Click~
After a long meeting, the Shogun returned to her room feeling mentally drained. She closed the door behind her and leaned back against it.
"..."
For a moment, silence filled the space again. From next door came the dull sound of another door closing—probably Emilia. They had come back together.
She glanced at the wall clock.
It was almost eleven...
Strange. Normally, with her sleep simulation activated, she would already feel drowsy at this hour. But now, she felt no trace of sleepiness at all—on the contrary, she was wide awake. Was this also part of simulating human rhythms?
"Haa..."
Letting out a soft sigh, she walked over to the bed and casually sat on the edge. Her body relaxed slightly.
Humm~
A few seconds after she sat down, a streak of violet light gathered beside her.
It was her mother.
After appearing, Ei simply slipped off her shoes, moved backward, and climbed onto the bed. She casually arranged the blankets and pillows.
"..."
The Shogun paid her no mind, simply staring blankly at the warm glow of the chandelier overhead.
"...Going to sleep?"
After finishing the bedding, Ei knelt on the mattress and asked softly.
"...Mm."
She answered faintly, almost absentmindedly.
"..."
Watching the Shogun lost in thought, Ei narrowed her eyes slightly. Then she slowly moved closer on her knees, reaching forward from behind and wrapping her arms around the back of the Shogun's neck, embracing her intimately.
"?"
The Shogun came back to her senses at the warmth against her neck. Understanding flickered in her eyes as she turned slightly, meeting Ei's gaze for a few seconds.
"What are you thinking about?"
That familiar yet gentler voice slipped into her ears and settled in her chest, making her momentarily dazed.
She shook her head, enjoying the soothing sensation of Ei's fingers gently stroking her hair.
"If you're not thinking about anything, why are you spacing out?"
Ei chuckled at her dazed expression.
"...Can't I just space out?"
She puffed her cheeks slightly in mild complaint, looking unexpectedly cute.
"Haa... of course you can. I never said you couldn't. You're the one who said it yourself."
Ei smiled casually. Her hands shifted from around the Shogun's neck to her shoulders, pressing down with just the right amount of force, beginning a massage.
Though her body was that of a puppet, it was soft—far from anything rigid like a machine. It felt no different from that of a real girl.
"Mmh~"
When Ei pressed a certain spot, a tingling sensation spread through her body, and she couldn't help letting out a soft sound.
"What is it?"
Ei paused, concerned.
"N-Nothing... you just pressed a bit too hard just now."
She quickly made an excuse, suppressing the faint blush on her cheeks.
"Too hard? I didn't use much strength. If it hurts, it just means your body is stiff. That means I should press it more."
Ei resumed.
Tss~
The Shogun pressed her lips together, enduring the tingling sensation as she asked:
"Who taught you this?"
"Hmm? Before you existed, my sister—Makoto—would occasionally massage my shoulders. I picked up a bit from her."
She answered.
Would Ei have made sounds like that back then too...?
Probably not...
Or am I just too sensitive?
That's... embarrassing...
She complained inwardly.
After several minutes, Ei finally made a small gesture of completion.
"Come on up."
She urged.
"Mm..."
The Shogun responded softly. She untied the ribbon at her ankle connected to her high heels, slipping them off. Her black-stockinged feet emerged into the air. The residual warmth left faint, misty marks when her soles touched the floor.
She glanced at those marks, sighed lightly, then curled her slender toes inside the stockings before quietly climbing onto the bed like a docile kitten—well-behaved and gentle, something Ei found utterly endearing.
"Come here... into my arms."
Ei hadn't changed clothes. She still wore her gentian-patterned kimono, with dark purple thigh-highs on her legs. Only the obi at her waist had been loosened, hanging slightly slack.
"...Why are you asking for a hug? Just go to sleep already."
The Shogun's face reddened as she complained.
"Come now... be good."
Ei ignored her protest and urged her again.
"...Really..."
Though she complained, her body obeyed. Blushing, she crawled over and lay beside Ei, turning her back to her. Only when the arms behind her wrapped gently around her waist did she relax slightly.
"Haa... when will the day come when you'll happily throw yourself into my arms when you see me?"
Ei murmured softly near her ear, her breath brushing against strands of her hair.
"...That depends on when fish start walking on land."
The Shogun teased in return.
"Such a smooth tongue."
Ei lightly pinched her thigh, then rested her face against the back of her head, breathing in her daughter's scent. Meanwhile, her hands began to wander—brushing across her waist, abdomen, and occasionally her chest.
"...///"
With her back to Ei, eyes closed, the Shogun's face flushed as she endured the wandering hands. But when Ei showed no sign of stopping, she squirmed slightly.
"Keep your hands to yourself..."
What kind of bad habit was this?
She was her daughter... and this was starting to feel... strange.
Ei actually stopped, her compliance almost childlike.
"That's unfair... you're my own flesh and blood, and you won't even let me touch you?"
