Don't Look Back, or Should You?

(The faint, earthy scent of hay and manure filled the stable air, a welcome warmth against the surrounding mountain chill. Jinko leaned against the wooden stall, stroking the dark mane of his horse, Saru. The air before his face plumed white with every exhale.)

Jinko: Phew~... Hey, Saru, this area be mostly the same as I remember. ...But was the snow ever this deep, I ask ye?

(A brief silence hung in the stable. Jinko’s brow was furrowed, his gaze distant, lost in a heavy contemplation that had become his constant companion.)

“...Ought I go look fer them... or ought I not...”

The thought drifted out into the stillness, where only the creak of wood answered him. The world outside had gone so quiet, it almost sounded like it was waiting.

“...Nah. I’ll pass.”

And just as he said it—

“Uh… aren’t you Jin-chan?”

(The sudden, sharp intrusion of a voice shattered the stable's quiet. Jinko snapped his head up. A moment of silence stretched as the two stared, searching the dusty corners of their shared memory.)

Jinko: "...Ah, aye, I am. Saitou Jinko, that's me."

???: "I knew it! I can spot that long wavy hair anywhere. Honestly, you stand out way too much."

(Jinko frowned, the mild insult stinging slightly. He composed himself with a slow exhale.)

Jinko: "...Tenmichi, is that ye?"

Tenmichi: "Bingo, Choir Boy."

Jinko: "Ha ha, hit's been a while, now, buddy."

Tenmichi: “Buddy? I’m a girl, though. Use the right words!”

Jinko chuckled, brushing a strand of hair from his face. “’Buddy’ ain’t got nothin’ to do with gender.”

Her glare softened for just a moment before she scoffed, crossing her arms. “Tch. I was trying to annoy you — why’s it working in reverse!?”

Jinko: "Eh, was you tryin' make me mad? Am I tryin' to make you mad?"

Tenmichi: "...Ugh, you're just teasing me."

Jinko: "No no, that's not true, I tell ye."

Tenmichi: "Oh just shut up. Anyhow, I just came to greet you because I heard you came back. ...But, you look... gloomier than I expected."

Jinko: "Hmph, are ye sayin' I've gotten ugly? You're quite confident yerself, I see."

Tenmichi: "How rude. At least I could make a man or two kneel, it's easy as pie."

Jinko: "I ain't got the hobby o' bein' knelt to, so I'll pass on that."

The stable door groaned open, flooding the dim interior with a blast of cold air. Saru snorted as the light spilled in, and the two stepped out, boots crunching into fresh snow.

The path ahead was quiet, lined with roofs heavy under white weight.

Tenmichi: "So, what's up? Were you doing okay? What have you been doing until now? And why did you come back to Shirakawa-go?"

Jinko: "So many questions... Well, I'm fine. ...I ain't doin' nothin'. ...And then—"

 (A short pause lengthens the air.)

I'm searchin' right now, I say.

Tenmichi: "Searching? For what?"

(Jinko looks at her for a moment, his eyes reflecting the pale winter light. But his gaze holds something distant, a language that Tenmichi's eyes can't decipher.)

Jinko: "...A reason, that's what. Ten. ...A reason, I say."

Tenmichi: "A reason? For what?" (Tenmichi continues her streak of persistent questions.)

Jinko: "...I dunno, Ten. Just— I’m tired of runnin’. Of fightin’. Of rebellions that don’t mean a damn thing. Maybe I’m just... lookin’ fer somethin’ worth livin’ for. Somethin’ that’s mine. Not somethin’ they tell me to die for."

Tenmichi: "...Heeeh. That's heavy. ...Did you practice that? You were muttering to yourself earlier, weren't you?"

Jinko: "Ha ha, Saru's heard the whole thing, he has."

(The two share a brief, thin laugh, but the silence quickly returns, heavy with the weight of Jinko's words.)

Tenmichi: "...I'm sure you'll find it."

Jinko: "Huh?"

Tenmichi: "The 'reason.' ...I think you'll definitely find it. It might be protecting your family, or... maybe a beautiful woman will treat you to a feast or something."

Jinko: "Ha ha, now that's a dream. ...But na, protectin' my family was the reason until now, and I feel like that ain't it anymore. Maybe they'd be... happier if I wasn't around... I think that sometimes."

Tenmichi: "Why?"

Jinko: "...I'm... a failure, I tell ye."

Tenmichi stopped abruptly, muttering,

"Shut up."

(Jinko looks surprised for a moment, then forces a grin to mask the sudden vulnerability.)

Jinko: "Y'know, if there was a beauty makin' me chocolate sweets, that wouldn't be bad."

Tenmichi: "Sure, sure. But you men wouldn't look her way if she was the best chef while looking mediocre."

Jinko: "Like hell I do. A woman is judged by her heart, not her face."

Tenmichi: "You say that, but ultimately, men look at the girl with the biggest behind, right?"

Jinko: "Well then, if I ever do that—you can cut off my head for all I care."

Tenmichi: "You said it? I won't forget that word."

Jinko: "Humph, you remember it. You'll spend your whole life watchin' me without any time to aim fer my neck."

The silence stretched again, broken only by their boots in the snow.

Jinko exhaled, the faintest smile tugging at his lips. “...Hey, Tenmichi.”

She glanced up.

“Where are the other two?”