Akitsu Shouga opened his eyes.

  He was lying on a small grassy hill just outside Sunwind Village, the familiar scent of earth and wild grass filling his lungs. For a long moment, he didn’t move. The wind pressed insistently against his clothes, strong enough to bend the tall grass around him, making it whisper endlessly—as if the land itself was murmuring secrets he already knew.

  Slowly, he pushed himself upright.

  The sun hung directly overhead—bright, merciless, and already at its peak. Its heat bore down on him without sympathy, just as it always had.

  “So it really sent me back again…”

  His voice was quiet, almost swallowed by the wind.

  Akitsu exhaled slowly and rubbed his face with both hands, dragging his palms down as if he could wipe away reality itself.

  “This is the third time I got sent back here…”

  He lowered his hands and looked toward the village below. Smoke curled gently from chimneys. People moved along the roads. Life went on, uninterrupted.

  “How will things be like in this world…?”

  There was no answer.

  He stood and began walking toward the village entrance.

  Sunwind Village looked exactly the same.

  The dirt roads were unchanged, worn smooth by countless footsteps. Wooden houses stood neatly lined, their walls sun-bleached and familiar. Villagers went about their day—laughing, chatting, carrying baskets and tools—faces free of fear or grief.

  Because, to them, nothing had ever gone wrong.

  Akitsu walked through the streets, his gaze wandering but unfocused, his thoughts heavy.

  They haven’t changed at all, he thought.

  Not even a little.

  Lost in his thoughts, he didn’t notice where he was going—

  —and collided with someone.

  “Oh!”

  “I’m very sorry for bumping into you.”

  Akitsu froze.

  He slowly lifted his head.

  “Ayame… Hoshizaki-san…?”

  The name slipped out before he could stop it. His breath caught. Tears welled up in his eyes instantly, blurring his vision.

  The girl blinked at him, startled. Her expression was polite—but unfamiliar.

  “Excuse me…” she said. “Do I know you?”

  Her voice was gentle. Distant.

  That single question hurt more than any blade ever could.

  Akitsu quickly wiped his tears away, turning his face slightly as he forced a smile—one that hurt far more than crying ever would.

  “No… we don’t know each other,” he said.

  “I think I must have confused you with another person.”

  “Is that so?” Ayame replied calmly.

  She smiled politely, just as she always had.

  “Alright, then. I’ll be on my way.”

  She stepped past him and continued down the road.

  Akitsu didn’t turn around to watch her leave.

  Instead, he stared straight ahead, his hands clenched at his sides, and continued walking as if nothing had happened.

  The dojo gates soon came into view.

  Akitsu stopped in front of them.

  He didn’t step inside.

  “Master…” he whispered, his voice barely audible.

  “I hope you understand.”

  The wind brushed past him, tugging at his hair and clothes, carrying with it fragments of memories—training sessions, laughter, discipline, warmth.

  “This is the only way to end our suffering.”

  He stood there in silence for several long minutes, unmoving, letting the past wash over him until it dulled into something distant and painful.

  Then—

  “Excuse me. Do you need any help?”

  Akitsu turned around.

  Kurogane Daichi stood there, posture relaxed, expression calm and steady—exactly as Akitsu remembered him.

  His chest tightened.

  Akitsu bowed deeply.

  “No, I don’t need help. I’ll be on my way now.”

  Daichi nodded, not questioning him.

  “Alright, then… stay safe.”

  Akitsu turned and walked away.

  He didn’t look back.

  The path leading away from Sunwind Village stretched forward, winding toward a distant town beyond the fields and forest.

  Akitsu walked steadily, his steps light despite the weight pressing against his chest.

  “I wonder how my life will be like…” he murmured.

  “I hope it goes well from now on.”

  A soft, fragile smile appeared on his face.

  Then—

  Something pressed uncomfortably against his palm inside his sweatpants pocket.

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  Frowning, he stopped walking and reached inside.

  His breath caught.

  A knife.

