"He said this is his divine power, capable of healing any injury or illness except instant death," Yoimiya explained. "I thought of your hearing problem, Dad, so I gave you one."
"Oh, you silly girl!" Naganohara Ryuunosuke sighed. "This is something that could save your life, and you just used it on me? What a waste!"
"What waste? Dad, being able to restore your hearing makes it meaningful to me," Yoimiya protested, clearly unhappy with her father's words. "Nothing is more important than you."
Naganohara Ryuunosuke looked at Yoimiya with pride. His daughter was truly the best.
Then, his expression turned serious. "Yoimiya, you must hide these two remaining crystals well! They're equivalent to two lives! And never, ever use them on anyone else! Don't let even a hint of this get out."
"I know you're kind-hearted, but these must absolutely not be given to outsiders!"
"If this gets exposed, it will bring you unimaginable disaster!" Naganohara Ryuunosuke spoke with utmost seriousness.
He knew his daughter was compassionate and easily empathized with others. If she were to use these on someone else, and such a miraculous ability were to be revealed… the consequences would be unthinkable.
"I understand," Yoimiya nodded. She was kind, but not foolish. The allure of these crystals would be irresistible to anyone. If outsiders found out, she'd be devoured by greedy villains.
"But, Yoimiya, tell me more about Akio," Naganohara Ryuunosuke said.
"I'll go cook first, then I'll tell you," Yoimiya nodded. "I've only known him for half a day."
…
"Akio, you're back!" As soon as Akio stepped into the Grand Narukami Shrine, Yae Miko and Kitsune Saiguu greeted him.
"Yeah, I brought you some delicious food," Akio raised his hand, and a food box appeared. Fried tofu was a must! There were also skewers and sake.
The three of them were no ordinary people, so they didn't need to worry about things like weight gain.
"Wait!" Yae Miko suddenly sniffed the air, leaning closer to Akio.
"Oh ho! Akio, which girl did you charm today?" Yae Miko thought for a moment, then put her hands on her hips. "This scent… it's that girl from the Naganohara family!"
Wow, Akio was stunned. She could tell who it was just by the scent? Yae Miko, are you part dog? Oh wait, foxes are part of the canine family. Never mind.
"It was her. Yoimiya helped me out today," Akio nodded, not hiding anything, and began setting out the food from the box.
"Oh ho ho, calling her Yoimiya so affectionately~" Yae Miko hummed, her tone dripping with sarcasm.
Kitsune Saiguu, meanwhile, watched with interest.
"Nothing happened between us," Akio said with a self-deprecating smile. "That girl is very kind. I didn't have money to buy snacks, and she helped me out. That's how we met."
"Young girls like her don't have complicated thoughts. She didn't think of it that way. She just sees me as a regular friend," Akio shrugged.
"Huh? Really?" Yae Miko was taken aback, dropping her sarcastic tone. She didn't actually care about this; she just wanted to tease Akio.
As a powerful youkai, she wasn't bound by human morals. She didn't care how many women Akio had around him, as long as he was there for her when she needed him.
"Why wouldn't it be?" Akio shook his head. "Yoimiya's kindness is given to everyone. I'm no exception."
Yae Miko noticed a different tone in Akio's voice and chuckled softly. Akio hadn't realized just how much charm he had!
His aura was so captivating that even she was drawn to him. Earlier, she had asked Kitsune Saiguu what she thought of Akio, and even Kitsune Saiguu, who had just met him, had a high opinion of him. How could an ordinary human girl resist his charm?
"You're laughing so mischievously," Akio looked at Yae Miko's sly grin and sighed. "Stop laughing, you two. Let's eat."
"Coming, coming," Yae Miko and Kitsune Saiguu nodded. While they didn't care about these things, Yae Miko wasn't ready to help Akio pursue other girls just yet. She and Akio were still in the honeymoon phase, and she didn't want anyone else, except Kitsune Saiguu, to take away her time with him.
After dinner, Kitsune Saiguu excused herself and went back to her room to rest. Having just been revived, she was still weak and needed more rest.
Akio, meanwhile, held Yae Miko as they sat on a rock by the mountainside, overlooking the night scenery. Below them was the Chinju Forest, and the night view was quite beautiful.
"Akio," Yae Miko gently stroked Akio's face. "This afternoon, I asked Kitsune Saiguu what she thought of you. Do you know what she said?"
"What did she say?" Akio looked at Yae Miko curiously.
"She said she really likes you," Yae Miko said with a smile. "After just one day, she already seems like she'd be willing to give herself to you."
"Isn't it the same for us?" Akio held Yae Miko's soft waist and asked. "I used the excuse of reviving Kitsune Saiguu to be with you. Doesn't that feel a bit like coercion? Are you unhappy about it?"
Akio looked at Yae Miko seriously, wanting to know her true feelings.
"Of course not," Yae Miko's expression turned serious. "I've never thought of it that way. In fact, I might have been wanting to find a partner for a long time, and your appearance perfectly fits what I was looking for."
"You're so handsome, a deity, and your personality is so good. How could I not be happy?" Yae Miko said.
"Since the war, after Makoto's death, Kitsune Saiguu, Mikoshi Chiyo, and Sasayuri left one after another, and Ei hid in the Plane of Euthymia, refusing to see me, I've been alone for five hundred years," Yae Miko said softly. "On many quiet nights, I've thought about whether I should find a partner."
"But unfortunately, no one could make my heart flutter. And mortals have such short lives, barely a hundred years. What right do they have to stay by my side?" Yae Miko said. "I didn't want to face a grave a hundred years later, filled with sorrow."
Akio listened quietly, holding Yae Miko tightly. He could feel the loneliness beneath her mischievous mask.
"But you're different. I've thought carefully about the conditions you proposed. You're someone who can accompany me for a lifetime, and you can even revive Kitsune Saiguu and the others. Why wouldn't I be happy with that?"
Yae Miko leaned in, stood on her tiptoes, and kissed Akio on the corner of his mouth. "So, I've never been dissatisfied with this arrangement. Instead, I'm grateful—grateful that you like me, grateful that I've met the right person."
"I'll stay with you forever, until the seas dry up and the mountains crumble," Akio lowered his head and kissed her rosy lips. "For the rest of our lives, please take care of me."