Akuro Yoshimura was born in the quiet lands of Tenma, his first cries echoing softly through the small home as new life entered the world.
Aeri Yoshimura held her son close, her expression gentle and tired yet filled with warmth. She hummed soft lullabies as she cradled him, her voice steady and soothing, as if promising him safety with every breath. To her, nothing else mattered in that moment—only that her child was alive, warm, and held.
Beside her stood Nichiya, the elf maid, her usual playful demeanor softened by awe. With twinkling eyes and a quiet smile, she hovered close, helping where she could, already treating the newborn as if he were her own. Her hands were careful, her voice light, filled with affection.
Akuro, still no more than a newborn, responded only as a baby could. He made small noises soft coos and quiet babbles his tiny fingers curling instinctively as he felt warmth and comfort around him. He did not understand the world, nor names, nor fate. He only knew safety.
When Nichiya spoke his name for the second time, her voice was gentle.
"Akuro…"
At the sound of it, the baby stirred. His eyes fluttered, and a small, content sound escaped him, as if the name itself felt right. Nichiya laughed softly.
"He likes it," she said warmly.
And so, the name stayed.
For the first three years of his life, Akuro grew surrounded by affection. He clung to Aeri whenever he could, fussing and crying whenever she left his sight, stubbornly refusing to be soothed by anything else. He especially enjoyed being held close, comforted, and fed, often pretending to cry just to stay in his mother's arms a little longer. Aeri never scolded him for it—she only smiled and held him tighter.
Those early years were peaceful.
As time passed, Akuro's world grew wider. He met other children in the village—Yukari Shimizu, whose bright laughter could lift any mood; Akito Aokama, quiet and observant even at a young age; and Shinjo Fujinami, loud, energetic, and endlessly loyal.
They ran through fields together,
The village fields became their playground.
while the boys often stole underwear but was scolded by yukari
"Akuro, wait!" Yukari laughed but still mad since he took her favourite bracelet, as she chased after him, they ran and ran , her voice light and full of energy. "You're cheating again!" said yukari
"I'm not cheating," Akuro replied, barely looking back, a small grin tugging at his face as he ran. "You're just slow."
Shinjo burst out laughing from behind them. "he's got you there, Yukari!"
Yukari puffed out her cheeks and screamed at them jokingly. "You're all impossible!"
Akito watched quietly from the side, arms crossed, eyes following them as they ran ahead. He hadn't said much—he rarely did—but his gaze lingered on Yukari's smile longer than the others'.
"Why do you always run with him?" Akito asked, his tone calm but edged with something unspoken.
Yukari turned, blinking. "Huh? Because that moron Akuro stole my bracelet! And also since he's fun to play with! ."
Akito paused. " wait I'm fun too!."
Shinjo snorted. "You? Fun? That's funny."
Akito didn't respond. He only looked away, his expression unreadable he was focused on helping yukari.
Later, when they lay in the grass staring up at the sky, Shinjo stretched his arms wide. "I'm gonna be the strongest warrior in Tenma one day or possibly the world!."
Yukari giggled. "That's impossible. You trip over nothing and get beat up by rabbits."
"Hey! Those rabbits are deadly!"
Yukari replied "and you want to be the strongest in the world but get bullied by rabbits."
She turned toward Akuro. "What about you? What do you want to be? What are your goals?"
Akuro thought for a moment, eyes tracing the drifting clouds. "I don't know yet."
Akito sat up slightly. "You don't think about the future?"
Akuro shrugged. "Not really I just want to live in a happy world with my friends and family, the future isn't now so I have alot to think about later but I'll enjoy my time now"
That answer lingered longer and brought smiles to everyone
Akito frowned—not out of anger, but confusion. Akuro never tried to lead, never tried to shine, yet everyone naturally followed him. Yukari laughed louder around him. Shinju listened more closely. Even adults spoke kindly to him without meaning to.
Akito didn't hate him.
But something about that effortless closeness unsettled him maybe even a little bit of envy
As the sun dipped lower and the sky burned orange, Yukari tugged Akuro's sleeve. "Come on, let's race back before it gets dark!"
Akuro stood, smiling. "Last one there's cleaning Shinjo's boots."
"HEY! No fair you started before us! "
Akito replied "I'm not cleaning those boots"
Yukari said to all of them " then you better start running."
Shinjo embarrassed by the sudden statement of his boots by yukari, " hey! They aren't that dirty! " he sniffed them and nearly fainted and said "yeah maybe it has been a while isn't I have washed them"
He realized that everyone was ahead of him "hey wait for me! " as he ran himself
They ran once again but this time home, laughter echoing across the fields.
Akito followed behind them this time—not running, just walking—watching their silhouettes stretch long in the fading light.
None of them noticed the shadows growing just beyond the village.
None of them knew how short these days would be they had childish dreams without fear of what lay beyond their small world. Laughter came easily. Smiles were genuine. It was all happiness and joy at the time, so we thought