Strengthening Our Bonds

I teleported myself to the southern part of the island while contemplating the cruelty of this world. It's not really just this world, but that's not the point.

" Sigh*, If I remember correctly, it should be around here..." I traveled through the southern lands of Watatsumi Island to locate a specific place.

"Clairvoyance is amazing, but it's quite annoying to use... Can't it just pinpoint the location for me!" I complained to no one in particular. I could've located it with a spell, but there's really no hurry needed for me to waste any energy of mine... And a peaceful walk accompanied by beautiful scenery is never bad.

"Found it..." I said with a slightly tired tone, observing the hidden base from outside. I walked inside without concealing my presence to announce my visit. There I sighted a focused Kokomi.

"To think I would meet the lovely divine priestess while wandering this island! My my~, it seems like we are quite fated for one another..." I made my entrance loudly with a smirk. She woke up from her thoughts and immediately looked at me with a surprised expression.

"Hehe... Don't you get tired doing this every chance you can, Lu?" She questioned while giggling.

"If it can make a gorgeous maiden laugh, then I see no reason to stop." I answered, before taking my place in a seat beside her.

"Are you enjoying your time here Lu?" She hurriedly initiated the conversation, flustered by our closeness.

"Of course. Not only is the place beautiful, the people the lives in it are lovely too... It looks like your restoration after the civil war is going well, my dear Kokomi." I leaned myself in the table, to see her face clearly.

"Umm... Shouldn't you be resting by now? You plan on fixing Yashiori Island tomorrow after all..." The fidgeting tactician meekly said.

"I'm really fine... but if you insist, can I take a rest with you Kokomi~?..." I was clearly teasing her, but I didn't expect for her to blank out. Understanding she wouldn't respond, I decided to stop and talk about my plans.

"I'm just joking Kokomi." I snapped her out of her daze, and she cutely pouted.

"Anyway, Yashiori Island is already fixed." I stated.

"What do you mean?"

"Exactly what I said... I already fixed it. What you see right now is nothing but an illusion I made, and I am breaking it tomorrow to 'show my abilities', understand?" I explained what I did and what I planned on doing.

"Ohh! I've always thought that you're quite the slacker Lu, but it seems like I need to change my opinion about you." She teased with a smirk.

'Was that payback lady? Weak sauce!'

"So? Why are you here Lu? There's no way this is all just a 'coincidental fate', like you proclaimed." She interrogated me, while having fun being in control of the conversation.

"Oh right! I came here to see you of course!" She blushed at my genuine answer.

"I also wanted to see you for my personal reason, a selfish reason in fact..." She staggered at the atmosphere I'm building up.

"I wanted to tell you so bad earlier... but I couldn't, since there are other people with us." Kokomi tried to find a way out as I slowly came closer to her.

"So I came here... a place where there are only the two of us... A place where we can be alone..." I took her right hand, and stared at her seriously.

"Kokomi... I--I..." I gripped her hand slightly.

"W-Wait Lu! Isn't this too fast!" She tried to deny my advance but failed, since her face was fully flushed.

"I want you to delay the opening of Enkanomiya!!!" I pleaded loudly.

"Wha?!" A bewildered Kokomi said.

"What do you mean 'Wha?!' Kokomi~? Are you thinking of something else~?" I teased, but it looked like I'd gone too far. A mad divine priestess glared at me and-   

Whap* 

slapped me.

'Oof... I deserved that one...' I admitted, as I didn't even bother to dodge.

"I'm sorry about that Kokomi! It's all my fault!" I kneeled in front of a sulking divine priestess. She was quite cute, pouting with a teary eye.

"I won't say anything specific but we gods can mostly see everything, that's how I found this place. I can see what lies in Enkanomiya but it's blurry, so I deemed it important enough for a need of preparation. We Inazumans shouldn't keep on relying on the traveler for everything. Delay it for at least a month, and I promise on uniting Inazuma by then." I explained everything I could, leaving some small bits here and there.

'That snake god really didn't slack on protecting his former home. I'm not really surprised since the moment I understood my situation, I immediately made a barrier to cover the entirety of Inazuma.' I reminisced about my snaky hehe- ahem* ventures.

"I understand... Enkanomiya will open in two months, for your request I'll make it three." I sighed as I heard her comply with my request.

"I didn't came here for just that either..." My words picked up her interest.

"I actually have a proposal for you Kokomi... but first, what do you think about the books I gave you?"

"It was amazing! I never thought of such tactics!" She excitedly answered.

"Those are my works." I stated flatly to the shocked divine priestess.

"To be more specific, some of my works. As a strategist myself, I made books about my tactics and planned on releasing it some day." I was forced to lie in the end, since I was able to release it in my past life.

"So my proposal is, would you mind taking me as your mentor Kokomi?" I let the words sink in. I only waited for her response.

"Mentor? You mean a teacher, Lu?"

"Yes, that's exactly what I mean. Of course, you're not the only one I'm planning on taking in. For me, this is the current best way to strengthen Inazuma. To improve people with great talents. And this will also make the alliance between the Shogunate and Sangonomiya stronger." I told her my reason for doing this. She immediately put on her thinking cap.

"Don't you think its unfortunate?" I suddenly asked, breaking her concentration.

"What is unfortunate?" She confusingly replied.

"That there's no strategy on understanding a woman's heart. If possible, I want to make one with you Kokomi." I shamefully said with my usual smile. 

'Ahh... I broke her again.' I face-palmed. I swear I saw some steam come out of her face. I took my chance and hugged the shocked maiden.

"Feel it Kokomi... I gave you my blessing as a god. I do not mind waiting, but I hope you can give me an answer before we depart back to Inazuma City." I let her sink into my embrace for a while, before making my leave.

I left the dazed Kokomi alone inside the secret base and teleported myself back to the guest room. I was greeted by Makoto, who was staring at me with a creepy smile. 

'I knew it! I felt like someone was watching us from somewhere! That's why I left immediately after all! Curse the heavens!!! Not that I enjoyed our embrace, of course...'

'Things have gone too far, I need to talk to Ei about this. She even made her twin sister join in their activity of stalking me!'

'I am tired... Crazy women are hard to handle. I really need someone like Kokomi for my health...'