#MORE SASE LORE!!! <3< /div>
Explore tagged Tumblr posts
zantedeschia-praesul ¡ 9 months ago
Note
Ok sorry but I gotta go 02 and 03 (for saseki ofc) 👀
@kowaindar0u
"Dear Diary..."
02. entry made on the best night of their life.
Friday, 19 February 2XXX (Arrival of Nagasone Kotetsu)
"War Training Expansion", they called it. Four pockets of battlefield to traverse, but the fourth is where we should be able to find Fudou. But given the luck I've been having, I'm convinced it will take a while for us to find him. The Government had warned us that he could be hidden away in pockets of time and space I can't traverse in.
But it was the second battlefield pocket where they...they found him.
Ishikirimaru's team had returned with everyone else, but I realized that Hachisuka's disposition had soured. I swore he was in a pleasant mood when I dispatched him together as second captain. They pulled him away leaving me with Ishikirimaru and another companion. "We found him, Aruji."
And there he was...with that black dandara on his white haori...that family crest on his armor that I recognize so well...
It was him...my Commander... Nagasone Kotetsu.
Ishikirimaru had told me of the "Kebiishi Phantasm" that would appear in the second pocket, but they wouldn't pose a similar threat to the real Time Police itself. And yet they managed to break through that time pocket, and he...Nagasone...they found him.
"I'm sorry I made you wait so long, Aruji, but I'm here now."
I had to be sure that I wasn't dreaming, but I couldn't even see past the tears that started falling on my face. I could hear my boys running into the hall where we stood, but not enough; I was transfixed towards the toudan I have sought after since the day they made me saniwa.
I held his haori, reached out to touch his face...and when he held my hand...I knew he was real.
And it was all I could do from stopping myself and ran straight into Nagasone's open arms, still with tears in my eyes. But understand, these were tears of joy, no doubt. The mixed voices of Kashuu, Izumi, Yasusada and Horikawa echoed through the hall as they too ran towards us both trying to hug each other.
He came back to me. To us. He's finally here with us.
The Shinsengumi are all assembled now.
I promise you, my beloved Commander. You will bring safety and glory again to the Ikedaya timeline. No one but the six of you--Kashuu, Mutsu, Nagasone, Yasusada, Izumi, Horikawa--are to traverse into that domain, and now that you're finally here, Nagasone Kotetsu, I can be assured that the raid will commence.
I have to thank Yagen too for helping the others reach this far. He had been so kind to accommodate them during Nagasone's absence. I must do something special for him soon...
03. entry made on the worst night of their life.
Wednesday, 20 July 2XXX (One Night to Endure)
"One night. Give me one night to endure this pain."
That was what I promised to Lord Hachiman after he cursed me with the bloody chain that bound me to all my Touken Danshi. I might've been foolish to take in all the pain and suffering that my swords were feeling this night, but if I hadn't...I might lose Yasusada again...
Bad enough that I almost lost Nagasone to the similar dark forces that tried to compromise everyone. They're not even tied to the History Retrograding Army at all...
(one page was stained dark red, clearly not from ink)
It's funny...I'm emulating Okita-kun again like this...coughing my life out every step of the way...I haven't even been able to see or hear him even before this...but Hijikata-san said that I will see him, in an unexpected way. I don't doubt my (the brush stroke here was streaked and the bottom page had a drop of dark red) Vice Commander's words...but at this point, would he want to show himself to me?
Oh...I didn't realize yesterday was my supposed birthday. Time and space tend to be weird here in this timeline. I completely forgot about it entirely, and it's probably for the best. Not really the best way to celebrate by having yourself overwhelmed with real physical pain, is it...
(more dark red spatters across the next page)
I need to endure this...I will endure this...
3 notes ¡ View notes
zantedeschia-praesul ¡ 9 months ago
Text
"No…I doubt they know of my existence, until that one night when I had strayed too far through the bamboo forest in Arashiyama…there was a…certain hidden pocket where I stumbled in…"
Tumblr media
His eyes seemed hazy this time, as if the memories were playing through his vision. "I heard…clashing of swords…of men in battle…sparks of metal flying in the air as I made through the pocket…and then...there were petals all around me..." He trailed off again, the grew quiet as the vision played through his mind again.
