"Mm... that's right... I am cautious about all changes, but seeking Eternity never meant preventing people from growing better, or happier."
Ei rose from where she sat and looked at her solemnly.
"Thanks to you... no, to everyone who worked hard for it—because of all of you, I feel that I, too, can change for the better. Haa... this trip has really been full of rewards."
She smiled, looking relieved as her gaze lifted toward the darkened sky above and the pale, serene moonlight.
"If you wish, I'll bring you out again."
The Shogun answered calmly.
"Hehe... I know you often go out, but... for someone like me, who's never left before, this outing carries special meaning."
Ei touched her chest with a gentle smile—her beautiful violet eyes shimmering with pure brilliance.
"Haa... truly, this day's experience... I could savor it again and again."
Seeing Ei's expression of endless reflection, the Shogun lowered her gaze in thought, then her eyes lit up.
"Would you like to commemorate this moment?"
"Me? Hmm... of course I would... but how?"
Ei looked puzzled, waiting for her to decide—after all, Ei was still unfamiliar with such things.
"How about... 'preserving your image' as a memento."
She voiced the thought that held a double meaning in her heart.
To preserve an image, to preserve Ei herself—to capture their shared memory in this moment.
"...Preserve... my image? What's that? Another new term I've never heard before."
Ei's tone carried a trace of helplessness, yet her curiosity and interest showed through, her lips curving into a small smile.
Indeed, the child understood much more than she did—after all, the Shogun lived in the present, while she herself had lagged behind. Still, she wanted to catch up—after all, having a generation gap with her daughter would be troublesome.
"It's... hmm—haa... you'll see soon enough. I'll go borrow a Kamera."
Saying this, the Shogun turned and walked toward Kuroda. Ei obediently stayed where she was, gazing at the distant horizon as dawn began to approach. A faint golden light peeked over the edge of the world, illuminating the Inazuman skyline bit by bit.
She looked at the sight of Inazuma slowly awakening, her face softening into a tender, radiant smile.
A few minutes later...
The Shogun returned, holding the Kamera she had borrowed from Kuroda. Looking down at the black device in her hand, she adjusted a few buttons experimentally.
Its design was similar to the one owned by the Kamisato family, though with minor differences—but no matter. She understood the basics well enough.
After all, it was only for taking a photo—
"What's that?"
Ei walked up to her curiously, peering at the Kamera like a fascinated child.
"A Kamera. It's for preserving images."
"I don't quite understand... but I trust you. What... what should I do?"
Ei straightened her posture, adjusting the collar of her kimono and smoothing her hair—it was adorably earnest.
"Just strike a pose."
The Shogun said casually as she adjusted the Kamera's focus, the lens now aimed at the violet-haired woman before her. Through the viewfinder, she saw Ei's slightly flustered yet endearing expression.
"What kind of pose should I make?"
Ei seemed a little eager to try.
"...Like this?"
She demonstrated a simple peace sign with her fingers.
"Hmm... like this? It feels a bit embarrassing... /// Could I try something else?"
Ei's cheeks flushed faintly as she awkwardly held up her hand in imitation, her voice small and shy.
"..."
The Shogun lowered the Kamera, glanced at her, thought for a moment, then her eyes brightened as she walked toward the railing nearby.
"Then... how about leaning lightly against the railing, while holding this umbrella."
She handed Ei a wisteria-patterned oil-paper umbrella.
"Oh... this is fine too."
That pose suited her far better—the previous one was just too unlike her nature.
Following the Shogun's instructions, Ei leaned gently against the railing, her body slightly tilted backward in a relaxed, casual posture. The elegant paper umbrella rested on her shoulder, its canopy angled just right. Her hands held the handle delicately as her gaze turned toward the Kamera.
The Shogun stepped back a few meters and adjusted the lens, but something still felt missing.
"Ei... smile."
"Hm?"
"At the Kamera."
"Smile... hmm—"
Ei's lips curved faintly upward—it was a little awkward, as if she wasn't quite used to forcing a smile.
The Shogun narrowed her eyes slightly before speaking again.
"Then... smile for me. The lens is me."
"Mm... alright."
This time, Ei finally showed a genuine, gentle smile toward the lens.
Click!
The Shogun pressed the shutter at the precise moment when sunlight began to touch the horizon. The Kamera emitted a crisp sound, and within seconds, a freshly developed photograph slid out from the bottom slot.
