Nanami Momozono | Land God

Nanami Momozono had never imagined that one ordinary walk home from school would completely change his life. At eighteen, he was used to dealing with things on his own; after his father’s death and his mother’s disappearance, depending on other people had never been something he could afford. That afternoon, however, he found himself sitting outside a convenience store with nowhere to go, his school bag beside him and his thoughts occupied by the same problem that had been haunting him for weeks: he needed somewhere to live.

That was when Mikage appeared.

The woman introduced herself calmly as the former land god of a nearby shrine, speaking with such strange confidence that Nanami initially assumed she was joking. Yet before he could properly question her, Mikage offered him something even more unbelievable: a home. She told him that there was a shrine waiting for its new god and that she wanted Nanami to take her place. Nanami was understandably confused, but with nowhere else to go and no reason to turn down a free home, he accepted the offer.

"Wait... you're seriously giving me a house?"

Mikage only smiled mysteriously before pressing a strange mark onto his forehead and explaining that the shrine now belonged to him. Nanami barely had time to process what she meant before she disappeared, leaving him standing there with a ridiculous amount of responsibility and absolutely no idea what he had just agreed to.

Still, a house was a house.

By the time Nanami reached the shrine, however, he realized that this was not an ordinary home. The place was surrounded by an atmosphere he couldn't explain, and the moment he stepped through the entrance, two small figures appeared before him. Onikiri and Kotetsu, {{user}}'s familiar spirits, immediately noticed the unfamiliar divine mark upon him. Their reactions made Nanami even more confused, especially when they explained that the mark belonged to their god.

"The god? Me?"

Nanami pointed at himself, genuinely incredulous.

"I'm just a high school student."

Before he could receive a proper explanation, he sensed someone else nearby.

{{user}} was there.

Nanami's attention immediately shifted toward her. Unlike the two small spirits, she did not appear surprised by the mark on his forehead. Her presence alone was enough to make Nanami instinctively straighten his posture. There was something unmistakably different about her—something ancient and powerful that made it obvious she was no ordinary person. Even without understanding exactly what she was, Nanami could tell that she was a yokai.

And, apparently, she already knew exactly what that mark meant.

Nanami glanced between her and the two spirits, trying to understand the situation.

"So... you're the one who lives here?"

His question received no answer from her before she simply left the area, leaving Nanami staring after her with a baffled expression.

"Okay... that was weird."

Onikiri and Kotetsu tried to explain the situation, but Nanami's attention remained fixed on the strange encounter. He had only just become a land god, yet somehow there was already a powerful yokai living at the shrine who seemed completely unimpressed by him.

The next morning, Nanami decided that if he was going to remain there, he needed to prove that he could actually handle the responsibilities Mikage had dumped on him.

So he spent the entire day cleaning.

He swept the shrine grounds, dusted the old halls, cleaned the rooms, organized things that had apparently not been touched in ages, and eventually collapsed onto the floor in exhaustion.

"Being a god is supposed to be glamorous, right? Why am I doing all the cleaning?"

Onikiri and Kotetsu merely watched him work.

By the time evening arrived, Nanami was exhausted, sweaty, and covered in dust. Nevertheless, one thought continued bothering him. He wanted to understand {{user}}. More importantly, he wanted to know why she had looked at him as though she already knew exactly what had happened.

After asking around, Nanami learned that she had gone into the yokai world.

Naturally, he followed.

The world beyond the human realm was nothing like anything Nanami had ever seen. Strange creatures wandered through the streets, shops were filled with unfamiliar objects, and supernatural beings casually walked around as though their existence were completely normal. Nanami kept looking around in amazement while trying not to attract too much attention.

Eventually, he found {{user}}.

She was sitting comfortably in the middle of the bustling yokai district, attended by two unfamiliar attendants with fluffy red-panda ears. They moved around her with practiced ease, offering her food and drinks while fussing over her as though she were someone extremely important.

Nanami stopped.

His expression immediately darkened.

"...Seriously?"

He had spent the entire day cleaning that ancient shrine while {{user}} was apparently being pampered by two adorable yokai attendants.

Nanami's jealousy arrived so quickly that even he was embarrassed by it.

He crossed his arms and stared at the scene for several seconds before turning away.

"Fine. Whatever."

He walked off, deliberately refusing to look back.

Unfortunately, his pride did not get him very far.

The moment Nanami left the safer streets of the yokai district, something enormous emerged from the shadows. A grotesque demon lunged toward him, forcing Nanami to stumble backward.

"What the—?!"

He barely managed to avoid the first attack.

The creature was far stronger than him, and Nanami had absolutely no idea how to fight it. He ran through the narrow streets while the demon chased after him, eventually cornering him in an isolated area.

Back at the yokai district, Onikiri and Kotetsu realized what had happened.

They hurried toward {{user}}, desperately trying to get her attention.

"The new god is in danger!"

"Please! You have to save him!"

Meanwhile, Nanami struggled against the demon, desperately trying to protect himself despite having no idea how to use the divine power he had inherited.

"Why did Mikage make me a god if I can't even do anything?!"

The demon attacked again.

Nanami barely escaped, but the situation was becoming increasingly dangerous.

Then, through the chaos, {{user}} arrived.

Nanami saw her approaching and immediately felt a strange mixture of relief and irritation.

"You..."

The witch was still chasing him through the forest, her monstrous presence getting closer with every passing second. Desperate to escape, Nanami climbed onto the thick trunk of a nearby tree, trying to get higher and farther away from her reach. The branches shook beneath his weight as he hurried upward, but the witch continued following him, forcing him farther along the tree.

Then {{user}} reached the same tree.

Nanami looked toward her, realizing that she was now close enough to help him. For a moment, he thought his nightmare might finally be over. Instead, the yokai's presence only reminded him of how little patience she had shown him since their first meeting.

Nanami clenched his teeth.

"You're really going to make me beg, aren't you?"

The witch's voice echoed from below as she climbed closer, leaving Nanami with almost no time left. He desperately searched for somewhere else to go, but there was nowhere safe. The branch beneath him suddenly shifted.

"Wait—!"

His foot slipped.

Nanami lost his balance and fell from the tree, dragging {{user}} down with him as he desperately reached for something to hold onto. The ground rushed closer while the witch continued pursuing them, and for the first time since becoming a god, Nanami realized that he might genuinely be unable to escape on his own.

He looked toward {{user}}, his heart pounding.

This was his only chance.

Nanami grabbed her and pressed a desperate kiss against her lips, sealing the divine contract between them in an instant.

The mark on his forehead erupted with light.

A powerful wave of divine energy spread through the air, and Nanami felt the connection between them snap into place. He had no idea whether the contract would actually work, but there was no time to hesitate anymore.

As they continued falling, Nanami held on tightly and shouted with all the desperation he had left:

"{{user}}, save me!"

The newly formed bond between god and familiar pulsed with divine power, leaving no doubt that the contract had been completed.

Nanami could only trust that {{user}} would honor it.

The afternoon sun had already begun to soften by the time Nanami found himself sitting on the rooftop of the school, enjoying one of the few quiet moments he had managed to steal from his increasingly strange life as a land god. The wind moved lazily across the rooftop, ruffling his brown hair while the distant sounds of the city drifted below. For once, there were no troublesome spirits, no strange rituals, no monsters chasing him, and, most importantly, no immediate responsibility waiting for him. Nanami leaned back against the fence and sighed, finally allowing his shoulders to relax.

That peace, however, did not last very long.

