Warm winds and sunshine—yet Ei's faint smile carried a chill.
She was grateful for what Miko had done, but thinking of what Miko would say to the Traveler in the future made Ei grit her teeth.
What did Miko mean by saying she was like a child throwing a tantrum locked in her room?
And what was that about her "crying and making a fuss" because she couldn't eat dessert while reading novels?
Even if those things hadn't happened yet, Ei now believed these "prophecies."
Besides—
Ei had also begun to understand that everything in Teyvat had been made into a game by Ken, the great prophet.
That meant many people on Blue Star would see Miko's evaluation of her.
Many would probably believe she'd truly throw a crying fit over missing sweets—completely unlike her former self. Just thinking of her reputation on Blue Star being ruined by this pink-haired Kitsune made Ei want to slash her.
Anyway, the Kitsune could dodge.
"Seriously? You're going to kill the Kitsune after the millstone's used?"
Sensing her old friend's mood, Yae Miko put down her phone. Her alluring eyes shifted—then turned fully sly.
She'd expected this reaction.
Ei probably wouldn't truly beat her, but after being judged like that, she'd definitely take a hit.
"Heh… when you described me to the Traveler in the future, did you ever think about today?"
Ei didn't want to argue. The little Kitsune had long grown into a great youkai.
Trying to reason with a naturally crafty Kitsune was pointless.
"Ei, you just said it yourself—that's something that happens in the future. How can you blame present me for future events? At least it hasn't happened yet."
Yae Miko tried to reason, totally unflustered.
You can't use a previous dynasty's sword to chop today's official—unreasonable.
"Not happening doesn't mean you never thought it. I bet you've already prepared that anti-Raiden special training base, haven't you?"
Lightning crackled around Ei. Looking at the pink-haired Kitsune, her hand itched.
The zzzt-zzzt even affected the villa's electrical system.
Ayaka and Ken, who were playing chess, noticed and smiled knowingly. They put down the pieces and came over.
They arrived to see Ei surrounded by crackling lightning, looking at Yae Miko with a half-smile.
Even the composed Guuji looked a little uneasy.
If the dignified Guuji got beaten, that would be embarrassing.
Seeing Ken come over, Yae Miko bit her lip lightly and said with a glance:
"Mr. Ken, this is your home. Aren't you going to stop this Electro Archon who's about to chop someone?"
"Someone should stop her," Ken said thoughtfully.
Under the Kitsune's hopeful gaze, Ken summoned a vortex gate with a wave and looked at them kindly.
"Blue Star has rules—you can't use elemental power here. If you want to fight, go back to Teyvat and fight as much as you like."
It wasn't that Ken wanted trouble—more like… Yae Miko couldn't escape this beating anyway.
Thinking of how people summarized the Three Archons and their familiars in his previous life, Ken understood Ei.
Barbatos had the Traveler slap Dvalin; Morax had the Traveler slap Azhdaha.
But in Inazuma… Ei's familiar Yae Miko had the Traveler slap the Raiden Shogun.
Dvalin rebelled and got thrown into a "weekly boss." Azhdaha rebelled and also became a weekly boss.
But Yae Miko rebelled—and got the Raiden Shogun thrown into a boss fight.
Ei would obviously want to vent. Totally normal.
And since it wasn't a true fight, watching the excitement wasn't bad either.
Yae Miko: "???"
The Kitsune lady, still smiling a moment ago, now looked wronged.
As expected of Alice's man—same style.
Clearly enjoying the chaos.
But facing Ei the stubborn warrior, Yae Miko didn't hesitate. She flashed through the gate back to Teyvat.
Ei didn't have a contract with Ken. After returning to Teyvat, Ei wouldn't be able to summon the contract gate back to Blue Star.
But Yae Miko, who did sign a contract with Ken, could.
She could hide on Blue Star for a few days—avoid Ei's "pursuit," avoid being followed by shrine maidens, and not have to maintain the Guuji image.
Exciting.
"Trying to run?"
Ei wasn't in a rush. Even if she let the Kitsune run for half an hour, she could still catch her easily.
Then Ei looked at Ken.
"Thunder and lightning vanish in an instant. Precisely because of that, one wishes to seize Eternity. And the erosion imposed by the Heavenly Principles—even I cannot avoid it. That is another reason I crave Eternity. Today, I must thank you. If you come to Inazuma in the future, I will surely repay you."
With that, Ei vanished, stepping through the vortex gate and leaving Blue Star.
The villa gradually quieted.
Ayaka watched the gate fade and asked instinctively, "The Shogun won't really strike the Guuji, will she? If so… perhaps I should persuade her?"
Though her persuasion likely wouldn't help.
After all, in the Shogun's eyes, Ayaka's presence probably wasn't very important.
"You don't need to worry. Ei and Miko's bond is sturdier than you think. Even if Ei really slashes once, Miko can dodge… and Musou no Hitotachi isn't something you can casually use."
Back then, Ei's Musou no Hitotachi killed the serpent god Orobashi and carved the Musoujin Gorge—world-shattering. The Shogun drawing her blade repeatedly in the story was controlled force. Otherwise Inazuma would be turned to dust.
Besides…
Yae Miko really was kind of teaser. Teasing Ei like that, making a martial-obsessed Ei feel embarrassed—wanting to beat her a bit was reasonable.
"Mm… I overthought it," Ayaka blushed faintly.