She sounded aggrieved, tightening her arms around the Shogun's waist and pulling her closer into her embrace.
"That's a ridiculous question... just because I'm your daughter doesn't mean you can touch anywhere. I-I'm not a child anymore..."
Her face reddened as she argued.
"Why not?"
Ei insisted stubbornly, even mischievously tracing the sole of the Shogun's foot with her toes.
"Mmh~ it tickles..."
Sure enough, after that, his daughter let out an involuntary, soft, adorable moan. Her teased foot instinctively recoiled.
"Why?"
Ei paid no mind to her reaction, stubbornly continuing to murmur her question.
"Y-You... why are you suddenly so annoying... ///"
With Ei pressed so closely against her neck, the Shogun flushed red and complained softly.
"You're calling me annoying... haa..."
Ei looked a little aggrieved and, as if in protest, pulled her even tighter into her embrace.
"Ei..."
She softened her tone and called out to her gently.
"Mm?"
Ei still sounded slightly wronged.
"I am... your daughter."
She spoke meaningfully.
"So what?"
Ei refused to yield.
"What you were doing just now... it was a bit..."
She couldn't bring herself to say the final word. After hesitating for a long time—thinking about Ei's feelings and the pain she had once endured—she finally let out a complicated sigh.
"Haa... it's nothing."
In the end, she gave in. She didn't want to hurt her, especially not emotionally.
"Then—"
Does that mean I can continue—
"I'm going to sleep. Didn't you want me to sleep well? How can I rest if you keep touching me like that?"
Using that as an excuse, she quickly turned around to face Ei. She gently caught those restless hands, then took the initiative to embrace her instead—burying her face into Ei's soft, jelly-like chest. The softness pushed her cheeks outward like a bun, making her look irresistibly cute.
"Sleep..."
She mumbled, her face still puffed like a bun.
"Pfft... all right... let's sleep."
Ei was utterly charmed by her appearance and instinctively reached out, intending to undress her.
"Mmh~ don't do that... pervert."
The Shogun wriggled slightly in refusal and shook her hand off.
"That's too much. You can undress so freely in front of Ayaka—and even get all shy about it—but when it's me, I'm suddenly a 'pervert'?"
Ei finally voiced her dissatisfaction.
"I-I never undressed in front of her— ///"
"You dare say that? Who changed your clothes last time? Don't tell me it was that Sangonomiya Kokomi?"
Ei's gaze sharpened, almost interrogative. She deliberately brought up another woman—as if implying some kind of rivalry.
"Why are you suddenly bringing up Kokomi?"
The Shogun frowned in dissatisfaction.
"You're calling her by name so naturally now?"
Ei teased.
"I... haa... forget it. I'm not arguing with you."
The Shogun rolled her eyes. Then she sat up, turned off the light, and let darkness fill the room before quietly changing clothes. In less than a minute, she slipped back under the covers.
"..."
Ei watched her back in silence.
"You seem... to dislike her?"
After several minutes of quiet, the Shogun spoke first.
"A little. I haven't met her. For people I've never met, I tend to remain cautious—especially someone who is so close to you. I question whether she's truly worthy of standing by your side."
Ayaka was different—Ei was quite satisfied with her. But Sangonomiya Kokomi was another matter entirely. Coupled with her prior involvement with the resistance, even though Watatsumi Island and Narukami Island had made peace, Ei still held some suspicion toward her.
"Don't worry... she's a good person. At least, she's very good to me."
The Shogun turned to face her mother.
"Shogun... you—"
"I know what you want to say. You think I'm too naive, too easily deceived. You're right—I'm not even five hundred years old yet. I'm still immature. But my ability to judge people? That comes from you."
She smiled gently at her.
"...Haa, I really don't know what kind of charm she has to captivate you like this."
Ei sighed with a smile and lightly pinched her cheek in teasing concession.
"It's not that serious... I... forget it."
She didn't argue further. She was too tired.
"Then tell me—between Ayaka and her... which do you prefer?"
Ei suddenly asked playfully.
"..."
The Shogun froze, then looked at her mischievous mother with exasperation.
"Don't you think that question is a bit unfair? There's no need to compare them. And I..."
At this point, she glanced at the night sky outside the window, a trace of guilt in her heart.
"They're both wonderful. They're both very kind to me. I don't want to compare them over something so shallow."
It wouldn't be respectful to either of them.
"I see... I really did choose the right light novel back then."
Ei replied knowingly.
"I told you, that's not me~"
Her face flushed as she protested.
"Alright, alright~ it's not you. Go to sleep."
Ei responded indulgently, pulling her beloved daughter into her arms and closing her eyes.
"Mmh..."
Held in her embrace, the Shogun said nothing more. Like a kitten, she nestled into her mother's chest, burying herself in that soft warmth as her eyes slowly closed, drifting into sleep.