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whentranslatorscry · 1 year

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Hitagi Honeymoon

025

And now for the epilogue, or rather, the punch line.

The day after returning from my trip to Oku-Nikko in Tochigi Prefecture, on which we had used up our extra day visiting the Oya History Museum, I was greeted by none other than Chief Kouga of Naoetsu Station's Hearsay Department, and her boss, the ever-youthful Gaen-san, with whom I had not met in so long that I couldn't recall the last time. They gave me an incredibly intense scolding, one that made me wonder if it was really possible for a person to be scolded so much, let alone a working adult like myself— I would have understood if I were still in high school or even a university student. In all honesty, I felt like crying.

Part of me wanted to retort, to ask what reward this was for having devoted myself to my job in the midst of my honeymoon. But, if their chastisement was meant not for me, but for Shinobu, who is under my care and protection, I had no choice but to willingly accept it.

After all, it is the parent who bears the responsibility for their child.

That night, the shooting star I had witnessed— Oshino Shinobu— had not used her own legendary sword, the "Aberration Killer" derived from Shishirui Seishirou’s “Kokorowatari,” to brilliantly slash through the overcast sky.

As the name suggests, that mythical blade was specialized in slaying aberrations and couldn’t cut through even the frail human skin. Therefore, it was utterly incapable of cutting through clouds, raindrops, or even water vapor— it was beyond dull.

Had the rain we encountered been the trick of a nine-tailed fox, the sword would have displayed its maximum effect, but it was nothing more than an extremely common, natural phenomenon.

So what was the great sword that my shooting star had wielded that night?

It turns out that this was related to the temporary closure of the Treasure Museum at Futarasan Chugu Shrine, located next to Lake Chuzenji. Just before Hitagi had charged up Irohazaka in her minivan, Shinobu had slipped out of my shadow in the midst of the crowds while I was lost in a daydream, or rather meditation, and warped to Chugu shrine. From there, she managed to swipe the sacred blade, Nenekirimaru, that was on display in the Treasure Museum.

Yes, warped.

No, it wasn't vampiric skill, it was the connection between both shrines acting as a navigation— in any case, Shinobu daringly took a shortcut up Irohazaka, and ended up bringing out a national treasure-class Japanese sword, without permission.

With that legendary sword, she dispelled the smoky rainclouds.

All for the purpose of gifting us a starry night sky.

"You know, Koyomin, taking out Nenekirimaru for your own use is a serious crime on its own. But changing the weather? That's a huge deal. Hasn’t Kouga told you that the air is connected all around the world? By clearing the skies above Senjougahara, do you realize how many areas suffered heavy downpours as a result? Everywhere but where you were— Tochigi Prefecture, the Killing Stone— turned into a rainstorm like a fox's wedding. It’s such a disaster that Tamamo-no-Mae's revival is nothing in comparison. Seriously, I wouldn't be surprised if there were landslides all over the place. It's just a coincidence that there wasn't any significant damage.”

I had hoped Gaen-san would praise me when we met again, but to the utmost disappointment— as far as I know, I'm the only one who's ever been scolded so much by this gentle, ageless and wise lady.

"Yes, neither my honor student Kouga, nor Yotsugi, Kaiki, or even Meme, have ever experienced a scolding like this."

"Heh.”

"What are you laughing at, Koyomin? We're not done lecturing you. You seem to be in high spirits. Did something good happen?”

Oh yeah.

Though I only managed to peek through some of what the big-picture-seeing Hawaiian-shirt guy was thinking, it felt like I'd sorta surpassed him─ Of course, after exhibiting its remarkable cutting ability, Nenekirimaru was returned to the treasure museum.

Neither chipped nor dulled, and with a sheen to rival even the stars themselves, it had grown even more radiant.

Well, if that hadn't been the case I would have gotten the chop. Professionally and biologically speaking.

It didn’t turn out that way, and I ended up not having to have visiting hours with the missus at the prison, and this is all thanks to Gaen-san who pulled out all the stops under the sun. I can’t be thankful enough, and I must likewise thank Kanbaru Suruga.

