The scene is shown first depicting the view of a tree in the vibrant summertime.

then what seems like an innocent group of kids then pass by. They seem to be
having fun, tossing a stick to one another similar to a relay race.

We then focus on a kid in this very group, he seems just as excited as the rest.

two kids infront then have a short conversation, “Pass it to Aru next!” the second
kid gives a quick glance at him, before smirking and replying “He’s kinda wimpy,
he might not even catch the ball!” then simply laughing along with his friend.

The mentioned child, Aruki, still tries to keep a smile as he tags along them, but
shortly his smile dissipates, and so does his energy to keep up with the group.

His happiness slowly fades, his movement becoming slower and more limp
before eventually stopping.

He looks forward, seeing that none of his companions bothered to even look
back to notice he’s gone, his expression is now more sadder and hurt.

He eventually returns home, greeting his parents with more of a mumble than an
energetic shout. Walking by the living room he hears his parents discussion of
going abroad and working there, but eventually their words get silenced by the
boy’s emotional distress.

He returns to bed, exhausted. Setting his alarm clock he grabs his monkey plushie
before brushing his teeth, then heading to bed and resting his eyes.
His alarm then beeps repeatedly as his eyes open, slowly awakening. It is then
shown him four years later, his hair has grown significantly longer, and his
features and body have grown in size and proportion.
He gets up from his bed wiping his eyes and looks out the window to see a bright
vibrant autumn just outside.
Later he is seen to be tidying his bed, then heading to the kitchen to eat breakfast
which is only raw egg and rice with sesame seeds. Later he comes back to his
room, and as The tv starts up, showing the usual news and while he switches
through channels in a haste to get to his favourite show, he suddenly hears a loud
thud outside.

In a now alarmed state, he slowly gets up from the table and exits his room,
walking through the hallways in suspicion.
Unlike before, the house now seems more empty and lonesome, with him being
the only resident in the property.
After scouting through the rooms he eventually decides to peak out the front
door, of which he finally sees the source of the sound; a middle aged man on a
moped who crashed into a nearby bush.
He mutters things in annoyance while it looks like he has fully recovered from the
impact.
Aruki then notices that just after the man departs he happens to drop his wallet
and in an act of desperate bravery, Aruki decides to step out of the house after a
long while.
The man on the moped accelerates away, not noticing Aruki chasing after him
yelling about his wallet.
He reaches the ascend of a hill, the man gaining more distance while Aruki
struggles getting up.
He finally reaches the more higher part of the ascend, panting, he looks around
only to discover that the man is now nowhere to be found. Aruki is quite let
down.
Looking around his surroundings he sees that he entered an unfamiliar looking
forest, but then he feels an odd rough texture on his foot. He glances down and
sees an odd gravel path that seems to be worn down and very old.

Out of sheer curiosity he decides to follow deeper into the path, taking in the
beautiful forest, he then notices a tori gate that looks worn down and pretty torn.

And infront of it are descending stairs to an old looking temple, yet he perks up,
noticing a figure sitting just below it.

Aruki hesitates for a moment, but his fists clench as he gathers every little bit of
courage he has before running down to the tori gate.

He finally reaches the tori gate and arrives just behind the figure, Aruki looks
down and discovers something that shocks him; the figure he saw actually turned
out to be a humanoid looking bean-shaped spirit.

Aruki freezes in fear, and luckily the spirit doesn’t seem to notice him. He has a
look of reconsideration on interacting with the spirit, but accidentally he steps on
a frail twig snapping it in half.

He immediately grabs the spirit’s attention, the spirit turning its head over looking
up at Aruki, it then speaks “Huh? What’s a kid like you doin’ all the way here from
the town?” it says in a harsh but casual and calm and slightly rude tone.

Aruki, out of sheer anxiety shuts his mouth unable to speak while stunned from
fear. “You gonna say somethin’ or ya just gonna stand there?” the spirit adds.
Aruko then hastily replies “I-I got lost… can y-you help me?” he asks.

The spirit falls silent in consideration, but after awhile he gets up and brushes the
dust off his kaori, replying “Alright, but only because ya look so sad that it makes
me pity you.”

