1つ
Evening settled over the small village of Mizunoki. Wooden houses glowed softly under the golden light of the sunset. The sound of bells rang through the air as a reminder that the day was coming to an end. At the corner, the scent of freshly baked bread mingled with the steam rising from a ramen stall, wrapping the place in a cozy familiarity.
Amid the bustle of the street, rows of stalls stretched on both sides, filling the air with color and noise. A young traveler moved quietly through the crowd, the worn backpack resting on shoulders, hinting at long weeks on the road. Dark, simple clothes spoke of a life spent wandering far from home. A playful breeze stirred the hair, tugging at the strands loosely tied until they were tucked behind one ear.
A girl whispered to her friend.
"He's back..."
"Kazehara Kazumi? I heard he's a Hoshigane rank now."
"Really? But he's so young… even the veterans couldn't reach that level at his age."
"They say those exams change people. Just look at him… more serious."
Voices reached him in scattered fragments, like dry leaves carried on the wind between the chime of distant bells. The meaning was clear enough—they were talking about him. Expression remained still, pretending not to notice, though a faint tension drew across the jaw before it could be stopped.
Kazumi recognized the old bakery facade where he used to sneak glances at golden loaves glowing inside the oven. For a moment, nostalgia hit like a warm wave—almost enough to throw him off balance. Amber eyes, sharp and restless, swept over every corner of the street. But a subtle glimmer on a stall table made him stop.
"Hey, how much is this?" Kazumi asked, frowning.
"Good afternoon, sir. It's a hundred yen."
"A hundred yen?" murmured, hand going to the chin. They're so small... The furrow in his brow deepened, eyes narrowing on the sight before him.
Then, as if the sun had broken through dense clouds, all seriousness melted away. A soft sigh of delight escaped, followed by an expression that lit up his entire face.
Kazumi picked up one of the keychains—a tiny plush puppy—and turned it gently, marveling at every small detail.
"Ahhh… look at this! They're so cute! Even puppies! Isn't it adorable?"
"Y-yeah… really cute," the vendor said, scratching the back of the head, trying to hide embarrassment.
"But these…" A reverent whisper slipped out as fingers traced over the tiny keychains. "They're… perfect."
The vendor watched, captivated. Those calloused fingers, meant to wield a sword, now caressed the little crafts as if they were priceless treasures.
"I'll take three! No, four! I'll take that one for the old man too!"
The two girls who had been peeking from the corner laughed quietly, covering their mouths, eyes sparkling with amusement.
"He hasn't changed a bit!"
"Yeah, still the same Kazumi as always."
The vendor handed over the bag with a smile.
"Thank you, sir. Please come again!"
Kazumi took the bag with both hands and bowed in thanks, a quick, shy gesture. Then he walked between the stalls, leaving the hubbub behind, until he arrived at the quieter streets of the village—familiar paths he hadn't seen in four years.
No matter which corner he turned, childhood memories sprang up, even though some things had changed.
But one thing stubbornly refused to change: a sound that persisted like the heartbeat of the village—the sharp, steady clash of training swords in the Hoshizaki backyard. They're training… A smile slipped across the lips.
The metallic clash of swords cut through the air. Raizen advanced, each blow a whirlwind of raw, uncontrolled energy, yet charged with fierce determination. His light-blue hair shone under the sunset, messy and alive like his spirit.
Facing him was Naoki, each strike blocked with calm precision, movements flowing in a choreographed rhythm. White strands of hair fell lightly over his face, but his focus—always anticipating the next move—remained unbroken.
During a parry, Raizen slipped and crashed to the ground.
"Ahh!!!" he groaned as the ground slammed into him. "You take this way too seriously!"
Naoki stifled a laugh and extended a hand to the brother.
"Quit the drama. It's just training."
"I'm way younger than you, you know?" Raizen grumbled, grabbing Naoki's hand, still sulking.
I need to get better… This time, I won't lose so easily, Raizen thought, pouting.
Naoki smiled, ruffling the younger boy's hair, unable to resist teasing him.
"It's only a three-year difference, little bro. And I'm just a bit taller."
"Hmph! Then let's start again! But I'm not holding back this time," Raizen said, gripping his sword tight, eyes burning with determination.
"Let's see if you can keep up!"
Their swords clashed once more, the metallic rhythm echoing through the yard like restrained thunder. Every strike reflected their personalities—the fiery drive of Raizen against Naoki's calm precision. To the younger one, the older brother was a constant challenge—someone who tested strength, patience, and creativity with every move. The duel flowed like a dance of opposing forces.
二
Leaning against the veranda's beam, Hiroto watched his grandsons. Posture rigid—decades as a hunter had made him that way. Long white hair tied into a simple knot, and a beard carried the marks of time. Stern amber eyes held too many memories.
Look at them, Jin… You should be here to see this…
A creak at the door pulled him out of his thoughts and a playful voice sounded, bringing back a familiarity that hadn't been heard in that house for a long time.
"Don't think so much, old man. You'll end up with more wrinkles!"
The old man sighed, lips curving into a faint smile.
"You came back earlier than I expected." And I was expecting peace and quiet…
Kazumi, wearing a mischievous grin, patted the old man's shoulder before slinging an arm around him.
"I missed you too, old man. Tell me—have those brats evolved?"
Hiroto snorted, shaking off Kazumi's arm, gaze trembling faintly. This brat never changes.
"Naoki remains disciplined, always alert and prepared," he said, adjusting the collar of the shirt. "Raizen, on the other hand, finds excuses not to train. Stubborn as anyone."
Eyes narrowed toward the younger grandson. The memory stiffened posture, and when he spoke again, voice dropped.
"Except… Raizen has her eyes."
