After about half an hour, the Shogun, having bid farewell to Shinobu, returned to her room with light steps. As her hand reached for the sliding door, she paused briefly.
"..."
Hearing the quiet atmosphere inside, she assumed Ei had already fallen asleep. Her movements became extremely gentle as she opened the door.
Swish~
Even so, the faint sound of wood sliding against its groove echoed slightly. She froze and instinctively glanced toward the figure lying in the center of the room. A woman lay there, her back facing her. The tatami mats were covered with bedding and a soft quilt, and the figure before her was completely tucked into the covers, motionless.
...Seems like she's sleeping soundly.
Thinking that, she quietly closed the door and tiptoed to the other side, kneeling softly on the floor as she gazed at the sleeping beauty before her. The warm amber light of the lamp painted Ei's face with a gentle golden glow.
"Ei... are you asleep?"
She whispered softly, her breath barely audible, as her fingers gently brushed aside the strands of hair covering Ei's face.
"..."
There was no response. The rise and fall of the blanket over Ei's chest was steady, her warm breath brushing occasionally across the Shogun's fingertips.
She's already asleep...
Seeing Ei's peaceful expression, she couldn't help but smile tenderly—a smile so rare that even Ei seldom saw it.
She noticed a streak of silver light on the floor and turned her head, realizing the curtains weren't fully drawn. A narrow gap allowed the moonlight to spill into the room.
Just as she began to rise, intending to close them—
Snap!
The 'sleeping' Ei suddenly opened her eyes and grabbed her wrist before she could react.
"!"
The Shogun flinched in surprise, her body trembling slightly in the most adorable way.
Whoosh!
The next instant, Ei pulled her straight into the bed.
"Ah~!"
A rare exclamation escaped her lips, her cheeks instantly flushing red as she tried to wriggle free—but—
In front of Ei, any resistance was futile~!
Having anticipated her escape attempt, Ei swiftly lifted the blanket and wrapped her up entirely, cocooning the squirming girl like a dumpling in her arms.
Time passed quietly—no one knew how long.
"..." ×2
Both of them fell silent for a while. Ei gazed down at the girl in her arms—her daughter—who was now covering her mouth, face flushed crimson. Her violet eyes shimmered with a soft, alluring moisture as she glared back at her captor in embarrassment.
"!"
Blushing deeply, she tried to move again, but Ei's exquisite legs were wrapped tightly around her own. Even the white-stockinged legs beneath her hem were trapped securely. She was completely... helpless.
"You... tricked me."
Completely subdued, she muttered in a muffled, sulky tone.
"...What?"
Ei looked momentarily puzzled.
"You weren't asleep, were you?"
She pouted, releasing her hand from her mouth and puffing up her cheeks in an adorably aggrieved manner.
"I was. I just woke up when I sensed you coming."
"...Hah... I'm such a fool."
Gazing at the familiar, beautiful face so close to her own, she sighed softly, her voice tinged with self-mockery. Their current position was far too suggestive—her face pressed against Ei's chest, bodies entwined, and their legs tangled together in the most awkward way.
Huff...
Her blush deepened as she turned over slightly, now lying with her back to Ei instead.
"..."
Seeing her turn away, Ei felt a flicker of disappointment, though her arms around her refused to loosen.
"Where did you go just now?"
She leaned in, her voice a sultry whisper against the other's ear.
"...To return the tea set."
Her body trembled at Ei's breath brushing her neck. She reached back to pinch Ei's hand in mild protest.
"Took you long enough..."
Ei buried her face into the curve of her neck, her tone soft and faintly petulant, like a child sulking.
"I ran into Shinobu and chatted with her for a bit."
She replied honestly.
"...I see."
Ei's response was quiet, her tone carrying an unreadable complexity.
"What's wrong?"
Sensing her odd tone, she asked gently.
"Nothing... just asking."
"..."
She felt the hand around her waist tighten slightly... it tickled a little.
"Ei..."
She called her softly, her tone mixed with emotion.
"Mm?"
Came the gentle reply from behind.
"I just feel... you've been acting strange lately."
She voiced the doubt that had been lingering in her heart.
"...Do you dislike me being like this?"
Ei bit her lip lightly, her tone cautious and uncertain.
"No... I didn't say I dislike it. Phew... forget it."
She decided not to dwell on it. The more she explained, the easier it would be for Ei to misunderstand—so she stopped.
"Shogun..."
This time, it was Ei who called her, her tone carrying the same hint of complexity.
"...What is it?"
She turned her head slightly, puzzled.
"Will you sleep with me?"
Ei pressed her body more closely against her back as she asked softly.
"Aren't I already doing that?"
She asked, genuinely confused. Wasn't this already "sleeping together"? How else was she supposed to do it?
"No... this time, you have to sleep too. Sleep together with me, alright?"
