—It's your turn to rest now. I'll stay here and keep watch.
It's November 1st, 2025. Three in the morning. The hospital where I work is unusually quiet, so my coworkers and I agreed to take turns sleeping. The night shift feels endless if you don't rest a little.
To fight off boredom and sleepiness, I was watching the latest episodes of Jujutsu Kaisen. I've loved anime since I was twelve, and at sixteen I started writing fanfics. These days, I barely have time for it—being a nurse means most of my hours go into studying.
I stretched a little and headed to the break room, where I lay down on the couch and closed my eyes.
"Born beneath the broken moon, her soul never knew rest."
—¿Uhmm?— I squirmed a little, startled by the chilling voice whispering in my ear—Hey… I just laid down. Can't you wait...?
I sat up abruptly and looked around. This was definitely not the break room.
"The Mizuki Clan—one of the most powerful clans in Japan, second only to the Gojo Clan. Twenty generations ago, their patriarch managed to sever Sukuna's fingers. Sadly, he died from his wounds shortly after. Though he was acknowledged, he was never given the full honor he deserved. The credit was handed to the Gojo Clan, and that's why they're considered the strongest."
—¿Huh?
I remembered that passage clearly. It was a draft from an unfinished fanfic I wrote back when I had just started watching Jujutsu Kaisen...
I remembered clearly what the story was about. I had only written four chapters so far, and it hadn't been published yet… I looked up, and there she was—the woman who was the protagonist's mother, still explaining the history of their family.
Her ritual type? The Mizuki Clan practices lunar sorcery—immensely powerful, but incredibly hard to master. After that patriarch, the family's strength began to fade. That's why, for decades now, they've tried to restore their power through unions with other clans or independent sorcerers gifted in the arcane arts.
The mother always read her books. Most of them were fairy tales, as if—just like me—they both longed to escape into that world.
Sitting on her lap, she listened intently.
— People still believe they could seal Sukuna again if he were to reappear… and that the Gojo Clan had a powerful ally back then.
—Is our family really that strong?! Mommy, were you chosen because you were powerful?
I knew the mother's answer. I couldn't help but ask with childlike innocence—after all, that was the essence I wanted to capture in that moment.
…
Her eyes filled with tears as she nodded slowly.
—Yes… I was.— she whispered.
Her once-beautiful features now bore deep scratches—wounds she inflicted on herself during fits of hysteria. Dark circles shadowed her green eyes, and her jet-black hair was tangled and wild, making her look much older than she was. She always wore a straitjacket that kept her movements restrained.
—What was your power like?
— My cursed technique was very similar to that of the old patriarch. My ritual was so powerful and dangerous that no one ever dared to question it.
— What's a cursed technique?— I asked with innocent curiosity.
—It's…— my mother began to explain slowly, with great patience, as if she knew a little girl like me would need time to understand.
— Woow… But mommy, when will I get to meet Daddy? Why hasn't he come to see us?
— …
Just as I had written it, the little protagonist didn't notice the silence that had suddenly settled between them. She didn't see how tightly her mother gripped the edge of the book in her hands. After a brief moment, she spoke with a knot in her throat, doing her best not to cry as she said:
—…He must be very busy.— she said firmly.
But in the child's innocence, she couldn't see the truth behind those words.
I knew very well what would happen next…
Later, I learned that my mother had been an orphan, rescued by the Mizuki Clan because of her immense potential as a sorceress. They trained her carefully, and she reached first-class rank in no time. That's when they paired her with the man who would become the future patriarch of the family. My mother agreed happily—she was secretly in love with Ren Mizuki.
However, after she gave birth and the child's potential was confirmed, he stopped visiting her as often. They locked her away in that room, under the pretense that she was to care for the clan's firstborn heir.
Well… when I wrote this chapter, I never expected to see it unfold in first person. I think I was a bit cruel.
My mother thought it was normal. Ren had never been a very affectionate man, and he was strict about family protocols. But what she didn't know… was that he had married another young woman, with whom he had three children—Shin, Hana, and Yui. All three were born with cursed techniques. He saw my mother as a burden.
While that family lived peacefully, wrapped in the façade of nobility and perfection… my poor mother was cast aside, tasked with raising the child who held the greatest potential to master Lunar Sorcery—a technique that drew energy from the moon and stars, channeling it through weapons like guns or blades.
During that time, my mother's light slowly faded… until she lost her sanity.
Our only contact with the outside world was through four nurses who rotated shifts and delivered her medication on schedule. Even when she resisted taking it, they forced her. None of them spoke to us beyond that. And yet, my mother and I lived happily together in that four-by-four room.
If I'm a nurse… why did I write the nurses to be so cruel? Well, I can't deny that some of my coworkers are like that.
— Mommy, why is my name Kuroha?"—I realized I had spoken without thinking. Maybe I was just watching the chapters unfold, unable to intervene…
But I've only written four chapters…
— That name's always been my favorite. There's no special reason behind it— she smiled sweetly as she gently braided my straight hair.
—What was the day I was born like? —she stood up to check the freshly prepared food that had been brought to our room.
— Hehe… When you were born, there was a lunar eclipse. The family saw it as a good omen— she said while setting the table so we could eat together.
— Wow, that's amazing! Daddy must've been so proud!—every time I mentioned him, her smile faded and her eyes turned glassy.
—Yes… he was— she knelt down and opened her arms to hug me tightly. I could feel her shoulders trembling.
That's how it was for eight years… until one day, the door to our room burst open with a loud crash that made us jump. This time, the silhouette of the newcomer didn't match any of the nurses we knew.
