As the sun crested the distant horizon and its pale light washed over the forest, the last embers of the fire finally died out. Smoke thinned, drifting upward into the morning sky, and with it the massacre in Mayonaka Forest came to an end. What would later be known across every district as The Night of Blood was over, leaving behind only scorched earth, broken bodies, and memories that would refuse to fade.
Time passed quietly after that. Sentarō, Reiko, Tadatoshi, and Ichio—the only survivors of the incident—were escorted back to the Fourth Division barracks. Each of them was separated upon arrival and treated for their injuries in silence. Bandages were wrapped, wounds cleaned, and broken bones set, yet no salve could ease what lingered in their minds. By the time evening settled over the compound, the four were officially dismissed and instructed to return to their respective homes.
Sentarō stepped out of the barracks alone, the weight of exhaustion finally catching up to him. His arms, torso, and neck were tightly wrapped in white sarashi, the cloth still faintly warm against his skin. He walked a short distance before stopping directly in front of the Fourth Division's gate. There, he stood still, gazing ahead as a flood of thoughts surged through his mind.
Only four survivors. Out of more than a hundred.
Not only had he lived—he had passed.
The realization felt distant, almost unreal. Yet as he lifted his eyes to the sky, now painted in hues of orange and gold, a small smile tugged at the corner of his lips. Joy welled up quietly within him. His dream, once so far away, had taken another step closer.
"Seems like you're ready to go, Sentarō."
He turned to see Reiko approaching, her steps measured, her expression calm but warm. She, too, bore bandages beneath her uniform, though she carried herself with quiet composure.
"Yeah," Sentarō replied, nodding. "I'm heading back to the Kurogane District."
They fell into step beside one another, their footsteps echoing softly against the dirt path leading away from the barracks. For a time, neither spoke, content to let the silence settle.
"Hey," Sentarō said eventually, glancing at her. "What about Tadatoshi and Ichio?"
"Oh—right," Reiko replied. "I checked on Ichio earlier. He didn't suffer any serious injuries. He was shaken, but he'll be fine."
She paused briefly, then sighed. "As for Tadatoshi… when I went to see him, he just yelled at me."
Sentarō laughed, a wide grin spreading across his face. "That sounds like him."
Reiko watched him closely as they walked. The smile lingered—but something about it felt wrong.
"There's something you should know about me, Sentarō," she said suddenly.
She quickened her pace, moving ahead of him before stopping abruptly and turning around. Standing directly in his path, she fixed him with a sharp gaze. "I'm very good at reading facial expressions."
Her tone hardened. "So tell me—why the fake smile?"
Sentarō froze.
For a moment, he simply stared at her, caught off guard. Then he exhaled slowly, his shoulders relaxing as the truth slipped past his guard. "I guess you really are good at that," he admitted.
He lifted his gaze toward the sky once more. The orange glow had begun to fade, giving way to deepening shades of violet and blue. "You saw it too… didn't you?"
Reiko didn't answer right away.
Sentarō lowered his eyes to meet hers, his expression now stripped of any pretense. "The way the criminals were dealt with," he continued quietly. "And the cost."
Reiko's breath hitched as memories flooded back—arrows raining from the sky, bodies collapsing in heaps, blood soaking into the forest floor. Criminals and samurai alike had fallen, their lives extinguished without distinction. The air had been thick with the metallic scent of blood, so heavy it seemed possible to tell ally from enemy by smell alone.
"Yes," she said softly. "I saw it too."
Sentarō clenched his jaw. "After seeing that… I can't stop wondering what's really going on within the police force."
Reiko's eyes widened slightly, surprise flickering across her face. Before she could respond—
"But!"
Sentarō suddenly slammed his right fist into his left palm, the sharp sound cutting through the tension. A bright, confident smile spread across his face.
"But?" Reiko echoed, blinking.
"That doesn't change my goal," he said firmly. "I won't make assumptions until I fully join. But if the police force turns out to be something else—if it strays from the path of justice—then I'll be the one to fix it."
His smile was wide, his eyes burning with resolve.
For a heartbeat, Reiko simply stared at him. Then, slowly, her expression softened into one of excitement.
"…You really are something," she said.
They resumed walking, conversation flowing more easily now as night fully claimed the sky. Stars emerged one by one, and the moon cast its pale light over the road ahead. Eventually, Reiko came to a stop.
"This is where we part ways," she said. "Kusanagi Village is that way." She pointed to the left.
"Oh—alright," Sentarō replied. "Goodbye, Reiko."
She jogged forward a few steps, then stopped and turned back. "Sentarō!"
"Yes?"
"I'm really glad we both survived!" she called out, waving energetically.
He smiled. "Me too!"
With that, they turned and continued on their separate journeys.
Crickets chirped as the night deepened. Frogs croaked from nearby streams, and a cool breeze rustled the leaves overhead. After a long walk, Sentarō finally reached his destination.
He stopped in front of the familiar house and cleared his throat.
"Ahem… Ahem!"
He drew in a deep breath.
"ALRIGHT! I'M FINALLY HOOOOOME!"
The trees around him bent comically under the sheer force of his voice.
THUD!
The front door slid open violently. "ARE YOU STUPID?! IT'S THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT!"
Ujiyuki stormed out, fury blazing across his face—only to freeze when his eyes met Sentarō's.
"I'm back, Mr. Ujiyuki," Sentarō said, stepping forward.
In the next instant, Ujiyuki rushed him and pulled him into a tight embrace. "Thank goodness," he muttered, gripping him fiercely. "You actually made it back."
"Hehehe… I told you I would."
"Yes, kid. Yes, you did."
Ujiyuki released him—then immediately punched him into the ground.
"YOU FOOL!" he roared. "IT'S THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT AND THE FIRST THING YOU DO IS YELL?!"
The door slammed open again. "What's all this noise—?!"
Shigekatsu burst out, only to freeze at the sight of Sentarō smoking faintly on the ground. "Huh? Sentarō? You're back already? And why are you wrapped up like a mummy?!"
Sentarō didn't respond.
"…He's out cold," Shigekatsu muttered.
Ujiyuki sighed and hoisted Sentarō over his shoulder. "It's late. We'll ask him everything tomorrow."
The door slid shut behind them.
And for the first time since the Night of Blood, the world finally slept.