~~~March 31, 2169~~~
[8:00pm]
The full moon hung high over Kunigami, casting its pale light over the restless tides. Waves slammed against the harbor docks, relentless and unforgiving. Despite the late hour, the fishermen and workers toiled tirelessly, hauling in the day's catch in hopes of earning a modest living.
Worker 1: Another big haul tonight!
Fisherman 1: Yeah, this one looks promising. Wonder how much it'll fetch.
Worker 2: Whoa, this might be the biggest catch all year.
Worker 1: No kidding!
Fisherman 1: Alright, let's get this loaded.
Workers 1 & 2: Let's do it.
As they worked in the dim light, something unexpected fell into the pile of fish—a dark, unsettling shape.
Worker 1: What the hell was that?!
Worker 2: It came from the ship!
Fisherman 1: Hey, everyone—come take a look!
The workers gathered around, their faces tense.
Fisherman 3: Is he alive?
Worker 2: His head... there's blood everywhere!
Worker 1: Check him! See if he's okay!
There, among the fish, lay Ayro—thrown like a child's toy by the seele, bloodied and broken.
~~~Kirashis Home~~~
Kirashi stood silently behind the massive seele, his gaze piercing as if he could see into its very soul. The seele turned slowly, facing Kirashi with a snarling grin.
"You look happy."
They locked eyes in a heavy silence.
Without breaking eye contact with the beast, Kirashi muttered to Kara — even though she stood behind it.
"Kara... hide."
Without hesitation, Kara dashed inside the house. The seele noticed and lunged after her, but Kirashi seized the moment. With a swift gust summoned by his wind power, he grabbed the seele by the neck.
"You afford to get distracted?"
The seele burst free, rushing at Kirashi and pinning him to the ground. It stood tall again and advanced toward the house.
"Not yet..."
The seele slammed its massive hand down on Kirashi, sending waves of pain through his body.
"Ahh!!!..."
Kirashi grunted in pain.
"Don't go there..."
Repeatedly, the creature beat the fallen Kirashi. Despite fractures and agony, Kirashi fought to stay conscious. Inside the house, Kara covered her ears, trembling, tears streaming down her face as she prayed for his survival.
The seele turned away from Kirashi for a moment.
Kirashi weakly reached out toward it, his vision blurring.
"Damn it..."
Meanwhile... Kara's thoughts raced in panic. Her hands gripped the sides of her hair, the teddy bear resting at her side.
"What do I do!? What do I do?! Koya, Ryujin-sama, Ayro-sama, Kirashi-san... They're all... No! They're not dead yet, right?! I'm the only one left... only one... Oh no! Am I next?!"
Her hope quickly drowned in fear as the seele returned, pounding on the front door.
She gasped.
"Get away... get away!!"
The door shattered under the creature's strength.
"Get away!! Leave me alone!!"
Despite its enormous size, the seele squeezed into Kirashi's cramped home. It grabbed Kara by the neck, lifting her effortlessly. Kara's breath hitched, suffocated by the crushing grip.
As the beast's massive palm closed around her neck, she struggled for breath, tears slipping slowly from her eyes.
"Stop... please..."
Tears spilled from her eyes, falling onto the seele's hand. The creature suddenly convulsed, roaring in unbearable pain. It dropped Kara, clutching its hand in agony.
Kara scrambled through the window, clutching her stuffed toy as she fled outside. She rushed to Itoshi.
"Koya! Koya!! Wake up! Wake up!!"
No response.
Next, she checked Kirashi, who was barely conscious.
"Thank god you're okay!"
"How about... the others?"
Kara couldn't hold back her tears any longer as she responded to Kirashi.
"I don't know!... I don't know..."
Kirashi simply grunted, unable to say anything.
From inside, the seele's rage erupted anew. Kara and Kirashi turned to the beast as it ripped the roof clean off the house, towering over the wreckage. Stones, straw, wood, and papers flew through the air as the creature slammed the ruined shelter again and again.
Kirashi watched helplessly as everything he had lived for was destroyed before his eyes. Tears streamed down his emerald gaze.
"How dare you... you bastard... Windgott-sama... sorry..."
Collapsed on the ground, Kirashi sobbed, then released a primal scream, pouring all his pain into it. Slowly, he pushed himself up.
Kara was shocked, seeing what Kirashi was trying to do.
"What are you doing?!"
His eyes got filled with tears. Palms clenched on the dirt. Teeth gritted so hard you can hear it echo through the chaos.
"I have to fight!"
"Stay down!"
Kara suggested through pain and adrenaline, her voice trembling but firm.
"I can't! I have to fight. Let me fight."
Kirashi replied, Not pleading, But commanding.
Kara reluctantly stepped back as Kirashi rose.
Kirashi: Oi! Bitch!
The seele turned, bloodied Kirashi standing defiant.
"How dare you wreck my—"
Before he could finish, the seele lunged, punching Kirashi hard in the face. Kirashi crashed into a tree, knocked out cold.
The seele immediately grabbed Kara by the head again, lifting her up.
Kara (choking): Damn it...
Her vision blurred and darkness crept in.
"Sorry..."
And then... Her eyes closed.
...Suddenly, a man's voice echoed in the dark.
Man: Stand up, Kirashi.
Kara (in her mind): W-What? It's dark... Am I dead?
~~~What Kara saw~~~
It was sunny inside Kirashi's home.
Kara (in her mind): K-Kirashi-san's home...? I-I can't move...
Slowly, she stood up.
Kara (in her mind): I'm moving... but I'm not really controlling it...
She stepped outside and saw an old man with long gray hair.
Man: Yo! Kirashi! Time to train!
Young Kirashi: Okay!
Kara (in her mind): Are these... Kirashi-san's memories...?
Man: Let's do what we practiced yesterday, alright?
Young Kirashi: Sure!
Man: Go like this, then do that.
Young Kirashi: Got it!
Kara (in her mind): So sweet...
She watched Kirashi's childhood unfold—a time full of joy with this old man, who treated young Kirashi like his own son.
"Beautiful..."
Noon came, then everything suddenly went dark. She saw the man on the roof, writing something on a piece of paper.
"W-What...? He's writing...? I thought these were Kirashi-san's memories... What's happening?"
Young Kirashi: Windgott-sama! Dinner's ready!
Windgott: Coming!
Windgott slipped the letter between the straw roof tiles as he stood at the edge.
Kara felt herself regain control of her body. Curious, she looked closely at the paper Windgott was writing.
Kara (in her mind): It's for Kirashi...
Windgott: Bring this to him, okay?
Kara was startled. Windgott suddenly spoke directly to her.
"A-Are you talking to me?"
Windgott: Who else?
He smiled warmly at her.
Young Kirashi: Windgott-sama! Who are you talking to?
Windgott: Nothing! Just the sky!
Young Kirashi: Okay, let's eat!
Kara carefully opened the letter and was moved by its contents.
"Okay, I got it!"
Suddenly, she was pulled back—back into the seele's grasp. Her light blue eyes slowly opened. The letter was still clutched in her hand.
She took a deep breath through her mouth. Flames burst forth, and her eyes turned fiery red, blazing with pure anger and determination.
She shouted Kirashi's name.
"Kirashi-san! Wake up!"
Kirashi's eyes fluttered open. He saw Kara holding the letter.
"L-Letter...?"
To be Continued