Inazuma, a few days prior.
After the Vision Hunt Decree was lifted, Yuna returned to her usual routine.
Occasionally setting up her stall to earn some money, followed by periods of leisurely downtime.
She had been deeply involved with the Resistance recently and swamped with tasks upon her return, only now finding time to set up her stall.
The crowd was larger than ever, and even with the entire Arataki Gang helping, they could barely keep up.
Fortunately, this high-intensity work lasted only a short while. Once most of her goods were sold, Yuna pushed her cart away.
"Is the little Boss out already?"
"So fast! I rushed over as soon as I heard the news, but I still didn't get any?!"
"Wait, I could have sworn I saw more..."
Yuna quickly closed the lid of her box, ensuring no one could see inside.
"All gone! I didn't prepare much this time. Come back next time, okay? I'll definitely have more then!"
Hearing Yuna's words, the customer who claimed to have seen more scratched his head.
Could I have been mistaken?
Yuna handed Itto and the others their pre-packaged orders, sending them off to enjoy themselves. She then pushed her cart to the other side.
Kuki Shinobu was puzzled. Why not just go home?
Yuna handed her Second Sister's portion with a smile. "Lumine and the others and I have an arrangement. I wait here for them whenever I'm selling. If they haven't arrived by the agreed-upon time, I'll head back."
"Second Sister, you go on ahead. I'll be back soon."
As for Yae Miko, whom she used to reserve portions for...
That Scum Fox keeps bringing up the time she helped me. I've already cooked meals at the Grand Narukami Shrine multiple times! There's no way I'm saving any for her now!
After Kuki Shinobu left, Yuna unfolded her recliner, scooped herself a generous serving of ice cream, and settled comfortably back.
This is what living is all about!
-
Lumine and Paimon had helped Ei settle some affairs with the Kujou Clan, and quite a bit of time had already passed.
"Oh no, Traveler! Did we miss our appointment?!"
Huh?
Lumine glanced at the sky and assured Paimon, "No, we're right on time."
Paimon stomped her tiny feet, visibly anxious.
"We shouldn't delay any longer! Let's hurry and leave! We can't keep Yuna waiting!"
"Okay, okay... Ei, let's go together."
Ei nodded slightly.
Soon, the group arrived at their agreed-upon meeting place and found Yuna sprawled on a lounge chair, fast asleep and utterly disheveled.
Paimon leaned her small face close and waved a tiny hand in front of Yuna's face, whispering, "Yuna, we're here!"
Yuna's eyes fluttered open, her gaze landing on Paimon's adorable face.
"Yuna, didn't you say you would not to wait if we were late? You must have been waiting ages! You even fell asleep!"
"No, no! I only waited a little while. I was just busy earlier, and lying down felt so comfortable... I drifted off without realizing it."
Yuna sat up and suddenly noticed Lumine staring at her. She immediately bristled, "Ah! It's... the Raiden... Raiden Shogun!"
Come to think of it, I'm still a member of the Resistance! And I even smacked the Raiden Shogun in the face with that Whatever Claymore—twice!
Twice! If the Shogun sees me again, she'll definitely strike me down!
Seeing Yuna's terrified expression, Ei likely guessed the reason for her fear.
-
Player World.
Guojia Chen Xiyao was playing through the Electro Archon's story arc. She hadn't fully understood it during the main quest, but now it was finally clicking.
Seeing Yuna's flustered reaction to encountering the Raiden Shogun, she immediately burst out laughing.
"Yuna, baby, why don't you challenge her to a Supreme Judgment? Where's your big sword? I miss your fearless, indomitable spirit!"
The comments section chimed in with their own teasing:
[Yuna: Cut it out! This is the Raiden Shogun!]
[Sweating buckets now, sis!]
[Who's a better cook: Xiangling or Yuna?]
[Didn't you hear Paimon? She said Yuna's cooking is even tastier than Xiangling's!]
[Upstairs, you think Paimon would say the same to Xiangling's face?]
-
"It's alright."
With just one glance, Ei knew exactly what kind of person Yuna was. There were reasons behind her past actions, so Ei wouldn't judge her harshly.
