A cold, rainy evening during the summer season, in the country of Hanran.
On a bed in a fairly large house lies a small boy with black hair and black eyes.
His hair is long and straight, reaching his shoulders.
The boy's name is Jigoku.
He lies on his back, his hands tucked under his head, one leg bent at the knee, the other resting on it. He swings the raised foot energetically. He stares at the ceiling, lost in thought.
The house is rectangular, inconspicuous from the outside, simple, austere, with a flat roof.
Inside, everything is equally geometric, one large open room in the shape of a perfect rectangle, with a floor made of dark, old wood.
The walls are white and plain, without decorations.
The room has no separate rooms. Instead, the space is divided by brown curtains made of thicker material.
On the left side, under one of those curtains, stands a simple bed. It is on that bed that Jigoku lies.
Suddenly, there's a knock at the door.
Jigoku's father opens the door.
The man is tall, has long straight white hair and a long white beard, he is quite old but muscular.
He is dressed in a white bathrobe.
Lying down, Jigoku lifts his head and looks toward the door.
*Jigoku: Who could it be at this hour?
In front of the door barely stands a white-haired boy. One eye is white, the other red. He is soaked and covered in blood.
Rain pours from the sky, making noise.
The boy faints and falls into the man's arms.
The next morning, the white-haired boy wakes up clean in a bed, dressed in clean clothes.
Jigoku is sitting next to him on the bed, staring at his face.
The boy opens his eyes.
*Jigoku: Dad, he's awake! Finally! – he shouts joyfully.
Jigoku's father walks over to the bed where the boys are.
*Father: I am Mafin, this is my son Jigoku, and over there at the table sits my student Desu.
Desu looks to be slightly over 20 years old.
Desu is dressed in a black bathrobe, has dark eyes and short black hair, which is a bit longer at the front and hangs down the sides of his forehead.
Desu sits with his arms crossed, ignoring the rest.
*Mafin: You must be hungry?
*Breakfast is ready, let's go to the table.
A moment later... everyone is sitting at the table.
Mafin sits next to the boy.
*Boy: My name is Uso, where am I?
Mafin looks at the boy.
Mafin: Hmm, strange... one eye is completely white, and the other like blood.
*Mafin: You're in our home, long ago this used to be my dojo.
*How did you get here?
Mafin sips tea with satisfaction.
*Uso: Yesterday, my village was attacked.
*Mama told me to go buy fish at the market.
Uso looked down with a sad expression.
*Mafin: Which village are you from?
*Uso: I think I came from the north.
*I don't remember...
Mafin looks suspiciously.
*Mafin: Something smells off here. We're deep in the forest, it's not easy to get here.
*But well... it's just a child, maybe I won't press him...
*Mafin: Did you live alone?
*Did you have any loved ones?
*Uso: I lived with my mom.
*Mafin: Where is your mom?
*Uso: She told me to go buy meat for dinner, so I went.
*When I came back, I saw our house from a distance — it was all destroyed and in flames.
*I went inside, I saw mom on the floor all covered in blood. She saw me and told me to run.
Jigoku makes a surprised face.
*Jigoku: And what then?
*What happened to your mom? — he asks, clenching his fists with curiosity, determined.
Uso makes a sad face, as if he's about to cry.
*Uso: I went into what was left of our house and saw her on the floor.
*She told me to run the moment she saw me.
*She had one hand cut off, a burnt face, and broken ribs, her insides were visible...
*I hugged her... I couldn't leave her like that, but then she lost consciousness and I decided to run away.
Uso already has tears in his eyes.
*Uso: I ran into the forest and…
*Mafin: That's enough. – he interrupts him, seeing his behavior.
*You did the right thing, you were brave.
Mafin pats him on the head and smiles.
*Mafin: You're safe here, little one. You have nothing to fear anymore.
*Uso: Thank you.
Jigoku looks at Uso with curiosity.
*Jigoku: Hey, Uso, how old are you?
*I feel like we might be the same age…
Jigoku makes a thoughtful face.
Uso looks at Jigoku.
*Uso: I'm 6 years old, and you?
Jigoku tips over with his chair and falls onto his back, then gets up and jumps, punching the air with excitement.
*Jigoku: That's awesome!
*We're the same age, no way!