Head tilted slowly to one side, Saseki murmured rather softly, but still audible enough for Yuichi to hear. "The petals didn't let up as I went through, and the next thing I know, I was far, far away from where I should be. That was when the Government's emissary in my province properly summoned me."
Saseki shuddered, as if 'waking up' from his brief haze. He ate up the tail end of his taiyaki before washing it down with his tea, then sighed. "Though, to be fair, I had no idea of my...uh, inclination towards the Shinsengumi toudan, much less towards our one lone Tosa Imperialist sword at that time. But something told me I would fare better if Mutsunokami was to be my first and oldest."
Then he turned to Yuichi. "If you don't mind sharing with me, I'd like to know your side of the story too."
For a few moments, Yuichi is worried he's asked something out of line, or maybe something painful to think about, but he then grows curious once more. It seems Saseki is just recalling-- which makes sense, he thinks-- between time travel, and just the length of time he's been serving in his role, perhaps time has muddied it in a way...
He's drawn from that line of thinking as he listens.
"Oh. I see..." Yuichi nods thoughtfully, intrigued. "No wonder you're so..." He almost wants to say 'experienced', but that's not quite what he's looking for. "Well, you just seem to be a natural, I mean. If you've been around swords all your life, and even had your spiritual senses from a young age... That's amazing."
He takes a sip of his tea, but as he's placing it back on the table, he pauses for a short moment.
"Do you think the Government knew of you from the time you were young? Or was there...an instance you think they found you?"
They both know the Government of the Time is not the most transparent entity, and there may be no way to know the answer, but... that just makes all the more room for curiosity.
64 notes ¡ View notes
thefinalcinderella ¡ 1 year ago
Text
Tsurune Book 3 Chapter 5 - Declaration (Part 2)
Some juicy Masa-san lore drops
Glossary here
Full list of translations here
Translation Notes
A pun. The original is "denwa shite mo dare mo den wa"
A yorishiro is an object capable of attracting spirits and giving them a space to occupy
Previous | Next
At the long-distance range, Kazemai and Kirisaki were doing a joint practice.
Kyudo competitions were divided into short distance and long distance. For short distance, the distance between the archer and target was twenty-eight meters, and for long distance, it was sixty meters.
They were scored on this day, using scoring targets with a diameter of one-hundred centimeters. From the center, yellow was ten points, red was nine points, blue was seven points, black was five points, and white was three points. There were also large targets with the same pattern as the kasumi-mato. They used arrows normally used for long distance shooting. The shaft was thinner than that used for short distance, and the feathers had shorter widths and lengths. That was because the lighter the feathers, the better the arrow’s flight.
After entering the shajo, the three Kazemai second-year girls advanced to stand before the targets.
“Wow, that’s a long distance. I feel like a heavier bow would have an advantage here,” Hanazawa said.
“My bow weighs ten kilograms, but will my arrow reach the target?” Shiragiku said.
“I heard that you need to score at least thirty points on four shots to place at the National Athletic Meet,” Seo said.
It was then that Motomura and Sase, alumni of Kirisaki High School, appeared. They had been invited here as today’s special coaches. Those who met the two for the first time exclaimed, “It’s the legendary Saserin!”
Motomura had achieved eighth place at the National Athletic Meet. There was a gentle smile on his face.
“Even with a light bow, you’ll be able to hit the target if you learn the tricks. The purpose of this lesson is ‘hanare’. Since the first-years have just started holding a bow, their hanare tends to be small, so practice using your entire body to make a big hanare. The shooting method is the same Eight Stages of Shooting as usual, but the key point is ‘douzukuri.’ There is something called the ‘Five Torsos’ when it comes to douzukuri.”
