The Showdown Is Almost Here

[Everyone, here I am again!]

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[There's a picture for everyone from the author at the end of the chapter~]

[Please give this book some support. Looking at the numbers, it feels like it's about to die. Maybe I won't update tomorrow, qwq]

Night had fallen, and Tenshukaku was silent.

Baichen lay on the bed.

Moonlight filtered through the window lattice, casting dappled light and shadow across Ei's delicate profile.

The young man carefully turned over, his blue-violet eyes filled with worry.

Bronya's letter was like a lump of ice, weighing heavily on his heart.

One day of the three-day deadline had already passed, yet he still hadn't figured out how to bring it up with Ei.

His fingertips rubbed the edge of the blanket unconsciously as countless possibilities flashed through his mind. If he didn't go, would Bronya really lead an army against Inazuma?

[System notification: Bronya's affection: 64%]

[The empress's patience is limited~]

Ei tightened the arm wrapped around his waist in her sleep, as though sensing his unease.

Baichen sighed softly and buried his face against her chest.

The scent of Thunder Sakura lingered around him, familiar and reassuring.

If he had a choice, he wouldn't want to leave this place or Ei's side for even a moment.

"Can't sleep?"

The low voice sounded without warning, making Baichen jump.

He looked up and met Ei's clear violet eyes. She had been awake for some time.

"Did you have a nightmare?" Ei brushed her fingers over his cheek, wiping away the cold sweat that had appeared there at some point.

Baichen shook his head and forced a smile. "No... I'm just a little hot..."

Ei gave him a thoughtful look, then suddenly rolled over and pinned him beneath her.

Her warm lips pressed against the side of his face.

"Liar." Her voice was husky with sleep. "Your ears turn red every time you lie."

Caught out, Baichen bit his lower lip, unsure how to answer.

Ei traced the outline of his lips with her fingertip, her violet eyes unfathomable in the moonlight.

"If you don't want to tell me, forget it," she finally conceded. She lowered her head and kissed the young man's slightly parted lips. "But don't think you can keep it from me for long."

The kiss was unbelievably gentle, like both a comfort and a promise.

Baichen relaxed without realizing it and returned the warmth.

The night was still long, long enough for him to forget that difficult decision for the time being.

[Ei's affection: 100%]

[Status obtained: Nighttime Comfort]

It was only when the first light of dawn appeared that Baichen managed to open his sore eyes.

Ei was already up, tying the sash of her kimono.

When she saw him wake, she came over and kissed his forehead.

"Sleep a little longer." Her voice was unusually gentle. "I'm going to take care of some government affairs."

Baichen nodded sleepily, but as soon as Ei left, he was wide awake.

Only two days remained until Bronya's deadline. He had to make a decision as soon as possible.

System... what should I do?

[Fuck! Don't ask me a question like that. It'll get me killed!]

[They're both crazy beauties. Whichever one you pick, you're dead.]

[Just enjoy it.]

Baichen raked a hand through his hair in frustration and decided to get up first.

When the maids brought breakfast, he listlessly poked at the rice balls in his bowl, his thoughts already elsewhere.

"Lord Baichen, are you all right?" an older maid asked with concern. "Is the food not to your liking?"

"Huh? No... it's delicious..." He rallied himself enough to smile, but even he could tell it was forced.

The morning passed slowly as he fretted.

Baichen tried reading, practicing calligraphy, and even sorting his clothes, but he couldn't concentrate on any of them.

Bronya's cold voice seemed to echo constantly in his ears. "If you don't come... I'll go to Tenshukaku and fetch you myself."

"Crash!"

He accidentally knocked over his teacup, and the tea spread across the tatami in a dark stain.

Baichen scrambled to wipe it up, only to hear familiar footsteps behind him.

"You've been distracted all morning." Ei's voice came from above him. "What's wrong?"

Baichen looked up to see Ei staring at him with a frown.

Her violet eyes were full of questions, along with a trace of displeasure at being kept in the dark.

He opened his mouth, but no sound came out.

Ei sighed and sat down beside him. "I had Kujou look into it," she said bluntly. "It's a letter from Bronya, isn't it?"

Baichen's eyes widened, and his face instantly went pale.

Ei's gaze darkened, and she gripped his chin.

"Did she threaten you?" A dangerous chill entered her voice.

"No... she didn't..." Baichen shook his head in a panic. "She just... invited me to visit Snezhnaya..."

"Heh." Ei gave a cold laugh. "She had to send Fatui to sneak into Tenshukaku and deliver a letter just to invite you for a visit?"

Caught out, Baichen lowered his head, his fingers unconsciously twisting the hem of his clothes.

Ei's expression softened a little, and she pulled him into her arms.

"Don't be afraid." She kissed the top of the young man's head. "As long as I'm here, no one can force you to do anything."

Her words only made Baichen feel guiltier.

He leaned against Ei's chest, listened to her strong heartbeat, and made his decision.

"Ei..." he began cautiously. "If... I mean, if... I went to Snezhnaya for a while..."

The arm around his waist tightened instantly, nearly squeezing the breath out of him.

Ei's gaze sharpened, and lightning began to flicker around her.

"Why?" Her voice was frighteningly low. "Are you unhappy here? Or..." Her fingertips brushed the frost-patterned mark on the side of his neck. "Would you rather go back to Bronya?"