The spirit immediately starts its walk as soon as it finishes speaking, expecting
Aruki to follow along as said so. And while they’re walking, Aruki occasionally
glances at the Spirit’s back

Later they both finally arrive at the driveway at the start of the gravel path where
Aruki came in.

“We’re here, now get outta here kid.” The spirit says. Yet, Aruki stops halfway on
his tracks as he’s walking off, he has a spark of reconsideration in his eyes, and
after a short period of silence he runs back to the Spirit just as it was about to
walk off, then he yells “Mister, Let’s be friends please!”

he runs up infront of the spirit and yells. The spirit then notices his request, its
eyes narrowing in confusion before replying “Ya kiddin’ me? A human and a Yokai,
friends? Did you hit your head or something kid?”

Aruki looks off to the ground in slight embarrassment, but just as he’s about to lift
his foot off to go back home, the spirit then comments “Hey wait I’ve heard of ya..
your that shut in kid that the moms in that town keep talkin’ bout!”

Aruki looks up in shock, surprised as to how the spirit knows him “H-how do you
know me?” he questions,
“Are you jokin’ pal? Your like the talk of the town for years! Everyone’s been
talkin’ bout your place and how its always so quiet, especially since you’re the
only person in it!” the spirit exclaims.

It puts its hands on it’s hips, having a slight change of tone it continues “Well,
since I’m infront of such an icon, I can’t help but think about that request
o’yours.”

Aruki perks up in surprise, he asks “Really? Y-y-you wanna be friends?!?” the

The spirit looks him up and down, before saying “You look like your in need of
more friends, or friends at all..” Aruki listens to the spirit, anticipating what it’s
saying

“Hey I have an idea!” the spirit exclaims, before holding out its hands as an
ancient looking amulet materializes, its rope being held onto by the spirits hands.

The spirit then talks, putting the amulet on Aruki “How ‘bout this, once you wear
this amulet, you’ll be able to talk to me anywhere anytime, and.. it’ll take away all
that wimpiness of yours, but at a pric-” out of excitement Aruki interrupts

“whuoaah, huwoaahhh! Woaaahhhhhh! Really?! Really?! This Is so coolll!!” he

the spirit continues “like I said! It comes at a price, that I cant tell ya.. but would
you be up for it?”
Aruki in a euphoric state nods repeatedly “Yes yes yes yes yes yes yes!”

the spirit crosses its arms and chuckles, it seems the spirit has already warmed up
to him, it asks “So kid, what’s your name? Mine’s Saiso.” Aruki in excitement
replies with energy “A-Aruki! H-H-Hijime!” The spirit replies “Well, you have a
long way ahead of ya Aruki” he pats his back “But you can start off by goin’ home,
it’s already late now and kids your age shouldn’t be goin’ out here.”

Aruki nods in cooperation, holding the amulet in his hand he runs down the
ascend of the hill road now filled with glee.

Tomorrow has arrived and it’s the official start of a new school year, everyone
get’s shocked, as they see Aruki for the first time in years wear a gakuran and sit
on a desk at school.

The class starts as self-introduction begins, after awhile it’s finally Aruki’s turn.

Whispers are pretty audible while he makes his way to the front, “I heard that’s
the shut in kid from years ago!” “Hijime?! What’s he doing in school all of a
sudden?” he hears all of these harsh comments and slightly shrinks, but then he
hears Saiso’s voice “Don’t mind them for now kid, what’s important is you
introduce yourself. So suck up ya gut and get up there!” Aruki listens to the spirits
advice and gains some courage

upon finally arriving to the front he speaks, stuttering lightly “Hello ev-vryone! I-
I’m Aruki Hijime”
He then bows rapidly “Nice to m-meet you all!”

the class falls in abrupt silence, before some of them yell “Hey, it’s the shut in!”
some of the them start laughing, making Aruki shrink abit.

But before the torment continued, a girl suddenly breaks the act “Hey stop it
guys! This is exactly why the poor guy didn’t wanna go out, let him have his
chance!”

the other boys cower and surrender in realization, Aruki then hears saiso
“Would’ja look at that, you made a friend already!”

he perks up and deshrinks abit now, and after his turn is over, he returns to his
seat.

