"Then your punishment shall be… one bottle of dango milk."
Su Ran handed Kujou Sara an unopened bottle.
This is… punishment?
She stared at it, utterly bewildered.
Before she could even ask, the group was already walking away, clearly not intending to waste time on her.
"…Was I… disliked?"
Surely not?
Perhaps the lord had other matters to attend to.
Still, she looked down at the dango milk in her hands.
There must be some deeper meaning in this gift…
It couldn't just be a simple drink, right?
Sara tucked it away carefully.
She was about to return to Tenshukaku— but stopped mid-step.
She had come from the frontlines specifically to report to her god.
And hadn't the god just been right before her?
Not the Shogun, true— but surely still one qualified to govern Inazuma.
Should she go back to find that deity?
Or report to the Shogun herself?
After a moment's thought, Sara chose the Shogun.
Her loyalty, after all, lay with her.
Only once they had finally shaken off Kujou Sara did Yoimiya breathe a sigh of relief.
That had nearly scared her to death.
How unlucky could she be— to bump into her of all people?
Not that things were much better now.
Even someone like Kujou Sara had addressed Su Ran as "my lord."
That meant his identity was far more than some rich young master.
So who was he really?
A clan head?
Or perhaps… a newly appointed dignitary of the Shogun herself?
Either way, Yoimiya's nerves refused to settle.
"What's this? It's not even hot— why are you sweating so much?"
Su Ran pulled out a handkerchief and gently wiped her face.
The gesture was as tender as could be.
But to Yoimiya, it only made the cold sweat worse.
Ayaka, watching her fluster, smiled faintly.
Clearly, aside from herself, the god had now found another plaything to tease.
"L-Lord Su Ran, please don't… you're scaring me…"
Yoimiya swallowed hard.
She even wondered if she ought to get her affairs in order.
Defying the Vision Hunt, sheltering fugitives— if those were exposed, she'd meet a grim fate.
And now Su Ran was wiping her sweat?
It felt more like crocodile tears.
"How could you be afraid of me?
Do I look so terrifying?"
His smile flared with charm.
Since his evolution into something greater, his allure had far surpassed that of mortals.
Not so overwhelming as to drive instant infatuation, but enough that ordinary people found it impossible to dislike or fear him easily.
Even Yoimiya, strung taut with anxiety, now ducked her head shyly, unable to meet his eyes.
In that moment, she understood why Ayaka might fall for him.
His appearance alone was flawless.
Su Ran lifted her chin, forcing her to meet his gaze.
"Answer me, Yoimiya.
Do I look frightening?"
Yoimiya: …
You weren't before.
But doing this? Kinda scary.
"N-not scary! Not scary at all!"
As expected of a sakura girl— she knew the wisdom of bowing to the moment.
"Hahaha, you really are amusing."
He released her with a laugh.
Yoimiya scratched her head, helpless, and turned to Ayaka, pleading silently.
Surely her best friend wouldn't just stand by?
"Clearly, Lord Su Ran finds it entertaining to tease you,"
Ayaka said with a small smile.
For once, she wasn't the only victim.
Seeing her dear friend bullied so pitifully, she felt her own balance return.
But there was also a pang of loss— as though something meant to be hers alone
was now being shared.
"Tease me…?" Yoimiya glanced nervously at Su Ran.
"Of course," he said cheerfully.
"Seeing the great Queen of Fireworks turn into a timid little kitten— it's quite the sight."
"…Brother Su Ran, your sense of humor is awful!"
After carefully confirming he meant no real harm, Yoimiya's heart finally eased.
Her tone slipped back to the familiar Brother Su Ran.
Hands on her hips, she glared up at him in mock indignation.
"No one's ever bullied me like this before!"
"But when I see you looking all scared, I just can't resist."
He spread his hands innocently.
Had fate been less generous, he'd surely have ended up on the Path of Erudition and Joy.
"Ugh, don't call me 'Yoimiya-sis'!
We're obviously the same age!"
Being called "sis" by a man taller than her, especially after being teased like this, was doubly infuriating.
She pounded her little fists against his chest.
Ayaka watched from the side.
Her smile faltered.
Hadn't Su Ran said he was her pursuer?
Hadn't he claimed he only teased her?
"…Alright, alright.
Lord Su Ran didn't mean any harm.
Just forgive him, Yoimiya."
She stepped in to mediate, not wanting to feel like the third wheel.
But Yoimiya only gave her a flat dead-fish stare, as if to say:
Look at his face. You really think that wasn't on purpose?
"Little Ei," Yoimiya turned to the child in Ayaka's arms.
"You tell me—your daddy's bad, isn't he?"
Ei: Do you realize the one before you is Inazuma's Archon herself?
Ei: Oh… right. You don't. And can't.
So the tiny godlet just blinked her big eyes at Su Ran.
"…Su Ran… bad."
"Heheh… I knew my Little Ei was the best!"
Yoimiya beamed in triumph.
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