Final: Because we can

"Hmm..."

"Nao!"

The girl began to move. Slowly, as if waking from a long nap, like a fresh flower unfurling its petals at dawn, but she moved. The transparency and pallor that had consumed her appearance gradually faded, transforming into a warm hue on her skin, and her cloudy, confused eyes could see Takashi once again.

“Taka...”

Secure and serene, Nao nestled herself in Takashi's arms, cradled by his gentle embrace. A security akin to a child in a mother's arms, listening to his heartbeat. Her gaze locked onto her beloved, but the boy's tearful eyes brought back reality.

“Taka...” Desperation gripped her as she recalled the fall and Izanami's attack, tears welling up again. “Takashi! It's you, Takashi!”

“Nao!”

Fear in both of them fueled each other’s tears, causing Nao to wrap her arms around Takashi's neck and both of them to tumble to the floor, as terrified as they were joyful.

“Taka! Don't let go, please!” Desperately, Nao attempted to strengthen her embrace, determined that this time, Takashi wouldn't slip away. Despite the tightness, Takashi couldn't have been happier.

“I won't let go! I don't want you to leave me ever again!”

Takashi knelt once more, lifting a Nao whose face was hidden in his chest. He, too, was shattered inside, seeking solace as he rested his forehead against her head. They were in the underworld, their lives in constant peril. But it didn't matter; they were together again.

For nearly a minute, they continued to cry, although it might as well have been years. It was only when Nao's panic escalated that she lifted her head from his chest, her distressed and fragile voice piercing Takashi's ears.

“Takashi, listen to me! There's something you need to know, I can't keep it in any longer! I...”

Takashi noticed that Nao had stopped looking intently at him and was now gazing at something over his shoulder. He turned, and after a moment, he returned his anguished smile.

“We found you, Nao,” Inari spoke, her radiance dimmer but still afloat.

Nao's eyes seemed lost in the two of them, reflecting a scene she thought inexplicable. Of all the possible reactions, she chose to smile tenderly.

"Well, it seems like we have a lot to talk about," she choked, cheeks flushed with emotion.

“Nao... I'm sorry. I should have seen it...”

Takashi was interrupted by Nao, smiling, who pressed a fingertip to his lips.

“What did I tell you about being hard on yourself? Silly.”

Nao seemed to want to comfort him further with her words, but she couldn't help but break down again and bury her face in Takashi's chest. This successfully made him smile once more and enfold her in his arms.

“Aw. And now who's getting clingy?” The precious memory of Nao consoling him resurfaced.

“I'm sorry, sorry.” Nao clung stronger, disregarding her apologies. Inari, gazing at them with tenderness, understood why.

"Don't say sorry, Nao. Thank you for opening your beautiful eyes again, so I can see how lovely they are once more."

The terrifying situation didn't prevent Nao from smiling, still hiding her face from him while showing her distress.

“Enough, dummy. You're only saying that to make me feel better.”

“And is it working?”

Nao released his chest, allowing both of them to share teary gazes and tender smiles.

“Yes, it is,” she said sweetly.

“Welcome back, Nao. Are you feeling okay?” Inari floated, suspended just a meter away from them. Nao managed to sit up, kneeling towards her.

“Yes. We're...”

“In the underworld, indeed. Izanami finally brought you here. I managed to create a new contract before you became a yūrei.”

“A yūrei... Contract? But if Takashi had also...” Nao seemed more intrigued than scared, at least until clarity dawned on her. “Wait! You didn't!”

“I did.”

“Your soul?” Nao cradled Inari's face, a tender yet desperate gesture. “You could've disappeared!”

“Now, now” Inari disentangled. “I knew Takashi could make it this far.”

Takashi, unaccustomed to seeing Nao talking to Inari, found it strange that she, who had always seemed like a vulnerable and innocent girl, was discussing things like souls and the underworld.

"Oh, thank you... Wait, are you floating again? And what was that light?"

"Exactly, dear Takashi," Inari performed three loops in the air. "Just as Amaterasu punished me for how I broke Nao's contract, she felt compassion for both of you after Izanami's cowardly attack. She returned my powers and I prevented Nao from vanishing. I'll have you with me until I get you out of here."

"Powers? You have powers?" Takashi asked, both hopeful and amazed.

"Of course. In the human realm, I might not be able to act overtly. Yet, within Izanami's realm, as a celestial plane…

Effortlessly, Inari conjured a small Obon lantern in a blink, leaving it suspended in the air.

