Remote Village
Three Days Later
Oh my, you're... little Kamui from the Odile family, aren't you?
After Kamui has led you down the wrong path for the umpteenth time, a passing villager finally calls out and stops you in your tracks.
Uh, well... Win—I mean, ma'am, why would you say that, haha! No, no, I'm not Kamui.
Kamui takes a few steps back so she can't get a good look at his face, then he waves frantically in denial.
That's quite odd, no... They call me "eagle-eyed Winnie" here in the village, and I somehow got it wrong...?
Hold on... I heard that person beside you called you "Kamui" earlier. You really aren't him?
T-that was... we were just talking about the past! Actually, we're friends of Kamui! He asked us to swing by his family's place to help him with something!
Aha! I knew it! These eyes and ears of mine have never failed me!
So, friends of little Kamui, you're lost, aren't you? I noticed you two wandering around the village for a long time, but don't you worry. Auntie Winnie's going to take you right to his place!
Oh...?! N-no, that's okay, haha, we appreciate it but—wait, no! Stop pulling me!
Don't be a stranger with me! I've known little Kamui since he was a little boy. Helping out his friends is nothing!
That boy's wonderful in every way, but he hasn't come home to visit even once all these years.
Dear, do me a favor and pass a message to little Kamui for me... His family thinks about him every single day, so no matter what he's up to out there, he should come home and visit more often.
I... I'll make sure he gets the message. Thank you, Auntie Winnie.
No need to thank me! Little Kamui used to help us with farm work all the time back in the day, so this is nothing compared to that—and here we are! This is his family's house. Go on in!
After parting ways with the well-meaning woman, Kamui finds himself standing before a familiar door, but his feet refuse to move.
I...
Kamui turns to look at you, his gaze revealing a flicker of hesitation and bitterness.
When I decided to join the Hunter Legion back then, they were still practically cannon fodder... meat shields the royals threw at the Mist to die. It wasn't some glorious calling.
I didn't want my family to worry, so... I left without telling anyone. Went off and joined the Legion on my own.
Sure, I became the Revenant Hunter after that, and I made the whole Legion stronger. But at the end of the day, it was still a dangerous life.
I was scared of putting them in danger. But even more than that... I was afraid they'd resent me for it. That's why I never came back all these years.
Even now... I still can't find the courage to face them.
Kamui reaches for the door, but the moment his fingers brush against the familiar surface, he pulls his hand back.
Will they blame him? He can't bear the thought of their disappointment... Or maybe he could get someone else to protect them instead. That way, his family won't have to worry about him anymore.
It's because he cares so much that he falters now, frozen by indecision.
I... I think...
...Who are you two?
You two spin around to find a young man standing behind you. Kamui's face goes pale, panic flashing across his face.
C-Catrayv?!
Kamui stumbles back, trying to put distance between them before he's recognized. He starts muttering under his breath.
Don't panic, Kamui, think... Catrayv's bad with faces. Maybe he won't know it's you...
Kamui... big brother.
That unmistakable greeting shatters any hope Kamui has left. He steps forward with an awkward smile, ready to steer his most obedient little brother away from the truth.
Uh, Catrayv, it's me! Listen to your big brother for a sec, okay? We're gonna play a game. I'm going to hide, and you'll come find me in secret without telling anyone...
Game... okay. But... can't be... just the two of us.
Second brother... also here. Play together.
Huh—?! Azael's here too?!
...Heh.
Kamui stumbles backward and slams into something solid. Sure enough, he comes face-to-face with Azael's grim expression when he spins around.
...So you decided to come back?
MY
BELOVED
BIG
BROTHER.
Azael... I know you missed me, buddy, but could you maybe keep it down? I'm scared Mom might—
Mom! Mom!
Get out here! Kamui's home!
—WHAT?!!!
BAM!!!
A furious roar echoes from inside, and the wooden door slams open with explosive force.
Kamui watches a red-haired woman charge out, the door splintering behind her. He gulps and stumbles back, terrified that he's about to end up like that door.
...
