Episode 14 "Promise Beneath the Fireflies"
Soma and the others were bathing in the hot springs of Oita.
It was a moment of peace, washing away their exhaustion.
But this peace would not last forever.
For now, Soma and the others quietly savored the happiness they had.
“Well then. I’m turning off the lights. Good night.”
When bedtime came, Touka said this and switched off the lights.
Soon everyone drifted into sleep.
Soma began to dream.
In the dream, Soma was running.
“Is this… my house…?”
He arrived at his home, stained red.
“Dad! Mom! Yuki! Grandpa!”
Soma threw the door open.
Inside were his family members, drenched in blood.
Suddenly his grandfather threw a sake cup at him.
“W–what…?”
Soma was shocked. It hurt.
“You idiot! You’re the only one who survived! Have you ever thought about how we who died feel?!”
His grandfather shouted in rage.
The rest of his family glared at him as well.
“Soma…! I will never forgive you…!”
His father glared at him with hatred.
“Why didn’t you save me when I died? Why?”
His little sister Yuki tugged on Soma’s clothes.
“Soma… don’t make that face…”
His mother shook her head, tears flowing.
“No… everyone…!”
“AAAAAAH!”
Soma screamed.
—Then everything went silent.
And suddenly Soma jolted awake.
“…Huh?”
He looked around in confusion before realizing where he was.
“…So it was just a dream.”
He muttered quietly while gripping his blanket tightly.
The door creaked open.
“Soma. What’s wrong? You suddenly shouted.”
It was Kei, holding a lantern.
“Kei… sorry. I had a nightmare. It woke me up… and now I can’t fall asleep again.”
“…I see. I couldn’t sleep either. Want to talk for a bit?”
Kei opened the balcony door.
Outside were a small table and chairs.
Decorative plants were placed around the balcony, making the place feel peaceful.
The cool summer night air of the countryside wrapped gently around Soma.
Beyond the balcony stretched mountains and rivers.
Fireflies glowed softly in the darkness.
“…It’s beautiful.”
“Yeah… the countryside at night isn’t bad.”
“Kei… where did you grow up?”
“I was born and raised in Fukuoka.
It’s a city, but nature is still close.
Still… it’s nothing like Oita.
…I’ve spent most of my life on missions.
Until I met you, Soma, all I ever thought about was hunting curses.
So I never really traveled.
The last time I did… was when Momoka was still alive.”
“…That time?”
“Yeah.
One day we managed to take a special break.
Kurose, Momoka, and I went on a trip together.
It was a really fun trip.
So being here now… reminds me of that a little.”
Soma hesitated.
It was a difficult topic to bring up.
But Soma believed something deeply.
If the dead were never remembered, that would be even sadder.
So he asked.
“…What kind of person was Momoka?”
“Momoka… was a beautiful girl.
She was kind and full of compassion.
She never forgot birthdays.
Mine. Kurose’s too.
She always celebrated them properly.
…and she loved aquariums.”
“Aquariums?”
“Yeah.
We used to go there on dates.
She once told me why she loved them.
‘The fish are beautiful.
They swim freely in the ocean.
When I watch them swimming happily, it makes me happy too.’
She especially loved tropical fish.
Bright colors. Beautiful.”
“So I told her something.”
“What?”
“I said someday we should keep fish ourselves.”
“Really?! But aquariums cost money! And taking care of them is hard! You’re always busy too!”
“I told her it would be fine.
If I became an S-rank exorcist someday…
I’d earn enough money.
Maybe even buy a tank as big as an aquarium.
And when that happens…
we’ll leave the Kadan Corps behind…
and live quietly together raising fish.”
Momoka smiled brightly.
“Thank you, Kei. I love you.”
“I love you too.”
Soma smiled gently.
“Momoka sounds like an amazing person.”
“Do I really seem like someone who has good taste in people?”
“You do.
Good people are usually drawn to good people.”
“Soma… you’ve matured a lot since we first met.”
“…Have I?”
“Yeah.
Talking to you now reminds me of the day we met.”