He then glances over at the girl, the girl also noticing him, before grinning and
doing a thumbs up, and he follows with a nervous smile.
Aruki is eating by himself on his desk surrounded by his unfamiliar classmates, he
looks quite stiff since hes not used to crowded spaces after a long time.

As he reaches for another piece of salmon on his self prepared lunch, a soda then
gets placed infront of his lunchbox, “Aruki Hijime huh? I haven’t seen you around
here”

he then hears the very same name of the girl, he looks up and instinctively rubs
his amulet, then replies “Yup, do you need something?”
‘holy moly, I’m not stuttering at all!’ he thinks, but as he brushes it off the girl
replies, smiling

“There's something about you that seems interesting.. I’d really like to learn more
about you." she exclaims

“Oh, uhm.. thank you!” Aruki replies, the girl then points to the doorway with her
thumb

“Wanna go get something to drink? It’s on me” Aruki gets surprised but
eventually stands up, following along “Sure!”

They’re both walking down the hall, the silence is evident but the girl breaks the
silence “So Hijime… what’s some stuff you like? I’m hana by the way.”

Aruki lightly clenches the cloth of his gakuran’s waist, he then mutters “I-I like
reading manga… and watching cartoons..”

Hana then looks over at him “No way! What manga do you read?”

Saiso then talks “Looks like you got her hooked on Aruki, don’t lead ‘er on”

Aruki instinctively rubs the amulet again, before replying “Well.. I sometimes
read shoujo, but I really like Shonen stuff like ‘space pirates’ and ‘eternal
neverland’!”
Hana’s eyes glow in excitement “That’s so cool!! I wish I owned as much manga
as you do!”

Hana then goes to the direction adjacent to him as they reach the vending
machine. Hana hands him some coins, and As Aruki is slotting them in, Hana
continues

“Hey, I know this probably isn’t something you’d be used to right away, but
wanna go hang out after school?” Aruki grabs both drinks, then looks up at her
with a now excited look “But we won’t be alone of course! We’ll be having
company of a friend of mine!” she adds.

Aruki reconsiders, but then Saiso speaks, materializing at the windowsill and
laying on it “Cmon kid, the girl’s inviting you out to hang out, don’t pass on it!”

But before he could speak, Hana blocks the view of Saiso, making the spirit vanish
“Where ya lookin’ at?” she asks playfully

He then replies “Nothing-nothing”

it then depicts Hana playfully walking off but still facing him “Alrighty! We still
have the rest of class though, so be patient!” she says walking off, Aruki then
following along and eventually disappearing.
Then, Saiso is seen sitting on a windowsill a floor above the outdoor hallway, he
then looks to the distance, as it then shows the school with a sakura tree with
falling leaves on the foreground.
Hana is seen to be waiting outside the school gate as Aruki finally arrives, she
comes over and greets Aruki excitedly.

Later they both walk down the streets, and Aruki asks “So uh, when are we
meeting this friend of yours?” “Oh were meeting him right now! His house is just
down the block” she says, pointing straight.

As they approach the block, Aruki notices a boy sitting on a low wall in front of a
cozy house, bouncing a basketball idly against the pavement. His bright, outgoing
energy seems to radiate even from a distance. The boy spots them and
immediately hops off the wall, waving energetically.

"Hey, Hana! You’re late!" he calls out, grinning wide.

Hana rolls her eyes playfully. "We’re right on time, Jun! You’re just early as
always."

Jun jogs up to them, giving Aruki a curious look before breaking into an even
bigger grin. "So, this is the guy, huh? Hana’s been telling me about you all day!"

Aruki stiffens slightly, glancing nervously at Hana. "Sh-she has?"

"Yeah!" Jun says, slapping Aruki’s shoulder lightly in a friendly gesture. "She said
you’re into manga and cartoons. Man, finally, someone who gets it! I’ve been
trying to get her into ‘Eternal Neverland’ for ages, but she just doesn’t get the
hype."

