RING! RING! RING! RING!

  Kenji turned off his alarm clock, annoyed but somewhat relieved that the dream was over.

  Deciding not to dwell on it (partly because he checked the time, and partly because his eyes were already starting to water), the teenager got dressed and left his room.The most noticeable thing was the new presence in the house: Nanami Arata (or Uniwit, her real surname), Kenji and Yui's mother, was up at the table drinking coffee. Seeing her son awake for the first time that week, she gave him a tired but sincere smile.

  "Good morning, son" she said, and her voice made Kenji smile. Typical mom trick.

  "Good morning, Mom" the teenager replied, taking a seat at the table with his mother. The truth is, after almost a whole week of not seeing her, talking to Nanami cheered the boy up, because despite currently being a single mother, she was still the same woman who married Arata's father: strong but devoted to her family.

  After catching up, Yui joined them at the table, and the three of them created a rather cozy, familial atmosphere. Especially during playful moments.

  "So, how are your friends doing, Kenji? How are things with Airi?" The woman smiled as she watched her son choke on his breakfast, coughing a few times.

  "W-Well... everyone's fine..." The young man stammered, blushing. "Airi's still the same... sweet and gentle."

  "Shut up and tell her you love her already" Yui muttered without looking at her brother, as she ate a piece of toast with jam.

  “You shut up!” The disheveled boy glared at his sister, who blinked innocently.

  And so, the family finished their Saturday breakfast and prepared for the afternoon's activity. They packed food in a bag and a blanket, and got into the car to head to their destination.

  During the drive, Nanami glanced at Yui, who was staring out the back window.

  “Are you sure you're okay with this, honey? We could skip it this year if you don't want to go.” Her tone sounded worried.

  “I want to go… I want to remember those moments, even if that bad memory still lingers.” The girl spoke with a determined voice, earning a nod from her mother.

  “Don't hesitate to let me know if anything comes up,” the woman advised, looking back at the road.

  Sarenada Park (12:27)

  The weather was perfect, as others would readily observe. The sun was shining, and the warmth was already proving surprisingly pleasant, though not overwhelming. The blue sky was clear, and the breeze was comforting.

  The Arata family unpacked their belongings from the car and laid out their blanket on the ground, taking simple snacks (sandwiches or fruit) from their lunch bag.Why would a family return to such a place, where they had first received the devastating news, and on the very same day, to have a picnic? Although no one understood, the reason was simple.

  Enojiro Arata, Kenji and Yui's father, was a man who could be described as having a sporting spirit. While he was skilled with technology, his true talent lay in sports. Soccer, baseball—any sport—he always finished among the top players. Besides that, he adored the rural environment, like the one he had experienced as a young man on the outskirts of Karinome. That's why, one Saturday a month, the family would take a trip to Sarenada Park for a picnic and some fun. It was Kenji's favorite time of year, since he really enjoyed trying to beat his father at some game, even if he ended up losing later…

  Now, Kenji, Yui, and Nanami were sitting on the blanket, eating their food and enjoying the silence. Even so, despite the 'peaceful' atmosphere, there was a faint undercurrent of tension and discomfort, mainly concerning Yui, who was trying to hide it.

  "I'm surprised the park hasn't changed much yet…" Kenji tried to lighten the mood, looking around and noticing a curved tree. "Hey Yui, do you remember when we used to climb that tree?" he asked, pointing at the tree.

  “So… wasn’t that the one where you fell after trying to swing from one branch to another?” Yui asked, setting aside her discomfort for the first time since they left home. “No wonder you’re like this today” he murmured with a smile.

  “Hey!” The teenager felt indignant, while the girl stuck out her tongue. Even so, he was secretly happy that his sister was finally starting to open up.

  Luckily, the rest of lunch continued with more jokes and anecdotes, all of which shared Enojiro’s presence, whether absurd, funny, comforting, or fleetingly melancholic. Nanami laughed as she watched her children playfully bicker, wishing her husband could see them from wherever he was…Meanwhile…

  Meanwhile…

  “Saruka, where did you put the Sweet-Sweet Candies?” Himori asked her daughter, while she was checking the back room.