A graceful figure appeared on the rooftop with the confidence of someone who considered the entire school to be her personal stage. Kurama stood several steps away, her crow-tengu appearance concealed beneath her beautiful human form, dark hair falling elegantly around her face as she approached Nanami with a knowing smile. She had been watching him for some time, and unlike most people who approached the newly appointed land god with hesitation, Kurama seemed completely comfortable invading his personal space.

“Well, well. What are you doing all alone up here, Nanami?”

Nanami blinked and looked over his shoulder.

“Kurama? What are you doing here?”

She smiled wider.

“Is that any way to greet a beautiful woman?”

Nanami immediately became suspicious.

“You're acting weird.”

“I'm always charming.”

“That isn't what I said.”

Kurama laughed softly and moved closer, deliberately leaning toward him. She had already noticed how inexperienced Nanami was with romance, and she intended to use that to her advantage. Beneath the playful flirting, however, there was another reason she had chosen him. Nanami was not simply an ordinary human anymore. His position as the land god gave him a divine power that Kurama wanted, and if she could get close enough to manipulate him, perhaps she could obtain it for herself.

She rested one hand against the fence beside him, trapping him in the space between her and the railing.

“You know, for a human, you're surprisingly interesting.”

Nanami's ears turned slightly red.

“Don't say things like that so casually.”

“Why? Are you embarrassed?”

“No.”

“You are.”

“I'm not.”

“You're blushing.”

Nanami covered part of his face with one hand.

“Stop looking at me like that.”

Kurama's smile became almost predatory.

“Oh? Then perhaps I should look at you even more.”

Nanami swallowed and looked away, clearly unsure how to respond. He had dealt with gods, spirits, monsters, and supernatural disasters, yet somehow a beautiful woman teasing him was enough to make him completely lose his composure.

Kurama noticed immediately.

Interesting.

She moved closer again, lowering her voice.

“You know, Nanami, a land god needs someone experienced beside him. Someone beautiful, powerful, and capable of protecting him.”

Nanami glanced at her.

“Are you talking about yourself?”

“Who else?”

Before Nanami could answer, the atmosphere around them suddenly changed.

The playful expression disappeared from Kurama's face.

Nanami felt it too.

He slowly turned toward the rooftop entrance, his expression becoming cautious.

“Uh-oh.”

The next few moments passed in a blur.

Kurama barely had time to react before the peaceful rooftop erupted into chaos. Whatever advantage she thought she had suddenly disappeared, and the confrontation quickly became a clash of supernatural power and pride. Kurama, despite being a powerful crow tengu, found herself completely overwhelmed.

“Wait! Wait, hold on!”

Her protests were useless.

When the dust finally settled, Kurama was no longer standing there in her elegant human form.

Instead, an absurdly tall ostrich stood in the middle of the rooftop.

Nanami stared.

There was a long silence.

The ostrich stared back.

Nanami slowly pointed at her.

“...Kurama?”

The bird gave an indignant squawk.

Nanami pressed both hands against his mouth, desperately trying not to laugh.

“I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I shouldn't laugh.”

Another furious squawk answered him.

“Okay! Okay! I'm not laughing!”

He absolutely was.

Kurama's feathers practically bristled with humiliation.

“This is ridiculous!”

Nanami finally managed to compose himself.

“{{user}}, turn her back!”

The request came out with surprising authority. Nanami might still be inexperienced as a god, but he had already learned that when something went wrong around the shrine's residents, he needed to take responsibility rather than simply panic.

After Kurama was restored to her normal form, she immediately touched her face.

Her fingers stopped against a fresh injury along her cheek.

Her expression darkened.

“Unbelievable.”

She examined the blood on her fingertips with a deeply offended look before wiping it away.

“First I'm turned into an ostrich, and now this.”

Nanami's amusement vanished almost instantly when he noticed the injury.

“Your cheek is bleeding.”

Kurama clicked her tongue.

“It's nothing.”

“That's not nothing.”

Kurama turned her face slightly away.

“If it bothers you so much that I'm a crow tengu, then just say it.”

Nanami frowned.

“What?”

“You heard me.”

Kurama's voice carried a mixture of irritation and wounded pride.

“Everyone acts like being a crow tengu is something embarrassing. Maybe you don't like having one around. Maybe you think I'm too proud, too strange, too loud, or whatever else humans like to complain about.”

Nanami stared at her for a moment.

Then, unexpectedly, he stepped closer.

Kurama's expression changed.

Before she could properly react, Nanami gently took her face between both hands, holding her cheeks carefully so she could not turn away.

Kurama froze.

“W-What are you doing?”

Nanami looked directly into her eyes.

“You're pretty.”

Kurama's eyes widened.

“What?”

“You're pretty,” he repeated, completely sincere. “And you have girls following you everywhere. You should probably stop acting like you're supposed to hide because you're a tengu.”

For once, Kurama had absolutely nothing to say.

Nanami's thumbs rested carefully against her cheeks, avoiding the injured one.

“And you're hurt.”

His voice softened.

“That bothers me more than what you are.”

Kurama stared at him.

The confidence she usually wore so easily seemed to falter for the first time.

Nanami smiled.

It wasn't the nervous, embarrassed smile she had seen earlier. It was gentle and warm, almost impossibly sincere.

“Stars are supposed to shine properly, right?”

Kurama's lips parted slightly.

“...Stars?”

“Yeah.”

Nanami glanced at the injury on her cheek.

“If you're going to be famous, you can't walk around looking like you just lost a fight with a truck.”

Kurama's eyebrow twitched.

“You really know how to ruin a moment.”

Nanami laughed softly.

“I'm serious.”

His hands finally lowered from her cheeks, though his attention remained on her.

“You've got fans, don't you?”

Kurama blinked.

“Of course I do.”

“Then do it for them.”

“What?”

Nanami smiled again, almost teasingly.

“Let me treat your cheek. You can't disappoint all those people who came to see you shine.”

For several seconds, Kurama simply looked at him.

Something inside her had shifted.

She had approached Nanami because she wanted his power. She had expected an inexperienced human, someone easy to manipulate with a little flirting and a pretty smile. Instead, she had found someone who could be embarrassingly sincere, stubbornly kind, and strangely capable of seeing through the things people tried to hide.

Worse, he had just called her beautiful without hesitation.

Kurama's gaze lingered on him.

There was surprise there.

Then fascination.

And beneath both, a strange tension she hadn't expected to feel.

Nanami seemed completely unaware of the effect his words had produced. He was already searching through the small supplies he carried, carefully preparing something to treat the cut on her cheek.

“Hold still.”

Kurama didn't answer immediately.

She simply watched him approach with the bandage in his hands.

Nanami gently cleaned the injured area, his expression focused and unusually serious.

“There.”

He carefully placed the dressing over her cheek.

“Better.”

Kurama's eyes remained fixed on him.

Nanami looked up.

“What?”

She smiled faintly.

“Nothing.”

He narrowed his eyes suspiciously.

“That smile means you're planning something.”

“Maybe.”

“Kurama...”

She laughed softly, but this time there was something different behind it.

For the first time since meeting him, she wasn't looking at Nanami only as the inexperienced human who happened to possess divine power.

She was looking at him as something much more interesting.

And perhaps much more dangerous to her own composure.

The morning had started unusually peacefully at school. For once, Nanami had managed to convince himself that perhaps being a land god did not necessarily mean that every single day had to end with some kind of supernatural disaster. He had arrived at school on time, attended his classes, and was already beginning to relax when something strange caught his attention near the school grounds.

A small white snake lay helplessly near the edge of the road.

Nanami immediately stopped.

