Splash~
At that moment, the bedroom screen was pulled aside. Ei deliberately lightened her footsteps as she walked from the office area into the bedroom, then slid the door shut behind her. Her gaze adjusted for a moment to the dim, warm-colored space. Standing before the mirror, she casually removed her hair ornament and long braid one by one, then loosened the red sash at her waist. Through the reflection, she noticed her daughter sitting there like a strangely sulking little ball.
"What is it? Why do you look so puffed up?"
Seeing this, she turned to look at her.
"The book made me mad."
The Shogun stared at the paper lamp in front of her and answered gloomily.
"...A book can make you angry too?"
Ei smiled and removed her kimono piece by piece.
"...Finished reviewing your documents?"
She glanced at her mother, already undressing, and asked casually.
"Today's portion is done. There will be more tomorrow."
It was already past midnight. She had worked the entire afternoon and could finally rest. Though her body rarely felt tired, her mind still grew weary. She truly needed sleep now.
"You worked hard..."
She offered a reward of words.
"You should say, 'Mom, you've worked hard.'"
Ei replied.
"I said it in my heart."
She smiled and retorted.
"You really are..."
With a doting smile, Ei hugged her sleeping robe and opened the screen leading to the back courtyard. There was an open-air hot spring bath specially built there. Though Ei had borrowed the manifested form of Musou Isshin, she still insisted on bathing every day to wash away the fatigue in her heart. Of course, she herself did as well.
Splash~
Listening to the sound of water from beyond the screen, she slowly closed her eyes. Beneath the warm lamplight, everything became hazy. Her thoughts dulled. She was about to fall asleep.
Several minutes later—
After finishing her bath and changing into a nightdress, Ei came out and saw her daughter already sleeping on her side beneath the blanket. Barefoot, she softened her steps and slowly walked to the bedside. She picked up the light novel carelessly tossed onto the bedding, glanced at the scene on the opened page, and smiled helplessly. Setting it on the tatami outside the futon, she then gently slipped into their shared bedding, first her legs, then her upper body.
"Haa..."
Warmth swept through her entire body. The bedding had been specially warmed for her.
Click~
She quietly extinguished the paper lamp, plunging the room into darkness. Only the bleak moonlight outside the floor-to-ceiling window filtered dimly through the curtains.
She slowly wrapped an arm around the Shogun's waist from behind, drawing her into her embrace. Her upper body pressed against the other's back, her face resting against the side of her neck. Holding that softness in her arms, she intended to fall asleep just like that.
"Mmm..."
Yet the sleeping Shogun let out a faint murmur, then shifted lightly. Her eyes opened halfway in a drowsy haze.
"Did I wake you?"
Ei whispered beside her ear in that melodious voice.
"...When did you get into bed? What time is it now...?"
The other asked groggily.
"I just put out the lamp. You're half asleep and confused."
Ei rubbed gently against her neck as she answered with a smile.
"...You soaked for too long. I couldn't help falling asleep..."
Rustle rustle~
After saying that, she felt the other slowly move. In the end, the Shogun turned over to face her, curled up, and instinctively nestled into her embrace. During the motion, her face buried itself against Ei's chest, returning to her usual sleeping posture.
"Sleep now... Shogun."
She gently patted her back, soothing her in the tone of a mother.
"Next time..."
"...Mm?"
She lowered her eyes instinctively to look at the daughter buried against her chest.
"...You... wash the dishes... haa... haa..."
After saying that, she sank back into deep sleep. Her warm breath tickled Ei's chest, though she was already used to it.
"...All right... I'll wash the dishes."
She softly answered her sleeping daughter, then closed her own eyes while holding her.
Meanwhile, in the second-floor bedroom, Pandora sat in the dim room hugging her knees atop the bedding, blankly staring at Inazuma's night view outside.
Several minutes later, she came back to herself. After glancing around the empty room with no one else in it, she slowly reached into her pocket and took out the source of her life—her previous magic stone. In the dark room, it emitted a beautiful azure glow that resonated with her blue eyes.
