Though Watatsumi Island wasn't large, its affairs were plenty. Most of them concerned the people's daily lives, while only a few involved state matters—and that made sense. The island was still isolated under the Sakoku Decree, and the only nation it could trade with was Narukami Island, represented by her. But since the two sides were still in peace negotiations, there was naturally no commerce between them. Thus, the lack of state affairs was understandable.
Rustle~
The sound of a pen scratching across paper had been going on for quite some time. Who knew how long it had been—perhaps over an hour?
"Phew..."
Finally finishing the last of the petitions—most of which were related to civilian affairs—she exhaled deeply in relief. After all, she had long grown accustomed to this kind of work in Tenshukaku; approving such a pile was nothing taxing for her.
Outside, the island was completely silent. It was already quite late—the night likely half gone. Apart from the area illuminated by the desk lamp, the rest of the room was shrouded in darkness.
As usual, she stacked the finished documents neatly and set them in place. Out of habit, she glanced toward the girl who had been lying quietly nearby—thinking she had already fallen asleep.
However—
"...Thank you for your hard work, Shogun-sama."
Kokomi wasn't asleep. Though her eyes were half-lidded from drowsiness, she had been quietly watching the Shogun's profile all this time. Seeing her move at last, she forced her sleepy gaze open and spoke softly in gratitude.
"You... haa... why aren't you asleep yet?"
The Shogun asked wearily, narrowing her eyes.
"I was waiting for you."
Kokomi replied matter-of-factly. Perhaps because of the movement, her sleepy eyes regained some of their earlier liveliness.
"...Waiting for me to do what?"
The Shogun sighed.
"To sleep."
Kokomi answered.
"I don't need—"
She was about to say that she didn't need sleep when she suddenly remembered what Ei had once told her—repeated warnings not to stay up too late that had nearly worn her ears out.
"...Haa."
She stood up and looked around. It was far too late to find another room now, and she didn't want to trouble this girl further. Forget it—she could just sleep on the floor. It was carpeted, anyway.
"I'll sleep on the floor."
She said, reaching for a blanket.
"No, you can't."
Kokomi refused immediately, reaching out to grab the Shogun's sleeve.
"Then where should I sleep? Floating?"
The Shogun asked dryly.
"On the bed... here."
Kokomi patted the empty space beside her.
"...You want me to sleep with you?"
The Shogun asked awkwardly.
"Yes. Otherwise, there's nowhere else, right?"
Kokomi replied innocently.
"..."
The Shogun looked at the spot Kokomi had patted, hesitating. To be fair, she had never slept beside another woman before. The only times she had shared a bed were with Ei—her mother, so that didn't count. This would be the first time... with someone else.
"///"
The thought alone made her blush. She turned her face away slightly, frozen in place.
"Are you... afraid it'll be cold? It's okay, I've already warmed it up for you...///"
Kokomi said softly, her voice growing smaller as she spoke, embarrassment coloring her tone. The atmosphere quickly turned awkward.
"...///"
The Shogun said nothing. Her fingers fidgeted with the edge of her skirt as she tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear, her earlobe faintly red.
"Shogun-sama... do you dislike me?"
Seeing her still silent, Kokomi asked cautiously, her voice tinged with sadness.
"Haa... you really are... troublesome...///"
The Shogun finally gave in, cheeks burning as she turned her back and sat down on the edge of the bed, grumbling softly before beginning to undress. Since she faced away, Kokomi couldn't see her face—otherwise she would've seen how adorably flustered she looked.
"///!"
Seeing the Shogun's movements, Kokomi's face flushed bright red too. She quickly raised the blanket to cover her nose, only her wide eyes peeking out—watching as even the act of undressing carried an unintentional allure.
Under the gaze of the girl behind her, the Shogun, cheeks flushed with embarrassment, slowly unfastened the dress that connected her upper bodice to her skirt. She then lifted her shapely legs and gracefully slid off the black thigh-high stocking from her right leg and the shorter one from her left. Standing up, she let the loosened dress slip off her shoulders.
Thud~
The garment slid down her smooth legs and pooled silently at her feet, leaving her body clad only in undergarments. Fair, flawless skin gleamed faintly under the dim light, exposed both to the cool air and to Kokomi's wide, captivated eyes.
"///"
Kokomi was completely entranced, her gaze hazy and unfocused.
"D-do you... have any sleepwear?///"
The Shogun turned slightly, asking with a faint blush coloring her face.
"Eh? Ah... yes, in the wardrobe—I can—"
"Stay where you are. I'll find it."
Suppressing her embarrassment at standing half-naked in the open air, the Shogun gently pressed Kokomi back onto the bed. Then, she walked to the wardrobe, found a suitable set of sleepwear, and removed her undergarments before putting on a light lavender nightdress. The fit was, surprisingly, perfect.
"Does it fit?"
Kokomi asked softly.
"Not bad... it's quite comfortable."
