After that, Ayato wrote both of their names on the list spread across the table, officially completing their registration. Of course, her name was not written directly as "Raiden Shogun," which would have been far too conspicuous at a glance. Instead, she used "Mio" as an alias.
At least it served as a decent cover; otherwise, she would undoubtedly attract attention. Haa, at times like this, she was always grateful to Kokomi. If not for her, this name would never have existed, and now it seemed to have saved her a great deal of trouble.
"All right. The two of you are officially registered."
Ayato set down his brush and spoke to them.
"What are the three items?"
The Shogun asked curiously.
"Shogun-sama, there's no need to be impatient. Once you arrive at the Test of Courage, someone will naturally explain those three items to you."
Ayato deliberately left her in suspense.
"...All right."
She nodded and gave up on pursuing the matter.
"Oh, right. A friendly warning... Every Test of Courage tends to give rise to a few strange and eerie rumors, so I hope you'll both be careful."
Ayato warned them.
"Haa, Ayato... are you really giving me that kind of warning?"
She looked at him teasingly.
"Hehe... Those words were originally meant for the other visitors. I'm merely doing my duty and finishing the warning here as well. With Shogun-sama accompanying my sister, I naturally have nothing to worry about."
Ayato smiled with narrowed eyes.
"..."
However, Ayaka beside her looked somewhat preoccupied. Her delicate lips were lightly pursed, and her fair, breathtakingly beautiful face revealed a faint discomfort with topics involving ghosts and spirits... or perhaps even a small trace of fear.
Ayato also noticed the subtle change in his sister's expression and smiled helplessly to himself... but he did not point it out. After all, it came back to the same thing—with Shogun-sama accompanying his sister, there was nothing to worry about.
"Let's go, Ayaka... We'll take a look at the venue."
The Shogun stood directly, smoothing the hem and flowing sleeves of her kimono before extending a slender hand toward Ayaka.
"...All right."
Ayaka came back to herself. Seeing the fair hand extended toward her, she gave a tender smile, reached out to take it, and rose to her feet as well.
"Then I wish the two of you a pleasant journey."
Ayato also stood to see them off. He accompanied them to the main gate and bid them farewell before departing once more, heading back into the Kamisato Estate and leaving the two women standing outside.
"Were you frightened just now?"
She had noticed Ayaka's reaction earlier but had said nothing while others were present. Now that they were alone, she finally brought it up.
"...Mm. I won't hide it from you, I was a little... Truthfully, I'm not very good at dealing with matters involving gods, ghosts, and spirits... I'm always worried that if I behave too improperly, I'll bring shame upon the clan."
Ayaka unconsciously gripped her folding fan with both hands, her eyes lowered slightly as she explained her complicated feelings.
"But that's only when you're dealing with outsiders, isn't it?"
She asked.
"Huh?"
Ayaka looked at her in confusion.
"If that's only for outsiders... then there's nothing to worry about. Considering our relationship, you and I stopped being outsiders long ago. There's even less need to fuss over tedious matters like whether you're being 'improper.' If you're frightened, simply hide behind me."
She gently reassured the girl.
".../// Hehe... In that case, Ayaka will stop holding herself back when she's beside you."
Ayaka said with a blush.
"That's not quite right. When have you ever held yourself back around me~? Would someone reserved keep doing such shameless things to me?"
The Shogun gave the pale-haired girl a mildly aggrieved look, as though saying, When have you ever been reserved with me? Not only are you not reserved, you're especially indulgent... and you keep pushing your luck more and more.
Where was all that restraint when you pinned me to the ground and kissed me before~? Haa...
"Mm... That's only because you're too tempting///. Before I realize it, I just—mm~"
Ayaka hid her flushed face behind her folding fan and tried to explain in a small voice, only for the Shogun to gently poke her forehead with a finger.
"It's always the same excuse... Haa... forget it."
She withdrew her finger and stopped pursuing the matter. Although admitting it was somewhat embarrassing... she did not dislike Ayaka's intimate and suggestive touches either.
Just as the two were about to head toward Chinju Forest, they happened to spot two men ahead of them. One was very familiar—the Kamisato Clan's retainer, Thoma. The other was considerably more unexpected.
"Brother Thoma, I still have to thank you for helping the Arataki Gang pass our message along to the Kamisato Clan last time... Hahahahaha!!"
Indeed, it was Arataki Itto. The young man with long white hair and two oni horns currently had an arm slung around Thoma's shoulders. His voice was bold and booming, and that distinctive laughter of his was impossible for anyone else to imitate.
"Brother Itto, you're too kind. This is part of the Yashiro Commission's work anyway, so it was only natural. H-Hehe!"
