"Hehe, this is actually one of the most popular items here," Yoimiya said with a bright smile. "A lot of people like buying it from my shop."
"I personally blended the herbs inside. It doesn't just repel insects—it also helps calm the mind."
"That sounds like a really nice little gadget," Akira Shindo praised.
"Huh? You like it?" Yoimiya asked. "If you do, just take one back and try it out."
"If it works well, you can always come get more later."
"Then I'll take one," Akira Shindo said. "Just put it on the Grand Narukami Shrine's account. I'll have a shrine maiden deliver the payment next time they come to the city to buy supplies."
"Ah, there's no need to go through all that trouble!" Yoimiya waved her hands quickly.
"Aren't we friends? Just think of it as a gift from me."
"…Alright then. Thank you very much," Akira Shindo said after thinking for a moment. Since Yoimiya had already said that, refusing again would only make things awkward.
Three milky-white diamond-shaped crystals appeared in Akira Shindo's hand as he walked over to her.
"What's up?" Yoimiya had just finished making the firework and stretched lazily. Seeing him approach, she looked curious.
"As a return gift," Akira Shindo said, handing the crystals to her. "These three crystals are condensed from my power."
"If you crush one of them, as long as the person isn't already dead, the energy inside can heal any injury or illness."
"Huh?!"
Yoimiya's eyes widened.
She hurriedly shook her head.
"I can't accept that! It's way too valuable."
"It's just something I made casually," Akira Shindo said calmly. "It's not that precious."
"But there's one condition."
"Don't use these crystals on outsiders."
"Otherwise, they'll bring you endless trouble."
To Akira Shindo, these crystals were trivial.
But if word got out that they could heal all wounds and diseases, the two crystals Yoimiya held would instantly become ticking time bombs.
"Take them," Akira Shindo said with a gentle smile.
"Aren't we friends?"
"…Alright."
Yoimiya nodded.
She didn't doubt Akira Shindo's words. As a god, there was no reason for him to lie to an ordinary girl like her.
"Oh right," Yoimiya suddenly said.
"I've got some new fireworks I want to test."
"Do you want to come outside and try them with me?"
"Sure," Akira Shindo nodded.
"Dad! We're going out to test fireworks!" Yoimiya called out to Naganohara Ryuunosuke before leading Akira Shindo out toward the countryside.
In the outskirts of Inazuma, evening gradually fell.
Yoimiya held the newly made fireworks sticks, smiling brightly like a child.
A cool breeze gently stirred the girl's hair.
Brilliant fireworks bloomed in the sky, their dazzling colors illuminating Yoimiya's radiant smile and flawless face.
Not far away, the warm lights of ordinary homes flickered.
Above them stretched a quiet sky filled with faint stars.
Together with Yoimiya's cheerful laughter, the scene brought a rare sense of vitality to this oppressed nation.
Fireworks were always fleeting.
Yet their brief brilliance left a vivid impression in Akira Shindo's heart.
"Akira Shindo! Wasn't that beautiful?" Yoimiya ran over excitedly after the fireworks ended, looking at him expectantly.
"Like silver flowers blooming beneath the moon," Akira Shindo said softly.
"The scenery is beautiful—but the person is even more so."
"Ah—!"
Hearing such a straightforward compliment, Yoimiya's face flushed red.
Her hands unconsciously clasped together as she lowered her head and stared at her toes.
A woman who lowers her head and can't see her own feet—such beauty belongs only to this world, Akira Shindo suddenly recalled an old saying.
Indeed.
A shy girl was the most beautiful sight in the world.
Ahh! Yoimiya!
You're usually so good at controlling conversations! Why are you losing your composure today?!
Yoimiya scolded herself inwardly.
How embarrassing!
She was still an innocent girl who had never experienced love. She didn't understand the subtle feelings behind it.
She simply thought she had acted strangely today.
Perhaps she was just feeling unwell.
After all, every time she looked at Akira Shindo, her heart kept beating faster.
Yoimiya raised her head and saw Akira Shindo looking at her.
She quickly spoke.
"Akira Shindo, let's head back. It's getting late."
"I'll treat you to dinner! You should try my cooking."
"Today was really fun."
"Yeah," Akira Shindo nodded.
"It was fun."
But sensing the subtle shift in Yoimiya's emotions, Akira Shindo felt an inexplicable trace of disappointment.
Then again…
How could Yoimiya possibly be thinking about those things?
She treated everyone with the same warmth and kindness.
"It's getting late, so I won't trouble you," Akira Shindo said.
"I still need to stop by Uyuu Restaurant. I want to bring some food back for Miko."
"So I shouldn't take up any more of your time."
"Alright then," Yoimiya nodded. She didn't insist.
After escorting Yoimiya back to the fireworks shop, Akira Shindo left directly for Uyuu Restaurant.
Yoimiya watched his figure disappear into the distance.
She scratched her head.
Something about today felt… strange.
But she couldn't quite explain it.
Shaking her head, she turned and went back inside.
"Dad!" Yoimiya saw Naganohara Ryuunosuke sitting outside enjoying the evening breeze and quickly dragged him inside.
"Hey, hey—Yoimiya, what's going on?" he asked in confusion.
"Dad, crush this!" Yoimiya placed a milky-white crystal in his hand.
"Huh? What is this?" Ryuunosuke asked, puzzled.
"Just do it!" Yoimiya urged.
If what Akira Shindo said was true, then her father's hearing problem might finally be cured.
"Alright, alright."
Ryuunosuke smiled helplessly at his daughter's insistence.
He squeezed the crystal.
It shattered instantly.
Before their astonished eyes, the broken crystal transformed into white light that flowed directly into Ryuunosuke's body.
"Huh…"
He blinked.
His ears suddenly felt slightly itchy and cool.
Then the sensation faded.
"Dad, how is it?" Yoimiya asked eagerly.
As usual, she leaned close to his ear and shouted loudly.
"Dad!"
"Ow!"
Ryuunosuke jumped in surprise.
"Yoimiya! Lower your voice—you're going to deafen me!"
"…Wait."
"My hearing!"
Ryuunosuke stared at Yoimiya in shock.
"Yoimiya… say something quietly."
"Dad," Yoimiya whispered softly.
"!"
Ryuunosuke froze.
He heard it clearly.
"My… my hearing is back?"
Tears streamed down his face.
After decades, he could hear again.
Watching her father cry with joy, Yoimiya looked down at the two remaining crystals in her hand and clenched them tightly.
"Yoimiya," Ryuunosuke said seriously after calming down.
"What exactly is going on?"
"It was Akira Shindo," Yoimiya answered honestly.
"He's actually the Chief Divine Priest of the Grand Narukami Shrine… and a god."
"Today I gave him a Chongtui Ring, and as a return gift he gave me these three crystals."
She opened her palm.
The remaining two crystals shimmered faintly with soft light.
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