Chapter 16: Part 5 - Shinigami 4 Seasons: Origin
I walk, hands in pocket, thinking about the offer. I mean, I want to help, but I'd be getting into some crazy stuff that could be dangerous. I don't know if it would be worth it too.
"So, where do you live?" From behind me, Natsu asked.
I completely forgot that they were here with me. Haru and Natsu were walking behind me.
"Oh, I live in the dorm of the university," I casually responded.
"Oh, the university," Haru said. "We have a friend there who's a chochin-obake."
"Oh, okay."
A chochin-obake is a lantern yokai that inherits a soul after 100 years of service. They are typically harmless, but mischievous. They often scare and surprise humans around them.
"I saw a lantern hanging on a tree there. Is that him?"
"Yes!" Natsu cheerfully responds.
"Why isn't he like, trying to scare any humans on the campus?"
"He's not like the other chochin-obake." Natsu responds.
"Yeah, he usually talks or comes alive if there are not many humans around him, though mediums like you can see him even though he's not acting alive," Haru added.
"Oh, I see. Maybe I should try talking to him when I have the chance."
"Oh definitely!" Natsu cheered. "He's a totally cool chochin-obake. He's not like the others I know where they would pull pranks and 'accidentally kill' humans."
"Eh?! What do you mean by that?!"
"It is what it is," Haru said, his hands resting behind his head as they walk.
"That doesn't even make sense," I said to him.
The two shinigami laughed.
"By the way, you four are brothers, right?" I asked because I was curious.
"Hmmm, technically," Haru responds. "We aren't like any other yokai there where they died as a human."
"We just appeared," Natsu added. "The first one to appear was Natsu on the beginning of spring way back around Edo period."
"When the first cherry blossom tree bloomed in this place when this was just land and no buildings, I remember sitting under the tree, just like that. I knew what my mission was on this world, and whenever someone dies, I take them to the tree where I first appeared, then they would either ascend to the ray of light above it or descend into a fiery hole that randomly appears."
"And next to that cherry blossom tree was an oak tree. As soon as summer began, I appear, standing below the oak tree, my feet touching the grassy patches. Just like him, I knew what my objective was."
"That's interesting..." It really was. "So, same for Aki and Fuyu, right?"
"Yeah," Natsu responds. "They were also born under the same oak tree where I was born. Aki appeared right as the leaves turn orange and red, and Fuyu appeared when the first snowfall occurred."
"And since that day, our brotherhood was formed, and we called ourselves the Shinigami 4 Seasons!" Haru added.
"Wow, great backstory guys," I said. "I've read a lot of bad stuff about shinigamis, but you guys seem cool! You are all nice!"
"Aww, thank you!" Haru chuckles.
"Wait, what have you read about us?" Natsu asked.
"Well, I have read a lot of articles about shinigamis. They said that shinigamis possess humans, making them think of death. The humans end up hanging themselves. But some of them said that shinigamis are not allowed to interfere with death. They are only there to wait until someone dies."
"The first one was all crap!" Natsu exclaimed. "Of course, some of them exist, but most of us shinigamis are only here to guide the departed. At least, the four of us are. I think we're the only shinigamis that exist here in Rabenda City."
"Well, that's good then!" I said.
We reached the outside of my dorm. "Well, this is my stop."
"Awww, I really enjoy talking with you," Haru begged.
Natsu hits him in the head. "Leave him be for now! He's still in school you know!"Haru rubs his head. "I know."
"Besides, we'll see him tomorrow."
"Yeah..."
Natsu and Haru waved goodbye. "Bye Kazu!"
I smiled at them and waved my goodbyes too.
They walked off to a distance. As they disappear, I got into my dorm.
Weekly Power Status
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