Takeru's feet pounded the pavement, his eyes fixed on the ground as he trudged up the hill toward their old Japanese-style house. The wooden structure, adorned with traditional tiled roofs and sliding shoji doors, seemed to blend seamlessly into the night. As he approached the entrance, the door swung open, and a cheerful voice greeted him. "Big bro Takeru is back!" Axel's grin stretched from ear to ear.
Hana, his younger sister, rushed to hug Takeru tightly, while Axel wrapped his arms around them both from behind. "You came late," Hana said, her voice muffled against Takeru's chest.
"More work," Takeru replied, his voice laced with dry humor.
The three of them laughed, and the tension dissipated. Later, they sat down to enjoy steaming bowls of ramen in the traditional tatami-mat room. Axel dug in with gusto, but Takeru cautioned, "Axel, don't rush the food."
Axel ignored him, shoveling more noodles into his mouth. Suddenly, he paused, looked up at Takeru, and asked, "Please give me water." Takeru shook his head, a hint of amusement in his voice. "I warned you not to rush the food."
The three of them burst into laughter again. As the night wore on, they prepared for bed. Hana went to lock the door, but as she reached for the lock, she began to sweat. Fear crept into her eyes, and she hesitated.
In the background, Takeru told Axel to go to sleep, but Axel refused. Takeru's stare eventually convinced him to comply. As Axel settled in, Takeru reminded him to clean up the area where they had eaten. Axel, however, was already half asleep and replied, "You said I should sleep, so I'll sleep."
Hana's fear intensified, and she felt an ominous presence. Before she could warn her brothers, Takeru sensed her unease and asked, "Hana, what's wrong..."
His words were cut short by a crushing force, like a boulder pressing down on him. Black fire danced before his eyes, and Takeru's voice turned urgent. "This is a Kurokami's life force – I'm sure of it. It's strong and powerful."
Axel's eyes widened in confusion. "What's a Kurokami?" Takeru's response was swift. "It's not the time to explain. Just take Hana and run!"
As they turned to flee, a series of knocks echoed through the night air – five slow, deliberate knocks. The sound stopped as abruptly as it began. A figure emerged from the shadows, its human-like form eerily perfect. Two scythes hung at its sides, and its voice was calm, almost serene. "Lay low."
The words sent shivers down Axel and Hana's spines, and they collapsed to the ground, paralyzed with fear. The Kurokami detached the heads of its scythes, which hovered in mid-air, connected to the handles by a glowing aura. With a flick of its wrist, the scythe heads shot toward Takeru's house, crashing through the door and leaving a gaping hole in the wall.
As the dust settled, the Kurokami spotted a shadowy figure. When the smoke cleared, Takeru stood tall, the two scythe heads impaled in the ground beside him. His hands were bloody, and severe injuries marred his body. Despite the wounds, he stood firm, a testament to his strength.