Ichiro had just finished his usual breakfast and was entertaining himself by browsing TweetTweet. He came across something strange. Leaked footage from the T***er Studio with the title “Gojiira coming from the sea” had been posted online. It had shown a monster approaching an unknown bay.

Ichiro watched as the video started playing automatically. He noticed the poor image quality and unfavorable camera angle right away. A person is recording a phone with another phone.

The creature was filmed swimming towards the shore. Only the shape was visible during the night, and it was exactly like Gojiira. It slowly approached land until it was bombed from above. The camera eventually turned black.

These videos were allegedly leaked, according to the comments. One user replied that it was an ARG, with some creepy shit going on. One user asked for evidence and another added that it was probably a hoax.

Ichiro shrugged and scrolled past the tweet in his TweetTweet feed, but he couldn’t stop replaying it in his head. It looked strangely familiar. As if he saw it recently somewhere. His memory seemed hazy.

After that, he viewed the remaining videos that the user had uploaded to this NueTube channel. One more depicted the creature emerging from the water. There were many clips of it walking through water. Not much information was given.

Ichiro finally realized why this reminded him of something. It reminded him of a scene from the upcoming ‘Extrememan VS. Gojiira’ film, whose trailer he had seen before.

But in truth, the Association was just running a deceptive campaign to make the videos of it appear fake enough to conceal the fact that it actually happened from the public. Those who were aware were able to discuss it in public.

Ichiro was perplexed by the situation. The filmmakers of the movie were using the leaks as bait to promote their movie. Typical ad agency ruse—using mystery to increase sales and interest. But what he saw lingered in his mind, along with other coincidences he’d witnessed in those few hours.

He washed his dishes, put his food away, and then checked the time on his phone. It was already nine o’clock in the morning. Time flew by, and he had chores to complete. Almost all of his dirty clothes were in the laundry basket, waiting for him to pick them up and wash them. He didn’t have a washing machine, so he had to take them to his ancestral home to be washed. Why didn’t he buy one? Because it was difficult to get it to the fourth floor without a lift in his apartment complex. Ichiro decided to go to his mother’s house, using the laundry as an excuse.

But first, he needed to go to the room he visited the least. He entered the storage room with the key. He took something from the bottom shelf that was wrapped in cloth.

Ichiro removed the covering to reveal a rusted sword with a wooden handle. That was his iaito, the one he was given by Grandmaster when he first began his training. It was the most important thing to him; it held memories of his youth. Every nick, scratch, and crack was a reminder of those times.

Ichiro took it in his hands and examined the blade. Although it was a little rusty, it still felt good in his hands. It was made of high-quality materials and was blunt. He was lost in thought as he stared at it. After walking next to the windows in his living room, where the heavy rain was pounding the earth, he picked up a cleaning cloth and wiped the blade.

Ichiro sat in a lotus pose, gazed at the blade, and became completely absorbed in his thoughts. The information he had previously dismissed returned to his mind, and he couldn’t help but think about it.

Illustrations by Renko, particularly the main character.

His former boss from his previous company has died of a heart attack.

In his last dream, his deceased father appeared and assisted him.

He saw a strange video of Gojiira on his feed.

As well as his recent absurd dreams.

There was something strange going on. He wasn’t sure if it had anything to do with his conscious, subconscious, or something completely different. But something was clearly wrong. He considered the most likely scenario as the thunder outside caused him to glance at his reflection in the sword.

Thunder rumbled, and purple lightning flashed. At that precise moment, Ichiro’s brain found an answer. Did he realise the answer to the mystery?

“They are...”

The walls shook as a powerful rumble struck the earth. He was totally unaffected by it. He carried on talking. His response...

“... premonition dreams.”

... was completely wrong.

He could feel the weight of the sword and the chill of the metal in his hands. The blade wasn’t the only thing weighing on his mind. His guess had weight as well. Would he be okay if the subliminal meaning of these absurd dreams impacted his reality?

No. Because it was all a figment of his imagination. His brain was merely trying to make sense of everything, and that was all it was. It was just a silly dream.

Ichiro took another look out the window, this time focusing on the cloud-covered, gray sky. He didn’t care. He was glad the world was constantly changing, and he was only a small part of it. While the thunder and lightning outside raged, he kept cleaning his sword.

***

A short while later, he loaded his truck’s back with the laundry basket of clothes. Now that the rain had subsided, Ichiro felt relieved.

He drove through Osaka and then to Higashiōsaka, where his mother lived. The trip took about thirty minutes. Ichiro parked the truck and opened the door. He looked at his childhood home. Compared to his current apartment, it appeared smaller.

There were many similar-aged and-styled homes throughout the neighborhood. A lot of families and kids lived there, and it was an area of middle class. It was on the hills and offered a gorgeous view of the city. The view would be even more pleasant if the sky were clear of the gray clouds.

