Be Brave, Be Brave, My Friend! Even If There's No Rainbow Tomorrow!

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(The picture is in the usual place.)

The night was black as ink, so thick it seemed impossible to dissolve. Tenshukaku lay shrouded in silent darkness.

Inside the bedchamber, a single paper lantern swayed gently in the breeze, casting a faint glow like a lone star in the night sky.

Baichen lay curled up quietly beneath the covers, his body trembling slightly. With his back to Ei and his eyes tightly shut, he seemed to have drifted off to sleep.

But only he knew that he wasn't truly asleep. He was pretending.

The Shogun's arm was wrapped tightly around Baichen's waist like an iron band. His breathing was slow and steady, conveying a reassuring strength.

After making sure Ei was fast asleep, he quietly opened his eyes and stared blankly at the moonlight outside the window.

System, do you think... I really should go to Liyue?

[Obviously!]

[You've already maxed out the affection of the girls in Inazuma.]

[If you don't expand the map, are you going to sit around growing mushrooms?]

*...*

Baichen bit his lower lip.

Logically, he knew the system was right, but emotionally... Ei and Makoto's embraces were so warm that he could hardly bear to leave.

But the more he felt that way, the more glaring the system's words, "obsession index: 85%," became.

I'm not an object... Baichen said silently. I can't stay locked in a gilded cage forever...

In the moonlight, he turned gently and gazed at Ei's sleeping profile.

The usually stern Shogun looked unbelievably gentle now, her long lashes casting faint shadows on her face.

Baichen couldn't help reaching out, but stopped just before touching her, afraid of waking her.

I'm sorry... he apologized inwardly. Just this once...

[Check-in successful!]

[Obtained: Mini Baichen doll ×1 (stored in system inventory)]

[Effect: ordinary doll (can record a message)]

The reward had come at just the right time.

Baichen carefully took the doll out of the system inventory. It was a palm-sized chibi version of himself, dressed in Inazuman-style clothing and adorably goofy-looking.

There was a small mechanism on the doll's back; pressing it would record a message.

He climbed out of bed on tiptoe and wrote a short letter by moonlight:

"Ei, Sister Makoto:

I'm going to Liyue with the Traveler for a few days. I'll be back soon.

Don't worry, I'll contact you every day using the magatama.

-Baichen"

After folding the letter, he softly recorded a message for the doll: "I'll miss you both..." Then he placed it beside the pillow along with the letter.

Once he had done all that, Baichen changed into casual clothes suited for moving around and tucked the Electro-Patterned Magatama close to his body.

Before leaving, he looked back at the sleeping Ei, a pang of sorrow rising in his chest.

After stealing a kiss on Ei's cheek, Baichen slipped away.

System, navigate to where Lumine is staying.

[Navigation activated]

[Route planned: Tenshukaku side gate → Hanamizaka → Adventurers' Guild]

Avoiding the patrolling Okuzumeshuu wasn't easy.

Using his familiarity with Tenshukaku's layout, Baichen slipped out along a path reserved for maids and moved under cover of the predawn darkness.

The streets of Inazuma City were deserted, apart from merchants who had risen early to prepare for opening.

"Who's there?" a wary voice suddenly called out.

Baichen nearly jumped out of his skin. He turned to see Matsuzaka, the general store owner, arranging his shelves.

The middle-aged man merely looked him over curiously, showing none of the obsessive reaction women had.

So it really only works on women...

"Heading out so early, Lord Baichen?" Matsuzaka smiled amiably. "Going to help with the festival?"

"Ah... yes!" Baichen went along with it. "Helping prepare for the parade..."

Having successfully talked his way past him, he quickened his pace toward the Adventurers' Guild.

Lumine and Paimon were staying on the guild's second floor. The lights in their window were still out.

Baichen picked up a small pebble and tapped it gently against the window.

"Mm... who is it...?" Paimon pulled back the curtain, her eyes heavy with sleep. When she saw Baichen, her mouth fell open in surprise. "Little Baichen?!"

A few minutes later, the three of them gathered in Lumine's room.

Baichen briefly explained why he had come, and Paimon's sleepiness vanished in an instant.

"Leave now?!" she cried. "Does Lady Ei know?"

Baichen shook his head. "I left a letter..." He tugged at Lumine's sleeve. "Please, just take me with you..."

The pleading gesture was extraordinarily effective on women.

The tips of Lumine's ears turned slightly red. She cleared her throat. "What about boat tickets? At this hour..."

