4 stars.
I feel like so much happened in this volume. I'm happy that Hiyori's return to school after the hospital incident went smoother than I was expecting. I'm happy she had her friends to be there for her and let her know that they didn't think anything bad about her or her family. That part where Ebisu says that "the ones who truly save people are people" really got me. I also loved that he let Yato know that he wasn't mad about Yato's role around the previous Ebisu. That moment where young Ebisu flashes back into the older Ebisu was beautiful. I also liked that after Yato's call with Hiyori, where she tells him that she thinks things will be okay, he remembers Ebisu's words and we see both older Yato and younger Yato processing that. Older Yato is happy for her, while younger Yato is heartbroken at the thought. I just that that was beautifully done.
Seeing Bishamon struggle to help her shinki, Tsuguha, after the attack from Yato's dad, was so saddening. Her asking Yato to show up and give advice on how to save her and understanding what exactly Yato's dad did, says a lot, since she usually refuses to be in the same space as him. I'm sad that the only solution he said was possible, was for her to release Tsuguha. I'm also sad that once Tsuguha was attacked by Yato's dad, and her name fractured, she never had a chance of recovering. The way she died when she was a human was so upsetting. It also hurt that Bishamon couldn't bring herself to release Tsuguha. Kazuma killing Tsuguha, after she turned into an ayakashi, even though Bishamon was telling him not to, was such an intense moment. Seeing him say to himself that he didn't do the wrong thing and that he was right was so..... much.... I like the layers that Adachitoka are giving all the characters, including the ones we consider the good guys. I'm not sure if it's true but I wish he did things in a different way, regarding Tsuguha.
The moment the Stray and Yukine had, where she simply tells him to watch out for Kazuma was unnerving. Yukine admitted to Kazuma that the Creator is Yato's dad and that Yato will cease to live if his dad dies. Seeing Kazuma be so protective with Bishamon and their clan is nothing new, but after all that they have been though with their previous clan and current one, we are really seeing the lengths that Kazuma will go, even at the expense of those who are his friends. Him forcing Yukine to give him information about Yato's dad against his will was upsetting. I loved that Yukine was able to break his abilities and I think in the next volume, we are going to see them come head to head as blessed vessels of their respective gods. (I remember Yato saying that Kazuma could never beat the Stray, since he bowed down to her and Yato when asking for help. He mentioned that shinki's power are hierarchal which why Kazuma feels that he can overpower Yukine so easily, since Yukine is a younger shinki/trusts him/is his apprentice, yet is shocked when Yukine is able of breaking his spell. I think also when Yato/Yukine were fighting with Yato's dad and the Stray, Yato's dad was hoping to fracture Yukine's name like he did with Bishamon's shinki. When Yukine stood firm against the Stray, that seemed to have shocked everyone. I think Yukine may be stronger than Kazuma and the Stray, or at least have the potential to be.)
And with allll this happening, Kugaha ended up erasing his name from gods, including Tenjin. He apparently did so with Yato's dad's help, so I'm curious to know what will become of him and what are the three of them up to now.
Sooo much has happened and even with all I wrote, I feel like I'm missing some scenes or plot points that I loved or that stood out to me. I really enjoyed this volume and the series continues to go to places where I wasn't expecting. (Also! I remember that we got to meet Hiyori's brother, Misaomi, as well as Hiyori's grandmother. I liked that her brother and grandma also seeing spirits like Hiyori, and that this is a family trait. Misaomi's interactions with Yato are very funny. I really loved the moment where Yato helped free the spirit that was stuck in the painting. I also loved that the entire family moved into the grandmother's house to be closer to her and for her not to be alone.)