“‘Let’s show Mimase, open Urado, the moon is beautiful at Katsura Beach’...eh?”

Yosakoi yosakoi. At the harbor pier, the young man finished singing and turned his gaze from the Great Urado Bridge overhead to Yamanaka Shikanosuke standing next to him. There were several fishing boats anchored in the area. The splendid Urado Bridge spanned Urado Bay and was tall enough for a ferry to pass comfortably underneath. On the opposite shore was the famous Katsura Beach. Before the bridge had been built, it’d taken more than an hour to drive around the bay. Drivers had welcomed it with tears: “This is what we’ve been waiting for.” They weren’t pleased, however, that there was still a toll.

“And it’s a residential road, too. Are we supposed to pay for the convenience? It’s brutal, isn’t it?” Laughing snidely, Yasuda NagahideYasuda Nagahide (安田長秀) 1516 - May 8, 1582? 1585? 1592?

Title: Jibu Shousuke (治部少輔)

Historically: Master of Yasuda Castle. The Yasuda family had served the Nagao Clan from the time of Nagao Tamekage (late 1400s). Nagahide supported Nagao Kagetora (Uesugi Kenshin) in the coup d'etat against Nagao Harukage, so was a close aide of Kenshin from early on. He fought in many of Kenshin's wars against Takeda Shingen, Oda Nobunaga, and Houjou Ujiyasu.

He received a commendation for bravery at the 4th battle of Kawanakajima along with six other commanders, including Irobe Katsunaga.

He supported Uesugi Kagekatsu in the Otate no Ran after Kenshin's death. He died in 1582 of illness in the midst of Shibata Shigeie's rebellion. (Other accounts mention 1585, 1592.)

Though he shared the same family name as Yasuda Kagemoto and Yasuda Akimoto, also vassals of the Uesugi Clan, he was descended from a different family.

In Mirage of Blaze: he was summoned by Uesugi Kenshin to become one of the Yasha-shuu and is second in power only to Uesugi Kagetora. bit into a steaming-hot piece of grilled squid. “Well, I guess it’s a good admission fee for the folks at Urado Castle.”

“They’ve certainly found a very nice place to build their castle,” Shikanosuke Yamanaka muttered, looking out at the luxuriant mountain on the opposite shore from the passenger seat of the parked car.

“Urado Castle, originally belonging to the Motoyama Clan before it fell to Chousokabe MotochikaChousokabe Motochika (長宗我部元親) 1539 - Sept. 12, 1599

Chousokabe Motochika was a daimyo of Tosa Province and 20th head of the Chousokabe Clan. He was the eldest son and heir of Chousokabe Kunichika, the 19th head. He was decorated for his first campaign at the age of 22.

After he succeeded as clan head, he took control of the entire Tosa Province, then managed to take Awa Province, Sanuki Province, and Iyo Province at the fall of the Miyoshi, Sogou, and Kouno clans, respectively. However, his hold over the four provinces lasted for just a few weeks, for he lost the three provinces he had gained in the Siege of the Four Provinces in 1585 to Toyotomi Hideyoshi (then still serving Oda Nobunaga).

During the next decade, Motochika fought several campaigns under Hideyoshi with his sons, including the Siege of Odawara in 1590 in which he led the Chousokabe Navy.

He died of illness in 1599 and was succeeded by his fourth son Chousokabe Morichika., who made it his residence...huh.”

There was no castle tower, and the site was now part of Katsura Beach Park. During the SengokuSengoku (戦国)

The "warring states" period, lasting from 1467 to 1615, in which the warlords of Japan battled each other for the rule of the country. Period, when Motochika’s power had been at its height, he had made Okou Castle, located further inland, his stronghold. When he moved to Urado in Tenshou 19 (1591), Motochika was already a vassal of Hideyoshi and approaching old age. Chousokabe had built Tanezaki Castle on this side of the bridge to take down Urado Castle, which originally belonged to his enemies the Motoyama Clan, a powerful local family.

“It seems that this new power is trying to use Urado Castle as their base. I can see a fine barrier.”

“Hmmm... Are they the remnants of Chousokabe?”

Nagahide took a bite of his squid. The park faced the sea, which made it convenient for all kinds of situations.

“Let’s see. Where should we start our attack?”