Looking at the beautiful woman captured in the photo, the Shogun smiled softly, her eyes filled with tender warmth.
She walked over and handed the photo to Ei.
"This is—! Me?"
Ei was astonished. Was that truly her? It looked identical! A second version of herself!
The photo had a subtle blur effect—the distant background was the golden, hazy silhouette of Mount Yougou, while the center clearly depicted a graceful woman shielding herself from the sunlight with a paper umbrella, smiling gently toward the Kamera.
"Why isn't she moving?" Ei asked curiously.
"Because... that's you in the photo—frozen in time."
The Shogun explained patiently.
"Me in the photo? Which 'me'? Hmm—so profound."
Ei scratched her head awkwardly.
"I was the same as you at first... but you'll get used to it. This is the power of change."
The Shogun replied softly.
"Mm... astonishing indeed... haa... I thought this was a dream. The pose is identical, and even the scenery... you said this is me."
"Then... if that's me... what am I right now?"
Ah... there it was again.
The Shogun's lips twitched slightly.
As expected—that was just her way of thinking.
"You are, of course, still you."
She answered patiently.
"I'm... still me?"
Ei pressed her hand to her head, visibly dizzy from the logic.
"Haa... let me put it this way. Do you consider me—this body—to be you?"
The Shogun asked, deliberately using the formal phrase this body to refer to herself.
"Of course. I never intended to entrust Inazuma to someone else. Even though you're my child... in a sense, you are me."
If she could entrust Inazuma to the Shogun, then the Shogun wasn't 'someone else'—she was herself. Naturally, the Shogun was a part of her.
"Exactly. You can think of it this way—the you in the photo is your past self, the you from just moments ago, recorded in that instant."
"Recorded..."
Ei narrowed her eyes slightly.
"Mm... recorded. You can think of it as a memory—a record of the traces left behind in the past. The Kamera is the tool that preserves those traces."
The Shogun explained with clear understanding.
"Oh... I think I understand. The me in the photo is my past self—a version of me from another moment, recorded in that instant. It's another form of my existence, isn't it?"
Ei's expression brightened with realization.
"Exactly. That's one way to see it."
The Shogun exhaled softly, relieved that her explanation had finally gotten through. Good grief.
"Mm... even I, who once sought 'Eternity,' have a constantly changing form..."
At that thought, Ei felt a pang of guilt.
"Then how could I demand that Inazuma—or everyone living within it—remain unchanged?"
Her voice softened as understanding dawned. A faintly self-mocking smile appeared on her face—a reflection of her former, unyielding self.
Then, in silence, she turned her gaze toward the woman before her—her daughter.
Indeed... perhaps the Shogun truly was the greatest gift that Makoto had ever left her.
'Ei... when I'm gone, do not dwell in grief. Let her accompany you instead. Take good care of her—she is our last remaining hope.'
Yes... she would cherish her well.
Don't worry, Makoto.
"Ei? You were spacing out."
The Shogun's voice pulled her back to reality.
"Sorry... I was thinking of Makoto."
Ei admitted honestly.
"Mm... me too... We really are connected heart to heart."
The Shogun shook her head gently, comforting her.
"Shogun... let's take another photo."
Ei suggested, her tone soft.
"Alright."
She never refused her requests.
"This time, I want to take it with you. Is that okay?"
"It should be fine... let me see."
The Shogun adjusted the Kamera slightly, recalling the selfie technique that Ayaka had once taught her.
Click...
"Alright..."
She lifted the Kamera, holding it up before them and pointing the lens back toward themselves. Ei prepared behind her.
"Mm..."
Ei found the correct angle, raised the umbrella to cover them both, and from behind, affectionately wrapped her arms around the Shogun's slender waist. Her chest pressed closely against hers, drawing the both of them beneath the oil-paper umbrella.
"///"
The Shogun's face instantly flushed red, a quiet complaint rising in her heart at Ei's boldness. Yet despite her embarrassment, she smiled softly and nestled closer into Ei's embrace, her cheek resting gently against Ei's neck.
Ei, too, smiled toward the lens.
Three... two... one...
Click!
That moment was beautifully captured—forever preserved within that single, eternal instant.
Along the way with the Shogun, the reforms and changes sweeping through Inazuma continued to reshape Ei's perception. If these transformations defined the current Inazuma, then it had already become vastly different from the image that once existed in her memory.
