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Short Summary[]
Kugaha continues with his plot to replace Bishamonten by driving a wedge between her and Kazuma. Yukine learns of Suzuha's death and confronts Bishamon at her estate in Takama-ga-hara.
Extended Summary[]
The chapter opens with Hiyori Iki, Aimi Tabata, and Akira Yamashita discussing their upcoming promotion exam to graduate from middle to high school at Shiratori Academy. They express concern that Hiyori might fall asleep during the exam, but she reassures them that she's just been staying up late to study and she won't fall asleep on test day. Hiyori then tries to excuse herself, but they stop her by asking why she bought three meat buns and whether she's been seeing a man. Hiyori confirms this, although she clarifies that it's a boy rather than a man and that it's not a romantic affair.
After she leaves, she notices a trashcan in an alleyway that moves when she looks at it. It tips over and Yato falls out of it, revealing that he'd been following her. Yato tells her that he's just watching over her, to which Hiyori replies that she doesn't understand his behavior (following her around, but avoiding interacting with her directly) but she's made up her mind to come visit him every day. She also promises she won't forget about him, then gives him the bag of meat buns she had bought for him and Yukine. Yato accepts them, crawls back into the trash can, and mumbles that he hopes she's telling the truth. When Hiyori asks him to repeat what he said, he instead tells her that he saw her underwear, and she kicks the trash can down the hill. Later, at Kofuku's house, Yato supervises Hiyori and Yukine's study session. Hiyori writes in her diary about her time spent with Yato and Yukine that day.
In the Ha-clan estate in Takama-ga-hara, Kuraha and Akiha ask Kazuma to play a game of Go; when he politely declines, they seem to agree that Kazuma has been upset lately due to everything that had happened the day before.
Kazuma then visits Kugaha and apologizes for his suspicion of him while trying to find the source of Bishamonten's blight the day before. Kugaha tells him not to worry since humans are bound to make mistakes; he also informs Kazuma that Suzuha is dead, explaining that he "suspects" Suzuha was eaten by ayakashi while caring for his beloved sakura tree in the lower realm. Kazuma then announces that he will be leaving to look into Suzuha's death, which Kugaha anticipates will be an opportunity to put the next part of his plan into action.
Back at Kofuku's house, Yukine asks Yato if it's okay to visit Suzuha today. Yato tells him not to see himor go anywhere near the sakura tree because it's dangerous, but offers no further explanation.
In Takama-ga-hara, Kugaha brings medicine to Bishamon, who has just woken up from sleep. He laments that Kazuma isn't there for her during her time of need, and tells her that there are rumors that Kazuma had left the estate without permission to partake in an Ablution for Yato. Bishamon responds by laughing, disbelieving and deciding not to mistrust her shinki. When Kugaha leaves, he thinks to himself that he would never be able to replace Bishamon as long as Kazuma is still here.
Meanwhile, Yukine arrives at Suzuha's sakura tree, having gone there against Yato's advice. There, he finds Kazuma standing over a bouquet of flowers at the base of the tree, and quickly realizes that Suzuha might have died. Kazuma returns to one of Bishamon's shrines, thinking to himself that he has failed as a guide since he ignored the bigger picture. Just as he begins to teleport back to Takama-ga-hara, he's grabbed by Yukine from behind, and they are transported together to the Ha-clan estate. Kazuma urgently tells Yukine to run before he's seen by Bishamon, but as she is standing nearby, she has already noticed his presence.
Bishamon summons Gaiki and aims the handgun at Yukine. Kuraha discourages her from shedding any blood on the estate, but still prepares to cast a borderline against Yukine if needed. Yukine shouts that he's Suzuha's friend and calls his name repeatedly, concluding that he really is dead when he gets no reply. He demands to know why Bishamon wasn't able to protect him, and emphasizes how she had neglected to call Suzuha's name even though he cared for her so much. He accuses her of forcing her shinki to smile for her sake, and concludes that Suzuha chose not to defend himself against the ayakashi that attacked him; all the while, Bishamon and her shinki grow more upset and agitated.
Kazuma tells her to calm down, but she interrupts by asking if it's true that he went to Yato's Ablution the night that he disappeared from the estate without permission. Kazuma replies that Yato isn't her enemy, but her savior. Bishamon denies this and fires a shot at Yukine, but Kazuma stops it with a borderline. Bishamon, shocked that he would draw a borderline against his master, begins to revoke Kazuma's name. However, she stops herself and instead banishes him, claiming that he could become a stray for all she cared.
Kugaha watches on from the sidelines, pleased with these developments as he believes Bishamon would never call Chouki again. He next plans to use one of Yato's weaknesses to bait him into attacking Bishamon.
Characters[]
Character Debuts[]
No new characters debuted in this chapter.
Characters in Order of Appearance[]
- Hiyori Iki
- Akira Yamashita
- Aimi Tabata
- Sayuri Iki
- Tenjin (mentioned)
- Yato
- Yukine
- Daikoku
- Kofuku
- Kazuma
- Kuraha
- Akiha
- Kugaha
- Kinuha (flashback)
- Tsuguha (flashback)
- Bishamonten
- Suzuha (flashback)
- Gaiki
- Fumiha
- Kinuha
- Yugiha