To get back to the Grand Narukami Shrine, they had to climb Mt. Yougou.
Too exhausting.
So once outside Inazuma City, Xia Ci pulled out the Hovercar.
Everyone piled in, and they flew straight up the mountain.
In no time, they landed at the summit, right before the shrine.
Several shrine maidens hurried forward.
Yae Miko stepped out, gave a few instructions, then dismissed them.
No one else got out.
They'd already entered the Serenitea Pot inside the car, soaking in the bathhouse and waiting for massages later.
As for the dragon king, Venti, and the others, they hadn't even come back. They'd found an inn in the city, planning to drink and carouse all night.
Standing alone outside, Yae Miko gazed at the falling sakura petals. The sight struck her with an unexpected loneliness.
Then, as if sensing something, she turned.
A familiar figure stood there.
Ei.
She looked at Yae Miko and asked, "Where's my sister?"
Yae Miko pointed at the car. "They're all inside, bathing."
"Bathing?"
Ei glanced at the car, then asked again. "You spent the whole day out?"
"Mm. All day."
"Was it fun?"
"We ran into some things. It was pretty interesting."
"Oh?"
"Zhu Zi's family took in a tanuki youkai out of gratitude…"
Yae Miko recounted the day's events.
Ei listened quietly, her expression unreadable.
Then Yae Miko suddenly remembered. "At lunch, Lady Zhen said she's really into hot pot these days."
For the first time, Ei's face shifted. "My sister likes hot pot? …What's hot pot?"
"It's a cooking style from Liyue. Similar to Inazuma's sukiyaki…"
Ei murmured, thoughtful. "So she likes sukiyaki now…"
"But not the ordinary kind," Yae Miko added. "She likes the version with Slime condensate."
Ei froze. "…With Slime condensate?"
Yae Miko nodded. "That's right. I thought it was strange too. But she swore the texture was special."
Ei fell into deep thought.
Yae Miko gestured to the car. "Want to go into the Serenitea Pot and join her?"
Ei lifted her head, hesitant. "She's not alone in there, is she?"
Yae Miko shook her head. "No, there are lots of them."
"…I see. My sister told me yesterday she'd be at Tenshukaku tonight to start handling Inazuma's affairs. I was planning to go with her. But since she's still bathing, I'll head back first. Tell her I'll be waiting at Tenshukaku."
"Alright."
Ei's figure vanished.
Yae Miko looked toward Tenshukaku, her lips curving into a strange smile.
Ei's cooking… If she remembered right, it was…
Ei returned to Tenshukaku.
The table inside was piled with government documents.
But she ignored them, tapping her fingers lightly on the surface.
After a few minutes, she called, "Attend me."
A voice answered respectfully from outside. "Yes, Shogun. What are your orders?"
"Prepare ingredients for sukiyaki. And some Slime condensate. I'll be using the kitchen."
"Yes!"
The voice faded.
Ei looked down at the papers again.
They were a headache for her.
But for her brilliant sister, they would be nothing.
Still, her sister had been gone for five hundred years.
With her serious nature, she would certainly read through every detail of what had happened in Inazuma during that time before taking over again.
She'd be up all night.
And she'd definitely get hungry.
If Ei suddenly appeared with a steaming pot of sukiyaki, her sister would surely be delighted.
The thought made her lips curl into the faintest smile.
That night, Xia Zhen was the first to ask Xia Zhi for a Massage.
She'd already told Ei she'd come to Tenshukaku tonight.
She should have gone sooner—she knew well that governing Inazuma was far beyond Ei's abilities.
But last night, the matter with Hanachirusato had come up. Since it touched on Kitsune Saiguu, she had to deal with it personally.
Then today, the dragon king and Venti had arrived, and as host, she'd had to entertain them.
Finally, at last, she was free to go.
"Cousin, I'll be at Tenshukaku from now on."
"Mm. It'll be tough for a while."
"Yeah. You'll bring me meals, won't you?"
"Nope. If you want food, come to the shrine yourself."
"Ugh, heartless…"
"Alright, turn over. Massage the other side."
"…Okay."
When the session ended, Xia Zhi handed her a small jar.
"Tea leaves. For staying alert. Drink some."
"Love you!"
---
Hanachirusato had just joined the household yesterday, so today was her very first time soaking in the bathhouse.