I don't plan on digging deep into how she pulled it off, or who she pulled her strings with, however, Kanbaru had apparently already figured out where Shinobu was before we reached Senjougahara.

She's on par with the CIA.

And sadly, she wasn't in time for the theft of the Nenekirimaru, but at that point in time, Shinobu’s plan was pretty drastic—I won't go into the details, but had it been executed, it wouldn’t have been just the sky that was cut apart; Tochigi Prefecture itself might have been cut clean in two, just like the Utsunomiya Gyoza Statue or the stone. However, before it could be carried out, the missing girl was discovered and, after a big showdown reminiscent of six years ago, the situation was realistically alleviated; this was all Kanbaru Suruga.

It wasn’t that she saw no evil, spoke no evil, and heard no evil.

She saw, spoke, and she made her hear.

I was grateful for that alone, but when Kanbaru, the medical student, got involved in Shinobu's cloudy sky surgery plan, even Gaen-san couldn't bring herself to execute us— Kanbaru's mother was her one and only Achilles heel.

We were protected by our junior’s prestige.

The epitome of a life lived through connections.

"Well, well, Gaen-senpai, that's enough. Despite everything, Assistant Inspector Araragi has done the bare minimum of what he was expected to do,” said Chief Kouga, offering me a follow-up in the end— though it came too late.

"The Killing Stone split as naturally as the weather. If you guys who tore through the cloudy sky say so, it can't be wrong. For now, at least."

“For now? You're leaving room for doubt, Chief Kouga."

"It's a weak doubt though. The Killing Stone might feel lonely if we assert that there's no nine-tailed fox, like Toshogu Shrine would be lonely without Hidari Jingorou. I want to try those Nasu dishes someday too."

With that last remark, Chief Kouga concluded her lecture, in her own peculiar way. Anyhow, that marked the climax of the honeymoon for the Araragi couple.

Ah, well...

No more the Araragi couple— that was in the past.

The beginning of our story was about Senjougahara Hitagi marrying Araragi Koyomi, and thus becoming Araragi Hitagi. In order to mourn the loss of her family name, we decided to go on a honeymoon in Tochigi Prefecture. It was filled with countless twists and turns, but looking back on the trip, there was no question that it was wonderful. However, before long, the very foundation of its meaning was turned upside down.

Despite getting married, Hitagi continued to work at the Japanese branch of her foreign finance firm. Shortly after our honeymoon, she found herself modestly involved in a historic event— or rather, it would be modest to say that she was involved, because in truth she was at the heart of the storm.

It would seem that, while her cell phone had been turned off during our time in Senjougahara, an unimaginable, man-made global economic crisis had struck somewhere on Earth, and her company bore the brunt of it. Being in the thick of it all, there was no way I could stay out of the matter either, and I ended up getting involved as both a husband and an FBI trainee— in the end, we handled it.

It was a hard-won battle with some underhanded tricks thrown in, but we persevered.

As the price for regaining tranquility, however, our little family— Hitagi, me, and our daughter— had to make a major change in our lives for at least a short while. Both the boathouse and the trailer house needed to be given up.

In a word, we were now part of the Witness Protection Program.

We had to change our names entirely and wait patiently for the storm to pass. Hence, we are no longer Araragi Koyomi or Senjougahara Hitagi; not even Araragi Hitagi. Neither Oshino Shinobu nor Araragi Shinobu.

Separate surnames, separate identities.

It must be rare for a family to deal with the delicate issue of shared surnames in such a dynamic fashion, but it was so like us. We had no idea how long we'd have to live like this until the dust settles, but I’m genuinely happy to have shared this unique experience with my dear wife and beloved daughter. Perhaps this is what one should call true family unity. Once again, we find happiness in sharing mercilessly poured misfortunes, and I believe we are the happiest in the world.

It is not the happy end.

Our happiness has only just begun.

