The night was enchanting, the moon's shadow dappled.
Within Inazuma City, the lamplight was dim and fading.
Pedestrians on the streets grew ever sparser, and the air carried a slight chill.
Naganohara Yoimiya sat on the bench outside the fireworks shop, the hem of her orange kimono printed with fireworks swaying gently in the breeze.
"How boring~ I've finished making the fireworks too. I really want to read Miss Fang Qiu's new book."
Watching the two children in the distance—the ones she had once taken for Miyazono Kaori and Arima Kousei—now walking home hand in hand after playing around at her place, Naganohara Yoimiya let out a sigh, turned her head toward the direction of Liyue, and felt a touch of melancholy.
"I wonder just how many new books Miss Fang Qiu has written by now—there should be two, right? I'm really looking forward to it. And there's Miss Fang Qiu's reply, too. Since the Shogun Almighty has opened up part of the trade between Liyue and Inazuma, this time I shouldn't need to wait for Sister Beidou to come to Inazuma to be able to receive Miss Fang Qiu's reply, right? Oh, that's right—Liyue's Lantern Rite should be coming up soon, shouldn't it? I can't wait to see Miss Fang Qiu's expression when she sees my specially made fireworks."
Naganohara Yoimiya couldn't help but smile, and she glanced up at the pitch-black night sky.
It was getting late.
Time to rest.
She stretched lazily with all her might, and just as she rose to her feet and was about to head back inside, she suddenly saw a figure walking over from one side of the street.
Hm?
It was Thoma.
He was cradling a book, reading as he walked, with a large bundle slung over his back that looked rather like a big sack stuffed with books.
When he drew near, Naganohara Yoimiya greeted him.
As fellow fans of Miss Fang Qiu's books, their relationship had improved quite a bit compared to before.
A while back, he had even helped act as a go-between, organizing a book gathering, letting her and Kamisato Ayaka hold a book club.
At the book club, they had discussed in detail Miss Fang Qiu's The Eternal and Your Lie in April, and through that discussion, she had further deepened her understanding of these two books.
From the look of her, Kamisato Ayaka had been just as delighted.
They had even played the hot pot game together, and in the end, Thoma was the one who lost the most....
"Good evening, Miss Yoimiya."
Hearing Naganohara Yoimiya's greeting, Thoma raised his head, smiled, and waved.
"Thoma, any news about Miss Fang Qiu's new book?"
Naganohara Yoimiya asked with a hint of anticipation.
"No news for now."
Thoma sighed and shook his head as he spoke.
"I see... I really hope Miss Fang Qiu's books can get delivered to Inazuma a little sooner..."
Having finished her sigh, Naganohara Yoimiya shifted the topic and asked, "By the way, what book were you just reading? You were even reading it while walking."
Ever since she'd finished reading Miss Fang Qiu's books, reading had become her third greatest love.
First was fireworks!
Second was playing with the children.
Thoma also loved Miss Fang Qiu's books very much—maybe she'd like the books he read, too.
"You're asking about this book? It's called There's a Ghost Under the Bed—it's the latest masterpiece by a ghost-novel author I love! It's about a female writer who rents a room, but after she moves into the rental, strange things happen every single night, and in the end she discovers that every night, eerie sounds come from under her bed..."
Hearing Naganohara Yoimiya ask, Thoma instantly perked up with interest and immediately began introducing the book in his hands.
"Wait, wait, stop—don't say any more, or I won't be able to sleep tonight."
Looking at the cover of the book in Thoma's hands, Naganohara Yoimiya hurriedly waved her hand, cutting Thoma off.
On the cover, a woman was holding an oil lamp and peering under a bed, and beneath the bed was a pair of bleeding eyes.
"It's really interesting—I recommend you give it a read."
Thoma said with a smile, "I've sent loads of ghost novels to Miss Fang Qiu. Maybe Miss Fang Qiu will write ghost novels someday too."
"All right then, I'll buy one tomorrow during the day and give it a read—let me ease into it first. Miss Fang Qiu is so amazing, the ghost novels she writes are sure to be terrifying."
Naganohara Yoimiya thought it over and said.
....
Meanwhile, at this moment, under the tranquil moonlight.
At the Grand Narukami Shrine, in the courtyard before the Sacred Sakura.
A beautiful pink-haired shrine maiden, clad in luxurious miko garb and wearing pink and purple hair ornaments, was reclining on a lounge chair.
"Raise the cup, invite the moon."
Yae Miko lifted a bowl brimming with sake and gazed at the moon hanging high in the heavens, most of it obscured by the branches and leaves of the Sacred Sakura. Her delicate lips parted, and she drank down most of the sake in one go, then handed the bowl to the timid, obsequious Sayu waiting at her side.
Sayu shuddered all over and hastily picked up the sake bottle to pour for her.
As the clear sake poured out, a gentle breeze drifted past, and crimson sakura petals fluttered down onto the small table beside her lounge chair.
On the table at this moment lay several books, along with a sales list.
The list showed the rankings from this book release.
At the very top was Your Lie in April.
In second place was Reborn as the Kamisato Clan's Dog.
Third place...
"I never expected this book's popularity could last so long—even the book I pushed so hard couldn't surpass it. Though I suppose that also has something to do with that concert's promotional effect and the rumor I had people spread around Inazuma that the Raiden Shogun loves reading Your Lie in April. I just wonder how many new books that little girl has written by now—surely it can't be only one?"
Yae Miko looked with some amusement at the copy of Your Lie in April resting on the table, the fluttering crimson sakura petals settling upon it.
Hearing these words from Yae Miko, Sayu, standing to one side, was so startled that her hand trembled.
This woman—she actually dared to spread rumors even about that personage!
But she didn't dare say a word, and concentrated on pouring the sake.
If she happened to spill the sake, she'd be in for a world of trouble.
"Lady Guuji Yae, you actually did something like that?"
Kano Nana said in shock.
"A trifling little matter like that hardly matters at all."
Yae Miko waved her hand, took a sip of sake, and said.
"A little matter like that?"
Kano Nana's eyes went wide.
Spreading rumors about the Raiden Shogun—that was a grave crime. Even the Grand Narukami Shrine would hardly escape being held accountable by the Tenryou Commission, would it?
Before Kano Nana could speak, Yae Miko spoke first: "We have guests arriving. Go prepare some refreshments."
"Guests? What guests?"
Kano Nana was taken aback, turning to glance at the front courtyard, her eyes full of confusion. Nevertheless, she went all the way inside to fetch some refreshments.
No sooner had she set them out than a sound of footsteps, accompanied by voices, approached from afar.
In a moment, two figures walked into the rear courtyard.
"Miko, we're here!"
Paimon flew in the air, waving her hand in greeting.
Lumine, following behind, also waved.
"Eh? Sayu, why are you here?"
Paimon asked, puzzled.
"This little one botched a job by oversleeping, so I'm punishing her with overtime."
Yae Miko waved her hand and said.
Hearing Yae Miko's words, Sayu couldn't help but hang her head with a mournful face, muttering under her breath, "How could this be... I was hidden so well, how did I even get caught..."
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