Albedo wasn't particularly interested in socializing with a group of gods, and Lora didn't press the matter. She set Miko down from her shoulder, gathered the fox into her arms again, and headed toward Tenshukaku with Lumine and Paimon.
The moment they stepped into the side chamber, the smell of alcohol greeted them.
She slipped off her shoes and stepped onto the tatami in her white socks. Her gaze fell on Venti sprawled beside the table before shifting to Makoto nearby.
The former Electro Archon spread her hands helplessly.
"He somehow got his hands on a jar of good wine today. The moment he came back, he drank himself into this state."
Lora walked over and nudged the bard's calf with her foot.
"Drunken bard, wake up."
He simply rolled over.
Lora: "…"
Paimon shrugged.
"Yep… he's still the same as ever."
"Forget about him. Let's get started," Makoto said, standing up and bringing in a large pile of ingredients from outside.
Seeing the ingredients, Paimon tilted her head and looked at Lora.
"Didn't you say Makoto prepared a whole table of delicious food?"
"It is a feast," she replied confidently. "We just have to cook it ourselves."
Not the slightest hint of guilt appeared on her face.
While Makoto arranged the ingredients, Ei said to Lumine and Paimon,
"Hundreds of years ago, when we gathered with our closest friends, it was always like this. We cooked together."
"Huh? Ei cooks too?" Paimon asked in disbelief.
Makoto answered calmly,
"She contributes by talking."
The Shogun said nothing, but she was already quietly helping prepare the ingredients.
Lora set Miko down. The moment her feet touched the floor, the kitsune shifted back into her human form and stretched lazily.
"Staying in fox form for too long makes me feel like I'm forgetting how to use my human body."
"Oh please," Lora said, glancing at her. "You weren't uncomfortable."
She nodded without hesitation.
"Of course not. It was very comfortable."
By the time the bowls, chopsticks, ingredients, and cookware were arranged, Venti finally pushed himself up from the floor. He rubbed the corners of his eyes and smiled.
"My, my. Looks like I woke up at just the right moment."
"Nice try," Lora said, handing him the cooking utensils.
"You're cooking."
"Can I add a bit of wine?" he asked.
"Go ahead and try."
Ei watched the lively scene and smiled. Though it wasn't quite the same as it had been hundreds of years ago, the joy felt just as real.
Everyone was smiling.
Watching them, Lumine suddenly wondered whether gatherings among the Seven thousands of years ago had been just as lively.
Soon the ingredients hit the pan, and the sizzling sound of oil meeting water filled the room.
"Venti! Be gentler!"
"Lora! If you're washing vegetables, at least drain them first!"
"Alright, alright! Where's the spatula? Stir it—stir it! It'll burn!"
"Ei, put the spatula down! You're not allowed to cook!"
"Wait—don't add that yet!"
Laughter and chaos filled the room.
...
Lumine and Paimon went out early the next morning, but Lora and the others didn't wake up until noon.
It had been like this for several days in a row.
They had come to Inazuma to enjoy the Irodori Festival, yet it looked more like Lora had come here simply to sleep.
There was only one reason.
The weather in Inazuma at this time of year was just too perfect for sleeping.
"I'm like some gloomy little bug… only active for half the day…"
She muttered as she stretched, rolled over, and prepared to go back to sleep.
Miko, lying nearby, said leisurely,
"If the people of Fontaine knew their Hydro Archon was such a lazybones, I wonder what they'd think."
"Oh, it's fine." Lora waved dismissively.
"After a few hundred years under Furina's rule, the people of Fontaine can accept the Hydro Archon no matter what kind of person she is."
The kitsune fell silent.
After quite a while, she finally asked,
"Is that really something you're allowed to say?"
With her eyes still closed, Lora reached out and accurately grabbed the fox's head, giving it a gentle squeeze.
"Alright, stop bothering me. I want to sleep in today."
"It's already noon," Miko pointed out.
"You've already slept in."
"Then I'll sleep in on top of my sleeping in."
Just as she was about to drift off again, a knock sounded at the door.
Lora immediately shot upright, hair bristling as she snapped irritably,
"Who is it?! Don't you know it's extremely rude to disturb someone's sleep first thing in the morning?!"
"Lora, it's already noon," Makoto's voice came from outside.
She hastily ran a hand through her messy hair and went to open the door.
When it opened, Makoto looked at her—wearing nothing but a nightgown—and raised an eyebrow.
"Are you becoming a shut-in?"
"No," Lora replied.
"Never mind. I actually came to bring you some clothes." Makoto sighed and produced an outfit she had prepared.
It resembled her own style, though the main colors were blue and white.
"I made it myself, with some suggestions from Ei and the Shogun. Try it on."
Since it was a heartfelt gift from three Electro Archons, Lora couldn't exactly refuse.
She took the outfit back into the room, changed, and soon returned—now dressed and holding Miko in her arms.
Makoto looked her over and clapped happily.
"Very nice! Just as expected of my craftsmanship. Ei may not be very good at cooking, but her taste in aesthetics is excellent."
"The craftsmanship really is good…" Lora muttered, glancing down at her chest.
Makoto noticed and laughed.
"Just pull the collar back a little. Sorry about that."
Lora: "..."
Makoto quickly changed the subject.
"Oh right! I came to ask if you'd go shopping with me. Come on—Ei is already waiting outside."
"The Shogun isn't coming?" Lora asked as she was pulled along.
Makoto shook her head.
"She's a little shy and doesn't like going out much. She said that if anything unexpected happens, it's easier for her to handle it from Tenshukaku. No matter how much I tried to persuade her, she refused."
"Well… we'll work on that personality of hers slowly."
At the entrance of Tenshukaku, Ei was already waiting.
When she saw them approaching, she raised a hand slightly.
"You're both too slow."
"It's because Lora was sleeping in!" Makoto said immediately.
Ei looked at Lora and frowned slightly.
"You—"
She cut her off.
"Where's Venti?"
"He woke up early—earlier than Lumine, actually. Left at dawn and went who knows where. You know what he's like—always chasing wherever the excitement is. Don't worry, he's a god. He won't get lost," Makoto said.
Lora frowned slightly.
"That sounded a lot like a parent complaining about their child."