Courage

Yuki’s father—Kanbara Yuto—took them to an isolated shrine near his home.

It was a huge shrine compared to any ordinary one. Lights glowed at equal distances along the path. As soon as they stepped inside, Akari felt shivers run down her spine. Yuki and Yuto were completely fine.

It wasn’t winter yet, but a chilling wind wrapped around her body.

Something was pulling her back—draining her energy.

She glanced down and noticed a thin crack forming in her magic stone.

Yuto looked at her and said,

“This shrine has been under the Kanbara family for centuries. As you can feel—this place is not suited for light-magic users. You still have time to turn back.”

For some reason, Yuto was observing Akari carefully, as if something was changing in her.

How is she able to tolerate this much sudden change? Yuto wondered.

Akari could turn back.

She had no obligation to save someone she didn’t even remember.

Then why… why was she so obsessed with saving him?

Why did her chest ache whenever she thought of Yami’s face?

“I’ll be fine. We should hurry,” she said, barely able to stand straight.

Even when she can’t remember him, she’s willing to risk her magic for Yami…

Yuki murmured with a gentle smile.

Wait for us, Yami.

⸻

Yami opened his eyes inside a small, dimly lit room.

He found himself tied to a metal rod, sitting on the cold floor.

As soon as he regained his senses, he tried to use magic to break free—but failed.

“Resistance is futile, Hikensha.”

The hooded man stepped closer, his voice echoing eerily.

“Why are you doing this?

What do you want from me?

Where am I?” Yami demanded.

“You have a huge role to play.”

“What do you mean by that? Let me go!” Yami struggled, pulling against the restraints.

“No. Not until I achieve what I want.”

“What do you want?!” Yami screamed, locking eyes with him.

The hooded man grinned.

“Tell me, Yami… do you know about Haiiro?

Do you want to save everyone?”

⸻

“We have arrived,” Yuto said.

They stood inside a huge chamber with a single statue.

It resembled Buddha, yet it wasn’t.

One half of the statue radiated a sun-like structure, while the other half resembled a moon.

What kind of statue is that…? Akari wondered.

“Father, how can this statue help us save Yami?” Yuki asked.

“Do you remember who Yami truly is?” Yuto asked.

“Yes,” Yuki replied instantly.

“This statue is dedicated to the god of Hikensha.”

Both Yuki and Akari froze in shock.

Finally—things were starting to connect.

They knew Yami was a Hikensha.

But how did the hooded man know too?

Who was he?

“I have some questions for both of you,” Yuto said.

“Do you know what Haiiro is? Why it forms?

And… who can destroy it?”

Only Yuki remembered everything, and because of that, he was beginning to understand the situation. Meanwhile—

Something was off.

Akari suddenly felt anxious.

She remembered training for something—trying desperately to grow stronger.

Learning something important.

Something everyone had hidden from her.

She felt… something was locked inside her.

The formation of Haiiro wasn’t new to magic users.

Everyone knew how disastrous it could be and how mages worked to prevent its birth.

So why…

Why did the word Hikensha make her chest tighten?

Why did it feel connected to her?

She felt nauseous.

Yuki and Akari nodded hesitantly.

“I’m not certain about that hooded man’s true intentions,” Yuto continued, “but if my suspicions are correct, they aren’t good. Right now, only Yuki remembers Yami. Not even the Kurokami members remember him. For now, our first priority should be to bring back everyone’s memories—and trust me, that’s the most difficult part.”

“First, we need information about what kind of magic he uses.”

“As far as I remember, he was able to attack and use a barrier at the same time,” Akari replied.

“Then that proves he is not an ordinary magic user.”

Yuto placed his hand on the statue.

“I can try to bring back some people’s memories for a short period of time. You will have to use that time to find Yami and save him. This statue reacts to the presence of any Hikensha—”

He paused, turning toward them.

“But there’s a condition…”

“We need another Hikensha.”