Shirakawa-go (7)

Yasushi stood inside, still recovering from the toll his body had taken, while Xinyi flailed her arms awkwardly in an attempt to mimic what she had been told he had done earlier. Her movements lacked coordination and purpose, and after a few more attempts, she stopped, clearly frustrated. She planted her hands on her hips and looked at him expectantly.

"How did you manage it?" she asked, her voice carrying a mix of disbelief and curiosity. Yasushi, still feeling the exhaustion coursing through him, shifted his weight slightly against the wall for balance.

"I remembered how I saw it done before and mimicked that. Honestly, I'm not great at explaining martial arts. Maybe when I'm back to full strength, I can demonstrate," he replied, exhaling heavily as though the simple act of speaking cost him energy.

Xinyi furrowed her brows, but before she could respond, Yunxue stepped closer. Her eyes scanned Yasushi, concern clear in her expression. "Are you going to be ready for the reopening? You don't look great," she asked, her tone soft but insistent.

"I'll manage," Yasushi answered, rolling his shoulder experimentally. "I just need time to recover my energy and let my ki stabilize. My body will sort itself out after that." His movements were sluggish, and his hands still trembled faintly as he tried to stretch, but his determination to reassure them was evident in his words.

"We've got a few hours left before the opening. I'll stay here and keep an eye on Yasushi. The rest of you should get back and finish the preparations," Nandini said, addressing the group with a tone that didn't leave room for argument.

"I'll—" Yunxue started, but Nandini cut her off before she could finish.

"We need everyone helping with the setup right now, Yunxue. You're more than capable, and it only takes one of us to make sure Yasushi doesn't overdo it. He's not in critical condition or anything. Just go back and handle those last touchups at the bakery," Nandini insisted.

Yunxue hesitated, her expression wavering before she finally nodded. After a brief exchange of instructions and a few reassurances, the group dispersed, leaving Nandini alone with Yasushi, who looked like he was seconds away from passing out.

"It's a terrible idea to fall asleep when you're this drained of ki and mana," Nandini said, reaching out and pinching his cheek with just enough force to make him flinch slightly.

"Do I die if I do?" Yasushi asked, his words slurred with exhaustion. His eyes threatened to close again despite her warning.

"No, but it will slow things down, especially after a shock like that. Once you're more familiar with using ki or mana, it won't matter as much. But right now, since you've only recently started tapping into it, you need to stay awake and keep it circulating through your body," Nandini said firmly.

Yasushi groaned, rolling over on the couch with a tired grunt before finally settling onto his back. He stared at the ceiling in silence, looking more annoyed than anything else.

Nandini grabbed a chair, pulling it close and sitting down next to him. She stayed quiet for what felt like an eternity before finally speaking. "Where did you learn that martial art?"

Yasushi opened his eyes, letting out a long sigh. "It's from an anime or manga I was into in my previous life. I just copied it. That's why I can't teach it properly — I'm working off memory. My memory's not perfect, and there are parts I forget about how it works."

Nandini was aware of Yasushi's past and nodded her head. "That's impressive. Being able to recreate something from fiction into the real world takes skill. In a way, you're a genius, Yasushi. If you got involved in the supernatural when younger, there's a chance you'd be near the top if the power hierarchy."

Yasushi chuckled and said, "I would rather not. While trouble finds me…I had enough fighting in my life, and I only learned the ki to protect the people near to me. So, I won't overly rely on this, even if I do plan on increasing the capacity, I have ki in me. It'll be a last resort kind of thing…and hopefully this will be the last time I need to rely on it or fight for a while."

Nandini stared at him again for an uncomfortable amount of time before saying, "I will…try and convey this to Lord Shiva. However, he finds you entertaining, so it may not work."

He chuckled and shook his head lightly. "I know it sounds like a long shot, but is it so wrong to dream? Once you step into this kind of life, it's hard to break free from it." 

