Nobody clocked Reisen Riou's tangled emotions. Anko Kanno stuffed her face with fungi, chewing like a ravenous Oni reincarnated.
Bona's table manners were tidier, but his flashing fork and chopsticks showed his love for the dish.
Reisen Riou ate the least but savored the most, relishing every nuance of the dozen-plus fungi varieties. He'd tasted them all, guaranteed.
Bona skipped medicinal ones like Seagrass—nourishing but bland with a herbal tang.
Anko devoured everything, zeroing in on nutrient-rich picks like Matsutake, Seagrass, and Lingzhi.
Soon, the heaping plate vanished.
Everyone but Reisen Riou was stuffed.
"Want more?" Bona offered.
"Nah, just a drink's fine," Reisen Riou said. As an elemental being, he didn't need food—ambient elemental particles sustained him. Eating was pure enjoyment, a past-life habit, and psychological comfort. Flavor mattered more than quantity.
They chatted a bit, Bona paid—3,000 Mora, steep but fair for the quality—and they left.
"These specials hold up to Shimura's best, though not their signature dishes," Anko said, picking her teeth. "But for nourishment? Beats Shimura's."
"The owner's a gem. Hope he cooks up even tastier stuff," Reisen Riou said.
In the empty izakaya, the owner sat by a hot iron plate, grilling a mushroom slice. "Where's the flavor off…" he muttered.
A diligent guy.
…
On the path back to Ritou Shrine, a faint stream-like sound came from Anko.
Reisen Riou's youkai senses caught it clearly—definitely from her.
"What're you staring at?" she asked.
"You feeling off? Bad stomach or something?" he hesitated.
"Huh? Food's mostly digested. No issues," Anko said, puzzled.
The sound stopped.
Reisen Riou's mind raced, landing on a theory.
"I heard water flowing from you—maybe your blood," he said. "Know anything about that?"
"Blood sounding like a stream? No way," Anko scoffed.
"What were you doing just now? You weren't just walking," he pressed.
"Walking and using Heart Flow to digest, move nutrients, and heal my wounds faster," she said. "Gotta make room for dinner."
"…" Reisen Riou was speechless. Didn't know she was such a foodie.
"Try it again."
She did, and the faint water sound returned.
Anko froze. She'd never noticed, distracted before, but focusing now, the sound was undeniably from her.
"What's happening?" she murmured.
"Don't ask me, but I've got a guess. We should ask Lady Ei. She's Inazuma's best and has seen it all," Reisen Riou said, rubbing his chin.
"Right, I'll write her," Anko said.
Back at Ritou Shrine, Anko, though feeling fine, took the water sound seriously. She wrote to Raiden Ei and sent it via the town magistrate for quick delivery.
Even so, it'd take seven or eight days. No rushing it.
Reisen Riou figured it was good news.
"It's likely a sign your body's hit its current peak—your physical strength is top-tier," he explained.
Anko wasn't buying it. "If so, why don't masters like Lady Ei or Chiyo have blood that sounds like rivers?"
Reisen Riou had no answer. His theory came from past-life scraps, not solid proof. Anko chalked it up to comfort talk.
She spent days barely eating, worrying herself thin, which Reisen Riou found hilarious.
Overreacting much? The sound wasn't new, and she'd just gorged at the izakaya.
How could she scare herself like this?
Reisen Riou didn't get it.
That day, after dinner, Anko nibbled a bit, ready for blade meditation. Suddenly, Reisen Riou sensed a heavy pressure from the sky.
He knew who was coming.
Inazuma's martial arts fountainhead, Narukami's twin sister.
He stopped Anko, ordering junior mikos to set out welcoming desserts.
"An important guest is here," he began, but a figure appeared before them.
"Greetings, Teacher," Anko said.
"Greetings, Lady Ei," Reisen Riou added.
"Hm? You've already reached the Mid-Transmission realm?" Raiden Ei said, eyeing Anko.
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