Heavy girl? I feel worse than Black Hole Trigger!

And the girl in front of him seemed to have made up her mind early on and made her own choice.

"But, it's just a quick stroll, it's not a serious matter." Zhe Li couldn't help but speak.

Xiangzi's expression seemed to indicate that he had reached a consensus with Linghua, but Zheli did not agree with this statement.

Or maybe it's just a ceremony, why make it as serious as a life-and-death battle?

This young lady seems steady, but is she actually suffering from a Chuunibyou syndrome? Alas, living in such a worldview, it seems we can't blame her. In this fantasy world, there are threats beyond natural and man-made disasters; Inazuma's peace is built on the supreme military power of the Thunder God, but divine punishment does not unconditionally protect the people of the Kingdom of God.

The gods bestowed upon them the authority to rule over the land of Inazuma, but they could also take it back at any time if they violated their obligations.

But even considering this, Zhe Li still felt that there was no need to be so extreme.

"Just patrolling before the festival isn't enough to guarantee complete safety. Has there never been an accident before?"

Linghua shook her head and said, "Aside from the Tenryo Bugyo who maintain law and order, the She Bugyo also dispatch personnel to stay on duty during the festival. If there are occasional disputes, the She Bugyo often intervene to mediate."

"Then why can't Miss Kamisato participate?"

It wasn't like she was suddenly being told to abandon everything and indulge in amusement. As a member of the Society Bugyo, it wouldn't be too serious to let her slack off a bit while performing her minimum duties. Besides, wasn't it said that the Tenryo Bugyo were responsible for maintaining law and order? It didn't mean even the Society Bugyo had to maintain a high level of concentration at all times.

After all, even the guards can change shifts.

“————.” The girl was speechless for a moment.

Seeing her fall silent, Zhe Li was stunned for a moment, then quickly waved his hand and apologized: "Sorry. I was a little abrupt."

Everyone has his own circumstances, he shouldn't say too much.

"No. ...Your words are indeed very convincing. I will consider it carefully."

Linghua smiled again, nodded to the two of them, and led her subordinates away.

But she, who had just been planning to enjoy the atmosphere of the celebration, now had her mind filled with complicated thoughts.

——Because, I can’t put aside my personal feelings like my brother did.

She tried hard to hold back the words that almost came out of her mouth when she was questioned.

After all, she was at an age when she loved to play, and she had always been worried that once she started to "enjoy herself", her will, which had been honed to be impeccable, would be shaken in the mundane world.

but……

Maybe. Oh, maybe.

Is it not such a serious matter to just indulge "myself" a little?

P.S. Sorry for being a little late. It's been unexpectedly busy. It's been really cold lately, so my hands and feet aren't very flexible.

Chapter 73: Lanterns

As the sun sets, the blazing sun, gradually approaching the horizon, ignites the sea, adding a fiery glow to the blue waves.

Inazuma Castle faces the sea to the west, with no high mountains blocking the way. As long as you look up and far away, you can see the setting sun dyeing the boundary between the sea and the sky a scorching red.

The festival venue is facing the sea breeze and sun.

The members of the Society and several collaborators bathed in the fading sunlight and lit the lamps and torches one by one.

No extra rituals are needed; the flame itself symbolizes the beginning.

"Wow..." Hiiragi China's eyes widened.

In the past, she always arrived late in the middle of the festival, and could only look at the bustling streets from afar accompanied by guards: unlike when she was on the outlying islands, once she left the sphere of influence of the Kanjo Bugyo, her father and sister would begin to impose many restrictions on her.

For safety reasons, there was really no other way, but it was the same every year, and she always felt very sorry.

This year was different. With the presence of Hoto Ozuri, Hiiragi Chisato relaxed the restrictions on her: with a warrior possessing divine vision and exquisite martial arts skills by her side, there was indeed no need to rely on a human wall to protect her as in previous years.

So Chinana finally saw for the first time how the festival "began".

At the junction of dusk and night, people first suppressed the clamor of the day, then the lights came on, the brilliance of civilization conquered the silence of the long night, and the shouts of vendors rose one after another. This street, wrapped in the warm glow of fire, displayed a prosperity completely different from usual, and this time she finally had a ticket to enter it.

"Do you want to go shopping first?" Zhe Li asked.

The Hanamizaka Festival will last for two days and three nights. During the first night, the newly arrived girl band CRYCHIC will leave their mark on this eternal capital with their music.

Kamisato Ayaka originally arranged this to give them enough buffer time, perhaps to do some final practice, or simply to adapt to the heat of the festival, and not to put it as the finale, so as to minimize the pressure.

Judging from the practice in the past few days, there seems to be no need to worry about either.

