"Haa..."
At this moment, deep beneath the sea, Kokomi finally let out a sigh of relief after seeing the light sphere fire toward the surface. Then she noticed the dolphin swimming toward her again. She did not dodge, instead allowing it to circle around her.
Although this dolphin was still being corroded, it had regained a bit of its rationality. Driven by the instincts of a marine animal, it approached her affectionately, almost as if acting spoiled.
Seeing this, Kokomi leaned her back against the stone pillar, letting it press close in front of her, its soft snout gently nudging her cheek.
"Chirp~"
It made soft, affectionate sounds from its mouth, its tail swaying back and forth.
"Mm~ hehe~"
The touch of its snout tickled her slightly. She turned her face aside with an indulgent smile and extended her hand, letting a gentle flow of Hydro energy envelop its body, like a soothing healing effect that made it feel better.
"Do you feel better now?"
She asked softly while holding its plump head.
"Chirp~"
It responded with a cute cry.
"...Good child~"
Kokomi gently stroked its body, soothing it. For some reason, this female dolphin had become especially attached to her at this moment.
"...I have to go now. Be good, alright?"
She pressed her cheek against its soft body and spoke gently.
"Chirp~"
It let out a low sound before voluntarily leaving her side.
Seeing this, Kokomi waved to it, then quickly swam upward toward the sea surface.
A few seconds later—
Splash~!
"Hah!"
She burst out of the water, instinctively wiping the water from her face before looking toward the shore.
"Shogun-sa... ma?"
In the next moment, she saw the violet-haired beauty holding Musou Isshin with a serious expression.
"Y-You... what's wrong?"
Kokomi asked awkwardly upon seeing her stance.
"...Sangonomiya Kokomi?"
The Shogun called out her full name, as if confirming her identity.
"Eh? Y-Yes, it's me!"
Kokomi froze briefly before quickly nodding.
"Are you unharmed?"
The Shogun asked while still holding the raised blade.
"I'm fine. Are... are you alright?"
Kokomi asked carefully.
"Haa..."
The Shogun finally let out a breath of relief. Her entire body relaxed as she lowered her arm, letting the blade hang by her side before it vanished.
Kokomi immediately climbed onto the shore. Still soaked from head to toe, she walked over and took the initiative to hug the violet-haired woman tightly, holding her firmly.
"I'm sorry... I made you worry."
She apologized in a sweet whisper near the other's ear.
"You should apologize... you truly made me worry quite a lot."
Feeling the embrace, the Shogun returned the hug in an unexpectedly adorable manner, burying her face into Kokomi's neck as she muttered a muffled complaint.
"Mm///..."
Feeling the rare moment of the woman acting spoiled toward her, Kokomi revealed a relieved smile. Her face reddened slightly as she gently raised her hand to stroke the woman's hair, nodding softly.
Today's energy +10~!!
"...You're so cold."
The Shogun complained while squeezing at her clothing. The smooth feathered garment was soaked through, faintly revealing her skin beneath. The white stockings on her legs also clung to her gleaming skin, and even the tips of her socks exposed the delicate toes curled inside. Wet strands of hair clung tightly to her neck, dripping water downward, sending waves of chill through their touching bodies.
"...Well, I was in the sea. It'll dry soon."
Feeling the sensations of her body, Kokomi merely shifted slightly and reassured her near her ear. She was already used to this posture. After all, she had often entered the water before, and her clothing was made from fast-drying material.
"..." ×2
The two silently loosened their embrace in tacit understanding. Kokomi continued to look into the Shogun's beautiful eyes, but the Shogun grew shy and turned her gaze away.
"I was only worried because you didn't return for so long. There was no other meaning to it. Don't misunderstand."
She answered softly, sounding slightly defensive.
"Mm, I know... you were just worried about me, and you also wanted to finish the mechanism as quickly as possible, right?"
Seeing this, Kokomi simply smiled gently and nodded indulgently, cooperating with her response. Over the past few days, she had already more or less figured out this adorable person's personality.
"That's good... ahem, let's go take the suppression objects."
The Shogun coughed awkwardly before leaving first, though the redness at her ears could not be ruled out.
"Pfft..."
Kokomi covered her mouth with her fist and laughed softly, her eyes filled with affectionate indulgence as she watched the slender figure ahead.
After retrieving the two suppression objects, the two placed them one by one into the stone stele at the center clearing.
Hum~!
Just like before, a dreamy violet light shot from the stele straight into the sky above, spreading outward from the center across the entirety of Yashiori Island.
Then, under the influence of the violet light, a miracle occurred.
The dark clouds that had once covered the sky began to disperse. Golden sunlight gradually pierced through the gaps between the clouds. The gloomy heavens transformed into a clear blue tone. The previous thunderstorm and oppressive overcast vanished, replaced instead by a warm, clear sky and the gradual growth of green grass and flowers across the surroundings.