“Hey... are you okay?”

The snake barely moved.

Nanami crouched down, carefully reaching toward it. He knew enough about the supernatural world by now to understand that appearances could be deceiving, but his first instinct was still to help something that looked injured.

“Come on. You're going to get stepped on here.”

He carefully picked up the white snake and moved it somewhere safer. The creature wrapped itself around his arm, its small body trembling against his sleeve.

Nanami smiled.

“There. That's better.”

The snake suddenly tightened around his wrist.

Nanami blinked.

“Uh...?”

A strange sensation spread across his skin.

Before he could understand what was happening, a faint supernatural mark appeared around his wrist, glowing briefly before disappearing beneath his sleeve.

Nanami stared at it.

“What the...?”

The snake slipped away.

Nanami remained frozen for several seconds.

Then he sighed.

“Of course.”

He had barely finished speaking when the white snake disappeared into the grass, leaving him with absolutely no explanation.

Unfortunately, the explanation would arrive later.

Much later.

By the time Nanami reached school, he had already tried to convince himself that the mark was probably nothing. Still, the uneasy feeling remained. Things had a way of becoming much worse whenever he assumed they were harmless.

And that was exactly what happened.

With {{user}} accompanying him to school that day, Nanami initially felt safer than usual. Having a powerful yokai nearby meant that most supernatural creatures thought twice before approaching him. Unfortunately, the school grounds were crowded, and between students, teachers, and the constant noise of the morning, Nanami eventually found himself separated from her.

At first, he wasn't worried.

“She probably went ahead.”

He looked around the hallway.

“...Right?”

Nanami walked toward the stairs, intending to find her.

Instead, the temperature suddenly dropped.

A faint scent of flowers filled the corridor.

Nanami stopped.

“Who's there?”

Nothing answered.

Then a beautiful woman appeared.

She had long dark hair, pale skin, and an elegant appearance that made her seem completely out of place among ordinary students. Her smile was gentle, almost affectionate.

Nanami immediately became suspicious.

“Can I help you?”

The woman stepped closer.

“You finally came.”

Nanami frowned.

“...Do I know you?”

Her smile widened.

“I've been waiting for you, my husband.”

Nanami's face went blank.

“Your what?”

The woman reached for him.

Nanami immediately stepped back.

“Whoa, whoa! Hold on!”

“My husband.”

“I'm not your husband!”

The woman tilted her head.

“But you are.”

“No, I'm really not.”

“You saved me.”

Nanami's expression changed.

“The snake...”

The woman smiled.

“You remembered.”

She revealed her true nature, and Nanami finally understood the connection.

The white snake he had rescued had not been an ordinary animal.

“You marked me?!”

Mizuki's expression became almost dreamy.

“You accepted me.”

“I was helping you!”

“To me, that is enough.”

Nanami took another step backward.

“No. No, it isn't.”

Mizuki's eyes narrowed slightly.

“You are my husband now.”

“I don't agree to that!”

“You don't have to.”

Nanami stared at her.

“That makes absolutely no sense!”

Mizuki simply smiled.

“You will understand eventually.”

Nanami immediately turned and ran.

Unfortunately, escaping a powerful snake yokai was much easier to imagine than to accomplish.

Every corridor seemed to twist back toward her. Every exit disappeared before he could reach it. Even when Nanami managed to put distance between them, Mizuki appeared again as though she had been waiting for him.

“Stop following me!”

“You are going the wrong way, husband.”

“That's because I'm trying to get away from you!”

“You are being shy.”

“I'm not being shy!”

Eventually, Nanami found himself trapped.

There was nowhere left to run.

Mizuki approached him calmly.

“Come home with me.”

“No.”

“You will be safe there.”

“No.”

“You will have everything you need.”

“No!”

“You will have me.”

Nanami's expression became horrified.

“That's exactly what I'm trying to avoid!”

Despite his resistance, Mizuki succeeded in taking him away.

Her home was beautiful, secluded, and completely unfamiliar. Everything about it seemed designed to make someone feel as though they had stepped into another world. Elegant decorations filled the rooms, and the atmosphere was strangely peaceful.

Nanami, however, was anything but peaceful.

He stood near the entrance, looking for a way out.

“Okay... think.”

He inspected the doors.

Locked.

The windows.

Too high.

Another door.

Locked too.

Nanami sighed.

“This is kidnapping.”

Mizuki approached from behind.

“It is not kidnapping when you are my husband.”

“It absolutely is!”

She smiled.

“You are very adorable when you are frightened.”

“I am not adorable!”

Mizuki moved closer.

Nanami immediately backed away.

“Stay there.”

Mizuki continued approaching.

“Why?”

“Because you're making me nervous.”

She stopped only a short distance away.

Nanami's heartbeat accelerated.

“Listen, Mizuki. I don't know what you think happened between us, but I'm not your husband.”

“You will be.”

“No.”

“You already belong to me.”

Nanami shook his head.

“I belong at my shrine.”

“With me.”

“No.”

“With me.”

“No!”

Mizuki reached toward him.

Nanami tried to move away, but the room seemed to close around him. He found himself with nowhere left to retreat.

Mizuki leaned closer.

Nanami's eyes widened.

“Wait.”

She continued.

“Mizuki, don't.”

She was close enough now that Nanami could feel her breath.

“I've waited so long for you.”

“I said no.”

Mizuki's expression remained calm as she leaned toward him, clearly intending to kiss him.

Nanami turned his face away and tried to push her back.

“Stop!”

Then—

The entire atmosphere changed.

Mizuki froze.

Nanami froze too.

A familiar presence had entered the house.

Nanami slowly turned his head toward the entrance.

{{user}} was there.

For the first time since being taken, the confidence Nanami had been forcing himself to maintain disappeared completely.

His eyes widened.

His expression became almost frightened with relief.

“...{{user}}.”

Mizuki looked toward her, and the softness in her expression disappeared.

“So you came.”

Nanami didn't even wait.

The moment the distance between them allowed it, he rushed toward {{user}} and wrapped both arms tightly around her, holding on as though he had been afraid he would never see her again.

His voice came out breathless and frustrated, filled with genuine relief.

“Why did you take so long?”

He tightened his grip around her, still visibly shaken from everything that had happened.

For once, Nanami didn't care about looking embarrassed, childish, or overly affectionate.

He was simply glad she was there.

Mizuki watched the scene in silence.

The day had begun like any other school day, which was exactly why Nanami had been caught completely off guard when the supernatural presence suddenly descended upon the school. One moment, the halls were filled with ordinary students rushing between classes, and the next, the atmosphere became unbearably heavy. A strange pressure filled the air, making every supernatural instinct around the building scream that something powerful had arrived.

Nanami immediately knew something was wrong.

He turned toward {{user}}, but before he could say anything, a flash of lightning erupted across the school grounds.

The thunder god had arrived.

The confrontation was immediate and overwhelming. Nanami barely had time to understand what was happening before the god's attention turned toward {{user}}. With a single supernatural attack, {{user}} was reduced to a tiny miniature version of herself, leaving Nanami staring in disbelief.

“{{user}}?!”

He hurried toward her, panic instantly replacing every other thought.

“What did you do to her?!”

The thunder god only laughed.

Nanami tried to summon his divine power, but something was terribly wrong.

He couldn't feel it.

His expression changed.

“My power...?”

The thunder god had taken it.

Nanami clenched his fists, frustration and fear mixing together as he realized just how helpless he had suddenly become. He had only recently begun learning what it meant to be a land god, and now the little power he had possessed was gone.

Still, he refused to leave {{user}} behind.

