"Hey loser, have you finally decided to wake up?" Kashikoi asks, an annoyed expression on his face.
Dawn opens his eyes and is greeted by Kashikoi staring him in the face, with Nyssa seated behind him in a chair, writing in a journal. He looks around and immediately tries to move his arms—only to realize they're chained together. Panic creeps into his chest. He tries to brute-force the chains, but the moment he does, immense pain shoots through his body.
As if he were being electrocuted from the inside every time he resisted.
"If you try to break free, you'll only make a fool of yourself. Those chains are imbued with my lightning, and if you keep pushing, you'll fry yourself alive," Kashikoi says, looking down at him.
"What the hell do you want from me—" Dawn begins, stopping mid-sentence as his gaze shifts behind Kashikoi.
Nyssa. Her hair flows in the light breeze, though she appears detached—focused on her writing, ignoring both men. Dawn tilts his head, eyes narrowing. Kashikoi notices.
"Hey… who is tha—"
"None of your damn business. Watch yourself, kid," Kashikoi snaps.
They were inside Nyssa's home, a place secluded from everything. Only Kashikoi and Nyssa knew of its existence. They believed it the perfect place for Dawn to die.
Kashikoi walks over, kneels down, and meets Dawn's eyes.
"Do you happen to know exactly what a Sakusei is, Dawn?"
"I've only learned a little about it, but not really, no. Why?" Dawn replies, confusion on his face.
"It's a rare phenomenon that only certain people can achieve. No one knows the requirements. Maybe fifty or sixty people have ever attained it—and that number's probably dropped. People die all the time in this world," Kashikoi says.
Dawn's eyes widen. He thinks back to what Joki had said about the Sakusei. He used to believe it wasn't so rare—thought maybe many people had it. But with the numbers this low... doubt gnaws at him.
"What... makes the Sakusei so special?" he asks.
"It grants immense power. Some call it a second ability—others, an enhanced version of your original one. The only thing I know for sure is that its power comes from a plane even higher than heaven itself," Kashikoi says. "People with Sakusei shouldn't be alive. There are exceptions, sure. But most are just too dangerous to walk freely."
Dawn hears the words, but his attention keeps drifting to Nyssa. Kashikoi notices this, despite trying to ignore it. Then—Nyssa's tear falls onto the page she writes on. Dawn shifts again to face her.
"Hey! Are you alright over there?" he calls, just as Kashikoi grabs him by the neck.
"Maybe I didn't make myself clear. Leave my mother alone. I'm being lenient giving you a quick death after our talk. So shut the hell up and focus."
Kashikoi lets go. Dawn coughs violently, struggling to catch his breath. Kashikoi watches him, genuinely confused.
"Why aren't you even a little scared of dying? Doesn't the idea of something horrible about to happen scare you?"
"No... I mean, all I can do is hope you won't kill me, right? Besides, wouldn't you have already done it if that's what you wanted?"
Kashikoi stares, unable to make sense of it.
"What do you mean?"
"When you attacked me—you could've killed me, but you didn't. So maybe... maybe you're not as bad as you act," Dawn says, smiling.
Kashikoi isn't amused. He wants to believe he's a monster—but the doubt inside won't die. His heart is conflicted.
He sighs and runs a palm over his face.
"I forget you're just an ignorant kid sometimes. A kid who doesn't know anything. Still, this goes beyond ignorance. How can you be so optimistic in a world like this?"
"Because optimism... is what this world's lacking. It's shattered. But what's stopping me from developing, becoming someone, even in that brokenness?"
"Develop? What kind of development? Surely not into a mature man. You think growth is even possible when everything around you rejects the idea of change?"
Dawn falls silent. Kashikoi's words sting. Deep down, Dawn knows he's right. But some stubborn part of him—his heart—won't give in. He remembers the weeks with Joki... meeting Kazu...
He grits his teeth and stares Kashikoi down.
"If that's really how you feel, then look me in the eye... and tell me you've never changed. That even now, not one part of you has grown."
Kashikoi doesn't answer. He turns to Nyssa—still writing. But he notices the tears down her cheeks.
"Nyssa, what's wrong? Do you need anything?" he asks.
