The morning arrived with the soft breeze of the third day, the very one on which Jiro was to leave. The Kamimizu house lay in complete silence, except for the sound of trees gently swaying in the wind, and the song of a few birds announcing the dawn.
Jiro, already dressed in light travel clothes, tied his hair with a small red ribbon—a symbol of determination. Before any goodbyes, before the pain or uncertainty of the journey... he had something important to do: dedicate this last day to his mother.
—Here you go, Mom —said Jiro as he entered the kitchen, carrying a basket full of fresh vegetables—. Just picked. Look how big they are.
Mrs. Kamimizu, surprised, looked at him delighted as she took the vegetables—. Thank you so much, Jiro, sweetheart... but you didn't have to—
—It's nothing, Mom —he interrupted with a warm smile—. That's what I'm here for, right? To help you.
And without waiting for a reply, he quickly walked away, leaving his mother both surprised and confused.
A little later, as Mrs. Kamimizu was about to hang the laundry as she did every morning, she noticed it was already done—every piece perfectly aligned in the wind. She blinked twice, puzzled. Jiro, standing at the base of a tree, simply said:
—You're welcome, Mom...
She observed him silently, her brow slightly furrowed, murmuring:
—What is this boy up to?
But the real surprise had yet to come. Later, when she went to clean the house as usual, Mrs. Kamimizu stopped in her tracks. Every corner sparkled with a nearly supernatural cleanliness. The wooden floor reflected the sunlight like polished crystal, and the table was so spotless it was hard to look at it directly without squinting.
—MY EYES! —she shouted, shielding her face.
—I'm done, Mom! —Jiro said proudly, turning with a towel in hand—. See how beautiful the house looks?
Mrs. Kamimizu, stunned, couldn't find the words. Her son, the very one who avoided even sweeping his room, had turned the house into a gleaming palace.
—This boy is not okay! —she thought before fainting to the floor.
Jiro ran to her side.
—Mom!
Hours later, lying on the futon, Mrs. Kamimizu slowly opened her eyes. Beside her, Jiro looked at her anxiously.
—Are you okay, Mom?
She sat up slowly, touching her head.
—Yes... yes, I'm fine. I just got too surprised —she replied, offering a weak smile—. But tell me, Jiro... why have you been acting so strange today?
Jiro tried to remain calm, forcing a smile.
—Strange? Me? What makes you say that?
—Jiro... —she looked directly at him, crossing her arms—. You're my son. I know you better than anyone. Don't try to hide anything from me. Is something wrong?
—No, Mom... it's nothing, I think...
But his expression betrayed him. His once bright face darkened suddenly. The shadow of his thoughts clouded his gaze.
—Jiro... please, answer me, son. What's wrong?
And then, unable to hold it in any longer, Jiro shut his eyes tightly. His voice trembled.
—I... I'm scared, Mom...
Mrs. Kamimizu gently approached him, placing her hands on his cheeks.
—Scared of what, son?
—Of losing you —he replied with a trembling voice—. Of everyone disappearing... and me being left alone.
Silence wrapped the room as the sun's rays entered through the window, illuminating the figures of mother and son. Mrs. Kamimizu embraced him tightly, as if trying to protect him from the entire world.
—Jiro... you're not alone. You never will be. Even if the world turns against you, even if the path becomes dark, as long as my heart beats... you'll always have a home to return to. Always.
The boy trembled in her arms as a few tears escaped his eyes. That moment wasn't a farewell... it was a promise.
A promise that, even as he set off to face the unknown, his mother's love would be his invisible shield.
And the sun, witness to that eternal bond, began to rise a little higher in the sky... marking the beginning of the journey that would change Jiro's life forever.
The atmosphere grew warm and heavy, as if every word and every breath lingered in the air. The embrace between mother and son was more than a gesture—it was a necessity, a silent plea from the soul. Mrs. Kamimizu, with a serene face but a restless heart, gently caressed Jiro's head as he took refuge in her arms.
The sweetness of that moment contrasted with the years of struggle and emptiness she had silently endured.
—Fear —she whispered softly, like a maternal lullaby—... is a very common feeling among us living beings. It's part of who we are. Don't hate it, my son... Accept it. Fear doesn't make you weak. It makes us human... more aware... wiser...
Jiro listened, clinging to that moment as if afraid it would vanish. Inside, his emotions were a storm slowly beginning to calm. Every word from his mother was a drop of relief falling on his restless heart. A spark of clarity lit within him.
—Mom... —he said, raising his head, his eyes still clouded with sadness— What would I do without you? You're all I have left after Dad... You and Grandpa mean everything to me... I don't want to lose you, I don't want to be alone again...
He pulled back slightly but didn't let go of his mother's hands.
—Mom... please. Promise me something...
—What is it, darling? —she replied sweetly, though her face now showed curiosity.
—Promise me you'll be alright... no matter what happens. Promise me.
Mrs. Kamimizu looked at him, surprised by the seriousness in his voice. In her son's eyes, she saw raw, real fear. The anxiety of a child still burdened by unhealed wounds.
—Jiro...
—Please, Mom! —he interrupted with a choked cry— Just that... promise me...
Seeing her son's desperation, she finally closed her eyes and squeezed his hand tightly.
—Yes, Jiro... I promise you. No matter what happens, I'll be alright. I believe in you.
Jiro could no longer hold back his emotion. He threw himself into a strong embrace, as if trying to stop time, as if he wanted to keep her there forever.
But the peace was short-lived.
BAM!
The door burst open violently. Shinji appeared, breathless, his face pale.
—Jiro! Come quickly... this is urgent!
Mrs. Kamimizu, alarmed by his expression, asked firmly:
—What's going on, Shinji? Why do you look like that?
—Mrs. Kamimizu... please, stay inside. It's dangerous out there —Shinji said respectfully, but with no time to explain.
Jiro slowly let go of his mother.
—Mom... I'll be right back...
And he ran out with Shinji, without looking back.
Outside, the sky had an unnatural color, as if the very firmament had cracked open. The streets were full of murmurs and screams.
Everyone stared at the sky in horror: thousands of Shiketsu rifts had opened in the air, like scars on reality itself. From those fissures, spectral spirits escaped, flying between the houses and mountains with a dark and haunting presence.
—This can't be happening...! —Jiro exclaimed— But I... I closed the Shiketsu...!
The villagers began to run in panic, taking shelter wherever they could. The air was thick with distorted mana and the sky was covered in living shadows.
Then, amid the chaos, a figure emerged: Jiro's grandfather, dressed in his old armor, accompanied by a unit of armed and ready Oni warriors.
—Jiro! —the old man shouted firmly— I don't know what's going on, but stay away from those creatures. Get to safety!
—I'll be fine, Grandpa! Don't worry!
—Jiro, listen to me! —the grandfather replied, tightening his gauntlet with force.
At that moment, a spirit attacked from the sky. But before it could reach the ground, the old man unsheathed his katana and, with a single clean slash, cut the spirit in two, making it vanish into the air.
Without another word, the grandfather charged forward with his squad, leaving behind a trail of determination and courage.
Jiro, heart pounding, watched everything in disbelief.
—How is this possible...? I was supposed to have sealed it!
Then a memory struck him hard.
The cave... the masked spirit...
"I'll keep feeding this Shiketsu for three days..."
—That Shiketsu...! —Jiro cried— I didn't seal it...! It can't be!
A thousand thoughts hit him like waves. Something massive had awakened. Something that hadn't been stopped in time.
Jiro, heart racing, ran desperately back toward his home.
Meanwhile, Shinji bravely helped the villagers escape, guiding them to safety through the woods.
But Jiro knew this was only the beginning.