It had been a few days since the incident, and the school trip to Kyoto was nearing its end. One more day remained, and everyone wanted to make it count. Inari had kept her word, just as she'd promised, and let Yasushi know the day before that they wouldn't have to worry about any interruptions.
With nothing to get in their way, they changed their focus toward enjoying the last part of their trip as high school seniors in Kyoto.
Right now, they wandered through the grounds of Kinkaku-ji, with Furuya leading the way. Kinkaku-ji, a Zen Buddhist temple in Kyoto, was known far and wide for the top two floors, which gleamed with gold leaf.
Originally built in the 14th century by the shogun Ashikaga Yoshimitsu as a retreat, it had been turned into a temple after his death. Fire had ravaged the structure several times over the years, the most recent blaze happening in 1950. The version standing today had been reconstructed in 1955, but it still carried the weight of centuries in its design.
The craftsmanship behind Kinkaku-ji was evident in every detail. Each floor reflected a distinct period of Japanese architectural design, showcasing the changing tastes and styles of the time. Its reflection in the surrounding pond was stunning, adding to the sense of calm that radiated from the temple and its gardens.
The girls from their group kept snapping pictures on their phones. There were a few rules about it, but nothing too strict to stop them, and they seemed happy to capture the moment. Furuya, who had been here before, still found the experience enjoyable — years had passed since his last visit. Bhaqui and Yasushi, on the other hand, had never been to Kinkaku-ji.
Bhaqui was full of energy, clearly excited to dive into the culture around him, every step seeming to feed his enthusiasm. Yasushi found himself finally able to see the temple in person, something he'd only ever known through pictures and drawings. It felt strange to him, almost as if the reality of it didn't fully register.
Furuya stood beside Yasushi, the two watching their friends marvel at the surroundings. Out of nowhere, Furuya asked, "Do you think dragons are real?"
Yasushi blinked, the question catching him off guard. "Where'd that come from?"
"Just popped into my head," Furuya answered casually, his eyes still focused on the others.
Yasushi paused for a second, then replied, "No clue... I don't think so." He said it out loud, but deep down, he wasn't so sure. After everything he'd been through in the last year — meeting gods and battling their followers — he couldn't entirely shake the possibility from his mind.
Eventually, they made their way outside, where more tourists had gathered, waiting to head in. Yasushi caught something out of the corner of his eye — a woman, one closely tied to Sōjōbō's group, the King of the Tengu. She stood off to the side, almost blending in with the crowd, but her presence didn't escape his notice.
While his friends were distracted, Yasushi slipped away, making his way toward the woman. She greeted him with a bow, then pulled out a letter, speaking in a quiet tone. "Lord Sōjōbō requests your presence tonight. He wishes to discuss a few matters. It won't take long. You have his word."
"Understood..." Yasushi took the letter from her hand. When he looked up again, she had already vanished, leaving him standing there alone. He muttered under his breath, "Still not used to that disappearing trick..." before tucking the letter away and heading back to rejoin his group.
As he approached, Furuya grinned, clearly ready to tease him. "What, you wander off to let one rip?"
Yasushi didn't hesitate to land a light punch on his shoulder. "Dick."
"Ow, seriously?" Furuya winced but didn't push the joke further.
"Let's grab something to eat," Yasushi suggested. The others didn't need any convincing, and they quickly set off to find a spot for lunch.
+-+
As everyone settled into their rooms for the night, Yasushi slipped out of the villa quietly. The letter he had received earlier had given him simple instructions — head to a nearby intersection and wait to be picked up. He made his way there, the streets quiet, and when he arrived, he spotted the same woman from before standing near the corner. She acknowledged him with a bow as he approached.
Without a word, she handed him a small talisman. "This has two uses. Once you've used it twice, it will vanish. Use it to travel to where Lord Sōjōbō wants to meet you, then use it again to return to this exact spot." She bowed again and disappeared into the night, leaving him standing there.
Yasushi glanced down at the talisman, scratching his head at how fast everything was moving, but didn't bother questioning it. The real problem hit him — he had no idea how the thing even worked.