Hmm? So, what's the new name for our family, you ask? Come now, it's not raining, so don't go pouring such stand-offish questions. We’ve been together so long, after all, you’re like family to me.

We will disappear for a while.

Once you miss us, you can call out to us however you like.

Author’s Afterword

Translator’s Afterword

#ikusamonogatari #translation #monogatari series #araragi koyomi

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whentranslatorscry · 1 year

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Hitagi Honeymoon

024

At Futarasan Chugushi Shrine, it seemed impossible to make a visit either way. The treasure house which displayed the sword Nenekirimaru was unexpectedly closed for the day. When something doesn’t go well, it often feels like nothing goes right at all.

In the end, it never stopped raining.

In fact, when we finally arrived at Senjougahara, the sky appeared livid— the whole landscape seemed less like a marsh and more like a swamp.

The gloom intensified in the absence of sunlight, and with even fewer streetlights than the Killing Stone site, it made me imagine the breathtaking night sky we would have seen if only the weather had been clear.

"It's not so bad, really— it's like the Acqua Alta. I'm deeply satisfied just to have set foot on these historic grounds. I have no complaints."

"I appreciate your optimism…"

I think the reason you’re satisfied is not because you set foot here, but because you stepped on the pedal at Irohazaka… This place was certainly as disastrous as the Acqua Alta we had heard so much about.

Wouldn't spending a night here be close to suicidal? There were no tourists or locals around— so desolate that it makes me question if the famous Nikko Toshogu shrine was a mirage. In this bleakness, I doubted we'd even run into a bear.

For safety, maybe we should have turned back and headed to a more populated spot. But, the thought of navigating those steep, hairpin turns in the rain was far from appealing.

Distracted by the rain, I was also unable to uncover why the turns were forty-eight and why the slope was called Iroha.

"How about we take a short and safe stroll, and then enjoy the sound of the rain from the car, while eating some Utsunomiya ham cutlets and dumplings as we reminisce about the old days? Remember when I caught your cheek with a stapler?"

"I'm not so bothered by it anymore, but if you’re going to bring up old wounds, I might have to think of a fitting response."

"I wish Oikura-san could’ve seen this view, too."

"Why?"

"Maybe I should mail it to her."

When the photo of the rain-soaked Senjougahara reaches her, I know the expected reply "It serves you right!" would be sent my way. It’s no exaggeration to say that she lives and breathes solely for the purpose of saying that phrase to me. She’s never sent me an email with any other text.

What kind of life is that?

With such a competition, I can't afford to be careless with my own life either.

But even if it weren't for the rain, the scene would still have been incredibly bleak— or maybe primordial would be more fitting— to the point that it really looked like the aftermath of a battle between gods. Though there was no sense of unidentifiable dread like the Killing Stone.

The battle was long over.

There were no giant centipedes or giant serpents.

And, of course, no foxes.

It was rather like a place where you felt at ease, as if it was safer because it had already been bombarded. But it was no less bleak.

The fact that it was a marshland made it feel even bleaker than the Killing Stone.

It might have looked different in another season, but I can't help but wish there was a single flower blooming somewhere. Then again, even if one did blossom, it would only be scattered by the rain.

Having arrived at Senjougahara, our initial goal was achieved, barely saving the day, but it was hard to say that anything akin to a honeymoon truly transpired. The objective was the only thing accomplished.

But I guess that's how it goes.

Unbeaten by the rain. Unbeaten by the wind. Life is a series of small moments of happiness.

There's no such thing as a perfect life.

Just like there were no stars in the sky.

"Hey, Koyomi."

As I wandered through the darkened place in the pouring rain, feeling something akin to an adult's resignation, Hitagi cut in, out of the blue.

"Just as our journey is nearing its end, I have a wonderful proposition for you."

"Uh...?"

"Do I detect a hint of reluctance in your expression?"

"No, it's just that... well, I think your suggestions have rarely been any good."

