The River God looked kindly at Kujou Oto and Kazuko, smiling in relief before turning to Seele.
"You're Oto's friend, aren't you?"
"Yes, Grandpa River God. She's Seele... a friend I know." Kujou Oto hurriedly nodded as she introduced Seele.
"Hello... Grandpa..."
Seele nodded shyly to the River God, looking every bit like a bashful little girl.
"Good... very good... Oto has friends now. That's a good thing. Now Grandpa can finally rest easy!"
The River God looked at Seele, genuinely delighted.
"Grandpa River God, that stinking cat said you were going to disappear forever. She must have been lying to us, right? I know that stinking cat loves telling lies."
After they had chatted amicably for a while, Kazuko still couldn't help asking the question that had been weighing on her mind.
"..."
At Kazuko's words, the River God's smile froze. Though he forced himself to keep smiling, the atmosphere suddenly grew heavy.
"Kazuko, don't talk nonsense."
Even Kujou Oto couldn't help shooting Kazuko a glare.
"As they say... all good things must come to an end... Oto, Kazuko, you're both good children... From now on, take good care of yourselves."
"What I worried about most was Oto, but now it's all right! Oto has friends of her own now. And... Kazuko, I know you're a good child, but... don't keep provoking Kanou in the future. She... she hasn't had it easy either."
"If you're truly bored, Kazuko, then leave this place and find somewhere that suits you."
As though he were making his final arrangements, the River God kept speaking to them.
"Don't... don't say that! Grandpa River God, I'm not going anywhere." Hearing the River God's words, Kazuko's greatest fear had come true. She threw her arms around him.
"How could this happen? Everything was fine.