Sase stood in front of everyone, holding an illustrated document. The illustrations depicted the idol Noririn, and there were detailed illustrated explanations of the Eight Stages of Shooting.
He opened the douzukuri page and showed it to everyone. Soru-dou, where the torso bent backwards. Kagamu-dou, where the torso bent forward. Kakaru-dou, where the torso was leaning towards the target. Noku-dou, where the torso was leaning to the right. Chuu-dou, where the torso’s center of gravity was the most stable with an upright douzukuri.
The Kazemai first-year Keyaki asked a question.
“I’ve heard that chuu-dou is better for short distance, but does that mean it’s different for long distance?”
“That’s right. Even if a slender princess like Noririn drew her bow like usual, her arrows won’t be able to fly far. First off, ashibumi should be almost the same as for short distance, or just a little bit narrower. And that’s where noku-dou comes in. Tilt your torso to the right. For hikiwake, the bow should be pointed slightly upward, and the arrow tip should be aimed slightly higher and at a fixed point. The arrow isn’t as horizontal as it is in front of the target!”
Sase, perhaps more enthusiastic than usual with Noririn in front of him, was speaking differently than usual. Kanabayshi’s eyes sparkled as he spoke vigorously, and Himuro was his usual Maitreya.
Motomura hid his mouth with a closed fist, brought the talk to an end while stifling laughter.
“I want you to focus on nobiai. In long distance, you should have a low trajectory, fast speed, and stretch yourself forward.”
Using Motomura’s voice as a signal, they stood in front of the targets with their bow and arrows.
First, Kanbayashi faced the target. Standing before a target that was farther and larger than usual, it was difficult to get a sense of distance. He wasn’t sure which direction to bend his body, so he swayed like a seesaw.
“Ah, I guess I raised the tip too high. It hit way too high up.”
He followed the arrow in a pose similar to a salute.
Keyaki went next. At kai, he leaned his body to the right, stretched left and right, and released his arrow. It missed the target.
“It’s surprisingly difficult to stretch out on the arrow line.”
Himuro shot in his usual form and hit the outermost white ring.
Hanazawa, Shiragiku, and Seo went after him. At daisan, they tried to bend backwards. They usually practiced to keep their douzukuri upright, so they had to do it a few times to get used to it. They had Motomura and Sase observe them from behind, and visually memorized which part of the yazuridou overlapped with the center of the target. After about twenty shots, they seemed to get the hang of it, and their hit rate skyrocketed.
At break time, they opened their lunch boxes. Minato passed around a large Tupperware to everyone.
“A former member of the bad pun association lives nearby, and he gave me some vegetables he grew himself. Have them if you like.”
Ryouhei immediately dug in.
“It’s eggplant and pork grilled with ginger. It really makes the rice taste better!”
“Recently, I’ve been trying my hand at home gardening. I was surprised to learn that there are so many varieties of vegetables.”
“Is there such a thing as a vegetable sommelier?” Nanao said.
Honeyed lemons were being passed around among the Kirisaki members. It was a staple snack of the Kirisaki kyudo club, which had been around for more than thirty years. Senichi put one in his mouth and another into Manji’s.
“I think I’ll learn how to cook too. I want to treat the person I like to a homecooked meal.”
“Sen-nii, you love me that much?”
“It’s obviously so that he’ll be popular with girls,” The third-year, Kabashima, hung his head. “Stop it. What happened to kickboxing? You guys are doing too many things.”
Next to him, Yushima nodded.
Kuon was also given a honeyed lemon. However, he said, “I don’t eat food made by amateurs,” and wiped his chin without even touching the container. The people around him either said “What’s with that attitude?” and “As expected of Kuon-sama.”
After the lunch break, the competition began.
Members of the Kazemai and Kirisaki kyudo clubs lined up with four arrows in their hands. The oldest students were going first.
Kirisaki’s Kabashima and Yushima were rolling their shoulders in preparation.
“Just you watch. I’m gonna land my arrow in the center in the name of Kirisaki. The Kazemai girls are paying attention. Yushima, why don’t you wear a wig? That’ll make you popular with the girls.”
