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Had the Raiden Shogun not forbidden it, Kamisato Ayaka would have revealed everything to Yoimiya long ago. How could she possibly have kept refusing Yoimiya's requests otherwise? As Yoimiya's friend, Ayaka never wanted to upset her. Yet, the repeated refusals left Yoimiya feeling incredibly awkward. She didn't press the issue, however, choosing instead to chalk it up to Ayaka's possessiveness.
"If it's not possible, then never mind..."
Seeing the profound disappointment in Yoimiya's eyes, Ayaka felt a wave of guilt, though she could not explain the truth.
"Look, Ayaka... I don't really have to hold her. You don't need to be like this..."
Watching Ayaka struggle with words she dared not speak, trapped in an awkward silence, Yoimiya grew anxious. She didn't really need to hold little Ei, and she certainly had no intention of stealing her away. Why did Ayaka look so wronged? It was Yoimiya who had been rejected, yet she felt like Ayaka was the one suffering. What was going on here?
Raiden Ei, the person in question, had noticed their interaction but chose not to get involved. Although she hadn't created this vessel, she was currently inhabiting it. If she had to be passed around and held simply because her appearance was adorable, she would find it quite bothersome. Better to remain silent and let those who knew the truth handle it.
"My dango milk is finished."
Ei shook the empty bottle at Su Ran. Because of her smaller stature, a single bottle felt like a substantial amount. This, at least, was one aspect Ei found satisfactory.
"Does little Ei want more? I'll go buy some!"
Even though she hadn't been able to hold her, Yoimiya was still very fond of the little Shogun. She walked over to the stall immediately to purchase a few more bottles of dango milk.
"About that, Shogun..." Ayaka looked down at Ei.
"You made the right choice. While this vessel does not bear the stature of a deity, it would still find it tiresome to be overly intimate with mortals." Ei did not dislike cheerful people, but she did not know how to handle them. Maintaining some distance was, in her view, quite necessary. "And you should simply call me Ei. The Shogun is the one currently in Tenshukaku."
If someone were to overhear them, it would be a disaster for her reputation.
"I understand, Lady Ei..." Ayaka exhaled in relief. She had risked distancing herself from Yoimiya just to protect the Raiden Shogun's dignity. Recalling the events that had just unfolded, she could only fix an aggrieved gaze upon Su Ran. If he hadn't forced Ei into her arms, she wouldn't be in this position. It was only because Yoimiya was kind and understanding that she hadn't been forced into a humiliating scene, but the discomfort lingered.
"Little Ei is quite cute, isn't she? Don't you like her, Ayaka?"
Su Ran found that resentful expression amusing. Seeing the Princess of the White Heron react this way was quite a gain.
"My lord, you are too cruel. I am merely a mortal. How could I ever be allowed to hold Lady Ei?"
To the common folk, gods were beings to be observed only from afar. Even seeing one at close range was an immense honor; to reach out and touch one would be an act of sacrilege. For a woman like Ayaka, this was especially true. She was not as carefree as Yoimiya, and when the Shogun had first been placed in her arms, she had been terrified out of her wits.
"What of it? I call myself your suitor, don't I?" Su Ran blinked, seeing nothing wrong with the situation. He genuinely liked Ayaka—not just for her appearance, but for her personality as well.
"...What merit does Ayaka have to deserve the pursuit of a god?" Ayaka could only sigh. Her experiences these past few days felt like a series of miracles. How many people in this world had the chance to dine or live alongside a deity? Now, the god in question was even claiming to be her suitor. It was mentally exhausting. Were all gods this self-indulgent? She truly envied that freedom. Living in the Kamisato clan, she was bound by many restraints. She used to envy the lives of ordinary people, like the freedom Yoimiya enjoyed, and now she saw a god living with that same reckless abandon. Both ways of life were things she desperately craved. If she ever had the chance to live as freely as a god—to speak her heart and love someone without restraint...
At that thought, Ayaka couldn't help but glance at Su Ran, only to quickly lower her head. She was distressed by why Su Ran was the first person she thought of when she imagined a romantic interest. They had only known each other for a week. Even if this deity was pursuing her, could she really accept it so easily? The young lady had much to worry about.
"Does this mean that, because of my noble status, I don't even need to pursue you to be with you?"
Su Ran knew how to seize an opening. Ayaka was a traditional girl, and the Kamisato clan, while powerful in Inazuma, was steeped in a culture that felt quite antiquated. How could she hope to withstand the assault of someone from the internet age? In just a few words, the girl's defenses were crumbling. Trapped by their difference in status, she couldn't even bring herself to say something like, "I'm ignoring you," and could only endure his teasing.
"Lord Su Ran, do you treat every girl this way?"
"Little Ayaka, you are very special. You are the first human I have ever treated this way."
Though there was also Columbina, she was not human. With just that, Ayaka's psychological defenses shattered once more. Even though she warned herself repeatedly that there was a vast chasm between mortals and gods, she realized she was not very far from truly falling for him. When everyone treated her as the Princess of the White Heron, no other man had ever dared to treat her with such audacity.