Yasuda Nagahide— He had lost ’Chiaki Shuuhei’s body in Aso, and after kanshoukanshou (換生)

To possess another's body, driving out their soul, so as to be reborn with memories intact. Only Naoe of all the kanshousha has the power to perform kanshou on another soul. looked completely different. His body had been blown to pieces in his great clash with Nobunaga. Nobunaga’s hakonhahakonha (破魂波)

The "soul-ripping wave" with which Oda Nobunaga defeated Kagetora, said to be capable of destroying the soul itself, removing it from the wheel of reincarnation. and his choubukuryoku had collided head-on, and getting away had been impossible. Chiaki had exerted every frantic effort. The hakonha’s overwhelming energy should have torn his soul to shreds. In fact, he’d thought it was the end. Chiaki had experienced a terrifying moment when he’d thought he would take a direct hit from a nuclear explosion.

But it hadn’t been the end. At least, his consciousness still remained.

(I guess I should be grateful.)

“You traitor! I’ll kill you, I won’t rest until I kill you!” Haruie had yelled—one might almost have thought she would cry tears of blood.

In the underground prison, after Ranmaru and the others had left and they were alone, Haruie had shot him a look of seething hatred from behind the thick glass.

“How dare you double-cross us for Oda, of all people...! I never knew a more horrible man than you!”

“I’m such a fool...I can’t believe I trusted you just because you came back to Uesugi and supported Kagetora for two years! You’ve always been that kind of man! You know neither pride nor justice! You’re a filthy, shameless man who lives only for himself, and always has!” Ayako screamed, spewing every invective she could think of and beating on the glass until she bled.

“I’ll kill you with my own two hands, you just wait and see!”

Nagahide looked coldly down at Ayako as she broke down in tears. His heart never stirred. The thick glass was in his chest, not in front of his eyes.

“Oda’s dog!”

(Whatever you say.)

Nagahide gave a small laugh. He didn’t care to be understood. ...He had no need of it.

“Anyway, Kouchi City is basically the enemy camp. Let’s move cautiously.”

Shikanosuke’s words brought him back to reality. Nagahide sighed lightly toward the sky and scarfed down the remaining squid.

“Where is Chousokabe’s head? Let’s first figure out who controls Urado Castle and their relationship to those who stole the Life-Ripping Star.”

“Agreed.”

Nagahide and Shikanosuke had come to Kouchi at Ranmaru’s request to confirm whether Chousokabe Nobuchika had truly been resurrected. Even Oda had a difficult time handling Shikoku. Here in the sacred precincts of the great holy man Koubou DaishiKuukai (空海) 774 - 835

Also known as: Koubou Daishi (弘法大師), or High Priest Koubou

A Japanese monk, scholar, poet, calligrapher, and artist who founded the Shingon school of Buddhism. He is credited with inventing kana (which includes hiragana and katakana) of the Japanese writing system as well as introducing homosexuality (or at least shudo) to Japan.

He studied in China from 804 to 806, where he was initiated into the Esoteric Buddhism tradition. He returned to Japan to establish the Shingon school, which would become the dominant Buddhism sect for the next 300 years. His teachings and his many writings, such as Attaining Enlightenment in This Very Existence, The Meaning of Sound, Word, Reality, The Ten Stages of the Development of Mind, and Ten Abiding Stages, synthesized Buddhism into a coherent whole, and displaced Confucianism with Buddhism as the official Japanese state ideology.

He was contemporaneous with Shaichou, the founder of the Tendai school., even Oda’s actions were bound. Spiritual obstacles were everywhere, and infiltration from the outside was difficult. If Nobuchika had been resurrected, Oda had two options: conciliation or extermination. Ranmaru had unhesitatingly given the order to “exterminate”. The identity of the newly rising power was still unclear. Nagahide got into the driver’s seat of their rental.

“Once we’re inside Shikoku, we’re on our own. We needn’t fear the possessor spirits, at least. ...Speaking of which, you’re a possessor spirit, aren’t you?”

Shikanosuke was wearing heavy protection for his entry into Shikoku. Fortunately, he was a powerful man with the special ability to transform moonlight into magical power. It made him as capable as any kanshoushakanshousha (換生者)

Those who possess others by driving out the soul from a body and making it theirs.

Unlike normal spirits, kanshousha cannot exchange bodies at will; they can only switch to another host body when their current body dies. Because kanshousha become the owners of their bodies, choubuku does not work on them. It is, however, still possible to exorcise kanshousha when they are in spirit-form (i.e. between possessions).. Not that Nagahide cared what happened to Shikanosuke.

He turned the key and started the engine. He was still getting used to his new body. A host body tended to hold onto the habits of its previous owner, and this one didn’t quite feel right yet, annoyingly. It was like changing cars.

