Hearing Araragi strange introduction, Rikuo Nura gave Sū ěr and his grandfather a curious look. Getting no answer, he sat down and smiled at Araragi.
"Nice to meet you. I'm Rikuo Nura."
"I'm a Nutanurarihyon."
Sū ěr watched as Araragi curiously asked what a Nutanurarihyon was and what the "Lord of Pandemonium" deal was. These questions had been bubbling since he sat through the serious conversation earlier. Now he finally had a chance.
Rikuo, in turn, asked curiously about vampires. After all, he was a "country yōkai" who had never left Japan, let alone the city. He was naturally curious about Western monsters from storybooks.
While the two youths chatted, Sū ěr shared a drink with Nurarihyon. He had one more thing to ask—a point he'd set up for fun earlier, but which had become important given the anomalies Nurarihyon described.
"Nurarihyon?" Sū ěr called out. "Our origins... do you remember what they were?"
His expression was more serious than before, making Nurarihyon realize this wasn't just casual chat.
"I told you when we first met, didn't I? It's only been a few months, did you forget?" Nurarihyon said seriously. "Both of you were great yōkai from the ancient era. Originally, you were enemies who fought with everything you had until you were both on the brink of death."
"In that state, neither of you could sustain life in your broken bodies. But neither wanted to die. Ultimately, you merged your lives and souls to survive."
"Even then, you argued constantly at first, even using self-harm to threaten each other. It was only after a long time that the relationship softened, love began to bloom, and you eventually became the Gods of Marriage worshipped by humans."
"Why? Is there a problem?" Nurarihyon tilted his head.
Recounting the story of Sū ěr and Think, the old monster was sure this was the same version he'd told before. But last time, Sū ěr had a "stifling a laugh" look on his face. Now, hearing the same story, he looked so serious it made the yōkai's own smile fade.
"...It's nothing," Sū ěr shook his head.
[It changed.]
'Yeah, it changed.'
Sū ěr answered Think in his mind.
He remembered clearly: when they first arrived and met the Nura Clan, Nurarihyon said Sū ěr and Think were a great yōkai with two souls in one body—and that it had always been that way, with no period of being separate.
The change happened because, during their second trip back to ancient times, Sū ěr and Think had lied to Yukari Yakumo about their origins for a laugh. And Yukari, the "Sage of Yōkai," was the one who compiled the chronicles of great yōkai and passed their legends down.
The future had changed.
Sū ěr had no doubt that in the original version Nurarihyon spoke of, the timing and method of them meeting Jibril in this world was not the Great War they experienced after actively returning to the past.
The ripples from the past were spreading to the future. The surge in oddities and yōkai might be related to this.
Not knowing what was bothering Sū ěr, Nurarihyon didn't pry. To him, something that bothered a great yōkai like Sū ěr was likely beyond his pay grade unless Sū ěr brought it up.
"Drink," Nurarihyon refilled their cups.
"Yeah. To health."
"...To health."
They drank.
Compared to the somber middle-aged/old duo, the youths were much more lively.
Araragi was just a gloomy-looking high schooler. Despite his "I don't need friends" declaration, he was a good person—too good, really.
If he weren't a "softie," who would offer their life for a vampire? He'd made that choice even after the vampire's charm had worn off, simply because he couldn't bear to see her crying.
He was going to fight terrifying vampire hunters for her. It was far beyond what a normal person should endure, but the boy grit his teeth and didn't regret his choice.
A month ago, he was just an ordinary high schooler.
As for Rikuo... setting aside his daytime self, his yōkai form at night was charismatic to Araragi. Perhaps that was the natural magnetism of a Lord of Pandemonium.
While Sū ěr and Nurarihyon were cross-referencing memories, Rikuo had sat down beside Araragi and slung an arm around his shoulder. They were laughing about something, and Araragi was smiling.
It wasn't a forced smile, but a genuine one. The "no friends" high schooler was actually interrupting Rikuo to share his own thoughts.
Sū ěr didn't know whether to be impressed by the Nutanurarihyon charisma.
"But I think if we're talking about pure vibes, Asuka Saitō is the best, right? I have her photo book. I can lend it to you if you want."
"Really?! No, don't bother lending it, I'll just go with you to get it. Wow, I didn't think you'd have her book!"
"Ahaha, it's nothing."
"No, no, you have great taste!"
Well, the two youths were talking about the things modern young men inevitably talk about when they get together.