Yuna glanced at Lumine and saw her nod reassuringly. Instantly, Yuna's fear vanished.
Compared to what Lumine had been through, Yuna's past actions seemed insignificant. Lumine was now thriving, always by the Raiden Shogun's side, so what was there for Yuna to fear?
"U-um, your excellency, would you like some too?"
Yuna: Not afraid.
Body: Then why are you trembling?
"I'll give it a try."
Ei was also somewhat curious. Since leaving the Plane of Euthymia, she had rarely tasted food from the outside world.
The white, creamy dessert before her certainly smelled delicious.
Paimon and Lumine, seasoned veterans of food exploration, were already helping themselves.
Naturally, Yuna wouldn't let Ei lift a finger.
Yuna carefully scooped out a portion of ice cream and retrieved several skewers of Tri-Color Dango from her insulated box.
That's right, Tri-Color Dango! She could make those too!
"Would you like to try these?"
Ei nodded, accepting the ice cream from Yuna. She used the small wooden spoon Yuna had provided to scoop up a spoonful and bring it to her mouth.
The smooth, silky texture instantly spread across her tongue.
At first, a refreshing chill washed over her taste buds like a gentle morning breeze through mountain peaks, awakening every sensory cell.
The sweetness was perfectly balanced—not cloying, but like the crisp, intoxicating sweetness of first love, gradually enveloping her entire mouth.
As the ice cream slowly melted in her mouth, it became increasingly light, like snowflakes dissolving in her palm, transforming into a pool of sweet, clear liquid.
Each bite was accompanied by tiny, creamy bubbles that danced on her tongue with soft "pop-pop" sounds, adding an unexpected playful surprise.
After swallowing, a subtle milky fragrance and lingering sweetness remained in her mouth, leaving her wanting more.
Ei couldn't resist taking another spoonful, immersing herself in this world of exquisite textures and savoring the dreamlike fusion of icy coolness and sweet warmth.
"What is this called?" she asked.
Yuna immediately replied, "Ice cream!"
"Exceedingly delicious."
Ei then picked up a Tri-Color Dango, took a bite, and froze in place, just as she had with the ice cream.
"This is a Tri-Color Dango!"
Before the Raiden Shogun could ask, Yuna blurted out the name of the dish, her survival instincts kicking into high gear.
Lumine and Paimon were also happily enjoying their food nearby.
To cater to Paimon's appetite, Yuna had deliberately saved extra portions.
She had now climbed to second place on Paimon's "Good Person" leaderboard!
As for who held the top spot, Paimon stubbornly refused to reveal it.
After a while, Ei finished everything Yuna had offered and asked, "Is there more?"
"Just a little left," Yuna replied, "but I have some mini-cakes too. Would you like one, Your Excellency?"
"Mm-hmm."
In the end, Ei bought everything, including a small portion of Paimon's share.
Of course, she didn't pay...
Seeing Ei's reaction, Yuna knew she had secured her position. Heh heh, she thought smugly, the delicacies crafted by the great Yuna can never be forgotten once tasted!
-
For the next few days, Yuna didn't try to "borrow" any plot developments.
The Raiden Shogun's scene didn't seem to offer any opportunities for her to exploit, so she stayed put at the Arataki Gang headquarters, minding her own business.
Worth noting: Yuna caught an enormous Onikabuto beetle and crushed Boss Itto in their beetle battles every time!
From then on, Itto's cravings for Yuna's cooking were compounded by another desire:
His yearning for her Onikabuto!
A few more days passed. According to the timeline, it was around the time Xiao would have set off from Liyue for The Chasm.
The Raiden Shogun finally issued the order to lift the Sakoku Decree!
The following day, Kuki Shinobu came to Yuna to discuss arrangements for traveling abroad.
Yuna had been eager to explore the world for ages and was about to accept when our ever-elusive Guuji Yae materialized.
Under Yae Miko's relentless charm offensive, Yuna ultimately abandoned her plans to visit Liyue.
After all, as Yae Miko pointed out, the Raiden Shogun hadn't had a proper meal in days.
While gods technically don't need to eat, still...
She was their Archon, after all!
Meanwhile, the Player World received its update.
The Chasm arc had begun.