Hana huffs in mock annoyance. "It’s not that I don’t get it! It’s just not my thing!"
Jun laughs, his energy infectious. "Yeah, yeah, whatever you say. Anyway, Aruki,
we gotta talk about this..who’s your favorite character? And don’t say Captain
Zoro unless you wanna start a fight." He says teasingly

Aruki blinks, a bit taken aback by Jun’s directness, but then he smiles timidly.
"Uh… I really like Haru. His arc was so cool in the latest volume."

Jun’s face lights up. "Dude, finally! Someone who appreciates Haru’s backstory!
This is great, man."

As Jun and Aruki start talking about their favorite scenes, Hana lags slightly behind
them, watching the exchange with a satisfied smile.

---

The trio arrives at Jun’s house, which feels warm and lively, with a small, well-kept
garden out front. Jun pushes open the door and gestures for them to follow.

"Come on in! My mom made some snacks earlier, so help yourselves."

Inside, the cozy atmosphere is filled with the faint smell of baked goods. Aruki
hesitates at the threshold, unused to being in someone else’s home.

Hana nudges him gently. "Relax, Aruki. Jun’s house is basically a hangout spot for
everyone."
Jun leads them to a living room stacked with shelves of manga, action figures, and
DVDs. Aruki’s eyes widen as he takes in the collection.

"You like it?" Jun asks, plopping onto a beanbag. "It’s my pride and joy. You gotta
see the rare ‘Space Pirates’ limited-edition figurine I got last month!"

As Jun rummages through a shelf, Aruki finally relaxes, sitting cross-legged on the
floor. He feels a warmth he hasn’t felt in years. a sense of belonging.

From a nearby corner of the room, unseen by Jun and Hana, Saiso materializes,
leaning casually against the wall. "Not bad, kid. Maybe this whole friendship thing
suits you after all."

Aruki glances at Saiso briefly, a small, genuine smile tugging at his lips.

"Hey, Aruki!" Jun calls, snapping him back to the moment. "You’re part of the
group now, so you better keep up. What are we watching first?"

"Uh… how about ‘Eternal Neverland: The Movie’?" Aruki suggests, feeling a rare
burst of confidence.

Jun punches the air triumphantly. "Finally, someone with good taste!"

Hana groans but can’t hide her smile as she takes a seat beside them.

As the three settle in, the warm glow of the setting sun streams through the
window, and Aruki looks out with a new expression he hasn’t had in years.
It then shows the three of them hanging out throughout the months and years
along with Aruki’s repetitive use of the amulet. Years become months, they meet
more people yet their bond remains the same, and Aruki gains a glow that he
hasn’t had before. And as time passes eventually they all reach college level. Also
showing a brief montage of his leave to the city.

Aruki is seen now taller and more grown, his features and sharper and prominent,
not to mention how his hair is now in a manbun.

He steps off the bus, having a backpack on his back as he looks around at the sight
of his old town.

‘Wow, I can’t believe it’s been years. This place looks like it really aged.’ He
thought while glancing down on the pavement, noticing all it’s cracks and moss,
which wasn’t there before.

An old resident then notices him while he’s walking through the town, ‘Aruki! My
goodness, you look older now dear!’

He chuckles humbly, scratching the back of his head “Hahah… well, it’s been
awhile since I’ve moved, but you still look pretty nice yourself Mrs. Takada.” He
remarks.

‘Well, my sixties sure haven’t gotten the best’a me!’ she laughs in a lighthearted
way, before happily flailing her palm up and down ‘Oh! Oh! It’s my grandson’s
birthday celebration later by the way, you should drop by!’ she adds.
Aruki smiles humbly “I’ll see what I can do, but I promise I’ll try to get there.” He
replies.

The old woman’s expression and tone then softens ‘It’s been a nice time seeing
you again after so long Aru, I remember when you were only a frail little boy..’

his expression softens aswell in nostalgia and slight somber ‘oh.. how you were
so quiet all the time, before Kaoru and Shinjiko worked abroad, you were always
so silent with the other kids, it made you stick out like a sore thumb…’ his
expression becomes more neutral, yet hinting some slight sadness.

He mutters “I don’t really remember it all… that, well….”