The Shogun replied as she sat back on the edge of the bed, folding her discarded clothes neatly and placing them on the chair by the window—stacked together with Kokomi's own garments.
She removed her hair ornaments, loosening the braid behind her head and letting her long, dark hair flow freely down her back. Its faint fragrance drifted gently through the room.
Seeing this, Kokomi immediately shifted a little, moving aside to leave the warmed spot for her.
Click~
The Shogun then turned off the lamp. In complete darkness, she felt her way forward and quickly slipped under the blanket. Indeed, as Kokomi had said, the bedding was already warm—soft, and carrying her scent.
However—
Since the lights were off, the room was pitch-black. Neither could gauge the other's position, and in such a small, single bed, their bodies were bound to brush together now and then...
What followed next was inevitable—
"Mm... don't move around...///"
Feeling something soft brush against her abdomen, the Shogun trembled slightly and muttered a flustered complaint into the darkness.
"I didn't move. It's you who moved, Shogun-sama...///"
Kokomi's shy voice came in reply. She could feel the Shogun's silky hair brushing against her neck, tickling her skin.
"Who's moving? And... what is this?"
Boop~
In the dark, the Shogun curiously reached forward, squeezing something soft.
"Ah~ please don't pinch my cheek!"
Kokomi squirmed, then accidentally pressed forward, her face bumping into something springy and warm.
Boop~
"Uuh~ don't... don't touch there...///"
The Shogun froze, realizing that Kokomi's soft face—or perhaps her hands—were brushing against a rather sensitive area. A strange shiver ran down her spine as her voice trembled with embarrassment.
"Eh? What did I touch? I didn't touch anything... Wait—Shogun-sama, your foot! You kicked my leg—ah... don't rub against my thigh...///"
Kokomi lifted her face in confusion, startled by the Shogun's quiet gasp earlier. But when she felt the pressure of a leg against her own, she blurted out shyly.
"You're one to talk. Your leg's the one tangled with mine."
The Shogun sighed helplessly, trying to free her leg.
Their eyes still hadn't adjusted to the darkness—it was pitch black, not even a hand could be seen before one's face. Finally, she opened the faint glow in her eyes, releasing a gentle violet light that illuminated the inside of the blanket.
"Ah~ so bright! What is that?!"
Kokomi, whose face was only a few centimeters away, squinted tightly, startled by the sudden brightness.
At last, the Shogun could see clearly. She looked at Kokomi's face—so close that their breaths mingled—and quickly dimmed her glow, softening it to a faint violet hue that only illuminated a small area.
Once her vision adjusted, she turned the glow off entirely. Now, the two of them lay face to face, close enough to feel each other's warmth.
"..." ×2
Both froze for a moment, staring into each other's eyes in silence.
"Phew~" ×2
At last, they exhaled in unison, a quiet, mutual sigh filling the small space between them.
The strange silence between them lasted for several minutes—
During that time, the Shogun had turned her body, lying on her side with her back to the girl behind her. Other than their quiet breathing, no sound disturbed the stillness of the room. Kokomi, still awake, simply gazed at the silhouette before her. The Shogun's long violet hair spilled across the pillow like a waterfall, and that faint, enticing fragrance filled the air around them.
"Shogun-sama..."
She called softly, her voice clearly audible in the quiet.
"..."
There was no response. She couldn't tell whether the other woman was asleep or merely pretending.
"...Are you asleep?"
Kokomi asked in a whisper, her tone airy and sweet as her fingertips played idly with the strands of hair scattered across the pillow.
"...Asleep."
The Shogun finally answered in a low voice, though the reply itself was amusingly contradictory. She lifted a hand and swept her hair forward to prevent Kokomi from toying with it further.
Pfft~
Kokomi couldn't help but smile indulgently at the gesture. Then, beneath the shared blanket, she gathered her courage and scooted closer, pressing herself against the Shogun's back. Her hands slid softly around the woman's waist, pulling her into a gentle embrace as her cheek came to rest against the nape of her neck. Her heart thumped wildly in her chest.
"...What are you doing?"
The Shogun, feeling the warmth at her back, didn't pull away immediately. Her muffled voice carried a hint of shy irritation—like a newlywed caught off guard—making Kokomi's fascination deepen even further.
"Nothing... My body just feels cold. I wanted to warm up a little."
Kokomi closed her eyes, smiling blissfully as she pressed her face closer against the woman's neck.
"Shogun-sama's body is so warm... like a little heater. It feels so nice to hold you."
She murmured softly, enjoying the closeness.
Those words... sounded oddly familiar. Someone—perhaps Ayaka—had said something similar before, back when she was a child.
Huff~
With a faint exhale, the Shogun turned in Kokomi's arms, rolling over so they were now facing each other beneath the covers. Their faces were only a few centimeters apart, breath mingling in the narrow space between them.
Kokomi blinked open her eyes slowly, meeting the Shogun's gaze. Their positions were intimate—dangerously so.
"..."
The Shogun adjusted her posture slightly, resting her head on her arm as she tucked a lock of hair behind her ear. Her soft lavender eyes studied the delicate face before her.