With Itto's arm around his shoulders, Thoma rubbed the back of his head with an awkward smile. His sharp eyes then caught sight of his lady and Shogun-sama approaching, and he immediately raised a hand in greeting.
"My lady! Sho—! Uh..."
Thoma abruptly stopped himself. Wasn't this a situation where I shouldn't expose Shogun-sama's identity? He awkwardly left the rest unsaid.
"Huh? Oh! It's Miss Kamisato! Good to see you, good to see you!"
The moment Itto spotted Ayaka approaching, he released Thoma and greeted her heartily.
"Mr. Arataki, it has been some time. Have you been well lately?"
Ayaka stopped and exchanged pleasantries with him.
"Great! Better than ever~! That 'Arataki's Great and Glorious Drumalong Festival~!!' last time was all thanks to you guys helping us brothers find a proper venue. Otherwise, we'd have been left starving!"
As Itto recited the ridiculously long name, he even struck an exaggeratedly dramatic pose.
"It was nothing... After all, that is work the Yashiro Commission ought to handle. You give us too much credit, Mr. Arataki."
Ayaka smiled softly and opened her folding fan as she answered him.
"Hehe, I guess you've got a point... Huh? Who's this?"
Itto finally turned his attention toward the Shogun and asked Ayaka in confusion.
"Just call me 'Mio.' I'm a friend of Ayaka's."
She introduced herself simply.
"Oh... Mio, huh? Nice to meet you, nice to meet you! I'm Arataki 'Braver Than the Heavens' Itto!!"
You really don't have to say that weird middle part out loud...
Thoma complained inwardly.
Arataki... Itto?
The name stirred an old memory. She remembered it sounding somewhat familiar. When she had previously been with Sara, she seemed to recall Sara mentioning him. At the time, this man had also pasted several prank notices onto the bulletin board.
What she remembered most clearly was that this man was capable of making Sara show flustered and impatient expressions. Sara seemed to care quite a bit.
"You said your name is Arataki Itto?"
She asked again to confirm.
"Yeah! The one and only Arataki 'Braver Than the Heavens'—"
"You're the one who pasted notices on the Hanamizaka bulletin board with things like 'Challenging Kujou Sara,' correct?"
She habitually folded her arms, and an almost admonishing air naturally settled around her.
"Huh—?!"
Itto's expression instantly froze. His entire body jolted, and his voice cracked comically.
"Although the Vision Hunt Decree is already a thing of the past, pasting scraps of paper unrelated to the bulletin board's intended notices is still an act that disrupts public order in Inazuma. You're not a child. You should understand something that simple."
She reprimanded him.
"Uh... I-I..."
Itto found himself unable to come up with a response, nor did he dare talk back. Somehow, this woman's presence had suddenly become overwhelmingly imposing, leaving him able to do nothing but stammer awkwardly.
"Uh, hehe, well... that's all in the past now, all in the past, haha... Besides, Brother Itto doesn't post them anymore. So, um... (Shogun-sama...)"
Noticing the awkward atmosphere, Thoma immediately gathered his courage and tried to smooth things over.
"Y-Yeah! I'm an upstanding citizen of Inazuma now! I'm really sorry about what happened before~!!!! On behalf of the Arataki Gang, and on behalf of myself—ah, no, wait, it was me in the first place. I apologize to you!!!"
Itto immediately bent deeply at the waist toward her, nearly dropping to his knees. Even he had no idea why he had suddenly become so afraid of this woman, but right now, instinct told him that this was exactly what he needed to do!
Besides, that whole thing was the Kujou tengu's fault in the first place! If she hadn't confiscated my Vision, I wouldn't have needed to put those notices up!
"(Shogun-sama...)"
Ayaka also discreetly squeezed the back of the Shogun's hand and softly tried to persuade her.
"Haa... forget it. Today is a festival. We'll leave that matter aside for now."
She sighed and let the matter go.
That scared me to death!!
I don't even know who she is, but that presence of hers is seriously no joke!!
Itto inwardly breathed a sigh of relief. He felt that this woman was even more imposing than the Kujou tengu... She had subdued him with just a few sentences.
"However... I seem to remember that back then you called yourself 'Arataki... The One and Oni Itto,' didn't you? How did it become 'Braver Than the Heavens' now?"
She narrowed her eyes and asked.
"Uh—w-well, you see~! Since yours truly is bursting with charisma, my titles have to change endlessly to match all the different kinds of charm I radiate!"
Itto somehow produced a comb from nowhere and vainly struck a pose while combing his hair.
"..."
The Shogun stared at him in silence through narrowed eyes, her gaze filled entirely with speechlessness.
Now I finally understand what Sara meant when she described him back then...
Still... perhaps someone this cheerful will naturally live a colorful and eventful life. That's a good thing.