He turned around and opened his eyes slightly.
Golden light spilled from his eyes. "Why come out? Once you do, you'll face endless fear. One day, you might even have to watch a vicious demon devour you bit by bit. Do you have the courage to face that?"
Unease crossed Zenitsu Agatsuma's face. He forced a smile. "I want to try."
"You'll fight countless battles. You'll be wounded. You'll feel pain."
The golden-eyed boy spoke coldly. "You'll have to face everything you've refused to face!"
"I..." Zenitsu Agatsuma trembled slightly. He forced himself to stand firm and managed a smile. "I... want to try."
"You..."
The golden-eyed boy opened his mouth, but the anger on his face gradually faded.
He watched Zenitsu Agatsuma in silence, and Zenitsu Agatsuma watched him.
At last, he closed his eyes. "Then try."
His figure scattered like fine sand on the wind.
Then... let's try!
Zenitsu Agatsuma froze. He had thought he was about to face the hardest battle of his life.
Perhaps he would even die at the other boy's hands and be devoured by him.
But... what was happening now?
A glimmer of understanding suddenly dawned on him.
Fighting... that was what his shadow had always taken care of.
Whenever he couldn't go on, it was the shadow who kept him going.
But back then, the shadow had been faint as smoke or mist. Only when Zenitsu Agatsuma lost consciousness did he truly awaken.
He took control of everything that followed!
He faced every fear head-on!
So when he finally awakened for good, he had only wanted to take Zenitsu Agatsuma's place and help him face everything he had been afraid to face.
Devour him? Merge with him?
They had always been one person. Neither of those things applied.
"If hiding deep inside