'Kitsune Saiguu spoke in a natural tone, as if complaining about a friend: "To leave such an adorable child here, how utterly improper."'
'"How about it? Shall we go watch fireworks, throw darts, or fish for wind balloons?"'
In the boy's eyes, that beautiful woman's smile was so gentle, she was his light, dispelling the gloom in his heart, sweeping away fear and unease in an instant.
That fleeting encounter left an indelible mark on the boy's heart.
Indeed, she was so beautiful, and her beauty was not merely skin-deep.
Was this a dream? The boy wasn't sure, for she seemed too ethereal for this world, helping him and then vanishing in an instant, like a fleeting illusion.
He didn't yet know that this brief meeting would become an eternity he could never forget.
===✧✦✧===
The next panel showed Kitsune Saiguu crouching on the ground, lighting fireworks with her pipe, while standing beside her was Naganohara's ancestor, both focused intently.
'Kitsune Saiguu glanced at Naganohara and chuckled: "Hehehe, no problem, no problem, we'll definitely make the most beautiful fireworks bloom at this summer festival!"'
Naganohara Yoimiya's eyes lit up; Kitsune Saiguu's words and demeanor resonated with her.
===✧✦✧===
Ten years later, that little boy had grown into a young man, visiting the shrine with his beloved to attend the summer festival.
For some reason, as he passed the place where he got lost ten years ago, he accidentally twisted his ankle. His beloved went to find medicine, and he sat on a rock to rest.
At that moment, a beautiful woman wearing a fox mask sat beside him.
'Kitsune Saiguu tilted her head slightly toward the young man: "Few know of this spot; it's a great angle for watching fireworks."'
The young man panicked. He had thought it was just a dream, but the person from that dream truly existed. Ten years… and you haven't aged a day.
'Kitsune Saiguu teased: "You've grown so much; I suppose fishing for wind balloons is off the table."'
'Saying so, she pulled out a sake bottle: "How about it? I brought sake. Shall we watch the fireworks together?"'
The young man wanted to respond, but before he could speak, fireworks bloomed in the sky, their sound and light capturing his attention.
Those beautiful fireworks were unlike anything he'd seen in his life.
When he turned back, the woman from his dream was gone, leaving only a fox mask behind, with words written on it:
'"Sorry, I slipped away with the sound of the fireworks. We probably won't meet again, so please take care."'
How self-assured, appearing suddenly and vanishing just as abruptly.
===✧✦✧===
On the next page, the scene included not only Kitsune Saiguu but also a shrine maiden, and in the distance, there seemed to be two tengu, one large and one small.
'Kitsune Saiguu said with a sigh: "Such an adorable child. Even the great tengu, always caught up in playful slaughter, has started to feel a bit of motherly awareness…"'
'Kitsune Saiguu turned to the shrine maiden, joking: "But… the shrine always feels a bit lacking in the liveliness of children. That's no good. How about you, Kyou, turn back into a child?"'
This shrine maiden, named 'Kyou,' was Asase Hibiki, one of the three members of the Yae Miko's troupe.
She had come to the Grand Narukami Shrine as a child to train, practically raised by Kitsune Saiguu.
'Asase Hibiki said helplessly: "Lady Saiguu… that would make the age gap between me and Takamine too wide."'
'"He's already an old man as it is."'
The Takamine she mentioned was Takamine the Mistsplitter, also known as 'Konbumaru,' and the two were mutually in love.
Asase Hibiki's helplessness only drew a few silvery laughs from Kitsune Saiguu, who didn't respond.
Kitsune Saiguu glanced toward the mountain path outside the shrine. There, a young man held a water balloon and wore a fox mask.
He had come again, ostensibly to fulfill a vow at the shrine, yet somehow ended up wearing the two items from when he met her, perhaps secretly hoping to see her again.
Kitsune Saiguu subtly cast a spell, and the young man felt as though she, dressed in white, was sitting on the rock where they once watched fireworks together.
Rushing closer, he saw it was merely a white fox sunbathing, which, startled by the young man, darted into the woods.
In the end, only a wooden dart remained on the rock.
Kitsune Saiguu smiled. Fireworks, darts—she had brought him to see everything they had promised back then.
Readers shook their heads inwardly. This Kitsune Saiguu was truly Inazuma's queen of charm, a heart-stealing arsonist. Who could resist her?
One glimpse of Saiguu, and you're doomed for life!
===✧✦✧===
In the next panel, Kitsune Saiguu's smile turned into a hearty laugh, holding a sake cup.
Around her sat a crowd of youkai, even the Raiden sisters were there, with a pink fox nestled in Ei's arms.
A woman with red oni horns stood up, her appearance stunning yet her attire quite unconventional.
'Mikoshi Chiyo, brimming with pride, laughed: "The Taihei Kagura dance? I can dance it too!"'
As if to prove she wasn't just a martial brute, Mikoshi Chiyo intended to perform the dance before the Shogun.
Kitsune Saiguu found it amusing, set down her sake cup, and joined in the dance, guiding the clumsy-footed Mikoshi Chiyo to move more naturally.
The panel froze on their breathtaking smiles, the moment they brushed past each other in the dance, their exchanged glances embodying the world's beauty in that instant.
Seeing this, Ei broke down, memories turning into tears washing over her.
Things were so good back then, everyone was together. If only that moment could be eternal, like this panel.
===✧✦✧===
The next scene still featured two figures, but this time it was Kitsune Saiguu and the tengu clan leader.
Were they competing to see who could run faster? The panel captured the moment of 'crossing the finish line,' with Kitsune Saiguu raising both arms—she had won? She outran a tengu in speed?
In the next panel, Kitsune Saiguu seemed slightly dissatisfied: '"How could you go easy on me!"'
Behind her, her large, fluffy white tail seemed to stand upright.
Unlike Yae Miko, she didn't use magic to hide her tail.
'The great tengu laughed: "I didn't go easy on you."'
In the distance, Asase Hibiki and Takamine the Mistsplitter watched their respective masters, exchanging a glance that revealed mutual helplessness.
Still unsatisfied with the outcome, Kitsune Saiguu sought out the great tanuki youkai, Ioroi.
'Kitsune Saiguu pointed a finger mysteriously: "How about a little contest?"'
She produced a narukusa flower: '"If you can hide with this and I don't find you, you win. How's that?"'
Ioroi chuckled gleefully: '"Then I'll definitely beat you!"'
'Kitsune Saiguu, with a sly expression, took a puff from her pipe: "If you lose, don't try to weasel out of it."'
===✧✦✧===
On the next page, Kitsune Saiguu, along with the Shogun, found Ioroi. It turned out the narukusa she gave him came from the Shogun's garden.
===✧✦✧===
Character Voice · Kitsune Saiguu: About Her Own Story
"What an interesting way to record things. Yae Miko started Yae Publishing House for light novels; maybe I should start one for drawing manga?"