"All deities can have them."

"What?! Awesome!" Nao's shock momentarily faded due to the magic trick.

"Are you going to fight Izanami?" Takashi inquired.

"Of course not. My domain encompasses life and celestial messengers. I have nothing that could harm her. Also, only Amaterasu could vanquish someone as potent as Izanami."

"True, Amaterasu does exist. Nothing surprises me anymore," he reflected.

"I can shield you, but I can't get you out of here on my own. To leave, you both need to carry an item that symbolizes your spiritual bond and walk under the torii gate at my shrine. Luckily, it's just a few blocks from your house."

"An item..." Nao pondered for a moment. "But if the accident happened here, Takashi, your belongings were lost."

"Right..."

Unless Takashi, accidentally, held onto his salvation.

"Oh! The necklace!" Takashi swiftly recollected the championship day. "When the team came into our room, I hid it in the futon’s opening and never took it out. Maybe no one noticed! We can go look for it!"

"You forgot the necklace I gifted you?" Nao pouted playfully, cheeks puffed, feigning nonchalance to the situation.

"Sorry! A lot happened that day. But do you have it?"

Takashi fell silent, spotting the pendant above Nao's neckline. ‘I wouldn't have taken it off for anything in the world,’ her enraptured eyes conveyed, mirrored by his smile.

"Well, no one probably took it from there. So, when beneath the torii gate, you'll need to pray using these words: 'Inari, guiding and benevolent divine protector, grant us the courage to prevail.'"

"You really enjoy this, don't you?" Takashi gave Inari a disdainful look.

"I'd prefer not receiving praise instead of having to serve Amaterasu when this is over."

"What did you just say?"

Inari evaded the question with an unusually loud fox-like laugh. "Come on, focus on what's important."

"Inari," Nao asked, shifting her concern, "do you think we can get out of here?"

Takashi held a complicit silence, sharing the question. That's why he received a tail strike on the forehead, just like Nao did.

"You're both quite foolish, aren't you? I'm betting my existence that the two of you can get out of here alive. It's not something that happens every day."

"But..."

"Nao, Takashi," Inari's voice slowed down, "I'm aware of your bond and the determination in your hearts. You're as strong as you are beautiful, and I know you'd give everything for each other no matter what. That makes me trust that... no... it makes me know that you'll succeed. So let's go, run, time is short," she returned to her usual cheerfulness as if nothing had happened.

Nao and Takashi exchanged glances; the girl was somewhat surprised by the courage she saw in his eyes.

"Let's go, Nao."

"Oh..."

Takashi left the room and took a few steps toward the now-closed exit door, perhaps thanks to Inari. However, before he could open it, a grip on his wrist made him turn around.

"What's the ma-"

"I love you."

Takashi locked his gaze onto Nao, as blushing as she was determined, not knowing which of the two reactions to be happier about. The glow in her eyes overshadowed her fear and anxiety, but not the excitement of saying it.

"I love you very much, Takashi. I don't know what's going to happen to us, but I want you to know that.

Takashi remained petrified for a moment, grateful that his love was reciprocated anew. Of course, Nao said it out of bravery, as she didn't seem to have heard his previous crying. That's why he found the perfect excuse to draw her nearer in the embrace and attack her lips fervently and swiftly. The excitement of kissing a two-year older Nao blended with the tension of the moment and the thrill of being able to feel something he believed was lost forever, creating one of the kisses Takashi enjoyed the most with her.

"I wanted to tell you that you actually shine with the beauty of a million suns. And thank you for loving me at every moment, but I love you more."

The smile restored all the confidence Takashi could muster. It had an effect, as Nao leaned into the romantic banter.

"Liar."

"It's true." Both wore broad, bashful smiles.

"Excuse me, but could you please play 'lovers' later?" Inari floated until she was uncomfortably close to their faces. "We need to get out of here."

They shared a conspiratorial chuckle before parting, and Takashi opened the door, inviting the sunset's light to enter.

The sky was beautiful, blending the sunset with a starry night. It showed how light, even in darkness, continued to fight. And most importantly, it was immense and with no intention of hurting them.

Takashi turned to Nao, his eyes glowing with hope, one hand pointing to the sky, while the other reached out to invite hers.

"Let's go. Everyone's waiting for us to come back."

Nao was scared, of course. But fully illuminated by hope, she smiled as Takashi liked it so much. "Let's go."

Their hands joined, and they took a big first step.

"And so it begins..."