She believed... that these, too, were part of Inazuma—another form of change. It would be wrong to say that "the Inazuma of today is no longer Inazuma."
Watching the Shogun fiddling with the Kamera, developing the photos, Ei's thoughts deepened.
The Vision Hunt Decree, the Statue of the Omnipresent God—these were all meant to bring forth "Eternity." But if she had truly reached closer to Eternity, would any of these stories have ever come to pass?
"Haa..."
She exhaled softly and lifted her gaze toward the morning sky, now bright and blue, her heart filled with complex emotions.
"Have I... been holding onto everything too tightly?"
She couldn't help but ask herself.
"Here... the photos are developed."
The Shogun walked over at that moment, handing her the freshly printed pictures of the two of them together.
Ei picked them up and looked closely. In the images, the two women—mother and daughter, yet resembling sisters—smiled sincerely at the Kamera.
How wonderful... This memory was a treasure, truly priceless to her now. Perhaps, in the future, when time had weathered her heart, she could take these out again and look back upon them.
Her fingers gently traced the image of her daughter she held in her arms, her eyes full of affection.
"...What's wrong?"
Ah... this child was as perceptive as ever. Even the smallest lapse in her focus never escaped her daughter's notice. Truly, her own flesh and blood.
"It's nothing... I was just a little curious, that's all."
Ei shook her head.
"Mm... I'll put them in frames and display them in my bedroom later."
The Shogun gestured to the photos in Ei's hand.
"Frames?"
"They're containers that hold photos—so you can look at them anytime."
Ah, so that's how it works... A vessel for preserving memories.
That was how she understood it.
"Second Master!! Second Master!!"
However—
At that moment, a man's urgent voice echoed from afar, reaching the ears of both women. From the tone alone, it was clear something serious had happened.
Both of them instinctively turned toward the sound. It came from below the platform they were standing on—the wooden bridge area.
They were at the lower platform of Hanamizaka. Below that was the end of the commercial district, which connected to the commoners' residential area in the distance. A small platform, encircled by stone steps, made it a perfect place for viewing cherry blossoms. So, who could be shouting so anxiously at this hour?
Second Master?
The Shogun frowned slightly.
"Is that... someone from the Tenryou Commission?"
Ei asked uncertainly, having caught sight of the man's uniform.
"...I'm not sure."
The Shogun replied. She couldn't recall if she had ever met him before—or perhaps she had, and simply forgotten. She'd met too many people to keep track.
"Let's go take a look."
Ei said to her calmly.
"You want to go over there?"
The Shogun asked in surprise.
"Yes... he seems troubled. As a god, helping our people in their difficulties is also our duty."
Ei explained earnestly.
"..."
That sense of duty sounded rather broad... but fine. If she wanted to go, the Shogun had no reason to refuse—and truth be told, she was a little curious as well.
Thus, mother and daughter descended the stairs together to the lowest platform, where they found the young man still calling out for the "Second Master."
"Second Master!!!"
Ippei was still shouting anxiously, his face pale and full of panic.
"...Has something happened?"
Ei stepped forward and spoke first.
"Ah—I... Eh?! Sh-Shogun-sama?! A-are you here to see Master Kujou Kamaji? Forgive me... he hasn't returned yet. If you wish, I can deliver a message in your stead!"
The young man's expression turned even paler as he stammered in a panic, his words barely coherent—but even in his flustered state, his sense of duty remained, quickly turning to official matters.
Here we go again...
The Shogun sighed inwardly. Was she truly that intimidating in daily life? Maybe she'd gone a bit too far... perhaps she should adjust her demeanor next time.
"No need for such formality. We're not here on official business—we simply heard your shouting earlier."
Ei, used to such reactions, spoke calmly, urging him to relax and explaining their reason for coming.
Watching Ei handle the situation so naturally, the Shogun realized just how far she still had to go when it came to dealing with people. Though her mother could be somewhat out of touch with the times, when it came to serious matters, she remained unshakably composed.
"...What happened exactly?"
The Shogun followed up with a question.
"To tell the truth, the Second Master went to negotiate yesterday, but it's already today, and he still hasn't returned. I'm really worried."
Ippei quickly explained the situation to both of them.
"He sometimes lingers outside longer than expected... but it's already been a full day. No matter how you look at it, this is... troubling."
The more he spoke, the more anxious his expression became.
"The 'Second Master' you mentioned—would that be... Kujou Kamaji?"
The Shogun asked, confirming her suspicion.
