As they made their way down the winding path toward Kuroki Village, the early morning rays fell on the trees. Kuruo, ever curious, kept glancing at Tatsuo with an inquisitive look.
"Hey, Tatsuo-kun," Kuruo finally asked, "how are you so strong? Did someone train you?"
Tatsuo replied with a short, indifferent shrug. "I never trained."
Kuruo blinked in surprise but chuckled. "Sheesh… you're not much of a talker, are you?"
They continued walking, the scent of damp earth and pine growing stronger as they neared the village. Just as the rooftops of Kuroki came into view through the thinning trees, Tatsuo turned and asked, "Are we staying here tonight?"
Kuruo waved a hand quickly. "Nah. We're just here to change shifts with our replacements."
"Replacements?" Tatsuo repeated, eyebrows narrowing slightly.
"Yeah," Kuruo said, adjusting the strap of his gear. "The Regiment rotates duties every week. Every Sunday, a new squad takes over, and the ones stationed leave to report back with whatever intel we've gathered. Based on that, the Regiment decides if the place still needs guarding or not."
Tatsuo looked puzzled. "They decide? Like... they might just leave it unprotected?"
Kuruo gave a sheepish grin, scratching the back of his head. "Well, we're always short on manpower. We can't be everywhere at once. So if a place seems safe enough, we pull out for a while and focus on the more dangerous areas. But that's only for a few weeks"
After a few more minutes of walking, they arrived at a weathered wooden house. Its roof sagged slightly, and the front steps creaked under the weight of time. In front stood three women, each from a different age group—one middle-aged, one young and sharp-eyed, and the other appearing to be in her late teens.
Kenji approached them first, greeting them with a respectful bow. He exchanged a few quiet words with the eldest woman, who seemed to be the leader. She gave a subtle glance in Tatsuo's direction, nodded once, and returned her attention to Kenji.
A few moments later, Kenji came back to the group. "We're good to go. If any of you need to grab something or handle anything before we leave, now's the time."
Tatsuo took a step forward. "Where's the headquarters of the Fleshcutters Regiment?"
Kuruo answered, "Mount Shinryu. It's about a two-day journey south from here. We'll pass through Sakura Village and stay there for the night. Then our next stop will be Kirishima Village."
Tatsuo nodded slowly, absorbing the names. He'd never left his mountain before. Hearing of these places especially one named after cherry blossoms it felt almost surreal.
"I've heard of a village hidden among the cherry blossom forests," he murmured.
Kenji gave him a grin. "Sakura Village is even more beautiful than its name, Tatsuo-kun. You'll see."
"Alright then, let's move out!" Kuruo shouted, already marching down the path.
They left the village behind, the wooden house fading into the greenery. For hours they walked, the sun climbing higher as birds chirped softly in the trees. Eventually, they stopped by a narrow river, its waters clear and cold as they filled their canteens and set a pot to boil it.
While the water heated, steam beginning to curl into the air, Tatsuo looked at Kuruo. "You mentioned the Regiment is short on manpower. How many Fleshcutters are there, exactly?"
Kuruo squinted, deep in thought. "Hmm… not sure of the exact number, but I'd say over five hundred but under six hundred"
"That many, and it's still not enough?"
"Yeah," Kuruo sighed, running a hand through his messy hair. "You'll learn more once you get to headquarters. I didn't really pay attention during theory sessions in my training… I was more of a hands-on type, y'know?"
Tatsuo gave a faint nod, his eyes lingering on the river's surface. Ripples distorted his reflection—uncertain, shifting, like his path ahead.
Once they were done resting, the group set out again, their boots crunching softly against the gravel path as the sun dipped lower in the sky. After several more hours of walking, the air grew cooler and sweeter, carrying with it the subtle scent of blossoms.
It was then that they came across the first sakura tree.
The low-hanging sun bathed the horizon in hues of orange and red, casting long shadows that danced gently in the breeze. A soft wind blew rustling the pale pink petals, some of which drifted down like snowflakes. The path ahead slowly transformed, one tree became two, then ten, until the road vanished into a sea of blossoming sakura trees.
Their branches arched overhead, forming a delicate canopy of pink and white, filtering the evening sunlight into a soft, dreamy glow. Petals rained down in silence, carpeting the earth in a blushing trail.
Tatsuo slowed, nearly stopping in his tracks. His eyes widened, reflecting the warm colors of the forest. His breath caught in his throat. In all his years on the mountainside, he had never seen anything like it.
"So gentle, so beautiful, so… alive" Tatsuo murmured
For a moment, the pain of the incident seemed to loosen its grip on him.