Hum~
A small portion of magic power entered her body, making her eyes grow a little clearer. Then the light faded, and she put it back into the pocket of the clothes she had taken off.
Rustle~
She slipped beneath the blanket, letting her naturally cool body curl into the icy bedding. Instinctively, she drew herself into a ball and pulled the blanket over her face, staring at the ceiling.
"Good night... Shogun, Mother."
After murmuring that, she closed her eyes.
...
At this very moment, far to the west of Narukami Island on Watatsumi Island, a certain bedroom within Sangonomiya Shrine was brightly lit. A pink-haired girl with long hair reaching her back, dressed in seaweed-patterned pajamas, sat propped against pillows beneath the blanket, reading a light novel opened across her thighs.
The page happened to be the very chapter the purple-haired woman had just read...
"..."
The girl's expression did not change much. As always, she remained quiet and serene. Her beautiful slender legs were slightly bent, supporting the book so her gaze aligned with it comfortably.
Yet after reading that section, a smile appeared on her face. It was not a happy or delighted smile...
Rather, it was helpless, complicated, and relieved. There was even a trace of fragile vulnerability within it.
Even so... she patiently read through every scene of the chapter, every detail, every bit of narration. Once she finished, she gently closed the cover onto her thighs and lifted her eyes toward the wall ahead. On that fair and crystal-like face was an irresistible melancholy.
"I... really am easy to dislike, aren't I?"
She could not help murmuring in a voice like clear spring water. Then her eyes instinctively drifted toward the raincoat hanging on the wall, along with the umbrella beside it. Her gaze immediately softened with obvious tenderness.
"But... I'm not the selfish type. I'm very easily satisfied."
With that, she picked up the pencil she always kept beside the bed. She turned the book back over so the text faced her again, then drew lines beneath several passages she liked and wrote her own impressions beside them.
[Even though the Shogun in the book really dislikes me... it's all right. As long as she doesn't truly drive me away, I would still stay by her side.]
[Ah... I really like this sentence. It describes the emotional changes of the me in this book most accurately. Even though I'm sad, even though I'm disliked, even though I'm mocked by her, I still love her. Perhaps the real me would be the same?]
[Even though the me in the book couldn't win, I still tried my hardest. I won't regret making that choice.]
[This part! Mm... I like this part too. It should be the only scene in the whole book where Shogun cared about me as the protagonist. Mm—it should count as caring about me, right? Or maybe I'm overthinking it.]
As she wrote, an unconscious smile rose to her lips. It was an immersed smile, a smile meant for that person.
Scratch scratch~
The pencil continued moving across the page—
[Seeing the me in the book, right now I really want to... hug her once and tell her, 'You've already done very well.']
[No matter what, in the end Shogun still accepted my invitation. Even though she disliked me so much, she still endured it patiently, spoke with me, and listened to my confession... At least to me... that was deeply moving. Because... hehe... I am a very easily satisfied girl.]
[Even though there were still many hardships along the way, I still really like this chapter. A chapter that belongs to me and her. Though the ending wasn't ideal, I still thank fate for this hard-won opportunity.]
[Lastly... although I can't usually see her, meeting her in the book still counts as meeting her, right? I'm very satisfied—Sangonomiya Kokomi, today's energy +10~!]
After finishing, she placed her cherished bookmark between the pages, set the book and pencil back by the bedside, then turned off the room's lights. Wrapped in darkness, still carrying a faint smile, she slowly burrowed into the blanket while looking at the raincoat on the wall.
"Good night... Shogun-sama."
Good night... little Mio.
...
Early the next morning—
Pandora stood there absentmindedly watching the purple-haired woman beside her cook with practiced ease. Her movements were skillful and elegant. The enticing sounds of cooking spread throughout the kitchen and even drifted into the living room.