"No!" Baichen hurriedly denied it. "I just... don't want to see the two of you start a war because of me..."

Ei's expression eased slightly, but her brows remained tightly drawn. "Inazuma isn't afraid of war."

"But I am!" Baichen grabbed her sleeve. "I'm afraid you'll get hurt, afraid the people of Inazuma will suffer... You know what Bronya is like. If I don't go..."

Ei remained silent for so long that Baichen thought she wouldn't answer.

At last, she released him and rose to walk over to the window.

"Let me think about it." Her voice held a weariness he had never heard before.

[The conflict between feelings and responsibility]

For the rest of the day, Ei kept herself shut in the council chamber.

Baichen waited restlessly in the courtyard, watching the sun's shadow slowly shift westward.

When Ei finally appeared, her expression was colder and harder than usual.

"Three days," she said suddenly. "You can go for three days at most."

Baichen couldn't believe his ears. "You... agreed?"

A flicker of pain passed through Ei's violet eyes. "I didn't agree," she corrected him. "I compromised."

She strode over, scooped the young man into her arms, and headed straight for the bedroom.

The door slammed shut, and Baichen was placed on the bed. Ei pressed down over him at once.

"Prove it to me." Her voice was impossibly hoarse. "Prove that you'll come back."

(It got banned, waaah)

Until Baichen fell asleep from sheer exhaustion.

Ei, however, didn't rest. Her violet eyes were filled with complex emotions.

Early the next morning, Baichen woke to find Ei already dressed and preparing a small bundle.

"Take these with you," she said briefly. "An amulet, medicine for injuries, and..." She paused. "My lightning-patterned magatama."

It was a delicate purple magatama.

Baichen knew what it meant. It was a token of the Electro Archon and a symbol of protection.

"I'll use it to sense your location every day."

Ei hung the magatama around his neck. "If you're in danger, hold it and tell me. I'll come immediately."

Baichen held the magatama against his chest, cherishing it, and nodded firmly.

Ei's expression softened a little, and she reached out to ruffle his hair.

"Where... do you want to go today?"

It was a rare invitation. Baichen thought for a moment, then his eyes suddenly lit up. "The Grand Narukami Shrine! I want to ask for a safety charm..."

The corners of Ei's lips lifted slightly. "All right."

The cherry blossoms at the Grand Narukami Shrine were in full bloom, their pink and white petals drifting through the air like snow.

For once, Ei wasn't wearing the Shogun's attire. Instead, she wore a simple purple kimono and looked like an ordinary noblewoman.

Even so, the people along the way recognized her and bowed respectfully.

"Your Excellency! Lord Baichen!" A shrine maiden came up to greet them, pleasantly surprised. "Would you like to draw fortunes?"

Baichen drew a "great blessing" and happily showed it to Ei. Ei drew a "misfortune," and her brows immediately knitted together. Seeing this, the shrine maiden hurried to explain.

"Don't worry, Your Excellency! You can tie it up here to ward off the bad luck!"

Ei tied the fortune slip to the designated rack.

Baichen secretly made a wish: that this trip to Snezhnaya would be safe and smooth.

On their way down the mountain, the two stopped to rest at a secluded viewing platform. Ei suddenly took a small box from her sleeve.

"This is for you."

Inside the box was a pair of delicate earrings. The amethysts were carved in the shape of Thunder Sakura blossoms and shone brilliantly in the sunlight.

"That way..." Ei put them on him herself. "Everyone will know who you belong to."

The sensation of her fingertips brushing his earlobes made Baichen's heart race.

He threw himself into Ei's arms and held her tightly. "I'll definitely come back... I swear..."

Ei didn't answer, only tightened her arms around him.

[Item obtained: Ei's Thunder Sakura earrings]

[Effects: declares ownership + protective barrier]

It was already evening when they returned to Tenshukaku.

Ei was quieter than usual over dinner.

Baichen tried hard to find things to talk about and lighten the mood, but with little success.

"Tomorrow... when are you leaving?" Ei suddenly asked.

"At midnight... on the mountain behind the Grand Narukami Shrine..."

Ei set her chopsticks on the table with a sharp clack. "I'll see you off."

It wasn't a request, but an order.

Baichen nodded obediently, knowing this was the greatest concession Ei would make.

Late that night, Baichen tossed and turned, unable to sleep.

At this time tomorrow, he would have to leave Inazuma and Ei's side for a while.

The thought made his heart clench, and his eyes began to sting.

"Can't sleep?" Ei's voice came from behind him.

Baichen turned and buried himself in her arms, giving a muffled "Mm."

Ei sighed and gently combed her fingers through his hair.

"Remember, no matter what happens..." Her voice trembled slightly, a rare occurrence. "I'll always be the place you can come home to."

Baichen looked up and saw moisture glistening in Ei's violet eyes in the moonlight.

"I'll miss you..." he whispered. "Every day..."

Ei answered with a deep kiss, pouring all her longing and reluctance to part into it.

(The picture's in the author's notes!)

Please tap that poop-colored button, I'm begging you, waaah. Please give me the free little gifts too, thank you everyone, qwq. A big gift would be even better.

If the author wakes up one morning and sees that the numbers are a total mess, she might burst into tears, get upset, and stop updating, qwq.