Momon strode through the streets of Inazuma City, his long, imposing figure clad in dark armor, his masked visage unreadable as always. But the truly bizarre sight was the woman at his side. Yae Miko, Guuji of the Grand Narukami Shrine, the elegant and untouchable priestess, held onto his arm with a satisfied smirk, as if they were nobles on a leisurely stroll.

The citizens of Inazuma stared. Some stopped in their tracks. Others whispered behind their hands, their voices hushed but their shock unmistakable.

It was an impossible sight.

Miko, the untouchable Kitsune Priestess—known for her wit, cunning, and connection to the divine—walking arm in arm with him. Momon, the terrifying enigma who had fought and defeated the Raiden Shogun.

There had been fear in the beginning. When Momon first appeared, many believed he would bring ruin to Inazuma. A foreign power unlike any before, his strength so overwhelming that even their god had been forced to acknowledge it. Yet, despite all that had transpired, the nation had survived.

More than that—it had changed.

The last few days had been a waking nightmare for Inazuma's people. Between the fierce battles, the storm of uncertainty, and the shifting tides of power, it felt as though the entire nation had been on the brink of collapse. But now, with the dust settling, the land had found a new sense of balance.

The Sakoku Decree was no more. The borders had been opened.

For the first time in what felt like an eternity, merchants from across the seas could enter freely. Families long separated by an unyielding decree could reunite. Travelers could come and go without fear of being branded as criminals.

And at the heart of it all—this strange, foreign entity who had become an unshakable force within Inazuma.

The respect given to Momon was not born of affection nor of admiration. It was born of reverence—a deep, wordless acknowledgment of the undeniable truth:

This entity had changed Inazuma's fate.

Still, the sight of him walking so casually with Miko… it was almost too much to process.

"Is it just me, or does that look… unnatural?" one merchant muttered, watching them from the side of the road.

"You're not alone," whispered another. "That's the Guuji of the Grand Narukami Shrine. What is she doing holding onto him like that?"

"Didn't he defeat the Shogun?"

"Exactly. And she looks… pleased?"

Momon ignored the whispers, though he was fully aware of the many eyes on him. He had expected this. He had caused enough of a stir in Inazuma already—there was no doubt his presence would always be a subject of discussion.

But Miko? She revelled in it.

"My, my," she murmured, glancing at the gawking citizens. "It seems we've become the most interesting thing in the city today."

Momon sighed, his patience thinning. "You knew this would happen," he said, keeping his voice low. "You're enjoying this, aren't you?"

Miko tilted her head, her fox-like grin widening. "Of course I am."

He exhaled through his nose, deciding to simply endure it. After all, he had faced worse.

At least, that's what he thought.

Because Miko wasn't done.

With an almost imperceptible shift, she leaned into him slightly, lowering her voice to a soft, teasing whisper.

"Tell me, Momon," she purred, her tone dripping with amusement. "How does it feel to have all of Inazuma watching us like this?"

Momon's fingers twitched at his side.

Yes.

This was worse.

Momon's gaze swept across the bustling streets of Inazuma City before he spotted a familiar trio seated at a small food stall. Under the warm glow of paper lanterns, Aether, Paimon, and Ayaka sat at Shimura's, enjoying what seemed to be freshly made onigiri.

Aether, ever perceptive, noticed the growing number of eyes following Momon and Miko through the streets. He immediately lifted a hand in greeting, a casual yet deliberate gesture meant to ease the attention on them.

Still, there was no hiding the strangeness of the sight.

Momon—dark, imposing, and shrouded in mystery—walking arm-in-arm with Yae Miko, the enigmatic kitsune Guuji of the Grand Narukami Shrine. It was almost surreal.

Even Aether, who had traveled to multiple nations and seen all manner of strange occurrences, found the image odd.

Paimon, however, had no such reservations.

She grinned, waving them over before stuffing another mouthful of rice into her cheeks. "Momon! Did you finally finish with all the politicking?" she asked, her words slightly muffled by food.

Momon folded his arms, tilting his head slightly. "You should really finish chewing first, Paimon."

"Yeah, he's right," Aether added, shaking his head in amusement.

Paimon pouted, hurriedly swallowing before grumbling, "Geez, you sound like Ayaka…"

Beside her, Ayaka, ever the refined noble, dabbed her lips with a napkin before turning toward them. "Momon, Guuji Yae," she greeted with a small nod, her voice polite but warm. "It is good to see you both."

Miko's ever-present smirk widened as she leaned in slightly. "Oh my, what a lovely little gathering~" she purred. "Are you three having a romantic evening together?"

Ayaka's composure faltered for the briefest moment. A delicate shade of red bloomed across her pale cheeks, but she quickly recovered. She knew Miko's teasing all too well.

Clearing her throat softly, Ayaka responded with practiced grace. "Of course, Guuji Yae. This is a time of celebration for the whole nation. It is only natural to enjoy a meal in good company."

Miko chuckled, clearly pleased by Ayaka's composure. "Oh? Such a proper answer. How adorable~"

Momon, on the other hand, was already tuning Miko out. He knew better than to get caught up in her games. Instead, he focused on something far simpler.

"Ahem." He cleared his throat—though the action was purely habitual, considering he lacked a throat in his skeletal form. "Do you want something to eat?"

Miko blinked, momentarily surprised.

Momon was undead. He had no need for food, nor did he have any reason to care about meals. And yet, here he was—asking her, of all people, if she wanted something to eat.

For the briefest moment, her expression softened.

She quickly masked it with her usual teasing demeanor, resting a hand against her cheek. "Ara~ How thoughtful of you, Momon." She tilted her head, her fox-like ears twitching slightly. "In that case… I would love a plate of Fried Tofu."