Yes... the seal had been reactivated. The leaking Tatarigami power was gradually dissipating, and Yashiori Island finally returned to its former appearance.
"This trip was not in vain."
The Shogun gazed at the clear sky and spoke with emotion.
"Mm, not in vain at all."
Kokomi nodded in agreement, repeating the words. Both of them smiled at each other.
"Wow~! That's amazing! It's practically a miracle! Yashiori Island has finally recovered. You can all come back at last!"
In the distance, the worker uncle began shouting excitedly, running back and forth like a happy child. It was clear how long he had waited for this day.
"What a difficult journey. Once the Tatarigami's power on the island is completely purified, the residents can return here to live again."
Kokomi said thoughtfully, resting her chin on her hand.
"Excellent. This success is largely thanks to you."
The Shogun praised her while looking at her.
"I don't deserve that. Without your help, I might not have reached this point. This is your achievement."
Kokomi shook her head and responded while placing a hand over her chest.
"Then... shall we split the credit?"
"Pfft... that works too. This is... everyone's achievement."
Kokomi laughed at her suggestion and compromised indulgently.
Splash~
"Chirp~"
In the next instant, something suddenly burst out from the sea, splashing water everywhere as it leapt onto Kokomi and knocked her onto the ground.
"Ah~!"
She let out a cute cry of surprise.
"...?"
The Shogun froze for a moment, then lowered her gaze to see the dolphin lying atop Kokomi, wagging its tail while affectionately rubbing against her.
"Chirp~"
The dolphin lay on Kokomi's body, soaking her clothes once more, rubbing its head repeatedly against the girl's neck in endless affection.
"W-Wait— that tickles... ah~!"
The girl who had been pushed down wriggled helplessly beneath the dolphin's affection, her hands pressing against it as she endured the enthusiastic cuddling.
"Are you alright?"
The Shogun crouched down beside her and asked with concern as she watched the scene.
"Ngh~! My neck is so ticklish... Sho-Shogun-sama... help~ ┭┮﹏┭┮ please pick it up///~!"
Kokomi was almost losing strength from being rubbed against, her eyes glistening slightly as she pleaded softly for help.
Seeing this, the Shogun directly lifted the dolphin off her, holding it in her arms. Even after being picked up, it continued wagging its tail energetically, its body smooth and slick.
"Haa~"
Kokomi slumped weakly while sitting on the ground, wiping her neck that had been covered with water from all the rubbing, then letting out a deep sigh.
"Right, put this child back into the water... otherwise it might feel uncomfortable after a while."
She stood up again and said this to her.
The Shogun followed her suggestion and placed the lively dolphin back into the sea. It surfaced again, poking its head above the water while opening its mouth toward the two of them.
"How did it come here?"
The two crouched at the shore looking at the little creature in the water as the Shogun asked the person beside her.
"Actually... it was previously corrupted and kept interfering with me."
Kokomi let her fingertips trace back and forth across the water's surface, teasing the little creature in front of her as they played.
"But... it should be better now, right? After all, the Tatarigami has been sealed."
Her fingers gently stroked the creature's head...
"...It really likes you."
Watching how closely it clung to the girl beside her, the Shogun could not help but remark.
"Not exactly. It likes you too. You can try, you know?"
Kokomi shook her head and looked toward her.
"...Come here~?"
Hearing this, the Shogun imitated Kokomi and extended her palm, her delicate fingers brushing the water's surface as she softly beckoned.
However, the little one did not dare approach. Avoiding her hand, it quickly swam back to Kokomi's side.
"Don't be afraid... this big sister is very gentle too, you know~?"
Seeing this, Kokomi stroked its head and softly reassured it.
The dolphin hesitated, glancing at her...
She smiled back at it.
"It's alright... be good~"
"Chirp~"
After letting out a soft, coquettish cry, the dolphin carefully swam over to the Shogun's side, allowing her to gently touch it.
Seeing this, the Shogun also cautiously stroked its forehead and mouth. The dolphin looked comfortable, floating belly-up in the water and rolling about.
"Hehe... see? It likes you too."
Kokomi smiled at her and said.
"You're the one who made it like me."
She muttered in rebuttal.
"That's not it~ it can think for itself~ Please don't treat marine animals as if they're so foolish, alright~?"
Kokomi crossed her arms, looking at her helplessly yet indulgently, her tone carrying a hint of gentle complaint.
"Pfft... that's true. You're not foolish either."
She teased her with a smile.
"Mm~ you're teasing me again~"
Kokomi puffed her cheeks slightly, then complained cutely, lightly leaning her shoulder against hers as she did so.
At this moment, the sunlight above Yashiori Island radiated its brilliant golden glow, shining down upon the two girls and the dolphin, coating them in a layer of gold. It was like a scene captured within a beautiful painting, dazzling and radiant.