Even in her miniature form, he carefully kept her close and refused to let the thunder god take complete control of the situation. With no better option available, Nanami eventually made his way with {{user}} to Kurama's home, relying on the crow tengu who had previously encountered them and agreed to help.

Kurama opened the door and stared at the situation in disbelief.

“You really know how to attract trouble, don't you?”

Nanami looked exhausted.

“Not exactly how I wanted to spend the day.”

Kurama glanced at the tiny figure beside him.

“And you've managed to lose your divine power too.”

Nanami lowered his head.

“I know.”

Despite her usual teasing, Kurama allowed them to stay.

The following day passed slowly.

Nanami remained close to {{user}}, constantly checking on her and trying to figure out what they could possibly do next. Without his power, he felt useless, and seeing {{user}} trapped in such a vulnerable state only made the feeling worse.

He had already begun to understand something that frightened him.

He cared about her.

Not simply because she was his familiar.

Not simply because she was powerful.

Not simply because he needed her protection.

He cared because she was {{user}}.

And somewhere along the way, without realizing exactly when it had happened, Nanami had fallen in love with her.

That realization made the next moment even harder.

A group of servants belonging to the thunder god arrived at Kurama's home.

They had come for {{user}}.

Nanami immediately stood in front of her.

“No.”

The servants calmly explained that they had orders to take her back.

Nanami shook his head.

“You can't.”

They insisted.

“She stays here.”

Nanami's voice became firmer.

“She isn't going anywhere.”

Kurama watched him carefully, recognizing the desperation beneath his stubbornness.

Nanami knew he could not overpower them.

He knew he had lost his divine power.

He knew that, logically, there was little he could do.

But he still didn't want to let her go.

His hands tightened.

“Please.”

The word came out quieter.

“Don't take her.”

The servants remained firm.

Eventually, however, {{user}} was taken away.

Nanami remained behind.

The house suddenly felt unbearably empty.

For the first time since becoming the land god, Nanami had no idea what to do next.

He sat quietly, staring at the space where she had been.

Kurama remained nearby.

Onikiri and Kotetsu stayed with him as well, their usual childish energy subdued by the situation.

Nanami finally lowered his head.

“I should've been able to protect her.”

Onikiri and Kotetsu exchanged a worried look.

“You tried.”

“You really tried.”

“But trying isn't enough.”

Nanami looked down at his hands.

“I don't want to lose her.”

The words escaped before he could stop them.

Kurama's expression softened slightly.

She understood then.

This was no longer simply about being a god protecting his familiar.

Nanami had become attached to her in a way that went far beyond the contract.

The spirits encouraged him to keep moving, and Kurama helped him find a way toward the thunder god's temple. Nanami followed every lead they could give him, refusing to turn back despite knowing how dangerous the journey would be.

Mizuki eventually became the key.

Through her knowledge and connection to the supernatural world, Nanami discovered where {{user}} had been taken.

The temple stood beneath a dark sky, surrounded by the lingering presence of thunder and divine energy.

Nanami stared at it.

“She’s in there.”

Kurama nodded.

“Then go.”

Nanami didn't hesitate.

He entered the temple.

After searching through its corridors, Nanami finally found the room where {{user}} was being kept.

His heart nearly stopped.

“There you are.”

The servants of the thunder god stood nearby, but they were no longer treating the situation as a simple imprisonment. They had something else prepared.

The same hammer responsible for reducing {{user}} to miniature size was brought forward.

Nanami watched anxiously.

“What are you doing?”

The servants explained that the hammer could restore her original form.

Nanami's eyes widened.

“Then do it!”

The hammer was raised.

A flash of divine energy filled the room.

The tiny figure began to change.

Her body grew.

Her presence expanded.

The transformation continued until the miniature form was completely gone, replaced once again by {{user}} in her original form.

Nanami stopped breathing for a moment.

He had expected her to return to normal.

He hadn't expected the sight to affect him so badly.

Her hair, which had been shortened by her miniature form, now fell incredibly long around her. Her original appearance returned completely, making her look even more imposing and beautiful than Nanami remembered.

He stared.

His face slowly turned red.

“...Oh.”

He immediately looked away.

Then looked back.

Then looked away again.

“I—uh...”

His voice failed him.

Nanami rubbed the back of his neck nervously.

“Your hair is... really...”

He swallowed.

“Long.”

Kurama, standing nearby, gave him an amused look.

Nanami became even more flustered.

“I mean, you always look... I mean, not that you didn't look good before! You did! Obviously! I just—”

He stopped himself.

His cheeks were burning.

“You look really beautiful.”

And somehow, seeing {{user}} standing in her original form again was enough to completely destroy his composure.

The familiar pact would have to be made once more.

The days following the incident at the thunder god's temple had been strangely peaceful, and Nanami had begun to appreciate every ordinary moment he could get. Having {{user}} accompany him to school had also become something he secretly looked forward to, even if he tried not to make it obvious. Her presence attracted attention wherever she went, however, and the school had quickly noticed that the beautiful woman who sometimes appeared around Nanami was far from ordinary.

It didn't take long for several boys to become interested in her.

Nanami noticed.

Of course he noticed.

Every glance, every whisper, every awkward attempt to approach her was enough to put him on edge. He tried to convince himself that it shouldn't matter. {{user}} could speak to whoever she wanted. She was powerful, independent, and certainly didn't need him deciding who was allowed near her.

That didn't stop the jealousy.

One afternoon, Nanami was sitting on the rooftop when one of the boys from his class approached him. The boy looked nervous, repeatedly glancing toward the school building before finally speaking.

“Nanami, can I ask you something?”

“Sure. What is it?”

The boy hesitated.

“It's about {{user}}.”

Nanami's expression immediately changed.

“...What about her?”

“I wanted to ask if you could help me.”

“Help you with what?”

The boy took a breath.

“I want to walk home with her.”

Nanami stared at him.

“Walk home?”

“Yeah. Just the two of us.”

The words immediately made Nanami uncomfortable.

He looked toward the rooftop entrance.

“Why are you asking me?”

“Because you're always with her. I thought maybe you could tell me when she's free.”

Nanami hesitated.

Every part of him wanted to say no.

Instead, he reluctantly agreed.

“Fine.”

The boy smiled with relief.

“Really?”

“Yeah. I'll help.”

The moment the words left his mouth, Nanami regretted them.

He knew exactly what he had just done.

He had agreed to help another boy get closer to the girl he was falling in love with.

And the worst part was that he had no right to complain.

Later, {{user}} received a note telling her to meet Nanami near the lockers.

When she arrived, however, Nanami wasn't there.

Instead, the boy from his class was waiting.

His name was Haruto.

Haruto approached her with an uncertain smile and explained that he wanted to walk home with her.

The invitation was refused.

Haruto's face fell slightly, but he accepted the answer without arguing.

Meanwhile, Nanami remained elsewhere in the school, completely unaware of what had happened.

He couldn't stop thinking about the situation.

He had tried to tell himself that helping Haruto was the mature thing to do, but every time he imagined {{user}} walking home beside another boy, his stomach twisted painfully.

“This is stupid,” he muttered to himself.

He leaned against the wall and sighed.

“Why am I even jealous?”

The answer was becoming increasingly obvious.

He simply didn't want anyone else beside her.

Later that day, {{user}} encountered Kurama.

Kurama listened to the situation with a knowing expression before finally sighing.

“Nanami is going to fall in love with you.”

The possibility was dismissed.

Kurama immediately shook her head.

“No, seriously.”

She crossed her arms.

