply things she ought to do.
No matter how difficult or painful it had been, it was all for her child and for Inazuma, and thus not worth mentioning.
Was this... what it meant to be a parent?
At that moment, Kokomi admired her even more.
As expected of Inazuma's god.
The mother of the Shogun.
"You're always like this. You treat everything you've done as something you should have done, and because of that, you ignore it all. Be kinder to yourself... then I can rest easy too."
The Shogun slowly opened her eyes before turning over and wrapping her arms around Ei's waist, burying her face into her mother's abdomen as she gloomily complained.
"...You weren't asleep?"
Ei froze for a moment before awkwardly asking her clingy adorable daughter.
"...I couldn't sleep while listening to you all talk."
The Shogun answered gloomily.
"Haa~"
Ei lovingly pinched her cheek and slowly sighed.
"Promise me... Ei..."
The Shogun softly spoke.
"Alright~ I promise you... I won't do that anymore in the future, okay?"
Ei gently stroked her head and softly negotiated with her.
"Mm..."
The Shogun gave an adorably obedient little hum.
Watching this scene made Miko unbelievably jealous...
Yet there was nothing she could do about it.
When would Ei ever treat her like that too?
Hah... she did not even dare imagine it.
"After all this, the conflict between you and Makoto has finally been resolved. And now you know she never truly left your side. You can finally walk out from the shadows for real now, can't you, Ei?"
Miko suddenly changed the topic and asked with concern.
"How rare. Hearing comforting words from you for once... I'll gladly accept them."
Ei raised her head and, for once, revealed a truly relaxed smile toward her.
"What do you mean 'for once'? Have I never said comforting things before? Even if I did, you never listened anyway, did you?"
Miko complained speechlessly.
"Eh? That line sounds exactly like——"
Kokomi subconsciously looked toward Ayaka.
"Mm... it's exactly what Lady Makoto said back then."
Ayaka, who was still massaging the Shogun's feet, also realized it.
"That is true..."
Ei did not deny it.
"Really? Then if that's the case, how about letting me sit in the Shogun's position for a couple of days too~?"
Miko immediately became excited.
No... more accurately, she was pushing her luck.
She scooted closer and pressed herself against Ei's body, her soft lips gradually moving toward the corner of Ei's mouth. At the same time, one hand lightly caressed Ei's cheek, attempting to turn the other's attention fully toward herself.
"Would that be alright~? My little Ei~?"
Miko whispered in an intimate breathy tone, as though she were about to kiss her the very next second.
"Uwah~ ///"
Kokomi immediately turned her flushed face away. This scene was far too stimulating.
"..."
Ayaka also quietly opened her folding fan and covered her vision.
"..."
Ei's beautiful face showed no obvious signs of wavering at all. Instead, she merely looked at the approaching beauty before her with complete speechlessness. She had already seen Miko act like this countless times in the past.
"Miko..."
As she watched the other's lips draw ever closer to her own, Ei suddenly raised her eyes to meet Miko's gaze and abruptly spoke.
"...Mm~?"
Miko's voice carried an intentionally seductive upward lilt.
She was obviously trying to tempt her.
"...You smell strongly of alcohol."
Ei bluntly stated it.
Yet her tone remained as soft and innocent as ever, sounding not at all intentional. Her eyes were also filled with pure sincerity.
Pfft~!!
At that moment, Miko felt as though she had coughed up blood internally.
This hopelessly dense woman!!!!!
Kokomi and Ayaka also exchanged glances with one another.
"..."
The Shogun looked up at her mother and Miko interacting like this, her face reddening slightly as well. Even so, she obediently stayed silent and pretended not to see anything~!
"Ah, Ei~ just give in to me already~? Look, it's getting late——we should just sleep toge——"
"What does the Shogun's position have to do with it getting late?"
Ei asked in confusion.
"..."
The corner of Miko's mouth twitched.
"Hehe... haa~ no, that's not what I meant. Let's drop that topic for now. Look, it's getting late already, so we should all sleep toge——"
Perhaps because she could no longer hold herself back, the next moment she looked as though she wanted to push the woman before her down—or simply kiss her outright.
"Haa... Miko, you're drunk. Stop fooling around... the children are watching.
Ei deftly and seamlessly dodged her lips before grabbing her forearm, perfectly restraining her back in place.
"Ugh~"
Miko's expression collapsed.
Why was this woman so impossible to break through?!
"Then sleeping—"
"It's getting late. You should head back soon. After all, it would be inappropriate for the shrine to remain without its Guuji holding authority for too long. Your duties cannot be delayed. Hanachirusato..."
After fluently saying everything in one breath, Ei looked toward the little shrine maiden across from her.
"Yes, Ei-sama."
Hanachirusato first cast a sympathetic glance toward her Guuji-sama before quickly regaining her composure and kneeling respectfully before Ei.
"You should return together with Guuji Yae later. Keep an eye on her during the trip back."
The hidden meaning was obvious...
Do not let her pull any tricks.
"Understood. Please rest assured."
Hanachirusato nodded.
Sob sob~!!
At this point, Miko looked like she was about to cry for real. Tears nearly fell from her eyes.
"Don't cry... Sister Miko."
Feeling sorry for her, the Shogun gently raised a hand and patted her thigh while kindly calling her by the title she loved hearing most—"Sister Miko."
"..." (tearing up)
Miko lowered her head and dejectedly calmed herself for a moment before suddenly her eyes lit up. She grabbed the hand the Shogun had placed on her thigh to comfort her.
"...?"
The Shogun looked at her in confusion.
"(Eye signal)!"
Miko gave her a meaningful look.
Its meaning was obvious.
'Good little sister, help your big sister out! Say something for me!'
"..."
The Shogun silently nodded and gave her a reassuring smile that seemed to say, 'I'll support you!' Then she thought for a moment before turning sideways toward Ei, who was still giving her a lap pillow.
"Ei..."
She softly called out.
"...Mm?"
Ei immediately answered in a gentle tone and lowered her gaze toward her.
"Well... it's completely dark already, and it's almost midnight now. The shrine already has shrine maidens on duty, and there aren't many visitors at night anyway. Rather than making them go back and forth, wouldn't it be better for them to stay here tonight? What do you think?"
She looked up at her mother and softly pleaded in a delicate voice while slowly stroking the back of Ei's hand as though acting spoiled. Afterward, she discreetly gave Ayaka a look.
"Yes... Ei-sama, I also think the Shogun-sama is right. It's already quite late, and Tenshukaku has plenty of rooms. It won't inconvenience anyone at all."
Ayaka immediately understood her signal and, with practiced ease, voiced her agreement.
"..."
Pandora and Kokomi both looked somewhat dazed watching the coordinated performance between them.
"!!"
Behind them, Miko emotionally pressed her palms together toward the two girls, looking as though she were nearly moved to tears.
"...I see. In that case, very well. Tenshukaku has always been rather lonely anyway. It is rare for so many friends to gather here today and keep us company. Staying the night would be fine as well."
Ei looked at the Shogun's hopeful gaze, considered it for a moment, and ultimately changed her mind.
"!—"
However, just as Miko was about to become overjoyed...
"Then Miko, you can share a room with Hanachirusato. The bedding in the rooms is prepared year-round, so you may use them immediately."
Ei once again looked toward Miko and calmly proposed it.
Crack!
"..."
She instantly petrified!
—
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