"There's a Wangsheng Funeral Parlor cargo ship in Ritou!" Paimon suddenly remembered. "Hu Tao said she was shipping a batch of spices to Liyue today!"

Baichen's eyes lit up.

Hu Tao was eccentric and mischievous, but she really was a good choice.

The three quickly packed their things and set off for Ritou before daybreak.

[Lumine's affection +5%, current level: 55%]

[Paimon's affection +5%, current level: 65%] (A note here: Paimon's affection is purely platonic.)

[Status obtained: temporary travel companion]

The docks at Ritou were already bustling.

Sailors were loading cargo onto a medium-sized sailing ship, and a familiar figure stood at the bow-

Hu Tao, director of the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor, was directing the workers to handle her "special spices" with care.

"Hey! Isn't that Little Baichen?"

Sharp-eyed Hu Tao spotted them and came bouncing over. "What, have you finally decided to come work at our Wangsheng Funeral Parlor?"

Baichen laughed awkwardly. "Well... we want to go to Liyue..."

"Looking for a ride?" Hu Tao blinked and suddenly leaned closer. "Does Lady Ei know?"

Under Lumine and Paimon's nervous gazes, Baichen steeled himself and nodded. "Sh-she knows..."

Hu Tao stared at him for a few seconds, then burst out laughing. "Liar!"

She patted Baichen on the shoulder. "But it doesn't matter~ I love exciting things best!" She turned and shouted to the crew, "Add three more passenger cabins!"

And just like that, Baichen found himself boarding the cargo ship bound for Liyue.

As the sailing ship slowly pulled away from the dock, he stood on the deck, looking at Inazuma City receding into the distance, his feelings mixed.

System, is what I'm doing... right?

[What are you afraid of!]

[You're a real man!]

[What's wrong with conquering a few more girls!]

[It's not like you don't love them anymore.]

...That seems to make a little sense (?)

Baichen sighed.

The system would never understand his conflicted feelings-he longed for freedom, yet couldn't bear to leave Ei and Makoto's gentleness behind;

he wanted to explore the wider world, yet feared hurting the people who cared about him.

"Hey, what are you spacing out for?" Hu Tao had come over at some point. She handed him a cup of hot tea. "First time running away from home?"

Baichen accepted the cup and thanked her quietly.

Hu Tao tilted her head and studied him. "Don't worry~ Lady Ei may be scary, but she won't really do anything to you."

She winked mischievously. "At most, she'll lock you up for a few days~"

That "comfort" made Baichen even more uneasy.

He instinctively touched the magatama against his chest, hesitating over whether to contact Ei now.

"Don't think so much!" Hu Tao threw an arm around his shoulders. "Come on, come on, try the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor's special plum blossom cakes! Guaranteed to make you forget all your troubles!"

[Hu Tao's affection: 40%]

[Status obtained: journey begun]

Meanwhile, inside Tenshukaku-

Ei awoke with a start. Her arm tightened instinctively, only to find nothing there.

She sat bolt upright and found no one beside her, only a letter and an exquisite little doll.

After reading the letter, Ei's expression shifted.

She pressed the mechanism on the doll's back, and Baichen's soft, sweet voice immediately rang out: "I'll miss you both..."

Makoto pushed open the door and entered. The moment she saw the letter in Ei's hand, she understood what had happened. "Little Baichen...?"

"He ran away," Ei said coldly, crumpling the letter in her hand. "With the Traveler."

Makoto sighed and sat down beside her younger sister. "Give him some space..." She picked up the doll and gently poked its round cheek. "This child... he's braver than we imagined."

Ei remained silent for a long time before suddenly getting up and walking toward the wardrobe. Makoto watched in surprise as she changed into casual clothes. "What are you...?"

"Going after them," Ei replied briefly. "Protecting him from the shadows."

Makoto couldn't help laughing. "That's my sister, all right~" She stood up too. "Wait for me to change. I'll go with you."

Ei shook her head. "You can't show yourself."

She pointed at the doll. "Stay here and deal with Miko and Saiguu."

Though Makoto was displeased, she understood that her sister was right.

She helped Ei get her things in order, then gave her a final reminder. "Don't be too harsh. Talk to him nicely."

Ei didn't answer. She merely tucked the doll carefully inside her clothes. As she turned to leave, a complicated light flashed through her violet eyes.

The picture is in the author's note and the discussion at the end of the chapter.

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