The birdsong was the first thing to break the morning silence.
The second was a voice that made even the cups on the counter tremble.
—Get up, you lazy bums! We're going to Mount Oyama today! —shouted Haruna, bursting through the bedroom door with the kind of energy only she could have that early.
Kairus lifted his head from the counter, a napkin stuck to his cheek.
—What's going on? Is it the end of the world already?
—No, it's Sunday —answered Hikari, already ready with her backpack—. And we promised we'd fix Jake today.
—We promised that? —Jake, coming in from the patio, rubbed his eyes—. Let me talk to my brain for a second.
—Hey, brain, did we promise to go to the mountain today? —Jake said seriously, then answered himself in a higher pitch—: Hmm… I checked your memories and found two things… one, you're a pig, and two, I don't remember promising anything.
Haruna crossed her arms. —Well, if you still want to sleep and eat here for free, you'd better move that ass right now. Besides, we have to recover your lost mana.
—Yes, ma'am! —Jake shouted, dragging himself to his feet—. Is there breakfast?
—There is. But we're taking it in the backpack —answered Kairus, a canteen slung over his shoulder—. Time to walk.
Jake looked at him without faith. —How did you get ready so fast?
—Excessively fast. I couldn't say no to a day full of adventure —said Kairus, excited.
Hikari laughed, adjusting her cap. —Come on, Jake, don't be lazy. The mountain doesn't bite or anything.
—No, but the mosquitoes do —Jake grumbled, scratching his arm.
—Oh, for heaven's sake. Someone get the little girl a skirt —Kairus said with a mocking smile.
Jake glared at him indignantly. —Listen here, you blue-eyed loaf of bread… you don't understand what we "cardboard-colored" folks go through when mosquitoes see us as an all-you-can-eat buffet.
—All-you-can-eat buffet? —Kairus laughed—. Then I guess if you start charging admission, it'd be the first time you're actually useful.
Jake raised an eyebrow. —Perfect, you'll be the first to pay.
"""
Despite the complaints, they left Strawberry Dream shortly after in the newly repaired van. It was blue, modern, and spacious enough to carry plenty of fruit—or to carry Kairus and Jake if they got heatstroke.
The sun was just rising over the horizon, bathing the city buildings in golden light. Haruna closed the car door and took a deep breath.
—I haven't climbed that mountain in years —Haruna said with a faint smile—. If we're lucky, we'll find wild strawberries along the way. They're way better for tarts than the cultivated ones.
Jake raised an eyebrow, skeptical. —"If we're lucky"? How dangerous is this going to be?
—Depends —Haruna replied, turning the key in the ignition—. Are you allergic to bees?
Jake froze for a few seconds. —…I don't like where this is going.
Kairus nudged him lightly. —Come on, stop being dramatic. A little nature won't kill you. Besides, the fresh air will do you good, Mr. Damp Cardboard.
—Sure —muttered Jake—, exactly what I needed… fresh air and a possible sting that'll leave me more paralyzed than that Stephen Hawking guy.
Haruna let out a small laugh and shifted into first gear. —Then buckle up. I'm taking pictures and posting them online if a swarm chases you.
Kairus laughed as the engine roared to life, and the van rolled away from the city toward Mount Oyama. The scenery turned greener, and the scent of the countryside drifted in through the open windows.
"""
After two hours of driving, a dirt trail stretched before them, winding up the mountain and wrapped in a light mist.
—This is it —Haruna announced, shutting the van door with a firm thud.
Kairus looked up at the peak. —Wow… it's taller than I thought.
Jake let out a massive sigh. —Jesus, take me now. I swear I'll become Christian if you just don't make me climb that.
—Such admirable devotion to your principles, oh demon lord —Kairus said sarcastically.
—Principles? Can you eat that? —Jake asked seriously.
Haruna turned toward them with a teasing smile. —If you stay here talking and get lost, the mountain spirit will come and eat you.
Both froze.
—S-spirit? —they echoed at once.