Mafin smiles while sipping his tea.
*Mafin: Tell me, Uso, do you have any other family besides your mom?
Uso puts his index finger to his chin and looks up with a thoughtful expression.
*Uso: Hmm… It was always just me and my mom…
*Mafin: And your dad? What about him?
*Uso: I never had a dad… my mom raised me alone.
Jigoku, excited, stands on the chair and asks in an official voice.
*Jigoku: Dad, can he stay with us?!
Jigoku looks at his father with a focused expression, full of determination.
*Mafin: I don't see a problem, if both of you behave…
Jigoku smiles, grabs Uso's hand, and pulls him toward the fridge.
*Mafin: Hahaha, here we go, watch this Desu!
Desu gets up.
*Desu: I'm leaving. – he says with disgust.
*Mafin: Don't be mad, they're just kids. – he says with a laughing voice.
Desu: Fucking hell, another devil.
Desu leaves the house.
Jigoku and Uso are already standing by the fridge.
Uso is looking into the fridge, and inside there are only jars.
Jigoku takes one out and unscrews it. Then he starts smelling what's inside. He savors the scent.
*Jigoku: This is paprykarz, do you feel that power?
Jigoku brings the jar to his nose to smell it.
Uso looks with a confused face, not understanding what's happening.
*Jigoku: This is paprykarz, paprykarz is only mine.
*You were a witness just now — only I ate paprykarz during breakfast.
*In this house, there's only one rule: paprykarz is only mine.
*If you agree to be my friend, I'll be willing to share it with you.
*So...? Friends...?
Uso smiles.
*Uso: Sure, brother!
Jigoku smiles.
Two months later…
Jigoku is sleeping like a log and snoring in his bed.
Above him stand Mafin, Uso, and a woman named Mizumi, who is about the same age as Desu.
Mizumi has long snow-white hair down to her waist.
At the top of her head, her hair is tied back.
She's wearing a white, airy dress that goes down to her knees.
The woman is holding a cake with lit candles.
Everyone starts shouting:
*Happy Birthday! Happy Birthday!
Jigoku keeps sleeping, paying no attention to anything.
Mizumi smiles with an annoyed expression.
She gives the cake to Mafin and starts tickling him.
*Jigoku: Hahaha, stop, stop…
Jigoku looks to see who is tickling him.
*Jigoku: Mizumi? – surprised.
Jigoku throws himself at Mizumi and hugs her.
*Jigoku: What are you doing here?
Mizumi smiles, hugging Jigoku.
*Mizumi: Did you forget? Today is your birthday, bubble.
Jigoku, while hugging, looks at Mafin standing with a cake and Uso yawning beside him.
*Jigoku: What? That's awesome!
Jigoku jumps out of Mizumi's arms and blows out the candles on the cake.
A moment later, everyone sits at the table.
Jigoku, excited, rubs his little hands together.
*Jigoku: I'm eating first!
Mizumi cuts the cake and puts a piece on Jigoku's plate.
*Mizumi: By the way, where's Desu?
*I thought he'd be here…
Mizumi makes a surprised yet slightly sad face.
Jigoku smiles, rubbing his little hands with a red face, then whispers to Uso.
*Jigoku: Hehehe… He ran away, he probably knows I'm the God today.
*And besides, he can't handle being around Mizumi hehe…
Mizumi looks at Jigoku, confused.
*Mizumi: Huh?
Mafin makes a serious face and looks at Jigoku.
Mafin: I'll regret it if I don't do anything. – he thinks.
*Mafin: I promised myself I would keep you safe. – he says officially.
*That's why I made a decision, today you turned 7.
*That's old enough to start learning how to fight.
Jigoku lisps with his mouth full,
*Jigoku: That's awesome! I'll be strong like Desu!
Mafin smiles.
*Mafin: How's Mr. Grumpy? – Mafin snorts with laughter.
*Probably gonna be even stronger! – he raises his voice.
Jigoku makes an interested face and shoves the rest of the cake from his plate into his mouth in one go.
Jigoku: Awesome, when do we start? – he asks with a full mouth.
*Mafin: If you fight like you eat, I give up – he bursts out laughing.
*Tomorrow morning, in front of the house, both of you better be ready!
*And you too, Uso, no excuses.
Mafin smiles and sips his tea.