She couldn't deny that what he said held truth. Over the years, she had witnessed plenty of people try to leave, only to get pulled back in. Still, she thought about the possibility — if he did manage to grow stronger, many might choose to stay away from him. Yet deep down, she also understood Yasushi's way of thinking. He wouldn't want to take that path, even if it meant peace. 

"Anyway," he said, slouching further into the couch, "I'm going to just lay here for a bit... but, uh, can you make me something to eat? Using all that ki took a lot out of me, and now I'm starving." He glanced toward her with a look that didn't need more explanation. 

Nandini stood, brushing her hands against her sides. "Alright. Do you want your favorite?" she asked, her tone carrying a hint of familiarity. 

He answered with an odd grunt, one that somehow managed to confirm what he wanted. With that, she left for the kitchen to get started on his meal.

+-+

"Are you sure you're okay?" Jingliu asked, watching Yasushi closely. 

"I'm fine, I'm fine. Nandini's food worked wonders, and a few hours of rest did the trick," Yasushi replied, rolling his shoulders before flexing his arms in a playful gesture. Jingliu couldn't hold back a small laugh at his antics. 

Hours had passed since their earlier ordeal, and the bakery-restaurant was only minutes away from its reopening. Preparations had been completed earlier, and the place was buzzing with anticipation. 

Earlier that day, Nandini had joined Jingliu, Yinhaie, and Xinyi to bring Kuroti back to Nino. They explained everything that had transpired. Kuroti had listened quietly, not meeting his father's eyes. Shame weighed heavily on him, though he refused to speak about it. 

Now, Kuroti was under house arrest, a punishment decreed by Nino himself. Kuroti wasn't allowed to step outside under any circumstances. Instead, he had to assist with household tasks and spend time reflecting on his choices.

Nino had assured everyone that the punishment he set was appropriate, though he didn't elaborate on the specifics. Whatever it was, Nino's tone made it clear he believed it would be effective. 

Inside the shop, Yasushi and the others worked on the finishing touches, ensuring everything was set before opening. Nino was present as well, walking around the space, his expression carrying a deep connection to the memories this place held for him.

His demeanor made it clear how meaningful this moment was, and Yasushi suspected the emotions would run even higher once the doors officially opened.

Yasushi didn't know what the future might hold for the bakery, but he was determined to help as much as possible during the remaining time they had. Summer would eventually come to an end, and with it, the chance to continue working here, but for now, he could at least do what he could.

However, Kuroti's situation kept playing on his mind. Questions circled as he considered what might happen to the boy. Would he find a way to recover, or was he destined to fall deeper into the darkness that already had its grip on him?

The thought of him being unable to reintegrate into normal life lingered like a heavy cloud. Nino had promised to keep them informed about Kuroti's progress before they left when summer break ended. Only time could reveal whether there was any hope left for him.

"Well then, let's prepare. We're down to the final minute," Jingliu said, prompting nods and murmurs of agreement from the others. 

Nino stood alongside Jingliu and Xinyi, ready to address the gathered crowd. Their speech would mark not just the bakery's reopening but also serve as an appeal for more staff. With Yasushi and his group leaving at the end of summer, Nino hoped to secure at least four new workers to keep the business running smoothly. 

Shiva had offered financial backing for a decade, giving Nino some peace of mind about the shop's immediate future. Yet, the underlying message behind the timeline weighed on him. Shiva believed it would take ten years — at most — for Kuroti to recover and reintegrate into a normal life. That projection left Nino with mixed feelings.

Though he accepted the reality, he couldn't shake his quiet hope that he would still be around to witness Kuroti's return to stability. 

Once Nino, Jingliu, and Xinyi headed outside to deliver their speech, Yasushi and the others moved to their assigned tasks. Yasushi joined Yunxue and Layena in the kitchen to assist in preparing fresh baked goods for the busy day ahead.

Yasushi had taken on the task of retrieving supplies from storage for Layena and Yunxue. They were working to keep up with the increasing demand for baked goods.

