"Yes. Take care, Brother..."
Yoriichi looked at Michikatsu as he spoke. Behind him stood a woman with eyes as deep as obsidian, holding a baby in her arms. She was gazing at him tenderly.
Yoriichi had waited all this time to help his brother find peace. His wife, Shi, had stayed by his side, and even before he arrived here, she and their child had been waiting for him, hoping they could one day be reunited.
Yoriichi glanced back, and Shi smiled at him.
"Goodbye, Brother. I hope we can meet again someday."
After turning back to bid Michikatsu farewell, Yoriichi ran over to Shi.
"Have you said everything you wanted to say?"
Shi asked Yoriichi with a smile.
"Yes. Let's go." Yoriichi nodded.
Then the three of them slowly walked toward the light.
"Darling."
"Yes?"
"Do you think we'll find each other and fall in love again in our next life?"
"We certainly will. Even if I'm reborn a thousand times, ten thousand times, I'll find you in the crowd and follow you home, just like I did back then.
In my next life, I'll be an ordinary man with an ordinary job, and I'll stay by your side forever."
"Mm..."
The girl had returned the tadpoles to their home, and on that same day, she had found a family of her own.
Watching the two happy figures ahead, Michikatsu felt something stir within him.
He thought back to his own wife and children, but no matter how hard he tried, he could no longer remember their faces. He had even forgotten their names.
He looked around, but there was no one else in sight.
Not everyone could forgive your mistakes. Back then, Michikatsu had abandoned his wife and children after nearly all the samurai accompanying him had been