"…" Akio looked at Yoimiya with a mix of amusement and exasperation. "I'm a guy."
"Hehe, sorry," Yoimiya chuckled awkwardly. "It's just that the Grand Narukami Shrine is all women, so I got confused."
"But that being said, what do you do at the shrine?" Yoimiya asked curiously.
"I'm the Great Divine Official of the Grand Narukami Shrine," Akio replied, handing her the Divine Official's Token.
"Huh? The Great Divine Official?" Yoimiya's eyes widened. Although she wasn't a shrine maiden, she had read about this position in books.
This was one of the most prestigious positions in Inazuma, second only to the Raiden Shogun and the Guuji of the Grand Narukami Shrine. And this guy in front of her was the Great Divine Official?
She took the token and examined it curiously. When she saw the Electro Mitsudomoe emblem and the Sacred Sakura seal, she knew it was genuine.
In Inazuma, no one would dare forge something with the Electro Mitsudomoe and the Sacred Sakura—that would be asking for trouble.
"Lord Akio!" Yoimiya suddenly became a bit nervous. After all, Akio's status was extremely lofty. She felt the same way around him as she did around the Raiden Shogun and the Guuji.
"Yoimiya, there's no need to be so formal. Aren't we friends?" Akio shook his head. "Friends don't need to be so respectful, do they?"
"We're friends?" Yoimiya's eyes lit up with hope.
"Of course. You just helped me out and chatted with me. Doesn't that make us friends?" Akio smiled. "What? Don't want to be friends with me?"
"No, no! Of course not!" Yoimiya quickly waved her hands, afraid Akio might misunderstand. "I'm just a bit unsure of myself. The Great Divine Official actually wants to be friends with me?"
"Haha! Even gods need friends when they live in the human world, don't they?" Akio laughed.
"Exactly!" Yoimiya agreed with Akio's words. "Friendship is the most precious gift in the world."
"Fireworks may fade, but human connections last forever!"
"So, since you consider me a friend, don't be so formal. Otherwise, we can't really be friends," Akio nodded with a smile.
"Of course! I was just a bit shocked earlier, afraid you might be upset," Yoimiya stuck out her tongue.
"Am I that scary?" Akio widened his eyes slightly. He thought he was the kind of person who was gentle and approachable.
"Not at all," Yoimiya scratched her head. "It's just that your status is so high, so I felt a bit like I was facing the Raiden Shogun or the Guuji. It's a bit intimidating."
"Alright," Akio nodded. The Raiden Shogun had always been extremely solemn, and Yae Miko appeared elegant and noble in front of ordinary people. It was natural for Yoimiya to feel a bit nervous, especially since she was just an ordinary girl.
"To become the Great Divine Official, Akio, you must be incredibly powerful, right?" Yoimiya suddenly looked at Akio with curiosity. "Why don't I see your Vision?"
"I don't need a Vision," Akio said. "My power doesn't come from a Vision."
Akio summoned a wisp of energy, and golden spatial power manifested in his hand.
"Huh? What kind of power is this?" Yoimiya asked, intrigued. It wasn't one of the seven elements.
"This is my divine power," Akio explained. "So I don't need a Vision to provide me with energy."
"Divine power?! So you're a deity?" Yoimiya exclaimed, surprised that her new friend was actually a deity!
"What's so special about being a deity?" Akio waved his hand dismissively. "I'm just Akio."
"Alright," Yoimiya nodded, regaining her composure.
"I've heard from Yae Miko that the most famous fireworks shop in Inazuma is the Naganohara Fireworks. Yoimiya, you're from there, aren't you?" Akio said, knowing that Yoimiya was still a bit nervous and trying to steer the conversation toward something she was passionate about.
"That's right!" Yoimiya's eyes lit up at the mention of fireworks. "Hehe, I'm really good at making fireworks."
"Even the Guuji has praised me?" Yoimiya asked excitedly.
"Of course," Akio nodded. "She told me that Naganohara Fireworks are the best."
"If I get the chance, I'd love to see your craftsmanship," Akio said.
"Huh? We can go now!" Yoimiya said enthusiastically. "I just said I was tired from making fireworks and came out to buy some Takoyaki because I hadn't eaten yet."
"Do you want to come to the shop with me and see the fireworks?" Yoimiya asked eagerly.
"Sure," Akio nodded. He had nothing else to do, and watching Yoimiya make fireworks sounded like a fun way to spend the day.
Plus, he'd have a beautiful companion. How could he not know how stunning Yoimiya was?
"Let's go!" Yoimiya led Akio back to the Naganohara Fireworks shop.
"Yoimiya, have you eaten?" Naganohara Ryuunosuke stood at the door, smiling as he saw Yoimiya. "Don't forget to eat next time."
"Got it, Dad!" Yoimiya nodded loudly.
"And who's this?" Naganohara Ryuunosuke looked at Akio. The young man was dressed in luxurious attire, clearly not from an ordinary family.
"He's a new friend I made! His name is Akio! I'm taking him to see the fireworks!" Yoimiya explained.
"Hello, Uncle," Akio greeted.
"Hello," Naganohara Ryuunosuke nodded with a smile. "Go on in, then."
Yoimiya was a bit surprised when Akio called her father "Uncle," but she still led Akio into the house.
Inside, the room was filled with the smell of gunpowder. As expected of Inazuma's biggest fireworks maker, the place was packed with finished fireworks.
"Akio, make yourself at home. I just have a bit left to finish on this firework," Yoimiya said. "It's a commission from Miss Kamisato, and I need to finish it by tomorrow."
"Won't I be in the way here?" Akio asked, looking around at the fireworks.
"Not at all," Yoimiya shook her head. "Talking to you might actually help me focus better."
"Alright, then. Go ahead and work," Akio nodded, finding a chair to sit on. Nearby were many intricate souvenirs.
It had to be said that aside from fireworks, Yoimiya was also incredibly skilled at making souvenirs.
"What's this?" Akio picked up a small ring, curious. It had a faint herbal scent.
"Oh, that's a Kōtaiwa," Yoimiya glanced up and then went back to her work. "It's filled with insect-repelling herbs. This time of year, there are a lot of mosquitoes at night, so lighting the herbs inside helps keep them away."
"Seems pretty useful," Akio nodded. It was a practical item. In the Grand Narukami Shrine, with Yae Miko and him around, mosquitoes naturally stayed away. But for ordinary people, this would be a great help.