Of course she wasn't overthinking—she was nervous because the Yashiro Commission also betrayed the Shogun. If even Electro Archon's familiar got beaten, wouldn't she and her brother… also get beaten?
That was the real reason she was uneasy.
But thinking again, the Shogun and the Guuji were close friends. That earlier scene was likely friendly banter.
"Continue?" Ken glanced at the chessboard.
Ayaka shook her head. "Though I'm reluctant, I should go back. I must discuss today's meeting with the Shogun with my brother. Whether the Shogun apologizes later or not, my brother and I should prepare and present the proper stance."
Time flew while playing chess. Though Ayaka was clever, she'd only just learned—and after most of a day, she hadn't won even once.
She felt helpless, but not discouraged.
After Inazuma's matters were resolved, she could often come to Blue Star and truly savor the art.
Then she hesitated and asked, "In the future, can I still come to Blue Star to play against you?"
Ken paused, not expecting the question.
"I'm very interested in board games. To understand Blue Star's chess is a blessing for me," Ayaka met his deep eyes and spoke with courage.
"…Of course."
Ken didn't refuse. He did have a soft spot for Ayaka as a character.
But since Inazuma's matters were complicated, after inviting her he hadn't really flirted—he was focused on inviting more people to draw their abilities.
He hadn't expected it to turn out like this.
From Ayaka's demeanor, she clearly didn't reject being around him—she even looked forward to it.
That expectation was the best nourishment for feelings to grow.
Even if they were friends now, with curiosity and anticipation, getting closer was only a matter of time.
"Thank you, Mr. Ken. Then I'll return first."
Ayaka bowed with the refined etiquette of the Kamisato clan.
Ken smiled and waved.
That smile made Ayaka happy.
Different from noble friends of the past, around Ken she felt a freedom she'd never known.
Here, she wasn't Lady Kamisato.
She was just Kamisato Ayaka.
She felt reluctant to leave, but Inazuma's affairs still lacked a real outcome. She had to return.
…
Grand Narukami Shrine.
In the shrine's once peaceful depths, pink petals swirled as skirts fluttered.
To the astonishment of the shrine maidens, the usually lofty Guuji hurried through the shrine, with rare panic on her face.
It wasn't Yae Miko's fault.
If Ei were willing to talk, Miko could surely smooth things over.
After all, back when Makoto and Kitsune Saiguu were alive, Ei had been the most airheaded and easiest to fool.
But now Ei clearly didn't want to talk.
She obviously just wanted to slash once and vent.
Even if Miko could dodge, she'd probably look very awkward—completely ruining the Guuji's composed image.
Better to hide.
"If anyone asks about me, say I'm not at the shrine."
The shrine maidens hurriedly answered, "Understood, Lady Guuji."
Yae Miko left satisfied, repeatedly trying to summon the vortex gate.
But she discovered it didn't appear immediately.
It seemed it was being used.
So the confident Kitsune had to wait.
Not long after she left, a purple figure appeared at the shrine—sending the maidens trembling to their knees.
The Almighty Shogun… at the shrine?!
No one dared look upon her face. Under divine pressure, their bodies shook.
"Has Miko returned?"
Ei's voice held no emotion.
This was her Inazuma. As the most noble being of the mortal world, as Electro Archon's ruler, she deserved their kneeling.
"She returned! Lady Guuji just went inside!"
The maidens immediately sold Yae Miko out.
They admired the Guuji, but the one asking was the Raiden Shogun—who dared lie?
"Mm. Rise."
Ei vanished instantly.
Only after the pressure disappeared did the maidens collapse and breathe.
…
"Unreliable, as expected."
Inside the divine chamber, Yae Miko rubbed her forehead as Ei appeared.
Ei's aura and pressure were hard for ordinary people to withstand.
"Let me cut once, and this is over."
Ei silently drew her long blade.
Yae Miko made a bitter face. "Is this how you treat your familiar? How heartless."
"I know you did it for my sake. But precisely because you did it for me, you should let me cut once… I've been in the Plane of Euthymia for so long that my martial skill has gotten rusty. Miko… let me try my blade?"
Compared to her former shut-in self, after learning Blue Star's knowledge, Ei was clearly different now.
She even found a reason Yae Miko couldn't easily refute.
"Um…"
Yae Miko finally felt the vortex gate respond—she was delighted inside, but kept calm.
"Training is fine, but not at the Grand Narukami Shrine. Let's spar at sea?"
If she didn't lead Ei away, Ei might follow the gate and chase her to Blue Star.
So Yae used a delaying tactic. Even if Ei wasn't as easy to fool as before… she might still fall for it.
"Mm…" Ei hesitated, then nodded. "Fine."
Even if they didn't truly fight to the death, venting through sparring was inevitable.
At the shrine, it wasn't appropriate.
Ei stepped out first, flashing through clouds to the vast sea.
But the next instant, she sensed that the pink-haired Kitsune who'd promised to spar had suddenly vanished from the shrine.
"Miko?"
Ei returned to the chamber and saw only fading light from the vortex gate.
So that was why Yae had agreed so readily.
She'd tricked Ei into leaving, then ran to Blue Star again.
"Hmph…"
Ei snorted. She didn't pursue the already-collapsed gate. Instead, she returned to Tenshukaku.
Since the Kitsune ran, Ei would deal with governance immediately.
Anyway, that Kitsune would come back eventually.