“I wouldn’t mind going along with that if you put on a hippo’s tail, Kabashima.”
“…Did the twins’ foul mouth rub off on you?”
“Our club has a Young Prince, twins, and an antique doll, doesn’t it? If you keep staying in such an extraordinary place for a long time, hair will grow in your heart, even if it doesn’t on your head.”
“You’re quite right.”
As declared, the two hit the yellow and red rings and achieved the high scores of 35 and 31 points.
Among the second-year students, Shuu, Senichi, and Manji shot in a three-person team. The twins looked smug.
“Pupupupu, we’re the strongest trio.”
“Sen-nii, shoot right in the middle.”
Shuu’s arrows all landed in yellow, the highest point, and Senichi and Manji both got thirty-three points. When it was the first-years’ turn, Kuon also got a high score.
As for Kazemai, Hanazawa got eighteen points, Shiragiku got twenty, and Seo got thirty. Kaito got thirty-four, Ryouhei got twenty-three, Seiya got thirty, Nanao got twenty-seven, Minato got thirty-three, Kanbayashi got twenty-five, Himuro got twenty-eight, and Keyaki got sixteen.
After everyone finished shooting, Shuu had forty points and Kuon had thirty-nine, giving Kirisaki a one-two finish.
Unable to hide his delight, Kuon walked past Senichi and Manji and approached Shuu.
“Fujiwara-senpai, did you see?”
“Yes, congratulations.”
That was all Shuu said before he left. There were flames in Kuon’s chest.
That’s all? That’s all? He should have more praise for me.
Why can’t he give me the smile he gives to the lowly?
He watched Shuu talking to the twins with a smile.
Tumblr media
After the competition, Minato stayed in the entrance hall with Keyaki, Kanbayashi, and Himuro.
“Narumiya-senpai, thank you for the delicious lunch. It’s sad that Masa-san is absent today. Is his urgent business related to the shrine?” Kanbayashi said.
“Maybe. I don’t know either.”
In actuality, since Masa-san said that he didn’t like eggplant, Minato made “eggplant and pork grilled with ginger” for him to try. Maybe Masa-san realized that he was going to make him eat eggplant and ran away.
Next to him, Keyaki frowned.
“I texted him in the afternoon, but it was left unread. It’s exactly ‘I tried calling, but no one answered.’ (1) Hah, the flexible thinking training paid off, didn’t it?”
“Hahaha…it’s like there are two Seiyas,” Minato said.
“Me reaching Takehaya-senpai’s level? How unthinkable. Anyways, this is the first time that something like this happened, isn’t it? We could try sending something like, ‘What are you doing right now?’ but I don’t feel comfortable with club members prying into the coach’s private life while he’s away.”
“You have a point.”
Just when the four were about to step forward, they ran into Kuon, who was acting alone.
Kuon had a blatantly disgusted look on his face.
“Is this a commoners’ gathering? How vulgar, standing around and talking near the doorway. Narumiya-kun, you seem to be going around talking about target panic like it’s a disease, but target panic is just an excuse for the unskilled.”
“Narumiya-senpai has never gone around telling people that he had target panic,” Keyaki objected.
“Really? Target panic is just the result of a bad instructor or bad practice method. It isn’t a disease at all.”
“Are you saying that you have follow-up studies on people who had target panic? It’s valuable that you’re doing your own research on yips. I’d like to take a look at that research.”
“Well, even without something like that, the best proof is that my middle school was a strong kyudo school, and there was no one with target panic around me.”
Just when it seemed like Keyaki was going to continue arguing, Himuro spoke up.
“That’s like saying, ‘No one around me has died from the flu or the new strain of virus, so you just have a cold…’”
Minato, Kanbayashi, and Keyaki’s mouths dropped open when Himura, who they had hardly ever heard before, spoke. Meanwhile, Kuon’s face turned bright crimson.
“You dare to speak to me, you lowly commoner!? Who do you think you are?”
