ChibiJirachi Appeared!

Tsukumo Shrine's temple lodgings • Toka's room——.

Almost a month had passed since Toka had returned to his original form and begun to live as a human.

‘I've brought you some snacks. They're cookies, but if you like, please eat them with the priest.’

‘Thank you for always doing this. From the wrapping, might I assume……these are your handmade cookies?’

‘Yes, I think they turned out pretty well this time.’

‘Heheh- They always taste good. This batch is no exception, I’m sure.’

‘….It makes me happy to hear you say that, but you haven’t even tried them yet……’

‘You made them with love, so I’m certain they will be.’

‘I-Is that so……’

I was always happy to receive his compliments, but as someone hoping to become a pâtissier, I couldn’t help wanting to hear an honest opinion.

And it wasn’t just when it came to sweets. Toka-san accepted everything I did. And while I very much appreciated that…..

……Back when he had been a god, he’d been strict….. Or perhaps more…..I wasn’t quite sure how to put it….

……It couldn’t be that I’m actually longing for a misfortune? N-No way! That’s not true……I think.

‘……Is there anything else you want to say? Love aside, just about the cookies themselves, um……some kind of advice?’

Although I tried to use words to remind him of back then, Toka-san immediately opened his mouth and said—

‘I’d love it if you could make some for me again.’

‘Ah, sure.’

……I don’t think that counted as advice.

‘……Now that you mention it, there is something I’d like to ask you to do for me……’

‘Of course!’

Argh, at this point, it didn’t even need to be advice—!

With that energy, I looked at Toka-san.

‘Next year, on September the 9th, would you make me a peach cake?’

‘……Is there something on that day?’

Toka-san gave a soft smile and came up next to me, gently putting a hand to my cheek.

‘Thirteen years ago on September 9. I met a little girl.’

‘!’

His face came closer.

Although I felt shy, I couldn’t turn my gaze away. No, I didn’t want to look away.

‘No matter what misfortunes I bestowed on her she never gave up, spending her days with a positive outlook……and before I even realized it, I had fallen in love with her.’

Toka-san laughed a little, then shook his head.

‘No, perhaps describing it in a single word like “love” isn’t quite right……’

Our first meeting, that I didn’t know about.

No, that wasn’t true, I had heard a little bit about it from Toka-san, but……

‘In that case, there’s something I’d like to ask of you as well. I’d like you to tell me again about what happened back then. This time, in more detail……would that be alright?’

Toka-san nodded and gently brought his lips to my cheek.

While my heart pounded at this gesture, I absentmindedly began to think of a “certain thing.”

……So that we would be able to reach September 9 without any troubles, I had to bring an end to the nightmares I was dreaming every night——.