The addition of Hiiragi Chinana to the band unexpectedly created a positive chemistry: despite her usual fussiness and exaggerated reactions to minor and major events, Chinana was ultimately the second daughter of the Kanjo-no-Matsumoto Hiiragi family, accustomed to the attention. Once she overcame her insecurities about her performances, she became the brightest star on stage.

Thanks to this, Takamatsu Deng can focus on singing without having to worry too much about the audience's gaze.

As long as Takamatsu Deng is fine, this four-to-one band has nothing to worry about.

"To be on the safe side, it's better to familiarize yourself with the stage before going on stage—" Toyokawa Shoko changed the subject and smiled. "But it's also good to stay calm before the performance. I encourage everyone to go shopping first while there are fewer people."

Almost at the moment Xiangzi finished speaking, Nagasaki Suyo grabbed Zheli's hand.

But someone spoke faster than her.

"T-Teacher!"

Qiannai grabbed Zheli's sleeve and pointed forward with shining eyes.

The child couldn't wait to break into this street, which was not crowded but already felt very lively.

In previous years, she would only ask her guards to escort her on her "incognito tour" when the streets were almost completely packed. However, Qiannai always felt very sorry for having servants to clear the way for her, so she later became reluctant to participate in the celebrations during the most lively period, and instead savored the lingering flavor of the festival in the last few hours of the last day.

Today, not only do you not have to form a human wall to protect yourself, you can also have fun before everyone else!

"Hurry up, hurry up." Thinking of this, she couldn't help but tug at the corner of Zhe Li's clothes.

She was clearly very anxious, but she still remembered the rule her sister Chisato Hiiragi had set for her, that she should not stay away from Origin.

"Yes, yes." Zhe Li turned his head to look at Su Shi, shrugged, and strode forward.

Su Shi looked helpless, but after thinking about it, he smiled and followed Zhe Li's footsteps.

The festival lasted three days anyway. It didn't matter if she spent some time with the kids today. She had originally thought of the first day as a CRYCHIC performance, and hadn't expected to have the chance to stroll around.

As a person related to the festival (performer of major programs), you can participate in the festival as soon as it opens.

This is also a very rare experience for Su Shi.

"Ah. Gone." The light blinked.

She had originally wanted to go shopping with Zheli. But before she could open her mouth, Chinanai pulled Zheli away...

"Deng, let's go too?" Xiangzi smiled at her.

Like Chinara Hiiragi, Shoko Toyokawa had little experience of "going to a festival alone." Rather, she'd never actually experienced one, having only seen similar spectacle from afar or heard of it from rumors and books.

After leaving the Toyokawa family, although the father had cheered up and actively worked to earn money, which greatly improved the daily lives of the father and daughter, it was still far from enough to restore their former glory.

When talking about the summer festival, Xiangzi’s first reaction is actually “there are many job opportunities.”

If this festival had not been held in Inazuma, all she could earn would be Inazuma or the currency of Teyvat, "Mora", which would not be used to improve her family's life. Otherwise, she would have liked to find a stall and do odd jobs in the next two days - daily temporary jobs are more likely to be vague about the age issue, giving her, who is still a junior high school student, a chance to apply.

Of course, this wasn't much of a loss. At least she didn't have to think too much and could just enjoy the festivities for a few days.

Shiina Riki quickly interrupted, "Hey. Don't take the lights away without permission. ...Deng, do you want to go shopping with us?"

"Yeah." Deng nodded slightly, then turned to Ruoye Mu.

The girl is looking out at the darkening sky and the street lit by light.

Hearing that the girls around him seemed to have fallen silent, Mu paused for a moment and looked back gracefully.

Her light green hair was now tinged with a hint of fire, making her already frail frame resemble a flickering candle flame, and even her usually cold and emotionless eyes seemed to soften a bit. Her exquisite features, paired with her equally exquisite yukata, instantly made it clear that she was indeed the only daughter of the superstar Minami Mori.

Just standing here, one can't help but look over there.

The relaxed pace of Inazuma's life was fully reflected in the final grand celebration of summer. In this leisurely atmosphere, even girls like Wakaba Mu seemed to relax.

Deng slowly smiled, "Xiao Mu, come too."

Mu blinked quietly.

"Ah."

Chapter 74: Life Planning

"Wow, it's Yakitori—"

Qianai ran forward two steps, then stopped, turned around and slowly walked back to Zheli.

Seeing her hesitation, Zhe Li asked, "What's wrong? Eating a little shouldn't affect the performance."

