You Really Are Happy!
Fireworks fade quickly, but human bonds endure.
She stared at Ei before her in a slight daze. Ei had actually grasped the eternal meaning preserved within the fireworks at a single glance, despite never even having met Yoimiya herself?
Ei seemed to notice the subtle change in her expression...
"What's wrong? From the look on your face... you seem a little surprised?"
She came back to herself and met the woman's gaze.
"I didn't expect you to immediately understand the true meaning the Naganohara fireworks were trying to express."
"Oh, that..."
Ei understood and smiled faintly.
"Ever since the Sakoku Decree was lifted, I've gained a more complete understanding of 'Eternity'... and from time to time, I've also been thinking about things on a deeper level."
Ei had never stopped thinking about "Eternity." She had never cast it aside. She was considering how to change, how to give Inazuma the appearance of a new era. Hearing all this made the Shogun happy as well.
"Haa... We've gone off topic. Let's not talk about that anymore... Although I didn't find anything particularly frightening while passing through Chinju Forest, quite a few other things happened."
Ei felt the topic gradually becoming too serious again. This was supposed to be a time to relax, so she changed the subject once more.
"What interesting things?"
The Shogun asked curiously.
"For example, the scattered traces of youkai power everywhere, and several illusions that I personally found rather interesting and eye-catching."
"You didn't simply appear right in front of them, did you?"
She seemed to foresee something.
"Mm... more or less. When those participants saw me, they all became extremely nervous."
Ei sounded faintly disappointed as she spoke, even a little innocent.
Of course they did! It would be stranger if they weren't terrified!
She complained inwardly.
"Perhaps I really should wear ordinary clothes next time?"
Ei murmured.
At this point, disguising yourself probably wouldn't make much difference...
"Right... here. This is for you."
During their conversation, the Shogun remembered the prize she and Ayaka had found earlier. There was only one bottle of Dango Milk left, and this was the perfect opportunity to give it to Ei.
Ei accepted it and looked down at the drink in her hand.
"This is... Dango Milk?"
It was the drink she had shared with the Shogun last time. Even the packaging was familiar, right down to the feel of the bottle in her hand.
"Mm. Ayaka and I won it earlier. There were three bottles in total, and we saved one for you."
She nodded.
"If there's only one left and you want it, then you should keep it. I don't mind."
Ei knew the Shogun liked the drink too, so she instinctively handed it back.
"If I want more, can't I just buy some later? It's not as though we can't afford it."
She rolled her eyes at Ei.
Their family was hardly poor enough for that. In fact, their family wasn't poor at all!
"You truly don't want it?"
Ei asked again.
"I don't~! I saved it for you."
She firmly pushed it back once more.
"All right... then I'll keep it for now."
Ei then tucked the bottle into her pocket like an exceptionally frugal housekeeper, apparently intending to save it for later.
"..."
The corner of the Shogun's mouth twitched.
Is she afraid I'll change my mind and ask for it back later?!
"Actually, ever since coming here, I've been able to sense a familiar presence. It's rather nostalgic."
"You mean... this event?"
She asked.
"Mm... Have you been to the beach below?"
Ei took her hand and walked to the edge of the high hill, pointing toward the beach spread out below them.
"No..."
She honestly shook her head.
"When I was wandering around nearby earlier, I saw an open area on the beach with a game set up there that looked strangely familiar."
Following Ei's words, the Shogun shifted her gaze toward the clearly newly constructed area on the beach. The square venue sat out over the water and covered a considerable area. It was somewhat far away, though, so she could only make out its silhouette hidden amid the darkness and fluorescent glow.
"I went over and took a brief look. It seems you control a paddle floating in midair to strike a ball into prearranged elemental blocks."
"..."
Looking at Ei's profile, she sank into thought.
"Do you remember the name of this event?"
Ei turned to look at her and asked.
"The name? I think it was... the Akitsu Kimodameshi Test of Courage?"
She recalled the name Ayaka had mentioned before.
