As they continued their walk, even Su Ran could sense it—
Ayaka was unusually enthusiastic today.
If he didn't know her personality so well, he would've suspected she wanted a favor from him.
"Lord Su Ran, why are you looking at me like that…?"
Ayaka noticed his gaze.
"I just thought… you look very pretty today."
Even Su Ran, who didn't know much about makeup, could see she had put genuine care into her appearance.
She must have prepared carefully before heading out.
"R-really? I only… touched up a little."
Only now did Ayaka realize it herself, and a small bitterness welled in her chest.
If only the Shogun hadn't come today— if she had arrived later, or not at all—
Ayaka might have enjoyed more time alone with Su Ran, instead of watching the outing turn
from two people into three.
"Pretty Ayaka becomes even prettier with just a little effort!
If she really dressed up seriously, she'd be able to kill people with her looks. Totally."
Yoimiya added, her praise bright and sincere.
Everyone in Inazuma knew how exceptional the Shirasagi Himegimi was.
Any normal man wouldn't stand a chance— her beauty, talent, grace, discipline—
she was perfection.
Only someone like the Raiden Shogun, a literal god, could overshadow her.
"You're exaggerating…"
Ayaka waved off Yoimiya's praise.
Were it not for knowing Yoimiya spoke from the heart, she might have suspected this was a trap.
"How could it be exaggeration?
I'm not a guy, but even I can imagine— any man who marries Ayaka would live the happiest life imaginable."
It was the kind of praise only a true friend could give without jealousy.
Su Ran could tell it was sincere emotion, not empty flattery.
If he didn't know Yoimiya better, he might've wondered whether she actually liked girls.
"Yoimiya, you really need to stop…"
Ayaka raised her paper fan to hide her face, her cheeks pink with embarrassment.
But before she could recover—
"So tell me," Su Ran added casually, "how happy would the guy be?
Might as well let me prepare myself."
"L-Lord Su Ran! W-why are you also…!"
Ayaka wanted to stop them, but this familiar feeling hit her immediately—
Ah. It's back.
That feeling of being lightly teased, bullied affectionately, unable to escape yet secretly warmed by it.
But once these two started, there was no stopping them.
Her protests only fueled their fun.
So she turned those pleading eyes toward the Raiden Shogun.
But the Shogun merely studied her.
"It appears you are quite popular."
To be teased by the very god she worshiped left Ayaka utterly speechless.
It was a strange, suffocating frustration— even if she wanted to argue, she didn't dare.
"In the past, Inazuma had a 'Number One Beauty,' though that was centuries ago.
But now…
I believe the title could be revived."
The Shogun said this in complete seriousness.
To Ayaka, however, her words were even more damaging than Su Ran's and Yoimiya's teasing.
If Yoimiya was flattering her, the Shogun was roasting her alive.
"I—I'm just a mortal.
How could I compare to you, my Shogun?
The title of 'Number One Beauty' fits you far better."
Ayaka immediately tried to redirect the title.
"No need.
It wasn't mine to begin with.
You already have the title 'Shirasagi Himegimi.'
One more won't hurt."
The Shogun refused to accept it.
After all, she technically had three faces right now— claiming "Number One Beauty" for herself
would be… complicated.
As for Yae Miko, the Shogun would never hand such a title to that fox.
Her tail was curled high enough already.
Ayaka, meanwhile, was someone beloved and universally accepted.
If anyone deserved the title, it was her.
"..."
Ayaka bit her lip, eyes shimmering with grievance, looking pitiful enough to soften stone.
Even the Shogun thought, Yes. This expression suits her.
I chose correctly.
Kachak!
Su Ran snapped a picture with his phone.
Ayaka's tearful, beautiful expression was captured perfectly.
He immediately set it as his wallpaper.
"Impressive, Ayaka.
You look heart-stealing even when you're upset."
He showed her the picture.
Ayaka stared blankly at the photo— her shame erupting all over again.
She covered her face, unable to bear it.
Kachak!
Another photo.
Ayaka froze.
Through the gap in her fingers, she stared at him.
"L-Lord Su Ran… you're still photographing me?"
She was embarrassed enough to want to disappear, yet he insisted on preserving these humiliating moments?!
It wasn't teasing— this was cruelty!
She suddenly really didn't want to be noticed this much.
"That one wasn't me~"
Su Ran pointed toward the direction of Watatsumi Island.
Sure enough— the dream trembled faintly.
"With Morax backing them, their morale returned quickly," he said.
"I can already feel the dream beginning to crumble."
And indeed— something deep within the dream was breaking.
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