Sakura’s jealousy reared its head again, but she was able to keep a smile on her face thanks to the recent refill of her lady’s love.
“Yes, let’s look forward to it.”
“Will you…make…a call…too? Lord…Itecho…”
Sakura froze for a moment before looking away. “No, I… I shouldn’t trouble my mentor… I would pick up if he called, though.”
Hinagiku wished for her retainer, who had gone through so much pain because of her, to find happiness.
“He will…call you,” Hinagiku said gently, and Sakura kept her eyes bashfully averted.
“I’m not expecting anything from him.”
“You’re…lying.”
“No, I’m not.”
Hinagiku poked Sakura’s cheek. The facade was adorable.
“You can…go out with…Lord…Itecho…when they’re…back.”
Sakura was taken aback by Hinagiku’s suggestion.
“I—I won’t.”
“Even if…he asks…you out?”
“He would never!”
Hinagiku kept a smile on her face while she thought about how to set the stage for the two of them.
Meanwhile, in Shiranui, another provincial city in Enishi, the Archer of Dawn watched over spring.
Hinagiku had already manifested the season there; cherry blossom buds were showing their faces in the mountains.
Goddess incarnate of morning Kaya Fugeki had just finished her daily ritual.
She was back home, lying on the couch and fiddling with her phone, as any high school girl would on the weekend. She scrolled through various articles about spring. Anyone could follow the path of spring across the country. Kaya tossed and turned, keeping her eyes on the screen all the while, until a tuft of her lustrous black hair brushed against her face and made her sneeze.
“Lady Kaya.”
She immediately heard her retainer’s voice.
“I know you want to enjoy your last day of spring break, but would you consider going to bed? Or taking a bath? That mountain hike was cold; you should warm up.”
Kaya’s retainer, the Archer of Dawn’s Custodian, Yuzuru Fugeki, turned his handsome face toward her.
Kaya sniffled. “I didn’t sneeze because I’m cold. Get me a hair tie.”
Yuzuru followed her command. He returned from the bathroom with a hair tie and comb in his hand. “Get up, please. I can’t tie your hair when you’re lying down.”
Yuzuru felt no discontent serving his lady; in fact, he welcomed every opportunity.
“Huh? Nah, I’ll just tie it up. Let me do it.”
“Do you want to take my job away from me?”
“Don’t be ridiculous…”
The power balance between this lady and her retainer was odd. Yuzuru gave her a little glare, and she immediately gave up.
“Fine. Pull me up.”
Kaya raised her hands, and Yuzuru grabbed her and helped her up. He looked happy as they both found a warm spot on the couch.
“You don’t want any curls?”
“You didn’t bring the iron, did you?” Kaya asked.
“I can go get it.”
“I’m taking a bath after this.”
“I’ll leave it for now, then.”
“Why do you like messing with my hair so much?”
Because it’s a privilege to get to touch it, but he could not say that aloud.
“You may not look and act like a master, but usually, it’s a retainer’s job to look after their charge.”
“But wouldn’t you prefer to have a lady who can take care of herself?”
“Do you want to take my job from me?” he demanded again.
“Suddenly, I feel like I’m in a time loop.”
“I’m not giving my job to you.”
“Hey, I’m not trying to get into an argument,” Kaya said, before she showed her phone screen to Yuzuru, who was combing her hair. “Look, Yuzuru. You can see where Lady Spring’s been.”
“The cherry blossom front, yes. It was nice to see them this year.”
Kaya nodded bashfully.
Dawn had become acquainted with Autumn and Spring through the tragedy that had befallen them. The Agents of the Four Seasons had saved them.
This spring, Kaya had asked to meet Spring at Shiranui Shrine, where the Agents would visit to manifest the season. She would normally not interact with other gods incarnate, but she wanted to apologize to the Seasons for the trouble she caused. This took quite a bit of courage. And as they met, Agent of Spring Hinagiku Kayo remembered how Kaya had gotten them in touch with the Archer of Twilight, and thanked her.
“Actually…we thought…maybe we…should’ve…visited…around…the new year.”
Spring had spent the transition between Reimei 20 and 21 with Winter here in Shiranui. Winter was already acquainted with Dawn, so Rosei and Itecho had thought of dropping by to give a New Year’s greeting, and they had mentioned the idea to Spring. However, after much discussion, they concluded that it would be rude to barge in during a time usually spent with family.
Still, Hinagiku had hoped for this meeting.
Once they were sure there was nothing but goodwill between Kaya and Hinagiku, it took them no time at all to break the ice. Knowing more people in their same situation was reassuring. Plus, the girls were close in age. Sakura and Yuzuru watched their ladies’ friendly conversation, and they eventually exchanged contact information.
Spring said Summer would probably drop by as well once Rikka came.
After that, they left Shiranui.
“I heard the Summers are also around my age, and I’m happy to have more girl friends…”
“Naturally.”
“Lady Kayo and Lady Himedaka were so nice, too. I hope they come to visit again…”
“Why not invite them for summering? They would probably come after they’re done manifesting.”
“I’m too embarrassed. Oh, but I could send a text to congratulate them once the cherry blossom front finishes covering Enishi.”
“And wouldn’t that be the perfect time to invite them over?”
“Didn’t you hear me, Yuzuru? I can’t just do that.”
“There you go again, running around in circles.”
“I guess so.”
Kaya was happy to have such troubles.
Yuzuru chuckled, carefully fixing his lady’s hair. “I’m happy, too. We can’t invite commoners over to your divine abode, after all.”
“…Yeah.”
“But they’re gods, so that’s not a worry. We can extend the invitation, but if they accept, let’s give them a warm welcome that will make them want to come back.”
“…”
Yuzuru finished with her hair, and she turned to look at him.
“Yuzuru, are you lonely?”
It was a direct question, and he immediately answered.
“No.”
“If you ever miss seeing other people, you can go have some fun outside.”
“Lady Kaya…”
“You promised you would go back home.”
Yuzuru blinked. Kaya’s reply was unusual for her.
“I said it before; I don’t mind waiting for you to come back with souvenirs. I might miss you when you’re gone… But Yuzuru…”
“Why won’t you consider my feelings?” he asked.
“I am being considerate; that’s why I’m telling you this!”
“Has it never occurred to you that I can’t stand to be away from you?”
Kaya shut her mouth. She looked at Yuzuru, then buried her face in his abdomen to hide her embarrassment. He didn’t want to leave her, and the confirmation of that left her almost euphoric.
And yet you won’t fall for me, he thought.
Kaya grabbed him. “Then let’s message them together and ask them to come in summer.”
Yuzuru did not grab the goddess in return; he just smiled.
“Yes, let’s do that.”
The young man who’d won over the goddess prayed for the safety of Spring in their journey.
Meanwhile, down south…
The Archer of Twilight Kaguya Fugeki watched the fruits of Kaya’s work from the comfort of his room. Well, the room where he was staying in Ryugu Shrine, as his new mansion was still under construction.