"…."
Akira Shindo looked at Yoimiya speechlessly and said irritably, "I'm a man."
"Hehe, sorry!" Yoimiya laughed awkwardly. "It's just that the Grand Narukami Shrine is all girls, so I misunderstood."
"But if that's the case, what exactly do you do at the shrine?" Yoimiya asked curiously.
"I'm the Chief Divine Priest," Akira Shindo said. "The Grand Narukami Shrine's Chief Divine Priest."
He took out his Divine Priest's token and handed it to her.
"Huh? Chief Divine Priest?"
Yoimiya's eyes widened.
Even though she wasn't a shrine maiden, she had seen that title mentioned in books before.
In Inazuma, that position ranked just below the Raiden Shogun and the Guuji of the Grand Narukami Shrine in prestige.
And this guy in front of her was the Chief Divine Priest?
She took the token and examined it curiously.
When she saw the Electro Mitsudomoe crest and the Sacred Sakura emblem, she immediately knew it couldn't be fake.
In Inazuma, no one would dare forge those symbols. Doing so would basically be courting death.
"Lord Akira Shindo!" Yoimiya suddenly became a bit stiff.
After all, Akira Shindo's status was extremely high. Facing him felt similar to standing before the Shogun or Lady Guuji.
"Yoimiya, there's no need to be so formal," Akira Shindo said, shaking his head.
"Aren't we friends? Friends don't need to be this respectful."
"We're… friends?" Yoimiya's eyes lit up as she asked eagerly.
"Of course," Akira Shindo smiled.
"You helped me out earlier and chatted with me. Doesn't that make us friends?"
"What, you don't want to be friends with me?"
"No, no! Of course not!" Yoimiya quickly waved her hands, afraid he might misunderstand.
"I just… didn't expect the Chief Divine Priest would want to be friends with someone like me."
"Hahaha." Akira Shindo laughed.
"As long as you live among people, even a god needs friends, right?"
"That's true!" Yoimiya nodded enthusiastically.
"Friendship is the most precious gift in the world."
"Fireworks fade quickly, but human connections last."
"Exactly," Akira Shindo nodded.
"So if we're friends, stop being so stiff. Otherwise we won't be able to stay friends."
"Right! I just got a little shocked earlier and was worried you might be offended," Yoimiya said, sticking out her tongue playfully.
"Do I look that scary?" Akira Shindo widened his eyes slightly.
He thought he looked pretty friendly.
"No, no," Yoimiya scratched her head.
"It's just your status is really high. So it feels a bit like when I'm facing the Shogun or Lady Guuji… kinda scary."
"Fair enough," Akira Shindo nodded.
The Raiden Shogun always carried an imposing aura, and Yae Miko maintained a noble, elegant demeanor in front of ordinary citizens.
It made sense that Yoimiya felt intimidated.
After all, she was just an ordinary girl.
"If you can become the Chief Divine Priest," Yoimiya suddenly said curiously, looking him up and down, "you must be really strong, right?"
"But how come I don't see a Vision on you?"
"I don't need a Vision," Akira Shindo replied.
"My power doesn't come from one."
A trace of power appeared in his hand as he activated it.
Golden spatial energy flickered softly in his palm.
"Huh? What kind of power is that?" Yoimiya asked curiously.
"It's not one of the seven elements."
"This is my divine power," Akira Shindo explained.
"So I don't need a Vision to give me strength."
"Divine power?!"
Yoimiya gasped.
"Does that mean… you're a god?"
"I'm just Akira Shindo," he said, waving his hand casually.
"So what if I'm a god?"
"…Alright," Yoimiya said after recovering, nodding slowly.
"I heard from Miko that the most famous fireworks shop in Inazuma is the Naganohara family," Akira Shindo said.
"Yoimiya… that wouldn't happen to be you, would it?"
"Of course it is!" Yoimiya instantly became excited when fireworks were mentioned.
"Hehe, I'm really good at making fireworks!"
"Wait… even Lady Guuji praised me?" she asked happily.
"Of course," Akira Shindo nodded.
"She told me Naganohara fireworks are the best."
"If I get the chance, I'd love to see your craftsmanship myself."
"Huh? You can do that right now!" Yoimiya said excitedly.
"I just said I came out to buy Takoyaki because I got tired from making fireworks and realized I hadn't eaten yet."
"Do you want to come to my shop and take a look?"
"Sure," Akira Shindo nodded.
He had nothing planned anyway.
Watching Yoimiya make fireworks sounded interesting.
And besides…
Having a beautiful girl accompany him certainly didn't hurt.
"Let's go!"
Yoimiya happily led Akira Shindo back to the Naganohara Fireworks Shop.
"Yoimiya, did you finish eating?" an elderly man asked with a warm smile when he saw her.
"Make sure you don't forget meals again."
"Got it, Dad!" Yoimiya replied loudly.
"And this is?" Naganohara Ryuunosuke looked at Akira Shindo.
The young man wore elegant, luxurious clothes—clearly not someone from an ordinary background.
"He's a new friend I made! His name is Akira Shindo!" Yoimiya explained.
"I brought him here to see the fireworks!"
"Hello, sir," Akira Shindo greeted politely.
"Hello," Ryuunosuke nodded with a smile.
"Go on in."
Yoimiya looked slightly surprised that Akira Shindo called her father "uncle," but she still led him inside.
The moment they entered, the air was filled with the smell of gunpowder.
As expected of Inazuma's biggest fireworks workshop—finished fireworks were stacked everywhere.
"Akira Shindo, sit wherever you like," Yoimiya said.
"I only have a little left to finish on this firework."
"It's a commission from Miss Kamisato. I need to finish it today so I can deliver it tomorrow."
"Will I disturb you if I stay here?" Akira Shindo asked while looking around at the fireworks.
"Nope," Yoimiya shook her head.
"Actually, chatting with you helps me focus better."
"Alright, I'll stay out of your way then," Akira Shindo nodded.
He found a chair and sat down.
Next to him were several finely crafted souvenirs.
He had to admit—aside from fireworks, Yoimiya's craftsmanship in making small items was also excellent.
"What's this?"
Akira Shindo picked up a small ring-shaped object curiously. A faint herbal fragrance drifted from it.
"Oh, that's a Chongtui Ring," Yoimiya glanced at it before lowering her head to continue working.
"It's filled with insect-repelling herbs."
"This season has a lot of mosquitoes at night. If you light the herbs inside, it keeps bugs away."
"That's pretty useful," Akira Shindo nodded.
It really was practical.
At the Grand Narukami Shrine, with him and Yae Miko around, insects naturally wouldn't dare approach.
But ordinary people often suffered from mosquito bites.
Something like this would definitely come in handy.
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