The old woman is slightly silent, seeing his expression. She looks back up at him
‘And look at you now! You’ve grown so much that your unrecognizable, making so
many new friends and doing things you haven’t done before’

she smiles warmly ‘I’m sure the little Aru from all those years ago would be so
proud to see just how far you’ve reached!..’

Aruki then slowly looks up at the old woman, replying “You think so..?”

she chuckles humbly ‘Of course! That adorable little Aru has grown into such a
fine young man… he would be the happiest boy in the world to see just how much
he evolved’

a light smile appears on his face, looking down “I guess so..”

he snaps back to reality, responding “Oh alright then,”

he then waves at the old woman as they walk away from each other ‘I’ll be
expecting you there with the rest of us!’ “I’ll do what I can to get there Mrs.
Takada, I promise!”

Aruki continues walking through the town, waving and greeting the people he’s
known who still live there. Feeling his phone vibrate, he takes it out of his pocket
and answers, seeing it’s hana, his old friend who’m he is still close with, and also
moved to the city with.

Putting the phone on the side of his head he speaks “Hana! I didn’t expect you to
call, what’s up?” he exclaims, sitting on a nearby bench on a sidewalk at an
intersection

“Just checkin’ up on ya! You arrived there by the way?” he replies “Yup! The
place still looks the same, and there’s some new people here too!”

Hana responds “Whoaahhh! That sounds nice!”

Aruki then mentions “And by the way, I met Mrs. Takada earlier too, we had a
quick chat but I got to catch up with what’s been going along lately”
Hana replies “That’s nice! Get me some stuff from there too like the panpan
bread, I’ve been cravin’ that thing for YEARS!”

“Alright alright, I’ll stop by the bakery and get you a dozen. But I’ll be going for
now, so I’ll call ya back later when I can!” Hana agrees before he ends the call.

Later, Aruki finally arrives at his old house, yet he doesn’t look up, preparing
himself.

“Finally here, After so many years…” Finally he looks up, but to his dismay, he
sees that a new family has moved in there.

His expression shifting from anxious excitement to a more let down one,
fortunately, the mother of the house notices him, approaching and walking up to
him.

He suddenly get’s abit anxious, but he rubs the amulet ‘Uhm excuse me sir, are
you looking for something?’ the lady asks, Aruki quickly gathering his composure
and replying “Oh n-no, not really! I just uhm, used to live here…”

the lady tilts her head looking at him with a curious look, but then something
sparks in her mind ‘Hey wait… it said on the transfer certificate…. Hi..jime.. Am I
correct?’

He looks surprised, but then nods “Mhm, I’m Aruki Hijime. The child of this
place’s former residents.”
The woman then perks up, grabbing his wrist and dragging him inside ‘Oh come
come! I’ve always wondered who’s stuff those were!’

As Aruki enters the house, he looks around in surprise and sees that the once blue
and empty halls he remembered now look lively and not sad.

The father then passes by, but then stops and notices Aruki, he looks over at his
wife and asks suspiciously ‘Honey… who’s this young man you brought into our
home?’

‘Oh, dear! He’s a part of the Hijime family, the residents that had this house
before we did!’

Aruki scratches the back of his head, humbly commenting “I came here for a
short visit, but I’m staying at a nearby hotel..”

he looks around, observing the changes of the place “I just wanted to check in
the place and see if theres some changes or not… and uhm, it looks more lively
now than I remembered..”

The woman then notices him looking at a childrens drawing on the wall, she
comments ‘Oh haha, don’t mind that! My little Taro drew that two days ago, he
insisted we keep it there!’

Aruki has a light smile on his face, seeing the nostalgic detail on the wall.
He’s sitting on the kitchen dining area, the husband bringing him a cup of tea and
a slice of bread, he tries humbly declining “Oh no no I insist! It’s too much for me.
I’m only passing by”

‘It’s fine we don’t mind at all! You can take as long as you like looking around the
place, it used to be your old home after all’ the husband insists.

Then, the mother brings over a box with Arukis full name markered on it, ‘I’ve
always wondered who’s stuff these were, luckily I put them all into a box for
safekeeping.’ The woman says, putting down the box and patting it, lightly smiling
at Aruki as the husband wraps his arm around the wife

‘Go ahead, take as much time as you like’ they say.

