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"Let that be a punishment for you, then." Su Ran handed a bottle of Dango Milk to Kujou Sara.
A punishment?
Sara stared at the sealed bottle in her hand, completely bewildered. She opened her mouth to ask for clarification, but the group had already walked away, seemingly uninterested in wasting any more time on her.
Could I have... been cast aside?
That shouldn't be it, right? Maybe he simply had more important matters to attend to. Still, she couldn't stop looking at the Dango Milk in her palm. Did the man do this with some profound underlying intent? Surely, he wouldn't just give her a drink out of the kindness of his heart.
Sara tucked the bottle away. She started back toward Tenshukaku, but stopped abruptly. She had just returned from the front lines specifically to report to the deity, and the deity had been right in front of her moments ago. While he wasn't the Raiden Shogun, based on her understanding, he clearly possessed the qualifications to govern Inazuma.
Should she turn back to find him, or head to Tenshukaku for the Shogun? After a brief moment of deliberation, Sara chose the Shogun. Her loyalty, after all, remained with the Raiden Shogun.
***
Only after putting enough distance between them and Kujou Sara did Yoimiya finally let out a breath. She had been terrified back there. Why was her luck so abysmal? She actually had to run into someone like Kujou Sara.
Of course, the current situation wasn't exactly looking bright, either. Since even a high-ranking figure like Sara addressed Su Ran as "Lord," his identity was likely far more complex than just some young master from a noble family.
So, who was he? A clan head? Or perhaps... a new, high-ranking official appointed by the Shogun? Yoimiya's internal state hadn't improved one bit.
"What's wrong? It isn't even hot outside, yet you're breaking into a sweat."
Su Ran produced a handkerchief and dabbed at Yoimiya's face. His movements were as gentle as they could be, yet the poor girl broke into an even colder sweat.
Kamisato Ayaka watched the flustered Yoimiya and smiled from the sidelines. It was clear that besides her, the deity had found yet another target to tease.
"Lord Su Ran, please... don't do that. I'm scared..." Yoimiya swallowed hard. At this point, she was half-considering making final arrangements. Whether it was resisting the Vision Hunt Decree or helping wanted criminals in secret, none of it would end well for her if reported. Having him wipe her sweat away felt like nothing more than crocodile tears.
"Why be afraid? Do I look that terrifying to you?" Su Ran offered a faint smile, letting his charm bloom openly. Having evolved into a higher life form, his allure far surpassed that of any mortal. Even if he couldn't make people fall head-over-heels at a single glance, it was nearly impossible for an average person to simply loathe or fear him.
Because of this, even the incredibly tense Yoimiya lowered her head, not daring to meet his eyes. In that moment, she finally understood why Ayaka liked this man. He was, if nothing else, physically flawless.
Su Ran reached out, tilted her chin up, and forced her to meet his gaze.
"Answer me, Yoimiya. Do I look terrifying?"
Yoimiya said nothing. He wasn't scary before, but this sudden move had certainly changed that.
"Not scary! Not even a little!"
As expected of an Inazuman girl, she understood the importance of knowing when to bow to the situation.
"Hahaha, you really are interesting." Su Ran released her and couldn't help but laugh.
Confused by the sudden shift in mood, Yoimiya scratched her head. She looked toward Kamisato Ayaka with a helpless expression, hoping her dear friend would step in. Surely, she wouldn't just watch her get into trouble, right?
"It seems Lord Su Ran simply finds teasing you to be quite an amusing pastime," Ayaka said, offering a touch of comfort. It was a relief to finally have someone else to share the burden of being teased. Though, she felt a flicker of loss as well—a strange, uncomfortable sensation as if something that belonged solely to her was being divided in two.
"Teasing?" Yoimiya snuck a glance at Su Ran.
"Precisely. Seeing the brave 'leader of the kids' looking like a terrified little kitten is quite entertaining, don't you think?" Su Ran winked, admitting plainly that it had all been a little prank. He hadn't intended to actually do anything to her.
"Brother Su Ran, your sense of humor is far too twisted!" Once she confirmed he truly meant no harm, the massive stone in Yoimiya's chest lifted. She reverted to calling him 'Brother Su Ran' once more. She planted her hands on her hips and glared at him with feigned annoyance; no one had ever dared to tease her like this before.
"I couldn't help myself, seeing Yoimiya-jie looking so frightened." Su Ran spread his hands. It was a good thing his talents lay elsewhere, otherwise, with a personality so prone to seeking amusement, he might well have ended up walking the path of Elation.
"Aiyah! Don't call me 'Yoimiya-jie'! We're practically the same age!"
Hearing this from a man taller than her made Yoimiya even more indignant, especially since she had been the one being toyed with. She balled up a small fist and thudded it against his chest.
Ayaka watched the scene from the side. She started to laugh, but the smile slowly faded. Didn't Lord Su Ran say he was my suitor? Didn't he say he would only tease me?
"Alright, alright. Lord Su Ran didn't mean it, Yoimiya. Please forgive him." Fearing she might become the third wheel, Ayaka stepped in to mediate.
But her defense was useless. Yoimiya stared at her with deadpan eyes, as if to ask, 'Look at him—is it really not on purpose? Isn't it obvious?'
"Little Ei, you be the judge. Tell me, isn't your father a bad man?" Since the pair of them were ganging up on her, Yoimiya turned to Raiden Ei for comfort.
Raiden Ei, who knew that the person standing before her was the deity of Inazuma herself—though she also knew Yoimiya couldn't possibly be aware of that—looked at Su Ran with wide, innocent eyes.
"Su Ran... bad!"
"Hehe... I knew Little Ei was the best." Yoimiya grinned, satisfied.