In Inazuma's legends, the fox's favorite food is fried tofu.
However, if you believe this legend and take fried tofu to Hakushin to feed the foxes, you'll find that those foxes won't even acknowledge you.
This is because only Youko who have achieved cultivation and can taste the full flavor of food truly enjoy fried tofu; ordinary foxes still prefer meat.
However, there's a prerequisite: that Youko does not feed on fresh blood and flesh.
Coincidentally, as the most noble fox clan bloodline in Inazuma, the descendants of the Hakushin Fox King are like the Adepti of Liyue; they naturally wouldn't engage in such barbaric acts. Therefore, the descendants of the Hakushin Bloodline prefer fried tofu.
Yae Miko is no exception.
As the Guuji of Grand Narukami Shrine, fried tofu is her favorite food, so the shrine's kitchen naturally keeps a supply.
"Quick, try it. If it's not enough, just tell your elder sister."
After the shrine maidens brought over the cooked fox udon, Yae Miko, sitting across from Yun Xu, rested her hands on the table, propping her chin on the back of her hand, and gestured to Yun Xu.
"Thank you..."
Yun Xu thanked her and looked at the fox udon in front of him. After his ears drooped slightly, he picked up his chopsticks.
The so-called fox udon is udon noodles with fried tofu, and it's Yae Miko's favorite food.
Moreover, the fried tofu in this bowl of udon noodles was quite special; it had a fox head pattern, and there were even fish cakes specially made into the shape of cherry blossoms.
It seemed all the ingredients were custom-made.
Thinking of this, Yun Xu tentatively picked up that piece of fried tofu.
He actually preferred to eat meat more... "Oh my, if you take such a big bite, you'll only be able to eat udon noodles later."
Seeing Yun Xu take a tentative bite, Yae Miko chuckled softly as she reminded him.
"Mmm..."
With something in his mouth, Yun Xu could only make a muffled sound in response. The taste of the fried tofu in his mouth was actually quite alright for him.
Although he preferred meat, he could naturally taste all the flavors of human food now.
Seeing Yun Xu begin to eat, Yae Miko didn't just watch.
"Then elder sister will also begin."
It is customary for Inazuma people to say something before starting a meal. Yae Miko put her hands together, said her piece, and then picked up her chopsticks.
After the two finished their meal, the sky outside the shrine was already getting late.
"Oh, right. Since you've just arrived in Inazuma, I presume you don't have a job or a place to stay yet. Coincidentally, elder sister's shrine still has quite a few vacant priestly positions. Why don't you stay here with elder sister?"
Walking out of the room to the open space in front of the fox-shaped cherry blossom tree, Yae Miko glanced at the late sky and suddenly suggested to Yun Xu.
"Ah? No, thank you. I have a place to stay, and I don't need to work."
Hearing Yae Miko's suggestion, Yun Xu quickly waved his hands.
"That won't do. If you want to integrate into human society, you need to have your own job, just like ordinary people. That's the most important thing."
"And elder sister thinks the work of a shrine maiden suits you very well."
Yae Miko's smile remained unchanged, but her eyes were almost squinting.
"Ah...?"
... "Come, don't move~ Elder sister will put on your eyeshadow~"
Inside the shrine, Yun Xu was pressed into a seat in front of a dressing table. Yae Miko personally drew his eyebrows and eyeshadow, and then dabbed a few red dots below the corners of his eyes.
Finally, Yae Miko applied a tiny bit of red lipstick to Yun Xu's lower lip.
After such simple makeup, Yun Xu in the mirror already looked somewhat difficult to distinguish in gender, as his Youko features were inherently handsome.
Yun Xu looked at himself in the mirror, feeling a bit strange for a moment, as if he didn't even look like himself... "Mm-hmm, very good, very good. You really resemble Kitsune Saiguu."
"With your current appearance, and wearing the shrine maiden outfit elder sister prepared for you, you could definitely go to Tenshukaku and utterly charm Ei~"
Bending down behind Yun Xu to look at him in the mirror, Yae Miko said with satisfaction, then leaned in and whispered into Yun Xu's ear.
The Kitsune Saiguu she spoke of had white hair and golden eyes, just like Yun Xu, and even had short hair.
"Um... Guuji Youko, can I refuse?"
Hearing Yae Miko's words, Yun Xu's ears twitched, and he said weakly.
During dinner, the two had already learned each other's names.
However, Yun Xu was still somewhat resistant to Yae Miko's suggestion that he become a shrine maiden.
"What Guuji Youko? I told you to call me elder sister."
Yae Miko gave Yun Xu in the mirror a slight glare.
"Okay, Guuji Youko elder sister... Oh no, Yae Miko elder sister."
Yun Xu could only respond subconsciously.
"That's more like it."
Yae Miko nodded contentedly. She had finally gotten him to call her elder sister... "However, if you don't want to be a shrine maiden, why not work at elder sister's Yae Publishing House? Food and lodging are included."
Although she really wanted to see Yun Xu as a shrine maiden, they had only just met today, and everything couldn't be rushed. So, Yae Miko nodded and continued to suggest.
Yun Xu thought about it. Compared to being a shrine maiden, working at Yae Publishing House seemed genuinely acceptable.
He had met Yae Miko at Yae Publishing House, so he naturally knew what kind of place it was—a publishing house specializing in light novels.
"Then I'll trouble Yae Miko elder sister."
Thinking of this, Yun Xu nodded his head.
"Mm, then rest at the shrine today, and elder sister will take you to Yae Publishing House tomorrow."
Yae Miko then suggested this.
After Yun Xu agreed, Yae Miko had a shrine maiden take him to the resting room.
"...Wait a minute, why am I suddenly working?"
Arriving in the room Yae Miko arranged for him to rest, Yun Xu only then belatedly realized something was amiss.
Wasn't he a free little fox?
After being confused for a while, Yun Xu still decided to wash his face first to remove the makeup.
Otherwise, anyone who saw him would suspect he was a female Youko.
After a simple wash, Yun Xu returned to the room and began to ponder his next steps.
According to what he learned today, this Yae Miko is the Guuji of Grand Narukami Shrine, which is a shrine dedicated to the Electro Archon. Furthermore, the Guuji's relationship with the Electro Archon seems quite good.
And as a Hakushin fox, which seemed to be Yun Xu's unique advantage, if he could build a good relationship with her, it shouldn't be difficult to inquire about the Thunder Dragon.
If that didn't work, he would also have a chance to meet the Electro Archon, and then he could find a way to ask the Electro Archon.
Thinking this, Yun Xu decided to temporarily cooperate with her and work at Yae Publishing House for a period.
With this thought, seeing that it was getting late, Yun Xu took out the sun and moon cup and casually placed it on the tatami, then returned to the exterior space.
"Gawu?"
"Ga ga."
In the exterior space, a now-awake Lime was chatting with the dialogue device. It would chirp once, and the dialogue device would respond once.
He wondered if they could truly communicate...