Aruki reconsiders, before eventually removing the tape off the top and digging
into the box. There, he sees multiple things that flashes him with all sorts of
memories, A picture of him in 9th grade scoring second place in a karate
competition, a selfie of him and Jun and Hana when they were in 10th grade, but
also a polaroid of him with his parents, they’re faces crossed out leaving him in
the picture.

His expression shows one of nostalgia but some hints of sadness, remembering
the memories he had in the house.

But suddenly, he sees a framed picture, him and his dad riding bikes going up the
ascend, the very same ascend all those years ago.

His eyes suddenly spark with intention, immediately getting up and putting the
tape back on the box
he rushes to the front door before repeatedly bowing to the man and the woman

“Thank you so much for letting me visit here, I appreciate it lots!” he shouts
before rushing out, yet the two only wave goodbye, shouting back ‘Your
completely welcome here anytime you like! We’ll keep the place tidy for the next
time you visit!’

Aruki is then shown hurrily running on the sidewalk, then later reaching the same
ascend all those years ago.

Panting, he looks around before finally seeing the same gravel path from before.

An excited smile grows on his face as he hurridly rushes and runs down the path,
jumping down the hill with excitement.

Eventually, he reaches the same tori gate all those years ago, and just as he
expected; Saiso, looking the same, is sitting infront of the ancient temple there.

Aruki runs down to the temple repeatedly yelling Saiso’s name, and as he finally
reaches the spirit, the spirit stands up in shock “Aruki?!” he exclaims in shock, but
before he could react, Aruki runs up to him and hugs him tightly.

“Woah kid, you’ve grown so much since I last saw you! Ya even tied yer’ hair
now!” Aruki chuckles “I’ve been to lazy to cut it, so this is my best choice.”

Aruki and Saiso are sitting next to each other, the silence very deafening but Aruki
breaks it “So uhm… why couldn’t you materialize when I moved to Kyoto?”
Saiso Responds ‘I don’ really like all the people there, but besides that. I’m a
location bound spirit, and this shrine and the town is all I can really reach, any
farther and I’d become too weak and probably die. So my best bet was just to talk
to ya’ on the amulet usin’ only voice. I didn’t get to see what ya’ looked like
growing up, so sorry ‘bout that.”

Aruki smiles “I don’t mind, I was just happy that you still stayed with me and
guided me for so many years”

he looks off to the distance “To be honest, I don’t know what I would’ve done if I
didn’t stumble across this shrine, and… you. So, thanks that uh… you wanted to
be my friend..”

Saiso looks at the same direction Aruki is looking at “Actually at first I just pitied
ya’, but I had no idea how great of a kid ya’ were.”

The spirit adds “Goin’ to college all the way at Tokyo, meetin’ some new pals, I
didn’t know a wimp like ya could do all ‘at, but look where ya’ are now!”

Aruki lightly chuckles, responding “Yeah, I guess I have grown a lot..”

Saiso looks over, curious “Wait, why’re ya’ here though? Shouldn’t ya be busy
writin’ essays or something in your dorm?”
Aruki smiles “Well, why not give my hometown a little visit? Besides, I missed the
fresh air instead of those tall buildings. It kinda suffocated me there come to think
about it.”

Saiso is silent for a short while, but he mutters something audible to Aruki “Kid..
all this, enjoy it… while your still here.”

Aruki glances over “Hm? Well of course I am, I’m back at my hometown, why
wouldn’t I enjoy it her-“

“No. I mean what ya’ have right now, all’o’it…” Saiso interrupts, as if he’s saying it
in a haste.

A sakura tree with more falling leaves is shown, the sunset now covering the
environment with a bright luminescent glow. “Why’re you telling this Saiso? Is
something wrong?” Aruki asks in curiosity

Saiso clasps his two hands in anxiousness, looking as if he wants to say something
but he cant.

Aruki tries to lighten the mood, looking off to the sky and simply smiling “Well…
whatever it is, I trust you that it’s not something bad.”

