Although the matter had been successfully resolved and relations between Narukami Island and Watatsumi Island had returned to normal, there were still many details that needed to be dealt with in the aftermath.
For instance, the issue of the Delusions flooding Watatsumi Island. The Fatui's plan had been to sow discord between the two islands, fabricating a rumor that every islander on Watatsumi had been granted a Vision by their deity.
But they had indeed manufactured a batch of Delusions and actually distributed them to some of the residents. Among this group, some had genuinely been incited by the Fatui's words and had indeed begun to entertain thoughts of an eastern invasion, much like the great serpent Orobashi that their ancestors had once worshipped.
They had even formed an organization of considerable scale on Watatsumi Island. This, too, was a matter that would need to be properly handled in the aftermath.
However, none of these things had anything to do with Yuki.
After the duel before the throne had concluded, Yuki returned to Tenshukaku with Ei and the others. Kujou Sara had gone back to attend to family affairs.
After all, since Varnava had appeared in the guise of the Kujou patriarch, it meant the real Kujou patriarch had most likely met with a grim fate. As the adopted daughter of the Kujou Clan of the Tenryou Commission, she needed to return and take charge of the situation.
With Kujou Sara gone, Ei now had some temporary respite. Seeing that the sky was gradually darkening, Ei extended an invitation for Yuki to stay a while longer so that she could properly host him.
Yae Miko, standing to the side, saw her cue and cooperated with Ei most seamlessly. Both her hands wrapped around Yuki's arm, her delicate body nestling softly against his side as she pleaded in a coy, coquettish voice.
"Ei is right. Mr. Yuki, please do stay—allow this humble maiden to give you a proper welcome. Ever since I heard of your deeds, I've been so endlessly curious and utterly in awe of you!"
As she spoke, Yae Miko quietly lowered her head, her face putting on the bashful expression of a shy young maiden. "And if it's not too much trouble, this humble maiden would also like to get to know Mr. Yuki... quite thoroughly."
When Yae Miko reached the words "get to know" in that last sentence, her tone deliberately deepened somewhat, as if placing special emphasis on them.
Looking at Yae Miko putting on the airs of a pure and innocent young girl, Yuki couldn't help but chuckle silently to himself. He knew perfectly well that this sly fox was merely feigning innocence.
But since the other party was extending such a warm invitation, Yuki naturally wouldn't refuse. He nodded and agreed to stay.
Seeing Yuki accept, a flash of pleasant surprise sparkled in Yae Miko's eyes. She immediately moved to lead Yuki out to explore Inazuma.
Over on Ei's side, upon seeing Yuki agree to stay for a while, a trace of joy also bloomed quietly within her heart.
Then her expression shifted slightly into one of faint surprise. This feeling—she hadn't experienced it since the passing of her sister. It left her momentarily lost in a daze.
Grumble~~~
Just as Yae Miko was about to take Yuki out for a stroll around Inazuma City, her stomach suddenly let out a rumbling growl.
"Aiya! That sound was utterly mortifying!" Yae Miko covered her enchanting cheeks with both hands, putting on the bashful demeanor of a young maiden.
Ei, whose train of thought had been interrupted by the sound of Yae Miko's hungry stomach, looked at her calmly and stated, "It's already time for dinner. Let's eat first."
Ei's suggestion met with Yae Miko's immediate approval.
"Alright! Ei! Make sure to tell the kitchen chefs to add extra fried tofu! Best of all, add it to every single dish!"
Yae Miko promptly began ordering her meal, her very first demand being that her favorite food be added to all the dishes.
"Absolutely not! You fox spirit, is having a separate fried tofu dish made just for you still not enough?! To demand fried tofu in every dish—how is that acceptable! Everything should be served with sweets instead! Rich, sweet foods—that is the true definition of delicious!"
Ei righteously refused Yae Miko's demands, asserting that sweet treats were the correct way.
"How is that possible?! Fried tofu is the true king! What's so good about sweets anyway? Be careful of tooth decay!"
"Impossible! Sweetness is the supreme flavor of this world! Tooth decay and the like—useless against a god!"
The two bickered over food without giving an inch, each refusing to yield, passionately airing their respective views and philosophies.
As they stared each other down, sparks seemed to fly between them, looking as if they might break into a fight at any moment.
Watching from the side, the corner of Yuki's mouth twitched slightly. Whether it was Yae Miko, the extreme fried tofu fanatic, or Ei, the sweet-food devotee—neither of them fell within the bounds of normal anymore.
Still, when women quarreled, it was best not to interfere. Just quietly watching them go at each other—wasn't that its own form of entertainment?
But just as Yuki thought he could peacefully enjoy the show... Yae Miko suddenly turned and asked for his personal opinion.
"Mr. Yuki, tell me—isn't there something seriously wrong with Ei and her obsession with making everything sweet?" Yae Miko shifted her gaze to Yuki beside her.
Being asked so abruptly, Yuki was caught somewhat off guard. Here he was, perfectly enjoying the show—how did it suddenly drag him into the fray?
"Mm-hmm, mm-hmm," Yuki nodded, agreeing with Yae Miko's words.
Upon hearing this, Ei immediately felt somewhat indignant and, following Yae Miko's lead, posed her own question to Yuki. "Yuki-kun, isn't there also something wrong with Miko's obsession with adding fried tofu to every kind of food?"
"Mm-hmm, mm-hmm," Yuki nodded in the same manner, expressing his agreement.
After all the back-and-forth, neither side emerged victorious from the dispute. They only stopped when the kitchen had finished preparing dinner.
At that point, the two called a truce and ceased their bickering, turning their attention to the meal instead.
During the meal, Yae Miko enthusiastically introduced Yuki to the distinctive local delicacies of Inazuma.
"Here, here, Mr. Yuki—this grilled unagi is absolutely delicious! Though it lacks the accompaniment of fried tofu, it's still exceedingly tasty!"
Yae Miko picked up a piece of crispy, aromatic grilled eel and placed it into Yuki's bowl, offering him a sweet smile as she spoke.
"Thank you very much, Miss Yae. And also, there's no need to be so formal—just call me by my name, Yuki." Yuki nodded with a smile, asking Yae Miko to switch to a more casual form of address.
Hearing this, Yae Miko's face immediately lit up with a radiant smile. "Very well! Then Yuki-kun may also simply call this little one Miko."
"Alright, Miko," Yuki replied, and then gave the Inazuman cuisine of Teyvat a try.
While some of the dishes were largely similar to those from Earth, others carried entirely different flavors. This gave Yuki a pleasant taste of novelty.
He recalled back when he had played the game—the cooking system had featured a vast array of unique and exotic dishes from across Teyvat. Naturally, Yuki was eager to sample them.
During the meal, aside from savoring the local cuisine, Yuki also chatted with the two women. When the conversation turned to matters of governance, Yuki seized the opportunity and spoke with Ei about how to handle state affairs, imparting some knowledge to her.
As Ei listened, she became exceptionally serious, her focus razor-sharp as she absorbed Yuki's explanations. It was clear that she genuinely wanted to govern Inazuma well in her sister's stead.
Unfortunately, however, such matters required not only effort but a certain degree of innate talent. And it was abundantly obvious that Ei lacked talent in this particular area.
All her innate gifts had been poured entirely into martial prowess. So when Yuki touched on some of the more difficult concepts, a troubled expression would surface on her face.
Seeing this, Yuki could only console her, telling her that such things couldn't be mastered overnight—they could only be accumulated slowly through time and experience.
In stark contrast to Ei, Miko on the other hand seemed to gain considerable insight, as though she could grasp a great deal of the knowledge with relative ease.