In a dilapidated courtyard tucked into a corner of Hakutōmon, a dim lamp flickered. Fireworks erupted outside, while the room within was cold and desolate.
Tsunayashiro Kojiro was wrapped head to toe in bandages. He lay beside his mother's sickbed, calling to her again and again with cracked, bleeding lips:
"mother, the fireworks outside are beautiful... You said you would go watch them with me. You also said you wanted to eat octopus balls at this summer festival. I bought them for you... I-I bought them for you..."
Clear tears fell onto the octopus balls drenched in thick sauce. The octopus smiley face made of black sesame seeds was washed away by the tears, leaving only a broken, ruined expression.
Just then, a knock suddenly came from the courtyard gate, overgrown with weeds.
Tap, tap, tap.
The knocking was not very loud. It probably was not those damned members of the main family.
Kojiro collected himself and went to the front courtyard, opening the wooden door that had already begun to mold.
With a rotten creak, a delicate-looking young man appeared before Kojiro.
Seeing Asano Kiyoshi before him, Kojiro instinctively placed a hand on his Zanpakuto. His face filled with wariness as he asked in a grave voice:
"Asano Kiyoshi? What are you doing here?"
Seeing how tense Kojiro was, Kiyoshi gently raised his hands to show that he meant no harm, then spoke to him in the mildest tone he could manage:
"Um, I heard your mother is seriously ill?"
At those words, a trace of pain flashed through Kojiro's bloodshot eyes. He shut the door halfway and spoke in a low voice:
"This has nothing to do with you. If you came to mock me, use whatever excuse you want. But not that one. If you use that