For a moment, just as the first crackle of fireworks painted the night sky above White Lily Lake an iridescent gold and crimson, the crowd at shore stood frozen, caught between awe and amazement at the shimmering spectacle that burst through the dimming sky. Then came another explosion of blue, green, and purple, before the silence that had gripped the crowd finally broke into thunderous applause and cheers that rippled across the lake’s surface like a tide. One after the other, more colours bloomed against the dark night that hung above the lake, scattering like embers falling from stars before vanishing into trails of smoke. The celebration that had just been teetering on the edge of calamity was drawing to its triumphant resolution.

“Thank you all for coming!” Aria’s voice sounded just as the fireworks were slowing to a halt, the final sparks of radiant light dimming into a faint glow,“This marks the end of the celebration, and I hope everyone has a good rest of their evening!”

The crowd clapped again, joy and satisfaction evident as the noise radiated across the town square. General, who had remained in the crowd besides Hanako after Akako had valiantly leapt into the lake to confront Kami, finally spoke, “Impressive,”

His voice was low and thoughtful, and though he gave no other verbal indication as to the referent of his utterance, his gaze that lingered not on the night sky but towards the waters below, where the rafts were still adrift on the lake’s surface made his meaning evident nonetheless.

“That’s Akako for you,” Hanako murmured his agreement as he followed General’s line of sight. There was an unshakable certainty in his words, “I don’t think there’s anyone in Mystorica who cares more about the village and its people than Akako. Once he sets his mind on something, he’ll see through it to the end no matter what.” 

General gave only a small, contemplative nod in response. Out on the rafts, Kami’s face was now twisted with rage and scorn, while Akako stood opposite him, smirking with pride and triumph as the last glimmers of the fireworks faded around them.

“You just got lucky,” Kami spat, voice dripping with venom, “Next time, you won’t be so fortunate.”

“Next time,” Akako interjected, voice confident and certain, “I’ll stop you, too. No matter what happens, I’ll give my all to protect the village!”

Kami snorted with barely concealed disdain. Then, with a sharp turn, Kami leapt into the air and vanished into the shadows, leaving only Akako still standing upon the raft, the pale moon above mirrored in the final ripples of the water beneath his feet.

Meanwhile, far away from the celebration’s closing stood a lone figure amongst the last traces of melted snow. He looked towards the sky, watching the final flickers of light from the fireworks fade, before a wide, eerie smile crept onto his face.

“Finally,” He spoke, his words thick with a mixture of anticipation, excitement, and hunger, “You’ve hidden yourself well- But alas! The last of the Gods shall fall beneath my blade!”

With that, the figure stepped through the torii gate in the cover of night, traversing into Mystorica’s shadowed basin beyond.