Although he'd offered to help with the actual baking, Layena and Yunxue had insisted he rest for at least two days before attempting anything physically demanding. Recent events had left him needing recovery, and they weren't taking any chances.

Suddenly, the noise of a loud cheer carried through the air, followed by the unmistakable sound of the bell above the bakery's entrance and a surge of footsteps entering the shop.

"Looks like we're officially open," Yasushi muttered, glancing toward the kitchen doorway as the activity outside intensified. "Who's handling the register? I left to use the bathroom before anyone answered that."

"Nino's taking care of it," Layena replied while Yunxue worked alongside her, shaping fresh batches of dough. "Catherine and Nandini are out front helping him. Jingliu and Xinyi are bouncing between the counter and the shared office to handle anything else that comes up."

"Got it," Yasushi mumbled, heading for the storage area. He grabbed a fresh sack of flour, hoisting it with careful effort before returning to the kitchen to keep things moving.

Yasushi found himself handling the more mundane tasks of the bakery. His routine involved sweeping floors, glancing out front now and then, and hauling ingredients from storage to the kitchen. It wasn't exactly exciting, but he didn't mind. At least he was doing something useful, and that was enough for him.

Every so often, he would glance toward the bustling front area. Shiva had mentioned he'd show up for the grand opening, and Yasushi half-expected to spot him among the customers.

Still, there was no sign of him — not one he could recognize, anyway. Maybe Shiva had come in disguised somehow. Yasushi decided not to dwell on it and returned to his tasks.

Catherine walked into the kitchen without warning, catching all three of them mid-task. Her tone was brisk as she addressed them. "It seems the blueberry muffins are selling out fast. Can you guys whip up more of those?"

"Already taken care of!" Yunxue replied, flashing her a grin. "Yasushi noticed earlier that people were grabbing them like crazy, so we started making two extra batches. They should be ready in just a few minutes!"

Catherine let out a short laugh, gave them a thumbs up as her way of approval, and stepped back out to the front.

Over the next several hours, the work continued at a steady pace, and though it was tiring and repetitive, there was a certain satisfaction to it. Kneading dough, measuring ingredients, and coordinating the baking process might have felt monotonous, but as they went on, an unexpected sense of accomplishment began to take root.

The group began to understand what had drawn Nino to this line of work for so many years before he eventually passed the torch. There was something rewarding in seeing the results of their efforts lining the shelves and being taken away by smiling customers.

+-+

As the day began winding down after the reopening, the flow of customers trickled to just a few here and there.

Most people had already made their purchases earlier in the day, and word had even started spreading among them about overeating. Some who had indulged too much came back to warn others, a mix of humor and regret in their tone.

"Good work, everyone. This is about the time I start closing up," Nino called out, his voice drawing everyone's attention from their tasks.

"Around eight? Yeah, that makes sense," Yasushi responded, stepping out of the kitchen with a towel draped over one arm. "Alright, we'll get started on cleaning up."

"Thank you—" Nino began to say, but his words were interrupted by the sound of the door opening. Shiva strolled in casually, a grin plastered on his face as he glanced around the shop.

"Yo. None of you caught me earlier, huh? I came in as an old lady, a dog, and a teenager," he said, looking far too amused by his antics.

"Shiva...seriously? What's wrong with just walking in like a normal person for once?" Yasushi groaned, running a hand through his hair in disbelief. "Did you at least enjoy the food, or were you too busy playing dress-up to notice?"

Shiva chuckled and nodded. "This bakery's always been special to me. I helped set it up, remember? Of course, I love Nino's food! And honestly, you guys nailed the recipe perfectly — it tastes just like I remember." He paused for a moment, then added, "Anyway, I've got some news for you. But first, let me help wrap things up here."

