Raiden Ei was in an exceptionally good mood.
Yae Miko, puzzled, asked, "Where exactly did you get those photos?"
"Hmm?"
Ei replied as if it were the most natural thing in the world, "I found out I can extract scenes from my memory and send them out as pictures."
"For the sake of backstabbing me, you even discovered that? You really went the extra mile," Miko said, half laughing, half crying.
For so long, she'd been the one teasing this dense god—but now, Ei had actually managed to get one over on her.
For the first time, Miko felt that the little god might finally be catching on.
"Just don't post everything!" Miko shot her a look.
"I know, I know."
Ei nodded, but immediately turned to glare at Miko, eyes sharp with warning.
"I'm not stupid! I know what I'm doing!"
Miko only smiled silently.
Her meaning was obvious—and that only made Ei puff up in frustration, torn between anger and amusement.
"Alright, alright," Miko soothed her, like coaxing a child, "let's keep watching the video, hmm? See how your familiar plots to overthrow you."
Ei knew perfectly well that Miko was changing the subject…
but still turned her gaze obediently back to the screen.
In the video:
"The strange thing," Miko said, "is not my form, but that she and I can no longer meet, isn't it?"
"The nation of unchanging eternity was our shared dream. But I never believed that meant complete stillness."
"At some point, she began walking down a path I could no longer reach."
"When Ei stepped into the Plane of Euthymia, she did not even bid me farewell… perhaps it's self-deception, but I think that was her way of keeping our friendship 'eternal.'"
"No goodbyes, no meetings ever again—thus our bond would remain frozen at its most perfect moment. At least, that's what she must have thought."
Lumine shook her head. "Maybe the one being self-deceptive… is the Shogun herself."
Miko continued softly:
"Since we've taken two different paths toward 'Eternity,' I could have chosen to let things remain as they are.
But instead, I'll risk everything to bring her back to the right path.
Because her seclusion in that realm is her way of clinging to Eternity…"
"…then dragging her out of that world is my way of fulfilling my duty—as her familiar, as part of her Eternity."
Paimon blinked, then said sincerely, "Miss Miko, you're such a good friend."
"Heh~ Don't get the wrong idea," Miko said, lips curling.
"I only told you this to make my plan easier for you to grasp. Don't get sentimental."
"Now then," she clapped her hands, "chat's over. Time for Phase Two of Anti–Raiden Shogun Training."
"What?! There's more?!" Paimon yelped.
[Gu Chen]: Rational analysis: if the Raiden Shogun shut herself away to avoid erosion and loss, then her cutting off contact with Yae Miko—her familiar—would mean Miko also lost her god. Does that count as emotional harm on the Shogun's part?
[Gu Chen]: Given that Yae Miko has been her friend for at least hundreds of years, Ei's sadness at losing others is understandable—but during that same time, Miko was also losing people. So doesn't Ei's silent disappearance count as a kind of loss for Miko too?
[Furina]: Excellent question!
[Heizou]: "My sorrow will always be one more than yours—because one piece of it was caused by you."
[Kaeya]: Oof. You guys are stabbing her right in the divine heart. (Hu Tao·smirk)
[Furina]: Freezing a friendship in time, refusing to let it grow or fade—what kind of twisted logic is that?!
[Venti]: At least I was just too weak to help Dvalin! You, on the other hand, ran off on purpose! (Nahida·finger wag)
[Zhongli]: Speaking rationally, Lady Miko has long worn a "mask" before others. But behind that mask… how much sadness lies hidden?
When her closest friend vanished without a word, perhaps she was truly in great pain.
Good old Zhongli—leave it to him to phrase it just right.
That one line alone was enough to make Ei want to die of guilt.
In the real Plane of Euthymia—
Watching the group chat's messages, Ei froze.
Slowly, she turned her head toward Miko.
The pink-haired kitsune was still smiling, her expression as serene and teasing as ever—no hint of the sadness that once must have lived there.
Back then, when Ei shut herself away to pursue Eternity, she hadn't realized that Miko had been losing, too.
Losing her god.
Losing her.
That must have hurt terribly.
The more I thought about it, the sharper the pain in her own heart became, like pins pricking through her chest.
Suddenly, she reached out and pulled Miko into a tight embrace.
Miko blinked in surprise, then softened, gently patting Ei's back.
"...Miko, I'm sorry. I won't ever do that again."
Feeling the sincerity in Ei's voice, Miko's composure broke; her eyes shimmered faintly with tears.
"Then it's a promise. Never again, okay?"
She continued patting Ei's back soothingly—while slyly snapping a picture at the same time.
[Furina]: Why's no one talking now? (Sucrose·confused)
[Gu Chen]: Don't tell me the emotionally fragile Raiden is bawling her eyes out in the Great Shrine Maiden's arms right now? (Meme·waggish)
[Kaeya]: For real?! I want to see! @[Yae Miko]
[Yae Miko]: (Yae Miko·evil grin)
[Furina]: Don't play coy! Is it true or not?! Spill it!!
[Yae Miko]: Guess~ (smirk)
[Raiden Ei]: …
[Venti]: She's gone silent. Honestly, I'm afraid for my life now. (trembling)
[Zhongli]: (fear.jpg)
[Nahida]: (trembling)
[Charlotte]: So… Can I publish this as exclusive news? The Raiden Shogun won't kill me for it, right? (terrified)
[Kujou Sara]: (dizzy)
[Sangonomiya Kokomi]: That's… a lot to take in, but I do have to ask—are the Shogunate and Watatsumi still at war? (Shenhe·stare)
[Raiden Ei]: I'll… defer to Miko's judgment. (Raiden Ei·autistic squatting)
[Yae Miko]: As the Grand Shrine Maiden, I hereby declare—your god has been tamed! From this day forth, Inazuma shall enter a new era under the rule of Miko-sama! (hands on hips proudly)
[Gu Chen]: Congratulations to Her Excellency the Grand Shrine Maiden! Long live the Empress! (Hu Tao·mischief)
[Venti]: Congratulations to Her Excellency the Grand Shrine Maiden! Long live the Empress! (meme grin)
[Furina]: Congratulations to Her Excellency the Grand Shrine Maiden! Long live the Empress! (Venti·flower toss)
[Azhdaha]: So by that logic, should I tame Morax next? (pondering) (nodding) Got it. Let's do that.
[Zhongli]: …
[Dvalin]: (thoughtful silence)
[Venti]: Don't even think about it! Come here, Dvalin—time for your promotion! You're the new Anemo Archon! (sparkly eyes)
[Dvalin]: …
[Jean]: (Qiqi·fainted)
[Raiden Ei]: Miko. You're… very bold.
[Yae Miko]: @[Gu Chen]@[Venti]@[Furina]
The former Shogun seeks to reclaim the throne—my loyal subjects, come save your ruler!
(amid laughter, the faint echo of "Musou no Hitotachi" can be heard for 5 seconds)
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