Meanwhile...
Among those who had come to participate in the Test of Courage were not only people from Narukami Island, but also people from Watatsumi Island far to the west. Gorou was one example, but today, there was another...
"So this is what the atmosphere of a Test of Courage is like..."
Looking at the people ahead who were still searching for teammates, Kokomi could not help murmuring softly.
The Akitsu Kimodameshi had been advertised not only on Narukami Island, but on Watatsumi Island as well. She had been very busy these past few days, but after hearing the news, she still found time to take a boat to Narukami Island and secure a place in the second round of the Test of Courage.
When she thought about it, what exactly had she come here for?
Was it to find the Shogun?
Indeed...
She had not seen the other woman even once recently, and she truly missed her. Yet because of Watatsumi Island's affairs, she had been unable to spare the time. Today, she had finally managed to come over with Gorou and once again set foot upon Narukami Island. She was not even asking to see her. She merely wanted to feel the trace of that woman's presence lingering over this land.
"..."
However... she had heard that participants also needed to find a partner. Otherwise, they would not be allowed to take part...
That was somewhat troublesome... Aside from Kamisato Ayaka, she was not particularly familiar with anyone else on Narukami Island, and Ayaka appeared to have already found a partner.
The girl raised her beautiful eyes and glanced toward Ayaka in the distance, who had already teamed up with Yoimiya. Then, out of habit, she rested one slender hand clad in a half-fingered white silk glove beneath her chin and pondered for a moment.
She could originally have chosen Gorou, but... after losing, he had no desire to continue participating. Or rather, the first time around, he had only been tricked and lured here by the Guuji Yae in the first place... By now, he was probably already preparing the boat they would use to return to Watatsumi Island later.
If there truly was no other choice, then she could only... choose a stranger.
She lowered the hand beneath her chin and clasped her delicate hands together before her abdomen in the habitual manner of a shrine maiden. Her white-stockinged legs carried her slowly through the remaining strangers who still had no partners. From time to time, she encountered several tall, burly men, and she would take the initiative to step aside and let them pass.
"Um... Miss..."
Before long, she heard a boy calling to her from behind. Kokomi stopped and turned around, revealing her breathtakingly beautiful face to the chubby boy standing there.
"...///"
He immediately froze. In all his life, he had never seen such a beautiful woman. Perhaps because he was still young, he had never seen the Shirasagi Himegimi before, much less the Raiden Shogun herself.
"May I ask what you need?"
Kokomi paid no attention to the dazed look her beauty had caused and asked in her clear, articulate voice.
"Ah, ah! I wanted to ask... if maybe... you could... team up with me? Um...///"
He began to stammer, even avoiding her gaze.
"I...!"
However, just as she was about to answer, her gaze happened to sweep across the purple figure sitting idly on a stone platform in the distance. Her eyes immediately widened slightly. For a moment, she was not even certain of what she was seeing, much less able to believe it.
Is this a dream?
Or something else?
Can there really be such a coincidence in this world? I actually ran into her here? Or... is this simply fate between us?
Perhaps it really was fate.
"Sorry, but I already have a partner."
After coming back to herself and briefly informing him, she strode away without looking back, heading quickly toward the woman in the distance.
"Wait—! Ugh—!!"
The boy, who was not yet sixteen, looked utterly heartbroken.
At that moment, the Shogun was sitting alone on a stone platform, leisurely enjoying the breeze. She was in no hurry to find a partner, nor did she want to take the initiative to strike up conversations with strangers. If worse came to worst, she could simply give up.
She had just seen Ayaka team up with Yoimiya. If she withdrew, then barring any surprises, those two would probably win this round. That would be perfectly fine too.
She had closed her oil-paper umbrella and laid it across her thighs. Beneath her skirt, her white-stockinged legs dangled over the edge of the stone platform, her feet intertwined. Her shoes had slipped loose and hung from the tips of her feet, revealing the pale soles beneath the translucent white fabric.
"..."
After thinking for a moment, she took out the small folding mirror she carried with her. Opening it, she examined her reflection and lightly tidied her slightly disheveled bangs, adjusted the folding-fan hair ornament beside her head, and smoothed down her long violet hair. However, in the very next second, her vision suddenly went dark.
A faintly cool sensation covered her eyes, followed by a familiar scent drifting toward her.
"Don't move."
