"Holding hands...?"
Ei's violet eyes widened slightly, her long lashes fluttering.
The sudden request left the dignified General at a loss for words.
Her hand slowly clenched.
Her usually calm heart stirred with ripples.
She didn't understand what this strange feeling was.
"Yes, please!"
Qin Yu nodded heavily, his expression incredibly serious.
Seeing Ei remain silent, he took a step forward.
It was already late at night.
The moonlight was cold, and there were only two people on the street.
In this case, it was the perfect opportunity for someone like Qin to do something.
"!"
As Qin Yu approached her, a light suddenly flashed in Ei's violet eyes, and she instinctively raised her hand.
Crack!
Electro energy gathered at her fingertips, suffused with purple.
This was a phenomenon of elemental fluctuation from Ei's turbulent emotions.
Both of them froze.
"...I'm sorry, Ei."
Qin Yu realized he had been too eager and said softly.
Even so, he didn't take a step back.
As everyone knows, Qin has one advantage: he is brave enough to admit his mistakes.
Of course, there is also a disadvantage.
He knows he's wrong, but he'll do it again next time.
"Yu... don't get so close."
Ei gently turned her face away.
She had intended to assert her authority as the Electro Archon, but it lost its effect when facing Yu.
When did she become like this?
Ei had no answer.
But she knew one thing for certain.
Her heart was in turmoil because of Yu.
"I'm not that close, am I, Ei?"
Qin Yu gazed at the cold beauty in the moonlight, inhaled the faint fragrance of her hair, and smiled.
To get closer to the great leader, he began to weave lies with his eyes open.
It wouldn't cost him anything, anyway.
Qin was becoming more and more audacious.
"?"
But clearly, his great leader wouldn't indulge him so easily.
"Insolent!"
Ei glared at the still smiling Qin Yu and directly lifted her long leg, stepping on him.
This step was solid and exceptionally forceful.
She even ground her heel.
"Great leader, be gentle, it hurts."
Qin Yu's face stiffened.
This time it wasn't an act; it was real pain.
How much resentment could make you step on me with your heel!
He hadn't done anything yet, why didn't she play by the rules?
"Hmph, leave the item and go,"
Ei finally calmed her emotions and said coldly, crossing her arms.
If you don't behave yourself, I'll hang you on the statue outside Tenshukaku right now!
"But... Ei."
Qin Yu smiled, spreading his hands.
A mischievous urge to tease Ei surged in his heart.
Look, great leader, I have nothing in my hands.
"What do you want to say?"
Ei glanced at Qin Yu, unmoved.
"That's something from the World Tree, you must... hold hands to get it."
Facing the great leader's fierce scrutinizing gaze, Qin Yu coughed and said with utmost seriousness.
"...Really?"
Upon hearing this, a thought flashed in Ei's eyes, and for a moment, she couldn't deny Qin Yu's words.
"Of course, it's gathered... you know."
Qin Yu nodded, extremely earnest.
"You mean that?"
Ei murmured thoughtfully, already half-believing him.
She looked at Qin Yu, who was smiling without speaking and extending his hand in invitation.
But she always felt that Yu was becoming more and more mischievous.
It seemed... he no longer revered the divine.
Was it because Yu had also touched the realm of the divine?
Thinking of this, Ei's mood suddenly became complicated again.
But more than that, she felt joy.
The greatest barrier between them no longer existed.
"Alright."
Her cold voice gained a different nuance.
She didn't care whether Qin Yu's words were true or false.
She only knew this was an opportunity.
So...
Under Qin Yu's surprised gaze.
Ei raised a hand and gently placed it in his palm.
"Is this... enough?"
The moment they touched, a strange sensation flowed into their hearts.
Warm and delicate.
Just like their quietly approaching hearts.
"..."
Qin Yu pursed his lips, trying hard to maintain his image in front of the great leader.
But the sudden surprise still brought a smug smile to his face.
Holding Ei's hand was like holding all the beauty in the world.
It was soft and tender.
He couldn't put it down.
Qin Yu instinctively met Ei's gaze.
They both noticed each other's feelings.
Then they made a promise: never to let go.
"Ei."
Qin Yu no longer hid his thoughts.
He just wanted to hold Ei's hand and walk around Inazuma City several times.
No other reason, just wanted to show off.
It was simply a man's vanity.
"What are you smiling about?"
Ei asked somewhat fiercely, but her rippling heart felt warm.
Holding hands with another man for the first time, so this is what it felt like.
Completely different from cold blades.
"Ahem, actually, I need another hand."
Qin Yu began to push his luck.
Seeing the great leader about to step on him again, he quickly explained.
When he used the skill Suigetsu, he needed two hands.
It wasn't for taking advantage of the great leader.
"If you make any rash moves, you'll face the consequences."
Ei glared at Qin Yu and placed her other hand on his.
"Ei, watch carefully."
Qin Yu held both her hands and faced the distance.
Under the starlit sky, a dreamlike radiance bloomed, exceptionally beautiful.
"..."
Ei blinked slightly.
That was the light of the Divine Sakura on the mountain.
"Sister..."
She murmured, her gaze distant.
If the true Raiden Shogun could see her now, would she be happy?
Suddenly, a broken petal slipped from between their fingers.
Ei watched it as it returned to the ground.
"Even the most beautiful flower will eventually wither."
Qin Yu's calm voice sounded in Ei's ear.
"It falls to the soil, becomes nourishment, and is reabsorbed by the roots."
"An infinite cycle."
"But the ley lines will remember everything."
"So, from the countless branches of the World Tree, I plucked this."
As he spoke, a dreamlike light, identical to the Divine Sakura, appeared.
"What is this?"
Ei murmured, but found her voice had changed.
She carefully cupped the light in her hands, biting her lip slightly.
Turning to look at Qin Yu, she found herself speechless.
On the branch of the World Tree, Ei felt a familiar aura.
The aura of the first Electro Archon, the true Raiden Shogun.
That is, Ei's sister.
"Yes, it's her."
"Through the Keepsake, I touched some memories."
Qin Yu said softly, his gaze gentle.
With that memory, and his talent for Suigetsu.
He had brought this back from the countless branches of the World Tree.
"A sprout that condenses everything about the true Raiden Shogun."
This was the unique gift he wanted to give Ei.
"It's actually sister's..."
Ei slowly lowered her head, revealing a relieved smile.
Qin Yu's appearance had warmed and filled her cold heart.
Now, it had also compensated for the greatest deficiency.
"Yu, thank you."
Hesitation lasted only for a moment.
Ei leaned gently on Qin Yu's shoulder and murmured.
The dreamlike light illuminated her beautiful face.
That joy was shining brightly.