Momon gave a small nod before turning his attention to the elderly shop owner.

"Boss," he called, addressing Kanbei, the owner of Shimura's. "One Fried Tofu."

Kanbei, an old but energetic man, turned at the sound of his voice. His eyes widened slightly, taking in the sight before him. The dark Honorary Knight, and the ever-elusive Guuji Yae—gathered at his humble food stall.

It was an honor beyond words.

"Oh, what a blessing to have such esteemed guests in my shop!" Kanbei exclaimed, his voice brimming with enthusiasm. "Fried Tofu, coming right up!"

With a newfound vigor, he set to work, preparing the dish with care and precision.

Momon returned his gaze to Miko, who was still watching him with an unreadable expression.

"What?" he asked, noticing her staring.

Miko simply smiled, her sharp golden eyes gleaming with mischief. "Nothing~" she said, her voice almost too sweet.

Momon knew better than to trust that.

But for now, he let it slide.

As they waited for the food, the group settled into a comfortable silence. The soft hum of conversation from other patrons blended with the occasional clatter of dishes, creating a peaceful atmosphere in Shimura's. The glow of lanterns illuminated the streets of Inazuma City, casting a warm, golden hue over the wooden stalls and the polished stone pathways. The weight of recent events—battles fought, alliances forged, and power shifts—seemed, for now, to be momentarily lifted.

Aether leaned forward slightly, resting his elbows on the wooden counter as he turned to Momon with a thoughtful expression. "So, how did things go with the Shogun? Is everything settled now?"

Momon, arms crossed, gave a slight nod. "Yes, all went flawlessly. Watatsumi Island retains a semi-autonomous government, meaning they will have their own leadership and military force but will still technically remain under the authority of the Shogunate. It's a fair compromise, and it should help maintain peace for the foreseeable future."

Aether exhaled, his shoulders relaxing. "That's a relief. Given how things were before, I didn't expect that to happen without a fight."

Momon shrugged. "It was either that or Ei would have had to deal with an endless rebellion or worse... Even she understood that."

"Well, I'm glad it worked out," Aether said before his expression shifted into something more curious. "But… what about those floating islands you raised with magic from the deep?"

Momon tilted his head slightly, his tone nonchalant. "Oh, that? Well, guess what, Aether? It happened again."

Aether blinked. "What do you mean, again?"

"I get to keep those islands," Momon said casually.

"For real?!" Paimon's eyes widened in disbelief. "Wait, hold on—how many territories do you have now? At this rate, you're gonna end up with one in every nation we visit!"

Momon sighed, rubbing his temple as if even the thought of it was exhausting. "So many responsibilities…" he muttered. "Do I have to pay yearly taxes for those, though? I should probably ask Jean about this when I visit Mondstadt again." He groaned slightly. "I've always hated taxes."

Miko, who had been idly swirling a strand of her rosy hair around her finger, let out a soft, melodic laugh. "Ara~ Taxes, you say?" she mused. "What a terribly mortal problem to have. But, fufu~ I'm sure Ei wouldn't dare tax you after everything."

"I believe those territories are completely independent under your ownership, Momon. I doubt anyone would try to impose taxes on you, especially after everything you've done." Aether added, his brow furrowing as he considered the logistics.

Momon tapped a finger against the wooden counter. "I think so… but it's better to ask, just to be sure. I don't want any surprises down the line." He didn't trust bureaucracy. No matter what world he was in, there was always some fine print waiting to ruin things.

Just then, a voice broke through their conversation.

"Fried Tofu is ready!" called Kanbei, the elderly shop owner, his voice carrying with a hint of pride.

Momon turned his head and saw the two neatly plated portions of Fried Tofu set before them, the aroma rich and enticing. He hadn't ordered one for himself, yet there were two. A small oversight on Kanbei's part, but it worked out just fine.

Reaching into his pouch, Momon paid the old man before taking one of the plates and handing it to Miko. "Here."

Miko's ears twitched slightly in amusement as she accepted the dish, her sharp golden eyes glinting with a knowing look. "How very chivalrous of you, Momon~" she teased, though there was a slight warmth in her tone that hadn't been there before.

Without missing a beat, Momon grabbed the second plate and turned to Paimon. "And this one's for you. I know you'll clean this plate faster than Aether can blink."

Paimon gasped dramatically, her eyes lighting up as she reached for the dish. "Hoho~! Thanks, Momon! I'm gonna dig in!" she declared before immediately stuffing a piece into her mouth, her delighted hums filling the air.

Aether chuckled, shaking his head at her enthusiasm. "You just ate…"

Paimon waved him off with a full mouth, making a few muffled sounds before gulping down her bite. "Yeah, but this is Fried Tofu! You don't just pass up on something like this!"

Momon shook his head, watching her devour the meal with an almost mechanical efficiency. He had no doubt she would clean that plate.

Miko, meanwhile, took a delicate bite of her own, savoring the taste. She stole a glance at Momon, her smile unreadable. "You know, for someone who doesn't eat, you're quite considerate."

Momon exhaled, leaning back slightly. "I just know what to expect. Paimon would've stolen half of Aether's food otherwise."

"Hey! That's not—" Paimon paused mid-sentence, suddenly remembering all the other times she'd done exactly that. "…Well, maybe."

Ayaka, who had been quietly observing the exchange, smiled softly. "It's good to see everyone in such high spirits. After everything that's happened, moments like these are precious."

Momon sighed, turning his gaze upward. Lord have mercy, I need to leave this country before they make me Emperor at this rate…