Suddenly, a voice called out from behind—
"Mirae!"
Mireyna, who had been blazing with fury just moments ago, froze. Her breath caught in her throat as she turned around slowly.
There they were.
Her grandfather. Her grandmother. And Kai, her personal bodyguard.
All three stood still, eyes wide with horror.
Their expressions were filled with disbelief—as if the words they had just heard couldn't possibly have come from her.
Her grandmother, the one who had called out, looked heartbroken.
She stared at Mireyna, lips trembling.
As if she couldn't accept that her own granddaughter had spoken such cruel, cutting words.
To another child of the mountain.
To Isao.
Mireyna's chest heaved, her breaths sharp and uneven.
The words echoed in her mind—
"Did I just say that?"
Her heart dropped.
It didn't feel like her own voice—it felt like her mother's.
That same coldness. That same fire. That same sharp tongue when pushed too far.
Isao, still stunned, gave her a sharp side glance. His face was unreadable, but his eyes burned with quiet fury.
Without another word, he turned and walked away.
Shion silently followed, head lowered.
Mio clutched Yumeko's hand tightly, her eyes wide in disbelief.
Even Yumeko, usually so gentle, was frozen in shock.
She never imagined those cruel words could come from Mireyna—the girl she thought was kind, refined, and warm.
Then Mireyna looked around.
The villagers had stopped. They were watching her.
Murmurs. Stares. Judging eyes.
She felt like every pair of eyes was a dagger straight into her pride.
Her dignity felt torn to shreds.
Without another word, Mireyna turned and ran.
Her vision blurred with tears, her chest aching with a shame so heavy it threatened to crush her.
She sprinted back to the house—her grandparents' home in Kokushibu—and slammed the door behind her.
Collapsing to her knees, she sobbed as she began throwing clothes into her bag, shaking hands grabbing whatever she could find.
Hairbrush. Journal. Lip balm. Kimono. Photos.
Her grandfather and grandmother reached the door with Kai just seconds later.
"Mirae!" her grandmother cried, reaching out in panic.
But what they saw made them freeze—
Mireyna, still in tears, frantically packing.
Her body trembling.
Her lips biting back sobs.
Kai stood by the door, unsure whether to stop her or let her break.
The girl who once stood proud in this village…
Now wanted nothing more than to disappear from it.
Her grandfather's voice cracked as he called out, "Mirae, dear—what's happening? Why are you packing?"
Both he and her grandmother reached out, gently gripping her shoulders, trying to stop her frantic hands from shoving more clothes into her bag.
Their touch made Mireyna freeze—just for a second—before the dam of emotions broke.
"I know it… I know you both must hate me!" she cried, tears streaming down her cheeks. "It's because I'm like Mama, right?! Because I said things I shouldn't—just like her!"
She was practically shouting, her sobs echoing through the small house.
"Forget it! I'll go back to Tokyo! Just let me go! I'm sorry—I'm sorry I'm a horrible person!"
Her grandmother gasped and quickly wrapped her arms around her from behind, holding her tightly. Her own tears had begun to fall.
"No, Mirae, don't say that—don't ever say that!" she wept. "Grandma loves you! We both love you! Please don't go, not like this!"
But the shame had swallowed Mireyna whole. Her breath trembled, her heart thudded painfully in her chest. She wiped her tears with the back of her hand, her face red and eyes wild.
She turned toward her loyal bodyguards, voice broken but commanding:
"Kae… Kai… pack your things. Book a car. I want to leave—now."
Kai and Kae exchanged nervous glances—hesitant, but obedient.
The atmosphere was thick with tension, grief, and regret.
Mireyna walked ahead, her steps heavy, shoulders trembling though she tried to keep her back straight. Behind her, Kae and Kai carried her luggage in silence, their expressions unreadable. The sun had started to dip behind the trees, casting long shadows across the quiet village road.
From behind, the broken voices of her grandparents cried out, trembling and desperate.
"Mirae, darling… please, don't leave us, my sweet child. We love you—so very much…"
Their tears fell freely now, pooling in their eyes and streaking down weathered cheeks. Their words clung to the air like the scent of rain before a storm.
Mireyna turned around slowly, her eyes red but no longer crying. She gave them a soft, painful smile—the kind only someone who's trying to be strong can give.
"It's alright," she said gently. "Just… please tell Yue and the Tatsuki family that I'm sorry. If my words hurt them… I didn't mean it that way."
Then, with trembling hands, she lowered her head respectfully in a deep, traditional bow—her chocolate-colored eyes hidden beneath her fringe as she honored the village and its people.
It was a farewell full of grace and regret.
Kae and Kai glanced at each other once more, then followed behind her, leaving the cries of her grandparents and the quiet village of Kokushibu behind them.
As they descended the winding path from the mountain village, the sun dipped low on the horizon, painting the sky in strokes of orange and lavender. The air was still, heavy with unspoken pain—until suddenly, two voices shattered the silence.
"Mirae!!"
It was Yumeko and Mio, calling from behind.
Startled, Mireyna turned around quickly, eyes wide. "Yu—Yumi? Why are you—?"
The two girls came running, breathless and anxious. Yumeko was panting hard as she finally reached her, tears in her eyes.
"Mirae…!"
Mireyna lowered her head, guilt flashing across her face. "I'm sorry… for what I said earlier. I shouldn't have been so rude."
But Yumeko grabbed her shoulders, shaking her slightly, her voice breaking.
"That doesn't matter right now!"
Mireyna's heart skipped a beat. "W-What?"
Yumeko's lips trembled as she blurted out,
"It's your grandmother… she—she's dying!"
Everything inside Mireyna froze.
She turned toward Kae and Kai with eyes filled with dread. Without a word, they nodded. Mireyna didn't hesitate.
"Let's go!"
All five of them—Mireyna, Kae, Kai, Yumeko, and Mio—turned around and began sprinting back up toward the village, the last light of day fading fast behind them.
As they arrived at her grandmother's house, the group walked through the village, and suddenly, Mireyna caught a strong, sweet scent—like the fragrance of an unfamiliar but calming flower. She stopped in her tracks and asked:
"Kae, Kai, Mio, Yumi… do you smell that?"
But they all shook their heads. "No, nothing at all."
Mireyna frowned in confusion. "What is this smell…?"
At the same time, they noticed villagers rushing about in a panic, murmuring and looking around.
"What's going on?" Mireyna asked, startled.
Yumeko turned to her quickly. "Others are saying the same thing—something strange is happening, just like with your grandmother. We need to go see her, now!"
They immediately ran toward her grandmother's house. When they entered the traditional Japanese home, they saw Isao and Shion sitting quietly beside the grandmother's futon. Mireyna's grandfather was nearby, preparing some kind of herbal drink.
Mireyna was taken aback. She stared at Isao, who stood up as soon as he saw her. In front of Kae, Kai, Mio, and Yumeko, he stepped closer, then knelt down in a deep formal bow.
"I'm sorry… if anything I said earlier hurt you. I didn't mean to. Please forgive me."
Mireyna's heart softened. Her expression changed, and she gave a small, sad smile.
"No… I'm the one who should be apologizing. I went too far with my words."
Yumeko and Mio exchanged glances, both stunned. Isao had never been the type to back down or apologize—especially not to someone from outside the village.