Saiso relaxes abit, before finally speaking after it’s brief pause “Aruki…” He looks
over, his attention caught

“Can I ask you a question?’ Saiso asks, Aruki simply answers “feel free! What’s on
your spirit mind thingy?”
Water is seen dripping from some cracks on an old stone wall. After some
consideration, Saiso asks “I know you don’t have the best experience for yourself,
but….” It pauses “What’s it like…..being human…?”

Aruki falls silent, rubbing his amulet with his thumb as he thinks of an answer. But
eventually, he comes up with one “Well, being a human can mean many things..
To some, it’s a burden… a fragile body, fleeting time, and endless struggle. But
being human can mean so much more. It’s growth, the kind that aches but makes
you stronger. It’s stumbling, falling, and choosing to stand again, even when the
odds are against you. Being human means feeling joy in ways you never thought
possible. It’s the warmth of a laugh shared with someone you love, the quiet
peace of watching a sunset, or the wild exhilaration of chasing a dream. It’s
experiencing life in all its colors, from the brightest days to the darkest nights, and
finding meaning in both. To be human is to change, to evolve, to reach for
something greater. It’s not just a state of being..It’s a state of becoming. And in
that, there’s a beauty no one can take from you.”

He smiles lightly, continuing “Hell, I’ve even seen the process itself.. I was so
scared of people back then, they barely payed attention to all my efforts, and it
felt like I was being tortured or tormented because of my mistakes.. it scared me
so much that I felt like shutting myself away from everyone and giving up was just
better, but I guess I was wrong.”

He looks over at Saiso “And you showed me that.”

He pauses shortly, but continues “Sure, it wasn’t in the best way or the most
polite really, but I guess overtime you made me learn to be human again.”

Aruki scooches closer to Saiso “I know I’m only a human and you’re a spirit, but
you’ve shown me so much, and I can never thank you enough for it.”
Saiso falls silent in a sense of realization but with some guilt. It then notices the
sun pretty low, then comments “It’s getting; pretty late now, ya’ should get back
to wherever your stayin’ at. It’s dangerous here at night.”

Aruki notices, immediately getting up “Oh your right..”

He pauses, before immediately getting up “I’ll be going now, It was fun hanging
out with you again after awhile Sai!”

Saiso jokingly remarks “Ya’ still need me to guide ya’ back t’the road or no?”

Aruki chuckles, already walking away “Nah, I think I know the way back already.”

Aruki is seen clumsily walking through the rough gravel before eventually
disappearing, leaving Saiso by himself again. Night time finally reaches, yet Saiso
remains outdoors, muttering something to himself "Oh man, I can’t let anything
happen to the kid… but saying anything about it… it’s just not an option."

Several days later, Aruki finally gets back home to his apartment. Jun is watching
tv while Hana is doing her work. They both notice him, going up to him and
greeting him with excitement.

“Aruki! Your back!” Hana exclaims excitingly “How was the trip? You got anything
for us?”
Aruki chuckles, putting his backpack down and digging into it “Wellll..”

He takes out a whole dozen of the panpan bread that Hana requested, and upon
seeing them she bursts of joy “whoaaahhh!! Oh my gosh! Thank you so much
Aruki!!”

she seems really happy, hugging the dozen breads tightly “Thank you Thank you
Thank you Thank you Thank you!!”

Jun then looks over, having a teasing smirk “Someone’s too excited about some
bread” Hana then looks at him and huffs

“It’s my favorite brand okay?! I can’t find it in the grocery either, so this is my
only chance for it, Hmph!” she says, Jun only laughing in response

“Y’know you can just buy those online right? It’s like, in packs too” he comments
teasingly, Hana lightly blushing and turning away

“A-anyways, I’m bringing these to my room, Hmph!” she says in an embarrassed

Jun looks back at Aruki, saying “And how ‘bout me? Y’got anything there maybe?”
Aruki then digs into his pocket, replying with an exhausted smile
“Actually… I got something you might not remember that much..” he then takes
out Jun’s old Mt. fuji keychain, it’s rubber looks pretty worn down with some
chunks torn off, it rests at his palm as he shows it to jun

Jun looks shocked, Aruki clumsily replying “I found it linked at a random gate,
sorry it doesn’t look like it did all those years ago..” but then Jun springs into
surprise

“Are you kidding?!? You found it!! It’s been ages since I’ve seen that thing!” He
exclaims, Aruki humbly chuckles as he comments. Crossing his arms “Yup, your
favorite keychain.”

