After taking the silk from the Shogun's hand, Ogura Mio examined its surface carefully. Once satisfied, she nodded, her ocean-blue eyes lighting up with delight.
"Perfect… this is exactly the kind of silk I wanted!"
Then she turned to inspect the materials in her own shop.
"Hmm… aside from the silk, I think we have all the other materials we need…"
Turning back toward the two before her, she said with a gentle smile,
"I'll just go and double-check the stock. It won't take long, please wait here for a moment, both of you."
With that, she headed toward the warehouse in the back.
"…What a series of complications."
The Shogun exhaled slightly, not expecting that even making a single outfit could be so troublesome.
"I just hope we're not missing anything this time…"
Ayaka laughed softly in agreement.
"Ah, that reminds me, Shogun-sama, I actually ordered a new outfit for you earlier. I used the standard measurements, but since there's a chance it might not fit perfectly, I'll need you to try it on personally later."
She turned toward the violet-haired woman beside her, recalling her earlier conversation with Ogura.
"…You bought me clothes?" the Shogun asked, blinking in mild surprise and faint discomfort.
"Yes. You always wear the same outfit—it's about time you changed your style a bit."
Ayaka's gaze swept over the Shogun's plain, elegant kimono. It was beautiful, yes, but still… one couldn't wear the same thing forever.
In her memory, the Shogun had only ever worn two sets of clothes—the violet gentian kimono she once donned as the Raiden Shogun, and the one she wore now.
"You didn't have to spend money on me," the Shogun said, both warmed and troubled. Though she knew the Kamisato family was wealthy, she could tell the kimono must have been quite expensive.
"That's not right, is it? You've given so much to the Kamisato estate—allow me to show my appreciation for once," Ayaka said with a small pout.
"That's a different matter entirely. Enough… I'll pay for it myself when the time comes."
She refused to relent.
"Eh? How could I let you do that? This outfit is my gift to you!" Ayaka protested softly, her lips pursed in rare dissatisfaction.
"…"
The Shogun fell silent.
"You've done so much for the Kamisato family. I only wish to express my gratitude, that's all. Besides, you always wear the same clothes—it's time for a change. I actually wanted to order one for Ei-sama as well, but… the fabric wasn't enough."
"She won't mind," the Shogun said at last. Since the other woman was so insistent, continuing to refuse would only be rude. She knew as much.
As for Ei… they shared the same body anyway. Whoever wore it, it would still be the same.
Still, could it be that the secret Ayaka whispered to Ogura earlier was about this?
"Pfft… I'm glad to hear that," Ayaka said, satisfied, her expression brightening. It was clear that if the Shogun had refused again, she would have kept persuading her until she gave in.
Her Shogun-sama had a delicate figure, flawless proportions, and a face of stunning beauty—no matter what she wore, it would look wonderful. Kimono best suited her gentle grace, of course, but Ayaka wanted to see her in a different style this time. For her, buying clothes for the Shogun was a joy.
As for herself, well… she had no shortage of clothing.
"Thank you for waiting, both of you."
A few minutes later, Ogura Mio returned to them.
"How are things looking?" Ayaka asked.
"Good news—the materials are all complete! As for the measurements… shall I use the diagram you provided?"
Ogura laid the blueprint Ayaka had given her earlier on the table.
"That's right," Ayaka confirmed.
"Excellent… the total cost comes to… this much!" Ogura said, raising five fingers.
"Please, take this," Ayaka replied, handing over a bag of Mora without hesitation. "If possible, I'd like both outfits rushed."
The sound of the coins inside the bag made it clear that the price was no small sum.
"…"
The Shogun instinctively reached for her own purse, but before she could, Ayaka—predicting her movement—gently grasped her hand beneath the table.
"Shogun-sama~?"
Ayaka raised an eyebrow, as if to say, What did I tell you earlier?
Seeing that, the Shogun stopped resisting, allowing Ayaka to pay.
"Understood. Luckily, I don't have any other orders at the moment, so I'll begin right away. However, it will take some time to complete. You can come back in a few days to collect them."
Ogura bowed politely.
"Thank you."
Ayaka nodded, then gently took the Shogun's hand and led her out of Ogura's shop.
Once they reached the street, Ayaka released her hand, looking at her with a fond yet helpless smile.
"Shogun-sama, I think it would be better if you saved your money for Ei-sama instead."
She could easily guess that Ei-sama was likely penniless.
"She rarely even leaves the Plane of Euthymia."
The Shogun looked a little embarrassed by that remark—but it wasn't wrong. She simply hadn't given Ei the chance to spend money.
"Hehe… this is the first time I've seen Shogun-sama troubled over something like this."
Ayaka smiled softly as she led her toward a nearby restaurant in Hanamizaka. The sign above the entrance read: Kiminami Restaurant.
"You're hungry?" the Shogun asked.
"A little. Besides, it's already dinner time. Please join me, Shogun-sama—it's a place I chose especially for you," Ayaka said with a sweet blink of her eye.