Ei's warm hand slid over hers, her palm soft and gentle, as if pleading.
"...But I— mm~!"
Before she could finish, a strange sensation spread through her body. Ei had gently pulled down the collar of her robe, revealing the purple Electro crest imprinted on the back of her neck. Her delicate fingers pressed lightly against its center.
Buzz~
The crest seemed to activate, glowing faintly with violet light.
The next instant, the symbol shifted slightly, as though some hidden mechanism had been triggered.
"Mm~ Wait... Ei... s-stop~"
Her face flushed crimson in embarrassment as she squirmed helplessly. Her violet eyes glimmered with a faint, code-like light, her voice soft and trembling as she weakly tried to protest—a sight so alluring it could make anyone's heart race.
"!"
Hearing her breathy plea, Ei instinctively eased the pressure of her touch.
"Haa... haa..."
Finally able to relax, the Shogun slumped weakly, her face burning red as she gasped for air.
"W-what's wrong? Shogun?"
It was Ei's first time seeing her like this. Concern flickered across her face as she asked gently.
"Haa... nngh... d-don't... mess with... my program..."
She murmured between shallow breaths, her voice trembling faintly.
"But I just wanted you to sleep..."
Ei said awkwardly.
"You... mm... you can't use administrator access... operate with your own account."
The Shogun brushed back her damp, sweat-soaked hair as she instructed her softly.
Her system had a small bug—whenever someone accessed her body using administrator privileges, her sensory circuits would become overly sensitive, making her unbearably responsive. Normal user access, however, caused no issue.
"Oh... I'll try that."
Ei quickly logged out of administrator mode and returned to the login screen.
She entered her username and password.
'Raiden Ei'
— Dango Milk Light Novel.
That was her password, one she had deliberately changed earlier.
Buzz~
After logging out, Ei logged in again...
The main interface reappeared before her eyes.
"Phew..."
The Shogun let out a quiet sigh of relief as she sensed Ei successfully connecting to her body. The administrator access from earlier had almost made her lose control.
Pushing that thought aside, her gaze followed Ei's eyes, which flickered faintly as she worked on operating the systems within her.
Buzz~
Sleep Management...
Activating sleep simulation system.
Buzz~
The slider moved a short distance, and a faint purple icon of activation appeared.
Zzzt...
"!"
In that instant, she felt something change inside her mind. The glow in her violet eyes flickered once, then faded.
"All done. From now on, Shogun... you'll be able to experience drowsiness at night like any ordinary person."
Ei exited the program and gently adjusted the collar of her robe back into place.
"I... don't want to sleep."
She muttered childishly in protest.
"No~ You must sleep. It's Mother's instruction, so be good."
Ei hugged her close again, pressing her cheek against the Shogun's in an affectionate gesture.
"What does it... feel like to sleep?"
"...Hmm, it's a strange and wonderful feeling."
Ei didn't seem surprised. She answered patiently, fully aware that her daughter hadn't truly slept in nearly five hundred years. Only mechanical hibernation—never the rest of mind or soul. Perhaps... she had never experienced sleep at all.
"Strange...?"
The Shogun still seemed confused.
"Mm... what is it, Shogun?" Ei asked gently.
"I... feel afraid."
Her voice grew small, almost fragile.
"...Afraid?"
"I've heard... when people sleep, they can have nightmares. Is that true?"
At that moment, she was like a small child curled up in her mother's arms—so endearingly pitiful that it stirred affection in Ei's heart.
"You won't. If I hold you while you sleep, you won't have nightmares."
"But..."
"Shogun, think of Ayaka and the others—they all sleep alone. Even when they have nightmares, they endure them by themselves. And yet, you're afraid even when Mother is holding you?"
Ei could only coax her in this slightly cunning way, knowing her daughter's pride. Once challenged like this, she would never back down.
"..."
As expected, after a moment of silence, the Shogun finally nodded in reluctant agreement.
"Good girl..."
Rustle...
The next second, Ei began undressing her daughter—first loosening the delicate folds of her pale kimono, revealing smooth, rounded shoulders and a soft, fair back.
"///W-What are you doing?"
The Shogun instinctively crossed her arms to cover herself, blushing furiously.
"Taking off your clothes. You need to undress before sleeping, or it'll be uncomfortable."
Ei explained casually while continuing her actions.
"I can—"
"You're going to sleep. Let me help."
"Ei... mm~! You're doing this on purpose, aren't you?"
She pouted, her voice full of embarrassed protest.
"Hmm? On purpose?"
Ei blinked innocently, her violet eyes wide and guileless. Her hands, however, didn't stop.
Once the kimono came off, even though the blanket shielded her modesty, she could still feel the cool air against her skin, making her shiver and instinctively curl up under the covers.
The next moment, Ei's fingers slipped playfully into the gap of her white thigh-high stockings, just below her hips.
"Mmh... don't..."
