In the early morning, under a driving rain, the lover, protected under his sandokasa and a shawl offered by the Sparrows, thanked again his hosts for their generosity and hospitality before departing. A little further back, Suzume observed him before moving forward to take his hands. The rain falling on Nozomi’s face hid his many tears. A Sparrow with a nasal voice curiously questioned Nozomi about his motivations.

He who had come all the way to find Suzume, facing the growing darkness of the woods; he who had even gone so far as to shed tears, asking forgiveness for another; now, he was leaving serenely, leaving the Sparrow who, having no voice, will not follow him.

“I love him! His radiant face bathed in light when he smiles; his angelic voice encouraging the sun's course, day after day. I love the bird that taps my tile in the morning and flies away as soon as evening comes. When I hold him in my arms, I have the beauty of the sky in the palm of my hands!”

This proclamation was, without a doubt, the most beautiful thing Suzume had ever heard, and, with a smile, he joined the row, getting ready to watch his brave Nozomi leave.

Just before he left, the master of the house came to present him with two chests. One, small and wooden, decorated with bird silhouettes made of eggshells, and another, imposing, massive, and richly carved. The young man began by refusing to accept the present, but, faced with the stubbornness of the old one, he conceded defeat. He chose the small chest, holding it against him, sheltering it from the rain, before taking the road that would lead him far from here.

Following his lover's gaze until the last moment, Suzume felt his heart ache. He rushed into the temple, crossing it like a draft, abandoning his haori and discarding much of his rain-heavy kimono. Simply dressed in silk, his claws clung to the railing of the highest balcony on the façade, and, as the wind threatened to capsize him into the void, the Sparrow opened his wings and screamed as never before against the sky.

Nozomi, who was walking down a muddy path through the valley, was heartbroken when he heard the hoarse voice of his beloved resound. Then, time seemed to stand still for a few moments, and the rain stopped. Between the thick clouds, a few rays of sunshine lit up the valley under the young man's amazed eyes. Suzume was right – seen from here, the village was beautiful.

From now on, the multiple droplets falling from the sky could no longer hide the sadness of the Sparrow.

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 Sandokasa: Straw or woven bamboo hat in the shape of a large bowl