"…"
Kagami Ren looked at Yoimiya, speechless, and said flatly, "I'm a man."
"Hehe… sorry!" Yoimiya scratched her head awkwardly. "It's just that the Grand Narukami Shrine is all girls, so I misunderstood."
"But then… what exactly do you do at the shrine?" she asked curiously.
"Grand Chief Priest. I'm the Grand Chief Priest of the Grand Narukami Shrine," Kagami Ren replied, taking out his divine token and handing it to her.
"Huh? Grand Chief Priest?" Yoimiya's eyes widened. Even though she wasn't a shrine maiden, she had read about this position before.
This was one of the most prestigious roles in Inazuma, second only to the Raiden Shogun and the Guuji of the shrine. And this guy in front of her… held that title?
She took the token and examined it carefully. The Electro Mitsudomoe emblem and the Sacred Sakura seal immediately confirmed its authenticity.
No one in Inazuma would dare forge something like that—it would be outright suicide.
"Lord Kagami Ren!" Yoimiya suddenly became a bit stiff. After all, his status was incredibly high. Facing him felt no different than standing before the Shogun or Lady Guuji.
"Yoimiya, there's no need to be so formal. Aren't we friends?" Kagami Ren shook his head. "Friends don't need to be this polite."
"We're… friends?" Yoimiya's face lit up, her voice filled with anticipation.
"Of course. You helped me out earlier and talked with me. Doesn't that make us friends?" Kagami Ren smiled. "What, you don't want to be?"
"No, no! Of course I do!" Yoimiya waved her hands quickly, afraid he might misunderstand. "I just… didn't feel confident. I didn't think someone like you would want to be friends with me."
"Hahaha! As long as we live among people, even gods need friends," Kagami Ren laughed.
"That's true!" Yoimiya nodded enthusiastically. "Friendship is the most precious gift in the world."
"Fireworks may fade, but bonds between people last forever!"
"Exactly. So if you consider me a friend, don't be so stiff. Otherwise, we won't even be able to stay friends," Kagami Ren said with a grin.
"Got it! I was just shocked earlier and worried you might be offended." Yoimiya stuck out her tongue playfully.
"Am I really that intimidating?" Kagami Ren raised an eyebrow. He felt like he looked pretty approachable.
"Not really," Yoimiya scratched her head. "It's just… your status is so high. It feels like I'm talking to the Shogun or Lady Guuji, so I got a little nervous."
"Fair enough." Kagami Ren nodded. The Raiden Shogun was always stern and imposing, and Yae Miko maintained an elegant and lofty image in front of the public. It was natural for someone like Yoimiya to feel intimidated.
"Since you're the Grand Chief Priest, you must be really strong, right?" Yoimiya suddenly leaned in, studying him curiously. "But I don't see a Vision."
"I don't need one," Kagami Ren replied. "My power doesn't come from a Vision."
A faint golden energy flickered in his hand—spatial power quietly manifesting.
"Huh? What kind of power is that?" Yoimiya blinked. It wasn't one of the seven elements.
"It's divine power," Kagami Ren explained. "So I don't need a Vision."
"Divine power?! Then… you're a god?!" Yoimiya exclaimed.
"So what if I am?" Kagami Ren waved it off casually. "I'm still just Kagami Ren."
"…Alright." Yoimiya slowly calmed down, nodding.
"I heard from Miko that the most famous fireworks shop in Inazuma is the Naganohara family. Yoimiya… that wouldn't happen to be yours, would it?" Kagami Ren asked, steering the conversation toward something she liked.
"Yep!" Yoimiya immediately perked up. "Hehe, I'm really good at making fireworks!"
"Wait, even Lady Guuji praised me?" she asked excitedly.
"Of course," Kagami Ren nodded. "She told me Naganohara fireworks are the best."
"If I get the chance, I'd love to see your work firsthand."
"Huh? You can right now!" Yoimiya said excitedly. "I was just taking a break because I got tired of making fireworks—and realized I hadn't eaten yet."
"Do you want to come to my shop and see them?"
"Sure." Kagami Ren nodded. He had nothing else planned, and watching Yoimiya craft fireworks sounded interesting.
Plus… spending time with a beautiful girl like her wasn't exactly a bad deal.
"Let's go!" Yoimiya led him back to the Naganohara Fireworks shop.
"Yoimiya, you finally ate?" Naganohara Ryuunosuke stood at the entrance, smiling warmly. "Don't skip meals again."
"Got it, Dad!" Yoimiya replied loudly.
"And this is…?" Ryuunosuke looked at Kagami Ren. The young man's elegant attire made it clear he wasn't ordinary.
"He's a new friend I just met—Kagami Ren! I brought him to see the fireworks!" Yoimiya explained.
"Hello, sir," Kagami Ren greeted politely.
"Hello." Ryuunosuke nodded. "Go on in."
Yoimiya seemed a bit surprised when Kagami Ren addressed her father so formally, but she quickly led him inside.
The moment they entered, the air was filled with the scent of gunpowder. Fireworks of all kinds were stacked everywhere—truly the largest "arms dealer" in Inazuma.
"Kagami Ren, make yourself comfortable. I just need to finish this last bit," Yoimiya said. "It's an order from Miss Kamisato. I have to deliver it tomorrow."
"Will I distract you?" Kagami Ren asked, looking around.
"Not at all," Yoimiya shook her head. "Talking with you actually helps me focus."
"Alright, then I'll let you work." Kagami Ren nodded and sat down on a nearby chair, surrounded by various intricate trinkets.
Aside from fireworks, Yoimiya's craftsmanship in souvenirs was equally impressive.
"What's this?" Kagami Ren picked up a small ring-shaped item, noticing a faint herbal fragrance.
"Oh, that's a bug-repelling ring," Yoimiya glanced over before continuing her work. "It's filled with special herbs. When burned, it keeps mosquitoes away—really useful at night this season."
"Not bad," Kagami Ren nodded. It was surprisingly practical. At the shrine, insects wouldn't dare approach with him and Yae Miko around, but for ordinary people, this was definitely useful.