Behind Kuon, who was engaged in a war of words, the twins stood with their arms crossed.
“You’re the one who should be answering that question, Kuon,” Senichi said.
“There’s nothing great about people who act self-important. Our kickboxing instructor is a former champion, and his motto is ‘Stay high in ambition, low in stature,” Manji said.
Just as Senichi and Manji struck a fighting pose, the Young Prince appeared. Ryouhei was with him.
“Kuon, the first-years have been summoned.”
Kuon gave Minato and the others a sharp look and left immediately. Keyaki and the others followed.
Shuu saw them off, then stood on Minato’s right side.
“Minato, there’s something I want to ask you. I talked to Ryouhei about it earlier.”
“Okay, what is it? You’re acting so formal.”
“I’m building my own dojo. I’m planning to invite famous archers from all around the country. Minato, will you help me?”
Minato looked into Shuu’s eyes.
“…Of course.”
Senichi and Manji also pounced on it.
“Fujiwara Dojo!? Wow! Let us join too!”
“Yeah, Sen and Man can also join.”
“Woohoo!” Contrary to the enthusiastic twins, Minato was looking at his palm.
When the people around them talked about their dreams for the future, Minato felt lonely, like he had been left behind. Shuu, his brother disciple and bow friend. He was going further and further ahead. Minato was busy with kyudo, housework, and schoolwork, and had no interest in anything else.
What did he want to do in the future? What kind of job did he want to have?
He couldn’t find anyone he wanted to talk to.
Tumblr media
During that time, Masa-san was walking along a gravel road filled with the scent of the sea.
His stepbrother, Ren, was next to him.
“It’s nice to be able to go on a trip with my cute little brother.”
“Why did you follow me?”
“I helped you when you got injured, didn’t I? The nurses found out about that and got mad at me.”
“I was an idiot for making myself owe you a favor. We’re not sharing a room at the inn.”
“This is what they call ‘in for a penny, in for a pound.’ I guess this can’t be avoided once we became family.”
Masa-san had no choice but to remain silent.
The loud chirping of birds descended from above. Since the trees were covered in leaves, it was difficult to find the source of the voice. The slopes of the mountain were dotted with beehives.
The two walked around the island and looked around the wharf. Perhaps because Ren was holding a single lens reflex camera, he was often approached by locals who thought he was a birdwatcher. Everyone was friendly here. They got into the rental car and headed to their next destination.
Primitive Shintoism still remained on this island. The object of worship was a rock, which was the deity’s yorishiro. (2) The torii gates were built later with the introduction of Buddhism, and were not originally present. It was a land of strong taboos, and because it had resisted human intervention, the beautiful, untouched forests and creatures were still visible in their ancient form.
They stopped by a certain shrine. They climbed the stone steps that stretched through the thick forest. There was no one around the shrine, and the front shrine was locked.
Ren peeked inside.
“There’s a huge kasumi-mato on the side.”
“That’s an oomato used for long distance shooting.”
“Now, where does the chief priest live?”
There was an unnatural vacant lot. Weeds were overgrown, and there was no house at the place indicated by the address.
As they descended the stone steps, a local called out to Masa-san.
“The shrine up there is wonderful. It’s said to have a sealing power.”
“Yes. There’s an oomato inside.”
“The chief priest shoots the target every year. It’s the town’s biggest festival that goes on all night long. In addition to the object of worship, human ashes are also enshrined at the shrine. They are the remains of an ascetic who’s said to seal every conceivable thing and returned them to nothingness. Someone claiming to be his descendant appeared, wanting his ashes to be buried somewhere else, but of course the parishioners refused. However, one of the townspeople secretly sold them. Three days later, they were struck by lightning. They reaped what they sow. The gods were watching.”
“Is this person the buyer?”
Masa-san showed the local a picture on his phone.
“…Yes, they look very similar. Let me go check it with the others.”
Masa-san looked up at the trees.
That night, the innkeeper spoke to them.
