Inazuma — Narukami Island — Tenshukaku.
When Luo Li stepped through space and appeared inside the audience hall, he noticed immediately that the person who should have been sitting at the dais—Makoto—was nowhere to be seen.
"Don't tell me she already left?"
He looked around. The tea on the low desk was still steaming faintly. Clearly, the owner had only departed moments ago.
Treating the Raiden Shogun's office as though it were his own living quarters, Luo Li walked out to search for her.
The moment he slid open the door to the corridor, the lively voices from the inner gardens burst forth.
"So she's over there."
Without slowing, he headed directly toward the private garden belonging only to the Raiden twins. The closer he came, the clearer the laughter of several women overlapped like a weaving melody.
He stepped past the gate, around a screen—
and a beautiful scene unfolded before him.
Under a blooming sakura tree, the Raiden twins sat together. Makoto gently stroked a small fox in her arms, a parasol opened behind her casting a soft shade.
Both sisters watched the dancing figures in the courtyard with faint, warm smiles.
There—
a moon-faced oni girl danced alongside a seductive white-haired kitsune.
Their movements were enchanting. They weaved through drifting petals, ribbons swirling like flowing moonlight.
"You all left me behind to enjoy yourselves?"
Seeing Makoto finally, Luo Li relaxed, smiling as he approached.
He knew they couldn't have left that quickly, but seeing her with his own eyes still let him breathe easier.
Makoto shifted her gaze toward him, huffing lightly in mock discontent.
"And yet you dare complain. Who was it that lingered so long in Liyue—gone for two whole months before returning?"
Her tone carried the subtle grievance of a wife whose husband had been off indulging himself.
But her expression held nothing truly accusatory, so Luo Li calmly played along.
"Well… Barbatos insisted I stay. You know how that guy is."
Ei said coldly, "Next time I see him, I'll cut him once."
Good brothers are meant to take the blame—Luo Li would never mention Rosalyne here.
Makoto watched him meaningfully, but in the end chose not to expose anything.
One way or another, the excuse barely passed.
As Luo Li sat down beside the Raiden twins, Chiyo—who had been performing with Saigū—immediately slipped close to him.
Tall and elegant, the oni girl carried herself like a dancer, leaning closer with every teasing turn.
Her crimson skin lent her an exotic charm unique to non-human tribes.
Luo Li met her with clear, appreciative eyes—not desire, but sincere admiration for beauty.
Saigū chuckled softly.
"Chiyo, looks like your charm isn't working today."
The fox woman hadn't changed at all in the months he'd been gone—still just as teasing and mischievous.
Unable to tolerate the provocation, Chiyo huffed and intensified her efforts.
She had secretly trained with Inazuma's most renowned geisha on how to dance in a way men couldn't look away from.
And unfortunately—
it worked.
Even Luo Li found himself pausing on her figure more than once.
"…Fine, you win."
Saigū conceded with an uncharacteristically defeated smile and stepped aside, giving the stage completely to Chiyo.
Makoto suppressed a laugh—rarely did she see her bold friend suffer a loss.
Leaning against the sakura tree, Luo Li teased Ei:
"Are you sure you don't want to try? Having the future Raiden Shogun dance for me… it'd be an achievement no one else could dream of."
Ei was tempted.
Seeing the chance, Saigū cheerfully brought out a tray of sweets from who-knows-where.
"Luo Li can be the judge. Winner gets a treat made by yours truly."
"I'm fine with that," Luo Li replied immediately.
Normally, Ei's competitiveness would explode at this point—but after wrestling with it, she reluctantly shook her head.
"…I'm not skilled at such things. I'll pass."
A tragic defeat for Luo Li's plan to someday immortalize Ei's dance with a Kamera. Truly heartbreaking.
In the courtyard, Chiyo ended her dance and immediately pounced toward them.
"I won! The prize is mine!"
"Yes yes, it's all yours."
Saigū giggled, handing the sweets to her like she was indulging a child.
But instead of tasting victory first, Chiyo lifted a soft piece of cake and gently held it to Luo Li's lips.
Saigū clicked her tongue.
"A god accompanying him, Saigū dancing for him, an oni general fawning over him… if word spreads, every man in the world will envy you."
Luo Li very much agreed.
Anyone else in this position would probably forget their own name from joy.
But she of all people had no room to talk.
He bit into the offered dessert and answered pointedly,
"Hm? Someone seems to have forgotten who watched over the Grand Narukami Shrine in her absence."
"My, my~ it was just a joke. Must you take it so seriously?"
Saigū instantly switched to a sweet, aggrieved tone—so natural one could believe she wasn't acting.
Chiyo ignored the banter, fully absorbed in the joy of feeding him.
After Luo Li finished his bite, she popped the remaining piece into her own mouth without hesitation and even licked the crumbs delicately from her fingertips.
Luo Li noticed, but said nothing—his attention returning to Saigū.
"Fine, I'll believe you. Now, about the payment you promised me for taking care of the shrine…"
"Oh my~ must we discuss private matters between the two of us in front of everyone? What a wicked man."
The cunning fox touched a finger to her chin, eyes shimmering like soft petals, voice dropping into a sultry, lazy purr.
"I can only say… the reward will be very enjoyable."
The last few words she whispered one by one into his ear—
in the perfect tone of an irresistibly mature enchantress.
Hiss—
As expected of Lady Guuji's predecessor—her skill spanned eras.
Even Luo Li felt as though his bones loosened from the heat of her breath.
But in the next heartbeat, Saigū sat upright with pristine dignity, patting her lap as if divine light radiated from her.
"Alright. Come. The wonderful lap pillow of an elder shrine maiden—there's only one in the world."
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