He knocked and waited for his mother to open the door. Nobody was at home. She had most likely gone to her small business. She had been unusually quiet these last few months. Ichiro sighed and opened the door with his keys.

The familiar scent welcomed him as soon as he entered the house. The aroma was just like in the past. He missed it, but didn’t think about it too much. Instead, he grabbed the basket and went straight to the washing machine in the hallway.

He started the washing machine after placing the dirty clothes inside. Because of the volume of the clothes, the timer showed it would take 3 hours to wash. Ichiro went to the living room after that.

He walked across the carpet and turned on the lights. It was a typical, everyday house. There’s nothing special about it. But if you go a little deeper...

He proceeded to the next room. Many albums, books, photo frames, and vinyl records were contained inside. He couldn’t see the wall behind him because there was so much stuff. It was a shrine that was devoted to honoring his father’s memory.

Ichiro bowed and silently prayed to it. Being able to return home and see it made him feel happy. He hoped his father was watching him from above and was proud of his son. Why was he in his dream recently? He was clueless.

Ichiro stepped outside, locked the door, and began walking uphill. He didn’t mind that it was chilly and rainy outside. In order to get to the school and his Grandmaster’s dojo, which was located further into the hills, he took the same route he had taken countless times in his high school years.

He observed that there were more parked cars than usual as he made his way there. Some were expensive, and some were cheap. There were only a few spaces left for other cars because of how densely they were parked. It was strange, but there was no sign of a problem.

He arrived at a fork in the road; one path led to the city, the other to the hills. He went with option two. There was an old staircase that went up. It was the one he’d crossed countless times before on his way to see Grandmaster.

He passed through the torii gates and came to another fork in the road. One of them led to a Buddhist temple, while the other led to a plain path made of flattened stones.

As he went on, he could hear the water trickling, which encouraged him to keep moving. It was a brook that ran through the valley. The entire area was densely forested. The birds were chirping and singing.

The path took us to the dojo. He came to a halt in front of the door. The sounds of birds, the rustling of leaves, and... audience cheering greeted him. It sounded like a large crowd had gathered inside the dojo. A look through the door revealed what he had been expecting.

It was crowded inside the dojo. The dojo was much larger than Ichiro’s apartment building. The ceiling was high enough to hold mock fights for, and there was a fireplace at the end of the hall. Building was very traditional.

The fact that the entire dojo was packed with people did not surprise him. After taking a peek, he realized what day it was. Grandmaster was holding his annual martial arts tournament. Shit. He chose the incorrect time to visit him.

Ichiro took a deep breath, and he could hear the announcer calling out names and the audience cheering. He turned the doorknob with his hand. He pushed the door open and entered. There were many people there, and they were all looking at the dojo’s center. Ichiro had a few people staring at him, but he ignored them. He blended in with the crowd while concealing his presence.

In the center of the dojo, stood a single man dressed in a black and white karate gi. He was over sixty years old and had long white hair. His face was thin and wrinkly, but his body was strong. He gave him a quick glance, grinned lightly, and went back to watching the two boys fight. They were wearing their keikogi and were holding wooden training swords. It was his Grandmaster, who had taught him how to fight. After looking at him, his memories of him finally came back.

Ichiro couldn’t help but feel that since the last time they had interacted, he had not changed. It was as if time had stood still. He remained the same. The same age and physique. Even his hairstyle hadn’t changed. He remained the same.

However, Ichiro’s life had been forever changed by the lessons he had taught him and the information he had imparted. Ichiro was grateful for it, and he knew the old man was proud of him as well.

He stood there watching two 15-year-old boys fight with wooden practice blades. The boy with black hair was a head taller than his opponent, and he used his superior height to knock him down. He was quick and knew how to move his feet.

The other boy was on the defensive, but he successfully deflected his opponent’s attack. He blocked his sword with his wooden sword, but the impact was too powerful. The blade shattered, and the shards landed on the boy’s face. He fell to the floor. Grandmaster was unconcerned by it and yelled that the battle was over.

Ichiro remained in the back as the first aid commotion went on. He noticed that his Grandmaster was staring at him.

“Ichiro.”

Grandmaster called out his name and motioned for him to step forward. Ichiro entered the ring after giving a nod.

He bowed deeply, and Grandmaster reciprocated. He motioned to follow him, and they made their way to the back of the dojo. It was a small room with tatami mats, a desk, and a small altar. It was a small, personal space.

Grandmaster sat on the tatami mats and told him to sit too. He complied and then waited for his Grandmaster to speak.

“You’ve grown strong, Ichiro.”

The aura Ichiro was emitting caught Grandmaster’s attention. It was clear in his eyes. His spiritual energy had been refined. He was not the same person he had been. He had complete control over himself and his soul...