“We’ve been waiting for you two to come. Would you like to join our morning tour tomorrow at six? Let us take you to places tourists normally don’t go to.”
The club members were changing clothes in the Kazemai kyudojo’s changing room.
Outside the window, there were three tits perched on the fence. In the rain, they puffed out their fluffy feathers and huddled together.
After Ryouhei finished changing, he took out a book from his bag.
“Nanao, look, look. The First English Phrases Learned by Negatives.”
“Don’t you mean ‘natives’?”
“Huh? Yeah, that’s right. The store on the cover is retort.”
“You mean retro?”
“Huh?”
“Everyone’s been so out of it lately. Maybe the pun training was too effective. Is it because Masa-san’s away this week? Prefecturals is just around the corner, so we need to get our spirits back up.”
“You’re right. By the way, where’s Minato and Seiya?”
Speak of the devil, the door to the changing room swung open, and Minato appeared. He didn’t look good.
Nanao approached him.
“What’s wrong, Minato? Did you go back to get something you forgot in the classroom?”
“I’m going to be late for club activities today. My yugake’s missing.”
“What!?”
Ryouhei, Nanao, and even Kaito ran out of the changing room. They pinched their hakamas between their fingers like princess’s dresses and ran up the stairs, trying not to step on their hems. When they went to Minato’s classroom, they saw a crowd of people there. Seiya was among them.
The ends of Seiya’s eyebrows were lowered.
“It’s highly possible that it was stolen. There are several other students who are missing their wallets and phones.”
“At school? That’s crazy,” Kaito said.
“The teachers are checking the security camera footage right now. There’s no point in us staying here. Let’s go back to the kyudojo.”
Afterwards, all of Minato’s classmates were gathered together. They answered individual questions such as who was the last to leave the classroom, whether anyone from other classes had entered, and whether they had seen anyone suspicious.
Minato was also questioned.
“You’re the only one who had kyudo equipment stolen. Did you leave it at home?”
“No, I had it with me when I went to school in the morning.”
“Maybe the thief thought that there was a wallet in the drawstring bag. What time did you leave the classroom?”
“It was right after homeroom ended, so around four o’clock.”
“Is there anyone who can prove that?”
“A student from my club came to get me, so I think he can prove it.”
Even though they were victims, they were being treated like suspects. When everyone left the classroom after what felt like an interrogation, there was an air of exhaustion surrounding them. Now that they knew that the culprit might be one of them, all of Minato’s classmates suspected each other. The after-school interview lasted several hours.
Once released, Minato hurried to the kyudojo. With prefecturals coming up, he became impatient when his routine was disrupted and his practice time cut short.
Tommy-sensei and Seiya came out to greet him, and the three took deep breaths together.
“The staff contacted me earlier and said that a suspicious person was captured on the school gate’s camera. For the yugake, how about you borrow a beginner’s glove for the time being?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Wouldn’t a great detective solve this case? Like an elementary school kid with glasses, or a university student with bushy hair,” Kaito said.
“Add a man who likes black tea to that. I hope the yugake is found,” Nanao said.
“I’ll lend you my underglove. How about a Java sparrow pattern?” Ryouhei said.
The other club members also gathered around, and Minato’s cheeks slackened at everyone’s concern.
Minato quickly borrowed the club’s yugake, but it was too big for him. The thumb was so long that he couldn’t flick it at hanare. However, if he put his thumb in a different spot than usual, it wouldn’t fit, and the position of the tsurumakura also became slightly off. He learned unexpectedly that there was a sense of discomfort when the yugake craftsman was different.
He wanted to talk to Masa-san. But it also pained him to add to his errands when he was already so busy that he couldn’t even show up. Minato was restless that night, unable to sleep even when he went to bed.
The thief was arrested the next day. It was a man in his thirties, who confessed that he did it after he got annoyed at seeing high schoolers enjoying themselves. Minato’s yugake returned to him, warped by water absorption after the thief threw it in a river. Apparently, he got rid of it because it had Minato’s name written on it.
