Outside, Ayaka waited quietly.
The door creaked open.
Lora stepped out, holding a small pink fox in her arms. The fox looked unusually shy, burrowing into her embrace and refusing to show its face.
"Miss Lora, you—"
Ayaka hurried forward. She glanced into the room behind her, only to find no trace of Yae Miko.
"Where is Guuji Yae? You didn't… fight, did you?"
"Of course not," Lora replied lightly. "She had something to attend to and left early. As compensation, she gave me this little fox."
She gently rubbed the fox's head as she spoke.
The fox squirmed faintly.
"I see… Then you've reached an agreement? About the Gnosis and everything?"
Ayaka's brows knit together.
Lora nodded.
"Of course. Don't worry—I'll find a way to resolve Inazuma's current situation."
"That's wonderful. Thank you for your efforts."
Ayaka bowed.
"Oh, and prepare some fried tofu," Lora added casually.
"Fried tofu?" Ayaka blinked. "Why fried tofu?"
"Foxes love it."
"Foxes… love fried tofu?"
She looked genuinely confused. She had never heard such a thing before. But Lora sounded so certain that she began doubting her own knowledge.
"Of course they do. Hurry up, or this little fox might start shedding."
Lora stroked the pink fur again.
No one would ever guess that the fox nestled in her arms was the renowned Guuji of the Grand Narukami Shrine.
…
By the time they returned to the Kamisato Estate, Hélie was already waiting at the entrance.
"Lady Lora, the rooms have been prepared," she reported.
"Good."
Lora nodded, then glanced at Ayaka.
"Let's discuss the rest after dinner."
"Understood."
Ayaka immediately arranged the evening meal—making sure fried tofu was included.
Hélie stood before Lora, staring curiously at the fox in her arms.
"Lady Lora… who is she?"
"A temporary pet," Lora replied calmly.
…
At dinner, Lora thoughtfully set out a separate chair for the fox and placed a plate of fried tofu before her.
The sight of a pink fox delicately eating fried tofu left both Ayaka and Hélie openly fascinated.
"Stop staring and eat your own food," Lora said helplessly. "Otherwise, she'll get embarrassed."
"What a clever fox—she even gets embarrassed!" Ayaka exclaimed.
Then she nodded thoughtfully.
"Well, since Guuji Yae gave her to you, it's only natural she'd be intelligent."
Lora sipped her miso soup, smiling as she watched the fox focus entirely on her tofu, ignoring the world around her.
"Tomorrow, I'll depart for Watatsumi Island," she said at last. "I'll leave matters here in your care."
"You're going to Watatsumi Island?"
Ayaka frowned.
"But you are Liyue's envoy. The Raiden Shogun will likely hear of your arrival tomorrow and request an audience. What if you're not here?"
"There's someone named Fu Hai at Ritou who came with me," Lora explained. "I'm only a nominal figurehead. He's the one actually handling matters. If anything comes up, go to him."
She paused briefly.
"My people have gone to Watatsumi Island. I should see the situation for myself."
Ayaka hesitated, then nodded.
"In that case, please be careful. The route between Narukami Island and Watatsumi Island is not safe."
"It's fine—"
"If we encounter danger," Hélie interjected calmly, "the ones who should be worried won't be us."
Lora nodded approvingly.
"Exactly."
Ayaka considered that Lora was a Liyue Adeptus capable of suppressing the Overlord of the Vortex, Osial. Her concern eased somewhat.
Even in turbulent Inazuma, such strength should suffice.
…
That night, Yae Miko lay atop the pillow, looking up at Lora.
"Why must you go to Watatsumi Island?" she asked. "Wouldn't it be simpler to head straight to Tenshukaku, enter the Plane of Euthymia, and drag Ei out?"
"You think it's as simple as stuffing an elephant into a refrigerator?"
Lora shot her a sideways glance.
"To overturn Ei's will, brute force won't work. What we need is the will of the people."
"The will of the people?"
Yae Miko's tail swayed lightly.
Lora nodded.
"Gods love humanity. Ei truly believes everything she does is for Inazuma's sake. If I forcibly shatter her idea of Eternity, it won't solve anything."
"What matters is letting her feel the hearts of her people."
She sighed softly.
"As a kagemusha, she never needed to concern herself with such things. Her sister handled it all. But Makoto left too suddenly. She never had the chance to teach her."
"I suppose it falls to us old colleagues to step in."
She muttered something under her breath about charging her next time.
Yae Miko didn't catch that last part.
After a moment of silence, she rose to her paws and bowed solemnly.
"Thank you, Lady Egeria."
"Don't mention it, little fox."
Lora smiled faintly.
Truthfully, she had another reason for going—to find Rhodeia. It had been far too long since they last met, and Rhodeia's sudden trip to Watatsumi Island unsettled her.
She reached out, stroking Yae Miko's head, smoothing down her back, and gently squeezing her fluffy pink tail.
Yae Miko stiffened.
"Could you… not squeeze my tail?"
"Sorry. It just feels too nice."
Her apology lacked sincerity; her hands didn't stop.
An ancient god bullying a fox only a few centuries old.
Truly shameless.
Eventually, Lora climbed into bed, holding Yae Miko like a plush toy as she drifted to sleep.
The fur was soft and warm.
Very comfortable.
…
The next morning, Ayaka had arranged everything.
A guide stood waiting to lead Lora toward Watatsumi Island.
But when Lora saw who it was, she blinked in surprise.
"You're… Sayu?"