... had reached the next level.

Grandmaster had a sly grin on his face. The growth of his student had made pleased him. The terrifying incident that happened five years ago, right before the graduation exam, is still fresh in his mind. When Ichiro first started having nightmares, he helped him for three years until they somewhat subsided.

He had done everything he could. It was his student’s responsibility to overcome the darkness in his heart.

“I’m proud of you, Ichiro.”

Ichiro lowered his gaze in embarrassment. He was not expecting to be praised. What made the old man happy for him? What made him so joyful?

“I apologize for my long absence, Grandmaster.”

He bowed his head and expressed regret for not dropping by more frequently. It was a quick explanation. Nothing more needed to be said. The old man understood everything. Ichiro desired a simple and happy life. He had no interest in anything supernatural. He just wanted to live normally and help others. Even though Ichiro didn’t come to see him, he maintained contact with his mother for... special reasons.

“It’s all right. You’re doing well.”

The tone of Grandmaster’s voice was gentle and reassuring. Ichiro was relieved that he didn’t appear disappointed.

“You leaving your job to work for a trucking company surprised me. That is a hard task. You’re a warrior, not a truck driver. What about your future? You’re going to get married one day, right?”

“Yes.”

Ichiro responded quickly and was a little embarrassed.

“Have you met any nice girls yet?”

Why is he bringing this up now? What exactly does he mean? Ichiro intended to ask the Doremi a question regarding the Okuninushi, but his Grandmaster diverted his focus.

“It’s fine. You’re still young. When you find a partner, your life will begin anew.”

Grandmaster smiled and patted him on the back of the shoulder. He had a smile on his face, like a grandfather telling a tale to a youngster. It was a strange expression for him. He seemed... happy.

“Uh, Grandmaster? Did something happen to you?”

Ichiro was perplexed by the elderly man’s response, who appeared to be in good spirits.

“Nothing in particular.”

Fuck.

He expected to hear something, but...

“It’s fine. It’s not important.”

His response was evasive, and he kept staring out the window. The sky was overcast, and the weather was dreary. It was chilly and rainy outside. It was a typical early June summer day. The clouds appeared to be threatening a downpour at any moment.

Ichiro took advantage of the silence and asked the question.

“Grandmaster, my acquaintance has a question for you. She is curious about where the master known as Okuninushi is. Is there any way to find him?”

“Ah...”

For a moment, the Grandmaster remained silent. He appeared to be lost in thought. He was contemplating something. Ichiro took it as a bad omen.

“That man... He was a friend of mine.”

Ichiro’s heart sank.

“But it’s been years since we met, and he hasn’t contacted me since.”

“What do you mean?”

“I’m not sure. I haven’t seen him in quite some time.”

“I see.”

Ichiro was let down. He expected to get an answer to his question, but that did not happen.

“A few years ago, he vanished silently after making some vague promise to discover the truth about this world. He did not contact me and did not return. He was a fascinating man.”

“I see.”

Ichiro remained silent for a while, hoping to hear something else, but his Grandmaster said nothing. Ichiro’s mouth opened once more.

“She stated that her teacher was once a rival to him and that she wishes to track him down and challenge him to a duel.”

That made Grandmaster laugh. It was a natural reaction, but it was strange. He had never seen the old man laugh so hard.

“I see. Well, if she’s serious about it, I’m sure she’ll be able to find him.”

“Can you help her?”

“Obviously not. I will not help someone I do not know. But she appears to be a good person. I’m confident she’ll be able to find him if she’s determined enough. He claimed that the truth is hidden on these islands, and he set out on a journey to find it. He might be in Japan. Maybe he's on this island, somewhere. But I have some advice for you. He dislikes humans.”

“Humans?”

“He despises humans. He declared he could not stand to be around them.”

“I see.”

Ichiro was taken aback. He did not know Okuninushi was such a dark character. He was hesitant to ask any more questions and knew he shouldn’t do it. After opening the CURVE app on his phone, he began texting Doremi about what his master had said. He had to inform her of the information.

She responded almost immediately after the message was delivered.

“I should probably keep an eye out. Thank you for the information~”

Ichiro was relieved. The fact that his master had told him was a relief. He was also grateful to the old man for help.

That peaceful moment was short-lived, however, as someone rushed into the room.

“Grandmaster! We’ve got a problem! Quickly!”

The urgency in his messenger’s voice alarmed Grandmaster, and he rose from his chair. Ichiro trailed him. They returned to the dojo’s main hall, where they discovered a man with long, black hair standing in the center of the dojo wearing traditional Chinese martial robes. He was holding a wooden sword and had a scabbard around his waist.

“It’s an intruder!”

Shit. A man that looked like some cosplayer interrupted Ichiro’s quiet visit. He didn’t expect that.