"Yes... that's right, Master Kamaji."
Ippei nodded quickly.
"Kujou Kamaji... that sounds like a descendant of the Kujou Clan."
Ei folded her arms, eyes lowering in thought. She had little recollection of the Kujou family's descendants—it had been so many years, after all—but she could see that the Shogun recognized the name. That wasn't surprising... their ages said enough.
"Yes, my apologies... Since Lord Kujou Takayuki was imprisoned for his crimes, and the eldest son has been away for years, the Kujou household is now led by Master Kamaji as its acting head."
Ei and the Shogun exchanged a glance before turning back to Ippei.
"I've heard rumors of disorder within the Tenryou Commission. Does this matter concern Kujou Kamaji?"
Ei asked calmly.
"Forgive me, Shogun-sama! After the Kujou Clan's reputation fell into disrepute, their power waned considerably. And... well, Your Excellency—um... you haven't yet issued a decision regarding the Commission's internal restructuring..."
His voice grew smaller and smaller, as though afraid to speak further.
"So Kujou Kamaji decided to take matters into his own hands?"
The Shogun completed his thought.
"Y-yes... the Second Master thought he might ask for the 'Takatsukasa Clan's' help in stabilizing the situation."
Ippei looked at her gratefully, then continued explaining.
"...That was indeed my oversight."
Ei admitted softly, guilt in her tone. She knew she had failed to issue proper orders then—lost in her own hesitation and confusion. That had been wrong of her.
"No, please! We also heard that Shogun-sama was unwell. The fault lies with us—we should have acted with more initiative instead of burdening you with everything."
Ippei quickly bowed deeply, attempting to comfort her. How could he possibly blame the Shogun? If there was fault, it was theirs to bear.
"If this concerns official matters of the Tenryou Commission, it should've been handled within the office. Why are you calling out here?"
The Shogun interjected at last.
In recent years, she had handled most of Inazuma's administrative work personally—she knew the details far better than Ei did.
"Uh... to be honest... I'm not entirely sure. The meeting place this time was rather unusual, but since important people were involved, I didn't dare ask too many questions..."
Ippei scratched his head, clearly feeling uneasy.
"Do you at least know the exact location?"
Ei picked up the questioning from there. The two of them spoke in perfect rhythm—one question after another—leaving Ippei scrambling to keep up.
"Uh... th-the meeting was held on the mountain near the Grand Narukami Shrine. I believe the Takatsukasa family has a camp there."
"The Takatsukasa Clan... that's a familiar name. They've been assisting the Kujou Clan these past years, haven't they?"
Ei rested her chin on her hand, asking casually.
"Yes... exactly. That's why the Second Master wanted to discuss matters with them. But even if there was much to talk about, it shouldn't have taken this long... I'm starting to worry..."
"You're afraid something might've happened to him?"
The Shogun asked calmly.
"Y-yes, that's crossed my mind... but with his status, there shouldn't be any danger, right?"
Ippei shook his head, trying to dismiss his concern.
"I thought about going myself, but... my position isn't exactly suited for that kind of meeting, so I didn't dare."
"Haa... in that case, we'll go in person."
Ei sighed softly, but her decision was made. She understood his hesitation—and she couldn't blame him. Besides, this matter wasn't small. It was worth investigating personally.
"..."
The Shogun looked at her quietly, wondering... would she have gone herself in the same situation?
The answer was... yes, probably.
"Eh? Shogun-sama?"
Ippei exclaimed in surprise.
"With my position, even if my presence disrupts the negotiations, it shouldn't cause any major issue. Besides..."
Her expression softened with quiet resolve.
"—It was my own lack of timely judgment that led to this. I should be the one to set things right."
She spoke sincerely, pressing a hand to her heart.
"I'm truly grateful! If you're personally involved, Shogun-sama, everything should go smoothly. I'll head elsewhere to continue searching—may the two of you have a safe journey!"
Ippei clasped his hands together, bowing deeply in gratitude.
"Ei..."
The Shogun's voice carried a note of concern.
"I'll be fine... Besides, it's been quite some time since I've handled official matters before you. I might be a little rusty, so please, senior~ bear with me."
Ei smiled warmly at her, her tone teasing yet tender.
"...Haa."
The Shogun narrowed her eyes slightly, exhaling in exasperation.
After all, the one who had taught her everything about governance and decision-making... was standing right before her. Senior, indeed—such an act.