They walked along the dirt path, the trees swaying gently in the wind. After a while, Mio glanced over her shoulder and said, "In about 500 meters, we'll arrive at Onigari Village."
Mireyna blinked, puzzled. "Onigari?"
Isao rolled his eyes, clearly unimpressed.
Yumeko chimed in with a calm voice, "Onigari Village is just a normal settlement, but it's home to the Hashino clan and a few others."
"Other clans?" Mireyna asked curiously.
Mio nodded, her eyes lighting up with a smile. She held up a finger like a teacher about to explain something exciting. "Yes, several, but the most famous one is the Shuingan clan. They're legendary for their mastery of high-speed movement techniques—some even call them ninjas."
Mireyna tilted her head. "There are still ninjas in this era?"
Isao looked over at her. "Of course there are. They just live deep in secluded areas, far from the cities—places like Kokishibu. Only a few people even know they exist."
Mireyna nodded slowly, now understanding.
Mireyna turned to Mio, a curious look on her face. "Mio-chan," she said "the Hashino clan… are they your bloodline?"
Mio nodded with a bright smile. "Yes! The Hashino clan runs in my blood. Our clan exists in many villages, because long ago, my great-great-grandfather was a healer who traveled across the lands. Due to our family's deep knowledge of medicine and our exceptional intelligence it became our legacy to spread and preserve the bloodline."
She continued with a hint of pride, "In other words, our family would always have many children, and those children would marry into well-known families in each village. That way, each settlement would have at least one medical expert from the Hashino line."
Mireyna furrowed her brows. "Then… do they know how to cure the flower? Why didn't you tell us before?"
It was then that Shion, who had been silent the entire walk, finally spoke up. "Mirae-san," he addressed her respectfully, "the Hashino family in Kokishibu isn't particularly skilled in medical arts."
Mireyna tilted her head. "what do you mean?"
Shion explained further, his tone steady and factual. "The Hashino clan is known for both medicine and literature. But most branches specialize in one or the other,it's rare for someone to master both. The legendary exception was their ancestor, Hideyoshi Hashino. He was a genius in both healing and writing. He even worked in royal politics, managing medical correspondence and royal treatments. He traveled from village to village, offering his knowledge freely."
Mireyna's eyes sparkled in awe. "Wow… so in today's world, the Hashino would basically be considered doctors?"
Shion nodded. "Exactly."
Mio added gently, "Like Shion said, my family in Kokishibu is more focused on literary arts, not healing. But the branches of the Hashino clan in the mountain villages.. They're more into medicine. And maybe… just maybe…" she leaned in closer to Mireyna "they might know something about the flower. Because… a long time ago, when the Shién Flower Plague hit hundred years ago it was the Hashino healers who cured it."
A sudden chill ran down Mireyna's spine.
After some time climbing, they arrived at the second tier of the mountain — not yet the summit, but high enough for the forest mist to drift low across the stone steps. The mountain path, carved long ago, twisted upward like an ancient dragon's spine, lined with weathered lanterns and the scent of moss-covered wood. Their robes — light traveling kimono styled like those of wandering healers or shrine apprentices — fluttered gently in the breeze. Isao, ever the quiet one, carried both their bags with steady hands, the weight barely seeming to trouble him.
Mireyna stopped and turned in place, her geta sandals clacking softly against the stone.
"I thought this place would be remote," she said softly, her eyes scanning the landscape. "But… there are so many paths. Even stairs that lead down to villages?"
Her voice echoed faintly, swallowed by the silence of the mountain.
She pointed toward the various narrow stairways branching out from the main trail — some ascending deeper into the mountain, others leading down to hidden settlements tucked between the cliffs.
Isao looked up toward the sky, now tinged with the faint gold of late afternoon.
"We should eat," he suggested calmly. "Fill our bellies before we search for a place to stay. It's dangerous to be moving around when dusk falls."
Mireyna turned to him quickly, alarm in her eyes.
"D-dangerous? Why? Are there… ghosts?"
Isao glanced sideways at her, expression unreadable, the kind of face that gave nothing away.
"There are many Higuma in these parts."
She blinked, tilting her head in confusion.
"Higuma…?"
He exhaled lightly and rolled his eyes, though not unkindly.
"Brown bears."
Understanding dawned on her face. She nodded at once, clutching the edge of her sleeve a little tighter, as the quiet rustle of leaves above reminded her how wild these mountains still were.
Together, Mireyna, Yumeko, Isao, Shion, and Mio stepped through the towering wooden gate of the village. The gate itself was a marvel of craftsmanship — intricate carvings danced along its beams, depicting winding dragons, sakura petals, and in the center, a curious fountain sculpted in the shape of a stone frog, its mouth releasing a gentle stream of water into a moss-lined basin.
They all paused, momentarily captivated.
"This place is beautiful…" Yumeko whispered, her eyes wide in quiet wonder.
Then Mio broke the stillness, pointing excitedly ahead.