“It’s insane.”

Suddenly, he recalled Takaya’s words. As usual, the change of body didn’t particularly move him. He didn’t know if perhaps he was numb to the pain that Naoe and Kagetora felt; as a human being, there was something he appeared to lack.

(Bit late for that, isn’t it?)

Nagahide stepped on the accelerator and turned the wheel. It wasn’t emotion. It was just that the same cigarette tasted a little bitter. Just a difference in this body’s sense of taste, perhaps.

With Urado Bay to their left, they headed toward downtown Kouchi. Shikanosuke was occupied with a map.

“But this incident seems to be more important than we expected.”

He was talking about the Life-Ripping Star. They had heard about the attack on the ‘Star Cave’ from Ranmaru.

“Ranmaru-dono never seems to catch a break. He was outraged, and no wonder. This ‘Life-Ripping Star’ or whatever it’s called was supposed to be a key part of a large project. A Sogou general’s head or three may have to roll for this.”

As a result, Nagahide and Shikanosuke had even more work to do. The recovery of the Life-Ripping Star had been added to the assassination of Chousokabe Nobuchika. It was strongly suspected that the ‘rumored’ emerging power had attacked the cave.

“Our problems keep multiplying, huh?”

“Yes. But if we accomplish both, our stock will surely rise. Amago’s revival draws nearer. Let’s search with all our might.”

Shikanosuke was all fired up. Nagahide watched the center line with a cigarette in his mouth as he continuously adjusted the steering wheel with one hand. Date KojirouDate Kojirou (伊達小次郎) 1568? - 1590

Also known as: childhood—Jikumaru (竺丸)

Second son of Date Terumune and Yoshihime, Kojirou was favored by his mother over his older brother Date Masamune for succession as head of the Date Clan. However, Terumune favored Masamune, who became head of the Date Clan in 1584.

Yoshihime planned the assassination of Masamune, but after she failed to poison him in 1590, Masamune ordered Kojirou's death. was heading for the cave. He was in charge of the field investigation; Nagahide wondered how far he could get.

(It’ll be a test of the younger master’s skill, huh?)

In any case, he didn’t like having Kojirou along because it felt like he was being monitored.

Nagahide was thinking about something else as he muttered, “Everything is an experience.” He was talking about the emerging power.

They were mainly engaged in guerrilla activities, and was said to have recaptured Kouchi’s outskirts, which had formerly belonged to the Aki and Ichijou clans. Afterwards, their power had increased dramatically. Originally a kind of localized resistance formed from a core of earthbound spirits, they seemed somehow to have gained organization. Thus these spirits weren’t limited to those from the Sengoku Period.

(An onryouonryou (怨霊)

Lit.: "vengeful ghost"; the spirits of those who died in the Sengoku period who are still so filled with rage and hatred that they continue to exist in the world as vengeful spirits instead of being purified and reborn. resistance...)

The Aki and Ichijou clans, the targets of that resistance, were once major powers that, along with Chousokabe, divided southern Shikoku into three: Aki KunitoraAki Kunitora (安芸国虎) 1530 - 1569-09-21

Aki Kunitora was lord of the Aki District of Tosa, and was born in 1530 to Aki Motoyasu. He was known as one of the Seven Tosa Heroes.

He and Chousokabe Motochika fought sporadically over territory. In spring of 1569, he instigated a war with Motochika that he ultimately lost, and he committed suicide at his family temple, Joutei Temple. Many of his chief vassals followed him in death. to the east and Ichijou Kanesada to the west. The Ichijou Clan was descended from court nobility. After being targeted by Chousokabe, Kanesada sought help from Ootomo Sourin of Usuki in Bungo, and was later baptized as a Christian. He was able to recover his lost territory for a time, but was eventually chased out again and fled to Iyo (Ehime Prefecture), where he quietly vanished. Aki Kunitora, on the other hand, had been based in the eastern part of Tosa (present-day ) and controlled the eastern wing of Tosa. He had held his castle to the last in the face of Chousokabe’s invasion and had committed suicide in exchange for the lives of his soldiers. He was a military commander known for his valor and daring, and, judging from the large number of vassals who had followed him to the grave, a beloved master as well. Aki and Ichijou, both destroyed by Chousokabe, had been resurrected into the «Yami-SengokuYami Sengoku (闇戦国)

Lit.: "Dark Sengoku", the civil war still being fought by the spirits of the warlords of the Sengoku period in modern-day Japan.» and now occupied Tosa. Resisting them were the earthbound spirits.