Eating something delicious or relaxing before going on stage can help maintain a calm mood. This is also the reason why Toyokawa Shoko encouraged everyone to stroll around. At a live house, having to wait in a preparation room before going on stage can add to the pressure of the confined space, which can often be relieved by eating prepared snacks.

This is a rare opportunity. We can enjoy the festive atmosphere before everyone else and help stabilize the quality of the performances. This is a two-pronged approach.

"No. Seeing that uncle is still preparing, I don't want to disturb him." China waved her hand and showed an innocent smile: "I will buy it on my way back."

"Wow, there are apple candies..." Before Zheli could say anything else, China took another step forward.

"So energetic." Zhe Li exclaimed and quickened his pace to catch up.

Hiiragi Chinana kept her sister's instructions in mind. Even though there weren't many people around, she didn't run too far, and would turn back from time to time to check on him. If she found that he hadn't caught up, she would turn around and look for him again.

Su Shi followed Zhe Li closely and chuckled a few times: "Yeah. It feels like raising a daughter."

"Daughter? ...How old are you?"

How come she's already acting like a mother? Besides, Hiiragi Chinana isn't much younger than these third-year girls.

If she were in Japan, Chinana would be a 2nd grader, at most a junior of Suyo and the others. She wouldn't even feel like a younger sister, let alone a daughter; she'd practically be her peer.

Kamisato Ayaka, on the other hand, was a few years older than Suyo, a sophomore or junior in high school. In a few years, she would be considered an adult in Japan.

As a wife of Inazuma and a third magistrate, she must have experienced numerous social interactions. And with Ayaka's eldest brother already serving as the current magistrate, the pressure she, as a younger sister, must have been easy to imagine. The name "White Egret Princess" was a tribute to the public, but it also symbolized that her every move was constantly under scrutiny.

Perhaps, only when she is alone in her room can this girl enjoy a moment of peace.

Her friendliness allowed Xiangzi to communicate with her on an equal footing, and her composure far beyond her age made Zheli feel that he was indeed talking to a child of the nobility.

Now, taking a closer look, I see that although Chinara Hiiragi has a similar identity, she displays a completely different personality.

When we think about Su Shi, Xiangzi, Mu and the others... if we look at their experiences one by one, they can all be written into the story as the background of the heroine of a TV series.

Zhe Li could only say that his childhood was quite happy.

"Oh, don't take it so seriously." Su Shi covered her mouth and smiled. "To me, everyone at CRYCHIC is like my daughter."

"This... It does feel a bit like that."

When dealing solely with her bandmates, Suyo's maternal qualities were 100%, even 90%, overflowing. Even when she was sarcastically mocking Toyokawa Shoko's antics, she possessed the confident confidence of a young mother and her rebellious daughter, both mother and friend. This was even more true when she was dealing with Takamatsu Touma or Wakaba Mutsu.

Her birthday also happens to be the earliest in the band, so technically she is the oldest and is everyone's older sister.

"But if you want a daughter, someone like Xiao Qianna is the best."

She was lively and polite, and unlike Xiangzi, she didn't have sudden, whimsical ideas, which was exhausting to deal with. Although Su Shi liked Crychic very much, objectively speaking, including herself, these five girls were far from suitable as friends, let alone daughters.

"Sister Su Shi, are you calling me?" At this moment, Qian Nai happened to turn around and leaned over, raising her head blankly.

Su Shi smiled, but didn't answer. Instead, she asked, "What did Xiao Qianna find?"

"Oh, I saw a goldfish scooping stall up ahead! Teacher, can we go over there together?"

"Okay." Zhe Li nodded readily.

Since he had already decided to play with her, Zhe Li naturally would not go against Qiannai's wishes.

Su Shi looked at the man's smiling face and couldn't help but smile.

I only say that Chinana is like a daughter, but the man next to me has already raised her as his daughter, right?

Xiao Qiannai took the lead and walked forward with light steps. When Zheli was about to follow, he noticed that Su Shi had stopped and seemed to be thinking about something. Zheli took her hand, motioning her to go forward, and asked, "What are you thinking about?"

"Oh." Su Shi followed subconsciously, then looked up at Zhe Li's face.

She was silent for about a second before she said, "I'm thinking about whether I want a daughter or a son in the future."

"..."

"As for daughters, someone like Xiao Qiannai would be the least worrying. But I just thought about it, and sons are pretty good too. We don't have to worry too much about arguments between girls." Su Shi paused, then quickly shook his head and asked, "What do you think, Zhe Li? I'm not very familiar with how boys get along with each other, so maybe I'm taking things for granted."

"Ask, ask me?" Zhe Li could hardly hold back his smile.

Su Shi pretended to be serious, "Huh? Who else should I ask?" But there was a hint of cunning in her eyes.