Akitsu Shouga lay motionless on a small grassy hill just outside Sunwind Village.
The sun hung high in the sky, brilliant and warm. A strong, refreshing wind swept across the hill, rustling the grass and carrying the distant sounds of village life—laughter, footsteps, daily routines continuing as if nothing had ever gone wrong.
Slowly, Akitsu opened his eyes.
“…I’m alive?”
He sat up, blinking repeatedly. His chest felt normal. No pain. No wound.
He looked down at himself, touching his torso as if expecting to feel blood.
Nothing.
“What… happened?”
His gaze drifted toward the village below. Smoke rose gently from chimneys. Villagers moved calmly through the streets.
Too calmly.
“…Why am I back here?” he whispered. “I need to check on Master.”
He stood and sprinted down the hill toward the village entrance, heart pounding with urgency.
As soon as he passed through the wooden gates, he slowed to a walk.
The village was peaceful.
Too peaceful.
People chatted. Children ran around. Merchants called out cheerfully. No signs of destruction. No scorched houses. No panic.
“What happened here…?” Akitsu muttered. “Why is everyone acting like nothing happened?”
His eyes caught sight of a familiar mochi stall in the distance.
Miyu Hikari’s stall… it’s still here.
He swallowed and continued forward, feet carrying him instinctively toward the dojo.
When he reached the front gate, he paused.
Please… let them be okay.
He stepped inside.
Kurogane Daichi sat at a low table inside the dojo, sipping tea from a bamboo cup. Across from him sat Ayame Hoshizaki, posture perfect, expression calm.
They were talking quietly.
They looked… normal.
Daichi noticed him first.
“Oh?” Daichi said cheerfully. “Who do we have here?”
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Akitsu froze.
“…Master?”
Daichi tilted his head. “Master?”
Akitsu stepped forward urgently. “What happened?! Are you alright?! The village—there were explosions—!”
Daichi laughed lightly. “Whoa, hold on there, young man. I’m not your master.”
Akitsu felt his blood run cold.
“…What?”
Daichi stood and stretched. “I don’t recall ever meeting you. But,”—his eyes drifted to Akitsu’s forearms—“you’ve got a fine build. If you’re looking for a teacher, you could become my disciple.”
Akitsu’s fists clenched.
“What do you mean you don’t remember me?! I am your disciple! We trained together yesterday!”
Daichi frowned slightly. “Yesterday? No. I was training alone in the mountains.”
“…That’s impossible.”
“If you want to train,” Daichi continued calmly, “why not start today? Or are you having second thoughts?”
Akitsu’s thoughts spiraled.
He’s acting completely normal…
Wasn’t he laughing while holding explosives?
Did I… travel back in time?
“…Do you want to become my disciple?” Daichi asked.
Akitsu hesitated—then bowed deeply.
“Yes… Master.”
Daichi smiled. “Good. Training starts tomorrow at sunrise.”
“C-Can I stay here?” Akitsu asked quickly. “I don’t have money or a place to sleep.”
Daichi shrugged. “Sure. Why not? Hoshizaki, prepare the guest room.”
Ayame stood silently and nodded before walking away.
Akitsu exhaled in relief. “Thank you very much. I really appreciate your kindness.”
“It’s nothing,” Daichi said. “By the way… where are you from?”
Akitsu didn’t hesitate.
“…I lost my memories a few years ago,” he lied smoothly. “So I don’t know.”
Daichi studied him for a moment, then nodded. “I see. The guest room will be ready soon.”
“Master,” Akitsu said, “may I take a walk around the village for a bit?”
“Go ahead,” Daichi replied. “Just be careful.”
Akitsu bowed and left the dojo.
As he walked through the village center, his unease only deepened.
“Everything feels… right,” he thought. “But why does it feel wrong at the same time?”
He clenched his teeth.
If I really traveled back in time… then what triggered it?
Do I have some kind of power?
Tap.
Something touched his shoulder.
He turned.
A small girl stood behind him.
White hair. Pale blue eyes. No expression.
“Hello…?” Akitsu said gently. “Do you need something?”
The girl nodded silently.
“Are you lost? Where are your parents?”
She didn’t answer.
Instead, she grabbed his hand—and ran.
“H-Hey!” Akitsu exclaimed. “Slow down! That’s dangerous!”
She didn’t.
She dragged him through winding streets until they stopped before a narrow, dark alley.
The girl pointed inside.
“…In there?” Akitsu asked. “Is something wrong?”
She kept pointing.
Akitsu forced a smile. “It’s okay. You can tell me.”
No response.
Carefully, he stepped into the alley.
Darkness swallowed him.
At the end—only a wall.
“…I was worried for nothing,” he sighed. “I thought there’d be a killer or something.”
Then—
Two masked figures dropped from above, blocking the exit.
Akitsu’s heart slammed against his ribs.
“W-Who are you?!”
“Sorry, kid,” one of them said casually. “This is just our job.”
They charged.
Akitsu moved without thinking—dodging, blocking, countering. He grabbed one arm and slammed the attacker to the ground.
A sharp twist—
“AHH!!”
The scream was unmistakably feminine.
“Stop!!” the other masked figure yelled. “You’re hurting her!”
Akitsu hesitated.
That was enough.
The second attacker drew a knife and lunged.
Akitsu dodged every slash, seized the wrist, spun—and drove a crushing punch into the attacker’s face.
The man collapsed.
Then—
Pain.
A massive icicle pierced straight through Akitsu’s chest.
His vision went white.
He awoke standing on a small red island.
A massive sakura tree stood at its center, its leaves blood-red. Black water surrounded the island, stretching endlessly.
“…So I’m back here,” Akitsu muttered.
“This is where I go when I die… huh?”
He looked at his hands.
“…Am I the only one with this power?”
He stepped into the black water.
No reflection stared back at him.
That sent a chill down his spine.
Red doors floated endlessly across the surface.
“…Let’s see what’s waiting for me this time.”
He reached one.
Opened it.
The world fell silent.