"Correct. The name 'Akitsu' has existed for several hundred years. When I first heard the word from Ayaka, I had some doubts. After all, if such an ancient term was deliberately attached to a Test of Courage, there had to be some deeper reason."
Ei shifted her gaze back toward the open area on the distant beach.
"As expected, my instincts weren't wrong. That area... I believe it's called 'Akitsu Yuugei.' I suspect it evolved from 'Akitsu Haneasobi,' which reminded me of some things from long ago."
Those were distant memories... so distant that even Ei herself seemed a little dazed as she recalled them.
Akitsu Haneasobi...
She knew that game...
Players used a hagoita paddle to strike a shuttlecock at targets. It had once been a popular festival game and was also one of Inazuma's traditional pastimes.
Ah, so that's why Ei said the game on the beach evolved from Akitsu Haneasobi... Looking at it that way, they really are similar. It's just that the physical paddles from back then have now been replaced by floating objects, and the scale of the entire game is much larger than the traditional version.
"Makoto also enjoyed playing Akitsu Haneasobi back then. In those days, the myriad youkai still thrived, and Inazuma's nights were far livelier than they are now."
As Ei spoke, the corners of her lips unconsciously lifted, and her voice softened.
"The youkai would often hold festivals, gathering together to drink, laugh, and perform improvised music..."
"Could you be talking about... the 'Mikawa Flower Festival'?"
She remembered that name too, since these were all part of Ei's memories.
"Mm... As expected, you remember it too."
Ei nodded.
"Though only vaguely..."
After all, they were merely inherited memories. She had not even been born back then, much less participated. The one thing she could clearly feel was that Ei had truly been happy in those days.
"Makoto attended as well... She thought it was great fun and pestered me relentlessly until I agreed to go with her. In the end, I couldn't refuse her and gave in. Still, it really was quite enjoyable."
"You were very happy, weren't you?"
She asked with a smile.
"Mm... very happy."
See...? Ei really was happy back then.
She smiled indulgently to herself.
"Unfortunately... the past has already dissolved like a dream. Still, seeing a similar game again truly does lift my spirits."
Although nostalgia filled Ei's eyes, there was also unmistakable joy at seeing something familiar again. After so many years, the familiar people and familiar things had all changed. Even Ei surely felt uncertainty and unfamiliarity at times. It was easy to understand why encountering something this nostalgic would make her happy.
"Shogun..."
"Mm?"
Coming back to herself, she looked toward her mother.
"Are you interested in it? If you are, perhaps you could keep me company and come play there with me?"
Ei took the initiative to invite her.
"..."
She certainly was interested. More accurately, even if she had not been interested, she still would have gone with Ei. After all, this was Ei... And just as Ayaka had said, Ei rarely came outside. Now that she had finally shown some enthusiasm today, of course the Shogun wanted to accompany her. But...
The Test of Courage still had to continue...
"Is it inconvenient? Ah... right, the Test of Courage should have three rounds. The second round is about to begin, isn't it? I chose a poor time to invite you."
Ei realized this and did not insist that she come along, though a faint note of disappointment still entered her voice.
"Ei... can you wait a little while? As soon as the second round ends, I'll come find you. I'll play with you."
She shook her head and made the promise.
"All right, I can do that... Then I'll wait for you on the beach."
Ei smiled and nodded.
"Mm... I won't stand you up, so don't worry."
Before leaving, she reassured Ei once more.
"Hehe... I know. I'm not worried... Go on. Otherwise you'll be late."
Ei smiled and waved gently.
The Shogun returned an affectionate smile before turning around and heading back toward the Test of Courage.
"..."
After watching her daughter leave, Ei glanced toward the open area on the beach, then turned and headed down the mountain as well.
During this time, the Shogun had intended to retrace her route and find the shrine maiden so she could participate in the second round of the Test of Courage. Yet somehow, halfway through the forest, she unexpectedly found Arataki Itto lying unconscious on the ground.
"..."
