The full moon rose like a silver coin tossed high into the sky, casting its glow across the shrine grounds. Lanterns shimmered, the chimes whispered secrets, and soft lights swirled as spirits slowly gathered, ready to pass beyond the veil.
Yuzume adjusted her robe with exaggerated solemnity and took a deep, shaky breath.
Riku, walking toward her with two tea cups, raised an eyebrow. "What's with the funeral face?"
She sniffled loudly and turned her back. "I… I just didn't think this day would come so soon."
He froze. "What?"
"The moon's full. The veil is open. The spirits are departing."
"Okay…"
"And you…"
"Me?"
She spun dramatically, arms wide, eyes watery. "You must go too, Spirit Riku!"
He blinked. "I'm not a spirit."
"Shh." She put a finger to his lips. "Don't speak, your energy is fading."
"I'm literally holding tea."
"You were… so brave," she continued, pacing slowly. "Despite your tragic passing, you always burned rice with such… conviction."
"I'm not dead."
"And your eggs! So runny. So haunting."
"Yuzume."
She looked up at the sky. "I can hear him. His voice lingers like smoke from a cheap incense stick."
He sighed. "Yuzu…"
"Oh no!" she gasped, stumbling back. "His spirit is clinging! That's not good for the shrine's balance. I must cleanse you!"
"I am not dead!"
She turned to the moonlight, raising her arms. "Great veil, release this lingering soul…"
"Yuzume, stop!"
"His voice… so lifelike," she whispered. "Almost real. So tragic."
Riku reached out to tap her shoulder.
She jerked away. "Don't! Spirits should not touch the living!"
He hesitated. "…Wait. You really can't see me?"
Silence.
"Yuzume?"
She turned away.
"Oh my god."
"I'm so sorry," she murmured.
"Yuzume?"
She sniffled.
"...Am I actually dead?"
He grabbed her shoulders, shaking her slightly. "Hey! I'm right here!"
Then she burst out laughing.
Riku stared. "You, you evil fox."
She was wheezing. "You thought, you thought…"
"You said I was…"
"Oh nooo," she mimicked. "Am I a ghost?"
"I panicked! It was very convincing!"
"I deserve an award."
He crossed his arms, glaring. "You're lucky I'm too emotionally stable to curse you."
"You literally shook me like a spirit bell."
She flopped down on the steps, wiping her tears. "Ohhh, I haven't laughed that hard in moons."
Riku huffed but sat beside her. "You are chaos."
"I am entertainment."
They sipped their tea as the spirits passed through the veil in a slow, glimmering stream. The shrine was quiet aside from the wind and the soft, distant bell that always chimed when a soul crossed over.
After a while, Riku asked, "So, do the spirits ever… not come back?"
"Some do. Some don't." She shrugged. "Some are just ready."
He looked toward the veil. "Would you ever go through it?"
She was quiet.
"…Not yet."
He didn't push.
The night stretched on, full of candlelight and stars and lingering warmth.
Eventually, she nudged his shoulder.
"Hey."
"Yeah?"
"You really were bad at those eggs."
"I will haunt you."
"Already ahead of you."
They both laughed again, softer this time.
And somewhere in the distance, the chimes rang like gentle applause.