The Shogun silently shook her head and looked up at the establishment before them. Now that she thought about it, she had never tried the food here before… perhaps it was worth a visit.
Kiminami Restaurant was a well-known small eatery in Hanamizaka—an open-style shop where passersby could easily stop for a meal. Diners could simply sit at the counter and order directly.
"Welcome, both of you!"
The owner, Miss Kiminami Anna, greeted them cheerfully upon their arrival.
"Hello, Miss Kiminami," Ayaka responded, moving gracefully to one of the round stools at the counter.
"Oh my… Miss Kamisato, right on time! We agreed on roughly this hour, didn't we?" Kiminami Anna said with a friendly smile.
—An agreed time?
The Shogun, now seated, turned her gaze suspiciously toward the young woman beside her.
"Yes," Ayaka replied calmly, not showing the slightest hint of guilt as she met the Shogun's questioning eyes.
"Let's order according to the reservation I made earlier. And about that matter we discussed… I'll be counting on you."
Her tone held a quiet implication, yet she made no attempt to hide it from the Shogun—as if she had already decided there was no need for secrecy.
"Hehe… not a problem at all. I've prepared everything you asked for," Kiminami Anna said, sneaking a subtle glance in the Shogun's direction.
"Then, dear guest, please have a seat and rest here for a moment. I'll go prepare your meal," she said smoothly, then exchanged a quick glance with Ayaka before hurrying off toward the kitchen.
In an instant, the Shogun was left alone with Ayaka—though before she could ask anything, the other woman had already turned away.
"Wait—"
She looked at Ayaka's retreating figure with a doubtful expression, opening her mouth to question her.
"Aya—"
"Shogun-sama, please excuse me for a short while."
Clatter…
Ayaka stood and followed Kiminami Anna into the kitchen, leaving the Shogun sitting alone at the counter, bewildered.
The only sound around her was the occasional barking of a dog outside.
"…Highly suspicious."
...
Meow~
The orange tabby cat purred comfortably under her gentle touch, its soft body rolling over on the ground again and again in contentment.
"…"
The Shogun was quietly playing with the little cat that had approached her feet. Her slender fingers lightly scratched under its chin, making the small creature melt into bliss. The cat, now completely attached to her, rolled onto its back, batting at her fingers with its tiny paws while rubbing its face affectionately against her hand.
Looking at the adorable creature before her, the Shogun couldn't help but smile. As a being created by human hands, she found herself inexplicably curious about living creatures. Whenever she saw birds fluttering nearby, she would often stop to observe them quietly for a moment.
"Oh my… sorry to keep you waiting!"
A moment later, Miss Kiminami emerged from the kitchen, carrying a tray in her hands. She returned to the counter and began placing the dishes neatly before the Shogun.
"…"
The Shogun straightened up and turned her gaze back to the counter, looking at the familiar assortment of dishes laid out before her.
Familiar—why?
Because these were all her favorite foods. Even the desserts at the side were just to her liking, as if the entire meal had been planned in advance.
"Is there something wrong, dear guest?" Kiminami asked softly, noticing her thoughtful expression.
"No… it's just, these dishes…"
"Oh, these were specially ordered for you by Miss Kamisato. Please, have a taste."
Kiminami gestured toward the plate of sweets.
The Shogun gave a small nod, lifted one piece with a wooden skewer, and took a delicate bite.
"It's delicious," she said quietly.
"Phew, I'm glad! Our restaurant serves common dishes, not the sort of refined cuisine one finds at high-end banquets—but the taste, I assure you, is genuine," Kiminami said with a relieved smile.
If the guest had been displeased, she would have felt terrible—especially since Miss Kamisato had gone to the trouble of arranging everything. Still, as she looked at the elegant woman before her, she had a feeling that even if the food hadn't been good, this guest wouldn't have complained. Some people's upbringing could be seen in every gesture—and this one clearly carried herself with poise and grace.
"…Where is Ayaka?"
The Shogun finally asked what had been on her mind. Since Ayaka had said she'd be stepping away for a moment, she hadn't returned, and now there was still no sign of her. Concern flickered in the Shogun's eyes.
"Ah, please don't worry—Miss Kamisato went next door. She'll be back shortly."
Next door?
What was she doing there?
"Never mind… let her be."
She didn't press the matter further. So long as she knew Ayaka's whereabouts, that was enough. With a faint sigh, she reached for the purple oil-paper parasol resting on the counter, setting it against the floor beside her.
In the process, her wrist instinctively spun the folded parasol once by the handle—just like one might do when drawing and sheathing a katana—before resting the tip on the ground for easier placement.
That small, precise motion did not escape Kiminami's notice. Her eyes widened slightly as she watched the Shogun, who seemed entirely unaware of having done anything unusual.
"Um… dear guest, by any chance, are you trained in the sword arts?" she asked curiously.
The Shogun paused slightly, her expression still calm.
"…What makes you think so?" she asked after a moment.
"Your motion just now—it resembled a move from traditional sword technique, didn't it?" Kiminami said, mimicking the movement a bit awkwardly, her imitation almost endearing.