"..."
Kokomi remained still, their silent gazes locked. A faint, tender smile curved her lips.
The Shogun reached out, silently taking Kokomi's hand, her fingers closing gently around it. The warmth of her touch seeped into Kokomi's skin.
"Your hand's so cold," the Shogun murmured.
"You said that before."
Kokomi replied softly, glancing at their joined hands before curling her fingers around the Shogun's like a clingy kitten.
Perhaps it was due to her Hydro affinity—her body naturally ran cooler. She'd heard that Cryo users were the same.
"...Are you cold?"
The Shogun asked with quiet concern.
"I'm fine."
Kokomi nodded obediently.
"So that means you are cold."
The Shogun narrowed her eyes slightly, sounding exasperated.
"You could... you could put your hand inside to check, if you'd like...///"
Kokomi's voice trembled with shy invitation, her gaze lowering as her cheeks flushed pink. She looked utterly irresistible.
"///"
The Shogun's face reddened slightly at the words. After a moment's hesitation, she sighed quietly and inched closer, sliding an arm around Kokomi's waist and gently slipping her hand under the girl's nightdress. Her fingers brushed over smooth, cool skin, tracing slow circles to warm her.
"Mmhm.../// ahh... mm~"
Kokomi let out a few soft, involuntary moans at the touch, her body pressing unconsciously closer as her skin tingled under the gentle caress. Her face burned, eyes hazy and unfocused.
"D-don't make those sounds...///"
Hearing the girl's soft, breathy sounds, the Shogun blushed and whispered a flustered complaint.
"Mm~ b-but I... ah~ it tickles..."
Kokomi's voice trembled with bashful sweetness, her eyes glazed as her legs shifted beneath the blanket, occasionally rubbing together while her delicate toes curled and flexed.
"Haa... honestly..."
Realizing what was happening, the Shogun sighed, withdrawing her hand from beneath Kokomi's nightdress. Her expression turned slightly stern as she looked at the blushing girl before her.
"...///"
Kokomi met her gaze guiltily, her voice small.
"You weren't cold at all... you were just taking advantage of me, weren't you?"
The Shogun gave her a light glare and pulled her hand back.
"Uuh... I-I'm sorry."
Kokomi lowered her eyes, her tone full of remorse.
—That didn't go quite as planned... so the 'beauty trap' failed, huh... she sighed inwardly.
"...Haa, forget it."
The Shogun decided not to press the matter. Sometimes, she thought, this girl's little schemes were even trickier than Ayaka's... perhaps it was a Hydro thing.
Rustle~
Soon, Kokomi scooted closer again, her arms wrapping snugly around the Shogun's waist, returning to the same clingy position as before.
"Why are you so attached to me?"
The Shogun asked softly—not annoyed, just curious.
"Because... I want to build a good relationship with you."
Kokomi's voice was muffled against her chest, warm and a little sleepy.
"Don't you think that's a bit excessive?"
The Shogun asked.
"...Not at all. If you and Miss Kamisato are so close, then me being like this isn't strange, right?"
Kokomi raised her eyes as she said it, her tone carrying a subtle, playful cunning.
"...How do you know that?"
The Shogun blinked, caught off guard.
"That's easy. A little inquiry was all it took."
Kokomi replied calmly, her nose brushing lightly against the Shogun's chest.
"And besides... part of the reason you came here this time was because of Miss Kamisato, wasn't it? She wanted you to approach me—to understand my character. Isn't that right, Shogun-sama?"
Her voice was soft, her arms tightening gently around the Shogun's waist.
At first, the Shogun hadn't thought much of it, but now that Kokomi mentioned it... things indeed lined up too neatly. Considering Ayaka's subtle ways and her reputation as the little strategist of the Yashiro Commission, her involvement seemed likely.
"Haa... you really are something. No wonder Ayaka called you exceptional for your age."
The Shogun sighed, sounding both impressed and amused.
"Miss Kamisato said that? That's quite the honor."
Kokomi replied humbly.
"She also said she'd like to meet you one day—or perhaps test your skill in strategy games."
The Shogun added casually.
"Mhm. I'd like that too. It's something I've dreamed of."
Sangonomiya Kokomi wanted to see for herself what kind of brilliance Miss Kamisato possessed to be regarded as the Shogun's trusted tactician. Could she too, perhaps, stand by the Shogun's side one day? She wanted to know...
"...?"
The Shogun looked at the girl, now lost in serious thought, and frowned slightly.
"What's wrong?"
She asked.
"It's nothing... I was just lost in thought."
Kokomi smiled softly in response.
"Haa... don't overthink it. Get some sleep, or your illness will worsen tomorrow."
With that, the Shogun buried her head under the blanket like a sulking child, leaving only the fluffy top of her hair exposed.
"Hehe... alright."
Kokomi chuckled affectionately, gently stroking the small tuft of visible hair before closing her eyes. Both of them, at last, began to drift into sleep.