Mireyna sat near the quiet koi pond tucked just a little ways behind the ramen shop they'd eaten at earlier. It wasn't anything extravagant—just a humble pond with a few lotus flowers floating lazily on the surface and a tiny wooden bridge crossing the middle. In front of it stretched a wide, grassy field where local kids were running around, their laughter ringing through the late afternoon air.
The wind tousled Mireyna's soft brunette hair as she stared into the rippling water, watching the koi drift beneath the surface. Her thoughts, however, were far from peaceful.
"Hmm… Zio Ferdinand's kids are really something else," she muttered inwardly, lips curling into an amused half-smile. "He's such a kind man, but his children? Seriously odd. And don't even get me started on that whole 'falling for your own cousin' situation."
She blinked slowly, side-eyeing absolutely no one in particular with a look that screamed I'm not judging, but I totally am.
Cousin crushes? Really? What is this, a twisted family tradition or just poor taste?
From behind, a calm voice interrupted the silence.
"Pardon me, Miss Mirae," said Kae, her ever-loyal bodyguard. "But… you've been staring at the pond for twenty minutes now. Is something bothering you? Shall I assist in any way?"
Mireyna blinked, clearly startled. "Eh? T-Twenty minutes?!"
"Yes," Kae nodded. "Exactly twenty."
"No way!" she gasped, eyes wide with disbelief. "I've been zoning out that long?!"
She groaned and gave her forehead a dramatic little slap. "Ugh, I was just doing a quick throwback about those weird cousin shenanigans! How did that turn into a whole drama marathon in my head?!"
Mireyna shook her head, laughing softly. "Gosh, I really spaced out. Anyway, shall we go for a walk? What time is it now?"
Kae glanced at his wristwatch. "It's just past 1 p.m., Miss Mirae."
"Oh, still early then. Let's walk around a bit—help digest all that ramen we ate," she said with a small smile.
They began strolling through the quiet village of Kokushibu. Children's laughter echoed through the open field as they ran and played, their carefree joy painting a warm, simple beauty that made Mireyna's heart feel a little lighter.
To her, that sound—children laughing freely—was a form of happiness.
But as they continued walking, she noticed a few aunties and girls around her age glancing at her, whispering softly. Their eyes held a mix of curiosity and distance, as if she were someone from a different world.
Mireyna instinctively looked down, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear in embarrassment. She knew she stood out—her features were more Western, more Caucasian. In Tokyo, she rarely felt self-conscious, but here, in a village full of "pure" Japanese faces, she couldn't help but feel like an outsider.
Even though her grandfather was the village chief… she still felt like a stranger.
Kae noticed Mireyna's sudden shift—the way her gaze dropped, how she nervously tucked her hair behind her ear. His sharp eyes quickly scanned the area and landed on the small group of aunties and local girls, all whispering and stealing glances at her.
His expression darkened instantly.
With the slow turn of his head and a death-stare that could silence a storm, Kae narrowed his eyes at them. No words—just pure, silent intimidation radiating from his very presence.
The aunties flinched.
One of them elbowed the other.
"Oi, oi, stop staring! Her bodyguard's looking like he's about to call the police!"
A younger girl near them gulped. "Is he… is he an assassin or something?!"
Another whispered, "He's just glaring but why does it feel like I've sinned?"
Meanwhile, Mireyna blinked in confusion. "Eh? What's going on?"
Kae turned back to her casually, all traces of his glare gone as if it had never existed.
"Nothing, Miss Mirae. Just clearing the atmosphere."
As Mireyna continued walking down the path, her eyes caught sight of a familiar group beneath the large tree that stood proudly at the heart of Kokushibu village.
There, beneath its shade, were Isao, Yumeko, Mio, and Shion—gathered around a pair of wooden swings hanging from the thick branches. The breeze danced gently through the leaves above them, casting dappled sunlight over the group.
Mio and Shion were on the swings, laughing as they kicked their legs to go higher. Shion's cheeks had a soft pink flush, the kind that came from both joy and a little shyness. Yumeko stood behind them, gently pushing the swings, her usually quiet expression softened by a rare, serene smile.
Isao stood nearby, arms crossed casually as he watched them. His eyes lingered briefly on Shion's blushing face, and for a moment, a small, affectionate smile tugged at the corner of his lips.