Yasushi stared at the talisman, his mind blank for a moment. Then, with a shrug, he muttered, "…Might as well copy what they do in anime." He closed his eyes, pretending to channel his "energy" into the small object, hoping for the best.
A second passed, then the air around him shifted. It wasn't subtle — the temperature dropped, the sounds of the city faded, replaced by something quieter but unfamiliar. Yasushi opened his eyes, and the place he stood in now felt like a world pulled from another realm entirely.
The sky stretched out above him, dotted with homes that floated effortlessly. The buildings mirrored traditional Japanese styles he had seen before, but something about them seemed different — off, like they balanced between grandeur and something almost ordinary, yet there was an unmistakable otherworldly quality hanging in the air.
There were more bamboo stalks than he'd ever seen in his life, rising far taller than any he had encountered, even in China. The sheer height of them dwarfed the structures beneath, making everything around him feel strange.
"Woah," he muttered, eyes wide, trying to take it all in.
The moment was interrupted by a familiar voice, one that nearly made him jump. "You've arrived," Sōjōbō said from behind, his tone quiet but unmistakable.
Yasushi turned toward the voice and spotted him, standing there just as he expected. "Sōjōbō," he muttered under his breath. The older Tengu gave a nod before stepping closer, now beside him.
"You like it?" Sōjōbō asked, gesturing to the scene around them. "This is our world, where we live. Took ages to put it together, and even now, we keep working on it. Gotta keep up with how things are changing — humans, their technology, all that."
Yasushi nodded, still taking in the view. "It's… incredible. Floating buildings? That alone would've been enough to blow my mind, but seeing a whole city built like this? Different level entirely. You combine this with how Japan's modern architecture looks… I mean, that'd be wild."
He stopped himself, realizing the reason he was here wasn't for sightseeing. He refocused and asked, "So, what's this about? What did you want to talk to me about?"
Sōjōbō closed his eyes for a moment, as though gathering his thoughts. When he looked at Yasushi again, there was a shift in his expression. "It's about the Banquet of Gods. I won't be there myself, since I'm not a god, but I've heard things… There's more to it than just the celebration."
He paused, thinking for a moment before speaking again. "From what the few Japanese gods I know have told me, and after visiting Takamagahara to talk with the Shinto gods, I'd say most of them don't care about you. You aren't disrupting anything, so you're not a concern. But... there's a small group, maybe one percent, that aren't so indifferent. Whether they're genuinely worried or just looking for something to hate, I don't know."
Yasushi narrowed his eyes slightly. "Hades is one of them, I take it? What's his deal, then? Is he really evil, or is he just neutral — curious, maybe even bored? Is messing with me just some new way for him to pass the time?" His tone was all business, no trace of the earlier excitement left.
Sōjōbō stood still, staring into the distance for a few seconds, like he was mulling over how to respond. When he spoke again, his words were measured. "Hades… tends to stay neutral in most things. If I had to put it plainly, he'll usually pick the most straightforward path. Unlike other gods who might find something like your existence entertaining, he's more focused on practicality. As for how he feels about you, I really can't say. What's known is that his underlings, followers, and supporters — well, they tend to act on their own most of the time."
Yasushi glanced down at the sprawling city below, taking in the view of the tengus' world. "So, there's a good chance Hades isn't even part of this? It's more likely his followers, the more twisted ones, are behind it?"
Sōjōbō gave a slow nod. "That's about right. Unfortunately, that's how it goes. To be honest, most gods aren't 'evil.' What humans call 'evil' doesn't really apply to them. What they decide to do isn't always seen the same way by mortals. Think of different cultures, or even religions. One person's righteous act might be seen as wicked by another."
Yasushi frowned, confused. "Wait, what do you mean by that?"
Sōjōbō didn't pause to clarify. "In a war, each side believes they're fighting for the right cause. They've been told what justice is, what's worth dying for. To them, the enemy is always in the wrong. But the other side? They think the same about you. In their eyes, you're the villain, and they're the heroes. Gods aren't much different."
Yasushi stared, letting that sink in before speaking again. "So, what's right or wrong... depends on the god? Whatever they believe is right? That doesn't sound fair."