"…Indeed. You're quite observant," the Shogun said softly, half-lidding her violet eyes in faint approval.
"Ahaha… not really. My father practiced the way of the sword, so I've seen a little of it myself," Kiminami replied, scratching her cheek modestly.
"Hmm… you misunderstand. I only know a little about the art of the sword, nothing more. I am by no means an expert," the Shogun said gently. After all, in her current guise, she was just an ordinary young woman.
"That's true… if we're talking about a true expert, then Miss Kamisato would definitely fit that description," Kiminami said with a small, awkward laugh, steering the conversation back to Ayaka.
Crunch~
The Shogun took another bite of the sweet cake, savoring its soft texture as it melted in her mouth. Her violet eyes narrowed slightly in quiet enjoyment as she sampled a few more confections.
Speaking of which… could a puppet like her even gain weight? Probably not, right?
If not… then perhaps next time she could indulge a little more.
"Our restaurant has been open for many years," Kiminami said suddenly, her voice breaking through the Shogun's thoughts. "We've had quite a bit of history with the Kamisato family."
The Shogun turned her gaze toward her again—so she was talking about the Kamisatos?
"Both siblings from the Kamisato family are fond of our food. They often send people here to order takeout and bring it back to their estate."
Miss Kiminami continued chatting happily with her, clearly delighted to have such a lovely guest to talk to. In the presence of such a graceful beauty, it was only natural that she wanted to linger in conversation—it simply felt pleasant.
"After all, both of the Kamisato siblings are quite hopeless when it comes to cooking. Even if they wanted to, they wouldn't manage much."
The Shogun rested her arm lightly on the counter, her fingers brushing against the fair skin of her neck as she absentmindedly tucked a few strands of violet hair behind her ear.
Indeed, the siblings' culinary skills were… comparable to Ei's—chaotic enough to blow up a kitchen. Ei's case was understandable, but those two? They had an adventurous streak, constantly experimenting and adding whatever ingredients they fancied. Even if the kitchen didn't explode, the resulting dishes would still be… dark cuisine, to say the least.
Come to think of it, aside from Makoto, was there anyone she knew who could actually cook? Perhaps Kujou Sara… might know a little?
As for herself, why could she cook? Was it because she was a puppet… or because she had learned it sincerely?
"By the way," Kiminami continued, "today's meal was actually reserved in advance by Miss Kamisato. She mentioned she would be bringing a guest to dine with her."
Then, lowering her voice slightly, she added, "This may sound a little rude, but… Miss Kamisato doesn't seem to have many friends."
Hearing that, the Shogun's expression softened with a trace of concern.
"Not many friends? Has she ever brought anyone else here before?" she asked.
"No, you're the first one Miss Kamisato has ever brought," Kiminami replied, shaking her head.
"…"
The Shogun lowered her gaze slightly, recalling the moment earlier when Ayaka had embraced her and whispered:
'Shogun-sama… it's been two years. Ayaka has missed you dearly.'
"The neighbors often say that Miss Kamisato is beautiful, noble, and graceful—like a flower atop a distant peak. Too perfect, really. That kind of perfection makes her seem unapproachable. Most ordinary people's children wouldn't even dare speak to her casually."
That was true. Having lived so long as the daughter of the Yashiro Commission, her manner of interacting with others had long been shaped by time and duty. The Shogun could easily imagine that any ordinary young man standing before Ayaka would feel utterly overwhelmed.
In her childhood, Ayaka might have chatted freely with anyone—but that changed the day Kamisato Kayo passed away.
"I haven't spoken with her often, but I've admired her for years—so young, yet already shouldering such heavy responsibilities. So, seeing her come here today with you… I'm truly happy for her," Kiminami said sincerely.
At first, she had imagined that Miss Kamisato's 'guest' might be some dangerous figure or perhaps a carefree man—but now that she had met the Shogun, she realized how wrong she'd been. Just one look was enough to see that this beautiful noblewoman shared a deep, genuine bond with Miss Kamisato—something akin to childhood friends.
"…You overpraise me," the Shogun replied modestly. She could already sense the next words forming in the woman's mind—something about her seeming like some highborn lady of the Shogunate—so she cut it off before it could be said.
"So please, do eat plenty, won't you? And if you can… spend a little more time chatting with her. Think of it as a humble request from us locals, alright?"
The Shogun opened her mouth, about to respond—
BOOM!!
Suddenly, a deafening explosion came from the next room, as if something had burst apart.
"Ah—!"
Ayaka's startled cry followed immediately after.
Both women turned their heads toward the sound at once!
"Wh-what happened?!" Kiminami exclaimed, hurriedly leaning over the counter to look.
The Shogun, too, rose from her seat, intending to see what was going on.
That sound… it seemed oddly familiar.
Surely not…?
A silent sigh of helplessness welled up within her. The memory of a similar explosion flashed through her mind.
Because—back when Ei used to cook, she had made the exact same sound.