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It was already time for the bustling city of Inazuma to quiet down, but a girl inside a bar was still awake, drinking her fifth glass of sake .
Ice clinked at the edge of the glass as she absently moved it between her hands. Kuki Shinobu, a person who is currently working a part-time job in a lacquerware business, is now waiting for her client to pick up the new product of the Almighty Raiden Shogun statue.
That said client is the famous General of Inazuma City, Kujou Sara, who is well known for being punctual, is currently late for their meetup. It was unusual for the tengu general to be late, considering she always follows a tight and organized schedule.
"She's late," Kuki Shinobu thought as she looked at the door of the izakaya for the twentieth time waiting for the general to pick up the new goods. The place that they are meeting is at Uyuu restaurant across from the Aisa bathhouse in Inazuma city. Mr. Okazaki, the restaurant owner, looked at her with worry as he gave her another glass of sake.
"Something must have happened," Shinobu murmured as she tipsily gulped down the glass of sake . It was not unusual for Shinobu to be drinking while waiting for Sara. She can control her alcohol intake, but with how long Sara took to get here, she couldn't resist drinking when the bar's comfortable vibe and the quiet chattering of the customers made her feel cozy.
Being alone with her thoughts made Shinobu ponder her relationship with the general. She honestly thought she wouldn't be talking or even meeting up this late at night with the Tenryou commission general. Kujou Sara was straightforward and loyal to her job. Too loyal that she would never sway from her daily schedule.
Shinobu began to think about their meetings every time there was a new product. Sara's eyes would light up and then would start talking about how each of the statue's details is important. She would then proceed to talk about the five principles of how to maintain it. It would go on for hours until Sara would notice and shyly stop talking. Her embarrassed face was a sight to see, and the way she tried to save the situation was by asking Shinobu how her day was too adorable.
"Adorable?"
Shinobu stopped thinking and wondered why she thought of that word when describing Sara. The general was stoic and strong but adorable? No one would ever think of that word when relating it to the general. But as Shinobu thinks about Sara, her eyes, her smile, and how she enthusiastically talks about the statue. Shinobu couldn't stop getting a smile on her face.
"Ah."
"I'm really down bad, am I?"
Suddenly, someone came inside the bar disrupting Shinobu's thoughts.
"I'm sorry, I was late. I got held up with some rowdy gang…." Kujou Sara grimaces as she tries to think about what happened. She heavily sighed as she went to Shinobu's side and sat down.
"A gang? And what gang could have troubled you that much?" Shinobu said as she tried to straighten up, waiting for the general to talk about it.
"Well, I wouldn't call them 'trouble' exactly. They call themselves the Arataki Gang and they were disrupting the parents of some children playing on the street. Their leader lost another battle of onikabuto fight and wanted a rematch. But the parents of the children told him that it was getting late but he didn't listen and still wanted to play." Sara scowled as she recalled what happened back then.
"The parents had to call the Tenryou commission cause they were already disrupting the people on the street…." As Sara kept talking and complaining about how the gang should try to stay civil.
All Shinobu could ever think of was what Sara's lips would taste like. Would it be sweet like the sunsettias that she would eat, or would it just be simply divine that no amount of food that she cooked would describe the feeling of Sara's lips on hers. She shouldn't even have these thoughts, but with the alcohol blurring her mind, rational thoughts simply don't matter.
"Madam Kujou," Shinobu said as she stood up and immediately grabbed Sara's hand and dragged her upstairs to the restaurant.
"Shinobu? What are you doing?" Sara nervously said as she tried to catch up with Shinobu, her face filled with worry and restlessness.
Drawing near to a place where onlookers could not see, without saying anything, Shinobu tiptoed and slowly approached Sara's face while looking at her lips with sheer devotion. Then as she hovers at Sara's lips, noses almost brushing with one another. She quietly asked, "Is it okay?" Sara, bewildered at what was happening, nodded slowly.
With Sara's permission, Shinobu placed her lips on hers, giving her a gentle kiss. The kiss was nothing like what people usually said; it was not where fireworks started popping or wedding bells jingling. But it was something that Shinobu would never forget; Sara's lips were chapped and had scars from her battles. However, it was still the lips of the girl that she liked. They were breathtaking, and Shinobu wanted nothing but more of her. But alas, such a moment will not last an eternity, as both of them needed air to breathe, they separated.
"Shinobu, I-"
"Ah, sorry, Madam Kujou. I know it was improper for me to kiss you out of nowhere. I do hope you forgive me." Shinobu, face flushed with embarrassment, quickly said as she tried to look everywhere but Sara.
Sara was stunned by how Shinobu was acting, as it was her first time to see such a person feel nervous around her. With a slight smile on her face, Sara softly said, "I didn't mind, but I think upstairs of a bar is not actually a good place to kiss, is it not?"
Astonished by what Sara said, Shinobu sheepishly said, "No…I don't think so either."
"Come on, we should get out of here, it's almost dawn." Sara outstretched her hand and waited for Shinobu to take it.
Blinking away the drowsiness, Shinobu took one last look at Sara, her smile beaming with determination and confidence, that all Shinobu could do was quietly take Sara’s hand, afraid that it would not last forever; she tightly gripped it, reveling in the warmth it provided her own.
Relieved that Sara did not refuse her feelings, it was all Shinobu could do to hold back the giddy feeling in her chest from escaping her, and the thought astounded her. She was Kuki Shinobu , the same person who valued collectedness and caution, but tonight, she had allowed a moment of spontaneity to take the reign —all for Sara.
However, instead of feeling repelled at herself, Shinobu felt oddly.. pleasant. These warm, fuzzy feelings settling inside her as she allowed the general of the Tenryou Commission to lead her out of the restaurant, hand-in-hand, was utterly blissful .
And Shinobu knew she was never going to regret that kiss.
Leaving behind the buzz of the restaurant behind them and stepping into the cold air of the night, Shinobu allowed Sara to lead her away as the two walked, side-by-side, down the cobblestoned streets of Inazuma. With the moon twinkling in the night sky gazing down upon them, sakura petals fluttered down from trees, dancing with the chilly night breeze. Shinobu gazed at them, then towards the beautiful woman walking beside her, and she smiled.
Sakura petals would often come and go once spring ends, but she hoped that this scene, this moment with her , would stay constant even after, through all the different seasons of the year—just as how her archon wished for eternity, Shinobu, as well, yearned for this moment to stand eternal.