Waaah, Don't Leave Me, Waaah

[Minna-san, I'm here!](First update, don't rush me, I'm working myself to the bone.)

[Please follow, send gifts, add this to your bookshelf, and leave paragraph comments awa]

Dear readers who like this story, please leave plenty of reviews and such too. Please, this really matters.

[Follows, continued reading, and gifts are what motivate me to update ovo]

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

[Dear readers, if you're letting chapters pile up, please still click in, leave a comment, and tap the keep-reading button. Otherwise, one day you might find there's no book left to come back to.]

The night was black as ink. Inside the bedchamber of the Tenshukaku, only a single dim yellow paper lantern flickered.

Ei held Baichen in her arms, her slender fingers combing through his sweat-damp hair.

Their earlier activity had been so enjoyable that the boy's face was still flushed pink as he lay limply on the bed.

"Tired?" Ei's voice was husky in the aftermath, her lips brushing lightly against the hot tip of his ear.

Baichen nodded drowsily, his eyelids impossibly heavy. Ei chuckled softly and pulled him closer. "Go to sleep."

The last things he registered were Ei's kiss on his forehead and the faint scent of Thunder Sakura drifting in through the window.

[Ei's affection: 100% (stable)]

At the first light of dawn, Baichen woke with a start, struck by an unusual sense of emptiness.

He instinctively reached out beside him-

The cold bedding told him Ei had long since left.

He opened his eyes. He was alone in the vast bedchamber, and there was no sign of Makoto, who often came by to cause trouble, either.

System, check in.

[Check-in successful!]

[Obtained: Elemental Tracking Talisman ×1 (stored in system inventory)]

[Effect: Tracks traces of a specific element for 30 minutes]

A flicker of unease rose in Baichen's heart.

Even when Ei got up early to attend to government affairs, she usually left a note;

Makoto was even more likely to sneak in and play a prank while he slept.

For it to be this quiet today was strange instead.

After hurriedly washing up and getting dressed, Baichen ran through every corner of the Tenshukaku-

The study was empty, the kitchen was cold, and even Kujou Sara was nowhere to be found.

A terrifying thought suddenly surfaced: Had bringing Makoto back to life been nothing but a wonderful dream? Was he still in Snezhnaya?

"No way..." Baichen pinched his arm hard, and the pain was real and piercing.

Cold sweat trickled down his back.

Baichen stumbled toward the gates of the Tenshukaku, only to freeze the moment he pushed them open-

On the streets of Inazuma City, three familiar figures stood in front of the Tricolor Dango shop.

Ei was dressed in purple as always, Makoto wore a plain white kimono, and Miko waved the folding fan she never went anywhere without.

Sunlight fell over them, dazzlingly real.

Baichen let out a long breath, his legs so weak he could barely stand.

It hadn't been a dream... They had just gone out together.

But then a question occurred to him: Wasn't Makoto unable to appear in public?

Driven by curiosity, he quietly followed them.

Using roadside stalls and passersby as cover, Baichen kept a safe distance and watched the three move from shop to shop.

Makoto was curious about every item, exclaiming in wonder from time to time;

Ei stayed by her older sister's side like a dutiful bodyguard;

Miko paid with a smile, looking for all the world like an ATM.

"So they're shopping..." Baichen muttered, though he felt a little upset.

They hadn't even brought him along...

The three suddenly disappeared around a street corner.

Baichen hurriedly looked around, only to run into a soft "wall" without warning-

At some point, Makoto had appeared in front of him, her purple eyes brimming with mischief.

"Oh my, whose little cutie is this, following us around?" Makoto bent down and leaned close, her hair falling across his cheek.

Baichen flushed scarlet and stammered, unable to get a word out.

Ei and Miko emerged from the other end of the alley, wearing identical amused expressions.

"I, I was just..." Thinking quickly, Baichen said, "Buying dango! Yes, Ei's favorite Tricolor Dango!"

Miko burst out laughing. "It's so early in the morning. The dango shop isn't even open yet~"

Makoto pinched Baichen's bright red cheek. "Were you worried about us?"

The boy lowered his head and gave a soft "Hmph."

Ei came over and drew him into her arms with one hand. "Idiot." Her tone, however, was much gentler than usual.

"All right, since you've been caught, come shopping with us~" Makoto cheerfully linked her arm through Baichen's other arm. "We could use someone to carry the bags!"

And so Baichen was forced to become the three ladies' "attendant."

Makoto didn't hold back when she shopped. From cloth at the silk shop to snacks from street stalls, she bought so much that Baichen's arms were soon piled high with packages.

Miko went furthest of all, actually putting a fox-ear headband on him.

"It suits you~" Miko covered her lips with her fan and chuckled. "How about becoming the poster girl for Yae Publishing House?"

Ei shot her a cold glance and pulled Baichen closer to her side.

Makoto took the chance to pop a candy into the boy's mouth, deliberately brushing his lips with her fingertips.

[Raiden Makoto's affection +3%, current affection: 90%]

[Yae Miko's affection: 60% (new)]

[Achievement obtained: Sweet Torment]

Near noon, the four went to Uyuu Restaurant for a meal.

The proprietress was so startled to see both Electro Archons appear at once that she nearly knocked over the teapot.

Makoto considerately explained that she was a "distant cousin," and they managed to pass it off.

In a private room, Miko ordered a table full of delicious food.

Makoto couldn't stop praising the dishes, especially the butter-fried fish, of which she ate three pieces.

"Food wasn't prepared so exquisitely in the past," Makoto remarked. "Little Baichen, try this~" She picked up a piece of tamagoyaki and held it to Baichen's mouth.