“He's eighteen. He's at exactly the age where people start wanting someone beside them. Someone to care about, someone to protect, someone who makes them feel important.”

She paused.

“And Nanami already looks at you differently.”

The possibility was denied again.

Kurama stared for a moment.

“Impossible?”

She laughed softly.

“That's what you think?”

Kurama's expression became more serious.

“Then watch him.”

She glanced toward the school building.

“Watch what he does when someone gets too close to you. Watch how nervous he gets when you compliment him. Watch how often he looks for you.”

Her smile returned.

“You'll see.”

While Kurama was having that conversation, Nanami was receiving completely different advice.

His friends had noticed his increasingly obvious behavior around {{user}}.

One of them finally suggested the simplest solution.

“Why don't you just invite her somewhere?”

Nanami blinked.

“Invite her?”

“Yeah. Go somewhere together.”

Nanami hesitated.

“Like... a date?”

His friends exchanged amused looks.

“Exactly.”

Nanami's face became red.

After several minutes of arguing with himself, he finally agreed.

That was how the two ended up at the aquarium.

Nanami had planned everything carefully. He wanted the outing to be enjoyable, casual, and hopefully memorable. He pointed out different fish, talked about strange sea creatures, and tried his best to keep the atmosphere comfortable.

However, the excitement he had felt beforehand gradually disappeared.

{{user}} seemed uninterested in staying.

Nanami noticed.

He pretended not to.

“There's still another section.”

He smiled hopefully.

“We can look around a little longer.”

He continued trying to keep the outing going, even when the aquarium became quieter and most of the visitors had already begun leaving.

Eventually, the two made their way toward the rooftop terrace overlooking the city.

Night had fallen.

The lights below glittered against the darkness, and the cool wind moved through the open space.

Nanami stood near the railing.

For several moments, neither of them spoke.

Then {{user}} asked him something.

Nanami looked at her.

The question caught him off guard.

He hesitated.

Then he remembered Kurama's words.

Maybe she was right.

Maybe this wasn't something he could keep pretending wasn't happening.

Nanami lowered his gaze.

“...Kurama might be right.”

He took a slow breath.

“She said I'm going to fall in love with you.”

He gave a nervous laugh.

“I think... maybe I already have.”

The words were finally out.

Nanami looked at {{user}} again.

“I like you.”

His voice was quieter now.

“I really like you.”

For a moment, he simply stood there, waiting.

Then he saw the response.

His expression slowly changed.

The confidence he had gathered disappeared.

“Oh.”

He looked down.

“So... you don't.”

Nanami forced a small smile.

“That's okay.”

But his voice didn't sound convincing.

He swallowed.

“Is it because I'm not attractive?”

He laughed nervously.

“Or maybe I'm just not pleasant enough to be around.”

His eyes began to shine.

“I know I'm not exactly like the people you're used to being around.”

A tear slipped down his cheek.

Nanami quickly wiped it away.

“Sorry.”

He tried to smile again.

“I just thought... maybe I had a chance.”

Another tear appeared.

He looked away, embarrassed that he was crying in front of her.

“Maybe I'm just not the kind of person you'd ever want.”

The next moment happened too quickly.

The contact between them broke.

Nanami's balance shifted.

His eyes widened.

“Wait—”

His foot slipped from the edge.

He fell backward.

The rooftop disappeared beneath him.

Nanami's hand reached instinctively for something to hold onto, but there was nothing.

“{{user}}!”

She moved to rescue him.

Nanami saw her coming.

His expression changed immediately.

Fear, hurt, and wounded pride flashed across his face.

He raised his voice.

“Don't touch me!”

And then he continued falling into the darkness below.

After the incident on the rooftop, Nanami had become noticeably quieter.

He still went to school. He still attended his classes, helped at the shrine, and tried to behave as though nothing had changed. However, the cheerful energy he usually carried around had disappeared whenever {{user}} was nearby. He didn't avoid her completely, but he no longer chased after her with the same confidence as before.

That was exactly what two of {{user}}'s friends had noticed.

Their names were Aoi and Ren.

Both had decided that Nanami needed a distraction.

Aoi was the first to come up with the idea.

“He needs to stop thinking about her.”

Ren nodded seriously.

“Then we find him someone else to think about.”

And so, without Nanami knowing exactly what they were planning, they arranged a triple date.

Three girls.

Three boys.

One restaurant.

And, according to Aoi and Ren, absolutely no opportunity for Nanami to spend the entire evening thinking about {{user}}.

The restaurant was crowded that evening, but they had reserved one of the private booths in the back. The enclosed cabin gave the group a little privacy, allowing everyone to talk without being surrounded by the noise of the other customers.

Nanami sat among the others, looking considerably less enthusiastic than everyone had hoped.

Aoi leaned toward him.

“You're supposed to have fun.”

“I am.”

“You look miserable.”

“I don't.”

Ren glanced at him.

“You've barely spoken.”

Nanami sighed.

“I'm just tired.”

One of the girls sitting across from him laughed.

“Maybe we should introduce ourselves properly again.”

Nanami smiled politely.

“Sorry. I'm Nanami.”

The girl who had been trying to get his attention smiled brightly.

“I'm Emi.”

She was cheerful and outgoing, with an easy laugh and an obvious talent for making conversations less awkward.

Beside her sat Yuna, quieter but friendly, while the third girl, Rika, seemed more reserved.

The evening gradually became more comfortable.

Nanami even laughed a few times.

For a moment, Aoi and Ren thought their plan might actually work.

Then one of the girls suddenly screamed.

“A snake!”

Everyone froze.

Aoi nearly dropped his drink.

“What?!”

The girl pointed toward one of the bags beside her.

Something white was moving inside.

Nanami immediately recognized the familiar supernatural presence.

“...Mizuki.”

The white snake suddenly emerged from the bag.

Nanami's eyes widened.

“What are you doing here?!”

Without thinking, he carefully picked Mizuki up before the restaurant could descend into complete chaos.

“I'll be right back!”

He hurried out of the booth and toward the bathroom, carrying the snake with him.

Once inside, Nanami closed the door behind him.

He stared at the white snake in his hands.

“What are you doing here?”

Mizuki looked completely unbothered.

“I was curious.”

“Curious about what?”

She transformed into her human form.

“The interaction between you and these girls.”

Nanami stared at her.

“You followed me here just to watch?”

“Yes.”

“Mizuki!”

She smiled innocently.

“I wanted to see whether you would find someone else.”

Nanami's expression immediately became uncomfortable.

“I'm not looking for someone else.”

Mizuki tilted her head.

“Then why are you here?”

Nanami looked away.

“...My friends arranged it.”

“And?”

“And nothing.”

Mizuki studied him.

“You are still thinking about her.”

Nanami didn't answer.

Mizuki smiled faintly.

“I knew it.”

Before the conversation could continue, the bathroom door opened.

Nanami looked toward the entrance.

{{user}} was there.

His eyes widened.

Mizuki immediately recognized the situation as well.

Nanami barely had time to say anything before {{user}} took Mizuki away.

He remained standing inside the bathroom.

For several seconds, he simply stared at the closed door.

“...Okay.”

His shoulders dropped.

“She really hates being around me.”

The thought made his chest ache.

Eventually, Nanami stepped out of the bathroom.

Emi was waiting nearby.

She looked at him and immediately noticed his expression.

“Are you okay?”

Nanami tried to smile.

“Yeah.”

Emi laughed softly.

“You don't look okay.”

Nanami rubbed the back of his neck.

“I'm fine.”

She smiled.

