Episode 13 “A Back Still Beyond Reach”
Soma, Kei, Toka, and Kanoshuke had been fighting a dragon-type Curse.
After the battle, Soma collapsed from exhaustion and was taken somewhere safe.
When Soma finally opened his eyes, the first thing he saw was the light of a campfire.
Kei and Kanoshuke were there, shirtless, searing their wounds over the flames.
“You’re awake,” Kei said calmly.
Kanoshuke grinned.
“Man, you really did it! Two Gorin in a row! That was insane!”
Soma blinked, still trying to process everything.
“Two…?”
Kei nodded.
“Yes. And the color of a Gorin determines its strength.
It’s almost identical to a chemical flame test.”
Soma listened quietly.
Then Kei continued.
“There was a man who produced a white Gorin five times in a row.
His name is Taizo Kurose.”
Soma looked surprised.
But Kei’s expression grew serious.
“And then there’s another man…
Ichijo Ryoga.”
“Ryoga…?”
“He once produced a purple Gorin with a weapon that makes Gorin extremely difficult to manifest.”
Kei paused for a moment.
“And that weapon… was a trident.”
Soma felt a chill run down his spine.
“But… he’s not exactly our ally.”
“Not our enemy either,” Kei added.
“No one knows when Ryoga might turn his blade on us.”
A heavy silence fell over the group.
But Soma slowly stood up.
“If those people in the higher ranks are hurting innocent people…”
His eyes burned with determination.
“…then I will destroy them.”
Kei and the others looked at him.
“Gojutsu exists to protect people who do not bear sin.”
Soma clenched his fist.
“I will never forgive anyone who uses that power for evil.”
Kei stared at him for a moment.
Then he nodded.
“…Good.”
The fire crackled quietly.
---
Just then, Kanoshuke suddenly spoke up.
“Wait a second…”
Everyone looked at him.
“…When was the last time we took a bath?”
Toka frowned.
“…Now that you mention it…”
They all froze.
They hadn’t bathed for a very long time.
Kanoshuke suddenly grabbed Soma.
“Alright! Bath time!”
“Wait—what?!”
Soon enough, they were all dragged into the hot springs.
---
Before long, the four of them were soaking in the bath.
“Everyone’s naked!!”
Kanoshuke shouted proudly.
“This is what they call ‘naked bonding’!!”
Kei sighed.
“That phrase does not involve punching each other.”
“Oh right! Whatever!”
Kanoshuke jumped straight into the water.
“PLASH!”
“Hey! Water’s splashing everywhere!”
“Kanoshuke… this isn’t a swimming pool.”
“Oh! Sorry!”
But a moment later—
“HEY! We’re the only ones here, right?!”
“Yes. The bath is reserved.”
“Then I’m swimming!”
Kanoshuke began swimming wildly through the bath.
Kei shook his head.
“That idiot… he’s like a child.”
But surprisingly—
Kei was smiling.
“…Still. Maybe that’s not so bad.”
Soma and Kei sat quietly in the bath, letting their fatigue melt away.
“This feels good.”
“It does.”
“This is Oita. Famous for hot springs.”
Kei looked at Soma.
“You grew up here, didn’t you? Ever visit Beppu with your family?”
Soma paused.
“…Yes.”
“With my family.”
Kei immediately looked apologetic.
“…Sorry. I shouldn’t have asked.”
Soma shook his head gently.
“No… it’s okay.”
“…Actually, if I don’t remember them, that would be cruel.”
Kei frowned slightly.
“What do you mean?”
Soma spoke quietly.
“My grandfather once told me something.”
“People die twice.”
“First… when their body dies.”
“And the second time… when the people who remember them forget.”
Kei’s eyes widened.
“If we don’t remember them, they disappear.”
“At first we think we’ll never forget.”
“But after ten… twenty… thirty years…”
“Memories fade.”
“Their voice.”
“Their face.”
“Their habits.”
“Little by little… everything disappears.”
Soma looked down at the water.
“So we have to remember them.”
“Otherwise… it would be too sad.”
Kei stood silently.
For the first time in a long while—
he thought about his own family.
About the day the Curse killed them.
And then he thought of Momoka.
“Kei… we’re family now.”
Kei had spent years trying not to remember.
Because remembering hurt too much.
But Soma’s words changed something inside him.
“You’re incredible, Soma.”
“You changed the way I think… twice.”
Soma smiled softly.
“Well… you did save my life.”
Kei smiled too.
The atmosphere was warm and gentle.
---
Meanwhile, Toka was relaxing alone in the women’s bath.
“Ahhh… this feels amazing.”
She stretched lazily in the hot water.
“I underestimated Oita.”
“The hot springs here are incredible.”
---
Back in the men’s bath—
Kanoshuke suddenly shouted.
“I’m bored of swimming!”
“Let’s go to the sauna!”
“Come on, Soma!”
“Sauna…?”
“Yes. It helps you recover.”
Soon the three of them entered the sauna.
Kanoshuke noticed the television.
“Oh! News!”
“Can we switch it to anime?!”
“No.”
“You should watch the news. Especially with all the Curse activity lately.”
Then the announcer appeared.
“Breaking news. A large outbreak of A-class Curses in Osaka City has been completely eliminated.”
“The man responsible is Taizo Kurose, age 88.”
The screen showed footage.
Kurose stepped forward—
and in a single breath destroyed ten Curses.
Soma froze.
“…Too fast.”
“I can’t even see him move…”
Kei spoke quietly.
“…Blue.”
“Kurose has stabilized Blue Gorin.”
Soma’s heart pounded.
“…Those A-class Curses…”
“The same type that took my arm and fingers…”
Kei nodded.
“Yes.”
“And those were weak ones.”
“In major cities… A-class Curses are far stronger.”
Soma stared at the screen.
“…I haven’t reached anything yet.”
He slowly raised his fist toward the TV.
“…But I will.”
---
After that, the four of them continued enjoying the bath, drank cold milk, and spent the rest of the night playing games together.
That night—
for a brief moment—
they forgot the cruelty of the world.
But morning would come.
And with it—
war again.
