Yumi’s Home: A quiet suburban home, with the morning sun pouring through the window. The air smells faintly of toast, but tension simmers under the surface for reasons unknown to us right now.
Yumi zips her duffel bag shut, the click of the zipper echoing in her silent room. She pauses. On her desk, a photo frame of her, her father, and her mother before things fell apart. She takes a breath. This time, she’s leaving not to run away—but to move forward.
Infinity, curled lazily by her windowsill, stretches and stares at her with gleaming curiosity.
Yumi (curiously): “You’re really not gonna tell me where we’re going?”
He rolls over, tail flicking.
Infinity (excitedly): “For the tenth time already, Kaizo told me not to tell you. It’s a surprise…”
Yumi huffs, slinging her bag over her shoulder, and heads downstairs.
Yumi (upset): “Yeah, whatever…”
Waiting near the front door is Miyuki, her age, her polar opposite. Always perfectly composed, arms folded, dressed in casual-but-flawless clothes like she’s always ready for someone to come and kiss her feet. A permanent smirk on her face like she’s always two steps ahead in a game Yumi never agreed to play.
Miyuki (razor-sharp): “You’re going somewhere?”
Yumi (lying): “Just a summer program through school.”
She’s gotten good at that.
Miyuki scoffs.
Miyuki: “Right. Well, you have fun there, (slight pause) as a matter of fact, you shouldn't even bother coming back. That room would be more useful as a closet.”
From the kitchen, their mother, half-listening and clearly uninterested, chimes in with her signature indifference:
Yumi’s Aunt: “Well, we’ll see you when you get back I guess…”
Yumi (calmly): “See you guys later, then.”
No one asks where Yumi’s going or cares about where she’s going… The absence of care is louder than any possible noise that could be made in this house.
Yumi doesn’t care, not anymore. She turns toward the door—but just as it swings shut behind her—
A soft, barely audible whisper slips through the crack in the door:
Sakura: “Have fun, Yumi.”
Yumi’s breath catches. She turns her head slightly, lips tugging into a quiet, real smile.
She doesn’t see her, but she knows exactly who it was.
Sakura, the youngest of her aunt’s daughters. Only 10. Sweet, shy, and always watching from the shadows. She never had the courage to speak up in front of the others, but Yumi had always looked out for her.
That one whisper was enough to make her feel better.
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Yumi steps onto the street, light shining onto her dark purple hair. Her fingers tighten around her suitcase handle, and with renewed determination—
She walks away from that house like she’ll never look back.
Kaizo’s Home:
In a much livelier household across Shinkami City, Kaizo drops his combat-worn gym bag by the kitchen table, ready for his mischievous summer to start.
Kaizo (sarcastically): “Wish me luck in hell….”
Mirei (grabbing milk from the fridge): “Why don’t you tell me what happened before you leave?”
Kaizo (ranting): “Top of the bracket in the tournament. Still passing classes. Your son’s doing okay. Until I found out I had summer school.”
His mom, sipping her coffee, eyes him over the rim of her mug.
Mirei (curious): “No injuries?”
Kaizo (calmly): “None that a good nap can’t handle.”
She rolls her eyes.
Mirei: “Any ideas for fun in summer school?”
Kaizo doesn’t miss a beat.
Kaizo (smiling): “Thinking of finally losing my virginity. It should be a great time.”
The only sound that could be heard was a loud clinking of a spoon that could be heard colliding against the floor.
His mom stares at him with a mix of discomfort and exhausted disbelief.
Mirei (distraught): “Kaizo. Why do you say things like this?”
Infinity, walking by like he owns the place, meows—a very smug, meow, like he’s seen this scene way too many times and still loves it.
Kaizo (shrugs): “It’s in my blood.”
Mirei (rubbing her forehead): “Yeah, sadly I’m aware.”
Kaizo (lifting his bag, Infinity jumping on his shoulder): “Well then, I’ll be back!”
Mirei (exhausted): “Kaizo, please behave…”
Kaizo (sincerely): “Come on now, Mom… You know that’s impossible.”
Later…
The sky is painted in gold and lavender hues as the sun begins to dip. Kaizo leans against the entrance of a newly opened hotel, bag slung over one shoulder and Infinity sleeping on the other. Yumi arrives a few minutes later, dragging her stuff and looking like she’d barely survived the weight of anxiety and excitement.
Kaizo (smirking): “Well, well. If it isn’t my personal secretary."
Yumi: “Yeah, whatever. Why are we here?”
Kaizo (staring at the hotel): “I’m trying to figure out if this hotel has soundproof walls…”
She punches his shoulder.
Yumi (disgusted): “Gross.”
Kaizo (pointing at his shoulder): “Infinity suggested it.”
Infinity (annoyed): “No, I didn’t.”
After laughing it off, Kaizo begins taking Yumi to the forest he trained in last time, while being very vague with telling her where they are going.
When they enter, the energy begins to shift, and the air around them changes.
In the distance, Kaizo’s treehouse awaits them. Lanterns glowing softly, wind whispering through leaves that shimmer like starlight.
Yumi was impressed by the looks from the outside but also getting a little nervous.
Inside the treehouse, Yumi lays her things on one side of the loft while Kaizo sets up on the other.
Kaizo (gazing out the window): “We’re gonna start tomorrow,”
Yumi: “What kind of training is this, anyway?”
Kaizo: “The kind that turns you from a side character into a main character.”
Yumi (tilting her head): “What does that mean?”
Kaizo (waving her off): “Ehh. Not important.”
As nighttime came quickly and darkness covered the sky, the three of them each lay down, lost in thought.
Yumi dreams of the stars and wonders what she would be getting into .
Kaizo dreams of himself, eyes closed, sitting cross-legged at the heart of a burning storm, meditating and remembering his past, his pain and former scars.
Infinity dreams of tuna sushi, cat nip, and being named King of All Cats.
