Reminiscence (
Short Summary[]
Following the defeat of Father, Kazuma begins to recall his memories and his true name. Meanwhile, Father vows to find a new lifeline to be able to come back again. Father Recalls his reminiscence, how his life was, how he died, how he met Izanami, and how he became determined to come back to life again. Back to his consciousness again, Father tells Yato how he is still alive and shows his resolve to achieve his goal. Meanwhile Bishamonten eventually finds Kazuma after looking for him.
Extended Summary[]
Chapter 103-1[]
Clutching at his neck wound, Father reverts Mizuchi back to her human form and immediately tells her to stop the bleeding. She tells him not to move and quickly uses his Divine Covering to try to bandage him. Father seems confident that they shattered and killed Rekki, since his blade broke in two after the previous hit. Yato reverts Kazuma to human form, claiming that since Rekki can split himself into multiple form, he only appeared to be shattered and isn't actually dead. However, the Stray asserts that she felt a reaction, having put her all into destroying him. Kazuma claims that it doesn't matter either way, and falls to the ground when he tries to walk toward them. He claims that he's fine, only a little injured, when Yato shouts his name in concern.
Father appears to lose consciousness, and the Stray desperately calls his name in the background while Yato and Kazuma converse, glad that the battle is finally over. Kazuma collapses onto his back, smiling in relief that Bishamonten would probably forgive him even if she finds out he became a stray.
Kazuma removes his glasses and, to Yato's shock, mentions that his past life was flashing before his eyes. He admits that he was curious about how Yukine spoke about his sister and parents, making him question if he also had a family. He pictures them, wondering aloud why he would forget about them if they were precious to him. He hears his name being called, and just before he says his own real name, Yato interrupts with an apology for getting him caught up in this. Kazuma smiles and says that it's alright, and he can finally go home. He appears to run towards his deceased family, and Yato is devastated when Kazuma's body disappears.
The Stray, distressed over Father's condition, yells at Yato that she hopes he gets eaten by an ayakashi and dies. Yato thinks to himself that such an end, where he is made to disappear without a trace, would be fitting for him.
Meanwhile, Hiyori travels through the forest, visibly exhausted and concerned that she doesn't feel lighter on her feet now that she's dropped out of her body. Her cord– now nearly severed– suddenly causes her pain, and she considers that she should be more careful with it. Hiyori then realizes that she can no longer smell Yato, and wonders if he was taken away by Father again.
Father's soul is walking the river between shores. He picks his severed head up from the river, thinking that he won't let things end here. He decides that he needs to find a new lifeline. Notably, Father carries a rope tied around his wrist; the other end of the rope is looped around the neck of an unidentified person sitting on one of the shores. Father walks toward them, passing two other bodies laying in the water with ropes around their necks, thinking to himself that he will come back using his lifeline as many times as it takes until his wish is granted.
Chapter 103-2[]
The chapter opens with a flashback of Father's past. Kaya snapped Father out of a daze by taking a lock of his hair between her fingers, commenting that it's grown out lately. When Father asked her where he was, she explained that they're in the village where he washed up. Two men atop a hill behind them then called out to Father, asking for his help with someone who has collapsed in the street and clocked the road. She encouraged him to help, saying this is a world of give and take.
One night, while the villagers are trading food, Father was accused of hiding food at his house. The villagers looked at him with suspiscion, but Kaya interrupted by arriving with mochi to share with everyone present. Kaya later found Father by the riverside, visibly upset and throwing stones into the water. She commented that everyone gets agitated easily because of their hungry, including him. She then replaced the stone in his hand with one of the mochi, and told him that it's okay not to forgive something, but it's also important that he can let go of things.
On another day, the group of men who threw Father into the river arrived in the village to collect dues. One man on horseback stole rice from Kaya, and Father suddenly attacked him. Kaya watched on, terrified, as he suffered a fatal injury.
Having finished recounting this story to Izanami, Father again mistakenly referred to her as Kaya. While they carved masks together, Father remarked that gods or the Buddha would never have been willing to appear to him in Kaya's likeness. Izanami suggested that Father should ride the wind of a vent to return to the world of the living, and to get others to view her more favorably once he does. Father then stole the Word from her and began to run away. He wondered for a moment why he would even want to return to the hellish world of the living, but quickly remembered Kaya. At the same time Father thought to himself that he could hear Kaya's voice, her shadowed figure shouted down a vent. He resolved to return to her and change the world.
In the present, Bishamonten continues to call for Chouki. He eventually responds to her summon, and she lands on a rooftop and reverts Kazuma, Kinuha, and Kuraha to human form. Bishamon cries in relief when Kazuma wakes up in her arms. Kazuma thinks of his family, deciding that isn't finished with his life as a shinki but promises to one day join them in the grave.
Meanwhile, Father suddenly awakens, much to the Stray's relief. He brushes her off and calls out to Yato, explaining that he has two lifelines– one who has remained hidden, and another (Koto Fujisaki) who Yato is familiar with. Father then sheds Fujisaki's appearance and paints a mask onto his own true face using the Word, stating that he has done this countless times to stay alive.