Kenji glanced back and smirked. "Enjoying the view, huh, Tatsuo-kun?" he said with a teasing tone. "You'll see even more beautiful things in the future… just try not to die before you get the chance to enjoy them."
Tatsuo blinked, then gave the faintest smile.
As they made their way through the forest, the sky dimmed to twilight. The light filtered through the sakura petals turned lavender and gold, casting an almost ethereal glow on their path.
Soon, the sakura forest gave way to signs of life. Paper lanterns hung from wooden posts, and the rooftops of homes peeked through the trees. They had arrived at Sakura Village.
The village was like a painting from an old scroll. Traditional wooden houses with tiled roofs lined neatly, arranged paths, all framed by the blooming trees. Lanterns glowed with warm orange light, flickering gently in the evening breeze. There was a sense of harmony here. A village which breathed with the forest.
As they entered, villagers stopped what they were doing and bowed respectfully, some smiling, others whispering as they passed. Children, eyes wide with wonder, ran up to the path to catch a glimpse of them.
It was clear what made the group stand out—their uniforms.
The Fleshcutters wore black, crisp uniforms, stitched for function yet marked by pride. At the back of each was the symbol of a single katana, drawn mid-swing—a silent promise of swift justice.
Kuruo nudged Tatsuo and said with a grin, "Surprised, right? Your village's pretty far off, and since it's been safe for years, the Regiment rarely sends anyone there. That's why the outpost was so run-down and not many know about us there."
Tatsuo nodded slowly as every villager they passed bowed in greeting, and children watched them like they were heroes from folktales.
They soon arrived at the Sakura Village branch office. A well-maintained, two-story building stood at the village center. Unlike the crumbling outpost in Kuroki, this one was fortified with stone foundations, a lacquered sign above the door bearing the insignia of the Fleshcutters, and a sturdy tiled roof. Lanterns lit the porch, and flowers had been planted neatly along the front steps.
A Fleshcutter stood guard outside the gate but he wore a blue uniform rather than the black uniform. He straightened up at the sight of Kenji and gave a crisp nod. "Kenji-san. Welcome back."
He opened the gate without hesitation.
Inside, the main room was clean and organized. At the front desk, a man scribbled in a ledger with practiced ease. Hearing the gate open, he looked up and upon recognizing Kenji, stood with a wide grin.
"Returning to headquarters, eh?"
"Yeah," Kenji replied as he stepped inside. "Our job's done."
The man chuckled while rummaging through a drawer. "So, how'd you like Kuroki Village?"
"It was peaceful," Kenji said with a sigh. "Quiet. Almost too quiet."
"And you, Kazuki-san?" he added with a smirk. "Still enjoying the desk job?"
Kazuki laughed, his voice warm. "You know me! Just a few more weeks and I'll be healed enough to rejoin my squad."
He pulled out three keys and handed them over, but Kenji raised an eyebrow.
"We'll need four this time."
Kazuki looked past him and spotted Tatsuo. His face softened with curiosity.
"Who's the kid?"
Kenji glanced at Tatsuo briefly. "Long story short—he's an orphan now. He's joining the Regiment and traveling with us."
Kazuki gave a low whistle. "That's a brave choice, kid. Keep at it," he said, tossing another key toward Kenji, who caught it with ease.
"Alright everyone, here's your key. Your rooms are upstairs—go wash up," Kenji said, distributing the keys.
After freshening up, they all gathered on the balcony of the branch office. The air was cool and carried the scent of cherry blossoms and distant woodsmoke. Kenji arrived first, leaning on the railing with a calm expression.
Tatsuo soon joined him, drawn by the evening quiet. The forest bathed in the soft purple glow of dusk was even more breathtaking from above. The sakura petals continued to fall, caught in the soft light of the lanterns below. The trees swayed gently, like they were whispering secrets to the wind. Fireflies blinked to life among the branches, adding to the dreamlike scene.
Tatsuo stood silently, letting the peace soak in. For a moment, the world felt still.
Kuruo and Asami joined them a few minutes later.
Soon, idle chatter broke the silence. Kuruo boasted loudly of a supposed battle with a Fleshbound that was "twice the size of a horse." Tatsuo listened quietly, eyes half-narrowed with skepticism.
Asami crossed her arms and leaned against the balcony post. "He's exaggerating, of course," she said dryly. "It was a wild boar. He tripped over a root and screamed so loud the actual danger ran off."
Kuruo turned red. "H-Hey! That root came outta nowhere!"
Everyone laughed—Tatsuo too, just a little. And in that moment, surrounded by new comrades, falling petals, and flickering lights, something warm settled in his chest.
Later that night, as the village fell into a hushed stillness and lanterns flickered against the breeze, everyone returned to their rooms.