The feeling of warm water gliding over her skin was deeply relaxing.
After their bath, Qiqi said she would take her to see their master for a Massage.
Hanachirusato instinctively wanted to refuse.
Not because she felt awkward about it, but because her self-loathing flared up again. She thought her body was filthy, unworthy of having a dignified god like Mr. Xia touch her with his own hands. To her, it seemed disrespectful.
Qiqi stood up and said softly, "Master isn't like the kind of god you're imagining. My body's always ice cold, but he never minded. Since Master already gave you that Golden Circlet, that means he's acknowledged you. Don't overthink it—just treat Master like a friend."
Looking into Qiqi's clear eyes, Hanachirusato let out a quiet sigh.
Easy for you to say. You're his disciple, of course he dotes on you.
But me? I'm just a mistake. A stain. I should've vanished long ago. The fact that I can still exist at all is already more luck than I deserve—I don't dare ask for anything more.
Qiqi stepped out of the bath, wrapped herself in a towel, and glanced back. "Don't hesitate. Let's go."
Hanachirusato still looked unsure.
"Didn't you say you want to recover your forgotten memories? I do have some Calming Incense, but not much. Even if I used it all, it might not be enough to help you. But whenever Master gives a Massage, he usually lights Calming Incense."
"Huh?"
"So all you have to do is go to him for Massages more often, and that'll solve your memory problem."
"…Then let's go."
There were a lot of people lined up for a Massage, so they had to wait.
At first, Hanachirusato felt stiff and awkward standing in line, but when she noticed the other girls chatting and laughing like it was nothing, she gradually relaxed.
When their turn came, Qiqi nudged Hanachirusato forward.
Hanachirusato pushed the door open, and a soothing fragrance instantly washed over her.
She felt those vague fragments in her mind begin to sharpen into clearer memories.
Qiqi was right.
The Incense really worked.
"Hanachirusato, why are you still standing at the door? Come on in."
That gentle voice snapped her out of her strange reverie.
"O-okay, Mr. Xia."
She quickly shut the door and walked to the small bed, looking a bit uneasy.
"Lie down. Honestly, I thought you'd wait a few days before coming."
"Qiqi invited me."
"I figured. That kid may not talk much, but she's always good to the people around her. She loves sharing what she has."
"…Mm."
"Alright, pick a set."
"A set?"
"Qiqi didn't tell you? The type of Massage."
"She didn't."
"There's the regular one, slimming, essential oil…"
"Does Mr. Xia have a recommendation?"
"If you're fine with it, I'd suggest the essential oil Massage. It feels the best."
"Then I'll go with that."
"Alright. Take off your yukata."
"…Okay."
Hanachirusato obediently undid her yukata.
They had bought these yukata earlier while shopping in Hanamizaka—Inazuma's specialty. Light and comfortable, perfect to wear after a bath.
Despite the name, yukata weren't revealing at all. They were considered formal wear, often worn at festivals.
Since they had just bought them, most of the girls chose to wear their yukata for their Massages.
Cute girls in yukata naturally looked lovely.
But since none of them were Inazuman, something about the way they wore them still felt a little off.
The exception was Xia Zhen. She had been the first to come for a Massage tonight, and her graceful bearing in a yukata had left Xia Zhi stunned.
After that, every other girl he saw in a yukata felt like a slight disappointment.
Until now.
When Hanachirusato stepped in, Xia Zhi finally found in her the same delicate aura Xia Zhen had carried.
If he had to describe it—it was like a water lotus, fragile and trembling in the cool breeze.
"Mr. Xia, like this… is it alright?" she asked timidly.
"It's fine."
The moment Xia Zhi's hands touched her, Hanachirusato went rigid.
"Sorry…"
"No need. Everyone tenses up their first time."
"I… it's not… I just feel like… my body…"
She trailed off, but Xia Zhi understood.
She still saw herself as tainted.
After all, she carried the memories of Kitsune Saiguu.
Saiguu had died fighting corruption. Yet she herself was the very filth Saiguu was meant to purge. Her existence was a contradiction that could never be resolved.
Xia Zhi's hand brushed over the Golden Circlet at her neck as he said quietly, "Your body isn't tainted anymore. The Sacred Sakura Cleansing Ritual proves that."
"But…"
"Close your eyes. Relax. Just Enjoy it."
"…Mm."
----
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