Without waiting for a response, he clapped his hands once, and the entire shop underwent an instant transformation. Every surface looked spotless, and the lingering tasks disappeared as if they'd never been there. In the storage room, shelves seemed to replenish themselves with neatly stacked supplies.

He turned toward the front of the store, casually flipping the sign on the door to mark it closed. Then he started pulling down the shutters on the windows, making sure no one outside could peer in. "Let's head to the back. What I need to talk about is important," he said in a tone that left no room for argument.

The group followed him into the staff lounge, where Yinhaie, always quick to lend a hand, began preparing tea and coffee alongside Nandini. Once everyone had settled into their seats with their drinks in hand, Shiva leaned forward, the atmosphere becoming more focused as he prepared to continue.

"To begin, good job. I'm satisfied with what you've done so far. Maintain that effort for the rest of your stay here." Shiva paused, lifting his cup to take a sip, his attention shifting to Nino.

"Let's address something a bit more personal. Nino, to put it bluntly, Kuroti's going to need significant help. He's not just been affected by rogue mages — dark magic was forced into him. It'll take time and care to clear that out. You understand how delicate that process is, don't you?"

Nino's expression darkened as he muttered, "Dark magic…? That's troubling. Couldn't we counteract it with light magic or divine energy?"

"Normally, yes. But you're also aware of the risks tied to using those methods recklessly, aren't you?" Shiva's response carried an edge of challenge, prompting Nino to lower his gaze and fall silent.

"I'm completely lost…" Xinyi murmured, her eyes darting between the two men, confusion evident in her voice.

Nandini stepped forward, her tone calm but firm. "To put it plainly, expelling dark magic from someone who isn't fully willing can end badly. It could leave the person in a vegetative state or even kill them outright. Kuroti is stuck in a fragile balance — he might want to get rid of it, but at the same time, part of him resists. Using light magic or divine power would push him too far, leading to one of those outcomes."

The explanation caused a noticeable tension among them. The supernatural world, already foreign and overwhelming, now felt like a minefield of dangers. Xinyi's unease was evident, and the thought of what this could mean for Kuroti made her question whether she was ready to embrace ki fully. The risks seemed higher than she'd anticipated.

Shiva interjected, attempting to shift the focus. "Don't stress about it too much. Moving on, let's talk about the rogue mages who came here — especially Gorso. His mana has been sealed, and he's been locked away in the deepest part of Tartarus. He won't be getting out anytime soon, let alone seeing daylight." His assurance came with a note of finality. "You can stop worrying about any of the others following in his footsteps."

"Even if you say that, won't they come after us?" Jingliu asked, her tone direct as she looked at the god.

"No. Rogue mages don't stick together or create alliances. It's rare for them to cooperate. Those who came here were amateurs trying to make a name for themselves by using Kuroti as their first big move. Gorso works alone, so there's no one else to come looking for them or take revenge," Shiva explained, his voice steady and matter-of-fact.

He exhaled and took another sip from his cup, pausing before continuing. "Anyway, that's enough of the serious talk. Focus on waiting for Kuroti. There's no need to worry about any rogue mages for now. That said, about a week before you leave, Amaterasu and Freyja will be visiting."

"Freyja? The one from Norse mythology?" Yasushi asked, his eyebrows raising as he turned to Shiva, who nodded. "Why?"

"Amaterasu wants to meet with you. As for Freyja, I believe it involves both you and Jingliu. I didn't dig too deeply into the reason, so I don't have the full picture, but keep it in mind, alright?" Shiva replied, his gaze settling firmly on Yasushi.

Yasushi nodded, his reaction restrained as he processed what had been said. The rest of Shiva's visit that evening drifted into a range of topics, covering lighthearted anecdotes and practical matters. The conversation had a way of easing the tension, and by the time it wrapped up, a noticeable sense of calm had settled over the group.

Before leaving, Shiva made a point to assure them that he would return when Amaterasu and Freyja arrived. He mentioned that it would be a good opportunity to check in on how things were progressing and ensure everything was still on track.