Kamisato Ayaka had taken the Raiden Shogun around Inazuma, showing her firsthand the lives of the people.
Only then could the god, who rarely stepped outside, truly understand her citizens' wishes.
Perhaps, after seeing their struggles, she would pay them more heed.
By coincidence, Ei herself had much the same idea— though for different reasons.
She simply wanted to see whether her people lived in hardship.
If they did, then her dreamscape would be all the more necessary.
If they lived happily, then why not make them happier still— even stripping away life and death itself.
As for Yoimiya, her purpose was the simplest: just to keep her friends company.
She didn't feel like a third wheel at all.
But wherever they went, eyes followed.
Normally, the Kamisato heiress would not warrant such a stir.
But with a man now at her side, things were different.
The Shuumatsuban ninja observed carefully, recording every move the two made, to report back to their clan head.
How would Kamisato Ayato react upon learning that his precious sister had grown so close to an unknown man?
Meanwhile, another group was watching— the Fatui.
They had long known an Executive had slipped into Inazuma, but only today did they finally lay eyes on him.
Had they not seen him flirting so blatantly, they might have revealed themselves sooner.
Now, seeing how intimate he was with Ayaka, the Fatui agents only felt a headache coming on.
They had poured years of effort into infiltrating the Tri-Commission.
The Tenryou and Kanjou Commissions were easy enough— Kujo Takayuki and Hiiragi Shinsuke were greedy men swayed by simple gain.
But the Yashiro Commission was another story.
Impervious to bribes, stubborn as a wall.
Yet here was their Executive, sweeping the Kamisato heiress off her feet at first sight.
To undermine the clan from within— a tactic they themselves had never dared.
Too brilliant.
As expected of an Executive.
Both Ei and Su Ran noticed the watchers.
But neither cared.
Ei, simply because she didn't.
Su Ran, because he wanted to see how Kamisato Ayato would react later— swallow his anger,
or bare his fangs?
And what would he feel if he discovered Su Ran was a Fatui Executive?
By nightfall, the four had toured every corner of Inazuma City and even Konda Village.
They had met several who had lost their Visions, their memories stripped away with their ambitions.
Ei fell silent.
But without anyone pointing out her errors directly, she would not question herself.
To her, these people—deprived of goals— were simply… content.
"Clearly, Inazuma's people are not happy,"
Su Ran remarked, helping Ayaka along.
But would merely showing Ei their suffering truly change anything?
Ayaka did not yet grasp Ei's obsession with "eternity."
The Vision Hunt and Sakoku had caused great harm— but even seeing it with her own eyes,
Ei's resolve remained untouched.
For her, the dreamscape was the true solution.
Once it was complete, all suffering would end.
Ayaka had overestimated her god's perspective.
Yoimiya, meanwhile, had enjoyed herself thoroughly, setting aside the earlier scare.
At the gates of her fireworks shop, she waved goodbye.
"I'm home! Um… Ayaka, aren't you heading back too?"
From Konda to Inazuma City, she had reached her doorstep.
But seeing Ayaka still at Su Ran's side, she blinked in puzzlement.
Night was falling fast.
Why hadn't Ayaka gone home?
"Because she's staying with me, of course."
Su Ran wrapped an arm around Ayaka's shoulder, shooting Yoimiya a knowing look.
Yoimiya: …
Why do I open my mouth?
Another dose of dog food straight to the face.
"Well then, rest up…" (expressionless)
And she vanished into her home.
Now only the three remained.
Ayaka looked down at Ei in her arms.
She had carried her all day.
Thankfully, when Su Ran had crafted this puppet body, he had tuned the weight carefully— otherwise even a girl like Ayaka couldn't have managed.
"Lord Ei, how do you feel about today's journey?"
She awaited an answer with hope.
"The Vision Hunt and Sakoku were indeed terrible policies.
The Shogun has done poorly."
Having walked the streets herself, Ei finally admitted the truth.
Leaving such matters to that rigid puppet had been a grave mistake.
She should have entrusted Yae Miko instead.
Hearing this, Ayaka's heart leapt with joy.
Her goal, at last, was half achieved.
"Inazuma has fallen too far.
We cannot restore it quickly.
We must redouble our efforts!"
Ei had given up on treatment.
If the living horse could not be healed, then she would treat it as a dead one instead.
In the dreamscape, all pain would vanish.
Ayaka's bright smile faded.
So in the end, though Ei had acknowledged the harm, she clung to her eternal dream even tighter.
Had today's careful guidance all been for nothing?
She turned to Su Ran.
He had likely foreseen this outcome all along— and let her try, just to watch her realize it herself.
"Let us return to Tenshukaku.
The Shogun must already be waiting."
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