30 Minutes Earlier…
YUMI'S POV — 5:50 AM
Oh my gosh—I need to hurry and get ready ASAP!
Trying to find my clothes in this disaster zone of a room was a battle in itself. In my frantic digging, I managed to knock over my lamp, spill last night's tea, and send three math books crashing to the floor—right along with my mirror.
Great. Perfect start to the day.At this rate, Dad's going to wake up and ask why I'm even up this early on a Sunday.
And worse—I still had no idea what to wear.
Maybe it's because my brain won't stop thinking about… Ikiryo.
Sigh.The heart wants what it wants, I guess.
I still can't believe I'm about to go on an actual adventure with him.
This is like something out of one of my fantasy novels. Maybe… just maybe...
My cheeks started to burn.
Nope! Not doing this! Focus, Yumi!
I grabbed my favorite black tights—just thick enough to keep the chill away—and pulled them on. I glanced at the mirror and tilted my head. My reflection looked like it was judging me.
"Okay, okay," I muttered. "Something on top, chill out."
I spotted my denim shorts and yanked them on over the tights.
Then I opened the window for a breath of fresh air—Big mistake.
The morning breeze slapped me in the face like a cold hand straight out of the freezer.
Nope.
Immediately, I grabbed my oversized orange hoodie—the one Ikiryo gave me on my 17th birthday—and tugged it on. It wrapped me up in instant warmth. Comfort mode: activated.
I tied up my curls in a quick ponytail, strapped on my banana-shaped waist pouch, and stood in front of the mirror one last time.
"Repeat after me, Yumi," I whispered.
My reflection stared back seriously.
"Why am I doing all this?"
I exhaled, long and deep.
"So that Ikiryo can be at peace again."
Stepping downstairs on tiptoe, I did my best not to make a sound.
Suddenly—
Clatter!
I'd just knocked over the stack of beer cans Dad left by the front door.
"Jeez, Dad. You never take these out for recycling…"
I froze. No footsteps. No yelling. Good.
The coast was clear.
Just as I touched the door handle—
"Where are you going, big sissy?"
Yikes.That voice.
Mina.
My five-year-old baby sister stood in her unicorn PJs, rubbing her eyes.
"Oh, sweetie! I'm just, uh... going for a run!"
"But you don't like running."
"And you don't like dogs, but you still play with them, right?"
She giggled, and so did I.
I gave her a quick hug, handed her a small glass of chocolate milk, and tucked her back into bed.
As I turned back to leave, my eyes stopped on the family photo on the wall.Dad. My stepmom Louisa. Karlie, Annelise, Mina… my family.
We looked really happy in that photo. All making goofy faces like that.
I pressed my palms together and bowed my head slightly.
"I'm sorry for what I'm about to do."
And then, I stepped out.Carrying the promise I'd made to Ikiryo's mother.
Back to Ikiryo's POV
Did I just kill the mood?
Ugh. I hate when I go into serious mode.
…
"Anyway, look what I got here," I said.
Yumi squinted at the item in my hand. "A… piece of ripped paper?"
"Yes."
"And what are we supposed to do with this? Where do we even start? Where is this ancient forest, anyways?"
"Yumi, one question at a time. First, let's just look at it."
"How did you even get it?"
I explained the dream—the pressure, the red eyes, the voice shouting 'Jinrai.' As I talked, we'd started walking, almost unconsciously. The landscape ahead—five kilometers out—loomed like a quiet challenge.
"I can't believe you experienced that," Yumi said.
"Yeah… It was kind of disturbing."
"You said you heard a name?"
"Jinrai."
"Jinrai, huh?"
I looked at her. "Does that ring a bell?"
She rolled her eyes. "Oh yes, of course! I'm best friends with all the mythical creatures."
"Yeah, okay. Dumb question."
"You think?"
We kept walking. There was something eerily calm about the whole thing. No cars. No noise. Just the wind and that pulsing sense of purpose.
Saving my mom's life…It's everything.This was my chance.
And I wasn't going to fail her.
"Hey, Ikiryo, let me see that paper again," Yumi said.
I handed it over. She stared hard at the faded ink, trying to make out the symbols.
Then, slowly, her lips moved.
"Galázio Pnévma, arhéio kai paníschyro, ánixe mas to drómo pros tin aiónia, ómorfi katoikía sou."
I blinked. "…What did you just say?"
"I… I don't know. I just—"
Her voice hitched.
"Wait, Ikiryo—"
And then—
The air shifted.
Like a vacuum had pulled the sound from the world. The wind stopped. The birds stopped.
I turned to Yumi—
"YUMI—!"
"IKIRYŌO—!"
To be continued...