Mireyna's heart warmed at the sight. Even in this unfamiliar place, there were little pieces of peace and love tucked between the leaves and laughter.
Yumeko's eyes lit up as she noticed someone approaching from the path. She stood up slightly, waved excitedly, and called out, "Mirae!! Over here!"
Startled, Mireyna blinked, her steps faltering a little. She wasn't used to being called out so openly in the middle of the village. With a soft breath and a small, shy smile, she made her way toward them.
Shion and Mio both turned to look, their laughter quieting as Mireyna approached. Isao's eyes also drifted toward her for a brief moment. Their eyes met—but just as quickly, Isao looked away, his expression unreadable, as if her presence didn't faze him at all.
Mireyna noticed—but she didn't take it to heart. She simply continued walking until she reached Yumeko.
"Konbanwa, Yumi," she greeted with a soft smile. "Have you been here long?"
Yumeko returned the smile gently, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. "Eh? No, not really. We just got here a little while ago. Where have you been?"
"I was at the ramen shop earlier with Obāchan and Ojīchan," Mireyna replied.
Yumeko glanced around, noticing her grandparents weren't nearby. "Where are they now?"
"Oh," Mireyna said, turning to glance behind her briefly. "They went to visit a friend's house nearby. They'll be back later—I thought I'd go for a little walk while waiting."
"Come sit with me, Mirae," Yumeko said softly, patting the stone bench beside her. "Let's talk for a while."
Mireyna smiled and nodded, stepping over to sit beside her. Meanwhile, Isao silently took Yumeko's place behind the swings and began pushing Shion and Mio. The two laughed brightly, their joy echoing under the shade of the large village tree. Shion blushed again as Mio teased him mid-swing, and Isao simply smiled, quietly watching over them like the dependable older brother he was.
Back on the stone bench, Mireyna glanced at Yumeko with a thoughtful expression.
"By the way," she began, lowering her voice slightly, "can I ask something? Is there anyone in your family with the name Meiran?"
Yumeko blinked, her brow raising. "Meiran? What do you mean?"
"I mean like… maybe your grandmother or great-grandmother? Someone in your ancestry named Meiran?"
Yumeko furrowed her brows slightly and played with the tiny stones under her feet. "Hmm… I don't think so. At least, not that I know of. The only ancestor I really know by name is Tsukikkage Yue."
Mireyna tilted her head. "Tsukkikage Yue?"
Yumeko gave a quiet nod, her fingers absentmindedly toying with a small pebble. "Yeah… Tsukikkage Yue was my tenth-generation great-grandmother."
Mireyna blinked, surprised. "You actually know your ancestors that far back?"
Yumeko glanced at her briefly, then lowered her gaze. Her voice softened—almost melancholic. "Just her. She was the first of our family to run away from Mount Shién."
Mireyna leaned in slightly. "Run away? What do you mean?"
Yumeko paused, then exhaled gently as if pulling the memory from something much older than herself.
"Originally… our ancestors lived high in the mountains of Shién. That was their home. But Tsukikkage Yue—she fell in love. With a samurai from this village. She left everything behind to be with him. Moved here. And after that… no one really knew what happened to the rest of her family. The records were lost. No one talks about them anymore."
She paused, eyes drifting to the earth. "What I do know is… my ancestors used to be the guardians of that flower. But once Tsukikkage Yue left… no one knew where the flower went. It vanished."
Mireyna's expression grew still as she looked down, lost in her own thoughts. Why would she marry someone from here… and give up everything?
Yumeko gave a small shrug. "Who knows? Maybe it was for love. Or maybe… life in the mountains was lonely. Maybe she just wanted a different path."
Then Mireyna remembered something.
"Didn't you say Isao and Shion are related to you?"
Yumeko nodded. "Yes. The samurai Tsukikkage Yue married—he was the brother of Isao and Shion's ancestor. So… technically, we're all distant relatives."
Mireyna nodded slowly. "I see…"
The breeze stirred again, rustling the leaves overhead. And in that quiet moment, Mireyna couldn't help but feel that everything—Yue, the mountains, the flower, even herself—was somehow connected in ways she had yet to understand.