She had never known the woman at her side could be so domestic. Wearing a light-colored apron and a loosely braided plait that fell down her back, she watched the pan with focused eyes as the dish within sizzled appetizingly. The delicate profile of her face, softened by the rising steam, looked even more fragrant and beautiful, almost carrying a faint ethereal quality.
"...Instead of staring at me, you might as well go prepare the bowls and chopsticks in the living room."
As if sensing the gaze fixed on her face, she glanced lightly at Pandora while stir-frying and offered the reminder.
"...Sorry... I got carried away watching."
Pandora snapped back to herself and replied with a gentle smile, her tone reasonable and sincere. Then she obediently picked up three sets of bowls and chopsticks and left the kitchen.
"..."
Hearing that, she had just been about to complain when she realized Pandora had already gone.
"Haa..."
Letting out a helpless sigh, she pushed such trivial matters aside and continued cooking.
In the living room—
Pandora carefully placed the three sets of bowls and chopsticks onto the low table in the center. Ei, who was reviewing documents across the table, merely lifted her head at the sound, glanced once, then lowered her eyes again and continued working.
Pandora did not disturb her. Quietly, she separated the stacked bowls and placed them at each seat. Then she laid out the chopsticks and began serving rice for the three of them.
"Give me a smaller portion. It's not good to eat too much in the morning."
Ei looked up and reminded her gently.
"All right..."
Pandora listened and carefully measured the rice, placing the smaller bowl before Ei. Even though Ei was still working, she set down her pen and took the bowl herself.
"Thank you..."
She offered the thanks casually.
"You're welcome..."
Pandora replied with a smile. She then picked up the Shogun's bowl. Before serving, she recalled Ei's earlier request and thoughtfully turned toward the kitchen, where that apron-clad figure stood like a virtuous wife.
"Shogun... how much rice would you like?"
She raised her voice slightly.
"...About the same as her."
The Shogun replied casually without turning her head.
Pandora nodded and served the same amount as Ei's. Then she prepared her own. She did not eat much—she could even skip meals entirely—so she served herself only a small portion as well.
Three servings complete.
After she finished serving rice for all three, the Shogun in the kitchen also finished cooking. She transferred the dishes onto plates, carried one in each hand, and walked out, setting them on the table. The fragrance instantly filled the air.
"Stop writing... it's time to eat."
Glancing at Ei, who was still working, the Shogun urged her with a hint of complaint.
"Mm... I'm done."
Ei did not linger. She obediently responded and stacked the documents neatly before setting them aside. Sitting up straight, she picked up her bowl and chopsticks. Pandora did the same.
"It's better to eat lightly in the morning. I didn't make anything too greasy. See if it suits your taste?"
She picked up her chopsticks as well but waited for the other two to take the first bite.
"How could something you made not suit our taste?"
Ei replied with a smile and took a bite first. Pandora followed.
"...Well?"
Watching them chew, she asked carefully.
Ei narrowed her eyes as she savored the dish, then nodded in satisfaction.
"Quite delicious. Light yet not bland, and the texture is excellent. What do you think, Pandora?"
Ei looked at the silver-haired girl across from her.
"Mm... Mother is right. It's very good. Forgive my limited vocabulary—I can only say... it's truly delicious."
Pandora nodded with equal satisfaction.
"Is that so? Good... as long as you like it."
She let out a quiet breath of relief. Every time she cooked, she felt this nervous, worried she might accidentally produce some disastrous dish. Since both of them were satisfied, that was enough. Thinking so, she finally began eating as well.
The atmosphere of the three dining together was not awkward. On the contrary, it felt warm. Ei would occasionally bring up a topic, and the other two would follow, treating it as light conversation. Sometimes she herself would add a few words. Pandora never took the initiative to start a topic. She remained like a quiet listener, listening to the mother and daughter chat. From time to time she would smile and nod, and when asked something directly, she would answer softly and obediently.
Even so, she did not feel lonely at all. Instead, she felt content. It was likely part of her nature—she carried a naturally tranquil temperament.
