Raiden Ei's mood was unusually good.
Yae Miko asked in confusion, "Where did you get that photo from?"
"Hm?"
Raiden Ei replied matter-of-factly, "I discovered I can extract scenes from my memories and send them as photos."
"You even found a way like that just to backstab me. You've really gone all out," Yae Miko said with a wry smile.
She had always been the one teasing this airheaded Archon, but now she'd been turned against. For a moment, Yae Miko felt like Raiden Ei was finally catching on.
"Don't send out everything!" Yae Miko shot her a glare.
"Mm, I know."
Raiden Ei nodded, then suddenly glared warily at Yae Miko. "I'm not stupid! I know what to do!"
Yae Miko smiled without saying a word.
The implication was all too clear, and Raiden Ei stared at her, both annoyed and amused.
"Alright, alright, let's watch the video instead. See how your retainer here is plotting a coup," Yae Miko coaxed her like a child.
Raiden Ei knew she was changing the subject, but she still turned her gaze back.
In the video.
Yae Miko spoke:
"The strange thing isn't my posture, but that she and I can never meet again, isn't it?"
"An unchanging eternal nation was our shared dream, but I don't believe that means complete stagnation."
"From a certain point onward, she walked down a path I could no longer reach."
"Before Shadow entered the Plane of Euthymia, she didn't say goodbye to me... Perhaps it was one-sided. I think that's how she believed our friendship could remain eternal."
"No farewell, no more meetings—our bond would stay frozen in that moment forever. At least, that's what she thought in her heart."
Lumine shook her head. "The one being one-sided might be the Raiden Shogun."
Yae Miko continued, "Since we've taken two completely different paths to eternity, I could maintain the status quo, or I could drag her back on track at any cost... Now I choose the latter. Because... if retreating into the Plane of Euthymia was her stubborn pursuit of eternity..."
"Then pulling her out of her self-made world is my duty as her retainer of eternity."
Hearing Yae Miko's words, Paimon said sincerely, "Miss Miko is a great friend."
"Heh~ I only told you all this to make my plan easier for you to understand. Don't get ahead of yourselves."
"Alright, chat time's over. Time for Phase Two of Anti-Raiden Shogun Training."
Yae Miko's smile made Paimon jump. "There's more?!"
[Gu Chen]: Rational analysis—if the Raiden Shogun secluded herself to avoid erosion, to stop losing more... Then, by ghosting Yae Miko without a word, didn't she make Miko lose her own god? Wasn't that the Raiden Shogun deliberately hurting Miko's feelings?
[Gu Chen]: We know Yae Miko is the Electro Archon's retainer, so they've spent at least centuries together! Assuming the Shogun kept losing people and her grief is understandable, Miko must have been grieving too. But by vanishing without a word, didn't the Shogun cause Miko a loss as well?
[Furina]: Good question!
[Heizou]: My grief is always one share more than yours—because that share came from you?
[Kaeya]: Damn, you guys are stabbing right at the Electro Archon's heart? (Hu Tao · sly grin)
[Furina]: Thinking one-sidedly that your friendship is frozen forever—no progress, no regression—what the hell is that?!
[Venti]: I at least went into a weakened slumber and couldn't help Dvalin. You straight-up ditched on purpose! (Nahida · pointing)
[Zhongli]: By general rationality, Miss Miko is used to wearing a 'mask' for others. How much sorrow hides beneath the one she deliberately showed? Perhaps the moment her friend vanished without a word, the real her was in utter agony?
Nice one, old timer. Only you could come up with that.
That line alone would make Raiden Ei drown in guilt.
In the real-world Plane of Euthymia.
Reading the group chat, Raiden Ei froze.
She slowly turned to Yae Miko, who still wore that smiling face, showing no trace of sadness.
Back then, she'd shut herself away for meditation and eternity without a thought for anyone... Miko had been losing too—just like her—and had lost her god in the process. Her heart must have ached so much.
The more Raiden Ei thought, the more her heart pricked like needles.
Suddenly, she reached out and hugged Yae Miko. Yae Miko paused, then softened, gently patting Raiden Ei's back.
"Miko, I'm sorry... I won't do that again!"
Feeling Raiden Ei's sincere apology, Yae Miko finally broke. Tears glistened at her eyes. "Then it's a promise—no more like that, ever."
She patted Raiden Ei's back to comfort her while snapping a photo.
[Furina]: Why aren't these two saying anything? (Sucrose · question)
[Gu Chen]: Is the inwardly sensitive and fragile Electro Archon bawling in the great Guuji's arms right now? (lol)
[Kaeya]: For real? I wanna see! @[Yae Miko]
[Yae Miko]: (Yae Miko · sly grin)
[Furina]: Hurry up, real or fake, spill it!
[Yae Miko]: Guess~ (sly grin)
[Raiden Ei]: ...
[Venti]: She's gone silent. Honestly, I'm scared of getting silenced now. (shivering)
[Zhongli]: (fear)
[Nahida]: (shivering)
[Charlotte]: Uh, can I use this as exclusive news? The Almighty Shogun won't kill me, right? (shivering)
[Kujou Sara]: (dizzy)
[Sangonomiya Kokomi]: So much info... But I really wanna ask: is the Shogunate still fighting Watatsumi Island? (Shenhe · stare)
[Raiden Ei]: Listen to Miko first. (Raiden Ei · self-isolating)
[Yae Miko]: This Guuji hereby declares: the Archon has been tamed! Inazuma now enters the Guuji's reign! (proud hands on hips)
[Gu Chen]: Congratulations to the Guuji on her ascension, long live Her Majesty!! (Hu Tao · sly grin)
[Venti]: Congratulations to the Guuji on her ascension, long live Her Majesty!! (lol)
[Furina]: Congratulations to the Guuji on her ascension, long live Her Majesty!! (Venti · confetti)
[Rahu Dragon King]: In that case, I need to figure out how to tame Morax? (thinking) (nod) Got it! That's the plan!
[Zhongli]: ...
[Dvalin]: (thoughtful)
[Venti]: No need to think—come on over! I can declare you the new Anemo Archon right now! (Venti · starry-eyed)
[Dvalin]: ...
[Jean]: (Qiqi · faint)
[Raiden Ei]: Miko, you're something else!
[Yae Miko]: @[Gu Chen]@[Venti]@[Furina] Inazuma's Retired Emperor seeks to restore power—my lords, come to the rescue! (Amid giggles, faint sound of Musou no Hitotachi for 5s)