Hiroshi's mind spun as Aoi's words lingered on the Shinjuku skyscraper rooftop, the neon-lit Tokyo skyline sprawling below, kissed by the fading rain. "Everything will be lost," she had warned. "You must return to your true world." Confusion gripped him, his voice trembling. "What world? And what's going to be lost?"
Aoi's translucent form flickered under the stormy sky, her eyes unwavering. "The world you came from—Kami no Sekai, the Realm of the Gods. The time has come for you to grow stronger and protect everyone."
Hiroshi's brow furrowed, doubt clouding his heart. "Protect who? Why should I protect anyone?" His question caught Aoi off guard, her lips parting in silence. She hadn't anticipated such resistance from the boy who'd just poured his heart out to her.
After a moment, a spark of inspiration lit her eyes. She softened her tone, stepping closer, her ethereal presence glowing faintly. "Wouldn't you grow stronger to protect me?" Her voice was both a challenge and a plea, her gaze searching his soul.
Hiroshi's confusion deepened, a wry smile tugging at his lips. "Protect you? You're already so powerful. If you hadn't shown up, I'd be dead by now." He meant it—Aoi's Suzaku, the blazing vermilion bird, had obliterated Reiji's blood-serpent, saving him from certain death on the Azumabashi Bridge. How could he protect someone with such power?
Aoi's frustration flared, her form shimmering with agitation. She understood Hiroshi's confusion; he'd been raised in the mortal world, unaware of his divine origins. Taking a deep breath, she steadied herself, her voice firm yet gentle. "If you don't grow stronger, you'll never see me again. My true body is in Kami no Sekai. If you love me, you'll have to come there. And…" Her voice grew urgent, her eyes pleading. "You'll need to save us all."
Her words crashed over Hiroshi like a tidal wave. Kami no Sekai—a divine realm where Aoi's true self waits. He felt small, insignificant, as if that world was beyond his grasp. Yet the thought of losing Aoi forever ignited a fire in his chest, burning brighter than his doubts. For her, he'd face any realm, any foe. He gripped her hand, his touch warm despite her ethereal form, and met her gaze with fierce resolve. "I'll go to Kami no Sekai. I'd give my life for you, Aoi. I'd take anyone's life for you. I, Hiroshi, swear on my last breath to fight for our love, no matter who stands in my way—god, demon, or otherwise."
Aoi's heart swelled, tears shimmering in her fading eyes. His vow was a melody, the most precious promise she'd ever heard, binding their souls across worlds. Her translucent form flickered, but Hiroshi's questions pressed on. "Who's our enemy?" he asked, his voice steady now, ready for answers.
Aoi's expression darkened, her voice low. "The same enemy hunting you—the Oni Clan."
The word "Oni" sent a chill through Hiroshi, conjuring memories of Reiji Sakamoto's demonic blood-serpent and his chilling words about the Demon Lord Oni-O Yaksha. Aoi continued, her tone grave. "When you reach Kami no Sekai, be cautious. Your white light—the Divine Fire—must be used sparingly. If the Oni Clan discovers you're there, they'll break every boundary to kill you."
Hiroshi nodded, absorbing her warning. He knew little about his Divine Fire, but Reiji's obsession with it proved its significance. He resolved to conceal it unless absolutely necessary, trusting Aoi's guidance. But another question gnawed at him, one rooted in his past. Scratching his head, he asked, "Aoi, my parents… they died when I was a kid. Were they from Kami no Sekai too?"
Aoi's face fell, her voice heavy with sorrow. "Hiroshi… they weren't your real parents. They adopted you. I don't know where your true parents are—or if they're even alive."
The revelation struck Hiroshi like a thunderbolt. His legs trembled, tears welling as memories of his adoptive parents—their warm smiles, their sacrifices—clashed with the void of his unknown origins. The Tokyo skyline blurred through his tears, the city's lights flickering like distant stars. Aoi reached out, her translucent fingers gently wiping his cheeks. "I know this is overwhelming," she said, her voice breaking. "But my time's running out. My soul fragment is fading. Ask what you need to, quickly."
Hiroshi swallowed his grief, his voice steadying. "What does 'stronger' mean? How do I become powerful? And how strong am I now?"
Aoi's expression brightened, eager to guide him. "In Kami no Sekai, power is ranked like classes in this world. The lowest tier is Seishin, with nine stages, meaning 'Spiritual Warrior.' Above that is Tenrai, with nine stages, meaning 'Heavenly Thunder.' There are higher ranks, but you'll learn them in Kami no Sekai. As for you…" She paused, assessing him with a gentle smile. "You're at the first stage of Seishin."
Hiroshi's face fell, his ego bruised. First stage? That's it? He'd hoped for at least stage two or three, but first? The weight of his inexperience pressed down, the neon-lit Shinjuku skyline seeming to mock his weakness. Aoi noticed his disappointment and stepped closer, her voice warm. "Don't be discouraged, Hiroshi. I believe in you. You'll surpass these ranks in no time, I know it."
Her confidence sparked a grin across his face, her faith reigniting his determination. "I told you, I'll do anything for my Aoi," he said, his voice bold. Aoi blushed, her form flickering more intensely, the rain beginning to fall again, as if mourning her departure. Hiroshi's heart sank as he saw her fading, his eyes catching two rings on her hand—one the sakura-etched ring he'd bought for her, the other Reiji's black storage ring.
