"It was his request, so I'll do everything I can to fulfill it."
Kuki Shinobu looked at her older sister, Kuki Miyuki, who was smiling so blissfully, so tenderly. Her eyes seemed to hold the stars themselves. Shinobu fell silent for a moment. Could love really change a person this much?
It was hard to imagine the sister she once knew—someone who now practiced martial arts and whispered sweet, romantic words.
It was like Lord Akio had completely filled her sister's world.
That kind of happiness... it wasn't something you could learn from books. Shinobu had always believed that even love could be understood rationally. But now it seemed—maybe not.
"You're here so early. Have you had breakfast yet?" Miyuki asked, gently taking her younger sister's hand.
"Not yet," Shinobu replied, shaking her head.
"Skipping breakfast isn't good. I'll go make you a bowl of noodles." Miyuki's tone was serious.
"Good sis, really, you don't have to—" Shinobu had just started to refuse, not wanting to trouble her sister, when Miyuki cut her off.
"No skipping breakfast. Sit right here, I'll cook up a bowl of noodles for you. Won't take long." Miyuki didn't give her any room to argue, pushing her into a chair before heading into the kitchen.
"She's really changed a lot…" Shinobu watched her sister's busy figure in the kitchen, her thoughts drifting.
"She looks so happy. Is this what they call happiness? Can feelings between a man and a woman really bring someone that much joy?"
"What does that even feel like…"
And then, almost unbidden, Akio's face appeared in her mind.
She'd only seen him twice. The first time was when she went to the Grand Narukami Shrine to get some Sacred Sakura petals from Miyuki. Back then, he had been helping her in the kitchen. The image of him in an apron, smiling, had burned itself into her memory.
The second time was at the Divine Coronation Ceremony, when Akio and the Shogun descended from the heavens, lightning crashing in celebration, their divine power overwhelming.
That was when his image truly etched itself into her soul. Clad in dark divine robes, ascending to godhood—it was a moment she would never forget for the rest of her life.
"What's wrong with me? Why am I thinking about the Lord… No, my brother-in-law…" Shinobu muttered under her breath.
"Why does his image keep coming to mind? We've only met twice, that's it." She shook her head, trying to apply all the knowledge she had to analyze this strange reaction—but she couldn't come up with an answer.
Shinobu had always been a very rational person. Yet at this moment, she simply couldn't make sense of what she was feeling, and that frustrated her.
"Shinobu? Shinobu?" Miyuki's voice brought her back to reality. Shinobu blinked and looked up.
Miyuki was holding a steaming bowl of noodles and looking at her with mild confusion. "What were you thinking about? You looked totally zoned out."
"N-nothing," Shinobu stammered, shaking her head. "I was just thinking… about what certifications I haven't taken yet. Yeah, that."
"Is that so? Alright. Just don't push yourself too hard. First, eat something." Miyuki, not suspecting a thing, placed the noodles in front of her.
"Thanks, sis," Shinobu said.
"You're my little sister. Why are you being so formal?" Miyuki shook her head. "Go on, eat up."
"Okay." Shinobu nodded and picked up her chopsticks, slurping the noodles with practiced ease.
"By the way, Shinobu, what brings you to the Grand Narukami Shrine?" Miyuki asked curiously. Her sister had never been fond of shrine maiden life.
"Sigh… Arataki Itto got arrested by Kujou Sara. He's locked up for a month. I don't have much going on right now, and I've missed you, so I thought I'd come stay at the shrine for a while," Shinobu explained.
"Besides, I've been feeling kind of restless lately. I thought staying here might help me settle down."
"He got arrested? What for?" Miyuki asked.
"…" After a brief pause, Shinobu replied, "Disrespecting the Lord, causing a public disturbance, provoking the Tenryou Commission, obstructing patrol duties…"
"What? Disrespecting the Lord?" Miyuki's gaze turned cold. That Arataki Itto—was he getting too full of himself? He dared to show disrespect toward Akio?
"Ah, sis, it wasn't real disrespect. He was just running his mouth, saying that Lord Akio had poor taste for liking Kujou Sara…" Shinobu's eyelid twitched. Her sister's aura had turned terrifying in an instant. She was genuinely worried Miyuki might go beat Itto to death…
"Hmph. And who the hell does he think he is to judge Lord Akio's taste?" Miyuki scoffed. "Sara is brilliant in both strategy and combat. She's loyal to Inazuma, to the Shogun, and to Lord Akio. What right does he have to criticize her?"
"…" Shinobu quietly slurped her noodles. Her sister was usually the gentlest soul—when had she ever spoken so harshly?
It just showed how important Akio was to her.
"Shinobu, I've told you before—you're so talented. Why waste your time with those good-for-nothing types?" Miyuki said seriously. "Even if you don't want to be a shrine maiden, wouldn't it be better to find a stable job? I worry they'll lead you astray."
"Sis, I know what I'm doing." Shinobu replied earnestly. "You know I've never liked rigid, step-by-step living. The way I live now—it honestly feels just right."
"…Alright." Miyuki let out a long sigh. She never liked interfering too much in her sister's choices, nor did she want to force her.
"But I still have to warn you—don't cross the line," she said, and this time she meant it.
"Otherwise…"
"Don't worry, sis, I won't. I really do just see them as my brothers." Shinobu shivered. Her sister—usually so kind—was downright terrifying when she gave a warning.
Thank the Electro Archon she didn't have any romantic feelings for Arataki Itto. Just pure camaraderie.
If it had been love, and her sister found out she was running around with someone like Itto… with the power Miyuki had now, she'd probably storm into the Tenryou Commission's jail and strangle him herself.
Her sister might be gentle, but she had clear and unyielding lines: Akio, the family, and herself.
Which was why it wasn't surprising that Miyuki had used the word "warning." It all made sense.
Just imagine—your beloved younger sister, beautiful, brilliant, top of every skill, suddenly tells you she's in love with some delinquent who brawls in the streets and keeps getting arrested, and she wants to run off with him.
Wouldn't you kill the guy?