代わりの柱
The New Pillar
Lifting his gaze to the towering Ohashirasama Shrine Tree, Kei-kun says…
(Kei): Yuu-ne, let's trade places.
Kei: ---Eh?
(Kei): I'll become the successor, so you leave the Shrine Tree, and return to a normal life.
(Kei): Together with Kei... okay?
Yumei: I can't do that.
(Kei): No, really, Kei needs you. She has Sakuya-san and friends, but she needs someone to live with her as family.
Yumei: Hakuka-chan, you two are siblings of the same blood. Not to mention twins!
(Kei): But unlike you, Yuu-ne, I've committed a lot of mistakes as an oni. Although, it's true that it's because of the wakemitama...
(Kei): After all that, there's no way I can mime an ordinary life and live with Kei, now.
Yumei: But......
(Kei): What's more, if I go home safely now, I'm supposed to get my head carried off somewhere, you see.
(Kei): I imagine going back on your word doesn't sit well with the Oni Slayer Group, and I have my own pride. The best way to reconcile this is me becoming the Ohashirasama.
Yumei: Hakuka-chan......
(Kei): You're all right with that, aren't you, Kei?
Kei: But...... is it okay?
(Kei): It's my own wish.
Walking close to the Ohashirasama Shrine Tree, Kei-kun spreads his hands around its trunk.
The moonlight dyes it in a pale blue glow...
No, the Enju tree itself releases a pale blue light, and the light spanning the heavens crafts a pillar.
Kei: Ohashirasama...
A giant pillar shining above... It truly has a divine bearing befitting its name.
Now that I think of it... in Japan, the counter for gods is "hashira (pillar)." (TN: Japanese is infamous for its complicated counting system. "Ippon" is one thin object, "ichimai" is one sheet-like object - or one flower petal - "issatsu" is one book, etc. For gods, it might be "icchuu," "ichi no hashira," or "hitohashira.")
Yumei: Hakuka-chan, is this really all right?
(Kei): Of course. I think there might be a misunderstanding. I'm really becoming the Ohashirasama because I want to.
Yumei: Is it all right...... if we ask why?
(Kei): I'm just a stubborn guy that hates to lose. My number one goal as Ohashirasama is to give that Nushi what for, after all.
Kei: Eh?
(Kei): I understand now that I couldn't win if we went at it normally, so I'm gonna go all out and shave away his power at three times the speed it's been until now.
(Kei): Let's see, now... maybe in another thousand years, we could have a good match.
Kei: Wah......
(Kei): I'm thinking Yuu-ne's cultural comeback might be a bigger problem, but good luck.
Yumei: Sakuya-san will probably teach me a trick or two when it comes to that.
(Kei): Is that so? Well, I can rest easy, then.
The Ohashirasama's shine grows stronger.
In that strong light, he begins to vanish...
Kei: Kei-kun......
(Kei): There's no reason to make that face... it's not like anything's disappearing.
(Kei): Just like the way Yuu-ne has been until now, I'm just changing my way of being.
(Kei): Well then, take care...
(Kei): ...until you see the Enju's guidance.