To be entirely frank, ever since she was Senjougahars, Hitagi had always been like that. She loved surprises, but she was terrible at pulling them off— or so I remarked, even though she probably wouldn't want to hear it from me. She once secretly invited her father along on a date, and covertly obtained a driver's license while still in high school.

More dangerous than surprising.

She offered risks, not thrills.

"Don't worry. I've matured too. Well, it might be better to call it a consultation rather than a proposal. I plan to take your opinion into account and use it as reference too."

"So my opinion is just for reference?"

"I'd like to discuss our post-honeymoon life while we still have time. We're both quite the workaholics and seldom have the chance to chat like this. We've definitely had our misunderstandings because of it, so I want to make sure that doesn't happen again."

Somehow, saying something so incredibly honest seemed frightening as a ruse. What could it be? Was she asking for a discussion about the division of household chores after marriage that Kanbaru was also concerned about? Or was it about deciding whether to live in a boathouse or a trailer home while there's still time?

"Divorce procedures seem so troublesome just to think about. Changing my name back for the second time would be far too much of a hassle."

"Please don't say that you don't want to divorce just because the procedure is complicated, especially when we're newlyweds."

Sure, there might be some significance in having the same surname for a married couple, but that would be in an unpleasant sense. It was like making a contract difficult to terminate by writing a massive number of fine clauses.

"I'm offering to discuss the issues now so that they don't cause arguments later on. Do you understand?"

"I don't object, but it feels like a rather pessimistic conversation… It's probably better than turning a blind eye to the inconvenience, but give me a proposal that we can get along with, if anything."

"That depends on you, Koyomi. If you agree to my consultation, we can continue to be a lovey-dovey couple."

"Pressure."

Oh well, it's fine.

Sadly, there was no chance of any interference, and yes, such opportunities were rare. To have an open and honest conversation with Hitagi, just the two of us facing each other for a whole night─- there would be no one to stop us if we did start arguing, but we would cross that bridge when we came to it.

"Well, actually, it's about Shinobu-san─ I mean, Shinobu."

"It still feels weird when you call her without honorifics. What about Shinobu?"

"I've been thinking that maybe we should adopt her, what do you think?"

"Um..."

I couldn't help but glance at my shadow, despite knowing that in this rainy night, there was none to be found— and even if there were, Shinobu wasn't there.

"What did you just say?"

"I said I want to display her on our mantelpiece, but surely you don't mind, do you?"

"That’s like a line from the villain in the movie RRR."

The meaning was generally the same, but I would’ve phrased it more delicately— like the surprise I had planned to launch here in Senjougahara.

Adoption?

"Arranging a familial registry for an aberration child might not be a walk in the park, but I reckon if we ask Oikura-san, she'd be up for forging some documents."

We rely on Oikura far too much.

Why do we try so hard to snatch her hard-fought work-life balance right out of her hands, after all she's survived?

No, that's not the point here.

"Um, Hitagi-san..."

"I know what you're thinking, Koyomi. I can see right through you, after all. Look, I get that you want a blonde little girl all to yourself, but I don't want my husband to own a loli-slave."

"I've really been trying to avoid the phrase ‘loli-slave’ up until now."

"It's not like I just blurted it out on a whim, you know. I've been thinking about it for some time now, even before the wedding. The relationship between you two is very important. I wanted to respect the bond between you and Shinobu, so I refrained from interfering and tried to stay out of it as much as possible. But I can't do that from now on, can I?"

"Well... I've actually been thinking the exact same thing, but..."

"It’s okay, you don't have to put on a front, I'm sure you will still continue to flirt with Shinobu behind my back. In the shadows, literally."

Her trust in her husband is zero.

Not surprising, considering my barbaric behavior in high school.

"But you know, the world is no longer willing to accept that. Understand?"

"Painfully so. In my heart."

"So, as your life planner, allow me to make a suggestion. In order to bring the situation of a blonde little girl living in the shadows and our family to an acceptable societal level, after a trial period, I propose that we raise Shinobu as the eldest daughter of the Araragi family. That is the best current option."

"A trial period?"