Their first meeting had been terrible.
Soma had just lost his right eye.
“What are curses?”
“If you don’t understand, then stay quiet.”
Kei had been cold and distant.
But Soma’s words and actions slowly changed him.
“I’ll fight with you… as a comrade!”
“Not from now on.
We always were.”
That was when Kei cried.
Soma’s words had truly reached him.
Back then Soma couldn’t even fight.
He trembled.
He vomited from fear.
Kei pushed him away.
“Stay back!”
But Soma kept moving forward.
Little by little, he grew stronger.
Now he could even face a dragon-class curse.
“Soma… when I first met you, I thought you could never fight.
I never imagined you’d become this strong.”
“I used to think you were a cold person too.
But I always knew you were kind deep down.”
“…You’re right.
The reason I pushed you away…
was because I didn’t want you to die.
If someone who can’t fight rushes into battle, they’ll die.
I didn’t want to feel that regret again…
the regret of not being able to protect someone.”
“I knew that.
Because you’re a kind person.”
Kei laughed loudly.
“Soma… you really are incredible.”
“Thank you.”
Then Kei asked.
“Soma. If this war ends… what do you want?”
“…I want to become a doctor.”
“A doctor? That’s a dangerous job.”
“I know.
Doctors sometimes lose patients.
And when someone dies…
the people left behind suffer.
I know that pain.
That’s why…
I want to save lives.”
“…Then you’ll have to study hard.”
“I will.
When this war ends, I’ll study.
And I’ll save many lives.”
“…I’ll look forward to it.
Future doctor.”
“Yes!”
They bumped fists.
Soon after, Soma finally fell asleep again.
But Kei stayed awake a little longer.
He took out a pen and paper.
“Well then… maybe I’ll write a letter to Kurose.”
He began writing.
---
Letter
Dear Kurose,
How have you been?
It’s been a while since we last met.
Being away from you feels a little lonely, like leaving a parent’s home.
Since coming here, I’ve met several people.
A boy named Soma Amagi.
And the reinforcements from the Kadan Corps—Touka Kamishiro and Shikanosuke Toma.
When I first met Soma, he had just lost his family and his right eye to a curse.
I killed that curse by stabbing its neck with a kunai and protected him.
At first, Soma was someone who couldn’t fight.
He would vomit when facing enemies.
His legs would tremble.
I judged him as useless in battle and ignored all his questions about curses and the Kadan Corps.
Looking back now, I realize I was cold to a boy three years younger than me.
One day I was defeated by an A-rank curse and collapsed.
At that moment, I saw something unbelievable.
Soma was standing up to the curse.
During that battle he lost his right arm and several fingers on his left hand.
He screamed that it hurt.
He screamed that he didn’t want to die.
And yet… he still stood up to fight.
In the end, Touka and Shikanosuke arrived and defeated the curse.
But even then, a small flame of resolve had already ignited inside him.
For a time, we were divided.
I was cold.
Soma couldn’t fight.
Only Touka and Shikanosuke were reliable in battle.
Later, I made a mistake.
I was provoked by civilians and ended up losing control and striking them.
Soma came to stop me.
It turned into a fistfight.
We beat each other until we were both covered in blood.
I was certain Soma would abandon me after that.
But he didn’t.
He faced me.
He talked to me.
He told me about his younger sister who had died.
And he said something I will never forget.
“Farewell is part of the path that leads to meeting someone new.
Even in loss, we can learn something.
That’s why I want to treasure the new bonds I’ve found here.
Touka. Shikanosuke.
And you too, Kei.”
He had considered me a comrade from the very beginning.
When I said,
“From now on, we’re comrades.”
He replied,
“We always were.”
Soma is a truly kind person.
Just like Momoka was.
Someday I want you to meet him.
And Touka and Shikanosuke as well.
If we’re still alive,
let’s meet again.
—Kei Himuro
---
Kei finished writing the letter and went to sleep.
It had been a night of nightmares.
Yet also a night of quiet conversation.
A fragile, beautiful night that would remain in their memories forever.
