Spring fades, and autumn comes. Flowers fall and flowers bloom.
In the blink of an eye, ten years have passed.
Yu Xie stared blankly at the cherry blossom tree outside the window, recalling when he first arrived in Inazuma.
It was also spring back then, and on clear days, the air was filled with the faint scent of cherry blossoms, just like now.
[Name: Yu Xie]
[Age: 25 years old]
[Physical Condition: Young]
[Remaining Lifespan: 99 years, 320 days]
[Skills: Master of All Weapons (Rare), Ashura Flash (Epic)]
The information flashed through his mind.
In these ten years, he had trained himself, made breakthroughs in his abilities, and repeatedly achieved great feats in various missions.
Yu Xie had become the youngest-ever Supreme Commander of the Okuzumeshuu, leading the organization.
Outside the window, the spring breeze continued, and pink cherry blossom petals drifted in with the wind. Yu Xie reached out and caught one.
At the same time, a clear female voice rang out from outside.
"Yu Xie—come out!"
Hearing the voice, Yu Xie hesitated for a moment before turning and stepping outside.
When he opened the door, a pink-haired woman wearing a red-and-white miko outfit stood outside, her hands on her hips. Her pink fox ears twitched slightly.
"What were you doing inside without saying a word?"
"I'm out now, aren't I?" Yu Xie replied. "What do you need from me? Don't tell me you want me to do some troublesome thing again."
"It's not troublesome," the young lady, Yae Miko, smiled mischievously. "I just want you to make me some fried tofu. I'm a little hungry."
"Is that all?"
"Why, is there something else you'd like me to ask you to do?" Yae Miko's gaze turned meaningfully.
"Why do you have to ask me to make fried tofu?"
"Because your fried tofu tastes better."
"Aren't you working? Why are you coming to my place in broad daylight?"
"I have work, but today isn't busy, so I took a break. It's fine to take an occasional break, right? Heh heh."
"If the Fox Shrine finds out, they'll probably drag you back."
"Hmm… it's fine, they won't know." Yae Miko smiled with a bit of pride, then clasped her hands together. "Please, help me make some fried tofu. I haven't had lunch yet, and your fried tofu is really delicious."
Yu Xie always had no way of refusing this fox lady.
She was always like this—she'd occasionally come to the Okuzumeshuu Headquarters, sometimes just to sit around, other times staying for a long time.
Of course, she didn't come empty-handed. Although she could be a little "troublesome" at times, every time she came, she'd tidy up the Commander's bedroom until it was spotless.
The bedroom was supposed to be a private place, and at first, Yu Xie didn't want Yae Miko to help clean it. But he couldn't refuse her.
"Come on in, I'll be right back, just wait a moment while I go to the kitchen." Yu Xie said.
Yae Miko took a step forward but didn't walk directly into the room. Instead, she approached Yu Xie and gradually closed the distance between them, until their faces were so close they could almost feel each other's breath.
Then, Yae Miko reached up and plucked a cherry blossom petal that had landed on Yu Xie's head.
"You didn't even notice the petal on your head. I thought you had deliberately placed a cherry blossom there."
"I thought you were going to do something inappropriate to me."
"Tch—" Yae Miko stuck out her tongue at him, then turned and walked into the room. "I haven't been here in a few days, so your room must be a mess again. Let me tidy it up first."
Afterwards, Yu Xie went to the kitchen.
He didn't quite understand why Yae Miko liked his fried tofu so much. To be honest, he didn't think his fried tofu was anything special—it was probably not as good as the ones served in restaurants outside. But since she said it was delicious, he couldn't bring himself to refuse.
After a while, the smoke from the chimney dissipated, and Yu Xie placed the fried tofu onto a plate, then walked back to his room.
Yae Miko was already helping him tidy up the room, acting as if she were the mistress of the house.
"Yae Miko, your fried tofu is here." Yu Xie walked into the room and placed the plate of tofu on the desk.
Yae Miko immediately stopped what she was doing, walked over to the desk, and sat down, a look of anticipation on her face.
She closed her eyes and took a deep sniff of the tofu's aroma.
"I'm starting!"
Yae Miko picked up a piece of fried tofu with her chopsticks and put it into her mouth, immediately displaying an expression of immersion and enjoyment.
"As expected, yours tastes the best!"
"Is it really that good? I personally think you're being a little too generous with your praise."
"Everyone has different tastes. But I really think your fried tofu is the best in all of Inazuma."
"Go ahead and eat." Hearing Yae Miko say this, Yu Xie couldn't help but smile.
It wasn't a bad thing that she thought so highly of his cooking skills.
After a while, the fried tofu was finished, and the room had been tidied up.
Yu Xie and Yae Miko went outside to the eaves at the back of the house and sat down to watch the sea.
The location of the Commander's Headquarters was quite good, situated in Inazuma City—right next to the street and facing the ocean.
The people of Inazuma all knew that this location had been specifically chosen by the Raiden Shogun for the Okuzumeshuu Commander, who had earned great military achievements.
The sea breeze brushed by, and Yae Miko's long hair gently swayed. Yu Xie seemed to catch the faint scent of her hair in the air.
"From now on, you'll have to make fried tofu for me too." Yae Miko looked out at the ripples on the sea's surface, a subtle smile on her lips. "I've gotten used to your flavor."
This sounded a little strange, but Yu Xie didn't dwell on the words. He simply sat there with Yae Miko, watching the distant sea.
But honestly, how long could he keep making fried tofu for her?
The disaster from Khaenri'ah could come at any time, and Yu Xie couldn't predict what might happen in the midst of it.
Even if this disaster were averted, he would eventually have to leave.
For him, a long life of a hundred years felt like a long moment, but for Yae Miko, it would be just a brief span of time.
This was the burden of a mortal.
The sun dipped into the clouds, and the sky darkened a little.
Yae Miko stood up and stretched lazily.
"Alright, I should be heading back."
"Do you need me to walk you out, Miss Yae Miko?"
"No need." Yae Miko smiled. "If you run into Head Priestess later, don't tell her I took the day off today."
"That depends on what you're going to offer me in return."
"Tch—" Yae Miko stuck out her tongue at him before turning to leave.
Watching her retreating figure, Yu Xie couldn't help but smile faintly.
The Yae Miko in his memory, the one skilled in strategies and with a peculiar personality, seemed so different from the one now. The current Yae Miko felt more like an innocent, young girl.
A little fox, attracted by fried tofu.
Perhaps time had matured her. When the heavy responsibilities of the Grand Shrine of Narukami had fallen onto her shoulders, she had no choice but to learn the art of strategy, to bear the weight of that responsibility.
Not long after Yae Miko left, a soldier from the Okuzumeshuu arrived.
"Commander."
"What is it?" Yu Xie asked.
"Shogun has summoned you. It's an urgent summons."
End of chapter
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