It sounds like we're talking about a rescue cat.

But, I understood what she was trying to say— rather, it's spot on. It's almost perfectly in line with what I've been thinking myself.

The only difference between our ideas is the notion of resealing Shinobu using my name. But then again, if I were to argue further, suggesting to take Shinobu in without that core idea in the first place... well, it's somewhat deranged.

Just yesterday, I was convinced it was a great idea. But now, hearing it from someone else, the idea of adopting her seems so odd.

"Hitagi…"

"Yes?”

"Honestly, it's a pleasant surprise. I never expected you to say such a thing—in a good way. Just knowing that you've been thinking about Shinobu, it makes me want to cry with joy."

"Cry. As much as you'd like."

"Your hawkishness scares me."

If we're talking misunderstandings, we've been through one that created a gap between Japan and America. But as a year has passed since then, our feelings have become aligned— how could we not be happy?

But.

"Family is not to be taken lightly. Even if she looks like an eight-year-old, adopting a vampire as a daughter—"

"You mean shortcutting through the pain of childbirth and the nightmarish child-rearing until the age of three, and having a cute child to cherish, right?"

"People who think like that must never become foster parents. You would be as terrible as me at it. You can't just pick the good parts in child-rearing."

"By the time I met you, Shinobu was already a part of your life, wasn't she? No, more than that, she was your other half."

"……"

"I thought that marrying you meant marrying Shinobu as well, but was I mistaken?"

No, you weren’t mistaken. That’s right.

But I can't bring myself to impose that truth on her— even though it seemed she’d already figured out my inner Hanekawa's point. Or perhaps even she had come to this conclusion through her conversations with her own Inner Hanekawa.

That being said, there's nothing left to do but to say it.

Despite our promise not to keep any secrets about aberrations, I wanted to take this one to the grave. But, since I'd allowed Hitagi to go that far, I had no choice but to confess now— even if it sparks a discussion about divorce.

"Hitagi. Shinobu is a vampire."

"She’s an ex-vampire, right? Even six years ago, I couldn't have overlooked having a loli-slave."

"Now, I would definitely agree that it's something that can't be overlooked— but vampires are a completely different species from humans."

In fact, there are even doubts as to whether they are truly alive. The nature of their existence is so uncertain, so fundamentally different, that they can only be described as aberrations.

Urban legends. Street gossip. Rumors in the wind.

"I get it. What you're talking about is her being nocturnal, right? I myself am more inclined to be active during the night, too."

"That understanding is a little flat."

It seemed I wouldn't be allowed to just leave it there; I'd have to lay it out plainly for her.

"Vampires eat people, Hitagi."

".….."

"And Shinobu has eaten people before—right in front of me during her vampire days. She doesn't eat people anymore, though. Ever since I started protecting her, she's only ever fed on my blood. All the nutrients she needs come through me, so in a way, she's already like my daughter by blood."

There was no reaction from Hitagi.

The fact that this acute trader didn't respond with an immediate reaction was an indication of the shock she felt— so I continued.

"She doesn't eat people anymore, and I won't let her. But we can't erase her past. In six hundred years, she must have eaten at least a thousand, and not just vampire hunters and specialists alone."

The real number was likely much higher— Shinobu herself had said as much.

She possessed a potential danger to the entire human race, and a mere ten years' confinement in my shadow was far from enough to atone for her sins. Plus, her prison was more like a birdcage with an open door.

"To adopt Shinobu is to take such a monster into the family. It comes with responsibility, and socially speaking, it's just as bad as having a loli-slave."

"I think that's where opinions may differ between men and women."

I decided to make a mental note never to use the phrase "loli-slave" again; it wasn't appropriate for serious conversations like this one—which was then interrupted. "Listen, Koyomi."

"Even if this revelation were to destroy our relationship, I would be utterly shattered to think that you believed I'd be frightened by such a small secret. To think that I accepted your proposal with such half-hearted resolve would be an insult beyond belief."

Ah…

She really was angry. Pretty unusual, there had rarely been an instance in which she was this furious before.