Her brows furrowed at the sight, and she quickly walked over, placing a finger beneath his nose to check his breathing.
He's breathing... still alive.
She then looked around the surrounding forest. Her expression cooled slightly before she shook his body.
"Mmph—"
Itto refused to wake as though he were sleeping in, even drooling a little. He looked completely asleep.
"Haa..."
Seeing this, she sighed helplessly. A faint spark of lightning flashed across her fingertip before she poked him in the back.
Bzzzt!
A current ran through the young man's body. It was nowhere near enough to injure him, but certainly enough to wake him.
"W-W-W-Whoa~!!"
Just as she expected, he sprang upright the next instant, shuddered several times, and then collapsed again. His consciousness had returned, though his hair was standing on end.
Perhaps I overdid it a little...
She felt faintly apologetic.
"...What happened?"
Seeing him stare at her in a daze, she immediately asked in a low voice.
"Huh? What happened to me...? Was I sleeping here?"
Arataki Itto rubbed his head like someone who had just woken up, still visibly dazed and sounding completely confused.
"How would I know? I'm asking you."
She shot the question back at him speechlessly.
"Me? Ah—!!! There's a ghost!!"
He finally remembered. The fragments of memory from just before he had lost consciousness surged through his mind like lightning, and he leaped to his feet with a shout.
"Calm down. You are an oni..."
She said wearily.
"N-No... I mean a real ghost! A spirit... a monster... one of those creepy things!! I think there was more than one!"
Arataki Itto's face went deathly pale as he described it to her, gesturing wildly and even adding sound effects.
"...?"
She narrowed her eyes in confusion.
There are ghosts here?
She had visited Chinju Forest countless times and had never once seen anything like that. In fact, Ayaka had passed through this place even more often than she had, yet she had never mentioned anything either.
"Could you have seen it wrong?"
She asked experimentally.
"No way! I guarantee it!"
He answered firmly.
"..."
He did not look as though he were lying... So there really was something?
Still, that would not be particularly strange. Inazuma had once been a land where countless youkai and spirits flourished. Even now, it was inevitable that a few remnants would still linger in the mortal world. Except—
"You still don't believe me, do you?! Fine! I'll find them and prove it to you! Hehe... Yours truly has never been afraid of any ghost!"
His tone abruptly changed, and he started boasting again.
Who exactly was the one acting terrified just now?
"Actually, now that I think about it, how could there possibly be any ghosts?! They must've been people from the Yashiro Commission in costume trying to scare yours truly. They're still too green if they think that'll work on me. Just wait until I catch those guys!"
Whoosh!
The next instant, Itto shot off like an arrow, leaving the Shogun behind staring speechlessly.
"Haa..."
She had no idea whether having such a living treasure at the Test of Courage was unfortunate or lucky.
However, just as she was about to continue walking, an unfamiliar voice made her stop.
"Shogun-sama, please wait."
It was a man's voice.
She halted and turned around, discovering a young man with dark brown hair emerging from the forest. Judging from his clothing, it appeared to be a modified version of the Tenryou Commission uniform, altered to better suit his personal style.
"Who are you?"
She asked.
"This is our first meeting, Shogun-sama. My name is Shikanoin Heizou, a detective of the Tenryou Commission. Both the circumstances and location of our meeting are rather abrupt... I hope you'll forgive me."
Heizou approached and immediately dropped to one knee in greeting.
"It's fine. Rise..."
She walked over and raised a hand in acknowledgment.
"Thank you, Shogun-sama."
Heizou slowly stood and thanked her again.
"So... as a detective of the Tenryou Commission, have you come here because there's some matter you need to handle?"
She immediately noticed that someone of his position would not have come here without reason, much less simply to participate in the Test of Courage. Something was clearly going on.
"Just as you suspect... there is something hidden behind this Test of Courage. No... rather than saying it's hidden, it would be more accurate to say that something is currently happening."
Heizou rested his chin on one hand and analyzed the situation in a low voice.
"Is this 'something' related to what Arataki Itto just mentioned?"