Amid the occasional shift of topics, at some point the conversation gradually turned to Pandora...
"...Pandora."
The Shogun called her name.
"Yes."
Pandora immediately looked toward her.
"Have you made any plans for what you'll do next?"
She asked. After all, Pandora had just arrived in Inazuma. It was only natural to show some concern.
"Yes. Later, I'll head out and take a look around. Maybe see if I can find some part-time work."
Pandora answered in her delicate, silver-bell-like voice.
"Part-time work... You're looking for a job?"
She asked in surprise.
"Mm... I can't just stay at home doing nothing, can I? I can't let the Shogun and Mother support me unconditionally forever."
Pandora lowered her eyes, murmuring shyly.
"..." ×2
Mother and daughter exchanged a tacit glance.
Pandora glanced at the new short kimono skirt she was wearing and parted her lips slightly.
"Besides... I still have to repay Miss Ayaka for the cost of these clothes. If I keep accepting kindness like this, I feel uneasy."
"Haa... what a sensible child."
Ei looked at the girl across from her with approval.
"...There's really no need to care so much—"
"Shogun~ Pandora has her pride too. Perhaps you've forgotten—she is a witch."
Pandora looked back at her and gently took her hand. Her expression grew a little serious, though her voice remained soft. Never once had she sensed anger from her—not even the slightest tantrum. It was almost unbelievable.
"..."
She fell silent.
"Shogun... just let her. If this child wishes to stand on her own, there's nothing wrong with that."
Ei offered her persuasion.
"...Haa, fine. Do as you wish."
She relented at last, yielding to Pandora's wishes.
"Thank you, Shogun."
Pandora once again revealed her usual serene smile.
"Enough..."
She sighed and did not argue further, though she shot Ei a sideways glance.
"What's that look for? I'm only thinking of her. And you roll your eyes at me? How unfair."
Ei puffed out her cheeks adorably, her voice carrying a muted complaint.
"She just arrived in Inazuma and insists on finding work before even getting familiar with the place. Haa... and you sided with her against me. Oh, right."
As she spoke, she suddenly remembered the pendant she had bought earlier. She rose and went into the bedroom, opened a drawer, and took out the new pendant. Returning to the living room, she placed the splendid ornament glowing with a faint azure light into Pandora's hands.
"This is...?"
Pandora looked startled, even hesitating to accept it.
"Take it. I bought it along the way."
She answered simply.
Ei glanced at it but did not interfere, continuing her meal.
"I can't accept this, Shogun... This is—"
"Take it—"
She pressed Pandora's hand closed around it, more forceful this time.
"Mm... but—"
"Consider it my gesture. Mm—let's say it's this year's birthday present. I don't know when you were born, but let's treat it as such."
She smiled faintly.
"Shogun..."
Pandora felt overwhelmed. The object looked extremely valuable. Could she really accept it?
"You can think of it as a memento of your new life. It happens to hold your crystal stone. See if it fits?"
She urged gently.
"This..."
Pandora still hesitated.
"Accept it. This is the Shogun's intention. Mine is included as well."
Ei interjected.
The Shogun glanced at Ei. Ei gave her a slight shake of the head.
"Haa... all right."
At last, Pandora stopped resisting. She carefully placed her crystal stone into the pendant. To her surprise, it fit perfectly, as if made for it.
Just as that lady had said, it resonated with the blue light, emitting a captivating azure glow like a gemstone.
"Not bad."
The Shogun nodded in satisfaction. After all, she had chosen it herself.
"Thank you so very much, Shogun."
Pandora did not know how else to repay her and could only bow in gratitude.
"There's no need for that."
She waved it off. She had not done it for the sake of thanks—only because she felt it was something she ought to do.
"Do you like it?"
She asked.
"Mm! I like it very much."
Pandora answered immediately.
That's good...
She smiled inwardly.
Now she could rest easy. That crystal stone had been far too fragile without protection. Just looking at it made her uneasy. Though the pendant offered little protection, at least it served some purpose.