I stepped out of the room and saw everyone gathered at the table, enjoying breakfast. Noticing my presence, I raised my hand in greeting.
—Good morning, Tom, Masha, Ren, and Sakura!
They responded enthusiastically, but I noticed something curious in their expressions. They seemed more cheerful than usual, as if my recovery had lifted a weight off their shoulders. It seemed my condition had left quite an impression on everyone at the temple.
I sat down at the table, and Kaori, with her usual kindness, served me a cup of hot tea along with a plate of rice. The aroma was comforting, and as I ate, I felt my energy gradually returning.
After finishing, I pressed my hands together in gratitude.
—Thank you for the meal.
As I stood up, I casually mentioned:
—I'm going to take a walk around the village.
Upon hearing me, Kaori immediately looked up and said firmly:
—I'm coming with you!
—Huh?
—You owe me an outing —she added with a satisfied smile.
I chuckled softly and nodded.
—No problem.
However, before I could say anything else, the girls and Tom got excited too.
—We want to go too! —they said almost in unison.
I had no objections.
—Fine by me —I replied with a smile.
After I finished changing, I stepped out of the temple and waited at the entrance. A few minutes passed, and when I finally saw the four of them come out, I was stunned.
They had dressed up more than I expected. Their outfits weren't fancy, but it was clear they had taken care to wear their best clothes. Kaori, in particular, stood out in a light-colored kimono that highlighted her natural elegance.
—Wow… —I said, unable to hide my surprise—. It's just a simple outing.
—That doesn't mean we shouldn't look good —Ren replied with a mischievous smile.
The others nodded proudly.
I smiled and stepped forward.
—Well, if you're all ready, let's go!
And so, in high spirits, we headed toward the village together.
As we walked through the village streets, the girls and I chatted cheerfully, laughing about silly things. The atmosphere was relaxed, and everyone seemed to be enjoying the outing.
An idea came to mind, so I asked:
—So, where do you all want to go?
Everyone paused to think for a moment until Ren was the first to speak.
—To an arcade! —she said excitedly.
Tom looked at her with a smile and added:
—I'd prefer a restaurant. I want to try something new.
Sakura, on the other hand, gave an unexpected answer:
—To a school, just to see the students.
I stayed silent for a few seconds, looking at her with a confused expression.
—Huh…?
She simply smiled.
—I want to see what education is like here. It must be interesting in a village like this.
Before I could say anything else, Masha jumped in:
—I heard there's a festival around here where the food stalls are always open.
Kaori immediately nodded.
—I think that's a good option.
Hearing that, I looked at the others.
—What do you think?
—Let's go! —they all replied without hesitation.
The plan was set.
As we continued walking, I noticed many people in the village looking at me curiously. They didn't seem hostile, but I was definitely attracting attention.
I leaned slightly toward Kaori and whispered:
—Hey, why is everyone looking at me so much?
She smiled gently.
—Like I told you before, it's not common to see foreigners around here. And after what happened at the temple, some might have recognized you.
I nodded, though I still felt a bit uneasy under so many stares.
At that moment, I felt something warm. I looked down and saw that Kaori had taken my hand.
I got a little nervous, but I didn't say anything. Her hand was soft, and her touch brought me a sense of calm.
—This way you won't get lost —she said with a smile.
I couldn't help but smile too.
—Yeah… sure.
And with that, we continued on our way to the festival, while my heart beat a little faster than usual.
As we walked through the festival, I could feel many eyes on me. It wasn't the first time this had happened, but this time it felt more obvious. I tried to ignore it, though the discomfort lingered. However, in that moment, I felt the warmth of Kaori's hand gently intertwining with mine. Her gesture caught me by surprise, and before I could react, she linked her arm with mine, as if she wanted to show something to the others—or perhaps just give me some reassurance.
My heart started beating faster. I felt a little nervous, but at the same time… comfortable. For some reason, the image of a wedding crossed my mind: the couple walking out of the church arm in arm, receiving the stares of everyone around. I shook my head to chase the thought away, but Kaori's touch kept me distracted until Sakura's voice brought me back to reality.
—We're here! —she shouted excitedly.
The others responded with cheerful cries. In front of us unfolded a massive festival full of lights and color. The food stalls gave off delicious aromas that made our mouths water, and the joy in the air was contagious.
We split up briefly to explore the different stands. We tried all kinds of food—from takoyaki to traditional sweets. We played games like target shooting and goldfish scooping. Ren showed off her aim, while Tom missed every shot and complained that the guns were rigged. The girls laughed, and the overall vibe was calm and fun.
Little by little, the sky began to darken. Just when I thought the festival might be winding down, everyone seemed even more excited.
—It's not over yet —Tom said with enthusiasm.
—Huh? What do you mean? —I asked, a bit confused.
Kaori, with a playful smile, replied:
—The best part's still coming. The fireworks will start any minute now, and the fair looks even more beautiful at night.
Hearing that lifted my spirits. I had never seen a nighttime festival like this before. We all headed toward a more open area to find a good spot to enjoy the show. Kaori still held on to my arm, and for some reason, the thought of watching the fireworks beside her made my chest feel even warmer.