"There! That ramen shop!"
She rushed forward with the energy only hunger could give, her sleeves trailing behind her. Shion followed with a smirk, and the others — Mireyna, Isao, and Yumeko — trailed behind her at a more relaxed pace.
As Mireyna walked through the narrow path lined with lanterns and wooden stalls, she began to feel the weight of lingering stares pressing against her. She noticed it almost immediately — the way some villagers turned their heads subtly, their eyes narrowing, their conversation fading mid-sentence as she passed.
In Kokishibu Village, she was treated as an outsider.
Unlike the others, whose dark hair and eyes blended effortlessly with the local people, Mireyna's presence stood out. Her hair, a soft brunette with natural warm tones, shimmered against the late afternoon sun. Her hazel eyes, a rare shade in this region, glowed with golden flecks when they caught the light. Her features — delicate yet defined — resembled that of a foreign maiden from far beyond the mountains.
She lowered her gaze slightly, brushing a lock of hair behind her ear, pretending not to notice. But Isao, walking just beside her, silently adjusted the bags in his arms and cast a glance at one of the villagers who stared too long. The man quickly looked away.
Mireyna said nothing, but a small, grateful smile tugged at her lips.
After finishing their meal at the cozy ramen shop, Yumeko looked up from her bowl and spoke with a thoughtful smile.
"Why don't we stay at the Hashino family inn tonight? Since Mio is part of the Hashino clan, we might get a better price… and maybe even some information about the Shién flower."
The others nodded in agreement, and before long, they found themselves standing before a large, traditional inn nestled quietly at the edge of the village — the wood-framed building surrounded by garden stones, paper lanterns, and the faint scent of fresh cedar. Sliding open the main entrance, they stepped inside.
Two individuals in their early forties greeted them warmly in the entry hall. The man, tall with silver-threaded hair and a kind smile, stepped forward.
"Welcome, young travelers. My name is Kyuren Hashino."
Immediately, all five of them bowed respectfully — the traditional, low bow of younger folk greeting elders.
"Ohayō gozaimasu," they said in soft unison, their tones polite and measured.
Kyuren returned the bow with a chuckle, then gestured beside him.
"This is my wife, Rui Hashino."
Rui, elegant in a soft indigo kimono, offered them a graceful smile. Her eyes scanned the group one by one — but lingered when they reached Mireyna. There was a brief flicker of surprise in her expression.
Sensing the tension, Mireyna dipped her head politely.
Before anyone could ask, Isao smoothly stepped forward.
"My name is Isao Tatsuki. This is my younger brother, Shion. Here is Mio Hashino and Yumeko Yue. And this—" he motioned to the brunette girl beside him, "—is Mireyna Tokushiro.
Kyuren blinked, brows lifting slightly.
"Tokushiro…? Then you're from the village of Kokishibu?"
Mireyna nodded slowly.
"Perhaps I seem like a foreigner to you, sir. My father was a Tokushiro. My mother was… not from Japan. So, I'm half-Japanese."
Kyuren nodded in understanding and gave her a kind smile.
"I see. Forgive me, young lady. I've simply never seen a face quite like yours before."
Mireyna understood what he meant — he wasn't calling her beautiful in the usual sense, but rather noting how her features, softly Western, stood out in a village of darker hair and sharper bone structure. She simply bowed her head again.
Then Kyuren turned to Yumeko, eyes squinting slightly in recognition.
"And you… You're Yue, aren't you? From the bloodline of the Shién flower's guardians?"
Yumeko bowed gracefully. "Yes, sir."
Rui, who had been quietly standing beside her husband, finally spoke. Her voice was soft as she gently tugged the sleeve of Kyuren's kimono.
"The Yue family has always been known for their beauty," she said, her eyes briefly admiring Yumeko's delicate features. "Like gazing at the full moon on a clear night."
Yumeko responded only with a gentle, humble smile, lowering her eyes in modesty.
Kyuren then turned to Mio, his face lighting up in recognition.
"Ahh, and you must be Mio Hashino?"
Mio nodded proudly.
Kyuren's eyes twinkled. "And tell me, what is your family's specialty?"
With bright enthusiasm, Mio answered, "Language and writing! I can even read the ancient scripts of Japan — Kojiki, Nihon Shoki, and more!"
Kyuren let out a delighted laugh.
"Ho ho ho! Remarkable! Such a young girl and already a scholar of the old tongue!"
After a few moments of cheerful conversation, Rui straightened her posture and clapped her hands together gently.
"Shall I show the young ladies to their room?" she offered warmly.
Kyuren patted Isao on the shoulder.
"The men's quarters are this way."
As they began walking through the inn's wooden corridors, the soft creak of the floorboards beneath their feet, Kyuren added with a chuckle,
"There's a hot spring bath at the back, by the garden. If you're interested, feel free to enjoy it later tonight."
The group exchanged quiet glances — the promise of warm water after a long day of walking was more than welcome.