Inazuma City.
Tenshukaku.
"...Her Excellency, the Shogun, that is how the events transpired."
Inside Tenshukaku, Ei was standing with her back to a soldier who was reporting a matter to Her.
"Mn, I understand."
Without turning her head, Ei simply stated her acknowledgement in a faint tone.
Afterward, that soldier withdrew.
Should I go over?
But she doesn't seem to welcome me...
After the surroundings fell silent, Ei began to pace back and forth.
Someone had just reported to Her that a person who looked very much like Her was currently with Miko outside Inazuma City.
Regarding such an obviously strange matter, She naturally knew what was going on.
To be honest, She was actually a bit curious about what Miko and she were doing there.
But because of what happened just now, She was still hesitating about whether to go over and check the situation.
Hmm...
Perhaps I can use Miko as an excuse...
Suddenly, Ei thought of a good idea. She felt she could use the opportunity of looking for Miko to go over and take a look at the situation.
Anyway, She had long intended to talk to Miko again, so it couldn't really be counted as an excuse.
Let's go take a look...
After thinking for a while, Ei vanished directly from where She stood.
Since She already had this thought, there was no need to think so much; just go and do it.
Back then, She had helplessly lost Makoto. But now, She suddenly had a choice again, so She would just go and do it.
Outside Inazuma City.
"Sigh, why do I get the feeling that Ei will come over?"
After chatting with Makoto for a while, Miko suddenly spoke up like this.
No matter what, those people just now definitely wouldn't just forget about meeting them, especially since it concerned Her Excellency, the Shogun.
Therefore, Miko felt that by now, Ei must already know about the matter of her and Makoto being here.
Based on her understanding of Ei, she felt that Ei would definitely come, and perhaps even claim she was coming to find her.
"Then what are you sighing for? Miko, are you worried Ei will come to trouble you?"
Seeing Miko sighing, Makoto was also very curious as to why she was sighing.
"It's just that I feel She will use looking for me as an excuse to come here. It's very difficult for Her to just come over on Her own; She still needs to use me as a pretext."
As she spoke, Miko looked quite helpless.
Of course, she wasn't truly helpless; she just wanted to take the opportunity to tease Ei a bit.
Anyway, Ei hadn't arrived yet, and she didn't know if She would come, so she might as well continue teasing Her for now.
"Then are you going to expose Her?"
Regarding Miko's claim, Makoto didn't know if it would actually be like that, but She asked this question first.
"Of course not. Otherwise, what if I get beaten up by Her?"
Seeming very surprised that Makoto would ask such a question, Miko directly expressed that she wouldn't.
However, these behaviors of hers revealed some clues to Makoto.
Obviously, Miko had been roasting Ei both openly and secretly all this time.
"With me here, are you still afraid of being beaten?"
Although She already knew Miko's little thoughts, Makoto didn't expose her directly but asked another question instead.
She wanted to hear how Miko would answer this question.
"Of course I'm not afraid, but Makoto, you have to be here all the time. If you're not, I will definitely be held accountable by Ei."
First laughing a bit, Miko expressed that she wouldn't be afraid as a matter of course, then immediately became serious, saying that Makoto had to stay constantly.
Actually, she really wanted to ask Makoto directly if She could stay like before, but after thinking about it, she still didn't ask.
Firstly, perhaps Makoto Herself didn't know. Secondly, she felt asking now wasn't appropriate.
Since Ei might be coming over next, she shouldn't ask this question for now.
She would ask again when the time was right.
Or perhaps she could go ask Mei directly; Mei should be clearer on this.
If that really didn't work, then she would go ask Kaito. He ought to know.
Hmm?
Ei!
Just then, Miko noticed Ei, who had suddenly appeared to the side.
"Oh my, Ei, you're really going to scare me to death."
Turning around with a flat expression to look at Ei who had appeared nearby, Miko spoke as if it were a serious matter.
As for her reaction and words, Ei responded coldly:
"Really? Then how come I didn't see a look of fear appear on you? And why should you be afraid? Did you do something with a guilty conscience?"
"No, no, just startled by you suddenly appearing, that's all."
Smiling, Miko looked completely unpanicked at this moment and even offered her own explanation.
However, as she spoke, she also shifted slightly towards Makoto's side.
In any case, with Makoto right beside her now, she just needed to silently be a little fox.
"It seems you two have matters to discuss, so I will leave for a moment."
At this moment, Makoto suddenly said this, and then turned to leave.
"? Wait, M... Mei, what matters could there be."
Miko, who had almost called out Makoto's name, hurriedly followed up.
Although she had just said Ei would likely come, Miko hadn't discussed with Makoto what to do if Ei actually came.
So, Miko clearly hadn't anticipated Makoto turning to leave like this right now.
And hearing Miko's words, Makoto indeed stopped.
"Is there really nothing? I just felt you were going to discuss some very important matters."
Because She couldn't act as if She was leaving just because She saw Ei, Makoto spoke like this.
"No, no. Isn't that right? Ei."
As she spoke, a smiling Miko turned her head to look at Ei.
"No."
Hesitating for a moment, Ei nodded, considering it an agreement with Miko's statement.
There was no helping it; if She said there was something, the other party would definitely leave, so it was better to say there was nothing.
Of course, She indeed didn't have any specific business; She just came to take a look.
It was just that the excuse She initially thought of—coming to find Miko for something—could no longer be used now.
In that case, She had to find a new excuse.
"See, I wasn't wrong, right? Mei."
After hearing what Ei said, Miko turned her head back to look at Makoto and said this.
Then she looked at Ei again: "Ei, did someone tell you someone was impersonating you here, so you came over?"
Because the situation was a bit different now, Miko found an excuse for Ei herself.
Of course, this was indeed the fact.
"Mn."
Not expecting Miko to find an excuse for Her, Ei nodded.
If it were before, She might not have played along with Miko, but the situation was different now, so She had to play along.
"Then, Ei, you definitely guessed it was us, right?"
At this moment, Miko asked another question.
"I did think of it, but I was worried it was someone else, so I came to take a look."
____
New Story: ZZZ: Mr. Ethereal Does Not Want to See a Tragedy
🔥We're handing out that '30% bonus' that makes your wallet smile. 😄
✅ Get immediate access to 40 early chapters for all stories.
✅ Enjoy exclusive material and special announcements!
Help us unlock these community rewards:
🎯 100 Powerstones = +1 Bonus Chapter for everyone
🚀 140 MEMBERS = +5 extra chapters across ALL STORIES!
👻 P - Walnutchan