"No, sorry... something was on my mind. Don't mind me, dear," Nyssa says softly.
Kashikoi exhales in relief and hugs her. Dawn watches them with a faint smile. Kashikoi notices—and kneels again, scowling.
"What the hell are you so happy about? Seriously. It's like you have no regard for your life. Anyone else would be scared to death."
"No, it's just... it makes me happy seeing that your mom's so comfortable here with you."
Both Kashikoi and Nyssa freeze. Nyssa stops writing. Kashikoi stares, stunned.
"That's not my mother! And what do you mean it makes you happy?"
"Oh… I didn't know she wasn't. But still—seeing how close you two are, it feels like a mother and son. You know, I don't have that. I don't have anyone. Everyone I ever called family is dead. So watching the two of you... happy, content... maybe that's enough. Maybe that's why I won't be sad when I die."
Dawn lets out a laugh… but it breaks into quiet sobs.
Nyssa stares, unmoving. Kashikoi covers his face and stands. He channels Reiki to his hand.
"For what it's worth, I'm sorry I have to do this. I wish you could've grown older... found happiness. I had no idea you lived with this kind of pain. Goodbye."
As he prepares to fire, Nyssa grabs his arm.
"Wait, just... wait."
"...Nyssa?"
Dawn looks up, shocked. Nyssa clasps Kashikoi's hand and wipes the tears from his face.
"See? Even you felt it. What he said... it reached you. I don't want you to take this burden. Let me do it. That food you promised—why not get some fresh air and go fetch it?"
"Nyssa, I can't just leave you in here with hi—"
"It'll be okay. Trust me. You have the walkie-talkie. I'll call if needed."
Kashikoi hesitates but moves to the front door. Before leaving, he turns to Dawn.
"Dawn, is it?" Nyssa asks.
"You... know who I am?"
"We've known for a while. But Kashikoi is cautious—and for good reason. This time, I think he doesn't have to be."
Dawn lowers his head, guilt-ridden.
"Because he was right. The world refuses to change. So how can I? How could I ever grow into something human... when I was never allowed to be one?"
"No. He doesn't need to be cautious... because you're a wonderful boy, Dawn," Nyssa says, smiling.
Dawn looks up, stunned. Her smile feels like sunlight after years of rain.
"I have a fear of people, Dawn. I don't go outside without Kashikoi. I barely peek through windows. That whole movement to remove Sakusei users... it was born from fear. Even fear in what my son became."
"Son? But he told me—"
"A lie," she cuts in.
"I never told Kashikoi I was his mother. I was ashamed. I lived as his caretaker. He believes his mother died. So... when I heard you hiding your pain, pretending not to cry—I just wanted..."
She begins to cry and gently hugs Dawn.
"You shouldn't be content with dying—not someone like you. Even when things looked hopeless, you worried about me. You deserve the world. But never... accept death."
Dawn doesn't respond. His face is still, lost in a feeling he's never known.
He breaks down in her arms.
"I miss my brother. I wish... I could've met my family. It haunts me that I'll never learn from them... or even be next to them. I wish they were here... so bad."
"I know, honey. It's okay. I understand the pain of loss. But know this—you are loved. Okay?" Nyssa says, hugging him tighter.
Dawn nods. Nyssa backs away and retrieves a key from a drawer. She walks over and unlocks his cuffs.
"You're letting me go?"
"Of course I am. Come sit with me."
Dawn walks over and sits beside her. The air feels warm. Nyssa pats his head, and Dawn chuckles.
"Hey, your voice sounds familiar. Back when I met my sensei... a woman spoke to me in this weird inner world. Totally freaky."
"Well, because that was me, Dawn," she says.
Dawn stares, then laughs.
"That's so cool. You really saved me. It was a comforting voice. Guess that solves that mystery."
"Has Joki been treating you well?" she asks.
Shock crosses Dawn's face.
"You know Joki? But how?"
"He grew up with me, too. I was a secret mother to Kashikoi... but Joki, I was truly a caretaker. We drifted. I regret it."
Dawn notices the sorrow in her eyes—even without tears.
"Can I... call you mom?"
Nyssa's eyes widen.
"What did you just say?"
