A chime rang out sharp, metallic, persistent. It resounded off ancient pillars, fractured through the dim air, and cut through Yuto's lingering haze of memories. He tightened his grip on the paper mask, breath held, senses sharpened by the ritual's gravity.
Koma's demeanor changed at once. The tanuki's eyes narrowed, body tensing. "Don't let the sound get inside your head, Yuto. Cover your ears if you must, but whatever you do… don't follow the bells blindly."
The courtyard's pools faded to flat, black mirrors. The blossoms that had filled the air spun down more slowly, drifting to a gentle halt. From the far arch beyond the trial circle, a procession materialized: a dozen masked figures, each wearing bells around their necks, each one trailing a length of crimson cloth. Their feet did not touch the earth, and their eyes if they had them were hidden behind lacquered fox and lion masks.
The lead spirit's bell called again, softer now, as if beckoning Yuto forward.
Yuto fought to steady his body, but the urge to move to step closer, to listen pulled at him. Shadows pressed tightly along the pillars; the scent of old incense thickened, mingling with the chill of unease.
"What are they?" Yuto managed, his voice a rasp.
Koma flattened his ears. "Sentinels of Remorse. They wander between regret and purpose. They protect the boundaries. When newcomers cross, they test your resolve… and temptation."
The lead mask beckoned, its lacquer winking under the lantern glow. The bell rang again; this time, memories rose within Yuto, not of things lost, but of wrongs unspoken moments he'd wanted to apologize, times he'd pretended not to see classmates eating lunch alone, nights he'd ignored his mother's silent tears.
The sentinels surrounded him. Their bells joined, forging a metallic, echoing song that wrapped around his thoughts. With every beat, the urge to surrender and drift into their circle grew stronger.
Koma darted before Yuto, baring his small fangs. "Remember the mask. You passed the memory trial. Focus on the feeling the warmth, the hope. Remorse doesn't define you."
Yuto closed his eyes, the bells pressing in hammering at the cracks in his heart. He pressed the paper mask, now warm with his touch, to his chest and forced himself to breathe slowly. Inhale: the scent of plum blossoms. Exhale: the far-off laughter from festival dreams.
The masked procession paused, bells faltering.
A single word faint but real rose in Yuto's mind: "Forgive."
Behind closed lids, he pictured his mother's tired eyes and Haruka's persistent texts; the faces that still mattered in the waking world. His past was not just regret, but also the chance to try again, to make things right, to step forward without being bound by shame.
"I won't forget my mistakes," Yuto whispered, opening his eyes. "But I won't surrender to them. Not here."
The sentinels stilled. Their bells grew silent, crimson ribbons fluttering. In the heavy hush, the lead masked spirit inclined its head. The path ahead cleared, the arch beyond now glowing with soft lantern light and blossoms swirling anew.
Koma let out a long, relieved breath. "You did it, kid. Few pass both trials their first night. You… you're different. Stronger than you think."
Yuto sagged, exhaustion catching up with him, but the lantern burned bright in his grip. For the first time, he sensed he wasn't merely a visitor he was someone this place needed, someone who could forge a bridge between pain and hope.
"I'm ready for whatever comes next," he said, voice steadier. "I have to be."
The petals rose again, bells fading into memory, and Yuto stepped toward the glowing arch aware, at last, of the shadows he could leave behind, and the new world just beginning to unfold before him.
End of Chapter 5