Odile's fury evaporates the moment she lays eyes on Kamui. Neither the mother nor the son is great with words, and the years apart have left them standing in awkward silence, unsure what to say to each other.
...M-Mom.
Eventually, Kamui breaks the silence. As the one who ran away, he figures he ought to speak first.
Ah... Y-yeah. I'm here.
Mom... Kamui... are shy?
...Keep it down, Catrayv. Unless you want Mom coming after you next.
Pfft. What's with all of you?
An easygoing man strolls over from outside, fresh from working the fields. He sidles up to the woman without hesitation, draping an arm over her shoulders to settle her nerves.
Welcome home, son. I see you've already said hello to your brothers.
The silver-haired man meets Kamui's eyes with a look of gentle warmth, and the tension drains away. No one here is going to judge him. This is home, his safe harbor.
Though it looks like... we're all a bit lost on what to do now. Why don't we take a trip down memory lane?
If we're not sure where to begin... Kamui, you used to sneak out of town all the time as a kid. Sometimes you'd drag your brothers along, sometimes you'd slip away on your own.
And what did we do back then when that happened...?
Following the silver-haired man's lead, everyone starts digging through their old memories.
When he took us with him, he'd shove me and Catrayv through the window first.
Then... big brother... go through the door... alone. Mom... would wait... for big brother... to come in...
And if he went out alone, he'd just come through the door. And after that, Mom would, uh...
Azael and Catrayv exchange a look before turning to Kamui with matching expressions of pity. They remember all too well what kind of discipline awaited him every time Mom caught him.
—Your choice, Kamui. Do we still need to do the dance, or should we cut to the chase?
I... uh... oh, wait! I know! What if we switch things up this time?
Like, what if my dear brothers take the door this time while I go through the window? Haha... Makes sense, right, Mom...?
Kamui's voice gradually falters under his mother's scathing stare, until he turns fully silent.
Tsk. Kamui, you little—
Watching his mother close the distance, Kamui shuts his eyes in resignation. All he can do now is pray that he is now strong enough to take her brutal punishment.
—Rustle.
...?
The pain he braced for never comes. Instead, his reticent mother steps forward and pulls him into an embrace, ruffling his hair with the same harshness she showed when he was small.
You little punk. Pull something like this again and I swear I'll break your legs.
Whatever you want to do, at least let us know you're safe... It's not like we'd try to stop you.
But whatever the case... you're home. That's what matters.
—I'm sorry. And... thank you both.
Kamui doesn't squirm or fuss like he would've as a kid, simply standing there and letting Odile hold him. Time stretches on, and neither of them is sure how to break away from the embrace, so they just... don't.
In the end, it's the innocent Catrayv who saves them.
Mom, Kamui... hugged for... so long. I want... a hug too.
Oh—of course! C'mere, Catrayv, let your big brother give you a proper hug—
Whoa, look at you! You're all grown up now! You're even taller than me now. That's amazing!
Hey, Azael, why're you just standing there watching? Come join us!
I'm not some little kid, and I'm hugging nobody. You're such a child... Makes me wonder who's really the older brother here...
Alright, enough chatter. Everyone inside!
The family bustles toward the house in high spirits, but you linger behind like an outsider who doesn't quite belong. Odile notices your hesitation, though she clearly looks confused.
Hey, wait—you're [player name], right? What're you standing around for? Come on in! It's not like this is your first visit.
We've got all your stuff and Kamui's things stored away. Everything's fine. A quick dusting and it'll be good as new.
...?
Uh, well—since this is your first time meeting, let me do some introductions!
[player name], this is my mother Odile and my father Eurytes. These are my younger brothers—Azael and Catrayv.
Mom, Dad, this is Detective [player name], and also my... friend. It's [player name]'s first time visiting our village, so would it be alright if the good detective stayed with us for a few days?
...Of course, dear. Any friend of yours is family to us. It's nice to meet you. Please, come inside.
Odile is about to say something when Eurytes tugs at the corner of her sleeve and signals her to let it go for now.
You pick up on something, but you quietly follow Kamui into the farmhouse without a word.
