"Sister, you..."
Sayu was dazed. He had thought he was about to be arrested by Kujou Sara, but then he was actually picked up by Raiden Makoto. Most importantly, Raiden Makoto had actually escaped from the encirclement of so many Shogunate Samurai and Kujou Sara.
"It looks like Kujou Sara doesn't intend to capture us. Although I don't know why, she really isn't planning to," Raiden Makoto said thoughtfully. "Did she discover something?"
"You know where the Grand Narukami Shrine is, right?" Regardless, she had already decided to go to the Grand Narukami Shrine to find Yae Miko. She couldn't return to the Kamisato Clan now, so that was the only place left to go.
"Of course I know."
"It's on Mt. Yougou. Sister, look over there. That's the Grand Narukami Shrine."
"But to find Guuji Yae-sama, hmm..." Sayu pouted. He didn't really like people patting his head, as it would prevent him from growing taller, but Yae Miko often patted his head.
But he didn't dare resist at all; that was Guuji Yae-sama, after all.
Following the direction Sayu pointed, Raiden Makoto naturally saw Mt. Yougou, covered in cherry trees.
They had just escaped from outlying islands, and it was at least half a day's journey to Mt. Yougou. However, there were very few Shogunate Samurai in the wilds of Narukami Island now, so they didn't have to worry about the Shogunate Samurai coming to pursue them again.
"Does Sayu know much about Kujou Sara?"
Raiden Makoto was still wondering why Kujou Sara had let them go. Was it simply because she looked like the Raiden Shogun? But that shouldn't be the case; after all, impersonating the Raiden Shogun was equivalent to desecrating her.
"I'm not too sure. I only know that Kujou Sara-sama is the General of the Tenryou Commission and the Raiden Shogun's most loyal believer. She seems to share the same conviction as the Raiden Shogun, both pursuing eternity."
"Mhm."
"We can slow down a bit on our way to the Grand Narukami Shrine. Kujou Sara shouldn't be pursuing us anymore."
"Then why not return to the Kamisato Clan?"
"Naturally, it's to see her—Guuji Yae-sama."
...Mt. Yougou, the highest mountain in the center of Narukami Island, is also where Inazuma's Grand Narukami Shrine is located.
"Inazuma's scenery is truly wonderful." When they finally arrived at the foot of Mt. Yougou after half a day, Raiden Makoto couldn't help but sigh with emotion as she looked at the blooming cherry trees on the mountain.
From the foot of the mountain, one could see the path leading to the summit of Mt. Yougou. Along that path, there was a shrine gate every dozen meters or so.
The path was almost entirely covered in cherry blossom petals, looking like a celestial road made of blossoms. Moreover, the air was filled with the fresh fragrance of cherry trees, which made Raiden Makoto feel refreshed and relaxed.
She hadn't enjoyed such scenery in a long time, had she?
Just as Raiden Makoto was about to step onto the mountain path, several images flashed through her mind again.
"Sister, let's have a Karuta duel, okay? I must win against Chiyo."
"Sister, I finally defeated Yuri today."
"Sister, we must be together forever and ever."
"Why? Why must you all leave me... one by one, everyone is gone."
The images in her mind flashed by, leaving Raiden Makoto slightly dazed. After the images passed, they became blurred again.
"Little sister..."
At this moment, the path up Mt. Yougou felt somewhat familiar to her. Had she been to Mt. Yougou before?
"Chiyo... Yuri..." Raiden Makoto murmured to herself. In her memories, only those two names remained somewhat clear; everything else had become completely blurred.
Were they her former friends?
"Sister, what's wrong?" As Sayu's voice reached her ears, Raiden Makoto slowly snapped out of the vision.
"Sister, you stopped for a long time just now. I called you several times, but you didn't respond. Is something on your mind?" Sayu looked at Raiden Makoto with some concern. He had now gone through hardships with Raiden Makoto, and she held a certain place in his heart.
"It's nothing..." Raiden Makoto rubbed her head. "I just remembered a little bit, but now those memories seem to have blurred again. I should have been to Mt. Yougou before."
That familiar feeling and the images that flashed through her mind strengthened Raiden Makoto's resolve to visit Yae Miko on Mt. Yougou. She felt that Yae Miko might know something.
"Sister remembered something?"
"It's becoming blurred again." Raiden Makoto smiled. "Sayu, let's go up the mountain. I also really want to meet her—Guuji Yae-sama."
"Mhm, mhm."
Just as they were about to step onto the mountain path, a familiar voice came from behind them, sounding somewhat cold.
"Please wait!"
"It's Kujou Sara!" That was Kujou Sara's voice; Sayu was all too familiar with it. It was definitely Kujou Sara.
When they turned around, they saw Kujou Sara behind them. She still had a cold expression, and she was alone this time.
"It really is Kujou Sara. Sister, let's get out of here quickly... She's going to catch us." Sayu was a bit panicked, but Raiden Makoto just looked at Kujou Sara quietly. She knew that Kujou Sara probably wasn't there to capture them.
"Don't panic, Sayu."
Looking into Kujou Sara's pale gold eyes, she saw in them... friendliness?
It was friendliness; she was certain she hadn't misread it.
"Miss Kujou, it's a pleasure." Raiden Makoto said with a smile. Her tone was very gentle, which made Kujou Sara completely certain of one thing: Raiden Makoto likely wasn't the Raiden Shogun but someone who looked like her.
The Raiden Shogun would never be as gentle as Raiden Makoto.
"I have already canceled the arrest warrant for you." Kujou Sara's tone was still cold as she gazed quietly at Raiden Makoto. "Can you tell me your name?"
"Raiden Makoto. You can call me Makoto."
Kujou Sara didn't believe there could be such a coincidence in the world for two people to look so similar. Although she was now certain that Raiden Makoto was not the Raiden Shogun, she seemed to have vaguely touched upon something.
That was also why she had followed Raiden Makoto and Sayu; she had to confirm something.
"Makoto?"
"Yes."
"We can have a cup of tea together sometime, but for now, I'm heading to the Grand Narukami Shrine."
"Alright."
Watching Raiden Makoto and Sayu head up the mountain, Kujou Sara looked at Raiden Makoto's back and murmured, "Are you really not the Shogun?"
That back was truly too similar to the Raiden Shogun's, to the point that Kujou Sara had an illusion that the person before her was the Raiden Shogun, the Electro Archon she had always followed.
She had vaguely touched upon some information and felt she should investigate properly.
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