Narukami Grand Shrine on Narukami Mountain.
The ever-composed Yae Miko was finally getting antsy.
"It's been four days already. Why hasn't Su Xuan updated his diary?"
"He can't seriously just write 'Nothing happened today' again."
That'd be hilarious.
Three days and nights of nothing? Fooling idiots?
Those two were definitely up to some shady stuff.
Kujou Sara, freshly awakened and caught up on the diary, had her head buzzing non-stop these past three days.
Her own Kujou Clan—its head, Kujou Takayori—had actually colluded with the Fatui for personal gain, screwing over the General.
Such defiance of Narukami's will was unforgivable.
Kamisato Ayaka was equally restless.
Three days and nights, no diary updates from Su Xuan.
With the leak of intel about the Kamisato Clan secretly contacting the Resistance Army, the lack of follow-up left the White Heron Princess on edge.
She had no clue what the General (Raiden Ei) was doing now, or what she'd think upon learning all this.
Ayaka had hoped Su Xuan would jot down Raiden Ei's thoughts in the diary, but those daily [Nothing happened today] entries had her frantic.
Just as the three women stewed in their thoughts, all three diary copies lit up.
"The diary updated?!" Kamisato Ayaka hurriedly opened hers, her face lighting up. "Lady Miko, quick—it's updated!"
[It's been a few days since I last wrote.]
[The main reason is that over these three days, Raiden Ei and I conducted some in-depth academic research.]
[I have to say, Ei's mind is way sharper than she lets on.]
[She gets things with just a hint and even extrapolates on her own.]
[Thanks to that, our three days and nights of deep exchange forged a profound bond between us.]
[I planned to leave Inazuma for Mondstadt this morning.]
[At my flight speed, crossing the whole ocean, I'd reach Mondstadt by afternoon.]
[But this morning, Ei insisted on dragging me back for a refresher on those three days' 'academics.']
[By the time we finished, setting off now means I'll arrive in Mondstadt tonight.]
[No biggie, just a little late. Won't delay anything.]
[Finally, thanks to the General for the three days and nights of companionship and study.]
[Ga...]
The women: "!?"
Su Xuan was leaving Inazuma for Mondstadt?!
The pink-haired sly fox froze. "What the hell? He just up and left?"
Shouldn't he at least come back with Ei so everyone could meet him?
Nope—straight to Mondstadt.
Kamisato Ayaka's body trembled.
That meant Raiden Ei would return to Tenshukaku today.
But what would she do once back?
Boom!
Suddenly, a peal of thunder cracked the clear sky above the Grand Narukami Shrine.
Yae Miko's fox eyes narrowed. She quickly beckoned Kamisato Ayaka and Kujou Sara. "Ei's coming."
"The General's coming here!?" Kujou Sara perked up instantly. Before Yae Miko could react, she bolted out of the room.
By the time the three appeared outside the shrine, a streak of purple lightning arced from afar, landing on the shrine's torii gate.
Then, a graceful purple figure materialized—Raiden Ei, returned.
"G-General... greetings, Your Excellency!" Kujou Sara reacted first, dropping to her knees.
Seeing this, Kamisato Ayaka followed suit, kneeling as well.
Only Yae Miko smirked slyly. "Oh my, who could it be? My dear friend I haven't seen in centuries."
"What wind blew you to my doorstep today?"
"And you two—don't you know any manners? You should say, 'Greetings, Sovereign of the Sacred Sakura, Grand Narukami High Priestess!'"
Kujou Sara and Kamisato Ayaka hurriedly echoed Yae Miko's phrasing, shouting it out.
Raiden Ei coolly swept her gaze over them, turning into an arc of electricity. She reappeared right in front of Yae Miko. "That's enough, Miko."
"No need for the theatrics. I'm here to tell you I've emerged from the Plane of Euthymia."
Yae Miko pursed her lips with a smile. "Oh? You finally figured it out. Took you long enough."
But what surprised Yae Miko was how much Raiden Ei standing before her had changed from before.
Her aura and demeanor had flipped completely.