"Well, I appreciate the fact that you accepted me, with all my quirks. Even without considering Shinobu’s role in this, I know I'm already a bit weird. But you see, this…"

"My own mother handed her real daughter over to a perverted man."

Hitagi interrupted bluntly.

She had wanted to forget that memory so badly that she prayed to the crab.

"She's an undeniable criminal, even more vile than a carnivorous beast. But even after knowing that, you never created any distance between us or treated me like a broken piece of glass. You confessed your love to me while aware of my mother's situation. And even though we're estranged, she's still my mother. You even proposed marriage to me, knowing full well she'd become your mother-in-law. And that's after you became a police officer."

"……"

"So, do you think I wouldn't forgive you for accepting Shinobu? I'm so mad at you, I could just kill you."

Her words were tumbling out chaotically and gibbering; she was more enraged than ever before.

Even when we had discussed breaking up in the past, she had pushed me to my limits in an orderly fashion— now, with her vinyl umbrella down, I couldn't tell whether she was damp from the rain or the tears streaming down her face.

And I was entirely at fault.

When I first suggested adopting Shinobu, I hadn't taken Hitagi’s feelings into account at all. And even though many, er, just a handful of friends had pointed this out to me and prompted me to consider her feelings, I had only envisioned the typical, conventional reactions.

In considering various possibilities, such as having to make a difficult decision if I made such a proposal or the chance that Hitagi might accept it, I only imagined passive reactions. But never had I considered such a proactive stance, such a twist like those of Irohazaka.

For her to suggest that we go all the way together, she and Araragi Koyomi…

There's no way it could be so straightforward.

"Anyway," my dear began to say.

"Let's let Shinobu suck my blood too—just at the brink."

"Huh? How did you come to that conclusion?"

"I didn't realize that your periodic blood-letting to Shinobu held much significance, but it weighs heavily on my heart. If we're talking about providing nutrition, we can't call ourselves foster parents unless we both let her drink our blood."

"Ah… well, yeah, but..."

What an idea.

It seems like our thoughts are starting to veer off course—I might have misspoken when I said she was already like a daughter to me. Was the reason I couldn't make a snap decision earlier not because the thought of Shinobu's food shocked me, but because I was contemplating such things?

"Hitagi, hear me out. Vampirism might sound convenient, and I won't deny that it has its advantages. But, it has pretty big risks as well."

"I'll carry those risks, like a newborn baby."

"…If Shinobu ever has a brother or sister, they would end up having to bear the same burden—we would force such a bizarre life on them, where not only their sister, but also their parents are like vampires."

"Our child would be frightened by such a thing? If that's what you call misfortune, then we'll just make up for it by making them extra happy."

As happy as we are.

Hitagi declared this resolutely, putting the matter to rest.

"…Kaka."

Unintentionally, I let out a vampiric chuckle— I had made my fair share of mistakes during these past few days, let alone the entirety of my existence. Surely, helping the limbless King of Aberrations during my hellish spring break would be considered the greatest of them— failing to save Oikura or Hanekawa was already an irreversible failure.

But, among them all, there was one choice I seemed to have made correctly.

My choice in a life partner.

"Hitagi, I—"

I was about to say something, whatever it was I was about to say, but at that moment, a sudden gust of wind blew. To call it a gust would be an understatement— it was a gale-force blast.

It was the sort of gale that could be called an instantaneous typhoon, considering it didn't exist on the weather radar a second ago. In an instant, my vinyl umbrella flipped inside out, breaking all of its bones. It took me back to high school where this phenomenon happened to me instead, but that didn't stop me from getting soaked, again, for two nights in a row. The gale blew past us like an arrow shooting through the eye of the giant centipede. I instinctively embraced Hitagi, and found that the wind, comparable to the rush of air before entering a cleanroom, had dried our hair and clothes. And then—

Then, stars filled the sky.

The thick, dark rainclouds that concealed the sky, darker than night and deeper than darkness, vanished in an instant, revealing the spectacle of stars that now rained down on us so generously.