"Gods set the rules. There's nothing above them in power, except maybe the stronger gods keeping the weaker ones in check. But when it comes down to it, no human can stand against them. We all bend to their will — that's the way it works." Sōjōbō's gaze locked onto Yasushi. "Even so, I think you should make your case when the banquet comes."
Yasushi furrowed his brow. "Make my case? What am I supposed to say?"
Sōjōbō didn't flinch, just nodded. "Tell them about your past life, the hardships you pushed through, the choices you made back then and now. Show them that you're not some threat to the world, that you don't have the kind of power that could tear it apart. A lot of them will listen. Some might be touched by what you say, others will respect the changes you've made. Some won't care, they might just find you amusing. But you want to keep living, right?"
Yasushi gave a quiet nod. Sōjōbō let out a deep breath.
Yasushi shut his eyes, sinking into the memories of his past life, the decisions he had made, the hardships he faced. He recalled each wrong turn, every moment of struggle, and everything that followed in this new life of his.
None of it fit into the kind of tale people liked to hear. Reality had a way of being more brutal, more unbelievable than any story. If he tried to make a movie of both lives, most would dismiss it as fiction.
Opening his eyes again, Yasushi let out a heavy breath. "...I'll do that," he finally said, feeling the weight of Sōjōbō's hand as it slapped his back, once, then again.
"There's no need to thank me," Sōjōbō said, his tone shifting. "I trust Lady Inari's judgment. And that young goddess, Hakufubuki? She might be new, but she's got her head straight. If they trust you, then so will I." He paused, his voice taking on a more familiar tone, almost fatherly. "Now go on. I didn't plan to keep you here all day."
Yasushi bowed slightly, a quiet "Thank you" slipping out as he did. He glanced at the talisman still in his hand, focusing on its energy like before. In a blink, the streets of Kyoto surrounded him once more, the city just as it was before he'd left.
Yasushi walked back into his villa in Kyoto, and as soon as he stepped inside, he saw Jingliu and Xinyi sitting there, waiting for him. He froze in place, his hand still on the door.
"Uh..." he managed, shutting the door slowly, his eyes darting between the two. "I, uh... went to get some milk?"
"Where's the milk then?" Xinyi asked, eyes narrowing, not missing a beat.
Jingliu's gaze stayed steady. "Did you meet with someone?" Her voice was even, not giving anything away.
Yasushi sighed. There was no way around this. He motioned for them to follow, heading down the hall towards their bedroom. As they walked, he laid it all out — everything that had happened, every conversation. By the time they reached the bedroom, both Jingliu and Xinyi had taken their places on the bed, listening in silence.
"And that's the whole thing. After what happened, I'm feeling like I need to start getting ready. Really get serious about it, especially after this trip."
Both of them spoke at once. "We'll support you."
Xinyi looked at him, determined. "We're going with you, right? So what do we need to do?"
Yasushi shook his head. "We'll figure it out later. I'll talk to Inari or maybe Hakufubuki. Whoever we run into next. But for now, let's just sleep. We've got one more day here, might as well enjoy it."
Jingliu watched Xinyi, waiting for her to leave the room she shared with Yasushi. But instead, Xinyi tossed her shoes off and jumped onto the bed without a second thought.
"I'm staying," Xinyi said, looking straight at Jingliu. A smug look spread across her face as Jingliu's expression shifted, her patience thinning.
The two of them fell into an argument, going back and forth for what felt like an eternity, though it was only ten minutes. During the exchange, Yasushi barely paid attention.
He went about his nightly routine, changing for bed and lying down as if the bickering wasn't happening, his phone in his hand, mind somewhere else. When the girls finally stopped, they saw him there, completely unfazed, scrolling through his phone.
Their voices dropped to low murmurs, coming to some silent resolution after another minute. Xinyi, without warning, snatched the phone from Yasushi's hand and tossed it onto the table next to the bed. Then she pushed him into the middle of the bed, killing the lights before sliding in beside him.
Jingliu lay down on his other side, her presence wordless but undeniable. Yasushi opened his mouth to protest, maybe to say something, but whatever words were there died as the weight of the day finally settled in. He gave up, closing his eyes, giving in to the exhaustion. Slowly, sleep overtook him, wedged between the two of them.