End of the Journey

~~~⛩️~~~

"Alright!”

After half an hour of walking, the twenty members of the Tsuno team gathered in the center of the Shrine devoted to Inari, the deity of foxes, life, and reincarnation.

The team had created an intimate and serene atmosphere as their final activity in Takachiho, to fulfill their promise of praying to the deity, thanking for her blessings, and asking for continued guidance in their lives.

"Dear Inari," Shiraito began, with sincerity, "We thank you for every victory you have allowed us to achieve and for every lesson you have taught us on this journey."

Each of the boys listened to his words with closed eyes, hands clasped in prayer, and heads bowed.

"Thank you for watching over us and guiding us every step of the way, and for introducing us to such wonderful people."

Takashi couldn't help but smile as he heard these words. Yes, he was there to thank for the tournament, but there was something more, something much more beautiful than a championship.

"Thank you for helping me grow, learn, and accept myself. For pushing me to overcome my fears. And above all..."

He paused. There was something, but also someone. Someone he had grown very fond of during his short stay in Takachiho. Takashi involuntarily opened his eyes and gazed at the statue of Inari nearby.

"For introducing me to Nao, your protege, gifting me with kindness and warmth. I promise to cherish her with all my heart, to take care of her, and to..." Once again, he stopped himself. Knowing that his sincerity would soon betray him, he smiled at the carved stone. "You'll know that better than anyone, Inari. Allow me to continue growing with her, and I'll do my best to make her happy."

"We ask you to continue protecting us and guiding us on our path, both on and off the field," Shiraito continued. "May we remain a united team, full of friendship and sportsmanship, and may we never forget this journey. Thank you, Inari, for everything."

With a final bow, Shiraito concluded the prayer, and all the players joined in, bowing and applauding in gratitude. One by on they came forward, but only the first on doing so could make their personal prayers, quick and brief, trying to avoid what Shiraito was starting to feel on his shoulder.

"Oh?" Looking up through the damp contact, he noticed that there was no moon, only dense clouds. "The rain! Quick, let's go back to the inn!"

"Yes!"

The whole team started running towards the exit, their comfortable clothes allowing them to move faster than if they were wearing their yukatas. The whole team, except Takashi.

"Ah!"

Under the slowly intensifying rain, he left two coins in the small offering box, one for each time he had visited the shrine during his stay in Takachiho.

"And now, let's..."

Suddenly, as he looked at the trees, he felt a sense of déjà vu. Once again, he had been left behind, and once again, a fox had appeared. The animal stared at him intently from between the trees before jumping towards his back, taking a step back, and looking at him again. As Takashi's hair began to get wet, the fox repeated the movement.

Takashi, however, only smiled. "See you soon," he greeted the kitsune with a wave, knowing it was sent by the deity before leaving it behind.

Finally, under the now moderate rain, he reached the entrance torii and quickly looked back one last time.

"Thank you for everything, Inari," he closed before joining the trot along Takachiho's paths.

~~~⚽~~~

"Champions! Champions!"

Now in the small bus, the atmosphere was much livelier and energetic. While Shiraito avoided the closed tunnel and headed for the alternative road, the passengers sang enthusiastically, passing the trophy from hand to hand and clapping their seats. Whistles, applause, and the sound of rain completed a moment of sheer happiness.

"My dear goalscorer!" Jun hugged Takashi from his right side. As they were the heroes of the victory, the rest of the team allowed them to sit in the four-seat row at the back, with Jun on one side, Hiroshi and Yoshida on the other. "You really nailed it on this trip!"

"Yes, I got pretty lucky," Takashi replied, releasing from his friend’s lock while releasing a fearful comment.

For a moment, he lost himself in the view outside the window on his right, displaying its majestic beauty despite the fierce storm raging outside. The lights of the Obon festival, still lit, represented Takachiho's farewell message—a small village amidst the mountains where Takashi couldn't have imagined what he would experience.

"I hope we meet again soon, Takachiho. I'll come back for Nao." His silly smile reflected in the fogged-up window, him alternating between memories of the first time he locked lips with the girl and the moment they painted their lanterns, among countless other situations.

His serene moment of reflection was, however, interrupted when he noticed his friend staring at him intensely.

"Now that you are ‘the fox’, you should change your appearance," Jun suggested, observing him through a rectangle formed with his fingers.

"Huh?" Takashi playfully asked. "And what should I do?"

Jun pondered for a moment, contemplating it to himself. "Grow a mustache."

"No, you idiot! Then he won’t score more goals!" Hiroshi protested.

"Huh? Come on, it would be fun..."

Nao texting in despair.

"What the heck?"

That was the only thought that occupied Takashi’s mind for a moment, as if a stun grenade had been thrown at him. Jun's words about his appearance faded away from his hearing.

“What was that? Why did I feel like Nao was desperately texting me?”

"Hey, Takashi!" Yoshida called from the other window, looking at him with a mischievous smile, pointing at his bag. "Looks like someone really misses you."

Takashi took his phone out of his vibrating bag and indeed noticed that he had been receiving notifications non-stop.

"Oh, tha..."

He had five messages from Nao. Then eight messages. Ten messages. Eleven messages and two missed calls.

"What?"

And the phone vibrated uncontrollably again, but this time because Nao was calling him.

"Hello!," he teased. "Someone got very attached to me, huh?"

"Takashi!"

He stopped joking, his smile vanishing into thin air. Nao's voice sounded agitated, distorted, and full of distress.

"Nao?! Are you...?"

"Takashi, listen to me!"

"I'm listening!" he pressed the phone to his ear instinctively.

Nao paused, as if unsure of what to say. Takashi, on the other hand, expected her to be upset about their separation, or maybe even angry because they didn't wait for her, but he heard words he never thought he would hear at that moment:

"You have to stop that bus! You're going to crash!"