Stepping through the portal, they arrived in Inazuma. As Lu Ze descended from the second floor to the first, he saw Himeko lying on a sofa, looking at the ceiling with a hint of fatigue. It was her turn to guard the Inazuma shop, which essentially meant being on duty.
However, perhaps due to sheer boredom, she was almost falling asleep. After all, not many people came to experience the shop anymore, so there wasn't much to do.
"Himeko, good afternoon. Why are you lying here alone? You might catch a cold if you're not careful."
Lu Ze walked up to Murata Himeko and poked her fair cheek. It was surprisingly soft.
"Bored, obviously. Why else would I be lying here? Lu Ze, take me out to play, please? As a reward, I'll have a drink with you?"
Her words implied that either option was fine with her.
"Bored, huh? Where's Otto? Let him watch the shop. He's right next door, so he can help if anything comes up. As for you, come with me. I have something for you to do."
This immediately piqued her interest. What kind of task would require her, Murata Himeko, to handle? She guessed it must be something quite difficult!
As it turned out, the task Lu Ze gave her outside was to notify all her acquaintances to gather at his experience shop tomorrow morning, as he needed to see them. He also handed Himeko a small notebook filled with names.
As for himself, he headed to the Tenshukaku to inform Ei and Makoto.
It had been a while since he last visited. He felt a slight sparsity; were there this many trees in the courtyard? Or were they recently planted?
A flicker of doubt crossed his mind, but Lu Ze didn't pay it much heed. He knocked on the grand gate.
A moment later, Makoto opened the door. She was somewhat shocked to see him.
"Why, it's you! I thought it might be Guuji Yae or the others. Is there something you need from us? If you have any requests, as long as it's not something wicked, we'll agree, because you are and always will be our most precious person."
Raiden Makoto smiled faintly. She had never forgotten the life-saving grace he had bestowed upon her.
Therefore, she was willing to grant almost any request he made, as long as it wasn't too serious.
"I've come this time mainly to invite you all to Liyue for the Lantern Rite festival. It's quite a grand occasion, and I'd like you to experience a festival in a foreign land."
So, he had come to invite them to a festival. Raiden Makoto had been prepared to agree to more significant requests, but then he mentioned this.
The Lantern Rite? She had heard of this festival before, but hearing about it was one thing; experiencing it was another.
She had lived for so long, yet she had never celebrated it. She was, indeed, very interested in this festival from a foreign land.
"I see. I will inform my sister and everyone else. We'll try to make sure everyone can attend. Is there anything else? Feel free to ask."
Raiden Makoto looked at Lu Ze again. He thought for a moment and then said:
"Then please help me order some fireworks from Naganohara. Besides watching others set them off, I also enjoy setting them off myself. The sight of fireworks ascending is beautiful. Though each moment is fleeting, isn't that what makes beauty beautiful? If it weren't fleeting, would it still be called beauty? I'll leave it to you."
It was still a small request. Raiden Makoto nodded and quickly instructed her subordinates to go to Naganohara and purchase the fireworks.
"That's all for now. Where is the Raiden Shogun, Ei? I haven't seen her for a while."
Raiden Makoto quickly replied:
"Her? She's gone to Mt. Yougou. I don't know when she'll be back. But don't worry, I'll definitely pass on the message to her. I suspect she'll head straight to Liyue once she hears about it, especially since it's your request. I'm sure she'll agree."
Hearing this, Lu Ze couldn't help but chuckle. Perhaps helping Raiden Ei was the best decision he had ever made in his life. As for why, who could say?
"That's all for now. See you next time. I'll be heading back now. I still have other places to visit. I hope this Lantern Rite brings you wonderful memories. I wish you happiness at the Lantern Rite."
With that, Lu Ze turned and left Tenshukaku. Inside, Raiden Makoto used a special method to inform Raiden Ei to return, as this matter was quite important.
Upon hearing that it was Lu Ze's request, Ei became noticeably flustered. She immediately rushed down from Mt. Yougou and returned to Tenshukaku shortly after.
Meanwhile, Guuji Yae, Sasayuri, and the others were completely bewildered. What was happening? Why the rush?
A sense of confusion settled upon everyone. They lost their appetite for their gathering and rushed down to follow Ei back to Tenshukaku.
"Wait, why have you all returned? I only asked for Raiden Ei! You've all come back? Well, that's good. I have something to announce. The Lantern Rite in Liyue is approaching. Lu Ze just visited and invited us to Liyue tomorrow to celebrate the Lantern Rite. Is there anyone who doesn't want to go? If you don't say anything, I'll assume everyone is going."
Hearing that it was just a minor matter, Raiden Ei looked at her sister with a hint of annoyance. Was this the reason for such urgency and for summoning them back? What a letdown.
They were in the middle of a meal, and they rushed back before finishing. And it was just for this? She had thought Lu Ze was asking her to defeat some enemy.
"Don't look at me like that. It makes me uncomfortable. Take that look away immediately. And also! Why didn't you invite me to your gathering? I woke up this morning, and if it weren't for the note on the table, I would have thought you had gone off to do something else. Do you know how lonely it feels to be home alone in the morning?! If you don't consult me next time, I'll teach you a lesson."
Raiden Makoto raised her hand as if to strike, but she didn't follow through, merely issuing a warning.
Raiden Ei nodded helplessly. What choice did she have? She was her older sister, after all. A younger sister had to yield to her elder, right? They would never strike their elder sister.
"Alright, alright, I get it! Let's go eat together then. Hurry up, or the food will get cold and won't taste as good! My three-colored dango! There's only the last skewer left!"
Raiden Ei remembered this and ran with all her might, as it was her favorite food. If it got cold, it wouldn't be good!
After all, cold food would affect its texture and wouldn't be as delicious. She absolutely couldn't let this food go to waste.