Portrait of Heroes

The next morning, they headed to town. The path they took slowly gave way to paved roads and small shops. Cars passed them every few minutes. The smell of food drifted through the air as they entered the center of town. Yuto walked next to his brother, holding onto a green backpack with the objects they collected so far, and several bottles of water at their mother’s request. Sota looked around with excitement. “To the magic container!” He shouted.

Yuto pulled him back by the cape.

“Don't run into the road.”

“I know!”

“You said that before when you jumped out of a tree.”

“That was different.”

“How?”

“There was a phoenix.”

Yuto sighed and shook his head.

They walked through the crowds toward the station. Twenty-seven was probably a locker number, but they didn't have a key. Even so, they continued on their way.

They eventually made their way farther into the station, following the signs toward the underground passage. The sounds of the city grew louder around them. Trains rumbled somewhere beneath their feet, announcements echoed through the halls, and people hurried past without paying much attention to the two boys.

Sota counted the lockers as they walked.

“Twenty-three... twenty-four... twenty-five...”

He stopped.

“Twenty-six.”

Yuto looked at the next locker.

A faded metal plate displayed a single number.

27.

Sota reached up and pulled on the door. It opened.

Inside was a photograph.

“The portrait of heroes...” Sota stared at it. “Wait... huh?”

Yuto looked down at the picture.

“What is it?”

His eyes widened.

The photograph showed their parents when they were younger. Yuto was only a little boy, while Sota was still a baby in their mother's arms. Behind them stood the same large tree where the two brothers had found the buried soldier.

Yuto's expression changed.

“How...?”

He took the photograph from Sota and stared at it. They had never told anyone about the tree. At least, not that he could remember.

Yuto turned the photograph over, hoping there might be something written on the back. There was nothing. Just a few faded scratches across the paper.

He looked at the picture again.

He recognized the tree immediately. Even after all these years, there was no mistaking it. He remembered climbing its branches when he was younger, before Sota was even born. Their father had stood nearby, laughing while Yuto tried to reach the highest branch.

But why would someone have this picture now?

And more importantly, why had they led Yuto and Sota to the exact same tree?

Yuto's grip tightened around the photograph.

“This isn't just some random treasure hunt...” he whispered.

Yuto suddenly looked around.

A man wearing a hooded jacket walked around the corner.

“HEY!”

Yuto ran after him, with Sota following close behind. They turned the corner.

The man was gone.

Only a crowd of people moved through the station. “Sota?”

Sota tugged on his brother's shirt. Yuto turned around and placed a hand on his brother's shoulder. “It's okay, buddy. I'm sure we're fine.” He tried to reassure Sota, but his voice wasn't convincing.

This wasn't a normal prank anymore. Someone had a photograph of their family. Someone had been watching them.

Yuto looked toward the crowd. Should they call the police? Should they go home? Before he could decide, Sota spoke.

“I think we should keep going.”

Yuto turned toward him and lowered himself to one knee to meet his brother at eye level.

“Sota. It's pretty clear we're dealing with someone who has been following us. It would've been fine if this was a normal prank, but now that we know someone is watching us, we should contact the authorities and head home.”

Sota shook his head.

“But Yuto, maybe they were just making sure no one else took the photo. They aren't necessarily a stalker. We might not see them again until the game is done.”

Yuto frowned.

“And if they do mean us harm?”

Sota looked down.

“Maybe they don't.”

He looked back up at his brother.

“They might be a friend of Mom and Dad. Or someone from the village. Do we really want to get someone in trouble if they're just trying to give us a fun adventure?”

Yuto sighed.

He went along with his brother's more often than most. More than he probably should.

But this was different.

“I’m sorry, Sota. Game over.”

Sota's face fell.

Then he noticed something on the floor. A folded piece of paper. He rushed over and picked it up.

“Yuto!”

He unfolded the note and read it aloud. “Well done, travelers. You have found a precious memory. I was guarding it nearby and saw you arrive before I had the chance to leave the key.”

Sota looked at Yuto. Yuto's expression hardened.

Sota continued reading anyway.

“Well done, travelers. You found a precious memory. I was guarding it nearby as I saw you come in before I had the chance to place the key. Your adventure is not over. Your next treasure will be on the other side of the mountain leading to an island across the stone dragon of your humble home. The answers you seek lie ahead. Find the dragon’s eye.”

Sota held up the note and waved it in the air.

“See?”

Yuto let out a heavy breath.

“Sota-”

“Please, brother? You'll protect me if I'm wrong, right?”

Yuto closed his eyes. Giving in to Sota's whims was stupid. Really, really stupid.

But his little brother was looking at him with the same excitement he had shown since the beginning of their adventure.

Yuto finally opened his eyes.

“Okay, Sota. Okay.”

Sota's face lit up.

“But you can't run off like you normally do. You stay close. And if we see that man again, we're immediately calling the authorities. I don't care if he's a friend of the family or not. And if we're separated for any reason, you don't go anywhere alone. Do you understand? If you can't accept that, then-”

“Thank you, Yuto!”

Sota threw his arms around his brother.

Yuto froze for a moment before slowly hugging him back.

“I really hope this isn't something I'll regret,” he whispered.

Neither brother noticed the hooded man standing at the far end of the station.

He watched them for a moment.

And then the mysterious hooded man smiled.

And then he walked away.