Aruki hands over the keychain, Jun freezing for a few seconds, before tightly
hugging Aruki “Thank you man, like so much”

Aruki pats his back “No problem man, anything for y-“ he suddenly starts
coughing, Jun immediately sensing the problem and letting go

“dude?! Aruki?!??!?” Aruki leans his arm on the wall, coughing very badly.

Jun runs up to him, patting his back and looking concerned “Your coughing like
hell again, this isn’t fine at this point!”

After abit Aruki recovers. then he replies, regaining his composure and
straightening his back “It’s fine I swear, It really is.”
He walks over to his closet dropping his bag, then it switches to his front view.
Unlike afew days ago, he somehow looks more drained or tired, having more
prominent eyebugs and paler skin.

“It’s gonna be fine” He thinks to himself, that same thought on his head as he
goes through his regular routine again, yet he seems to be more and more
drained.

After more months, his body finally gives up. He’s seen to be on the train checking
his phone, but suddenly his eyes go black. And after regaining consciousness, he
sees that he’s at the hospital.

Looking around, he sees Jun on the chair next to him, sleepy but awoken upon
seeing Aruki awake. “He’s awake! He’s awake!” Jun yells getting up

He goes beside Aruki on the bed “Ughh… what the, where am I..?” Aruki mumbles
in a sick tone

“A day ago while on the train, you suddenly went limp and fainted on the spot!
Then some guys called the hospital for you and-“ the doctor suddenly comes in,
looking down at Aruki

The doctor examines him for abit, before speaking, putting his clipboard on his
armpit “Aruki Hijime I see… do you feel like you can speak right now?” he asks

“Yeah.. I think I can” He replies “Well, Mr Hijime…”

Aruki responds, looking pretty limp on the bed “I’ve been asleep for a day?”

The doctor nods “And you’ve only awakened just now.” The doctor pauses, before
continuing

“Mr. Hijime… we’ve discovered that you’ve mysteriously went into a state of
well… incurability. Based from the reports, you’ve been more and more drained,
getting easily sick and sleepy. And all that is most likely what has led up to now.”
The doctor implies

“But… I’m afraid we weren’t able to figure out which disease you are suffering
from, or if you even have one at all.” The doctor pauses again, before clearing his
throat and continuing “And the worst part is… we have done all we can, but
whatever state you have been put in, is uncureable. I’m afraid to say that, you
don’t have much left to live.”

Jun looks shocked, suddenly grabbing onto the doctors collar and pulling him
close to his face “Are you fucking kidding me?! Don’t tell me you haven’t tried
something! Theres gotta be a way, your damn team is probably just slacking off!
It’s my best friends life we’re talking about here damn it!!”

The doctor nervously responds, his glasses looking messed up “Sir, We really have
tried our best, but it all came to no avail.. Your friends life here will eventually
come to a halt, and we have no choice but to come to terms with it.”
Jun lets go of the doctor, his expression full of shock and despair and grief “No…”
he mutters.

Aruki then puts his hand on Jun’s arm, talking “Jun.. after I get discharged here,
let’s atleast.. hang out together.. while we can..”

Jun looks down at him, tears forming in his eyes, before suddenly breaking down
and crying on Aruki.

Aruki is then seen on a wheelchair being pushed by Jun with Hana, they are seen
to have a fun day outside on a carnival and though Aruki is not that mobile, he
manages to have fun. Few days pass and they try to enjoy while they can, until
the time finally comes.

Finally, autumn is over and Winter begins. At last, a sakura tree once shown full of
leaves is now vacant of any.

At the apartment, there is a memorial shrine of Aruki, a picture of when he was

At last, it shows the amulet that Aruki has always worn, it now lies on the shrine,
vacant of a wearer.

The scene then depicts Saiso, all alone at the Tori gate again, he looks well-aware
of Aruki’s death, being grieving and sad.
He mutters to himself “I’m sorry kid. But you shouldn’t have trusted a spirit.”

End.