"Whether you end it or not… the choice is no longer yours."
The voice echoed through the wind—calm, resolute, and cold.
Hinami froze mid-strike. His fingers, still dripping with blood, halted in the air.
Then… he appeared.
From the lightless edge of the ruined village, a figure stepped forward. Cloaked in shadows, eyes glowing faintly with a resolve long buried.
His presence alone shifted the air. The crickets went silent. Even the breeze seemed to stop.
Hiro's lips parted, breath caught in his throat. Matsamaru's bloodied eyes widened with disbelief.
"...No way."
There he stood.
Haru.
The figure they had been secretly waiting for—Luck, Hope, everything beyond the best—was finally here. Haru. Iminaqo Haru.
He emerged, stepping up from the far side of the rooftop, moving with calm authority to the very top. Henji leaned against him, injured but steady, one arm draped over Haru's shoulder.
A chorus of desperate relief and awe broke out—
"HARU!!"
Hiro muttered under his breath, "Henji...?"
Haru rolled his eyes at them, then glanced at Hinami. Everyone noticed Henji's severed arm.
Matsamaru screamed, voice cracking, "HENJI!! What happened to your arm?!"
Henji chuckled softly, "Long story... but I'm okay now. Thanks to Haru—I'm still alive."
Hinami turned slowly to Haru, his pale face expressionless. "Oi. You are... Haru-sama?"
Haru met his gaze, silent and detached, his eyes cold and unreadable.
Hinami continued, "I can't sense any godly energy in you... No, I can't sense any Honeki either."
Hiro smirked, baring his teeth. "You wanted to worship Haru but had no idea who he really is or his status. For your information, Haru's Honeki has been sealed for over thirteen years now."
Hinami, still facing him, replied calmly, "Ah, I see... More beautiful than I ever imagined. The god I longed to meet isn't even made of Honeki? It's been an honor to meet you, Haru-sama."
The other demons bowed deeply.
Finally, Haru spoke, "We found Giyu's body."
Everyone except Hinami widened their eyes, sensing the end of this long-standing mystery.
Hiro asked, "What? You did?"
Henji smiled. "We realized memory erasure not only wipes memories but grants soul shifting as well. Meaning, Giyu didn't change into any of us; he simply placed his soul in someone else while pulling strings behind the scenes. He's definitely acting among us. So, Haru-san and I went in search of the body instead."
Hiro pressed on, "What did you do to the body? Where is it?"
Haru rolled his eyes, voice cold and final.
"I killed it."
They all stood frozen—except Hinami.
"Huh?" voices echoed, disbelief thick in the air.
Hiro's eyes shot wide open in shock, Matsamaru mirrored him. Then Akira exploded with fury.
"BASTARD!!!" he roared, voice cracking with rage. "You trapped me in this body! You should've let it sleep! Memory erasure only lasts four days! I transferred my soul into Akira the moment Hiro revealed the plan. My body went silent, asleep… so I could possess another. I needed to return and repeat the cycle. But now… you've doomed me! The real soul is trapped in a death loop!"
The truth hit hard—Akira *was* Giyu. The ultimate ghost, the soul shifter revealed.
Henji smirked. "Got you."
Akira's eyes widened, but before he could react, Haru cut in calmly, "I didn't kill it. In fact, I never found anyone."
Shock rippled through them.
"I didn't need to. Once we pronounced the body dead, the real Giyu would show himself. Its over."
Akira clenched his teeth. "You bastard, I will—"
Hinami's voice cut sharply through the tension. "HIWETŌ."
Akira's eyes went wide one last time—then lifeless.
Everyone gasped.
Hiro's anger exploded, trembling, "Oi!! You weren't supposed to kill him! Bastard!"
Hinami met Hiro's gaze coolly.
They all rushed to Akira's side.
"He insulted the gods," Hinami said coldly. "He deserved to die. Besides, I only killed Giyu's soul, bound by the Oath of the Nimo—an automatic death sentence for any who break it."
Hinami turned to Haru, his voice low but firm.
"You must come with us. If you return to the village, war is inevitable... If you truly value their lives, then let them live—and come quietly."
Haru glanced at Henji, giving a subtle nod. Henji released him without a word.
Haru stepped forward, locking eyes with Hinami. Then, in a single motion, he dropped from the rooftop to the ground below.
Landing in a low crouch, the air seemed to still.
He held that pose—silent, composed.
Then, he spoke.
His voice sharp, final, and unwavering.
"No."
Hiro lowered his head into his palms, a heavy sigh escaping as he muttered under his breath,
"That's... a daring answer for someone facing him... What is Haru thinking?!"
Below, Haru rose slowly from his crouch, his gaze shifting—not to Hinami, but to the horizon. Hinami stood at his right, still and watching.
Then Haru closed his eyes.
Time itself seemed to stall.
The air grew heavier.
Sound vanished.
Movement froze.
The world fell into silence.
Except for two.
Only Hinami and Haru remained in motion within the void of stillness.
Hinami's eyes widened slightly, a faint glimmer of admiration crossing his pale, unreadable face.
"Bea... tiful..." he whispered.
Haru tilted his head, facing him now—calm, unreadable.
His voice dropped like a verdict.
"I can't go with you. Not yet."
He stepped forward, each word cutting with divine clarity.
"Like you said, I'm a god. And as a god—
—you'll try again. Another time.
And another.
And another still.
Until I choose to give in on my own."
He opened his eyes, staring into Hinami's soul.
"If I don't… I might just become a greater curse… than the ones already placed on you all."
Hinami stood motionless for a long, drawn-out silence. Then, slowly, his eyes drifted shut.
"Even if I let you go..."
His voice was calm, almost distant.
"...they won't. They'll keep coming."
He opened his eyes again—gaze clear, voice steady.
"I could take you now without lifting a finger. But I can't force my god. You're the reason I'm still alive… I owe that much. I won't abduct you."
Haru didn't flinch. His response came, sharp and sure—no hesitation.
"I know."
His gaze turned toward the sky, the winds brushing his cloak like whispers of fate.
"They'll try. Again. And again. But they won't win… not until I surrender myself."
He took one step forward.
"I have sixteen ways to escape without even trying."
His voice dropped, eyes narrowing with conviction.
"But I won't abandon them."
Time resumed—like a switch flipped back on.
All they could grasp… was Hinami's smirk.
He faced Haru with that unreadable, detached expression.
"We shall take our leave… and unseal the village."
His voice lingered like a warning.
"But if they come again… I hope you have the strength to fight back, Haru-sama."
Haru said nothing. His silence was the answer.
The air shifted.
Hiro and the rest stood stunned, trying to make sense of what just passed like a dream laced with terror.
Henji blinked, looking around. "What… happened?"
A groan rose from the side.
Akira finally stirred—his body aching, his face twisted in confusion as he took in the aftermath.
"What… happened here?"
His voice was hoarse, cautious.
Matsamaru turned quickly. "Akira? Is that you?"
Akira didn't answer. He simply rose, stiff, silent.
Matsamaru's lips curled into a weak smile. "Akira! It's you!"
Shino placed a hand gently on Akira's shoulder, a calm smile forming.
Akira rolled his eyes. "What's with you? You're smiling? Tsk."
Then, with one fluid motion, Hinami bowed once, the air still around him. Without another word, he turned his back.
The remaining demons dissolved into the abyss—shadows retreating into silence.
And then, just like that…
Hinami vanished.