I have an infinite number of shikigami

"How are we being intimate?"

"I say it's intimate, so it's intimate!"

"... I've just met her for the first time, could you please be reasonable."

"I'm here to marry you, not to reason with you."

"..."

Seeing Fujiwara Reya's handsome face being kneaded into various shapes by Kawashima Miki right in front of him, looking aggrieved yet not daring to speak, Kasahara Fumi couldn't help but laugh.

Good!

This is exactly how to deal with a scumbag—without reasoning.

The shadows cast by the tall trees shifted as evening approached.

The performance on the other side ended, and many guests and the maidens performing kabuki were strolling in the cherry blossom grove, their luxurious clothes partially visible through the leaves.

"Should we go have some fun?" Fujiwara Reya gazed at the stage and spoke to Kawashima Miki.

"Let's go." Natsuki Kuri led the way forward.

Kawashima Miki, after some thought, followed along.

Of course, she knew what Fujiwara Reya was thinking; he simply wanted to see her dance.

Although there would be a grander performance tonight, she, being the Mountain God's Wife, was naturally not suitable to partake personally, while Fujiwara Reya had long desired to see her dance. Since she was already his in body, taking this chance to dance for him wasn't impossible.

"You're becoming more gentle, my lady!" Fujiwara Reya exclaimed excitedly as he ran to the foot of the stage.

Yukino Ritsuko picked up the shamisen: "Let me accompany you with music."

Natsuki Kuri picked up the drum.

"Do you know 'Matsukaze'?" Kawashima Miki asked.

"Yes, I do."

"Then I'll leave it to you two."

Kasahara Fumi had nothing to do, looked around, and had to sit beside Fujiwara Reya.

Amidst the gentle and classic tune of the shamisen, Kawashima Miki stepped onto the stage from one side.

She wore a lightly colored sheer kimono underlayer, with long hair reaching her waist, and two white flowers pinned with ribbons. This attire neither appeared overly gaudy nor out of the world; it was approachable yet carried an elegant aura, with a hint of charm at the corner of her eyes.

"Waves surge skyward,"

"Along the Suma Coast."

"If the moon could empathize, it too would age, "

"Tears soak the long sleeves rolled."

In a voice serenely clear, Kawashima Miki slowly raised her hands, and began to dance Shikoku's "Dance of the Wind."

The red sun hung over the cherry grove, flowing clouds were stretched into filaments by the wind, cherry blossoms bloomed brilliantly, and the orange glow of dusk penetrated into the woods like an enchanting mist enveloping the world.

The sunset's afterglow cast down into the woods.

The exceedingly beautiful lighting smoothed and brightened the stage boards.

Kawashima Miki, with a graceful dance step, reached the edge of the stage, her gentle smiling face turning in front of Fujiwara Reya, the soft evening sunlight casting on her face, adding an extra touch of poetic beauty. The pleats on her kimono were lit brightly, as if radiating light from within.

"How would a deeply affectionate heart lean, "

"The autumn wind knows my mind."

"No worry of the vast sea's separation, "

"You would not betray my love."

In the clear and melodious song, Miss Miki transformed into a woman of deep emotion. Such lyrics, enhanced by her beautiful dance and slender waist, created an aesthetic so profound it rendered one breathless.

Following her movement with his eyes, Fujiwara Reya couldn't help but sense an indescribable melancholic charm. Like standing in a long-abandoned royal palace's corner, clearly seeing fragments of elegance peeling away from the structures weathered by wind and rain.

Onstage, Kawashima Miki also immersed herself into her role.

The floor, shining brightly under the sunset, reflected the shimmering golden threads between her light blue kimono and red undergarment. Her face was similarly veiled with a fire-like beautiful gauze, mesmerizing one's heart and soul.

The music from the combined shamisen and drum, like a merry little stream, flowed continuously.

"In the mortal world, "

"Lingering is extremely difficult,"

"Genuinely makes one sad."

"Admire the vast moon hanging in the sky, "

"Its clear light shining upon the world."

"And hope for the tides to swiftly rise, "

"Drawing water under the bright moon."

Kawashima Miki's song lyrics struck a chord in the listeners' hearts.

Like gentle rain falling on a silent ocean surface, a mysterious tremor washed over the audience in that moment. Her feet in white socks, like a seagull inept at walking, gradually reached out to her lover.

Fujiwara Reya wanted to call this: walking beauty.

The singing and swaying figure on the stage was the embodiment of beauty, exceptionally elegant and evocative.

"With profound love and strong affection, there's the moon, "

"Accompanying me back home."

"The moon is a half pair, "

"Humans are a full couple."

The finale of the dance.

Kawashima Miki closed her eyes, the sunlight casting her long eyelashes onto her cheeks.

She reminisced about her past.

From the novelty of the world in her childhood spider form to the joy of first transforming into a human; from the endless tedium of learning to become human during those years in Shikoku, to the confusion about the future after becoming the Empress in Tokyo.

Twenty-eight years of existence, too short for summarization, yet too long for meticulous examination.

She opened her eyes and met Fujiwara Reya's gaze.

In her heart, a sweet and cozy feeling lingered.

In the gentle and intimate atmosphere, Kawashima Miki, like the dazzling beauty of a morning after snow, rushed into the young man's embrace.

※※※※※

The mountain was enveloped in dusk.

Yukino Ritsuko went to find students from the Furukawa Conference Hall to prepare for the evening performance, while Natsuki Kuri led the two ladies to the inner courtyard of the residence to change clothes. Fujiwara Reya walked alone through the woods, planning to discuss the night's agenda with Dark Crow.

The vividly colored cherry blossom grove gradually merged into the shadows.

Only the slope near the lakeside retained the last remnants of the sunset's afterglow.

As Fujiwara Reya walked, he suddenly stopped.

Ahead in his line of sight, a woman seemed to be waiting for someone.

At her feet bloomed brilliant orange flowers, and beautiful blue butterflies danced around her.

Beside her stood a white deer.

From the wrong angle, he couldn't see the woman's features clearly; Fujiwara Reya only saw the white deer bending to drink from the lakeside while the woman softly patted its back.

He moved a bit closer to observe.

She was wearing a slender-sleeved scarlet kimono, her hair tied up into a bun.

A silver hairpin pierced through the center of the bun, with dangling tassels swaying slightly like half a butterfly.

He drew even closer.

He noticed that her sleeve bands and the thin belt over the skirt that peeked out were also red, the sleeves were exceedingly wide, and in the evening breeze, they fluttered as if ready to take flight.

This wasn't Lady Chikatani from the parade, was it... Fujiwara Reya puzzlingly walked past her from behind. At that moment, the Imperial Concubine suddenly turned and said to him: "Come over to my side."

Fujiwara Reya then saw her face bathed in the twilight, extremely dignified and charming.

In that instant.

He felt a triple joy.

The descending dusk, the gentle evening breeze, and the charming lady... Fujiwara Reya stepped over, bringing his nose close to her ear and whispered: "You smell wonderful, Imperial Concubine, the butterflies and the white deer must have been drawn to you, right?"

The Imperial Concubine gently raised one hand.

Fujiwara Reya instinctively held her tender hand, reminiscent of a young girl's, and strolled with her under the sunset.

※※※※※

Oola, requesting monthly tickets.