“It is an interesting story, isn’t it? Ordinarily, they’re swayed by the closest onshouonshou (怨将)

Lit.: "vengeful general": the spirits of the warlords of the Sengoku period, who continue their battles even in modern-age Japan..”

They must be very independent. But if there were vassals of Chousokabe among them, it would make a certain amount of sense. The barrier at Urado Castle also appeared to have been created by this ‘resistance’.

“Anyway, let’s go eat some bonito and get our strength up, and then pay a visit to this resistance. Let’s take a look at how much skill these not-onshou actually have.”

The car headed toward downtown Kouchi. As they entered the center of the city, Kouchi Castle—formerly Ootakasa Castle, Motochika’s second castle—came into view on its conspicuously elevated foundation.

“I’m the commanding officer of the commando unit...?” Takaya’s eyebrows jumped up at what Reijirou had just told him. “You’ve gotta be kidding...! There’s no way I can do something like that.”

Meanwhile, at the Red Whales’ hideout at the foot of Mt. Tsurugi, Takaya was in Reijirou’s private room in the administration building in response to his summons. Perhaps Nakagawa’s medicine had taken effect—he had recovered and was able to get up and moving again. Three days before the planned night attack on Hakuchi, Reijirou had called Takaya in to inform him, “You’re recovered. The decision’s been made. You will participate in the attack on Hakuchi.”

This operation, a large-scale one for the Red Whales, would mobilize 120 men to be divided into four units, with Reijirou in charge of the first unit, Samanosuke in charge of the second, and Eikichi in charge of the third. The fourth, a special commando unit, was what Reijirou had place under Takaya’s command. It was an exceptionally big promotion. A newcomer, and a ‘living modern man’ to boot, was to lead a unit in a castle attack of such importance. Reijirou had made this decision without consulting anyone else. Naturally, Takaya was vehement in his opposition.

“You’ve gotta be kidding me. I can’t be a commanding officer. You can’t just make a decision like that! I refuse!”

“Think about it for a moment before you refuse. There are many brave warriors among the Red Whales, but not so many men who can lead others.”

“And I can’t either.”

“Don’t lie to me. I saw it at the ‘Star Cave’. You certainly commanded and led us then. Despite the fact that both Kusama-san and I were there.”

Takaya choked. He’d taken over unconsciously, and Reijirou had detected his ingrained habit of making decisions.

“Your command was magnificent: precise, swift, efficient, and exactly on point. We need high-caliber commanders for this operation. The commando unit’s actions, in particular, will determine our success or failure. It is up to the commander to let live or kill.”

“...I can’t use «power».”

“That’s also a lie. You don’t use it intentionally.”

Reijirou had seen through that, too. Takaya glared at him resentfully. He was a formidable man. His desire not to be deceived by anyone had honed his perception in the detection of true intentions. He sat down on a chair, tilted it back slightly, put his feet up on his desk, and began to tend to his arquebus.

“It doesn’t matter even if in the worst case you can’t use «power». What we need is a commander. All you have to do is give orders. I’d be even more grateful if you could use it, of course,” Reijirou laughed. Takaya suppressed his emotions and put on a pragmatic expression.

“Even if I did take command, I don’t think they’ll follow my orders. Who would follow a newcomer from the modern world? To you onryou, modern living people are objects of contempt and resentment.”

“The Red Whales is a group of onryou, but not all of us have modern people in our sights, necessarily.” Reijirou continued to wipe the barrel of his gun. “Anyone who has been a victim of oppression is eligible to enlist, regardless of whether or not they’re dead. That’s the Red Whales I know.”

“That may be true for you, but not for the others.”

“Maybe now, but eventually they’ll come around.” Only now did Reijirou raise his voice. “The Red Whales are those who hate authority and domination. It doesn’t matter what era you were born in. Our group is united by our hearts.”

“That’s nonsense. It’s impossible for the living and the dead to join forces. The onryou hate this world because it gave them no choice but death! They are so irrationally angry that they want to destroy the world!”

“You sound as if you’re a onryou too.”

Takaya’s face stiffened.

“What’s the big difference between life and death for us? Whether or not we have a body—that’s the only difference. All of us exist. The only difference is in the way in which we exist. I don’t think it’s such a big barrier. What’s important are the mind and heart.”

“You make me uneasy,” Takaya snapped. “You’re trying to break down a wall that shouldn’t be broken down. Life and death are the final order. Without order, there is chaos. It’s dangerous. There will be no right or wrong. We lose our foundation, without which we can judge nothing. Life and death are existence and its absence. This wall must not be broken. You’re the ones who should not exist...!”