Quick as a flash, Ei intercepted it with her chopsticks. "He doesn't like it."

Baichen blinked-he actually liked tamagoyaki quite a bit.

But when he saw Ei's warning look, he obediently nodded. "Right, right..."

Miko watched the show with great relish. "My, my, someone's awfully jealous~"

Without a change of expression, Ei picked up a piece of grilled meat and put it in Baichen's bowl. "Eat this."

Makoto narrowed her eyes and suddenly leaned over to whisper something in Baichen's ear.

The boy went red all the way down to his neck and nearly choked on his tea.

Ei's chopsticks snapped.

The meal was fraught with tension.

When they left, Miko excused herself, saying she had something to do. Before leaving, she gave Baichen a suggestive wink.

Makoto suggested a walk by the sea, saying she wanted to see Inazuma Harbor five hundred years later.

On the beach, Makoto took off her wooden sandals and stepped barefoot into the waves, playing like a child.

Ei and Baichen stood side by side a short distance away, watching her.

"Sister Makoto is really happy," Baichen said softly.

Ei murmured in agreement, her gaze gentle. She suddenly asked, "This morning... were you very scared?"

Baichen was taken aback, then realized she meant how panicked he had looked.

He nodded sheepishly. "I thought... it was a dream..."

Ei fell silent for a moment, then suddenly took his hand. "It wasn't a dream." For once, she said a few more words. "Makoto and I... are both here."

The simple promise warmed Baichen's heart.

He was about to respond when Makoto suddenly pounced on them from behind, wrapping her wet arms around them both. "What sweet nothings are you whispering to each other? I want to hear too!"

Ei pushed her away in disgust. "You're wet."

Undeterred, Makoto rubbed against her. "What does it matter~? Little Baichen, come play in the water too!"

Before Baichen could react, Makoto scooped him up around the waist and charged toward the waves.

Ei sighed and followed at a leisurely pace, though the corners of her lips curved slightly upward.

The three played by the sea until the sun began to set.

On the way back, Makoto complained that she couldn't walk any farther and insisted that Ei carry her on her back.

Ei refused with a cold expression, so Makoto turned to Baichen. "Then Little Baichen can carry me~"

Baichen looked at Makoto, who was half a head taller than him, at a loss whether to laugh or cry. "Sister Makoto, I..."

"I'll carry you." Ei suddenly cut him off and crouched in front of Makoto. "Get on."

Makoto climbed onto her younger sister's back with a smug look and flashed Baichen a victory sign.

The setting sun cast the three's shadows long, overlapping and inseparable.

Back at the Tenshukaku, Makoto clamored to soak in the hot spring to relieve her fatigue.

For once, Ei agreed, on the condition that they "bathe separately."

Makoto pouted, picked up a bath towel, and went ahead.

"You go too," Ei told Baichen. "In a little while... I need to talk to you."

Baichen nodded, curious about what Ei wanted to say.

Steam drifted over the hot spring pool. He had just begun to relax when he heard footsteps behind the screen-

"Ei said you wanted a massage~" Makoto's playful voice rang out, and she had already come around the screen.

She wore nothing but a bath towel, her wet hair hanging over her shoulders.

Baichen hurriedly sank lower into the water. "Wait! Didn't Ei say we'd bathe separately-"

"I tricked her~" Makoto stepped into the pool, sending ripples across the water. "That girl has always been easy to fool..."

She sat behind Baichen and placed both hands on his shoulders. "Relax~ Your big sister is very good at this."

Makoto's massage was indeed professional, but it soon ().

Her fingertips lingered.

Baichen felt uncomfortable all over. He wanted to get away, but there was nowhere to escape.

"S-Sister Makoto..."

"Shh..." Makoto whispered against his ear. "Has Ei been doing this to you often lately?"

Her hand slipped toward the food. "Or... has she gone further?"

Makoto's skillful method brought an unprecedented experience,

Unlike Ei's domineering approach, her touch was as light as a feather, yet every stroke found its mark with precision.

When Baichen couldn't hold back, Makoto suddenly withdrew her hands. "Time's up~" She winked slyly. "I'll leave the rest... for Ei to continue."

With that, she rose and left with an easy grace, leaving Baichen alone in the pool in disarray.

He had just recovered himself and was preparing to leave when footsteps sounded behind the screen again-this time, it was Ei.

"Where did she touch you?" Ei's voice was hotter than the hot spring as she fixed him with a burning gaze.

Baichen stammered, not daring to answer. Ei stepped straight into the water and pressed close to him at the edge of the pool. "All of it... over again."

[Ei's affection: 100% (stable)]

[Raiden Makoto's affection +5%, current affection: 95%]

[Achievement obtained: Double Pleasure]

Late that night, Baichen lay sprawled on the bed, utterly exhausted.

Ei held him from behind and, for once, made no further demands. At some point, Makoto also slipped in and lay down on his other side.

"Did you have fun today?" Makoto asked softly.

Baichen nodded, too sleepy to open his eyes.

He felt two gentle kisses land on his forehead-

One carried the tingling sensation of Electro, the other the fragrance of sakura blossoms.

"Go to sleep," Ei said. "Tomorrow... we'll go to the Thunder Sakura Festival together."

Makoto added, "Just the three of us~"

Baichen fell fast asleep in their warm embrace, a happy smile on his lips.

Through the haze, he heard Makoto say to Ei, "This child... really did save us both..."

Ei didn't answer, but the arm that tightened around her said it all.

(The picture is in the author's note.)

Dear readers,

Please tap that button the color of poop, I'm begging you, waaah.

Please send the free little gifts too, thank you qwq. Bigger gifts would be even better, and please leave five-star reviews and such.