—Of course —Haruna continued in a mysterious tone—. The spirit that appears every night to take those who wander too far. You know, the disappearances everyone talks about.
Jake slowly turned toward the van. —Well, guys, living in this world doesn't sound so bad after all, huh? Ha… ha…
—Weren't you the dark lord? —Hikari cut in, crossing her arms.
Jake raised a finger. —Yes, the dark lord. I deal with dragons, demons, lizard men… but ghosts? That's a whole different department.
Kairus patted his shoulder. —C'mon, Jake. There's nothing to be afraid of.
Jake looked down. Kairus's legs were trembling visibly.
—Sure… brave knight my ass —Jake said with a half-smile.
—I'm not scared of sh—
—Boo! —Haruna shouted from behind.
—AAAAAH!! —they both screamed at once.
Kairus leapt onto the nearest tree like a terrified cat, while Jake stuck his head straight into the ground.
Haruna doubled over laughing. —Look at that, the ostrich tactic! Very effective, Jake, nobody can see you at all. Relax, boys, it's just an urban legend. Nothing proves it's real.
Kairus climbed down at lightning speed, brushing off the dirt with what little dignity he had left.
—I knew that… —he said firmly, trying to regain his pride—. I was just inspecting the terrain from above.
Jake, face still covered in dirt, muttered— Yeah, and I was drilling for oil, sure.
Haruna let out one last laugh before starting up the path.
—Come on, cowards. If we reach the top before noon, maybe we can pick some strawberries and look for Jake's "lost mana."
"""
After their display of "manliness," the group began climbing. Kairus led the way, using a branch as a walking stick.
Haruna followed with a basket and her hair down—something Jake realized he'd never seen before.
Hikari walked beside him, recording on her phone while humming a tune.
—Why are you recording everything? —Jake asked.
—Because I want to remember days like this —she said, smiling—. You never know when it'll be the last time you do something for the first time.
Jake frowned. —That sounded way too deep for this hour.
—I know —Hikari laughed.
They walked in silence for a while.
Now and then, the crunch of dry leaves or the song of a curious bird echoed, making both Kairus and Jake tense up occasionally.
After a bit, Kairus stopped and pointed upward.
—From there, you can see the whole valley. Perfect spot to rest and scout around.
When they arrived, the view left them speechless.
From the hillside, they could see the nearby city of Yokohama in miniature—the red rooftops, the river gleaming more vividly than ever.
The sky, clear and radiant blue, almost hurt to look at.
—Wow… —Jake muttered, dropping his backpack—. Okay, I admit, this was worth it.
Haruna set down her basket and sat on a rock.
The sunlight illuminated her face, and for a moment, she seemed like a different person.
Without her usual severe expression, she was just a young woman enjoying a bit of peace.
—You know? —Hikari said, sitting beside her—. I haven't seen you smile like that since we opened the shop.
Haruna glanced sideways at her. —I guess I needed this.
Kairus approached with a friendly grin. —And to think it was your nuclear breakfast that gave us the courage to leave the bakery, miss perfection.
—Don't start, knight —Haruna said playfully—. Not every day you invent a breakfast that glows in the dark.
Jake raised his hand. —That was radiation, don't lie. The floor stain's still there.
They all laughed.
The atmosphere was light and comfortable—almost family-like.
For the first time since Kairus and Jake had appeared in this world, there was no tension, no danger—just people laughing under the sun.
They walked a little further until the path opened into a small clearing.
The ground was covered in plants with tiny white flowers and, among them, small strawberries—bright, deep red, almost glowing.
—Oh, this is beautiful —said Hikari, crouching to pick one—. They're so tiny they look like jewels.
—Well… feel anything yet? —Kairus asked, looking at Jake curiously.
—Yeah, a horrible pain in my feet —Jake said, slouching.
—Not that, you aborted experiment. I meant your mana —Kairus said, raising a brow.
—Ah… nope, nothing —Jake gestured lazily.
—What about now? —the knight asked, placing a twig on his head.
—Nope —Jake replied.
Then, Kairus grabbed Jake under the arms and lifted him as high as he could, as if trying to catch a signal.