“Those who should not exist, Heaven will not allow to exist.”

Reijirou’s words bore straight into Takaya’s heart. These were the same words that they had uttered many times in an attempt to justify their kanshou.

“That’s what Kusama-san has said.”

“...What an arrogant idea. Allowed? Are you allowed to invade other people? It’s a gross violation of territory. It’s a crime. And you think that’s allowed?”

"What are you saying?

“It’s like one country invading another. Of course it’s not allowed. You’re not allowed to invade other people in order to exist!”

“You want us to disappear?”

“...”

“That is ‘murder’ of the onryou. Telling something that exists to get lost is the same as telling it to die. Modern people created human rights—in which case we have spirit rights.”

“You can’t have a right that allows harm to be done to others...!”

“But we exist here and now, and so long as we do so, we have to continue to live.”

The two men glared directly at each other.

“Ougi, the fact that we have to talk about order is proof that we are already in chaos. What is important is ‘existence’. Whether or not a thing exists. That is all that matters.”

“...”

“You’re a person of the modern world, after all. Though we’re all human, it seems that what our eras teach us are indeed different. It isn’t unforgivable to take from others in order to stay alive. The law of the jungle is the fundamental truth of the world. As for myself, I’d stay in this world even if Heaven didn’t allow it.” Takaya kept glaring at him, but didn’t respond. “I’ll give consideration to selecting personnel for your unit. Still, I’m sure you can get even Yoshimura to follow you.”

“You’re overestimating me. It’ll only cause more trouble.”

“Don’t think you can fool these eyes of mine, Ougi.” Reijirou looked at Takaya with a very earnest, probing expression. “I don’t know who you are, but no matter how hard you try to conceal them, I can see your talons. You can’t help it.”

Takaya glared at him repressively.

“It doesn’t matter to me who you are. You’re leading the commando unit. That’s an order.”

(And if I refuse, you’ll kill Mutou, huh...?)

He didn’t know about Kusama, but Reijirou was capable of anything.

“Reijirou, your way is too overbearing. You’ll drive people away.”

“I don’t care whether or not they follow me. We need people who can carve out a new path.”

Reijirou seemed to know his role well.

“Go to Hakuchi. I’ll take full responsibility.”

Apparently, word of the unit formations had leaked before the meeting, and a huge revolt instantly erupted. Yoshimura and the others formed a cabal which converged on Reijirou. They clamored for Ougi to be removed from his position, but Reijirou was having none of it. To the contrary, he threatened to expel them. It left them nowhere to turn.

Which only made their anger less visible, but no less potent. In the large room, they put their heads together to plot countermeasures.

“We should refuse to go into battle, Yoshimura.”

That was the general consensus.

“If we refuse to go, the leaders will panic. They can’t just ignore us then.”

“That’s right, Yoshimura. We refuse to go into battle and use that as a pretext to drag down Ougi. In modern parlance: bai...boi...er, how’s it go again?”

“Boycott.”

“Yeah, that’s it! There’s no way they can attack Hakuchi without us! I’m sure Kada-san knows what’s more important, us or Ougi.”

But Yoshimura didn’t nod. Under these circumstances, they couldn’t count on Kada.

“It looks like Ougi’s got him wrapped around his little finger. If we’re not careful, he’ll cut us off.”

“Then what do we do?!”

“I have an idea,” Yoshimura said. His voice was quiet, but his eyes burned ominously. “Above all else, we have to wake Kada-san up. That’s our first priority. I have a good idea—it’ll get Ougi expelled from the Red Whales for sure. Look here.”

Yoshimura dug his fingernails into the tatami mats. The rushes were cut, and a dull thud was heard.

The first snow fell on Mt. Tsurugi that evening.

The autumn leaves were almost done. The forest was so cold that it was no longer possible to go outside without a jacket. The occasional cry of deer could be heard in the distance.

Takaya was sitting at the base of a cedar tree. The fallen leaf-piles would become warm beds for insects in winter. He could hear the sound of a stream. The cedar’s bark was warm to the touch. Being near the tree made him feel safe, as if someone were there with him. Takaya seemed to like this tree.

His gaze fell on a brown praying mantis near his feet. At this time of the year? He looked at it with surprise and saw that it was eating something with slow movements: a dragonfly, perhaps the last dragonfly of the year.