And her keen nose picked up a scent on Raiden Ei that wasn't hers.
Yae Miko's ears twitched. Combining it with Su Xuan's diary, enlightenment dawned.
"Ei and Su Xuan must've done all sorts of unspeakable things. No wonder that guy didn't spell out the 'academics.'"
"Can't exactly say it out loud, huh."
Raiden Ei had no idea what Yae Miko was thinking. Her tone stayed even. "I'm just here to give you the heads-up."
"Inazuma faces serious internal issues now. I plan to handle them personally—suppress the Three Commissions and the Watatsumi Resistance Army."
"Detain them all for interrogation."
"In the meantime, hurry and reorganize Inazuma's internals to get it back on track."
"Also, Orobashi, the Watatsumi Omniwikami, fell long ago. To prevent future discord, Watatsumi Island will be unified under Inazuma's management."
As Raiden Ei spoke, she glanced at Kujou Sara and Kamisato Ayaka kneeling before her.
She recognized Kujou Sara, the Shogunate general who occasionally entered Tenshukaku.
But this trembling girl with pale blue-white hair? No impression.
"Who's she?" Raiden Ei pointed at Ayaka.
"Oh, her? The young lady in charge of the Yashiro Commission, from the Kamisato Clan. The White Heron Princess herself, Kamisato Ayaka," Yae Miko said with a laugh.
"Yashiro Commission's head, huh? Perfect. Sara, take her down," Raiden Ei said flatly, nearly scaring Ayaka into collapsing.
But before Kujou Sara could move, Yae Miko cut in. "Hold on, Ei. Before that, I have some words for you alone."
Yae Miko pulled Raiden Ei aside.
She slyly flashed the diary copy in front of her.
Raiden Ei's breath hitched. "Miko... you have his diary copy too?"
"You're slow on the uptake. You didn't think I knew what happened these days?" Yae Miko could clearly sense Raiden Ei's shock at her diary copy.
Sure enough, Su Xuan had given Ei psychological pressure on par with the Heavenly Principles itself lately.
"Not just me—the little Kamisato girl you wanted to detain has one too..." Yae Miko smiled.
Raiden Ei's brows furrowed. She glanced back at Kamisato Ayaka, still kneeling.
She'd considered that Su Xuan's diary copies might be widespread.
But who could've guessed something so miraculous was handed out to so many?
For a moment, Raiden Ei was torn.
"Miko, using Su Xuan to pressure me?" Raiden Ei shot Yae Miko an annoyed glare.
"Look at you, my dear friend." Yae Miko sighed. "The Yashiro Commission's secret ties to the Resistance Army? They had no one to turn to, pushed into a corner."
"Besides, the girl's got some real talent..."
"More importantly, who could ever suppress Inazuma's Narukami God—you?"
Yae Miko saw the hesitation in Raiden Ei's eyes and inwardly rejoiced.
Using Su Xuan to pressure you?
Whether he did—or could—you know damn well.
She felt a dark thrill. With Su Xuan's diary in hand, she could totally fox her way around, fox-borrowing-tiger-power to tease her old friend whenever.
Raiden Ei tapped her chin, pretending to mull it over, then said to Kujou Sara, "Sara, take her to Tenshukaku."
"Soft confinement for now—keep her alive."
"No one sees her or harms her without my orders."
With that, Raiden Ei shot Yae Miko a look. "I'll head out first, Miko. Don't forget the tasks I gave you."
"Wait, don't rush off." Yae Miko sidled up with a beaming smile. "As your dear friend and retainer..."
"Don't I have the right to know what 'academics' you two researched over three days and nights?"
"If there's anything you don't get, I can help out~"
Raiden Ei's ears burned at the words. Her frosty face flushed crimson. "Miko, you..."
"No need for your help."
With that, she turned to lightning and shot into the sky.
Leaving Yae Miko alone, watching her go, chuckling to herself. "Ei... she's actually blushing..."
She casually flipped the diary to the photo of Raiden Ei on her knees for Su Xuan.
"So, is Inazuma Ei's Inazuma now... or Su Xuan's?"