A voice as smooth and delicate as flowing water entered her heart.
"..."
She actually obeyed and remained perfectly still.
"Guess who I am~?"
The person behind her deliberately leaned close to her ear and spoke slowly.
That clear, spring-like voice was far too distinctive. There was no need to guess, especially when paired with the temperature of the backs of the hands covering her eyes. If Ayaka was like a resilient, sharp-edged crystal of ice that still retained a rounded softness, then this woman was like a delicate, flowing spring whose waters carried a lingering sweetness.
She had never expected to see Kokomi in a place like this... It surprised her.
"...Kokomi?"
She answered.
"..."
Kokomi slowly removed her hands, then affectionately rested both palms on the Shogun's shoulders and gently kneaded them. The Shogun was sitting with her legs drawn slightly together, so the two of them were very close. The instant she turned her head, she saw the girl's dreamlike face glowing beautifully beneath the moonlight.
"It's been a long time, Shogun-sama."
When Kokomi saw her turn around, she spoke in a calm voice filled with affection, her finger even lightly brushing across the Shogun's lips.
"Why are you... here?"
She asked blankly.
"If I'm here, then of course it's because I came to participate in the Test of Courage."
Kokomi answered.
"You came all this way specifically for that? From Watatsumi Island?"
"Mm—something like that..."
Kokomi smiled.
"You... don't find it troublesome?"
Even the Shogun herself felt tired just thinking about it.
"Whether something is troublesome depends on its essence. If you're doing it to satisfy yourself, then it doesn't count as troublesome."
Kokomi answered.
"And that essence is—ah, don't say it. I know."
Realizing it, the Shogun immediately turned her head away with an expression of understanding.
"Oh? You actually know? Shogun-sama, have you... finally become enlightened lately?"
Interested, Kokomi wrapped her arms around the Shogun's neck from behind and leaned forward to look at her lover's exquisite profile as she asked.
"///"
Sure enough, the woman blushed. Then she turned her head slightly and puffed out her cheeks at Kokomi in an adorable pout.
"Hehe, you're still as cute as ever..."
Kokomi gazed at her indulgently.
"Let me guess. You couldn't find anyone to team up with? You're alone?"
The Shogun exhaled softly and leaned backward, settling perfectly into the girl's embrace.
"You could say that. And you? Alone too?"
"You could say that."
She imitated Kokomi's tone.
"Pfft... Then might I trouble the esteemed Narukami to form a team with me, the Divine Priestess?"
As Kokomi spoke, she gently stroked the chin of the woman in her arms with one finger, almost as though soothing a comfortable little cat.
"...There's no helping you."
The Shogun instinctively narrowed her eyes in comfort. Then she exhaled, tilted her head back, and looked at Kokomi, who was also gazing down at her, before giving that answer.
"Thank you for your mercy, esteemed Narukami."
Kokomi replied with a smile in that deliberately unusual manner.
"...Have you been drinking?"
The Shogun teased her. After all, the last time Kokomi had behaved like this had been because she was drunk.
"...Could it be that you want to see me drunk again?"
Kokomi was not thrown off by the remark. Instead, she smoothly played along with it.
"I don't~!"
After answering, the Shogun immediately shrank her head back.
"..."
Kokomi's eyes were filled with a watery tenderness as she gazed at her. Then she raised her eyes, intending only to casually see how many people still had not formed teams, only for her gaze to land directly on Ayaka in the distance.
"..." ×2
At that instant, their gazes locked almost as though someone had frozen them both in place.
During that moment, Ayaka lowered her eyes slightly and glanced at the Shogun nestled in Kokomi's arms, then looked back at Kokomi. Whether sincerely or merely as an act, she gave her a faint smile.
Kokomi returned the smile... and the two of them gave each other an almost imperceptible nod.
Their gazes separated, and Ayaka followed Yoimiya away until they disappeared from Kokomi's line of sight.
"Did something happen?"
Sensing that the girl behind her seemed distracted, the Shogun asked in confusion.
"Mm? Nothing... I just lost myself in thought for a moment."
Kokomi came back to herself and answered without revealing anything, her palm gently stroking the back of the Shogun's hand in reassurance.
"In that case, shall we go find the shrine maiden and register together?"
She suggested.
"All right. No time to waste."
Hearing that, Kokomi decisively agreed.