Episode 45 - Past Arc EP4: Autumn in Kyoto – Reunion with Her Mother

Ryoko came to a halt.

A narrow alley led deep into Gion, Kyoto’s famed geisha district. From its depths, the scent—her mother’s scent—was unmistakable.

Her heart pounded in her chest.

This time, for sure.

This time, without a doubt—

Ryoko broke into a run.

Breathing heavily, she followed the sweet and heartrending fragrance that danced at the edge of her senses.

As night settled over the stone-paved streets of Kyoto, her heartbeat grew louder with every step.

And then—

She was there, at the end of the narrow path.

Bathed in the soft glow of a streetlamp, a lone woman stood quietly in the shadows of the alley.

“…Mom?”

The words escaped her lips before she realized it.

She didn’t need to think—she knew.

That familiar scent had become certainty in her heart.

But the woman’s eyes widened in surprise, and she looked confused.

“…I’m sorry. Do I know you?”

Ryoko’s heart turned to ice.

“Mom… It’s me! It’s Ryoko!”

She stepped forward in a panic, but the woman only tilted her head, bewildered.

A tight knot formed in Ryoko’s throat.

“You don’t remember…? I’ve been… I’ve been waiting for you all this time!”

Tears welled up in her eyes. Her words wouldn’t stop.

“After you disappeared, I was all alone! Where did you go!? Why did you leave me!?

Uncle and Aunt treated me like I was cursed, and my classmates avoided me…

But even so—even so, I never stopped looking for you!”

All the pain, all the longing she’d buried deep inside came pouring out.

But the woman still wore a troubled expression—and took a step back.

“…Do you really know who I am?”

Ryoko’s heart twisted violently.

(Why… why don’t you recognize me? Why, when you’re my mother—!)

Tears spilled over.

Her emotions—wild, chaotic—stirred her powers into motion.

In that moment—

A sudden gust of wind swirled violently around them.

“—!”

The woman flinched.

Ryoko’s raw emotion surged into her, flooding her mind—anger, sorrow, loneliness—years of buried feelings overwhelming her senses, throwing her hormonal balance into chaos.

And then—

Masako’s eyes—Ryoko’s mother’s eyes—trembled faintly.

“…Ah…”

She fell to her knees as if her strength had left her.

“Ryoko… is that really you?”

A trembling voice.

No doubt about it—it was her mother’s voice.

Ryoko stopped breathing.

“…I remember now… you’re… my—”

And in the next moment, Masako wrapped her arms around Ryoko.

“Ahh… Ryoko… I’m sorry… I’m so, so sorry…!”

Ryoko trembled in her mother’s embrace.

This warmth—these arms—

“…Mom…”

The tears wouldn’t stop.

She had wished for this so many times.

Dreamed of it again and again.

“I wanted to see you… so much… for so long…”

Masako held her daughter close, wordlessly.

How much time passed in that embrace, neither of them could say.

At last, Masako gently stroked Ryoko’s cheek and smiled.

“Ryoko… I’m truly sorry. I want to tell you everything right now…

But you’re still in the middle of your school trip, aren’t you?”

Ryoko wiped her tears and gave a small nod.

Masako took a piece of paper from her pocket and placed it in Ryoko’s hand.

“My contact info. We’ll meet again—I promise.”

Ryoko felt her heart tighten.

“…Yeah. We will—absolutely.”

I’ll never let go again.

Never.

Over the quiet streets of Kyoto, the moon shone down softly upon the two reunited figures.