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"Dango Milk is here! Little Shogun, here you go!"
Yoimiya trotted over to Ei, brimming with excitement, and handed her a bottle of Dango Milk. Raiden Ei accepted it without the slightest hesitation.
"Excellent. You shall be rewarded."
Anyone who bought her Dango Milk couldn't possibly be a bad person, right? This clearly made her a fine individual.
"Heh, you're too kind, Little Shogun." Yoimiya scratched her head.
Beyond her appearance, even her voice bore such a striking resemblance to the Raiden Shogun. If she hadn't known better about the nature of gods, she would have suspected that this "Little Ei" was the Raiden Shogun's secret daughter. How could two flowers in this world look so identical? If Raiden Ei had any idea what was running through Yoimiya's mind, she surely would have scolded her for such an upside-down, blasphemous thought. After all, as the creator of the Shogun, she was the Shogun's mother.
"I must inform the guards at Tenshukaku that I require a bottle of Dango Milk with every meal!"
Raiden Ei took a sip, feeling a wave of pure bliss wash over her. To drink Dango Milk every single day—what a wonderful dream that would be.
"Little Shogun really commits to the act," Yoimiya thought, giving Ei a subtle thumbs-up. The way she spoke made it sound as if she truly lived in Tenshukaku. It was just a bit out of character for the Shogun, who wasn't exactly a child and might not even care for Dango Milk.
"Su Ran, are you taking Ei out today for some important business?"
Because her arms were full holding Raiden Ei, Kamisato Ayaka could not free a hand to enjoy a drink of her own.
"We are just taking Little Ei out to see Inazuma. You know how it is, she has spent so long shut away inside her home that she has forgotten what the state of Inazuma has become." Su Ran opened a bottle of Dango Milk for himself.
"I see."
If not for that eternal dream, Su Ran's image in Ayaka's mind would have been even more elevated. Being able to take the Raiden Shogun out to experience the lives of the common people was far more meaningful than the formal audiences at Tenshukaku during the time of the Vision Hunt Decree. If this was Su Ran's true purpose, perhaps he could help the Raiden Shogun experience the heartfelt wishes of the people. Once she saw the true aspirations of her subjects, perhaps she would change her mind and stop trying to construct that eternal dream.
"Open wide." Su Ran held the bottle to Ayaka's lips.
"I... I can do it myself." Ayaka's face flushed a deep crimson. Even her older brother, Kamisato Ayato, had never treated her with such familiar affection.
"Oh? Or do you intend to put Little Ei on the ground?"
Ayaka glanced at the little Raiden Shogun in her arms, finally abandoning her resistance and taking a sip from the bottle held to her lips.
"You just love teasing me..."
"Wow, you two are getting along so well!" Yoimiya watched them, her heart filled with warmth and sincere blessings. She had not expected that even the Heron Princess would find someone special. When would it be her turn to find someone she liked?
Although Yoimiya had lowered her voice, they were standing quite close, and Ayaka—having studied martial arts since childhood—naturally caught every word. Ayaka pouted at the smirking Su Ran.
"Su Ran, you really are a bad person!"
How could he use such methods to tease a girl? Was playing with her feelings really that fun?
"Let's go, Ayaka, Yoimiya. Let's take the Little Shogun out to see the world."
Raiden Ei: ...
See the world? The entire Inazuma was already hers; what was left to see?
"Otherwise, when Little Ei grows up, she will end up a country girl who knows nothing."
Raiden Ei glared at Su Ran. If it weren't for the fact that this body was ill-suited for drawing the Musou Isshin, she would have shown him the true meaning of the Musou no Hitotachi.
"Understood, Su Ran." Ayaka chirped back happily.
However, the way she kept addressing him as "Lord" finally caught Yoimiya's attention. Was Ayaka being a bit too respectful toward him? It was Su Ran who was supposedly the one courting her, after all.
"Ayaka, is this Mr. Su Ran someone important?" Yoimiya leaned in close to ask cautiously. Across all of Inazuma, how many people were worthy of being treated with such absolute reverence by the Heron Princess? Even Kujou Sara, the formidable general who held high standing in the Tenryou Commission, dealt with Ayaka as an equal. How could an unknown man like Su Ran warrant being called "Lord" by the Heron Princess?
Furthermore, the way she referred to the little girl as "Lady Ei" made Yoimiya's head spin. Could this "Little Ei" truly be the Shogun's child?
Seeing Yoimiya's nervous state, Ayaka couldn't resist a bit of mischief. "Because he is who he is."
She had been anxious for so long, so why shouldn't her best friend experience the same?
"Don't scare me."
Could he really be someone of immense status? Was this trip just a private, undercover inspection?
Ayaka blinked. "Why would I lie to you? It's just that the identities of Su Ran and Lady Ei are, indeed, extraordinary."
"Extraordinary" in what way? Yoimiya felt like scratching her head. She looked at the harmless Little Ei, then at Su Ran, who seemed like an older brother. There was none of the imposing aura she expected from high-ranking figures. Even when she looked at the head of the Kujou clan from afar, she could feel a terrifying pressure. Yet, she felt absolutely nothing of the sort from either Su Ran or the child.
"Alright, alright, don't worry. Su Ran isn't a terrifying person. Look at me... do I look like I'm in any trouble?"
That was true. Yoimiya had a sudden realization. Just moments ago, before she had met them, Ayaka had been clearly weighed down by worry. Yet, after being with them for only a short time, her mood had visibly improved.
"So, what are their identities?"
"Hm, I won't tell you."
Yoimiya seemed fine for now, but if she truly knew their identities, she might not be able to act so freely anymore.