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Two days had passed since the battle ended.
Traces of destruction still remained throughout Hanemiya; collapsed roofs, scorched stone paving, and more.
Yet far more noticeable was the sound of people's laughter and the dazzling glow of lights that now enveloped the city. Vendor calls and children's laughter wove together in the air.
I lightly rolled up the sleeves of my yukata and looked around.
Today was the final day of the Spirit Dance Festival.
It should have been a festival from the very first day, but this year things had turned out differently.
On the first day, Philly had suddenly begun her god descent, and phantom demons had appeared in Hanemiya.
We had somehow managed to drive off both Philly and the Yata no Hebi that appeared afterward, but the damage caused by the phantom demons was far from small.
After the fighting ended, we had thrown ourselves into the reconstruction of the city, with Nagisa taking the lead.
Normally, we should have continued the restoration work today as well.
But Nagisa had made a firm decision: "Today, let's hold the festival as planned!"
There had been voices of opposition, but she had declared in an unusually strong tone,
"It's precisely because sad things happened. I don't want everyone to keep looking down forever. It's okay to have days when we cry. But we need just as many days when we can smile and look forward. At least on the final day, I want us to hold the Spirit Dance Festival like always. I believe that will become the first step for this country to start walking again."
We had not been there to hear it, but Kiryu later told us with a delighted expression,
"At first there was opposition… but no one expected Lady Nagisa to say something like that, so everyone was left stunned."
Fuuka had looked happy when she heard that story alongside me. Though, as usual, her expression had barely changed.
Nagisa, who I had heard was normally somewhat reserved and not the type to step forward, had stood before the rubble, looked out at the soot-covered faces of the people, and spoken those words.
That was why lanterns now glowed throughout the city.
The wounds had not fully healed.
Even so, the festival was being held, even if it meant pausing the reconstruction.
It was the result of everyone choosing to believe in her words and lift their heads once more.
The sun had begun to set, and night was already spreading across the sky.
Laughter from the crowds overlapped, and festival music flowed gently from somewhere in the distance.
"…Not bad at all."
Oliver, standing beside me, let out a small, quiet laugh.
He was also wearing a yukata—a subdued piece of deep grayish-blue fabric with fine geometric patterns.
"I agree. It has a completely different charm from Tsutrail's Thanksgiving Festival."
When I said that, Oliver nodded, though his gaze drifted into the distance.
"Thanksgiving Festival, huh. It reminds me of myself last year."
"You were busy kicking me out of the party and spinning your wheels the whole time."
"Don't remind me. That version of me is pure black history…"
Oliver gave a wry smile and turned his face away. Even so, he looked somehow refreshed.
"That said, I don't plan to blame everything on Philly. Even though I was under [Recognition Alteration], the one who made the final decision was me. If I had been able to trust you all along, I never would have done something so stupid."
"I see. But you could also say that because you did what you did, we're here now. I don't know what the future would have looked like if I hadn't been kicked out, but I want to make sure I can say that this path we're on right now was the right one."
At those words, Oliver's eyes widened slightly before he gave another wry smile.
"…Orun, ever since you got your memories back, you've started saying those embarrassingly honest things so casually."
"…Maybe so."
I thought so myself.
The old me probably could never have spoken my true feelings so directly like this.
As a child, I had been afraid of how my parents and the people in the village would react, so I could never talk about my dreams or what I really felt. But now, I felt like I had changed just a little.
There are things that won't get across unless you say them.
I had finally come to understand that simple truth.
Of course, that didn't mean I should say everything that came to mind.
But I wanted to be able to speak the words that needed to be said.
As I was thinking that, two particularly eye-catching figures appeared beyond the crowd where the lantern lights crossed.
Silver semi-long hair swayed as if gliding over the particles of light, while the other person's long indigo hair flowed softly in the night breeze.
"…They're here."
Oliver and I turned our gazes toward Shion and Luna as they walked over.
Shion wore a moon-white yukata with modest purple-pink dianthus flowers blooming across it. She walked with a slightly nervous expression, naturally drawing the eye. The soft colors suited her silver hair perfectly and gave her a quiet beauty.
Luna, on the other hand, wore a white yukata adorned with light blue and indigo morning glories, tied with a pale gold obi. Her long hair was loosely gathered, catching the glow of the night lanterns.
"…Sorry to keep you waiting."
Shion smiled shyly and spoke softly.
"Not at all. More importantly, both of you look great in yukata."
When I said that honestly, Shion gave a small, bashful laugh and nodded.
"I see… Thanks. Do I look weird?"
"More like I was staring."
"…Come on, save that kind of thing for when we're alone."
Even so, a natural smile had formed on Shion's lips.
"Ehehe. This is my first time wearing something like this, so I was nervous, but I feel a little better now."
"Your yukatas look wonderful too. Oliver's is even more sophisticated than I imagined."
Luna continued with a laugh.
"You trying to say I look like an old man?"
"Not at all, but the old you did have a somewhat dangerous vibe. I think you've finally gained some composure."
Oliver's shoulders drooped slightly.
"Not just Orun, even Luna is digging up my black history…"
"Well, we're both people who messed up a lot in the past. Let's make up for it with our efforts going forward."
That came from Shion.
"We still have some time before Nagisa and the others' dance offering, so let's walk around the stalls. Where should we start?"
"Good question. Apple candy is a must, but after that…"
"Apple candy?" Luna tilted her head.
Shion supplemented for her.
"Fuuka recommended it. She couldn't guide us around the festival because she's preparing for the dance, so she kept insisting we get apple candy."
"That was basically her ordering us to buy some… Her eyes were dead serious when she was talking about apple candy."
"If we said we 'forgot,' she probably would have cut us down."
Shion and I looked at each other and laughed as we remembered Fuuka's expression at the time.
"…Fuuka always gives the impression that she's constantly eating something. She does seem like the type who would be scary if you made her angry about food."
"Well, that just shows how serious she is. In a way, she might have been looking forward to the festival the most."
"She can't move around during the dance, so at least she can enjoy the food."
"Then apple candy is decided first. That means nine sticks for everyone?"
When Oliver mentioned the number, Shion gave a wry smile.
"You think Fuuka will be satisfied with just one? She'll need at least three."
"Ordering that many all at once might bother the stall owner. Should we tell them in advance and pick them up right before heading to the Tenrei Shrine?"
Luna neatly summarized the plan. No one objected.