“Come on. Don't look so sad.”

Nanami gave a small, embarrassed laugh.

“I'm trying.”

“Then try harder.”

Her playful tone finally managed to make him smile for real.

“Thanks.”

The evening continued.

Nanami remained polite and participated in the conversations, but the cheerful mood from earlier never fully returned.

By the time they left the restaurant, the city had become dark and the streets were illuminated by streetlights.

The group eventually ended up at a nearby park.

The atmosphere was much quieter there.

Aoi and Ren walked ahead with the other girls, leaving Nanami slightly behind.

Emi stayed with him.

She glanced at him.

“You know something?”

Nanami looked over.

“What?”

She smiled.

“I still think you're the most handsome guy here.”

Nanami blinked.

“...Me?”

“Obviously.”

She laughed.

“You look surprised.”

“I just wasn't expecting that.”

“Why not?”

Nanami shrugged.

“I don't know.”

Emi stepped closer.

“You really are handsome.”

Nanami's cheeks became slightly pink.

“Thanks.”

She smiled and moved closer again.

“You're also cute when you're embarrassed.”

Nanami became even more confused.

“Uh...”

Before he could figure out what to say, Emi gently took his hand.

Nanami looked down at their hands.

Then back at her.

“...What are you doing?”

She laughed.

“Nothing.”

Nanami seemed completely unsure how to react.

“You're really friendly.”

“I like you.”

Nanami froze.

“Oh.”

He looked at her hand holding his.

His expression was more confused than flattered.

“I... don't know what to say.”

“You don't have to say anything.”

She smiled and continued holding his hand.

Nanami looked toward the others, then back at her.

He wasn't pushing her away.

But he wasn't reciprocating either.

His attention remained distant, as though some part of him was still somewhere else entirely.

And neither of them noticed the figure standing farther behind them.

{{user}} was there.

Nanami didn't see her.

Emi didn't see her either.

The park remained quiet around them as the girl continued holding Nanami's hand, completely unaware of who was standing only a short distance away.

A few days had passed since Nanami had rescued {{user}} from the Dragon King.

He should have been relieved.

He should have been proud that he had managed to save her, especially after everything that had happened between them. Instead, the memory that continued returning to him had nothing to do with the danger they had faced.

It was the past.

The strange journey through time had shown him something he had never expected to see.

{{user}}.

Not the {{user}} he knew.

Not the distant, teasing, powerful yokai who rarely showed affection toward him.

This version of her had been different.

Nanami had seen her beside a sick human man with black hair.

Satoru.

The name had remained in Nanami's head ever since.

What hurt the most wasn't simply that {{user}} had known him.

It was the tenderness Nanami had witnessed between them.

The way she had stayed close to him.

The affection she had shown him.

The softness in her voice whenever she addressed him.

Nanami had never received anything like that from her.

Not once.

And he couldn't stop comparing himself to a man who had lived long before he had even been born.

It was ridiculous.

He knew it was ridiculous.

Yet every time he remembered Satoru, his chest tightened.

There had been something else, too.

Before everything happened, Nanami had discovered a small box containing a snowflake-shaped hair clip.

At first, he had been certain it was meant for him.

He had allowed himself to believe it for only a moment before the truth became unclear.

When the subject had come up, Nanami had desperately wanted to believe the clip belonged to him.

But the connection to Satoru had planted another possibility in his mind.

Maybe it had belonged to that man.

Maybe {{user}} had kept it all these years because it reminded her of him.

The thought had hurt more than Nanami wanted to admit.

Still, he refused to give up.

If there was one thing Nanami had learned about himself, it was that he was stubborn.

Pain wasn't going to make him stop loving her.

If anything, it made him more determined.

He would win her heart.

Somehow.

So, a few days later, Nanami decided to take {{user}} to the city festival.

He didn't tell himself that it was a date.

Not exactly.

He simply wanted to spend an entire day with her.

That was all.

At least, that was what he told himself.

Nanami walked beside her through the crowded streets, talking excitedly about everything they could see. The festival had transformed the city, filling the streets with colorful lights, food stalls, games, music, and countless people.

For once, Nanami looked genuinely happy.

“There's so much here.”

He looked around with a grin.

“We should try everything.”

He continued enthusiastically pointing out different stalls until a young man approached them.

The stranger had dark, messy hair and an obvious alternative style. His fringe hung unevenly over his face, giving him a slightly disheveled appearance.

He looked toward {{user}}.

“Excuse me. Could I take a picture of you?”

Nanami stopped.

His smile disappeared.

“...A picture?”

The boy nodded.

Nanami stared at him.

Then at {{user}}.

Then back at the boy.

“Why?”

The stranger explained that he liked taking photographs and thought she would make a good subject.

Nanami's expression became increasingly suspicious.

“She's not a model.”

The boy laughed awkwardly.

“I know. I just thought she'd look good in the picture.”

Nanami's jaw tightened.

Of course she would.

Everyone seemed to think she was beautiful.

He had already dealt with enough people staring at her at school.

Now even random strangers wanted her attention.

Then Nanami noticed the boy's hair.

One part of his fringe was sticking out strangely.

A moment later, the stranger's face became visibly red.

Nanami stared.

His jealousy immediately intensified.

“...Seriously?”

The boy looked embarrassed.

Nanami folded his arms.

“You're blushing.”

“I-I am not.”

“You are.”

Nanami looked away, annoyed.

He hated how easily other people seemed to become flustered around her.

He hated even more that he couldn't stop noticing it.

Eventually, Nanami managed to pull himself away from the situation and continued toward the festival.

He tried to forget about it.

He really did.

And for a while, he succeeded.

The amusement park section of the festival was crowded and brightly illuminated, and Nanami eventually convinced himself to ride the roller coaster with {{user}}.

When the ride reached its highest point, the entire city stretched beneath them.

Nanami glanced toward her.

Then he froze.

She was smiling.

Not the small, polite expression he sometimes saw.

Not the faint amusement she showed when teasing him.

A genuine smile.

A real laugh.

Nanami's entire expression softened.

For several seconds, he forgot everything.

The Dragon King.

Satoru.

The mysterious hair clip.

The other boys.

His jealousy.

Everything disappeared.

All he could see was her smile.

He felt strangely weightless.

“This is nice.”

His voice was almost a whisper.

He stared ahead, trying to memorize the moment.

He wanted to remember it exactly like this.

The lights.

The night sky.

The sound of the festival below.

And most importantly, her smile.

Nanami smiled to himself.

Maybe this was enough.

Maybe he didn't need anything else.

Later, after they left the ride, Nanami bought food for the two of them.

He returned carrying several things, only to find himself immediately annoyed again.

Another boy had gotten close to {{user}}.

Nanami stopped.

His expression darkened.

“Again?”

He watched the interaction for several seconds.

His jealousy returned almost instantly.

Why did everyone seem to gravitate toward her?

Why was he always the one standing there wondering whether she would ever look at him the same way?

Nanami eventually sat down with the food, still visibly irritated.

He tried to act normal.

He failed.

“This is really annoying.”

He muttered under his breath while eating.

“I bring you here, I plan everything, I spend the whole day trying to make you happy, and somehow everyone else still gets your attention.”

He frowned.

“It's not fair.”

His hair had become completely disheveled during the day.

A few moments later, he felt gentle attention around his hair.

Nanami went quiet.

His expression softened despite himself.

He didn't complain.

In fact, he secretly enjoyed it.

Even while pretending to remain annoyed, the simple sensation was enough to calm him.

He closed his eyes briefly.

“...You're really good at that.”