Kazumi felt the gravity in those words. The old man still feels it…
"But that stubbornness—that's all Takumi!"
"Your brother was undisciplined. I'll never understand how Jin ended up marrying him."
"Oh, don't say that... And I think Takumi won over your daughter with his culinary talents. But he was also very protective, especially of me, the younger brother."
For a moment, Kazumi seemed lost in thought.
"Takumi always lost to Jin… and to me," added, rolling eyes. "I had to beg him to go easy, just so I could land at least one hit."
A crooked smile touched the lips as if the memory replayed before him. Then the gaze turned to Hiroto. The old man's face carried a pain he tried to hide—like a cracked mask barely holding together. He never dared to speak of it, afraid that even mentioning it would turn memory into an abyss. "Have they done the forest trial yet, old man?"
Hiroto turned the back and started walking away, replying, "It's too soon. Not the time yet. I won't put their lives at risk. There are things they still don't know..."
Kazumi followed him out of the corner of the eye. "Do you know when that time will come? What if it's tomorrow… or the day after?" Voice was low, but steady. "Tell me—would you be sure they're ready?" Deep down, he knew that the old man always avoided putting the boys to the test, keeping them in a safety zone that, sooner or later, could become dangerous.
"You want them to end up like Jin and Takumi?!" Hiroto snapped back.
"They need to learn to protect themselves. You can't keep them safe forever!"
When Hiroto reached the doorway, the old man hesitated for a moment.
"Don't tell me how to raise my grandsons," he said, stepping inside.
"What a stubborn old man," Kazumi muttered with a smirk.
Silently, Kazumi's gaze returned to the boys. The last traces of sunlight were fading beyond the horizon, and a dull ache in the chest reminded him of the brother's absence. This isn't what Jin and Takumi would've wanted…
Out in the yard, Raizen was squirming on the ground while Naoki held him down.
"Let go of me!" Raizen said.
"Raizen! Naoki! Dinner's in one hour!" Kazumi called.
"Sensei!" the two shouted at once, grinning.
Naoki tightened a grip on the brother's arms.
"You'll only get out of here if you can!"
"These kids... they haven't changed at all," Kazumi whispered, shaking his head.
三つ
Later, in the kitchen, Kazumi wore an old apron and prepared ramen. Steam rose slowly, filling the house with a warm aroma that quickly drew the brothers in. Smiling, he stirred the pot one last time before starting to serve the bowls.
"Grab your chopsticks! The best ramen in history is ready!"
The brothers tasted it at the same time, eyes widening and faces turning red.
"Well, how is it? Pretty delicious, huh? Totally killer!" Kazumi said, giving a smug smile.
"Kazu-sensei! This is amazing!"
Naoki looked at the brother in disbelief. You'll eat literally anything. He wrinkled his nose. The smell really tricked me…
"Did you actually like this… slop?" he said.
"Slop? It can't be that bad..." Kazumi murmured, picking up a portion with chopsticks. Bringing it to the mouth, he froze for a moment, swallowing with difficulty. A crooked smile was forced, but the grimace kept appearing. Raizen… either you're lying, or you've just discovered a secret cooking talent.
Naoki approached slowly, leaning over Kazumi.
"To die for, huh, man… more like a slow, painful death."
"Huh?" Kazumi frowned, trying to stifle a hoarse laugh. "Who did you take after, huh kid?!"
"And Raizen, this is terrible. You'll get sick! You can't just eat everything you see."
"But I liked it, Naoki!"
"See, kid? You gotta respect your uncle, be kind, and act a little cooler!"
"Not a chance!" Naoki shot back, crossing arms.
Laughing and chatting, the trio barely noticed the time passing—until Hiroto entered the kitchen. The laughter died in the air, and both brothers straightened immediately.
"Not joining us for dinner, Grandpa? Kazu-sensei made amazing ramen!" Raizen said.
Kazumi rested the chin on hands, elbows propped on the table, staring at the plate with pure disdain.
"Okay, okay, little brat… I'm beginning to think you're being sarcastic!" This stuff is really awful.
The old man looked at the bowls, impassive.
"Not a chance."
"Ah… now I see who the brat takes after..." Kazumi murmured, looking up. "Heading out, old man?"
"Going to Iwakura village. They need help with administrative matters. Village chief Fujisaka is an old friend, and he's away due to health issues. I'll handle things for a few days until he recovers. I should be back soon."
Hiroto turned to leave the kitchen. But a final hesitation made him pause and shoot a stern look at his grandson.
"Raizen, be more disciplined. Train and prepare for the exam. You don't know the world out there, and you have no idea what you might face. Take it seriously..."
His firm voice echoed as he walked away:
"…the world doesn't forgive the weak."
Kazumi watched silently, eyes alternating between the nephew and the old man. He lowered the head over ramen, stirring with chopsticks, thoughts drifting far away.
The old man is too harsh on Raizen; he seems to be constantly angry… Deep down, he's keeping the boys from truly learning, from growing up as strong as they should. He's failing them.
"Yes, sir..." Raizen muttered in a tiny voice, lowering his head.
The final click of the lock sounded like a strike. Raizen seemed even smaller, shoulders curled inward like a cocoon, head so low blue hair almost touched the bowl's edge. Small fingers moved chopsticks aimlessly, pushing one last forgotten noodle into the broth.
Kazumi watched everything closely and couldn't help but smile when he noticed the little guy's bowl was almost empty.
"Look at that, Munchkin. So, you actually liked it, huh?" He grinned, using the nickname that compared him to the short-legged cat breed.
Raizen slowly lifted his eyes, gaze once shadowed now shining with a timid glimmer of light.
"It was really good, Kazu-sensei!"
"Alright! Time to pay the price! First official mission of the clan: turn this war zone into a proper kitchen!"