"I've never kissed anyone before…" Yoimiya said with a hint of envy, secretly resolving in her heart that if Akio accepted her after her confession, she would let him kiss her as much as he wanted!
"Honestly, I think you should just rush over to Lord Akio, stand in front of him, and tell him directly! Say you like him, and he'll definitely accept you," Kamisato Ayaka suggested.
"Huh? No, no, I can't do that," Yoimiya waved her hands. She wanted to give Lord Akio a romantic confession! She wanted to show him her sincere feelings!
"Ayaka, could you help me invite Lord Akio out? Tomorrow night, at Byakko Plain. I want to confess to him properly. I've already prepared the fireworks," Yoimiya said shyly. "If Lord Akio is free, that is~"
"Of course, no problem," Kamisato Ayaka nodded. She didn't mind at all. If her good friend Yoimiya could be with Akio, she would be very happy for her!
"I'll go find him later," Kamisato Ayaka said. "Lord Akio usually doesn't like dealing with various affairs, so he'll definitely have time."
"Once he replies, I'll come find you, and we can set up the fireworks together," Kamisato Ayaka said with a smile. "Please allow me to secretly observe from the side, okay?"
"Huh? Alright… fine," Yoimiya thought about how Kamisato Ayaka would be watching her confess, and she felt shy. But considering how much Ayaka had helped her, she couldn't bring herself to refuse.
"Hehe, then it's settled," Kamisato Ayaka said, quite looking forward to seeing her good friend's bashful expression. Perhaps this was the mischievous side of a noble lady?
"Ayaka, let's go to the hot spring," Yoimiya said, pulling Kamisato Ayaka along, excited about tomorrow.
At the Grand Narukami Shrine…
The two of them had a joyful morning eating sweets, and even Raiden Ei's face showed a faint, sweet smile.
But soon, they saw Raiden Makoto return to the shrine with a dark expression, followed by Kitsune Saiguu and Yae Miko, who were gleefully looking at Raiden Ei.
The Raiden Shogun also shook her head helplessly, walked over, and pulled Ei out of Akio's arms, saying calmly, "Ei, Makoto wants to talk to you."
Then she sat down in Akio's lap, imitating the descriptions from novels, wrapping her arms around his waist and pressing her face against his chest.
Raiden Ei, who had been pushed aside, looked at Raiden Makoto's dark expression and didn't dare to speak.
"Ei! Look at what Inazuma has become!" Raiden Makoto, usually so gentle, couldn't help but feel angry after flying around Inazuma and seeing the state of the people's lives.
"I… I'm sorry," Raiden Ei lowered her head, not daring to look up. She already knew from Akio about the mistakes she had made.
"Inazuma is now riddled with problems, both internal and external! If this continues, Inazuma will soon exist in name only," Raiden Makoto said. "Aside from your martial suppression, will the people truly remain loyal to Inazuma? As the god who protects Inazuma, can you really bear to raise your blade against your own people?"
Raiden Makoto continued to scold Raiden Ei, who remained silent with her head down.
"Alright, Makoto," seeing that Ei had been scolded enough, Akio sighed and stopped Raiden Makoto. "Actually, this isn't entirely Ei's fault."
"Ei is, at her core, a pure warrior. She knows nothing about governance. When you were in charge, didn't Ei never touch political affairs? You left her so suddenly, and she was forced to take over Inazuma's governance," Akio explained. "At first, she at least had Kitsune Saiguu and others to assist her. But later, Kitsune Saiguu, Mikoshi Chiyo, and others died one by one for Inazuma, leaving only the young Miko and Ei alone. She's really endured a lot."
"For a pure warrior to have managed this much, while not perfect, is at least commendable, don't you think?" Akio reasoned.
Raiden Ei looked at Akio gratefully. As expected of her lord! In critical moments, he always protected her!
"That's right! Makoto, don't keep blaming Ei," Yae Miko also chimed in. "Ei's brain is so simple—all she knows is fighting. Isn't it too much to ask her to handle governance?"
Raiden Ei glared at Yae Miko. Even though she was helping her, this annoying fox was still so irritating! She really wanted to cut her down!
"Makoto, Ei has already worked very hard," Kitsune Saiguu said. "She has removed the mundane distractions, only to untangle the cycle of life and death. She is not truly understood by others, nor does she care to be seen through… Ei is a very contradictory person."
Hearing everyone speak up for Raiden Ei, Raiden Makoto looked at her sister. In truth, she felt deeply guilty.
She stepped forward and pulled Raiden Ei into her arms, her eyes slightly red, her voice choked with emotion.
"Ei, I'm sorry. I failed in my duties and left you with countless troubles," Raiden Makoto said softly. "I feel so guilty for suddenly entrusting Inazuma to you and making you walk such a difficult path."
"You must have wanted to cry many times, right?" Raiden Makoto asked gently.
"Hmph… don't underestimate me," Raiden Ei said, trying to sound strong despite her grievances.
"Hehe…" Raiden Makoto chuckled softly, looking at her sister's slightly aggrieved face and the tears hanging in the corners of her eyes.
She reached out and wiped away Raiden Ei's tears.
"Ei, I'm really happy. I've truly seen you again," Raiden Makoto said earnestly. "I'm so lucky to be able to witness Inazuma's future and walk alongside you once more."
"Makoto!" Unable to hold back her emotions any longer, Raiden Ei tightly embraced Raiden Makoto, tears streaming down her face. In the past, as the Raiden Shogun, as the supreme god ruling a nation, she had to maintain her expression. Everyone had only seen her strong side.
But in front of Makoto, she was still the younger sister who was loved and cared for. In front of her, she no longer had to pretend to be strong.
Five hundred years of grievances, pain, and loneliness erupted at this moment. She held Raiden Makoto tightly, not saying a word, just crying continuously.
Raiden Makoto gently patted Raiden Ei's back and said, "Don't be afraid. I'm back now. From now on, we'll face the future together."
"With Akio, the Shogun, Saiguu, and Miko by our side, our future will surely be wonderful!"
Akio watched this scene and sighed inwardly. Indeed, the power of the Herrscher of Rebirth was truly useful. The power of resurrection could always reshape imperfect stories into perfect ones. Perhaps the past had been hurt, but at least we could create a beautiful future, couldn't we?