  “I think I put them…over there!” The girl started pacing, pointing at the ceiling, until she stopped and pointed…at a trash can. “I’m sorry…I forgot…” In the blink of an eye, the girl was curled up against the wall, embarrassed.

  “It’s okay, honey, at least you’re helping me with the inventory” Himori patted Saruka’s head, before looking at a Gen’kan who was asleep sitting in the middle of the room. “Unlike other people…”It was then that the sound of a bell was heard, at the same time as a strange creature entered through the bedroom window: a kind of mouse with bells on its tail and a patch over its right eye. The constant noise was enough to wake Gen'kan, who yawned and eyed the creature suspiciously.

  "Oh...it's you, Otomo" the man murmured, taking a cookie from a nearby box and offering it to the animal, who gladly accepted it. "Where are we today?" he asked, getting up.

  "Sarenada Park, 5 km from here" the mouse named Otomo replied matter-of-factly, nibbling at the cookie. "Aren't you getting a little old for this, you old codger?"

  "Nah, I'm only 57, my time hasn't come yet." The man dismissed the question, standing up. He looked at his daughter and granddaughter with a more serious expression. “I’ll be right back…duty calls.”

  With that, Gen’kan vanished into thin air, leaving Saruka stroking Otomo’s back as she ate, and Himori, who looked at her father with dismay.

  “(I really hope age doesn’t catch up with him one day…)” the woman thought, before continuing to arrange the merchandise.

  Sarenada Park (1:30 PM)

  The picnic had ended, and it was better than in previous years (due to Yui’s absence, who until that year had kept her distance from the ‘celebration’). The three Aratas were now walking towards Lake Karpe, a place that used to be Enojiro’s favorite.

  “I remember… a year after the accident, Mom and I came here to remember Dad. We didn’t have a picnic, and Yui had stayed home by choice. Mom and I made a small, rustic grave with stones and plants, and from that day on, everyone knew it as ‘the grave of the absent one.’ I really… don’t know if I should be angry or think it’s an appropriate name, but people have shown their respects, even if it’s not a real monument,” Kenji thought as the family approached the body of water.

  Suddenly, Kenji turned his head and saw something he secretly considered angelic: Airi was in the park, alone on a picnic blanket, gazing at the grass before her. Turning her head, she smiled at him, and he returned the smile. He still hoped his family didn't notice.

  "Hey, isn't that your friend, Kenji?" Too late. Nanami recognized Airi and gave Kenji a sly grin. "Why don't you go talk to her?" she asked.

  Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

  "W-What?!" Kenji stammered, looking at his mother. "M-Mom... I don't know if this is a good time..."

  "Nonsense. It's never a bad time to talk to the girl you like." His mother gently chided him. Then she leaned closer and whispered something in his ear in a more comforting tone. “Also… I think Yui will need some time alone when we arrive, so I’d like to stay nearby in case she needs anything. Don’t worry.” Seeing that he had no way of saying no (since he also didn’t want to leave without properly greeting Airi), the teenager nodded and walked over to the girl, who gave him her characteristic smile.

  “Hi.”

  “Hi” Airi replied, making room for him, and he sat down.

  A comfortable silence settled between them, broken only by the occasional breeze or the splashing of fish in the nearby stream. Even so, Airi was the first to speak.

  “So… is it today?” she asked, earning a nod from the boy. “I see… I’m really sorry about that” she quickly apologized, both for the question and for missing it.

  “It’s okay…it’s just, there’s really not much that can be done, other than to keep going even though it hurts” the boy replied, calming the girl. Lying back, he gazed at the clouds.

  “Even so…if you need to say anything, you can tell me. I’ll be here.” Airi looked at him, which he appreciated.It was actually quite comforting to have Airi nearby. And while the others in the group knew about Kenji’s loss, only Airi and Hanae knew about the Arata tradition of coming to the park. Furthermore, Airi was the first to learn about the whole thing from Kenji himself, who felt comfortable enough to talk to her about it.

  “What about you? Do you have something in mind that brought you here today?” the teenager asked, looking at the girl as she gazed up at the sky.

