"Wave--!"
A clear, bright cry pierced the tranquil sky.
The voice seemed to possess a magical power, causing tourists to instinctively look up.
A massive figure glided past above Mermaid Falls.
"That's... an eagle?" a tourist exclaimed.
"No!" a mythology enthusiast exclaimed excitedly, "That's Yatagarasu! The legendary divine bird!"
The tourists were buzzing with discussion, and the flashbulbs were going off even more wildly.
With mermaids and divine birds, this trip was totally worth it.
Seeing her "good" friends showing off, Yingying started to wriggle restlessly in Yuzuru's arms, her furry little paws tugging at his collar, her little eyes sparkling with longing, looking eager to try it out.
"Bu-i! Bu-i!" (I want one too!)
Yuzuru, both amused and exasperated, gently restrained the restless little guy: "Stop fooling around. You're Arceus, you have the Mew gene in your body, not the Ho-Oh gene. What are you doing getting involved?"
As he spoke, he gently poked Yingying's soft belly and teased, "What, want to form the Phoenix King's Three Guards?"
"Bu-yi!" Yingying turned her head away angrily, her little body still shaking, seemingly expressing strong dissatisfaction with Yuzuru's words.
It's unfair! The owner is being unfair!
When has she, the mighty Empress Yingying, ever encountered such unfair treatment?
...
The next morning, the sun rose.
Kimie Shimabukuro stood on the deck of the luxury yacht, taking one last look at the small island that held so many of her memories.
Unlike the howling sea wind and surging waves when she was taken away by the police in the original story, the sea was calm as a mirror today, with a gentle breeze, as if the whole island was gently seeing her off.
The villagers came to the dock on their own initiative, their faces showing a complex mix of reluctance and guilt.
Even the relatives of the three deceased stood silently in the crowd, their eyes revealing deep self-blame and helplessness. They knew that this girl had endured too much pain that she should not have had to bear.
"Junhui, my dear..." the old fisherman said, wiping away his tears, "We've wronged your family..."
Kimie Shimabukuro smiled and shook her head: "It's all in the past."
She looked towards the shrine, where a long queue had already formed—the appearance of the "mermaid" and "divine bird" last night had made Mermaid Island a sensation.
Now, without the legend of the longevity goddess or her protection, this island, with its own mysterious charm, has already attracted the attention of countless people. Its future is full of hope, and it no longer needs to worry about being forgotten by the world.
"Junhui, are you really leaving?"
A young man stepped forward.
He was once a suitor of Shimabukuro Kimie, but before the truth came out yesterday, he was bound by fear and the judgment of the world, and did not have the courage to stand in front of a girl who was considered a murderer.
Kimie Shimabukuro looked at him and nodded: "Yes, I want to see the outside world."
She looked around, her gaze sweeping across the small island where she had lived for over twenty years. Every corner held the weight of her joys and sorrows. Finally, her gaze settled on Yuzuru Nanasu, and she said with utmost sincerity, "Moreover... I am a divine servant, so of course I must serve by the side of the divine."
She said this frankly, with a faint blush on her face.
The young man's face turned pale, and he could no longer utter the words of urging him to stay.
Ai stood to the side with her arms crossed, and snorted softly, "Another one."
Ikeba Shizuka gracefully covered her lips with her folding fan, smiled gently, and said, "Xiao Nan is really popular~"
Yuzuru: "......"
—Master, why does your tone sound a bit dangerous?
"Waaah—"
The ferry's whistle sounded like a long sigh, echoing across the sea, as if playing a mournful melody for this farewell.
Shimabukuro Kimie took one last look at Mermaid Island before turning and boarding the ship.
She was no longer the "Longevity Granny," no longer the "Witch" burdened with a mission, but simply...
—Kimi Shimabukuro
A girl who can finally live for herself.
“From now on,” Hanyu Nan walked to her side, “you will be my personal shrine maiden.”
Shimabukuro Kimie nodded devoutly: "Yes, God."
"I told you to call me Yuzuru..."
"Yes, Your Majesty!"
Yuzuru: "......"
Oh well, let her be.
And since you're already this strong, it's normal for you to have a personal shrine maiden, right?
...
on deck.
Ikeba Shizuka came over with a cup of black tea: "Would you like a cup?"
"Thank you." Kimie Shimabukuro accepted it respectfully.
At this moment—
A clear chirping sound came from the sky, and Bobo spread its beautiful wings and circled above the yacht.
On the water's surface, the Empress swam gracefully, her silvery-white scales shimmering in the sunlight.
Yingying finally couldn't hold back any longer. She jumped out of Yusheng Nan's arms with a "whoosh," jumped to the bow of the boat, and proudly let out a "buyi".
Yuzuru Hanyu sighed, rubbing his forehead.
Well, now it really is the Ho-Oh's three-man guard.
No, it should be called the Yuzuru Three Guards.
To prevent unnecessary disturbance to other passengers on the yacht, Yuzuru used snake charms to make Bobo and the Empress invisible before letting them go off to play.
Ai stood next to someone, watching Milotic leap up from the sea, and suddenly asked, "Where are you planning to go next?"
"Um?"
Yuzuru was taken aback for a moment, then realized what was happening.
The tsundere loli is mocking him for bringing a girl home every time he goes out.
But you can't blame him. These young ladies' plight was so pitiful, it was heartbreaking to hear and tearful to see. He's so kind, he couldn't bear to see it and had to do his good.
certainly……
It's definitely not because these girls are pretty.
He values inner qualities, but does he even understand what inner qualities are?
Following Ai's words, Yuu Nan smiled brightly: "Okinawa~ I heard the beaches there are especially beautiful."
"Bueee!" (Beach! Sunshine! Bikini!)
Yingying waved her little paws excitedly, then Ai grabbed her head and pressed it down.
"You lecherous fox," Ai said coldly.
Milotic swam gracefully in the ocean, glancing disdainfully at the noisy crowd, and continued to revel in its own beauty.
This empress is so beautiful!
The sea breeze carries a salty, damp scent, and also new stories.
...
However, before the new story can truly begin, someone is struck by a major crisis.
It fits the logic of the story starting with the protagonist suffering first.
The atmosphere in the lounge suddenly became tense.
Ran and Kazuha, two girls, stood on either side of Kusuo Hanyu, hands on their hips, with kind smiles on their faces.
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