His breath hitched. I threw that ring away on the bridge… she kept it? The realization warmed his heart, a flicker of hope amid his pain. Aoi handed both rings to him, her voice soft. "You got this ring for me, right? Come to Kami no Sekai and put it on my finger."
Hiroshi's chest tightened, a smile breaking through his tears. Aoi's grin mirrored his, her form growing fainter. "The other ring is a storage ring," she explained. "You can store anything in it, like a bag. Reiji used it to summon his weapons, like the Hi no Tomoshibi."
Hiroshi's eyes lit up, excitement bubbling despite his grief. "I saw him do that! How do I use it?"
"Simple," Aoi said, her voice weakening. "Channel your spiritual energy into it, and it'll respond." She paused, her form wavering like a candle in the wind. "Take care, Hiroshi…" Her voice was barely a whisper now, the rain intensifying around them.
Panic surged through Hiroshi. "How do I get to Kami no Sekai?!" he shouted, desperation in his voice.
"With the power of your inner soul!" Aoi called back, her form dissolving into the rain.
Hiroshi's heart pounded, her words cryptic but searing into his mind. "Aoi, wait for me! I'll come soon! I love you! I love you, Aoi!" His voice cracked, tears streaming down his face, mingling with the rain.
Aoi's soul fragment shimmered, her final words echoing through the storm: "I love you, Hiroshi… I'll wait for you…" As she vanished, the rain poured harder, as if the heavens wept for their parting. Hiroshi's chest ached, a piece of his soul torn away. Dizziness overwhelmed him, the Tokyo skyline blurring. His knees buckled, and he collapsed on the rooftop, the rain washing over his unconscious form.
When Hiroshi awoke, sunlight streamed through a window, warming his face. He lay in a soft bed, the familiar scent of tatami mats grounding him. He sat up, disoriented, realizing he was in his sister Hana's cozy Asakusa apartment. How did I get here? he wondered, his mind racing. He'd passed out on a Shinjuku rooftop, not here. Memories of the previous night flooded back—Reiji's demonic assault, the Divine Fire's pulse, Aoi's fiery Suzaku, her soul fragment's confession, her departure. The pain of her absence stabbed at his heart, sharper than any blade.
Lost in Aoi's memory, the door creaked open. A familiar figure entered, balancing a glass of milk and a banana. It was Hana, her face a mix of concern and irritation, her dark hair tied back in a practical bun. Hiroshi's heart lifted at the sight of his sister, but Hana's eyes narrowed. She marched to the bed, sitting with a huff, and thrust the milk and banana at him. "Eat," she said, her tone clipped.
Hiroshi obeyed, sipping the milk and peeling the banana in silence, sensing her anger. Hana's patience snapped. "Where were you all night?!" she demanded, her voice rising, trembling with emotion. "Do you know how worried Kaede and I were? We didn't sleep a wink! Your phone was off, and you're out there breaking our hearts because she betrayed you! Do you even realize how we felt, Hiroshi?"
Tears welled in Hana's eyes, her voice cracking as she spoke. Hiroshi's guilt surged, his heart aching for the pain he'd caused his sisters. He grabbed her hand, his voice soft and sincere. "I'm so sorry, my dearest sister. I promise I'll never do that again—sister-brother swear. Please don't cry, or I'll start too."
Hana wiped her tears, her expression softening at his earnest apology. "I'll forgive you," she said, a small smile breaking through. "But Kaede? She's ready to beat you senseless."
Hiroshi chuckled, the tension easing like a breeze through Asakusa's narrow streets. "Guess getting thrashed by my sisters is my fate. But tell me—how did I end up here?"
Hana sighed, her tone lighter but still laced with concern. "The newspaper guy found you passed out on the street. We rushed over when he called, thinking our 'maharaj' decided the road was his bed. Anyway, rest now. I've got college, but you take it easy." Her words carried a warmth that reminded Hiroshi how lucky he was to have family who cared so deeply.
As Hana left, closing the door softly, Hiroshi finished the milk and banana, his mind drifting back to the night's events. Reiji's demonic powers, the Divine Fire's radiant shield, Aoi's blazing Suzaku, her soul fragment's love confession, her warning about Kami no Sekai—it all felt like a fever dream, yet the weight of it was undeniable. Tears pricked his eyes as he clutched the two rings in his palm—the sakura-etched ring for Aoi, the storage ring from Reiji. "Aoi," he whispered, his voice fierce with resolve. "I'll come to you soon. We'll be together, and I'll become the greatest enemy of anyone who threatens you—be it the Oni Clan or a god from the heavens. I, Hiroshi, will destroy them all."
He stood, the Asakusa apartment's morning light casting long shadows across the tatami. The city outside buzzed faintly, unaware of the divine battles awaiting him. Hiroshi's heart burned with purpose, Aoi's words echoing: With the power of your inner soul. He didn't understand how, but he'd find a way to Kami no Sekai. For Aoi, for their love, he'd face any challenge, any enemy, and uncover the truth of his origins.
Is Hiroshi truly ready to fight anyone for Aoi? How will he reach Kami no Sekai? What lies ahead in his divine journey? What dangers await him in the Realm of the Gods? And who are his real parents?