"Qin Yu, I care very much."
"..."
Inside the room, a purple intensity solidified.
As those words left her lips, everything froze.
The two women met each other's gaze in silence.
But their feelings were entirely different.
"..."
Yae Miko quietly turned her face away.
What had she just said?
She didn't understand why things had turned out this way.
An unstable purple energy was gathering in her eyes.
Flickering dimly.
"Oh...?"
The curve of Yae Miko's lips tilted upward.
What an astonishing statement.
The "aloof" General.
And this interesting reaction...
She ignored the chill, her alluring figure leaning slightly forward.
The distance between them subtly narrowed.
She moved closer to Yae, blinking her eyes.
Did Qin Yu know about these words when she said them?
"..."
Yae glared at her, her gaze icy.
She slowly shifted the naginata in her hand, a silent warning.
If she dared to speak of this to a certain someone.
It wouldn't be as simple as a spanking.
"Heh heh... Don't be so fierce, Yae."
Yae Miko chuckled softly, covering her mouth, and didn't say more.
She showed no fear in the face of the blade.
Because she could feel it.
Though the purple energy was cold, from some unknown point...
A trace of warmth had begun to sprout.
It was warm, and also fragile.
Like a fleeting spark ignited by chance.
Ready to vanish before it could fully burn.
A smile formed on Yae Miko's lips.
"Yae, you've become stronger."
"But you also have a fatal weakness."
If she were to extinguish this warmth right now...
Would it make her seem like a villain?
"Weakness?"
Yae furrowed her brow, murmuring softly.
She lowered her naginata.
A weakness was something that absolutely could not be tolerated.
It must be thoroughly eradicated.
Yae slowly closed her eyes, her thoughts racing.
...What was her weakness now?
After an unknown passage of time, a soft sigh escaped her.
"I don't understand."
The purple energy dissipated, and time began to flow again.
Was it truly that she didn't understand...
Or that she was unwilling to admit it?
"Shall I say it for you?"
Yae Miko moved closer to Yae, a smile on her face.
"Speak."
Yae's gaze fixed on Yae Miko, her tone even.
She was an open-minded person, free to speak her mind.
"It's naturally Qin..."
She stopped mid-sentence.
The cunning kitsune slowly raised her hands.
Her alluring eyes flickered, reflecting the gleam of the blade.
The Lightning of the Grasstender was once again at her throat.
Yae Miko smiled and closed her mouth.
She had hit the mark precisely.
Yae's expression was calm, her voice steady:
"Say whatever you want."
"Qin..."
Yae's gaze became dangerous, the blade drawing even closer.
Yae, have you truly thought this through?
I'll give you one chance to reconsider.
"...Yae is being too much."
Yae Miko clutched her chest, feigning distress.
With a blade at her throat, she still told her to speak freely.
This was outright coercion.
Was Qin Yu really that important?
She had arrived first.
"Hmph, then there's no weakness."
Yae retracted her naginata, tilting her chin slightly as she declared.
Her words were powerful and resounding.
Indeed, she was the mighty and aloof General.
"As expected of Yae."
Yae Miko gently applauded, echoing her deity.
A playful glint flashed in her alluring eyes.
Really, why the unnecessary action?
When you posed the question,
You already had the answer in your heart, didn't you?
However...
You, with your simple heart, truly won't mess this up?
Alas, you're quite the worry.
With that thought, the cunning kitsune gently took Yae's hand.
"Let go."
Yae tightened her grip, intending to pull away.
"Listen to me, Yae."
But this time, Yae Miko was unusually serious.
She pulled both their hands, slowly pressing them onto Yae's chest.
There, it was soft and warm.
"Yae!"
Yae's gaze turned cold, about to reprimand her.
"Shhh—Can you feel it? Yae's heartbeat."
"..."
"And this warmth, don't forget it."
"..."
"Since you have a weakness, then protect it close."
"Remember, forever."
Yae Miko leaned close to Yae's ear and whispered.
Her alluring voice, for once, held a rare seriousness.
"Forever..."
Yae slowly closed her eyes, murmuring softly.
Her hand quietly lowered, clenching.
As if trying to grasp something.
Very carefully, yet very firmly.
After a long moment, Yae stated seriously: "I have no weakness."
Though she didn't know what this feeling was,
As long as Qin Yu stayed in Tenshukaku, there would be no problem.
Could he possibly escape Inazuma?
"Yes, yes, yes, Yae with no weakness."
Yae Miko waved her hand, a touch of helplessness in her voice.
After all this talking, is that the main point?
What a simple country bumpkin.
"But there's still a small matter, Yae."
"What."
"If he wants to be recognized, he'll have to take a strike from you, won't he?"
Yae Miko chuckled lightly, hinting at something.
The person in question was naturally Qin Yu.
The kitsune was about to stir up trouble again.
Yae remained silent for a moment, then said softly, "We'll see."
"Yae, you can't give him any special treatment."
Yae nodded silently, her expression solemn.
This was a very serious matter, and it wouldn't allow for any leniency.
"How about letting him adapt to the trajectory of your strike in advance?"
Yae pondered for a moment, then said softly.
The kitsune's smile slowly faded.
This favoritism was far too obvious.