The moment he heard that voice, Sayu immediately shrank back and hid behind Lin Mo.
She didn't forget to poke her head out halfway, peering at the girl with the high ponytail.
"Yo, Yoimiya! Long time no see~"
Lin Mo smiled and waved at her.
"Teacher... do you know her?"
Sayu asked cautiously.
"Hmph! Of course we do!" Yoimiya declared matter-of-factly.
In the next instant, she hurried over to Lin Mo.
Her face showed a mix of joy and a hint of annoyance—a real contradiction.
Before she could get too close, Lin Mo turned to the group with a grin. "Let me introduce her to everyone. This is Yoimiya, daughter of Inazuma's Naganohara Fireworks Shop and a close friend of mine. She's in charge of tonight's fireworks display at the festival."
"Fireworks... display..."
Ei didn't seem to grasp the concept.
After all, it was the Raiden Shogun who'd witnessed such events, not her.
"Who's calling us close friends?!" Yoimiya huffed. "We are clearly..."
"Uh... Gen-General!" Yoimiya jumped in surprise.
Only then did she notice the company Lin Mo kept—major figures all around.
Not just the Raiden Shogun, but Yae Miko, and the Kamisato Clan's young lady, Ayaka.
Even Sara and Kitsune Saiguu stood casually by Ei's side, looking every bit the important people they were.
"What are we clearly?" Ei asked, her curiosity piqued by Yoimiya's unfinished words.
"We... are clearly engaged!"
Yoimiya lifted her chin defiantly as she said it, turning to Lin Mo. "Right, Lin Mo?!"
"En... engaged..."
Ayaka felt her head spin a little.
The others exchanged doubtful glances.
They knew Lin Mo wasn't exactly a saint when it came to relationships.
But that was precisely why this seemed off—they figured he wasn't the type to be tied down with an engagement.
Lin Mo met their skeptical stares and offered a wry smile. "Look, everyone, don't get the wrong idea. It's just a joke from Mr. Naganohara, thanks to my help with the fireworks shop. No need to take it seriously..."
"Hey, it's not a joke!"
Yoimiya's face flushed red with indignation. "You know full well that only couples or lovers share the same private bath!"
"And you bathed with me... and even... did that to me."
"Aiya!"
"Doesn't that basically confirm our engagement?"
Yae Miko: ...
Sara: ...
Ayaka: ...
Kitsune Saiguu: ...
They all turned cold stares on Lin Mo.
Even though Yoimiya hadn't spelled it out, they could picture the scene all too well.
"That... well, Yoimiya invited me to bathe together that day."
"Uh... the public baths were full..."
"So she suggested her private one instead."
Lin Mo knew his explanation sounded feeble.
"So you just... went in?" Yae Miko's eyes gleamed with mischievous delight.
"Ahem..."
Lin Mo shifted uncomfortably. "We'd been making new fireworks all day. I was exhausted and just wanted a soak to wash off the fatigue."
"Oh ho~ And what else happened?" Sara leaned in, clearly intrigued.
She could already imagine a few scenarios, even without details.
"Nothing! Absolutely nothing!"
Lin Mo protested firmly. "We were completely innocent—pure as the driven snow!"
"You're... you're lying!"
Yoimiya's cheeks burned as she accused him. "You kissed me!"
"You called it... artificial respiration for rescue."
"And CPR for rescue!"
"It was obviously just you taking advantage!"
"No... you fainted from soaking too long in the bath..."
"I was worried about you..."
Lin Mo put on his most innocent face.
"Artificial respiration... CPR?"
Ei had no idea what those terms meant.
Still, she turned to Yoimiya with a serious expression. "Tell me what he really did. I can decide this for you."
"B-but..."
Yoimiya's face grew even redder.
She shot Lin Mo a resentful glare, then seemed to steel herself.
Stepping close to Ei, she whispered into her ear.
"Oh no... how am I supposed to explain this..."
Lin Mo rubbed his forehead in exasperation.
As Yoimiya spoke, he watched Ei's cheeks flush deeper and deeper.
Finally, Ei looked at him with disappointment. "It seems the laws I enacted against heart arsonists were the right call after all."
"Sasayuri, you should accept the law's judgment."
"Law... judgment? What does that mean?" Yoimiya asked, tilting her head curiously.
Kitsune Saiguu stepped forward, giving Lin Mo a frosty glance before turning to Yoimiya with a patient smile. "The Raiden Shogun has issued specific decrees targeting the despicable behavior of heart arsonists—those who spark romance without taking responsibility."
"For someone like Sasayuri here..."
"The punishment under Inazuma law is simple: marry you, and take full responsibility for your well-being, your heart, and your family."
"Ah..."
Yoimiya's eyes lit up with joy as she glanced at Lin Mo.
But a moment later, she shook her head in distress, her gaze dropping. "Thank you all for your kindness... but I don't want to force him into something he doesn't want."
"Sigh..."
Lin Mo let out a helpless breath.
Seeing Yoimiya so downcast, what choice did he have?
It wasn't like he felt nothing for her—that would be a lie.
Sure, Yoimiya came across as carefree and bold.
But she had a real knack for looking after kids.
She was kind, warm-hearted, genuine, and full of enthusiasm.
Thinking back to those days when they'd played with the children together...
Honestly, Lin Mo cherished those memories.
He'd even daydreamed about it—accepting old man Naganohara's invitation and making her his wife.
But...
Back then, with his mission weighing on him, he couldn't make promises to anyone.
Now, though, after everything he'd been through in this life, Lin Mo had come to terms with it.
He'd left too many debts unpaid in the past.
Like with Yoimiya right here.
No, it wasn't just her.
There was her kind old father, too.
Picturing the elderly man, deaf as a post but always wearing a cheerful grin...
Lin Mo couldn't help asking, "Yoimiya, how's the old man doing?"
At the mention, Yoimiya's expression dimmed.
"Dad... his hearing's gotten even worse..."
"When I talk to him these days, his smiles aren't as frequent as before..."
"But when he's alone, he often mutters your name."
"Whenever I bring you up, even though he can't hear, he reads my lips and knows it's you."
"And every time, he lights up with the biggest smile..."
"I told him you'd gone to Liyue and weren't sure when you'd be back."
"Just earlier, word reached the Naganohara family that the Sakoku Decree's been lifted."
"Dad was thrilled. He said with the Lantern Rite coming up in a few days, I should personally deliver our fireworks to Liyue."
"He even told me to make sure I bring you plenty of our family specialties."
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T/N:
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