The wallet Heizou's friend protected with his life didn't contain any Mora—just a glossy green pebble. It was something they picked up together, a symbol of their "friendship" untainted by anything else.
["Heizou… did you come to see me?"]
He held the pebble up to Heizou, a smile on his bloodstained lips, as if ignoring his own pain.
["I… I came to see you too…"]
The memory was so vivid. Time really is a joke—it can't erase memories. Heizou could still recall the warmth of his friend's blood as he pressed his hand to the wound to stop the bleeding. That sensation was still fresh. Why wasn't he afraid? Why didn't he cry? Why did he just smile at me?
I know now: because we were friends, our friendship was pure.
Thankfully, no one was around. In such a setting, those "pretending to be strong" could let their hidden sides show. Everyone in the Anemo crew is so gentle, so it's only natural that Scaramouche, not yet an Anemo character, was furious—perfectly reasonable. He burned the book to ashes, casually brushing his hands as if it were nothing. Why so casual? Practice makes perfect.
Not sad? Impossible. Scaramouche was so heartbroken he could "spit it out." But he'd never admit to being sad—never. He's a heartless puppet, isn't he?
Rosalyne, on the other hand, was emotionally stable, quietly reading to the end. Everyone set aside their sadness to enjoy the festival. Chizuru left fulfilled, hoping everyone could be happy, so no one would wear a mournful face.
At the story's end, there were still some dialogues, with two people's remarks standing out, Yoimiya being one.
[Yoimiya said: "A person's life moves toward its end, year after year, without us noticing."]
["But I don't think that's a sad thing. Fireworks fade quickly, but human bonds endure, right?"]
This perspective was so Hu Tao. Everyone already thought Yoimiya and Hu Tao were similar in personality, but who knew they'd share views on life and death too? In the original storyline, the two had little interaction, but thanks to Lucian's "help," they got chummy. It was like a mischievous girl meeting a clingy guy—dry wood meeting a blazing fire, a match made in heaven. The only issue was business cooperation. Even if Hu Tao didn't mind, the deceased might object to fireworks at their funerals.
Besides Yoimiya, the other was Itto.
[Itto said: "Lifespan, farewells—I've heard about them, but I don't really get it."]
["But I've never regretted meeting you guys! Hahahaha!"]
Now readers finally had their answer to the lingering question: Is Itto clueless or wise beyond measure? The answer: he's clueless, but he never regrets his choices! That's the kind of oni Itto is—a free spirit of Inazuma! He lives in the moment, and even if farewells await, he won't be sad. In the future, everyone will still shine like gold in his memories.
Unexpectedly, in this story, Itto was still so captivating. Besides him, Yae Miko and Kamisato Ayato were two high-EQ old foxes. Miko wanted to resolve Chizuru's inner conflict, while Ayato wanted to help the little youkai hold a festival. They hit it off, and one test of courage solved both issues at once. They were happy, and the readers were happy too.
Shikikan, thank you. Thank you for not letting the fireworks drown out Chizuru's final words. If we hadn't heard Chizuru say, "I hope your journey ahead is as joyful as a festival every day," readers couldn't imagine the regret. But on second thought, if we hadn't heard it, would it have hurt less? Now, readers were almost developing Stockholm syndrome.
Regardless, the story wrapped up smoothly, and everyone was happy. For a while, though, conversations might still revolve around life and death. But Lucian was thinking: churning out so many "happy" stories back-to-back could cause fatigue. It was time for some wholesome content. Before that, though, he'd prepare for everyone's "test of courage."
Lucian pulled out his "phone" and called Yae Miko to check on her preparations. With the test of courage set in Inazuma, Yae Miko was naturally in charge. Ei wouldn't do—she's great at playing, but organizing an event like this? She wouldn't know where to start and would end up leaving it to Ayato and Miko anyway.
"All set, including those little youkai," Yae Miko said with a smile.
An event like this would naturally involve finding Hanyuuda Chizuru and the others, and Miko was the perfect person for the job. As he thought about it, Lucian realized something: he was kind of like Ei, just delegating tasks to others. Oh no, no matter what, he couldn't be like Ei! Better do some work!
There was one task only Lucian could handle: being the "bus," shuttling everyone to Inazuma. A few days later, Lucian, Lumine, and the others visited the Chasm to pay respects to the Millelith, Boyang, Bosacius, and the others. With that done, the test of courage officially began. Lucian had brought all the participants to Inazuma.
Venti, grinning widely, was in the vibe crew, super active, tasked with providing BGM for the venue. With him were Streetward Rambler, Kazuha, Yun Jin, Barbara, and others. They weren't interested in the test itself but were keen on the music aspect, exchanging ideas. Creating spooky music wasn't something they had much experience with, but Lucian had some. Never done horror music? I've played horror games—just mimic their BGM.
Lucian stroked his chin, nodding. He didn't get the music details they discussed, but he had plenty of experience being scared, which could serve as a reference. Meanwhile, Furina, part of the courage-test group, was looking for a teammate. She initially wanted to pair with Lucian, but that sly guy weaseled his way into the vibe crew. Her first choice now was Hu Tao, since they were close.
Sadly, Hu Tao clasped her hands apologetically: "Sorry, Fufu, I'm in the scare crew."
"Eh?" Furina was shocked. Hu Tao in the scare crew? She'd scare people to death—at least she'd scare me to death! Losing Hu Tao felt like losing hope. Furina didn't want Fontainians to see her embarrassed, so she sought Hu Tao, only to be rejected.
===✧✦✧===
Character Voice · Yoimiya: About the Akitsu Kimodameshi
"It's a great story. I say live without regrets, but I know that's tough. If you want to cry, just cry—I'll comfort you."