—Now?
—What do you think I am, a freaking satellite antenna? —Jake yelled, squirming for Kairus to let go.
—Shhh… both of you be quiet —Haruna interrupted, frowning.
Then she knelt down, eyes sparkling with genuine excitement.
—Exactly as I remembered. These strawberries have a unique flavor. Not too sweet, but their aroma… —she stopped, bringing one to her nose—. It's exquisite. Kairus, try one.
The knight set Jake down and walked over. He tasted one and smiled as he chewed. —Mmm, delicious! They look tough on the outside, but inside they hide something special. Just like you.
Haruna blinked, then turned away, pretending to be interested in the basket. —You talk too much, you know that?
Jake, watching with a strawberry in hand, muttered— If these things were bigger, I could sell them as magic runes. They literally glow.
—Don't touch them all, they're five-star strawberries —Hikari said, nudging him.
—Five-star strawberries? —Jake looked at her—. You've been playing too many gachas.
Kairus burst out laughing. —That explains why I hear her screaming at night, "Damn it, another permanent!"
Haruna watched them while carefully collecting the fruit.
She said nothing, but inside, she felt different.
It had been a long time since she'd seen the group so united, so full of life.
For a moment, she thought that if Strawberry Dream ever closed, she wouldn't mind—as long as they could keep laughing like this.
A while later…
—Alright, we've picked enough strawberries and rested. Time to check the place from the rumors —Haruna announced, putting on her backpack—. I want to find where that "strange energy" might be.
Kairus and Jake looked at each other silently, then swallowed hard at the same time.
—Wait… —Kairus said nervously—, you mean the place where those disappearances supposedly happened? The one with the spirit?
Haruna smiled. —Exactly that one.
—Great, just our luck —Jake muttered—. We're going to die in a haunted forest.
Kairus tried to stay composed. —Who's scared? It's not like it's the first time I've fought spirits… heh. —His voice trembled so much there was no way that was true.
Jake looked at him with one eyebrow raised. —Sure, "Mr. Ghost Hunter," but your legs are doing tap dance right now.
Haruna lifted a brow. —Come on, guys. If there really is a spirit, it'll be a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
Kairus stood up, stretching his back. —Alright then… Jake, move it before it gets dark.
Jake stayed seated, motionless, staring at the ground in deep reflection.
—Kairus… it's not that I don't want to get up —he said seriously—. It's that I can't. I'm so scared my butt's suctioned to the ground. I'm stuck.
—You've gotta be kidding me! —Kairus yelled, trying to pull him up.
—Open your butt cheeks, Jake! —Hikari shouted, running over with a stick—. I'll fix this!
Jake tensed up immediately. —H-hey, what's the stick for, you psycho!?
—SWAT tactic for jammed doors! —Hikari shouted, taking aim.
—Those are the doors to my garden! Stop!
Jake jumped to his feet and bolted. —It worked! Hikari, it worked!
Then he froze mid-run.
—Why's he still running? —he asked, clearly worried.
Kairus patted his shoulder. —Let him be, he's gone berserk mode. I taught him that.
He then took a red handkerchief from the bag and tied it to Jake's backside.
—What are you doing? —Jake asked, confused.
—Admire this —Kairus said, stepping back—. Toro, toro!
Hikari, still holding the stick, charged straight at the handkerchief. Jake dodged at the last second, making Hikari snatch the cloth and keep running.
—Olé! —Kairus shouted, raising his arms.
Haruna laughed. —Alright, matadors, follow Hikari. Looks like she's heading in the right direction.
The group moved through the trees until the sun began to set. The shadows stretched between the roots, and the air turned cold.
When Haruna stopped, everyone did.
—Well, guys… we're here —she said, turning on her flashlight.
Jake swallowed hard. —Not again…
Before them stood an abandoned temple, covered in vines and dust. The wooden doors were half-broken, and a chilling breeze flowed from within.
Haruna smiled, eyes gleaming. —Looks like we found the source of the energy we were looking for.
End of chapter 15