The young man was brought inside this temple, which was inhabited by Sparrows in undulating garb. However, in his eyes, Suzume was the most marvelous. A large banquet was held in his honor, and innumerable dishes were served, so that the table almost overflowed, nearly capsizing. The Sparrows were remarkable hosts, with an incomparable sense of hospitality. They sat at the table in a room with walls decorated with tapestries and prints where, near a screen covered with gold leaves of three different shades, musicians were standing. The alliance of the koto, the shamisen, and the shinobue added beauty to the scene, in front of an embarrassed Nozomi, too little accustomed to all these richnesses. He appreciated all these attentions, but the subject that occupied all his thoughts had slipped away as soon as he was seated, leaving the young man somewhat distraught. He kept asking for Suzume. Fortunately, the Divine did not take much longer and entered the room, dressed in a magnificent furisode of a moiré green with a charming chrysanthemum pattern.

Nozomi stared at him, captivated, unable to look away, as the Sparrow moved forward to sit beside him.

Nozomi babbled, asking about everything at once; he worried about the Sparrow’s condition and immediately asked him if he was hurt, all while complimenting him on his outfit and relaying a few bits about his journey through the woods, adding his surprise about the discovery of the temple hidden in the mountain. Suzume, overwhelmed by the flood of words, put his wing on the young man's hand, amused by his behavior. Nozomi regained some composure and played with his feathers with his fingertips, returning to his most important question, even though he already knew the answer to it. The act of the old neighbor was tearing his heart out.

Nozomi prostrated himself before the bird and begged for forgiveness. He hadn't been there to protect him; he had let Suzume be mutilated. He trembled, holding back his tears, pounding his forehead on the ground over and over again, clenching his fists until his knuckles turned white. He felt… so… helpless. The Sparrow dismissed his fellows, who cleared the table, and laid a gentle gaze upon Nozomi, slowly caressing his hair. The boy was on the verge of tears as Suzume accepted this so simply… losing one's voice.

He quickly realized that the melody that had guided him to the Sparrow was the melody of his heart and that, no matter what happened, he would always hear it within him. Raising his sullen face, he came to press his forehead against that of Suzume’s. Words were futile when everything was so clear. Clumsily and groping, they came closer and, from smiles to kisses, they embraced each other. That night, Suzume wished that the sun would never rise and that, if it were inevitable, that everything would shatter.

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Koto: Traditional Japanese plucked stringed instrument (zither).
Shamisen: Japanese longneck lute with three strings.
Shinobue: Small bamboo flute.
Furisode: The noblest traditional kimono with very long sleeves.