Hokkaido's chilly wind brushed past the trees, rustling the leaves like whispers in the quiet evening. The house, an old but elegant countryside home, was warm inside—fireplace crackling, blankets neatly folded, and the smell of fresh curry lingering in the air.
The woman who welcomed them was named Kaede Hoshino, Sol's aunt. A kind, lively woman with a motherly aura and deep respect for heroes. Her daughter, Minami Hoshin, had inherited her beauty—but not her patience. Minami was sharp-tongued, curious, and stubborn. But as she stole glances at Ryker, something else flickered behind her usual pride.
"Everyone, rooms are ready upstairs!" Kaede called out, waving toward the staircase. "Boys on the right wing, girls on the left. Minami will help guide you!"
"Why do I have to—?" Minami began, but stopped the moment she saw Ryker coming up behind the group.
She cleared her throat and smiled.
"I mean… sure. I'll show the way."
The others followed, tired from the trip. Aisa walked a little slower, arms crossed tightly over her chest. Her lips were pale, and a faint blush lingered on her cheeks—not from shyness, but from fever.
She wasn't feeling well.
But she didn't say anything.
She didn't want to ruin the trip. So she quietly nodded, following Celica and Amelia to the girls' room.
Inside, she sat by the window. The cold glass pressed against her forehead felt oddly comforting. Her body ached. Her vision swam slightly.
"You okay?" Celica asked, noticing.
"I'm fine," Aisa replied, forcing a smile and turning away.
Celica didn't push.
In another room, Ryker stood near the window, his eyes narrowing slightly as he looked out at the darkening woods. For some reason… his chest felt tight. As if something wasn't right.
He didn't know why—but he was worried.
That night, dinner was filled with laughter—Kaede's curry was a hit, and even Minami, despite her pride, blushed when Ryker complimented her mother's cooking.
But Aisa barely touched her plate.
She smiled when spoken to, nodded when needed, but her voice was softer than usual, almost distant. The firelight danced in her eyes, but behind it… shadows loomed.
Ryker watched her from across the table.
She's hiding something, he thought.
Later, while everyone was getting ready for bed, Minami found herself wandering toward the hallway near the boys' wing—coincidentally, of course.
To her surprise, Ryker stood there, staring out the window again.
"You're always looking outside," she said, arms crossed. "What's out there? Ghosts?"
Ryker didn't turn. "No. Just… a bad feeling."
Minami tilted her head. "You're kind of intense, you know that?"
He glanced at her then—his eyes piercing but calm. "You're kind of nosy."
She laughed, not offended. "Takes one to know one."
He gave a small smirk.
But inside, the unease didn't leave him. Something in the wind… something in the night felt off.
And in the girls' room, Aisa lay awake, the fever worsening. Her breaths were short, and her fingers trembled as she gripped the blanket.
Still, she said nothing.
She didn't want to be a burden.
But outside, the wind howled louder than before.
Next Morning – Hokkaido Summer Festival
The morning sun was bright and golden, casting a warm glow over the hills of Hokkaido. A gentle breeze carried the scent of fresh flowers and grilled food from street stalls as the town prepared for its annual Summer Blessing Festival. Locals bustled about in light yukatas, hanging paper lanterns and wind chimes that tinkled in the breeze.
"Rise and shine! We're going to be late!" Celica shouted, knocking on all the doors.
The group slowly gathered outside, dressed in light summer clothes. Amelia wore a sky-blue yukata covered in white lilies. Celica wore red with a flower pin in her hair. Aisa came out last, her long silver hair tied in a simple ponytail, her pale pink yukata fluttering in the wind.
She looked a little better—but her face was still slightly flushed. She hadn't told anyone, but her fever hadn't fully gone away.
Ryker walked with the boys—Sol, Shin, and Izumi—wearing a casual black shirt and jeans. He glanced toward Aisa.
"She doesn't look right," he murmured.
"Maybe she's just tired from the trip," Sol replied.