  “I needed to get some fresh air…between schoolwork and…all the chaos at home…” Airi confessed, her voice hesitant to reveal the reason for her trip to the park. Kenji knew about the girl's family situation: Airi's parents had been arguing more than ever lately, whether it was about differences of opinion or financial problems. The girl tried to smile, although it was obvious to her friends that she was hiding pain every time she had to go back home.

  “Anything you need, I'm here for you,” Kenji repeated, earning a sad smile from the girl.

  “Thanks…” the girl nodded, turning her gaze back to the sky.

  Suddenly, a gripping feeling shook the boy's mind. He quickly jumped to his feet, startling the young woman beside him.

  “Kenji…?” Airi asked, confused by the boy's action.

  “I-I’m sorry… I think my mom is calling me.” The teenager apologized and quickly started running toward where his mother should be: Lake Karpe. “See you later, Airi!”

  Still confused by the boy’s sudden seriousness, Airi waved goodbye. Even so, she still felt that something wasn’t quite right.

  Meanwhile, on the other side of Sarenede Park…

  Gen’kan was leaping among the park’s trees, looking in every direction, desperately searching for any sign…

  “Tch… this is pointless. He’s a low-class one, how hard can he be to find?” The man stopped as he landed on the grass, pondering for a few moments before being interrupted by a voice.

  “Uh… Mr. Gen’kan?”The man jumped at the sound of this, only to turn and see Kenji, who was looking at him in confusion.

  “Oh… it’s you, kid…” Gen’kan murmured audibly, dismissing it as unimportant. However, he quickly noticed something. "Wait... Can you see me?" he asked, surprised.

  "Of course. Why wouldn't I?" the teenager questioned, confused, before seeing his teacher sigh.

  “When an Echo Chaser witnesses a Void Echo, they project a special aura at will, which we call a ‘Trail of Transparency' Basically, this allows us to remain unseen by living beings with lower spiritual energy” Gen’kan explained, demonstrating that he possessed a kind of air shield around himself. “Actually, it shouldn’t surprise me that you could see me. Since you yourself came into contact with an Echo, you possess a higher spiritual energy than the rest.”

  “That’s good to know… but what’s he doing here?” Kenji asked, still confused by his master’s presence in the park. However, he connected the dots, his face turning pale. “Wait… Is there an Echo here?”

  “I’d be checking that. According to Otomo, one should be around here. Unfortunately, I haven’t found it yet…” Gen’kan said, scratching his head.

  That only made the boy more alert. It didn’t even occur to him to ask, “Otomo?” His thoughts quickly turned to three people: his mother, his sister, and Airi.

  It was then that a scream startled them both, coming from a young woman with golden hair…

  “Airi!” The teenager, followed by his teacher, ran to the source of the scream. They arrived to observe the scene: A quadrupedal creature, resembling a tailless lizard, with fur of leaves and a body similar to a clump of roots (in addition to its grayish colors and the zipper where a head should have been), was chasing Kenji's young friend as she fled in a panic.

  Seeing the imminent danger, Kenji leaped to attack the creature, delivering a kick to its side that knocked it down. The being roared in pain, assuming an attack stance, now staring at the boy who had attacked it.

  “Go, Airi!” the teenager shouted, giving his friend a chance to escape to safety.

  “B-But Kenji…!” The girl hesitated, both confused by the current events and worried about the boy.

  “Don’t worry about me! I can handle it!” the boy exclaimed, leaping back to dodge an attack from the Void Echo’s leg.

  However, the creature remained still for a few seconds, emitting a sound that resembled a distorted laugh. Then, it raised one of its root-like legs and slammed it down, burying it in the ground…

  “What the…?!” Kenji didn’t understand the creature’s actions until he heard a warning from Gen’kan.

  “Underneath you, boy!” the man shouted. Following his warning, the ground opened beneath the boy’s feet, giving him little time to react, only saved by his master’s prompting.

  Sharp roots shot out from the ground, nearly piercing Kenji's shoulder. He landed next to Gen'kan, who stood with his arms crossed.

  "So here it was..." the man murmured, watching as the Echo dug its roots deep and raised its leg from the ground. "Grown Roots, 2-star Echo, value... 300 Soul Cash."