The old praying mantis silently ate its dragonfly. Perhaps it would be his last meal. Takaya stared at it until it finished eating the dragonfly’s head.

“The law of the jungle is the fundamental truth of the world.”

(Living while violating others.)

But this was how nature maintained its balance. The food chain. Eating and being eaten, only the strongest individuals survived to leave offspring. And evolve. Oneself. The species. To survive, to survive...were all the trespasses and strife programmed into our genes?

(If so, who put them there?)

“If the living have human rights, we have spirit rights.”

The right to exist—

(If there is such a thing, this world will one day lose its balance.)

Possession and kanshou were both transgressions. They were nothing more than crimes. But onryou were not rational. They had no conscience. They could not be stopped, thus could only be extinguished. Yet they continued to be born. It was a vicious circle.

The dead who should have been purified remained because of their emotions. Because of their determination. Thus the original sin lay in the ‘psyche’.

(The psyche defies the principles of existence.)

“Human society must change if it is not to give rise to onryou.”

When was it that Naoe had said that?

“Where everyone can die peacefully without bitterness or pain. Without such a world, onryou will continue to exist.”

Without such a world, their work would never be finished.

“Such a day may never come.”

(We work to get closer...)

“And we need to keep doing so,” Naoe had said. Rather than whining about the exhaustion of endless life, work so that onryou will not come into existence in the first place. Work to make that world a reality.

(That’s what we should do.)

But such an ideal was unreachable; the end of the world was much more realistic and believable. No matter how much he used his «power», he was powerless against the current of the times moving toward tragedy; and each time he had the horrible realization that that ideal was getting further and further away.

(As a result, the human psyche leaves behind a distorted existence in the world.)

If strife and trespass were built-in programs, how could the onryou be eliminated? Even justice, which sought to avoid unfortunate deaths, created conflicts between different justifications, giving birth to new onryou. Such was the 20th century. Conflicts of ideology and principle gave rise to war and a vast death toll. Was this truly the way? Was this fate? ...Was this inescapable?

“I believe that people will find ways to gradually draw closer to a world without conflict.”

(Because human beings know ‘compassion’...)

Recalling Naoe’s words, Takaya smiled. You know too painfully well how extraordinary an ideal it is...

Reijirou’s words were painful because they could also offer a defense for himself as kanshousha. At the same time, Reijirou seemed to be telling him, “Free yourself from the cage that is order.”

(I’m afraid of you, Reijirou.)

He felt like he was growing closer to them, and he was afraid.

He was afraid that he would take revenge on ‘living’.

Reijirou hadn’t said revenge against ‘living people’, but revenge against ‘living’.

(Who resents it more than anyone else...?)

Takaya hugged his knees. He confronted his own existence.

Ever since that day...he’d thought about it constantly.

“Ougi-san, there you are.”

It was already dark. Utarou had come from the lodging houses to look for Takaya. Nakagawa had assigned the boy to look after Takaya and take care of his personal needs during his illness.

“I thought you might be here. I’ve been looking for you. It’s already dinner time, and there’s a strategy meeting for the attack on Hakuchi starting at eight. Please get something to eat before the meeting.”

He stepped on fallen leaves as he approached. Takaya shook his head lightly.

“I have no appetite.”

“No, you have to eat. If you don’t, you’ll collapse again. Nakagawa-san will scold me.”

Utarou was a boy of only fifteen or sixteen. He’d died young, at fourteen. He had a boy’s gravity, and didn’t feel the unreasoning terror for Takaya that others did.

“I’m thinking. I want to stay here for a bit longer,” Takaya said, and Utarou bent his head in perplexity. He really was troubled. It made Takaya feel sorry for him, “How about this, then? Bring me the food, and I’ll eat here.”

“Really?”

“Yeah. There should be lanterns in the warehouse. Bring one, will you?”

“Can I join you?” Utarou badgered Takaya eagerly.

“Yeah,” he replied. “Bring your dinner as well. We’ll eat together.”

Utarou jumped for joy and ran back to fetch their meals. Takaya, who was cold to others, was kind to Utarou. Perhaps it was because he and Miya were close in age.

Takaya’s heart froze, and he slumped down.

He had met Miya several times in his dreams at the mountain cottage. Some were so realistic that on waking he’d thought they were real.

(I wonder how you’re doing, Miya—...)

In fact, Takaya hadn’t been aware that he’d performed a psychic projection. He thought it was a dream. He didn’t know that the strength of his feelings for Miya had turned into a unintentional projection to her.