It was something truly irreplaceable. He hugged his yugake tightly.
His replacement strings and giriko powder were also ruined, but the dragonfly-patterned pouch was miraculously unscathed.
Masa-san, who was contacted by Tommy-sensei, finished his business and rushed over.
“Minato, I’m so sorry I couldn’t be with you as your coach during this critical time.”
“It’s fine. This yugake I borrowed seems to be a little big.”
“There are also yugake at the Yata no Mori kyudojo, so let’s try them out and think about whether you should buy a new one.”
“Okay.”
Minato breathed a sigh of relief when he saw his master’s smile for the first time in a long while.
He tried using the borrowed yugake for a few days, but it never felt right. His yugake was something he met when he was in his first year of middle school and used for more than four years. His hand had become so accustomed to it that it rejected other yugake. Normally, one should avoid changing gloves so close to a match, but it couldn’t be helped. After consulting with his father, he decided to buy a new one.
Tumblr media
Minato was at the Yata no Mori kyudojo.
The moon spread ripples of light that pulsated. An owl hooted from somewhere, and the trees rustled. The night sky and the forest seemed to be singing.
Masa-san, dressed in a kimono, picked up his bow.
“The only way to get a new yugake to adapt to your hand is to shoot many times. Let’s do that.”
“I only need a place to shoot, you don’t need to accompany me. You seem busy.”
“I also feel calm here. Can I shoot with you?”
“Of course.”
Masa-san raised his bow up high at the target behind Minato.
Hikiwake, kai, hanare—. There was a sound of something piercing the azuchi. Masa-san also missed his next shot. For him to miss twice was very rare.
When Minato returned from retrieving the arrows, Masa-san had put his arm back into his sleeve.
“Even you have off days sometimes, Masa-san?”
“I haven’t held a bow for almost a week, so this is the consequence. Gramps would explode from anger if he saw me. He’d say that archers need a strong presence of mind and ask me what was I doing.”
Minato mentioned something that was bothering him ever since he visited Masa-san’s apartment the other day.
“Sorry for the rude question. I saw a bag of medicine in the corner of your kitchen. Are you going to the doctor?”
“Oh no, no. That’s for hornet stings. I was stung by a hornet in the past, so it’s just in case. I just bought a new one because the warranty had expired.”
Minato was relieved now that he knew that Masa-san wasn’t feeling unwell.
“I’m glad to hear that. By the way, when I came here, I ran into Ren-san and received souvenirs for the club. They are island specialty sweets. He said that he went on a secret trip.”
“It’s not a secret trip anymore, then, is it? That Ren, what is he planning?”
“Planning?”
Masa-san put his hand between his brows and took a deep breath. He had an “Oh crap” look on his face. He reached his hand out for the moon, and something with wings descended upon him.
“Oh, we’re high school students, so don’t worry, we won’t investigate who Ren-san went on a trip with,” Minato added.
“Ren went on the secret trip with me.”
“We were looking for someone. My birth father, and my deceased younger brother.”
“…What?”
Fuu the owl nibbled on Masa-san’s long fingers, then started to groom its feathers. Masa-san put Fuu on Minato’s shoulder and went to the archery range.
“Cutting things short, this time was also in vain. I had a younger brother who was three years younger than me, and we were related by blood. Even though I was young, I was proud of the fact that I became an older brother. I really loved him. But when he was three, he was kidnapped by my birth father.”
“Your dad and your little brother?”
“Yeah. He was in the photo Nanao gave me. I asked the parishioners to confirm it, so I’m pretty sure. Who is in the picture next to him? I couldn’t tell if he was my little brother grown up or someone else. In my memories, my brother was curled up sleeping in my lap.”
“W-What did Ren-san say?”
“Ren said ‘in for a penny, in for a pound.’ It looks like he’ll be going along with me. Ren’s father and my mother are childhood friends, and they’re helping me find my brother. When they found out that my birth father was planning to take me away as well, they hurriedly entered the family registry because it would be easier to move in case of an emergency. We’ve also consulted with the police, but it’s just an endless cycle of getting hints of them before they disappear again.”