  Covered in dried, darkened blood.

  “Why…?” His voice trembled.

  “Why do I still have this?! Did it not end?!”

  His hands shook violently as he dropped the knife onto the dirt path. It landed with a dull, lifeless thud.

  Akitsu stared at it for a long moment—then turned away and continued walking, leaving it behind.

  The forest was quiet.

  By the time he emerged on the other side, the sun had begun to sink below the horizon, painting the sky in shades of orange and violet. Ahead, warm lights flickered in the distance.

  A town.

  “Finally… I reached the town!” Akitsu said with relief.

  “But where will I sleep tonight? Oh well—”

  He shook his head.

  “It doesn’t matter right now!”

  When he entered the town, the sun had fully set.

  Colorful lights decorated the streets. Lanterns glowed warmly overhead. Music echoed faintly, and laughter filled the air. People walked about in elegant clothing, their faces bright with excitement.

  “This place sure has a lot of people…” Akitsu muttered.

  “Why are they all wearing fancy clothes? Is some special event happening?”

  He followed the flow of the crowd until he noticed people gathering near an alleyway.

  Curious, he approached—but couldn’t see what was happening.

  “Excuse me,” he said, tapping someone on the shoulder.

  “Why are people gathering here?”

  “Tonight, the king of the kingdom is visiting our town,” the person replied excitedly.

  “It’s especially rare since he’s coming with his family. So, of course, people want to see them.”

  “Is that so…?”

  Akitsu pushed through the crowd until he reached the front.

  Lights glittered everywhere.

  “This is beautiful…” he whispered.

  Music grew louder.

  A parade appeared—performers dancing with flowers, instruments ringing joyfully.

  At the back came a royal horse-drawn carriage.

  Inside sat the king, his queen, and their daughter.

  The princess had blonde hair and green eyes—just like her father.

  She waved to the crowd.

  Then—

  Her eyes met Akitsu’s.

  Time seemed to slow.

  They held each other’s gaze for several seconds—long enough to feel something strange pass between them.

  Both of them looked away, flustered.

  “Was that the princess?!” Akitsu thought frantically.

  “Why was she looking at me?!”

  He quickly slipped away through the alley, his heart pounding.

  The streets grew quieter.

  Eventually, he found a horse barn at the edge of town.

  Inside were piles of hay.

  He climbed onto the largest one and lay down.

  “I guess this is where I’ll be sleeping tonight…”

  He stared at the ceiling briefly.

  “I’ll have to somehow try to live tomorrow.”

  Sleep claimed him quickly.

  When Akitsu woke up the next morning—

  Something was wrong.

  A soft weight rested against his arm.

  He slowly opened his eyes.

  A girl was sleeping beside him, her head resting on his arm. She had black hair and black eyes and wore a black-and-white silk ball gown—clearly expensive.

  Akitsu froze.

  “Who is this…?” he whispered.

  “What is she doing here?”

  His eyes widened.

  “Is she a noble?! Why is a girl wearing such an expensive gown sleeping right next to me?!”

  Panic surged.

  “Will I get into trouble for this?!”

  He tried to gently pull his arm free—

  —but the girl tightened her grip.

  “Oh no…!”

  “What do I do now?! Should I wake her up?!”

  She shifted closer and slowly opened her eyes.

  Their gazes locked.

  Neither of them moved.

  Neither spoke.

  Akitsu finally broke the silence.

  “U-umm… excuse me, but could you free my hand, please?”

  The girl glanced at his arm beneath her head and released him.

  They both sat up, flustered.

  Akitsu laughed nervously.

  “You should go home. Your parents must be worried about you.”

  “No,” the girl replied quietly.

  “I won’t.”

  “Why is that?” Akitsu asked.

  “It’s dangerous to be out here alone.”

  “My parents don’t care about me at all…” she said softly.

  “I bet they didn’t even notice that I was gone.”

  The morning light crept into the barn—

  —and with it, a new turning point in his life.