In the karaoke room, Kakunō skimmed over some songs with the remote.

“Ooh, ooh, I want that one!” Hokori pointed at the screen.

He turned around. “You sure? I thought you hated the anime this song came from.”

He chuckled. “Oh, believe me, I do. But this song’s a bop! Besides, I’m now cursed to experience it in real life with those three back there. Hahahahahaha!” He had pointed with a thumb. “And don’t forget to choose the blind option. I’m a pro at this.”

“Alright… here you go.” Kakunō picked the song ‘Crossing Field’ by LiSA.

The three swayed their heads during the intro. Hokori got off his seat and sang the first verse perfectly. However, he made up his own since. In the chorus, he sang “I forgot the lyrics” in Japanese instead. Still, his comrades shared their joy.

Outside, Tokino walked past the living room. As Hokori sang the last chorus, the karaoke machine turned off. The lights had switched on. “Ey, what da fuck!” He looked around.

The three noticed the door behind them had opened, but none stood. They curiously peaked out and saw Tokino in the living room. Coming out, Hokori noticed she sat on his favorite couch.

“Ma’am…? What’s going on?” asked Kakunō, walking closer. She walked past him and had uttered no word.

Briefly seething, she raised her right to greet Hokori’s cheek. “You shouldn’t have done that!” Her eyes narrowed.

“Done what? Sing ‘Loser’ all around the house?” He raised an eyebrow. He felt a sting on the opposite side. “Ow….”

Tokino panted, eyes narrowed further. “You were the one… that told my Haruto… that he didn’t know ‘jack shit’ about you. So, what gave you the right to say those things to him! You haven’t even known him for a day!” She pointed upward at the towering man.

His eyes rolled. “It’s simple, kid. He didn’t give me good impressions. And neither did he with moi.” He walked closer and pointed back. “I could say the same with you. Tell me, oh lawfully wedded waifu of Kazuto 2.0. What in the goddamn—fucking hell—do you know about me? I will hold my breath.” He looked down with crossed arms.

Tokino held chest. “Well, then give me a chance. Not only to know you better, but all of you. Because right now, my husband’s giving his on my part. Please, let’s have a seat.”

Hokori sighed with closed eyes. “It better be good.” He called his comrades to the living room.

She sat on a couch that leaned behind Hokori’s favored one. He sat on one that faced her. The other two sat on smaller seats placed on both ends where Hokori sat; said seats also leaned forward diagonally.

Kakunō lit up the fireplace by activating runes with a finger-snap. “It’s gonna get cold out here, ma’am.” He sat back.

Hokori tapped his finger within his crossed arms, eyes closed. “Hmmm…” he opened, “…I see what’s up. You gon’ tell us your boyfriend’s sob story, ain’tcha?”

Tokino postured her legs together. “Yes. Is there anything wrong with that?” Her back straightened with hands on her lap.

“Not at all, kid,” he shook his head. ”You see, in movies and anime, it gives really nice character development if done well. Proceed.” He moved a hand in front.

She sighed. “Well… it’s not a movie or an ‘anime’ as you call it. But it’s still very harrowing.” Her eyes lowered.

She cleared her throat. “If I’d describe it shortly, my Haruto was like a little boy building the largest sandcastle ever, then huge waves come in. He had cried endlessly until a little girl helped him to build another, even bigger one. But the waves came back. The girl never returned—and the boy—finally gave up.” She dried her eyes and sniffled.

Hokori squinted. “Hmmm… I wouldn’t call that ‘short,’ but said enough. Well done, kid. So, that’s how he lived his life? Did it get better here?” He raised an eyebrow.

“No,” she shook her head. “It got worse. My Haruto’s idea of love twisted almost beyond repair. All because another dear to him died outside his control.”

The three listened closely to Tokino for more than two hours.

For now, this ongoing story must rest. Here, we take a trip down memory lane back on Earth. There lay a harrowing past she spoke of. The past of a sorry child who only ever yearned for serenity.

March 20, 2022. One day before Spring. Deep within the Ōhira village of Miyagi Prefecture lay a simple home and dōjō. Situated uphill, a stream flowed near. Downhill were vast rice paddies, more simple households, and a highway.

For fifteen years, Tantō Minagawa (皆川 擔當) had been the master of a kendo class. He continued even when he married Chōwa (皆川 調和) thirteen years prior. Forty and thirty-nine, respectively, they wore simple clothing to match a lifestyle all the same. Dark cyan kimonos and barley straw zori, worn with tabi.

When classes began, Tantō would change to the appropriate martial arts attire. Though, he wore black to differentiate the white-clad students. Among them practicing the usual first stance of kendo was a fourteen-year-old Haruto. With a swift upward slash, his opponent fell on his rear.

“Everyone… step back!” He walked to his son. “Haruto! Turn your blade on me once more.” He readied his stance.

More or less, he was a prodigy. Only his father was on par. Blow for blow, clash after clash, neither got the upper hand until both became breathless. It was a tie once more. Tantō gave off a hearty laugh, and they bowed to each other; Haruto cracked a smile.

After the other students were dismissed, he had swung aimlessly in the dōjō with two shinais.