The first flashes lit up the sky, followed by a loud boom that marked the beginning of the show. Everyone was amazed, but I… I was even more stunned. Vibrant colors painted the night with golden, blue, and red bursts, reflecting in the eyes of everyone watching.
I stood mesmerized, unable to take my eyes off the sky. I had never seen anything so majestic. But then, my gaze drifted for a moment toward my friends. Ren, Tom, Sakura, and Masha all had expressions of pure wonder and joy. And when my eyes landed on Kaori, time seemed to stop.
Her face, illuminated by the fireworks, looked almost ethereal. Her eyes sparkled with light, full of emotion and awe. Her pale skin glowed with the colors of the sky, and her smile… it was the most beautiful I had ever seen.
My heart pounded, as if a part of me had just awakened. I couldn't look away from her. Something inside me felt different, like this place—this moment—had changed me completely.
I turned my gaze back to the sky, but this time, my eyes filled with tears. I couldn't hold them back. It wasn't just the fireworks or the festival. Deep in my heart, I felt like I belonged here.
For the first time in my life, I felt absolute certainty: my home had never been my original world. I had been born in the wrong place… and my true home was Japan.
The tears fell freely, sliding down my cheeks as if they had been waiting for years. And in the middle of that dazzling light show, surrounded by my friends, I realized I wasn't alone. These people… they were my new family.
When the fireworks came to an end, I felt an emptiness in my chest. I wanted to see more, I didn't want this moment to be over. For the first time in a long while, I wished the night could last forever. However, in the midst of that longing, I felt a warm embrace wrap around my back.
It was Kaori. Her warmth and soft scent comforted me. But it wasn't just her. When I looked up, I saw that all my friends had gathered around me, holding me in a strong and genuine hug.
In that instant, something inside me broke. All the emotion I had been holding in—the weight of battles, the uncertainty, the fear—it all came pouring out. I couldn't hold it back anymore, and tears began to stream down uncontrollably.
—I'm sorry… —I whispered between sobs, my voice barely audible.
But instead of pulling away or asking questions, they all hugged me even tighter.
—Thank you for being with us, Leo. —Tom's voice sounded sincere.
—Take good care of us, okay? —added Sakura with a smile.
—You're a fascinating person, even if you don't believe it yourself. —Ren looked at me with determination.
Their words only made my tears flow harder. It wasn't sadness, it wasn't pain… it was pure relief. I was releasing everything I had locked in my heart—the fear of failing, the burden of my power, the battles I had fought… Every tear was a piece of my past I could finally let go of.
At that moment, everything made sense. Everything I had lived through—every fight, every wound, every doubt—had led me here, with them.
When my tears finally stopped, a deep exhaustion washed over me. I felt my body giving in, my legs trembling, and my vision growing blurry. But I gathered my strength and, with shaking arms, returned the hug with the same intensity they were holding me.
—I will always protect you… No matter what happens, I'll be here for all of you. —My voice, though weak, carried the determination of someone who had found their purpose.
In that moment, I understood I was no longer alone. I wasn't just a stranger in this world… This was my home, and they were my family.
I slowly got up from the ground, still feeling the warmth of my friends' embrace lingering on my skin. I wiped the tears from my face with the back of my hand and looked at everyone with a smile.
—We'd better head back to the temple —I said, my voice steadier now.
Everyone nodded, their faces still carrying traces of emotion. We began walking together, unhurried, enjoying the cool night breeze brushing against our cheeks. The walk back was filled with laughter and memories from the day. Everyone shared what they had enjoyed the most: the games, the food, the fireworks…
As I listened, I felt Kaori move closer to me. Suddenly, her hand gently took mine, our fingers intertwining. Her touch made me shiver slightly, but I didn't let go.
—Thank you for today —she whispered warmly and sincerely.
I turned my head slightly to look at her. Her eyes sparkled under the soft moonlight, reflecting a happiness that made me feel at peace.
—No… thank you. All of you. I've never experienced anything like this… It was all incredible.
Kaori smiled sweetly, and we continued walking, still holding hands.
When we arrived at the temple, the old man was already waiting for us at the entrance, his expression calm.
—Welcome back —he said in a slow, steady voice.
We all gave a small bow before entering. We took off our shoes at the entrance, and everyone headed to their rooms to rest.
Kaori and I walked together to our room. The day had been long and exhausting, but also one of the best of my life.
As I was settling onto my futon, I suddenly felt a warm hug from behind. Kaori wrapped her arms around me and rested her head on my shoulder.
—I hope we can do this more often —she whispered with a smile.
I couldn't help but smile too.
—Of course we will —I replied confidently.
Before I could react, I felt the soft touch of her lips on my cheek. My heart raced, and my face instantly grew hot.
—Good night, Leo —she said softly before lying down beside me.
Still blushing, I got comfortable and closed my eyes, though my mind kept spinning. I couldn't stop thinking about how special this day had been, how lucky I was to have met these people, and the destiny that awaited me.
With a smile on my face, I finally fell asleep.