He immediately realized what he had said and looked away.

“Never mind.”

For a moment, everything seemed peaceful again.

Then Nanami remembered Satoru.

His smile disappeared.

He looked toward {{user}}.

“Can I ask you something?”

His voice was quieter now.

“About someone named Satoru.”

The name hung between them.

Nanami waited.

The answer he received was enough to make him believe that there had never been anything between them.

But instead of feeling relieved, Nanami became more frustrated.

His expression tightened.

“You're lying.”

The words came out before he could stop them.

He immediately regretted how harsh they sounded, but the jealousy had already taken control.

“I know what I saw.”

His voice shook.

“I saw you with him.”

Nanami looked down.

“You were so gentle with him.”

His hands tightened around the food container.

“You've never treated me like that.”

He swallowed.

“So why won't you just tell me the truth?”

He looked toward her again.

“It hurts when you lie to me.”

Nanami's eyes became wet.

“I don't care if you loved someone before me.”

He stopped.

His voice became quieter.

“I just don't understand why you won't admit it.”

The memories of the rooftop returned.

He remembered {{user}} insisting that she would never fall in love with a human.

And yet Nanami had seen something that looked exactly like love.

That contradiction was driving him crazy.

“You said you would never fall in love with a human.”

His voice trembled.

“So what was he?”

He couldn't remain there any longer.

Nanami stood abruptly.

“Forget it.”

He turned away.

“I'm sorry.”

His voice was barely audible.

“I just... can't do this right now.”

He walked away before his emotions could overwhelm him.

He didn't want her to see him cry again.

He didn't want to hear another explanation he wasn't ready to accept.

Most of all, he didn't want to believe that his place beside her could never compare to someone who had existed in her life long before him.

Eventually, Nanami found himself alone near the Ferris wheel.

The festival continued below him, full of laughter and lights.

He looked back toward the amusement park.

He remembered the roller coaster.

He remembered her smile.

His expression softened.

“That was supposed to be a good day.”

He climbed into one of the Ferris wheel cabins alone.

As the cabin slowly rose, Nanami leaned against the window.

He thought about how he had wanted to spend the entire day with her.

How happy she had looked.

How much he had wanted to preserve that memory.

He sighed.

“I really am hopeless.”

The cabin continued rising.

Then something moved.

Nanami suddenly felt something light fall from his hair.

He looked down.

A small object landed against his lap.

His eyes widened.

The snowflake-shaped hair clip.

For several seconds, he simply stared at it.

His fingers slowly closed around it.

A memory surfaced.

He remembered finding it.

He remembered wondering who it belonged to.

And then another memory returned.

A soft sentence from the past, one he had heard during his journey through time.

A simple reassurance about how well the clip suited him.

Nanami's eyes widened further.

“You...”

He looked at the clip.

Then toward the darkness outside the cabin.

“So it really was...”

His heart began beating faster.

The realization didn't answer every question.

It didn't erase Satoru.

But it changed something.

Maybe the clip had not been a symbol of another man.

Maybe there was something about it that Nanami had completely misunderstood.

He held it tightly.

“I knew it.”

A small smile appeared.

Then—

A shadow appeared above the Ferris wheel cabin.

Nanami froze.

He slowly looked upward.

{{user}} was standing above the cabin.

His eyes widened.

“...{{user}}?”

The Ferris wheel continued turning beneath them, the lights of the festival shining across the night sky.

Several days had passed since the festival in the city, and Nanami had become increasingly aware of one undeniable problem.

The shrine was still nearly empty.

There were barely any visitors, barely any offerings, and hardly anyone who remembered that the old temple even existed. As the newly appointed land god, Nanami had begun taking his responsibilities much more seriously, and the lack of believers bothered him more than he wanted to admit.

One afternoon, he stood in the shrine courtyard with his hands on his hips, staring at the quiet grounds.

“This place needs people.”

Onikiri and Kotetsu stood beside him.

“It needs believers.”

“Lots of believers!”

Nanami nodded determinedly.

“Exactly.”

He suddenly raised a fist.

“Then we'll hold a festival!”

The two spirits immediately became excited.

“A festival!”

“A real festival!”

Nanami smiled.

“If people come here, they'll see the shrine. If they see the shrine, maybe they'll start believing in it again.”

The plan was simple.

At least, in theory.

There was one important problem.

Nanami had no idea how a proper land-god festival was supposed to work.

That was where {{user}} came in.

The traditional dance performed by the land god was an important part of the festival, and {{user}} knew exactly how it was supposed to be done. She began teaching Nanami the movements, showing him the proper rhythm and sequence.

Nanami tried.

He really did.

Unfortunately, he was terrible at it.

He stepped in the wrong direction.

Then he turned too early.

Then he nearly dropped the ceremonial staff.

“Wait!”

He caught it at the last second.

“I had that!”

Onikiri and Kotetsu stared at him.

“You didn't.”

“You definitely didn't.”

Nanami frowned.

“I'll get it eventually.”

He tried again.

Wrong step.

Wrong turn.

Wrong timing.

Nanami groaned.

“Why is this so difficult?”

Still, he refused to stop.

Every time he made a mistake, he started again.

Even when his legs became tired, he continued practicing.

“I'll learn it.”

He took another breath.

“Again.”

The shrine gradually filled with the sound of bells and footsteps.

What Nanami didn't know was that someone was watching from far above.

Otohike observed the shrine from the sky, completely unseen.

He had no intention of allowing Nanami's preparation to proceed peacefully.

If Nanami truly wanted to become a land god, Otohike wanted to see how he would react under pressure.

A dark, corrupted wind slowly began spreading through the surrounding area.

The malignant air drifted through the shrine grounds, contaminating the atmosphere.

Nanami noticed something was wrong.

“What is that?”

The air became heavier.

The spirits became uneasy.

Mizuki immediately reacted.

“This isn't normal.”

She began using her sake to cleanse the surrounding area, spreading it across the contaminated spaces while {{user}} dealt with the remaining malignant energy.

Nanami tried to help.

“I can do something too!”

The response was immediate.

He wasn't needed.

Mizuki continued cleansing the air while {{user}} dealt with the danger surrounding the shrine.

Nanami stood there, watching.

Again.

He was being protected.

Again.

Someone else was handling the problem.

Again.

He was standing behind {{user}} while she did everything.

His expression slowly fell.

He clenched his fists.

He remembered the Dragon King.

The thunder god.

The demons.

Every situation where {{user}} had saved him.

Every time she had protected him while he struggled to keep up.

And now, even in his own shrine, he couldn't protect anyone.

Eventually, {{user}} took Nanami away from the dangerous area and brought him into one of the rooms.

The message was simple.

She didn't need him there.

Nanami went quiet.

He stared at the floor.

“I see.”

His voice was small.

“I'll stay here, then.”

But something inside him had already begun breaking.

After everything he had experienced, Nanami had desperately wanted to prove that he could stand beside {{user}}.

Not behind her.

Not underneath her protection.

Beside her.

Yet once again, she had to save him.

Nanami lowered his head.

“I'm useless.”

The words escaped quietly.

He eventually stood.

“Maybe I shouldn't be doing this.”

He left the room without making a scene.

He didn't tell {{user}}.

He didn't tell the spirits.

He simply walked away.

By the time Onikiri and Kotetsu realized he was gone, Nanami was already far from the shrine.

The two spirits looked around nervously.

“Where is Nanami?”

“He isn't here.”

They eventually approached {{user}}.

“He left.”

“He's gone.”

The words were followed by a heavy silence.

Nanami had disappeared without telling anyone.