  "What are you saying?" Kenji asked, confused by the information the man was revealing.

  "I'll tell you later, kid. Pay attention: This Echo is known for attacking with its roots from any angle, even from underground. Don't let your guard down." Gen'kan explained, as he summoned his Rukiade. The sword appeared, engulfed in blazing fire.

  "Wait..." The teenager raised his arm, stopping and confusing his master. “I want to face it alone.”

  “Really, kid? Facing an Echo alone in your apprenticeship wouldn’t be wise. Last time you might have been lucky enough to summon your Reibuki… Are you sure you can handle it?” Gen’kan questioned Kenji’s attitude, but he didn’t seem to change his mind.

  “Be that as it may, I’ve already faced an Echo twice, with and without a spirit weapon. And besides…” Kenji looked at the spot where Airi had been, clenching his fist. “That thing tried to hurt someone important to me.”

  “Fine. But you’d better not be begging for help later.” The man sneered at the determined young man before sheathing his sword and crossing his arms…

  “Thank you, sir.” The teenager nodded in gratitude to Gen’kan for the opportunity. A chance to show he was ready to face Echoes of this level…

  …He just wished he could summon his Reibuki.

  Seeing the beast begin to charge toward them, Kenji leaped to the side, dodging its attack, while Gen'kan jumped into a tree and watched the fight unfold. The echo stopped and turned, its zippered mouth open in the young man's direction.

  Suddenly, the echo raised one of its paws and plunged it into the ground again. Kenji reacted quickly and began leaping backward, dodging columns of sharp roots that threatened to impale him. Seeing the echo preparing to pull its paw out of the ground, the boy tested a theory.

  "Take this!" he exclaimed, kicking one of the roots with all his might, causing the echo to stagger, wincing slightly in pain. "(Even if that had an effect, it's too little to be worthwhile…)"

  The internal strategy had to wait, as a new column of roots shot out from beneath the boy, forcing him to jump.

  “How about a direct hit?” That thought gave the young man a new idea. Dodging new sharp roots that shot out from the ground, Kenji managed to zigzag through them until he reached the creature's front…“Take that!” And WHAM!

  He punched the Void Echo right in the face.

  “Ouch! Ouch! That hurt!” Kenji exaggeratedly shook his hand, which now looked like a swollen bump. It looked as if he had punched a rock…

  “What do you think you're doing, idiot!?” From the tree, Gen’kan shouted, dumbfounded by the teenager's actions. “Hitting a Void Echo with your bare hands is one of the worst things a beginner could do!”

  “I thought it would have some effect!” The boy tried to excuse himself, glaring angrily at the man in the tree.

  “Why do you think reibuki exist? To cut the skins of echoes better!” Gen’kan exclaimed, making a slashing motion with his arms.

  “don’t tell me… I thought it was for putting butter on bread at breakfast…” Kenji muttered, though loud enough for his master to hear.

  “I heard that, boy!” The man was offended at the thought of such a dishonorable use of a spirit weapon.Oblivious to the verbal sparring with his master, Kenji was surprised by a powerful blow to the stomach, which sent him crashing to the grass several meters away from the creature.

  “Kid!” Gen’kan exclaimed, before leaping to dodge a charge from the echo, which continued on its way. The master quickly approached his student, who was seeing stars after the blow. “Are you…okay?”

  “I feel like I’ve been shackled in the stomach,” the boy replied, standing up while still swaying. Then he noticed the echo was gone. “Where is that bastard?”

  “He went that way after charging at me.” Gen’kan looked in the direction the creature had been.

  “(That direction? But he’s right there…)” Kenji’s face paled as he realized where the echo was going.

  “MOM! YUI!”

  . . . . .

  Okay! Here's this week's chapter. I know this chapter ends on a cliffhanger, but I have to split it into two...unless one chapter with almost 6,000 words is better.

  In any case, again, thank you so much for the views this story is getting. See you next Saturday!

  And a little heads-up...the next chapter will be the last of the story's prologue (or the end of the first half of the introductory arc).

  Will Kenji be able to defeat the Echo of the Void before his mother and sister get hurt?

  We'll see!