Tantō noticed and stood by. “Easy there, my son… You may be strong enough to give this old ass of mine a good beatdown. But I don’t think you’ll be the next Musashi.” He chuckled.

He turned to face him with a confident smirk. “It never hurts to try, Dad.”

“Indeed it never does.” They sparred again. Unlike before, Haruto lost a lot of balance and could not swing properly. The two shinais flew across the dōjō. “Ow…” he felt his side.

Tantō smiled faintly and lent a hand. “You see, my son… weight is everything on your strikes. Even Musashi didn’t use his famed Niten Ichi-ryū style against Kojiro. He simply used an oar. But I do view it as a testament to his might. Come, it’s time for lunch.”

Haruto still smiled as they walked out of the dōjō. An oyster world, his mind thought.

Tantō looked down at him. “Now that I’ve mentioned it, why did you want to use that style? You’re far more proficient with real techniques.”

He scratched the back of his head, cheeks red. “I wanted to try out something I saw a lot in anime. It looked cool.”

He chuckled with closed eye and mouth. “Well, we’re not living in such worlds, my son. Either way, I won’t interfere if that’s what you want.”

At home, Chōwa prepared udon for a family of three. Haruto’s grandparents on both sides passed away long ago. He never missed the altar before a meal. He sat where he could see his parents in front.

“Haruto, don’t slurp too loudly,” Chōwa scolded. “Same goes for you, honey.”

Tantō swallowed with difficulty. “Hey…! That’s pretty hard to do with food like this, y’know?”

“Then care to explain why I can?” None could match such unimpressed eyes.

His own wandered about as he sweated bullets. “Well, ummm… It’s in the genes?” He grinned awkwardly while squinting. She turned away, still unimpressed. As he embarrassed himself in front, Haruto giggled.

Chōwa turned to her son. “I’ve heard some complaints about a friend of yours you beat in kendo lately. He accused you of cheating.”

He slurped a mouthful and shook his head. “He’s not my friend, Mom. I don’t have any in school.”

She gasped with her mouth covered. “Oh, dear… Surely you have at least one friend here in town. I don’t want you to be lonely.”

Haruto put down his bowl. “I’m not lonely at all, Mom. Because you guys are my friends.” He smiled at them.

Tantō smiled back. “Hahahahahaha! Whatever you say, my son. We’ll be there for you, always.”

After lunch, Chōwa went back to working at home over a personal computer.

Haruto and his father visited the local shrine in town downhill. The latter gave thanks to the fertility god Inari Ōkami (稲荷大神) once more. Even when he never worked with rice, Tantō prayed for his neighbors bountiful harvests all year round.

For Haruto, he prayed to the Christian God. In memory of a recently late pastor who lived near his school. After lighting candles, he saw a mother and her children from afar.

There were three brothers and sisters; one brother was the eldest. He noticed some picking on the youngest sister, and the eldest intervened and held her close.

Their mother had called for them, and Haruto’s father did thereafter. He walked from behind. “Dad… what’s it like having siblings?”

Tantō chuckled lightly. “I had lots, my son. Twin younger brothers and two older sisters. I was the middle child. I’d bicker with the former. But our sisters helped and supported us every day. We looked up to them when Ma and Pa weren’t home.”

“Did you ever hate any of them?” He looked up.

He hummed with a raised eyebrow. “Well, I wouldn’t say hate. We had disagreements, and our ties soured at times. But we loved each other no matter what. If we didn’t, we wouldn’t have been a real family.”

They went inside the car and continued their conversation. “Haruto… are you sure you aren’t lonely? Do you hate living here?”

“No, Dad. I never thought of such things.” He declared, playing on his smartphone.

“So, why don’t you have friends in school?” Tantō’s eyes squinted.

“I never related with any of them. Only with you two. I don’t even have friends online.” He smiled at him.

Tantō looked back on the road. “Hmmm… I was afraid you’d say that, my son. I thought surely, you’d have ones online. Have you tried?”

“I have, Dad. Several times. I just couldn’t,” he shook his head.

Tantō turned again and smiled as well. Even when his son had grown, he still saw the happy-go-lucky child in him.

Back home, going outside the car, Tantō held his shoulder from afar. “Tell you what, my son. Your mom and I will be more than just your parents—or your friends. In death, we’ll be the guardians watching over you. Forever till the end.”

He immediately hugged his father and thanked him. Suddenly, they were in for a surprise. Chōwa ran toward them in a gleeful noise. She jumped on her husband for the next hug.

They stood confused. Chōwa let go and explained that she was hired by a Tokyo-based company that had been on her mind for months. “We’ll be moving to the capital, honey. Like I always dreamed of.” She made the first move.

Unlike other children, unsure and distressed about their new life, Haruto was equally as happy as they were.

She turned to her son. “Will you miss the dōjō, dear?”

He shook his head. “Not at all, Mom. I’ll just spar with Dad. I wanna do my dual-wielding again!” He smiled widely with fists of confidence.

Tantō gave out another hearty laugh and patted his shoulder. After dinner, the Minagawa family packed their things for the big day tomorrow.