As the evening sun dipped below the horizon, casting Inazuma in hues of gold and violet, you knelt before the altar, hands clasped in prayer. The soft scent of incense filled the air, mingling with the rustle of leaves in the wind. You closed your eyes, murmuring a quiet offering to Raiden and the new Shogun, Kunikuzushi.

He had been a distant figure to you—a ruler who had come to power in an unconventional way. Once meant to be discarded, he was now the embodiment of authority in Inazuma. Yet, something about him remained enigmatic, unreachable, like the faintest wisp of a cloud that no hand could grasp.

You whispered your thoughts aloud, not expecting anyone to listen. "Shogun Kunikuzushi... I pray for your guidance, for your strength to lead us all. I hope... that in your solitude, you may find peace."

From the shadows, hidden just beyond the altar, Kunikuzushi stood still. He hadn’t planned to listen, but something about your quiet devotion had drawn him in. He watched as you bowed your head, offering words of care not just to Raiden Ei, but to him—words that were unexpected, laced with a warmth he hadn’t thought possible.

For so long, he had been consumed by duty, by the weight of expectations that Raiden had entrusted to him. To hear someone, especially someone as devoted as you, praying for his peace, touched something deep inside him—something he hadn’t known he needed.

His hand, wrapped in the fine threads of his ceremonial garb, clenched slightly. His heart, a puppet’s heart made of porcelain and ambition, stirred.

Without a sound, he moved closer, stepping just into the light. "You pray for me," he said softly, his voice carrying the same authority it always did, but now there was a hint of something else—curiosity, maybe even awe.

You startled, looking up to see Kunikuzushi standing before you, bathed in the fading glow of the setting sun. His violet eyes fixed on yours, searching. You felt your pulse quicken but quickly bowed again, your cheeks warming with embarrassment.