“Why is your birth dad so obsessed with your little brother and you?”
“He said something nonsensical like, ‘Those who have the same special genes as me should be raised in the proper place.’ Even if I can see paranormal things, why does it matter? He was disliked for being shady but worshipped by others at the same time. Either way, he was treated as a heretic. Since Yata Shrine isn’t affiliated with any organization, there is no rule for inheriting surnames, and he’s a distant relation of the Yasaka family. He never did his duties as a priest and spent all his time in the shrine’s archives, and he never acted like a father even once. It happened the year after my mother remarried, when I was in my first year at university. He sent me the death certificate for my brother. And what’s more, it was on my birthday… Ever since that day, my birthday no longer existed.”
“That’s awful…”
“Give my brother back, give him back, give him back. I’ve chanted those words tens of thousands, hundreds of thousands of times. It’s no longer a prayer. It’s a curse.”
“Masa-san!”
Minato reached for Masa-san’s hand, but was deflected. Fuu took off in surprise.
“Minato, don’t touch me right now. No one believes that my brother is dead, but there was a doctor who assisted my birth father in his evil deeds. He has supporters. I’m glad I didn’t find him this time. I don’t know what I’ll do if I see him and the people who helped him.”
Masa-san looked up at the sky. The full moon was shining.
When people looked up, it could mean a statement of declaration.
A declaration—a contract with the gods.
“My birthday has become the anniversary of my brother’s death. I will never forgive those people who rewrote the story of me and my brother. No matter how many times we’re reborn, I’ll always find them and end their lives with my own hands—”
 Every day, he put his hands together in prayer.
I want to see you, I want to see you.
Why aren’t you in this picture?
Would his soul be reincarnated with this hatred that rose up within him? Memories engraved even in undifferentiated cells transcended dimensions. A flame that wouldn’t be extinguished for a thousand or ten thousand years.
Was it possible to live with such a heavy burden? Living was hell, dying was hell, there was no heaven or earth in the looping spiral staircase. Wandering forever, never getting anywhere. Unable to put down roots in the earth or soar through the sky. Days when he cut his own body with a knife. He knew it wasn’t something to be said aloud, so he kept quiet.
I wasn’t born to hate anyone.
That was what Minato heard.
A heartbreaking cry. A soundless voice.
He didn’t know whose voice it was, but this was Masa-san’s real voice.
“Correction! I’m correcting you. What you said earlier wasn’t true. Masa-san is just a dirty old man. That’s all!” Minato shouted.
“Mi, Minato?”
“If a priest said something like that and his wish was granted, wouldn’t it be a problem? I’m going to learn professional wrestling. I’ll put you in a chokehold and stop you!”
Masa-san blinked a few times, then burst into laughter.
“It’s too much, Minato.”
“What is?”
“Everything. My disciple really is cute.”
“Huh? Don’t call me cute! In the first place, everyone celebrated your birthday for you, and then you say that you don’t have a birthday? What a selfish thing to say. My mom used to say that your birthday is a day to say thank you for being born.”
“Yes, I’m sorry. I’ll keep it in mind. I take back what I said earlier.”
“Masa-san, you’re acting like a middle schooler.”
“I don’t want to be told that by a kid.”
“I’m not a kid! I’m sixteen, a second year in high school!”
Masa-san was clutching his stomach as he laughed. How rude. I’m being serious.
The bright red something that had shrouded Masa-san disappeared.
Guren, meaning “crimson lotus,” was originally a Buddhist term, and the seventh of the Eight Cold Hells, the Padma hell, was also called the “hell of the crimson lotus.”  Those who fell into this hell were said to suffer from severe pain as their skin and flesh were torn off due to the severe cold. They were said to look like red lotus flowers.
Please, don’t go to the farthest reaches of the north.
Don’t disappear from my sight.
A second time.
Tumblr media
Previous | Next
28 notes ¡ View notes