"I want to be a god that makes people happy!"

Yato remembered the very moment those words slipped out of his mouth. It was a vivid memory, one that he mentally relived countless times. They were words that he wanted to never forget—they were a promise to himself. He feared what would happen if he forgot those words. If he broke his own promise, Yato knew he would go back to being a god that only brought death.

Killing people was something Yato never wanted to do again.

After all the events that arose regarding Ebisu—Yato winced thinking about the name, his death and reincarnation still so recent—Yato didn't want to slay anyone anymore. He wouldn't put Yukine through such a task, and he released Hiiro who had always been reliable for such deeds. It's been said before that a god can do no wrong, but how could he touch the shrine Hiyori lovingly made for him with blood-stained hands? Could he really stay by her side if he killed other humans?

It wasn't just that. Yato didn't want to be remembered for slaughtering whatever he was told to. Not when his regalia sacrificed his life and changed in order to protect Yato. Why would anyone change form to protect a god that brought calamity?

"Yato?"

Yato had forgotten he was at Kofuku's. His mind had been engulfed by thoughts to the extent where everyone in the room faded and all he saw was darkness. Hearing his name called, the shadows began to dissipate.

"Yato!" Hiyori repeated. Her eyes bore into Yato's, and he noticed the frown on her face. The moment they made eye contact, Hiyori let out a breath. "Are you alright? You were kind of spaced out there."

He jolted up out of his sitting position, his body rigged from the sudden disturbance. Recalling that he was still at Kofuku's place, he took a quick scan of the room. No one else was there except for Hiyori, who was looking at him with concern.

"Oh, sorry, I must have been daydreaming," he said lightly, scratching the back of his head nervously. Then, Hiyori maneuvered herself to get a better look at the god's face. Yato slightly moved his head back as he felt his cheeks heat up.

After staring at him for a few moments, Hiyori pulled away and sighed. "Well, I was just saying I was about to head out, since it's almost sunset."

As she began to head out Kofuku's front door to say goodbye to the others, who were loitering in the yard, Hiyori stopped herself and turned on her heels to face Yato again. Her eyes looked a little glossy and pensive. "Yato, get some rest, okay?"

With that, she gave a small bow and exited Kofuku's place, exchanging farewells with Kofuku, Daikoku, and Yukine. Yato watched from inside as she gave a smile to the trio outside and began to disappear in the distance, but not before giving her head a slight turn to look back at Yato. He quickly diverted his gaze, not wanting her to think he'd been staring at her.

Once she was gone, Yato retired to the attic room he shared with Yukine, and sat on his on makeshift bed, crossing his arms behind his head.

Get some rest, huh? He thought to himself. Truthfully, he hadn't rested ever since the incident with Ebisu, and he inwardly winced again. He turned to his side and looked at the opposing wall. Ever since then, his mind was constantly overflowing with various thoughts and emotions, the emotions caused by Ebisu's death. He visited the new Ebisu often and enjoyed the company, but it was painful as well. Though he could sit and eat with Ebisu at the past incarnation's favorite restaurant, Yato knew that it wasn't the same Ebisu.

Despite the optimistic outlook he tried to have, the Ebisu he was with in the underworld had died. Even if a new Ebisu was born, the previous one's existence was no more. The deceased god would never again see the world with his own eyes.

Yato couldn't even fulfill the god's dying wish.

Ebisu wanted to bring happiness to others. Ebisu wanted to eat at the Olive Tavern once more. Ebisu didn't want to die. Yato couldn't even fulfill that wish.

Yato clutched his sheets tightly in his hands as he scrunched his eyes and quivered, fighting back tears. The emotional pain began to feel like a physical ache in his chest and tightness in his throat. He raised an arm to cover his eyes as a few stray tears slid down his face, and then drifted off to sleep.

The next day, Yato walked along the street bouncing a single 5 yen coin in his hand. "That was the easiest job I ever had!" he said with a smirk, continuing to throw and catch the coin. He then clasped his hand securely around the coin as his grin faded. "Though, it is a bit degrading for a god to do chores."

He instinctively awaited a quip of some sort from Yukine, but then remembered he didn't take his regalia with him. Kofuku was showing him something, and Yato didn't need a weapon to do chores anyway, he just needed to fold some clothes and move some laundry. Recently, Yato hadn't been picking up small jobs that didn't necessarily require the aid of a god, but he wanted something to do rather than sit at Kofuku's all day.

As Yato continued his journey back to Kofuku's, a strange feeling ran down his spine. The movement of people walking by seemed to slow as Yato looked around. He was being watched. By who? He had no idea.

Why does this crap happen when Yukine's not around?

Aware that he was without his regalia, Yato quickened his pace, trying to hurry back to Kofuku's house. He didn't want to bring trouble, but that was the only way of obtaining Yukine. Hopefully he could handle whatever was pursuing him with his regalia.

Before he knew it, Yato had broken out into a sprint, making it aware that he had noticed his pursuer. Wind ripped through his hair as he weaved through the meandering crowds of people. He'd take a quick glance back every few moments to see if he could spot whoever or whatever was chasing him, but to no avail.

The crowds started to thin out as Yato got farther and farther away from the busiest streets. For one last time, he glanced behind him and found nothing. It was when he turned his head, that's when he saw something.

"Smells nice."

It was huge and too close to dodge, and Yato simply braced himself for impact as the phantom raised one of its appendages and slammed it down on the ground. Yato choked as his back braced with the hard ground, his body reeling in pain. Before he could even think about moving, the phantom wrapped one of its limbs around Yato's leg and sent him flying into a nearby wall and then crashing face down.

The only thing Yato registered before succumbing to darkness was the sight of two black boots making their way towards him. Then, Yato closed his eyes.