Her legs instantly pressed together in embarrassment, a shiver running up her thighs.
Ei's fingertips traced along the smooth skin beneath the fabric, slowly rolling the soft white stockings down her slender legs. The fabric wrinkled and gathered loosely around her calves, then slid past her ankles. Her fingers moved delicately, lifting her daughter's small foot and slipping the sock off her toes.
The motion was fluid and practiced—but it was almost too much for the bashful Shogun to bear.
Her delicate toes curled adorably as they were freed from the sock, her feet momentarily stretching before she tucked her legs up and curled her body in embarrassment.
The other leg soon followed. Ei neatly folded the still-warm pair of white stockings—carrying faint traces of her daughter's scent and warmth—and set them atop the kimono nearby.
Then, she slipped back under the covers, wrapping her arms once more around the blushing Shogun, whose face was now red as an apple.
Her daughter's innocence—Ei knew it well. And perhaps... that was precisely what made her so irresistibly endearing.
At some point, the Shogun finally turned around to face Ei. Perhaps she was too embarrassed—or perhaps that unfamiliar drowsiness was beginning to take hold. She reached out and hugged Ei's waist, pressing her face against her chest.
"Ei... I feel dizzy... I can't keep my eyes open."
She murmured softly.
"That's what sleepiness feels like... Don't resist it. Just let it take over your thoughts."
Ei spoke gently, soothing her with a motherly tone.
"...Mm."
The girl in her arms obediently relaxed her body. Her violet eyes slowly dimmed, until at last her eyelids fluttered closed.
"..."
The Shogun had fallen asleep.
Her first true sleep.
It was completely different from mechanical hibernation. Her breathing was steady, her chest rose and fell rhythmically, and her peaceful expression was no longer that of a puppet—but of an ordinary girl.
Chu~
Ei placed a soft kiss on her forehead.
"Good night... Shogun."
Click...
The light in the room went out. Bathed only in faint moonlight, the two of them—mother and daughter—fell asleep together for the first time.
...
The next morning—
Under the eaves of the Ubuyashiki residence at headquarters, the Flame Hashira, Kyojuro Rengoku, stood with his hand resting on the hilt of his sword, bowing silently toward the empty main hall.
It was his pre-mission ritual—a gesture of farewell to his master.
"..."
Straightening his back, he looked once more at the mansion before turning toward the courtyard gate.
Step, step...
"Heading out on a mission?"
A familiar voice called from behind. He paused and turned around, seeing the petite girl with violet-tipped hair—Shinobu Kocho.
"...Hmm? Oh... it's you, Kocho."
As colleagues, they were well acquainted, and at times like this, there was no need for formalities. Rengoku simply responded with his usual warmth.
Shinobu gave a small nod in reply.
"Information about a demon?" she asked.
"Yes. Just received word—there's demonic activity on the Mugen Train. The team sent there has already been wiped out, and the civilians aboard are being killed one by one. We can't just stand by."
During the last Hashira meeting, the master had changed the operational directives. The Hashira were now to act more frequently, personally investigating both the Twelve Kizuki and even lesser demons to minimize losses among the Corps.
"...The Twelve Kizuki?" Shinobu's eyes grew serious.
"Most likely. Possibly even an Upper Rank."
Rengoku's tone was calm but firm.
"Will you be alright going alone, Rengoku-san?" Shinobu asked, concern lacing her voice.
"Don't worry, Kocho! I'll be fine. Besides... there's no time to lose. Gathering others would only slow things down."
He wasn't wrong. Every Hashira had their own duties to attend to. It couldn't be helped that he would go alone—but he had full confidence in himself.
"...I see."
Shinobu's reply was quiet, but her expression was visibly uneasy.
"By the way... you're quite close with Raiden, aren't you?"
Rengoku suddenly changed the subject.
"Hmm? I suppose you could say that. Why?" she asked curiously.
"You have a good eye! It was the right choice to recommend her to Master Ubuyashiki. As a warrior—and as a woman—she carries a rare kind of strength and grace. Much like you! I hope one day to fight alongside her!"
Rengoku clenched his fist with fiery enthusiasm as he spoke.
"Hehe... I'll be sure to pass your words to her exactly as they are. But whether she agrees or not will depend on her mood~ After all, Rengoku-san might just be a 'troublesome man' in her eyes~."
Shinobu covered her lips with a soft laugh, teasing in her usual gentle way.
"Hahaha!! You may be right! Well then—off I go!"
With a booming laugh, Rengoku turned sharply on his heel.
The red and gold cloak draped over his shoulders fluttered like a banner in the wind, its edges dancing with a sound like whoosh, whoosh—leaving behind a blazing, heroic image that burned itself into the memory of the girl watching him go.
"...Phew."
Once his figure disappeared from sight, Shinobu exhaled softly. A faint, complicated light flickered in her violet eyes.
—
—
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