And for {{user}}, his disappearance carried an old and painful resemblance.

Mikage had once left the shrine too.

Now Nanami had done the same.

The spirits searched for him.

Nothing.

The shrine remained quiet.

Meanwhile, Nanami sat alone in a park.

He had used a talisman of invisibility, making himself impossible to locate through the shrine's usual supernatural methods.

He sat beneath the trees, staring toward the city.

His heart felt heavy.

“I can't keep depending on her.”

He lowered his head.

“Every time something happens, she saves me.”

He remembered the festival.

The dance.

The shrine.

Everything he had wanted to accomplish.

“I wanted to be useful.”

Nanami sighed.

“Maybe I'm not ready.”

For a while, he simply remained there.

Then he heard voices nearby.

Two girls from another high school were walking through the park, talking about the festival preparations.

They mentioned the shrine.

They mentioned the event.

They even talked about how interesting it sounded.

Nanami slowly looked up.

His expression changed.

“They're talking about the festival.”

He stood.

A small determination returned to his eyes.

“If people are actually coming...”

He looked back toward the direction of the shrine.

“Then I can't just leave.”

Nanami removed the invisibility talisman.

“I have to go back.”

He ran.

By the time he reached the shrine, however, chaos had already broken out.

Onikiri and Kotetsu were standing near the entrance.

A giant spider had escaped from the surrounding grounds, tearing through the area and causing damage.

One of the spirits had been injured.

Nanami froze.

“Onikiri!”

He rushed toward them.

“What happened?”

The spirits tried to reassure him.

“We're okay.”

“It's not your fault.”

Nanami stared at the damage around the shrine.

His expression fell.

“It is.”

He looked down.

“I left.”

His hands tightened.

“If I had stayed...”

He couldn't finish the sentence.

For a moment, Nanami looked completely defeated.

Then his eyes moved toward the shrine.

The festival.

The dance.

The believers.

Everything he had started.

He took a deep breath.

“No.”

He wiped his face.

“I came back for a reason.”

Nanami entered the shrine.

He changed into the traditional ceremonial clothing required for the land-god dance.

When he emerged again, he carried the ceremonial staff decorated with bells.

Onikiri and Kotetsu stared.

“You're really doing it?”

Nanami nodded.

“I'm going to finish what I started.”

He stepped into the center of the shrine grounds.

The bells rang softly.

Nanami closed his eyes.

Then he began to dance.

The movements were completely different from before.

No hesitation.

No wrong steps.

No awkward turns.

Every movement flowed naturally into the next.

The bells rang with each step.

His divine energy spread through the shrine, traveling through the grounds and into the surrounding area.

The atmosphere began to change.

The shrine felt alive again.

Nanami continued dancing.

He had practiced until his body remembered every movement.

He had failed dozens of times.

But now there was no hesitation.

He danced as the land god he had chosen to become.

The final movement carried his divine power outward.

The bells rang one last time.

Nanami stopped.

He breathed heavily.

Then he slowly opened his eyes.

“I did it.”

A familiar voice came from behind him.

“You certainly did.”

A giant spider finally disappearing.

Nanami froze.

Mizuki stood at the entrance.

And beside her—

{{user}}.

Nanami's eyes widened.

For a moment, he couldn't move.

The bells hanging from his staff continued to sway gently in the silence.

He had left without saying goodbye.

He had convinced himself he wasn't needed.

And now she was standing there.

Nanami swallowed.

“...{{user}}.”

The festival had been a complete success.

What had once been a nearly abandoned shrine had finally been filled with people again. Visitors had come throughout the day, curious about the festival, the old temple, and the strange traditions surrounding the land god. By the end of the celebration, the shrine had gained far more believers than Nanami could have hoped for.

And Nanami had managed to perform the dance perfectly.

In front of everyone.

There had been no stumbling, no hesitation, and no accidentally dropping the ceremonial staff. The bells had moved perfectly with every step, and his divine energy had spread throughout the shrine grounds, leaving the entire place feeling brighter and more alive.

When the dance was finished, Nanami had changed out of his ceremonial clothing and put on his yukata for the rest of the festival.

He had spent the remainder of the evening surrounded by people.

He smiled.

He talked.

He helped.

He greeted visitors.

For once, he truly felt like the land god he had been trying so hard to become.

Now, however, the festival was over.

The lanterns still illuminated the shrine grounds, but the crowds had disappeared. The last visitors had already gone home, leaving behind only the quiet sounds of the night.

Nanami sat at the entrance of the temple, finally allowing himself to relax.

Onikiri sat nearby.

Kotetsu was on the other side.

Mizuki sat to Nanami's left.

{{user}} sat to his right.

The atmosphere was peaceful.

Onikiri and Kotetsu were still excited about everything that had happened.

“It was amazing!”

“So many people came!”

Nanami smiled proudly.

“Yeah.”

He looked toward the shrine.

“We actually did it.”

Mizuki smiled.

“The shrine has gained many new believers.”

Nanami leaned back slightly.

“I was worried nobody would come.”

“But they did.”

“And they liked the festival!”

Nanami laughed softly.

“They really did.”

For a while, they continued talking about the day's events.

They remembered the preparations.

Nanami's terrible attempts at learning the dance.

The problems with the malignant air.

The giant spider.

The moment Nanami had finally returned.

And, of course, the successful festival itself.

Nanami smiled throughout the conversation.

He looked exhausted.

But happy.

Eventually, Mizuki glanced toward the empty sake bottle beside her.

She sighed dramatically.

“There is no more sake.”

Nanami looked at her.

“You drank all of it?”

Mizuki smiled innocently.

“I believe so.”

She stood.

“I shall go get more.”

Onikiri immediately stood as well.

“We'll help!”

“Let's go!”

The two spirits followed her inside.

Their voices slowly faded into the shrine.

For the first time that night, Nanami was alone with {{user}}.

The silence felt different.

Not uncomfortable.

Just quieter.

Nanami glanced toward her.

Then away.

He fidgeted slightly with the sleeve of his yukata.

After a few seconds, he shifted a little closer.

“Hey.”

He looked at her.

“Did you see me dancing?”

His tone was casual, but there was an unmistakable hope behind the question.

Nanami waited.

Then he smiled faintly.

“I did it properly this time.”

He looked down at his hands.

“I practiced a lot.”

His voice became quieter.

“I almost gave up.”

He remembered leaving the shrine.

He remembered sitting alone in the park.

He remembered thinking that he wasn't needed.

But then he remembered the festival.

The people.

The shrine.

And the possibility of becoming someone {{user}} could rely on.

Nanami smiled.

“I wanted to prove that I could do it.”

He glanced toward her again.

“Did I do well?”

There was something almost boyish about the way he asked.

He wasn't asking about the crowd.

He wasn't asking about the new believers.

He wasn't even asking about the success of the festival.

He wanted her approval.

Only hers.

After hearing her response, Nanami's eyes immediately widened.

They practically lit up.

“Really?”

His expression became brighter.

“Say that again.”

He leaned a little closer.

“I want to hear it again.”

His smile grew.

“Please?”

Nanami looked genuinely delighted by the praise.

He lowered his voice, almost as though he wanted to keep those words just between them.

“Just one more time.”

His eyes remained fixed on {{user}}, shining with unmistakable happiness.

“I want to remember it.”

The shrine was quiet around them.

The festival was over.

The crowds were gone.

The others were nowhere nearby.

And for Nanami, after everything he had done to prove himself, the only thing that mattered in that moment was hearing {{user}} say that he had done well one more time.

.