(A few days ago… Toriame Toro passed away. We have yet to determine the cause, but we know for a fact that Toro died. We haven’t heard from his sister, Ame, who is set to be the Toriame Clan’s next leader. The clan is in a worrying state right now, so I’m going to check on Ame.)
Aaagh! Take that!
(What could that be? That sounded like a man’s voice… Did Ame hire a swordmaster?)
Graaaaagh!
(No, those sounds are the mark of an unpolished fighting style. A sparring partner, perhaps? I'll just open the door…)
Ame? Are you in there?
…
(Oh dear. Perhaps I should have come at a later time.)
I’m not Ame.
Then who are you?
I’m not Ame anymore.
Anymore?
I go by Kanzo now.
Oh! Shiori and I were worried sick about you!
…
The walls and floor… There are slash marks everywhere. Were you practicing wielding Higanbana?
…Yes.
You should really ask me to tutor you next time!
…Sorry, Omiko-san. I’m just…frustrated.
I can see why. Your only brother, taken away from you so cruelly… I’d be upset too.
Could you please not remind me? I’m carrying enough burdens as is.
(Kanzo is so blunt… This is not the Ame I once knew. He’s really taking his new position seriously.)
So… Care to explain why you’re wearing an eyepatch?
…One of my eyes sees the present. And one…is still stuck in the past.
(Well, at least his eye is safe… It’d be all too easy to cut yourself by flailing a katana.)
I know I told you not to remind me, but… I can’t seem to understand the circumstances behind my brother’s death.
What do you mean?
A few weeks ago, Toro told me that he would volunteer for Project Shiko’s experiments. And he paid the price.
Yes, I heard about that. But the details of the experiment are under lock and key.
Which is exactly why I can’t stop thinking about Project Shiko. What is it, who’s behind it, and what were they doing?
And you hope to uncover the truth some day?
Sooner rather than later, hopefully. Before more lives are lost to it.
That would be ideal.
The Ether Police are on its trail, but they haven’t found any leads so far. I wonder why that is?
That makes Project Shiko even more suspicious, yes?
It does. I’m already fearing the worst…
(Kanzo and I stood there in silence, wondering about Project Shiko. From what little I’ve heard of it, it aims to publicize medicine so that we no longer need to fear death as much as we do. But of course, making medicine accessible to the public would make it easier for us to become eldritch, and our society would fall into ruin if we let that happen. Project Shiko… Just where did it start, and how?)
It’s no use just thinking about it. Perhaps some day, the Ether Police will find something.
Let’s hope that that’s the case.
In the meantime… I would appreciate it if you could teach me how to wield Higanbana.
Of course. I’d be happy to.
(Kanzo and I trained deep into the night…)