"Kokomi, what kind of person do you think Lord Shura Anyakonsen-shou is?"
Mother rubbed her own head as she asked.
"Very serious, very earnest—a good person Watatsumi Island can rely on."
Kokomi tried to answer using an adult's tone of voice.
"I see… Then Kokomi, I'll arrange a task for you later to befriend Lord Shura Anyakonsen-shou.
There's no need to feel pressured. Just fulfill your duties as a guide and show Lord Shura Anyakonsen-shou around Watatsumi Island…"
Mother's words still lingered in her ears, yet when she looked at the current interaction between Lord Shura Anyakonsen-shou and the knight sister…
Little Kokomi did not understand, but watching the two people in front of her converse, their relationship seemed quite good?
The knight sister's face was slightly red.
"You pass…"
Her voice was very soft, but little Kokomi still heard it.
"Then little Kokomi, do you know where they sell hairpins?"
Lord Shura Anyakonsen-shou's voice was unexpectedly gentle, completely lacking the cold severity he showed during daytime formal occasions.
"Yes. Please come with me."
If Lord Shura Anyakonsen-shou needed a hairpin, she absolutely could not be perfunctory. And if they wanted the best hairpin…
If she remembered correctly, Granny Komaki seemed to have made hairpins before…
Little Kokomi walked ahead while the old uncle and the already-coaxed little Eula followed behind.
The old uncle gently patted little Kokomi's shoulder and extended his palm.
Little Kokomi looked at the hand Lord Shura Anyakonsen-shou offered. She hesitated for a moment, then reached out and let him take her hand.
When playing with children in unfamiliar places, it is recommended to hold hands to prevent them from getting lost.
Little Eula watched the old uncle holding little Kokomi's hand and thought for a moment.
She moved to little Kokomi's other side, patted her shoulder, and also extended her hand.
Having witnessed Lord Shura Anyakonsen-shou's example, little Kokomi understood the meaning and took the knight sister's hand as well.
Thus, little Kokomi walked in front, holding the old uncle's hand on one side and Eula sister's hand on the other.
Under the warm moonlight of the night, the scene looked a little like a curious little daughter going out to play while holding her father's and sister's hands.
Little Kokomi did not think that deeply.
She simply felt certain things.
Once she became Watatsumi Island's [Divine Priestess], everyone on the island would be watching her every word and action.
She was not as perfect as Mother, and… it would probably be quite difficult to do…
To present an image completely different from her true self…
Putting on a mask… could she really do it…?
She probably could, right?
But… there would always be a feeling of being exhausted to death…
To play a role that did not match herself at all…
It was really tiring…
Just thinking about it was already tiring…
Then she felt the warm palms of the knight sister and Lord Shura Anyakonsen-shou beside her.
Their current private selves were truly very different from the versions she saw during the day.
And she could be certain that these were probably their most authentic selves.
Being able to show their true selves to each other like this… how enviable.
In the future, could I also find someone who would let me show my true self?
At that thought, little Kokomi's steps became somewhat lighter.
Perhaps night truly was a time that easily made people fall into thought?
As long as one set aside everything else and simply looked at the road ahead under the night sky, one would involuntarily think of many things.
"Granny Komaki, good evening."
Little Kokomi politely greeted Granny Komaki.
They had already reached their destination.