Utarou came back while he was still brooding. He had a lantern hanging from his elbow and a tray with dinner for two in both hands. “Thank you for waiting,” he said as he sat down next to Takaya. “It’s fun to eat outside.”

Takaya lit the lantern, which cast a warm light over them. Utarou appeared to think of Takaya as an older brother, and adored him so much that he didn’t care about the poison inside him. Utarou ate heartily, as one might expect of a growing teenager, leaving nothing but the bones of his grilled fish.

“I hear you’re going to be the commander of the commando squad, Ougi-san,” Utarou said with his mouth full of rice, as pleased as if he himself had been given the position. “I’m proud of you. But it’s not like it’s a surprise. I heard about what you did at the ‘Star Cave’ from Iwata-san. I wanted to talk to you ever since.”

That was why he’d been so happy to be around Takaya.

“Isn’t it grand? I wish I could go with you, but they’ll probably make me house-sit again.”

“It’s nothing but a bother.”

“I want to be useful to Kada and the others, too. I admire them. Kada-san and Hikawa-san are way cool. I want to be like them.”

It was a boyish dream. Takaya looked at Utarou’s profile in the glow of the lantern. How painful was the thought that he, too, was onryou. Fourteen years old. Too young. ...Surely he would have wanted to live longer.

“I died in the third year of Bunkyuu (1863). That would have been about 130 years ago.”

“...The end of the Edo period, huh? So you...”

“I’m like Someji-san; I was a member of the Tosa Imperialism Party. Though I didn’t even count as a grunt.”

He scratched his head. The Red Whales were not of uniform age; nearly half of them weren’t from the Sengoku period. There were quite a few from the turmoil at the end of the Tokugawa Shogunate. The Bakumatsu-era Tosa Loyalist Party had formed around Takeichi Hanpeita (Zuizan), a country samurai of the Tosa domain, who put his life on the line to revere the Emperor and expel the Western barbarians. The party controlled the province for a time, but the fluctuating current of the times took their lives. Takeichi and company were executed by order of Yamauchi Youdou, Tosa’s feudal lord.

“Did you know Takeichi Zuizan-sensei?”

Utaroh was unreservedly delighted. “He was an amazing man, a star of hope for us country samurai. I still regret his death...”

After the political upheaval of August 18, when the Choushuu Clan was ousted from the capital by Satsuma and Aizu, the popular feeling of the times turned abruptly from ‘revere the Emperor and expel the Western barbarians’ to favoring a shogunate marital union with the Imperial Family. It flew in the face of Takeichi and company, and Tosa lord Youdou began a thorough suppression of their movement. Takeichi had assassinated one of his chief retainers, Yoshida Touyou, in order to allow the Imperialists to gain control of the domain, for which Youdou had likely harbored a grudge. He could hardly have been amused at Takeichi, a country samurai, and his gang running the domain.

“You were also executed at that time, then?”

“I—no. Nothing that respectable,” Utarou muttered sadly. “I was rude to a superior and shot.”

“You were shot...for rudeness.”

“Aye. I was one of the poorest of the country samurai, so poor that I couldn’t afford food or clothing. One day, a young high-ranking retainer from somewhere came to hunt in the mountains near our house. He rode into the fields on his horse and destroyed our crops...my parents said, ‘He’s a high-ranking retainer, protesting won’t do anything, just stay quiet.’ They only prostrated themselves. But I couldn’t bear it. I objected. But he didn’t stop. I exploded with anger...”

Putting down his chopsticks, Utarou looked down bitterly.

“He was a fool who didn’t know what was going on outside of Tosa. That idiot knew nothing about Japan or national affairs, but he still took advantage of his station to do whatever he wanted. He didn’t know anything, but he mocked Takeichi-sensei! He laughed at the imperial loyalist samurai! I was...only a low-ranking member of the Imperialist Party, but I studied. I couldn’t forgive him! I couldn’t forgive a worthless idiot for laughing at the country samurai who put their lives on the line!”

“—You attacked him? This retainer?”

“I slashed at his arm, but the cheap sword broke. And then...he rudely shot me. Then he stabbed me repeatedly—...”

And that had been the end of Utarou.

Takaya’s chopsticks stopped moving as he stared at Utarou’s profile. His eyelashes were wet, and tears welled from his eyes.

“What a miserable end, now that I think about it. My face was shoved into the mud. I died like a dog without accomplishing anything. The country samurai who died for their convictions didn’t become onryou. But I... I...”

“Utarou...”

He wept, swallowing his bitterness. The retainers and the country samurai. This was a class system unique to Tosa.