Tatsuo lay on his futon, staring up at the wooden ceiling. His hands rested atop the blanket, unmoving. His mind swirled with the day's events—the chaos, the sorrow, the beauty. The memory of the fire still clung to his senses: the smell of smoke, the heat on his skin, the weight of the Axe in his trembling hands. He had burned his own house, left behind everything he had ever known… and then walked beneath the petals of a sakura forest that looked like it had bloomed from a dream.
It all felt unreal.
He turned onto his side and looked out the small window. A branch from a nearby sakura tree danced in the wind, its petals whispering against the glass as if trying to lull him to sleep.
"…Maybe becoming a Fleshcutter wasn't such a bad decision," he murmured.
He closed his eyes, and little by little, sleep claimed him. Time slipped away, and he drifted into a deep, heavy slumber.
---
Tatsuo stood in front of a familiar wooden house—his home. Sunlight poured down on the path, the wind carried the scent of blooming grass, and birds sang from the trees. A gentle spring breeze rustled his hair.
From a distance, he saw his younger self playing with his mother. She laughed as she spun him around, her hair glowing in the sunlight. His father knelt beside the old cart, adjusting the wheel with a focused but calm expression.
A soft smile came to Tatsuo's lips. "I remember this… This was one of the good days."
But then—everything glitched.
The scene blinked violently like a broken projection. Fire erupted around the house, licking the walls and blackening the sky—then suddenly, everything returned to normal.
"What… was that?" Tatsuo whispered, heart beginning to race.
The scene glitched again—fire, screams, ashes. Then back to calm. It repeated. Over and over.
And then, the peace was gone.
Before him stood his house again, but now it was engulfed in flames. The heat was suffocating. Smoke stung his eyes, and the sky had turned a deep crimson. The earth beneath his feet was scorched and cracked.
Screams echoed from inside.
"What's happening?" Tatsuo called out, panic gripping his chest.
Then his gaze shifted on them
His mother, father and his younger self.
They stood within the fire, unmoving. Their eyes were empty sockets, weeping streams of black blood. All three turned their heads in unison toward Tatsuo.
And then—they smiled.
The world around him shattered and collapsed.
Now he stood in an endless void of black. The fire, the house, the sky—gone. Only darkness remained.
"Where… Where is this place?"
From the right, a voice echoed, faint but filled with sorrow. "Tatsuo… you could have saved me."
It was his father's voice.
Tatsuo turned, trembling. From the shadows emerged the glowing figure of his father—headless, yet somehow still staring at him.
"Fa-Father… Yo-You…" Tatsuo could barely speak.
"You could have saved me, Tatsuo!" his father roared, the echo deafening in the empty space. "Why didn't you save me?!"
Another voice drifted from the left. Softer, sweeter. Almost… kind.
"Tatsuo…"
It was his mother.
He turned and saw her, twisted and deformed. Her body no longer that of the woman he remembered, but the grotesque, mutated version she had become. Her eyes glowed faintly, and her mouth curled in a disturbing grin.
"Tatsuo, why did you kill me?" she asked, her voice beginning to tremble, then deepen. "Don't you love your kaa-san, Tatsuo?"
Her body twitched, stepping forward.
"M-Mom… I-I didn't… I had to—"
"I was just hungry… so hungry…" she hissed, her steps quickening. "Why… did you… kill me?!"
Tatsuo stumbled back in fear. But then—
BAM! His back hit something solid.
He turned—only to find his father's headless body right behind him, arms reaching.
He cried out and spun around again—his mother was no longer walking.
She was leaping.
Her bloodstained mouth wide open. Her mutated, knife-like arm raised and slashing through the air, aiming for his throat.
Everything froze.
---
Tatsuo bolted upright with a gasp, his chest heaving. Cold sweat ran down his face and back, soaking through his shirt. His hands trembled as he clutched the blanket.
His breath caught in his throat. The image of her mouth, the scream, the burning… it still lingered.
Knock! Knock!
"Tatsuo, get ready! We're leaving soon," came Kuruo's voice from the other side of the door.
Tatsuo tried to respond, but his voice caught in his throat.
A few seconds passed.
"…Y-Yeah. I'm coming… in a bit."
"All right. Don't be late," Kuruo said, his footsteps retreating down the stairs.
Tatsuo sat there, still trembling.
"What the hell was that?" he whispered to himself. "That didn't feel like a normal nightmare…"
His gaze shifted to his hands, still shaking. "It was too real."
"I hope this doesn't happen every night…" he muttered, wiping the sweat from his forehead.
He let out a long breath and stood up. His body felt heavy.
"I should get ready. They're waiting for me," he said quietly to himself, as if to steady his nerves.