At the festival grounds, stalls lined both sides of the street—games, grilled corn, yakisoba, and shaved ice. Kids ran around laughing, and couples held hands under hanging lanterns. The town's sacred tree stood tall in the center of the square, wrapped in old charms and ribbons.
"Wow, this is amazing," Minami said, clearly impressed as she walked beside Ryker.
Kaede, her mother, was chatting with the townsfolk nearby. "This festival is hundreds of years old," she said proudly. "Started by a hero who protected our land from bandits."
A local auntie selling charms turned to the group. "Tie a ribbon on the sacred tree and make a wish. It might come true, especially today."
Celica smiled. "Let's do it together!"
Everyone took a ribbon. Even Minami hesitated for a moment before joining.
Aisa tied hers silently, standing a bit farther from the others. Her hand trembled slightly as she made her wish: "Please… just one peaceful day."
But just as they finished tying their ribbons…
A girl from the crowd gasped. "Hey! Isn't that Ryker Tensai?!"
People turned. A small group of festivalgoers started whispering and pulling out their phones.
"Is he a celebrity?" Minami asked, trying to act surprised—though she already knew.
One auntie nudged her daughter. "Look, Minami! That's the boy from the hero photo! The handsome one you liked!"
Her daughter blushed, staring at Ryker. "I want him… he's perfect."
Ryker just sighed. Sol laughed. Shin rolled his eyes.
But then… something changed.
From a distance, a tall man in a strange, outdated outfit watched the group, eyes locked on Ryker. He had no festival badge. His presence didn't match the crowd.
Ryker's sharp gaze caught him for just a second.
His instincts flared.
The peaceful summer day… might not stay peaceful for long.
Later That Afternoon – Festival Games and Fireworks
The group scattered through the festival grounds. Shin and Izumi challenged each other at the goldfish scooping game, while Amelia excitedly won a stuffed fox plushie. Celica was munching on taiyaki and dragging Aisa from stall to stall, trying to cheer her up.
"Come on, you've got to try this shaved ice!" Celica beamed.
Aisa smiled weakly, her fever rising again—but she didn't want to spoil anyone's fun. "Okay… just a little."
Meanwhile, Minami took every opportunity to get closer to Ryker, pointing at game booths and pretending to bump into him.
"Want to try ring toss?" she asked.
"I'll pass," Ryker said flatly, his eyes still scanning the crowd.
She frowned. "You're always serious. Relax a little."
But Ryker couldn't. That man from earlier—he was gone now, but Ryker couldn't shake the feeling something was wrong.
As sunset neared, everyone gathered near the lake for the fireworks show. Lanterns floated on the water, glowing like stars. The crowd counted down.
"Three… two… one!"
Boom.
The sky lit up with fireworks, one after another—colors bursting, kids laughing, couples holding hands.
Then—
Crack.
A sudden, unnatural sound. Not a firework.
Screams.
The lights went out in one part of the festival grounds. A shadowy figure dashed through the crowd—too fast for the human eye.
Ryker's head snapped around.
"There!" he said.
Sol and Shin immediately followed. Aisa turned, startled. "Ryker?"
"Stay here!" he said to the girls.
Minami stepped in front of Aisa, suddenly serious. "Don't worry. No one will touch you while I'm here."
The crowd panicked, but Ryker broke through it effortlessly, chasing the figure through the trees behind the shrine. The stranger was fast—inhumanly fast.
They reached a clearing.
The man turned around. He had white hair, a half-mask over his face, and cold, glowing eyes.
"You're not supposed to be alive," the man said. "This era belongs to us."
Ryker's eyes narrowed. "Who sent you?"
The masked man chuckled. "You'll know… soon enough."
He pulled out a jagged blade—one not from this time.
Ryker stepped forward, fists tightening.
"I don't know who you are," he said, voice low. "But you just ruined someone's wish for a peaceful day. And that's enough reason… to break you."