At that moment—
Shinju slowly opened his eyes. His head was spinning.
The ground beneath him was cold,
and for a while, he couldn't remember where he was.
But then… he felt a weight on his chest.
He looked down slowly.
Someone was sleeping on top of him.
Long silver hair caught the last glimmers of light,
and her face looked peaceful.
Koharu.
Shinju's eyes widened.
> "W–what… what's going on?"
In a panic, he tried to sit up, but when he moved,
Koharu's head slid off his chest, nearly falling.
Shinju reached out instinctively to catch her,
only making the situation even worse.
> "Wait, I— I mean— this isn't what it looks like— I didn't do anything!"
Koharu's eyes fluttered open.
Their gazes met.
Both froze.
> "A-ah! I—!"
"No! Don't get the wrong idea! I just woke up, and you were on— I mean I was under— no, wait, the opposite—!"
Shinju flailed his hands helplessly, words tumbling over themselves.
Koharu just stared for a second—
then covered her mouth and giggled.
> "Relax… I can see you're fine."
Shinju froze, speechless.
He wanted to say something,
but the words tangled in his throat.
> "I'm sorry," he said quietly.
"That shield… it was nothing but a curse.
I'm not a demon."
Koharu lowered her head.
She gently placed her hand on Shinju's chest.
There— glowing brighter than she had ever seen before—
was a pure white aura.
> "I've never met anyone as kind as you."
"You're the most human person I've ever known, Shinju."
Shinju's breath caught.
There was such warmth, such faith in her words—
his eyelids began to sting.
A single tear rolled down his cheek.
Then another.
Koharu gasped and leaned closer.
> "Hey… are you crying?"
Shinju turned his head aside with a shy smile.
> "I guess… it's the first time someone's ever called me 'human.'"
Koharu smiled softly—
then, without warning, wrapped her arms around him.
> "I believe in you."
Shinju's face turned crimson.
> "U-uh… maybe you're a bit too close?"
"Why, are you embarrassed?"
> "No, it's just… I'm two hundred and twenty years old."
Koharu's eyes went wide.
> "Whaaat?! Are you serious?! You look my age!"
Shinju shrugged lightly.
> "My body doesn't age— it's part of my cultivation technique."
Koharu immediately pulled back, hands on her hips.
> "Then what am I supposed to call you?
Big brother? Uncle? Grandpa? Great-grandpa?"
A mischievous grin curved her lips.
> "Though… you're way too handsome for me to call you any of those."
Shinju sighed and chuckled helplessly.
> "You're such a strange girl."
They both laughed.
Soon, they were sitting side by side on the rocks.
Thanks to Koharu's healing magic,
the ground around them had begun to sprout green shoots.
The black soil was turning lush with grass.
The wind softened,
and for the first time, the sky took on a faint shade of blue.
Shinju gazed around in quiet awe.
> "I've never seen anything like this before."
Koharu looked up at the sky, eyes shimmering.
> "Maybe this world… is finally learning how to breathe again."
Together, they watched the horizon in silence.
In the middle of the void,
the slow bloom of green
felt like the promise of a new beginning.