It was the silhouette of a tall man—about 6'3", slender yet imposing. He entered with firm steps and cast a cold gaze at both of us.
Oh no… I know what this means.
— Ren-sama…— my mother whispered— Ren-sama… You've come to see us!
She stood up and ran toward him to embrace him. I was expecting a warm reunion (or at least, that's what the protagonist wanted to believe)—something like the fairy tales my mother and I used to read together. But… contrary to what I hoped, my father didn't return the hug. He simply looked at her with disapproval.
— Is that Kuroha?— he asked, turning to look at me with interest.
My mother seemed confused, but simply nodded. She let go of him, and the man walked toward me, observing me carefully from above.
I could tell I looked a lot like him—we both wore glasses, and our silver hair had streaks of black.
— Kuroha, let's go. We need to begin your training.
—Training?.— I tilted my head, confused.
— Did you explain the family's legacy to her?
—Yes, Ren-sama… But she's still too young to begin training…— my mother replied timidly.
— No. I started at five, and her siblings began at six. She's already too old.
—Her… siblings?— my mother stammered the word.
— You sound like a fool, Isolde,— he replied coldly.— Let's go, Kuroha.
My father grabbed my hand tightly and began dragging me toward the door.
— Wait, Ren-sama!!— my mother cried out, clinging to his clothes.
Why did I write something like this? I honestly don't know what's happening… I need to see a therapist after this.
I kept watching the story of little Kuroha unfold before my eyes, unable to speak or intervene.
— What's wrong, Isolde?
— You can't take my daughter! She's too young... she only knows me in this world!— my mother cried out desperately.
— That doesn't matter. She must take her place in the Mizuki Clan. So… move.
The man kicked my mother. I broke free from his grip and ran to her.
— Mommy! Mommy, are you okay?!— I shook her frantically, sobbing. She smiled at me with tenderness.
-I'm… I'm fine… Sweetheart, stay calm.
— Mommy… she stood and hugged me gently, as if trying to ask for forgiveness—for not being strong enough to protect me.
—Ren-sama… Did you marry someone else?
—…— He didn't answer.
— Yes, he did — my mother said with a trembling voice, as if laughing at herself.
—I knew it from the first time you touched me… You never loved me. But even if you felt nothing for me, have mercy on my child. She's just a little girl. She knows nothing of the outside world.
— She'll learn along the way— he said, grabbing my arm and tearing me from my mother's embrace.
— Mommy!— I screamed, unable to escape his grip—his hand clamped around my wrist like a burning iron vice.
— Kuroha! Ren-sama!
My mother couldn't stand, but she dragged herself across the floor, trying to reach us.
— Sedate her — Ren ordered.
Three nurses entered the room and restrained my mother, who screamed in anguish. I was so stunned I could only watch as she looked at me from the floor, while one of the nurses mercilessly plunged a syringe into her arm.
Ahh… Forgive me, Isolde. You're such a kind soul. Forgive me for writing so much tragedy.
Meanwhile, my father… no, Ren… dragged me toward the exit of the small building.
The light outside was blinding. The world that unfolded before me was loud, unfamiliar—and yet, incredibly beautiful.
I could feel the awe Kuroha felt as she saw the outside world for the first time.
It was full of lights, sounds, people, and scents that overwhelmed my nose.
I looked up at the pale blue sky—just like the one I had imagined in books. The clouds looked like fluffy white cotton candy, the sky itself seemed to reflect the ocean, and the sun touched my translucent skin with warmth and love…
I stared in awe. I never thought I'd see a landscape like this, especially not from this perspective, while my father dragged me toward another nearby building.
— This is where you'll train— he said, throwing me inside and slamming the door shut behind him.
— … I blinked a few times before I understood what was happening. I looked around cautiously. I stood up clumsily and began to walk.
—Ugh…— I heard someone shriek… but it was a strange kind of scream—very different from the way my mom cried when they gave her injections or forced her to take medicine.
I walked toward the source of the sound. There I found something grotesque—green, with many eyes, no defined shape. Its gaze was unfocused, but the moment it heard me approach, its eyes locked onto mine.
—AHHHHH!!— I screamed in horror. I didn't know what it was or why it was there. I tried to run, but my legs betrayed me and collapsed beneath me.
That thing looked like it wanted to attack me, but before it could get close, someone stomped on it—like squashing a bug.
— Yes, even though you wear glasses, your vision is excellent,— said an elderly man with warmth in his voice.— You must be Kuroha. What a beautiful gem the Mizuki family has… you have your mother's eyes.
— Who are you?— I asked shyly.
— Hmm, you're definitely different from your mother. Well, after all, you spent eight years locked away with zero human contact.— He crouched down to my level.— I don't have a name, but I'm bound to your cursed family to teach its descendants secret techniques and skills. I've had many nicknames, but they call me the Master of Cracks.
—Master?"
— Yes. I'll train you to unlock… well, to unlock your potential,— he shrugged, then offered me his hand.— I know you were just separated from your mother, so I won't be too strict with you.
I took his hand—it was ice cold.
— Are you cold?
… The man looked at me, puzzled. Then burst into laughter.
— Ha! No one's asked me that in 500 years! Little one, thank you for caring, but… I'm already dead. So yeah, it's normal that I'm cold.
— Eh?
— I'll explain everything you need to know. Come with me.— We walked hand in hand. Back then, I never imagined that this stranger would become the closest thing to a grandfather I'd ever have.
That day, I didn't understand anything that had happened. All I could do was trust that I'd see my mother again.
I jolted awake—this time, I really was back in the hospital break room.
What… what was that?