Author's note: this was originally published as a separate drabble, but I thought I would include this in the collection of fic, Twice Shy, just for completeness' sake. Spoilers for Noragami Aragato episode 6.

.

"Kazuma. I hereby lift your exile. Be my exemplar again."

Bishamon watched as Kazuma lifted the diary to cover his face. He smiled. A tear slipped down his cheek.

Her shinki smiled and laughed quietly, holding hands and gathering closer around the bed. There was such a feeling of warmth and camaraderie, as if they were a real family. Bishamon has not felt such warmth in centuries.

"Alright, everyone," Bishamon said, straightening and clapping her hands. "Kazuma needs his rest. But first I need to have a few words with my exemplar."

"Hai hai, Ane-sama!" her shinki grinned up at her, beaming. "We'll see you later, okay?"

"Feel better, Kazuma-senpai!"

"Get well soon, Kazuma-san."

"I hope there's gonna be a romance," Aihi said, and Tsuguha moaned and grabbed her by the arm.

The door closed. It was just Bishamon and Kazuma again, alone in his room.

"Are you feeling better?" she asked. She moved to sit beside him on the bed. Kazuma smiled and nodded, wiping his eyes.

"I am," Kazuma said. His eyes were bright as they lifted up toward hers. "Thank you, Veena. I only hope I can be worthy of you."

"Don't be ridiculous," Bishamon said, and she hugged him. "You're my blessing. I need you by my side."

Kazuma's eyes filled with tears, and it was as if the events of the past few days gathered and spilled over: their misunderstanding, his exile. Her hurt and confusion and his guilt and shame.

Kazuma sank against her, and she knew he was still in need of comfort. Human warmth was a different sort of warmth. It was steady and constant, with a comforting weight and heft against her chest. Bishamon hugged Kazuma and she felt him press his cheek against her neck, his arms wrapped tightly around her. Quietly she rested her hand against his nape and rubbed soothing circles against his scalp, his shame and self-loathing falling away like caked-on sand.

A moment passed. Bishamon would have held him longer, but Kazuma was the one to pull away gently, smiling and wiping his eyes.

"Any longer and the others may get the wrong idea," Kazuma said, and Bishamon laughed fondly and stood.

"Rest well, my blessing," Bishamon said. She smiled down at him. He beamed up at her, smiling.

"I will," Kazuma said.

Their eyes met. She gently covered the name on his hand.

She was gently closing the door to his room when she heard it: soft giggling behind one of the pillars.

"Aiha? Tsuguha?" Bishamon poked her head around the corner; Aiha and Tsuguha straightened, suddenly.

"A-Ane-sama! We weren't spying! We were just wondering if Ane-sama kissed Kazuma-sempai!" Tsuguha said. Aiha gave her a horrified look before punching her in the arm.

"That's quite alright," Bishamon said, and she smiled at both of them. "I'm glad to see the two of you finally getting along."

And she walked down the corridor, shaking her head and smiling to herself, because once again her exemplar wasn't wrong.