"Can I... you know, call you my mother? I've always wanted someone I could talk to. Someone I could tell about my progress. My dreams."
Nyssa flashes back to Kashikoi as a child. In Dawn, she sees the boy Kashikoi never got to be.
"Of course you can call me mother. When I look at you, I can't stop smiling, Dawn. You're a bundle of joy. If only... my husband was here. He'd love you."
"Do you miss him?"
"Every day. Every minute. Every hour. That pain never really fades."
Dawn stands and looks out the window. Nyssa watches.
"It's... actually okay to miss someone."
"You think so? Why?"
"Because it means you truly loved them. So I think... the ability to miss someone is really cool, mom."
Nyssa thinks back—to the day Kashikoi was born.
December 23rd, 1973
Nyssa holds baby Kashikoi. Her husband weeps with joy.
"I'm really gonna be a father!"
"You're so childish. Don't embarrass me in front of our baby!"
"Oh, I will. I'll embarrass you every day."
"No fair!" she laughs.
She looks to the sun outside... then back at her family.
"There's something I need to leave behind—something no time or distance could undo. If my voice is gone, and my arms can't hold you… let this be the last thing that reaches through—"
July 4th, 1994 – Present Day
"Dawn... I love you," Nyssa says.
Dawn smiles back. For a moment, something long-lost is found.
Then... a pressure builds.
"Mom! Duck now!"
Dawn ducks. A figure crashes through the window. Nyssa's stomach is slashed—blood pours.
Galen the Butcher smiles, blade soaked.
"Serves you right. You thought we didn't know about this place?"
"What the hell..." Dawn mutters.
Galen stops. Dawn's face is blank—but something in it makes his skin crawl.
A bloodlust unimaginable.
"You... You've clearly had a rough life. Would I be right?" Galen asks.
"I wouldn't run my mouth... because I'm gonna beat you to death and leave you out to rot," Dawn replies.
They face off. Galen smiles—until he senses powerful Reiki.
He dashes away.
"Ah! That sucks. I wanted to study you. But hey—tell Kashikoi: if he wants revenge, come to Tokyo. You too. And... happy Fourth of July."
"You son of a bitch! Wait!" Dawn yells.
He runs to Nyssa—she's alive but bleeding out. He kneels and covers the wound.
"Hey mom... Joki taught me this. You'll be okay... I promise."
"Oh Dawn..." she says.
Suddenly, Kashikoi bursts through the door.
"Nyssa!"
He runs to her—but sees Dawn already pressing down.
"I'm sorry! I swear it wasn't me. Someone—"
"Shut the hell up. I know. I felt it too. I should've killed that bastard."
Kashikoi tries to heal her, but the Reiki won't take.
"Why isn't it working?! Come on!"
Nyssa smiles.
"Mom what are you smiling about!" Dawn yells.
"Mom? …what?" Kashikoi asks.
"Kashikoi, Dawn—please stop yelling. It's okay."
Reiki still won't flow. Nyssa grabs Kashikoi's hand.
"It's okay. Yes, I'm dying. But that's okay."
"How is that okay?! We haven't done half the things we planned."
Kashikoi sobs. Nyssa wipes his tears.
Dawn tries to back away, but she stops him.
"You were wrong, Kashikoi. You said growth was impossible. But in one night—I grew. Dawn made me realize just how much."
"I shouldn't be here... I'm not... you can't just..."
"Sure you can. You're family too. I love you both. And one day, Dawn—you'll feel loved again. More than even I could offer. I know it."
She turns to Kashikoi.
"I'm your mother. I was too ashamed to tell you. But I always was."
"You don't have to be ashamed. You were the light in my world! I had a feeling—and I couldn't be happier it's true. You were never a bad mother. You did your best."
"…Thank you. My final wish... treat Joki and Dawn as your brothers. I know you've had issues with them. But love them. Cherish them."
Kashikoi thinks back. He nods and grips her hand.
"Yeah mom, I promise."
Outside, Joki and Kazu run at full speed.
"It's that house up ahead!" Kazu shouts.
Joki's chest tightens. The broken window. The open door.
They arrive—to see Dawn, Kashikoi, and Nyssa.
Kashikoi's face is hollow.
Joki falls to his knees.
"I... was too late."