Hearing that, she lowered her eyes in thought before asking again.
"Very likely. Although I still can't determine whether what he described was reasonable, and it's possible he truly was seeing things... better to believe there may be something than dismiss it outright. I intend to include what happened to him among my clues."
"What exactly is this 'something' you're talking about?"
He had been speaking vaguely from the beginning without explaining the matter clearly. Feeling a little helpless, she asked him directly.
"Ah... forgive me. Actually... this began with a commission I received."
Heizou realized that he had failed to explain himself properly. After apologizing somewhat awkwardly, he finally began his real explanation.
"Some time ago, someone discovered a strange game on the beach. At first, I didn't know what it was either, but after checking old records, I discovered that it was derived from a game known as 'Akitsu Haneasobi.'"
"..."
She listened silently without interrupting.
"That game quietly became available some time ago. Someone happened to try it and found it extremely entertaining."
At this point, Heizou unusually furrowed his brows.
"However, aside from visitors who had heard about it and come to see for themselves, there wasn't a single person on the beach. To give an example, it was as though a small stall had appeared on the street, yet there was no owner anywhere."
"Even stranger, this ownerless stall continued operating normally. People who reached the beach only had to speak to the instruction sign to begin playing."
Even Heizou's tone turned puzzled.
"It's probably the effect of youkai power..."
She answered.
That was the only plausible explanation. Even now, she could sense faint remnants of youkai power scattered throughout the surroundings. Heizou was right. Something about Chinju Forest was suspicious, and something unknown was hiding here. It was probably some kind of youkai, though certainly not a powerful one. The traces of youkai power were far too weak—so weak that simply maintaining a few mechanisms seemed close to its limit.
"Youkai power? I'm more inclined to agree with your assessment. The visitors claimed it was the work of ghosts. As the story passed from one person to another, it eventually became a haunting rumor, and most people grew too afraid to approach."
"So the Tenryou Commission originally intended to seal off this beach, but—"
The Yashiro Commission had unexpectedly held the Test of Courage here first, without any warning whatsoever, even naming it after "Akitsu." More importantly, Ayato had been the one to initiate the event, and he had not even informed Ayaka beforehand. In other words, was that boy scheming something again? Remembering that smiling expression of his when she left made her feel speechless all over again.
"After the event began, the people who had originally been too afraid to approach assumed this game was merely a warm-up activity prepared by the Yashiro Commission for the Test of Courage, so they stopped being afraid."
"But I know that the game had absolutely nothing to do with the Yashiro Commission from the very beginning."
That was indeed true. Ayato had never mentioned anything about a game called Akitsu Yuugei before. He had only spoken of the Akitsu Kimodameshi Test of Courage.
She agreed inwardly.
"That commission you mentioned earlier..."
"The client was trapped inside that game for several hours. According to him, no matter which direction he tried to walk, he would always return to the same spot. And although his companion was clearly nearby, the companion couldn't see him."
Commonly known as being trapped in a ghostly maze...
"He wasn't lying? Even though everyone else was completely fine?"
She folded her arms, skepticism entering her voice.
"I considered that possibility at first as well. I could tell that he was clearly hiding something, but his companion's testimony confirmed that the incident really happened."
"Who set up that game? Why is the Yashiro Commission helping conceal it? I want to know the truth, so I came here personally to investigate. During the process, I noticed that you were present as well, Shogun-sama, so I wondered whether you had learned of this matter and came to participate in the Test of Courage because of it."
"That is not the case. I knew nothing about these strange incidents at first."
She shook her head in denial.
"I see. Still, it doesn't matter. Leave this matter to me. I only hope what I've told you won't affect your enjoyment of the event."
He answered.
"It won't. Since you've already reported it to me, I'll pay closer attention while I'm here. Besides... anything related to youkai power shouldn't be taken lightly. Be careful, especially when you're alone."
She replied.
"Understood... Then I shall take my leave."
Whoosh~
The next instant, he used Anemo to vanish from sight.
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