Near the beach, the "female ghost" was waiting for them. Heizou revealed her identity.
[Heizou: "A small youkai born from an item, taking on a human form apart from its true body."]
["Should I call you a 'Mono-no-ke'… or a 'Tsukumogami'?"]
In the illustration, the "female ghost" restrained her youkai power. Her flowing hair settled, and her expression became natural, revealing a striking beauty.
[Hanyuuda Chizuru: "…No need for the fuss. I have my own name: Hanyuuda Chizuru."]
Chizuru didn't want to interact with the Traveler because she didn't want to form a bond that would sadden the Traveler when she inevitably disappeared. As for the story of Kamaitachi and the human samurai, there was more to it.
Ten years later, the human samurai was thirty-five. The two hit it off as if no time had passed, drinking, roaming, and sparring. Kamaitachi laughed heartily. Another ten years passed, and the samurai, now forty-five, was at his peak. During their spar, he gained a slight edge, slicing Kamaitachi's weapon. Kamaitachi was stunned. From then on, Kamaitachi swore off alcohol and trained, determined not to disappoint his old friend in the next decade.
Another ten years, and the samurai was fifty-five, called to defend the border during wartime. In the illustration, Kamaitachi stood alone under the night sky, the loneliest he'd been in thirty years, head drooping as he walked into the forest. But he didn't think much of it—just another ten years, what's the wait?
Indeed, for a youkai, ten years is a fleeting moment. But for a human, he was now sixty-five, white-haired and frail. Kamaitachi hesitated to recognize him. The samurai, weathered by years of battle, was covered in scars, his hair fully gray, an old man near his end.
[Kamaitachi, after a moment of silence: "Hey, kid, can you still wield a sword?"]
His address never changed, still calling him "kid," just like their first meeting.
[Human Samurai: "I'm old now, unable to bear the burden. This time… I've come to say goodbye."]
[Kamaitachi sighed, "I see…"]
But he quickly perked up, unwilling to let this somber mood linger in their final moments. He pulled out a hagoita, smiling faintly, and asked:
["So, how about one last round of 'Akitsu Haneasobi'?"]
The game that brought them together would now be the one to see them part. The samurai's aging body couldn't keep up, and he faltered before the game could finish, barely able to stand.
[Kamaitachi looked up, sighing: "Alas… what a pity."]
At their first meeting, the human said: Something to look forward to.
At their parting, the youkai said: What a pity.
Decades of time, for a youkai, were less than a hundredth of their life. Truly, "forming bonds only leads to sorrow."
Would Kamaitachi, in the future, absentmindedly call out, "Kid, come drink with me," only to realize he's gone? Even though everyone had guessed this ending, the story still left a lingering sense of loss.
You know, I've always been weak to "zero-frame startups" and "overlong wind-ups," and now I have to add "flashbacks" to the list. I knew the ending, but I couldn't dodge it. Why didn't I avoid the pain when I saw it coming?
Venti downed his wine in one gulp. Sometimes, being unable to get drunk after a thousand cups isn't a blessing. The last two stories were about life and death, and now another? Lucian, are you ever done? Readers thought it over: Kamaitachi's personality resembled Itto's, and Itto has plenty of human friends too. Decades from now… Itto would have to personally bid farewell to every member of the Arataki Gang, including Shinobu.
Mature readers were already cutting themselves with imagined knives, mourning for things that hadn't yet happened for Itto fans. That said, Inazuma readers were familiar with "Kamaitachi" youkai—creatures known for their incredible speed. For a samurai to cut his weapon, he couldn't have been some unknown warrior. With such skill, he could've founded a school!
Strangely, no one in modern Inazuma had heard of this "sword saint." Kitsune Saiguu, however, remembered him. She loved both humans and youkai, so she paid special attention to such friendly human-youkai relationships. She knew they would later contribute to the Abyss War. Ei, on the other hand, knew nothing, too engrossed in martial training to care. The human's swordsmanship was impressive, but not enough to catch her eye—she was only interested in the strongest. As for the Abyss War, by the time she returned, most people were already dead.
Makoto, however, remembered this man and even recalled the name of the school he founded. Her sister didn't even know about such things—she needed more training.
[Hanyuuda Chizuru: "From 'something to look forward to' to 'what a pity,' just a few short decades."]
["After witnessing it all, I realized a cruel truth: all the things that leave us wistful were destined to happen from the start—"]
["We have different lifespans, different natures, yet we live on the same land, interacting, attracting one another, only to part in haste."]
["When the dream ends, all that remains is eternal longing and unresolvable pain…"]
Those words… Venti set the book aside, leaned back, and pulled his hat over his face. A bit drunk, he'd continue later. Wistful things were destined from the start, but if he could do it again… I… I'd probably still be drawn to you, wouldn't I?
"Friend, won't you come with me?"
I… still want to go with you. But halfway through, you stopped walking. That's okay—I'll carry you with me and keep going. We'll go together!
Lifting his hat, the warm tavern lights hit his eyes. Too warm, it made it easy to get lost in thought, but he'd already reminisced in the "darkness." The concealing darkness faded, the "dream ended," and what remained was indeed eternal longing…
Venti steadied himself, ready to drink and read on, when someone arrived. His table was suddenly full of people. Kaeya and Amber's smiling faces came into view. Diluc and Rosaria were expressionless, but their eyes betrayed concern. Eula was there too—Amber had come to keep her company.
They'd been there for a while but saw Venti alone on the second floor and thought he wanted solitude. Noticing his odd state, they came up.
"Why're you drinking alone without us? Are we still drinking buddies or what?" Kaeya said with a laugh. Probably only he'd talk to Venti like that in all of Mondstadt.
"Exactly, punish yourself with a drink," Rosaria added. Okay, her too.
"Drink up. Kaeya's paying," Diluc chimed in.
Kaeya's eyes widened. Me? Pay? He sneakily checked his wallet—hmm, should be enough. If not, he'd borrow from Diluc.
Venti laughed. See, that's the thing about these wistful moments. Even knowing they'll happen, you're still drawn to them… Humans, what an unreasonable bunch.