Ei was sitting near the Sacred Sakura, holding Makoto’s hairpin in her hand and trying not to cry. The Grand Narukami Shrine was closed for the day for Ei to mourn Makoto’s loss on her own birthday. The shrine was always closed on her birthday. Ei was drowning in her own thoughts and tears, regretting not going to Khaenri’ah sooner. You see Ei crouched down opposite the Sacred Sakura, and you decide to come up to her.

“Oh, it’s you.. you shouldn’t be seeing me like this..” she sniffles.