Hearing Naraku speak so openly, lowering himself so completely...
The atmosphere inside the box instantly turned warm and relieved.
"Tch—"
Just then...
Inuyasha, who had been leaning against the wall with his arms crossed, suddenly split into a grin.
Out of habit, he rubbed a finger under his nose.
He looked at Naraku and laughed in his usual blunt, carefree tone.
"You really have turned into a good guy, huh!"
"Seeing you all fussy and sentimental like this feels kind of weird~"
At that, Inuyasha dropped his arms and strode up to Naraku. Looking him straight in the eye, he laughed heartily and said, "Fine!"
"Since you've already proven your resolve and sincerity..."
"Let's just call all that crap from before completely over."
"From now on, the grudge between us is wiped clean. We're friends from here on out~"
"Inuyasha's right!"
Beside him, Kagome's face bloomed with a gentle, sweet smile as she nodded in agreement.
Monk Miroku also smiled as he stepped forward and lightly patted Naraku on the shoulder. "The Buddha says, lay down the butcher's knife and become a Buddha on the spot."
"Naraku, since you've been reborn, of course we're willing to accept a friend with kindness in his heart."
"Exactly, exactly!"
"Naraku's a really good person now!"
The "little fox demon" Shippo also lay sprawled over Inuyasha's shoulder, loudly chiming in.
The faces before him had once been filled with hostility, yet now they brimmed with sincerity and friendliness.
On Naraku's warm, jade-like face, a smile of genuine joy appeared from the bottom of his heart.
It was the ease of setting down every guard and burden.
Naraku took half a step back and folded his hands before his chest.
He gave Inuyasha, Kagome, and the others a deep Daoist bow.
"To receive your forgiveness