Its origin dated back to Hideyoshi’s era. After Chousokabe left, the Yamauchi family of Kii entered Tosa, and their hereditary vassals became known as the high-ranking retainers [joushi], while the masterless local samurai who were Chousokabe’s surviving retainers became known as country samurai [goushi]. Though they were all samurai, the latter were ranked lower than the former. They were subjected to various discrimination and never allowed to disobey.

“The country samurai couldn’t do anything. We had to do exactly as we were told, or we were cut down, and we couldn’t say a thing about it. Many of us were poverty-stricken.”

“...”

“That’s why the country samurai gambled on our dreams. We wanted to overthrow the Shogunate and the high-ranking retainers.”

In a world where there would no longer be any distinction between samurai—

A world where no one would be oppressed.

Utarou wiped away his tears and began peeling the remaining oranges, trying to regain his composure. Takaya stared at his fingers.

He’d heard a lot about Takeichi Hanpeita. Most of the members of the Imperialist Party had lost their young lives without ever witnessing the Meiji Restoration. If they had lived, they would surely have contributed hugely to the age that came after.

At the time, Takaya served under Ookubo Ichiou, a chief retainer of the Shogunate and chamberlain of Osaka CastleOsaka-jou (大坂城/大阪城)

Located in Osaka City, Osaka Prefecture, Osaka Castle was built by Toyotomi Hideyoshi on the former site of the Ikkou Sect's Ishiyama Hongan Temple. He completed it in 1598 after 5 years of construction., who often told him about the state of affairs in the country. Much blood had flowed, and much passion had forced open the era’s doors. It had been such an age.

In one of its corners, Utarou had died without leaving his name. —A ‘small death’.

But Takaya didn’t think it had been imprudence. Utarou had died for his stubborn pride. That wasn’t a miserable death.

“Oh...I’m sorry, I’ve rambled so long about myself. It’s shameful; I rarely tell people about it...”

“It’s nothing to be ashamed of.”

There was nothing to be ashamed of in a person’s death.

But had this boy also remained in the world, cursing his life’s worthlessness...?

Utarou smiled at Takaya, perhaps glad that he had quietly listened to him.

“By the way, Ougi-san is good friends with Mutou-san, right? I heard you enlisted together.”

“Mutou? Oh, right. We’re not friends. He hates me.”

“Really? It doesn’t look that way to me. When you collapsed, he came to check on you several times.”

“Mutou?”

“Yes,” Utarou nodded. He said, gazing at the light of the lantern, “It’s nice to have a best friend like that, isn’t it? I wish I had a friend like that.”

“We’re not best friends. My best friend...”

“You’re still you. Even if you change, you’re still Takaya.”

Recalling the soft voice he felt like he heard all the time, Takaya’s chest ached. He looked down.

“If you keep going like this, your life will be in shambles, and your future will no longer matter!”

“It’s someone who gets angry with you when you’re being unreasonable. Someone who shouts out your unspoken grievances for you.”

“Don’t...go anywhere”

Suddenly, he felt as if a nostalgic wind was blowing.

Memories of those taken-for-granted days came back to him unexpectedly. In a corner of the school building, on the street after school, in the park late at night...walking shoulder to shoulder.

Takaya’s heart tightened at that irreplaceable face. He had always cared for Takaya, sacrificing himself without a second thought. Takaya must have caused him a lot of worry and pain.

“Someone who always supports you from the bottom of his heart...”

Looking back, though he’d sometimes scolded him, he’d always been been there, supported and accepted him, despite Takaya’s utter selfishness—

(My precious...)

Something unpleasant suddenly snapped across his mind. His consciousness touched barbed wire. Takaya was shaken as he suddenly remembered the dark coldness he had forgotten.

(Isn’t it weird?)

He hadn’t thought about it directly until right this second. An even more unpleasant feeling made Takaya shiver. Had he forgotten some grave crime? Even now, a whole existence was slipping out of his consciousness. Completely. Truly. Why didn’t he remember what he was just saying?

(What did you do to that most precious of...)

He stared at the palms of his hands. What had these hands done?

“Is that your best friend? What’s his name?”

(Name.)

Takaya’s eyes were violently agitated.

(I can’t remember.)

“Ougi-san... What’s wrong?! Ougi-san? Ougi-san!”

Takaya had turned as pale and rigid as if he’d been impaled by an iron stake.

Utarou’s voice never registered.

Takaya was stunned.

He could no longer remember Narita Yuzuru’s name.