The chill of the bridge had nothing to do with the evening air. Makoto Katsuragi stood coiled and defensive, facing the strange man who had been waiting for him. The man's name was Takumi Enatsu, and his knowing gaze was unsettling—a quiet confidence that Makoto instantly found infuriating.
"I'm afraid I don't know you," Makoto said, his voice low and cautious, his hands shoved deep into his pockets. "Do we have a problem?"
Takumi chuckled, a deep, resonant sound that was somehow both gentle and unnerving. He looked completely unfazed by Makoto's defensive posture. "No need to get defensive. My name is Takumi Enatsu. And what you did back there wasn't normal."
Makoto raised an eyebrow, a flicker of irritation crossing his face. "Are you going to report me to the cops or something? You and that girl saw nothing."
Takumi's smile widened just slightly, the expression more of a smirk. "You misunderstand. There are people like you—those with Standz abilities. I recruit them for the Seirei Exorcism Group. We're rebuilding in this region, and I think you'd be a great fit."
Makoto's frown deepened. He crossed his arms over his chest, his expression hardening. The man's words sounded like the ravings of a madman. "Standz? Seirei? Yeah, you've got the wrong guy. I have no idea what you're talking about."
Takumi sighed, a patient, weary sound. He stepped closer, his gaze softening as if he were speaking to a particularly stubborn child. "Let me explain. Standz is the life force present in everything—animals, humans, even objects. But only a few can harness it as a unique ability. Those people are recruited to exorcise Seireis—spirits drawn to strong Standz users. Seireis are a type of harmless spirit, but their very existence—their aura—causes disasters by simply being in our world. That flying phone earlier? That was a Seirei's doing, drawn to the raw strength of your Standz. It was a minor one, but a nuisance nonetheless. I was about to exorcise it, while you... you helped the girl instead."
Makoto remained unmoved, his face a mask of cynical dismissal. "So you're asking me to risk my life for strangers... and for ghosts? No thanks. Not my thing."
Takumi stepped forward, his hand outstretched, holding a simple business card. The card felt strangely heavy, almost like stone, as Makoto took it. "If you change your mind, call me."
Makoto looked down at the card, at the elegant, minimalist design, and scoffed. "Whatever." Takumi nodded once and walked away, his stride unhurried and his posture perfectly straight. Makoto stood there for a moment longer, a cold gust of wind whipping past him as if to mock the absurdity of the encounter, before pocketing the card and resuming his lonely walk home.
The Weight of Family
The chill of the bridge finally gave way to the familiar warmth and worn comfort of his small apartment. The door creaked open, and Makoto stepped inside. He had barely taken off his shoes when a flying figure exploded from the living room ceiling, a blur of motion and furious intent.
"I GOT YOU THIS TIME!!" yelled Airi, a small but aggressive teenage girl with a fiery mop of red hair—Makoto's adoptive sister.
But her attack never connected. She tripped midair on absolutely nothing, her body twisting in a clumsy spiral before she face-planted into the hardwood floor with a loud thud that made the entire house rattle.
Makoto blinked, the cynicism of the outside world momentarily forgotten. "Did you just… trip on the air?"
"Sh-shut up, idiot!" Airi hissed, her cheeks flushing a furious red as she tried to get up, a gasp of pain escaping her lips as she put weight on her ankle.
Makoto walked over calmly. His face was stoic, but the sight of her struggling was a familiar pain in his chest. "You hurt yourself again."
Airi looked away, stubbornly avoiding his gaze. Makoto knelt down and gently touched her forehead. Her skin was burning hot to the touch. "Fever's worse."
"Don't touch me!" she protested, trying to swat his hand away.
Makoto ignored her protest, his hand remaining on her head for another second before he sighed. "You didn't take your meds, did you?"
Airi's voice was a small, guilty whisper. "…They taste disgusting."
With another sigh, Makoto picked her up effortlessly, his arms scooping her up as if she weighed nothing.
"Put me down, jerk!!" she protested, kicking her feet in the air.
"I'm taking you to your room. Don't argue."
He carried her upstairs, laid her gently on the bed, and walked to the nightstand to hand her a bottle of medicine. The bitter, coppery smell of the liquid filled the air, and Airi gagged at the scent. "I'm not taking that."
Makoto sat on the edge of the bed, his voice quiet and unyielding. "You're getting worse. You used to spar with me every day, and now you're struggling to walk."
Airi clenched her fists, her knuckles turning white. The humiliation and frustration were clear on her face. "I hate this. I hate being weak. I'm useless…"
Makoto placed a hand gently on her head, his calloused palm a warm comfort. "You're not," he said quietly, his voice softer than she'd ever heard it. "You just need time. The doctor said there's a chance—if we get the treatment in time. That's why I'm working so hard. So you can get better and beat me up like old times."
She looked away, hiding the tears that were now welling up. "You're such a dummy sometimes…"
Just then, Renji, Airi's twin brother, walked in casually, a book in his hand. His demeanor was a stark contrast to the dramatic tension in the room. "Oh, Makoto. You're back."
Makoto nodded toward Airi. "She didn't take her medicine until now."
Renji shrugged, a faint, resigned smile on his face. "She only listens to you, you know."
"I do NOT," Airi snapped, her voice still weak but her fighting spirit intact.
"Lie down," Makoto said to her gently. "Rest." He stood up and turned to Renji. "I'll go check on Grandpa."
The Last Resort
Makoto entered the elderly man's room, the soft, low light from the window casting a peaceful glow on the old man's face. He was staring out into the night sky, a faint smile on his lips. The scent of black tea filled the air. The old man turned and smiled brightly, his face crinkling with warmth.
"Makoto! Just in time for tea."
Makoto sat down silently, taking the offered cup. The old man poured two cups, his movements slow and deliberate.
"How was the job interview?" he asked, his voice calm and hopeful.
Makoto stared at the steaming tea, seeing not his reflection but the bitter failure of his day. "Didn't get it."
The man placed a warm, wrinkled hand on his shoulder. "So? That just means there's something better waiting for you. You'll find it."
Makoto tried to believe it, but the weight of his responsibilities was crushing him. He's not even my real grandfather… but he took me in without hesitation. He gave me a home, a purpose. I owe him everything.
Suddenly, the peaceful atmosphere was shattered. Renji burst in, his face pale and his chest heaving as if he had run a marathon. "Makoto… it's Airi. She's not waking up."
Makoto's blood turned cold, a sudden, icy shock. "What?"
He raced to her room. Airi was burning up, her breathing shallow and ragged. She was completely unresponsive.
"This is bad," he muttered, his mind working frantically. He looked at the old man, who had followed them. Too bad for Grandpa to see... he's already been through so much.
"Renji, get some ice!"
As Renji ran out, Makoto's eyes fell upon the business card that Takumi had given him. It lay on the nightstand, a stark, black rectangle against the white wood.
He clenched it tightly in his fist, the card feeling like a brand of fire in his palm. If I want to save her… this is my only chance. My last resort.
Renji returned with the ice, but Makoto was already standing up, his mind made. He looked at his siblings, his face a mask of resolve. "Take her to the hospital. I've got something to do."
Makoto dashed into the night, the freezing air a shock to his system. He pulled the business card from his pocket, his thumb hovering over the number—about to dial it.
But he didn't need to.
Takumi Enatsu was already standing there, leaning against a lamppost, as if he had been waiting for this moment all along.