Come rain or spears—

Or a shower of stars—

It wasn’t a meteor shower, but the stars shone with a brilliance that could have easily been mistaken for the Aurora— I instinctively tightened around Hitagi as I held her close.

Hitagi, too, clung to me, her fingers digging into my back as if to say she couldn't believe the sight before our eyes— not unlike a mythical fox wanting to possess me.

Indeed, mountain weather may be fickle, but this transformation was something else entirely. This phenomenon, the polar opposite of a fox's wedding, seemed nothing short of miraculous. The sea of stars looming over us in panoramic grandeur nearly crushed us under its weight— the sheer beauty of it made the hair on my neck stand on end.

Knowing that this was a famous spot for stargazing, I should have expected such a breathtaking sight, but its impact made me forget even to breathe, almost forgetting the very beating of my heart.

This view was anything but bleak.

Where else could one find scenery like this? Could it not rival the starry skies of New Zealand, which, like the Toshogu Shrine, may one day receive World Heritage designation?

Here, in Nikko, the stars shine like nothing else.

If you haven’t seen Nikko, you haven’t seen anything.

Despite never having set foot in the Southern Hemisphere, I was struck by the whimsical nature of tourists— but I was completely captivated.

On cloud nine, so to speak.

Utterly mesmerized.

"Beautiful..."

Even Hitagi, who was far more experienced and well-versed in stargazing than I, was at a loss for words, barely managing to whisper her awe.

It was hard to believe that just moments ago we had been engaged in a heated debate. As if in harmony, we hugged, and without a care for the dirt on our clothes, we both sat down, somewhere between here and there.

No, we lay down.

With our hands still intertwined.

Just as we had on that very first date.

The ground was completely dry— was this the blessing of the snail goddess, or perhaps the searing stones of hell ready to burn unfillial souls like ours? The latter seemed more likely, but in truth, it was neither.

I thought it wasn’t a meteor shower, but before we lay down, I caught sight of a shooting star in the sky; reflecting faintly against the surrounding stars, it shone uniquely like the Milky Way, taking the shape of a golden-haired girl.

The constellation of the Little Girl?

A girl with bat-like wings sprouting from her back— biologically impossible and aerodynamically implausible.

Yet, with my enhanced vision (although not quite a telescope), I could clearly see the shooting star, and even the giant sword she carried with her.

A sword, not a bow and arrow.

A legendary sword.

She cleaved through the clouds— no, the sky itself. Refusing to curve even once. In a single leap, she slashed straight through in one decisive stroke.

As if demonstrating the proper way to slay monsters.

Boldly and proudly.

"Kaka…"

Again, I couldn't help my vampiric laugh. Laughter was all I could muster— what a feat of strength. To be sure, her vitality has, by some measures, increased like my vision had. But to think she would use the strength originally prepared to battle a nine-tailed fox for the sole purpose of splitting the heavens.

Really, an elaborate escapade.

Just to show my wife and me the starry sky spread above us, altering even the weather itself. It was a feat worthy of the former King of Aberrations. You’re clueless about human society, but you’re the best at surprising us, Shinobu.

"Thank you, thank you, thank you."

I whispered my gratitude three times.

Just like wishing upon a shooting star— but uncertain if it was voiced in time or not. Even with enhanced eyesight, the single streak of light that flashed as the mighty sword was lost among the galaxy of stars.

Leaving the rest to you two young ones.

I felt those words coming from the six hundred-year-old girl.

"That’s…" I spoke.

I remember that day as if it were only yesterday— though it now seems so far away, the treasure I received from Hitagi had become a treasure of mine as well.

"…That's Deneb, Altair, and Vega, right? The Summer Triangle?"

"Full marks."

A thousand marks even.

As she said this, much like a tutor giving lessons for entrance exams, my dear wife gently leaned in close to me, still hand in hand.

And so, today became a day to remember for us.

For our little family.

Husband, wife, and daughter.

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