───

"WE'RE HERE", SUKUNA STATED, GLANCING at the woman who just nodded, refusing to let go of their hands.

     "let go", tōji bluntly commanded, to which himari had slightly pouted, complying.

     "lady himari, you can hold my hand if you wan—"

sukuna suddenly slapped the boy's hand away, even though he himself had let go of himari's hand too.

"don't hit my baby yūji", himari gasped, pulling itadori into a hug, even though they were about the same height.

the woman then ruffled itadori's hair, making him awkwardly smile.

"he's not even a baby", sukuna stated.

"yes, but he's precious like a baby", himari smiled, pinching both itadori's cheeks, as hotaru suddenly cleared his throat.

     "himari, you must behave yourself today. especially since nao—"

     "oh my gege. why's everything about him? I'm here because I'm an independent woman, okay?"

     himari's father gave her a slightly concerned look, but nodded nevertheless.

     "if you say so..."

     himari then sighed as she closed her eyes, deeply breathing in and out, as it was time to pretend that she actually had class.

as soon as the woman's emerald eyes had set sight on the intricacy of the palace's interior design, her entire demeanor had changed, to which even itadori was able to sense a difference.

     himari followed in her father's footsteps, as she held her head high, tuning out all the whispers and gossips that traveled amongst the daimyos, as their heads snapped towards the woman's entrance.

     of course himari bowed down to the shogunate beforehand.

     though as soon as she took a seat, the shogun had started the feast, with many daimyos raising their cups in the air, as they were about to send their thanks to the shogun.

"ara, ara~ sorry for being late. I had to deal with a situation at home", a slightly snarky voice had interrupted, making everyone look up, as himari internally screamed.

it wasn't the fact that gojō satoru was standing in the middle of the room, but the fact that nanami kento, fushiguro megumi, and getō suguru were accompanying him.

"oh my gege...save me from my rapidly beating heart...", himari quietly muttered, closing her eyes, as she needed a moment.

"ah, no worries, gojō-san! come, take a seat. we had only just begun", ashikaga — the fifteenth shogun of the ashikaga shogunate — stated.

gojō grinned as he was seated the closest to the shogun, other than the seishitsu (main wife) and a few of his concubines.

once himari had finally gathered herself together, she had then noticed how detached the official wife was from the shogun, as his attention was all on the newest concubine.

     'he's like seventeen though...and he already has like four wives? damn'.

"himari...himari!!", rumi harshly whispered, tugging on the woman's sleeve, as she snapped out of her trance.

"huh, what? is it time for dessert?"

rumi blinked twice as she discreetly tilted her head towards the shogunate, who had apparently asked himari a question, with everyone anticipating an answer.

"u-umm...h-how've you been, lord yoshiaki?"

the young man laughed as he shook his head. he always found himari quite admirable, as her determination to achieve her goals really stood out to him.

"I'm quite well myself. though I was more intrigued about the list that I have sent you. after all, I poured a lot of effort into searching for the right husband for you", ashikaga smiled, making himari choke on her breath, as she slowly turned her head towards rumi, who's lips pressed into a thin line.

'fuck'.

sukuna and tōji nearly snorted, if it weren't for himari's quick change in topic.

"ah, yes, the list...speaking of the list, I'm so very honored that my lord had spent so much time and effort into it. however, today we are here to celebrate the splendid union of you and lady yoshiteru, and I have prepared the perfect present", himari calmly stated.

"oh? will you be performing the koto for us today? it has been a while since I've heard you play".

"actually, I have prepared something more ravishing. playing the koto all the time is quite repetitive. so if your lord doesn't mind, we should take a quick stroll just right outside", himari smiled, her emerald eyes glistening with confidence.

"is that so? since lady himari has spoken, then we shall give her an audience", ashikaga announced, standing up, as the rest of the daimyos followed.

himari dipped her head as ashikaga walked by with his wives, who were quite elated that there was going to be something new for once.

     "himari, I thought you were going to—"

     "listen sis, there was no way that I was going to learn an ancient instrument and perfect it in five days. I've never even held an instrument in my life", himari interrupted, making rumi conflicted.

     as soon as everyone had gathered outside, himari had politely asked everyone to step back a bit, as she had set up some odd tubes with a string at the bottom of them.

     "ryō, light these bad boys up", himari commanded, to which sukuna had scoffed.

     though with a snap of his fingers, flames had lit up at the end of the string, quickly disappearing, as something had evacuated the cylindrical tubes, shooting high into the sky.

     at first, everyone nearly stumbled backwards, as a loud popping sound was heard, though himari assured them that this was normal.

     colors of the rainbow had burst into the darkened sky, giving everyone an engaging show.

     even gojō, who was never easily entertained, had become quite mesmerized by the fluttering gems that had dispersed, after they had shot up in the sky.

     "lady himari, how did you..."

     "they're called fireworks, my lord. I used potassium nitr—I-I mean saltpeter, charcoal, and sulfur, and some other ingredients. it was in my spare time that I had created such", himari informed, watching as ashikaga's concubines blossomed with felicity.

     "wonderful...simply wonderful...", ashikaga smiled, making himari nod.

     "this is the present from the nakajima estate. we wish for you and lady yoshiteru to retain a blissful marriage, and may this help bring new memories and fresh starts", himari sweetly added on, making ashikaga clap.

"thank you for such a thoughtful gift. it seems that you've truly reflected a lot while you were away. as a token to your recent improvement in behavior, what reward would you like?"

himari then sighed as she discreetly glanced over at naoya, who's fingers ever so slightly flinched.

"I'm glad you asked, my lord".