"Um... Yuuko-daren... wake up..."
Early the next morning, Yuuko opened his eyes to find Sayu already there, calling out to him by the bed.
Still groggy from sleep, Yuuko almost mistook Sayu for a body pillow and pulled her onto the bed.
But thankfully, Yuuko woke up at the last moment.
He let out a long yawn, then rubbed Sayu's head and said,
"Sayu, you're here so early?"
Sayu nodded slightly: "Mhm... the higher-ups... also agreed to let me act with Yuuko-daren..."
Actually, Sayu hadn't reported to the higher-ups last night.
Although, as a ninja, this was a serious dereliction of duty.
But Sayu didn't know why she did it, perhaps out of selfishness.
Anyway, subconsciously, Sayu really wanted to stay by Yuuko's side.
Since she had decided to go to Watatsumi Island with Yuuko, Sayu arrived at Yuuko's house early today.
After gently stroking Sayu's head, Yuuko got out of bed and said,
"Then Sayu, wait a moment. I'll go wash up, then we'll go out for breakfast, and after that, we'll go to Grand Narukami Shrine, and then depart for Watatsumi Island."
"Mhm..." Sayu nodded weakly, and after a few seconds, she belatedly spoke up:
"Eh? Grand Narukami Shrine?"
Perhaps because she was often dragged to work by that bad woman at the shrine, Sayu was particularly resistant to that place... whether it was the Miko Kano Nana, the 'Sayu-version human GPS', or Yae Miko, the chief priestess of Grand Narukami Shrine... they were all people Sayu didn't want to meet.
Normally, unless there was an order for Sayu to go to the shrine, Sayu would firmly refuse to go.
Yuuko explained: "Mhm, after all, I'll be going on a long trip soon, and I'd be worried if no one looked after the little fox at home, so I plan to go to Grand Narukami Shrine and ask the Miko to help take care of it."
"Hmm..." Sayu's expression was a bit strange.
She remembered the pink little fox that had competed with her for food at the dinner table before.
Sayu thought for a moment and then said,
"Then Sayu... will wait for Yuuko-daren at the foot of the shrine... Sayu... won't go to the shrine..."
"Uh, Sayu doesn't like going to the shrine?" Yuuko asked curiously.
"Hmm... there are annoying people there..."
"Is that so." Yuuko scratched his head, but didn't press further:
"Then Sayu, wait for me at the foot of Grand Narukami Shrine. I'll come down to find you after I'm done."
"Mhm..."
Afterward, Yuuko got out of bed to wash up and change his clothes.
Then he took Sayu out for breakfast.
After that, he and Sayu left Inazuma City and headed together to Grand Narukami Shrine on Mt. Yougou, north of Inazuma City.
They only separated when they reached the foot of the mountain.
Yuuko walked up the mountain, while Sayu waited at the foot... Upon reaching the mountain, Yuuko first asked the Miko if Yae Miko was present.
He intended to entrust the matter of caring for the little fox to Yae Miko.
However, upon asking, he learned that Yae Miko had left yesterday on some business and would likely not return for some time.
As for where Yae Miko had gone... no matter how Yuuko asked, the Miko remained tight-lipped about Yae Miko's whereabouts.
This made Yuuko quite awkward.
With no other option, Yuuko could only entrust the task of caring for the little fox to a Miko who seemed relatively reliable.
Yuuko's target was the Miko named Kano Nana.
Kano Nana usually wasn't in the center of the shrine, but rather wandered around the edges of the shrine.
Every time Yuuko saw her, she seemed to be in deep thought, not knowing what she was contemplating.
As expected, Yuuko saw Kano Nana again at the edge of the shrine's cliff this time.
"Ah, Yuuko-daren, you've come to the shrine again."
As soon as she met Yuuko, Kano Nana politely bowed to him.
"Miss Kano, long time no see. How have you been recently?"
"As usual, thank you for your concern, Yuuko-daren." After speaking, Kano Nana continued:
"Is there something you need from me, Yuuko-daren? If you're looking for Guuji-sama, that might not be possible, as Guuji-sama recently left on some business and won't be back for a while."
"No, I came specifically to see Miss Kano." Yuuko shook his head, then added:
"I'll be busy for a while, so there are some matters I need to entrust to Miss Kano."
"Oh, what is it? Please feel free to tell me." Kano Nana showed a surprised expression.
"It's just that I have a fox at home, but because I'll be busy with some things recently, it might be inconvenient for me to take care of it, so I plan to ask Miss Kano to help look after it."
After speaking, Yuuko added:
"Mhm, it's a pink little fox, very cute. Miss Kano will definitely recognize it when you see it."
"Uh... a pink fox..." Kano Nana's expression stiffened slightly, and her face became very strange.
"What's wrong, Miss Kano?" Yuuko asked curiously.
"Nothing! Nothing! Leave this matter to me!" Kano Nana hurriedly waved her small hands, looking very flustered.
"Uh, why does Miss Kano's reaction seem a bit subtle?"
Hearing this, Kano Nana paused, then realized her Loss of composure (loss of composure).
She cleared her throat to regain her composure, but the blush on her face had not faded.
"Nothing, since it's something Yuuko-daren has entrusted, I will do my best."
"You don't need to try too hard, just help take care of the little fox." Yuuko smiled, then took out a key from his clothes and handed it to Kano Nana:
"This is my house key. If Miss Kano has time, you can go to my house and feed the little fox."
"If Miss Kano wants to stay at my house, feel free."
"Mhm, just remember not to look at the books under my bed."
"Oh, the little fox usually comes home at night, but occasionally it doesn't, so Miss Kano doesn't need to worry too much."
Kano Nana took the key and nodded: "Please rest assured and leave this matter to me, Yuuko-daren."
"Then I'll leave it to you, Miss Kano. I have other matters to attend to, so I must go now."
"Mhm, Yuuko-daren, please take care." Kano Nana bowed slightly to Yuuko.
And so, Yuuko bid farewell to Kano Nana and left.
Watching Yuuko's departing figure, Kano Nana sighed softly, her expression becoming even stranger:
"A pink fox, could it be Guuji-sama...?"
"No, Guuji-sama isn't here right now, so it shouldn't be..."
"Moreover, Guuji-sama would never show that form to anyone, not even me..."
"Forget it, since it's Yuuko-daren's command, I must carry it out properly."
"After all, Guuji-sama once said that Yuuko-daren's words are equivalent to her words..."