2.50: Our Goals

Along the lake’s edge in the Yōkai world, the path narrowed into packed loam and fallen leaves, hemmed in by dense stands of bamboo. The stalks rose like green pillars on either side, their tops whispering together high overhead. Silver mist drifted low between their roots, swirling around their ankles and the lake’s stones alike, carrying the faint scent of water and clean grass.

Baku walked with his hands clasped behind his back, his cane tucked beneath one arm, his steps measured and quiet.

Natalia paced him with effortless grace, her long legs stirring the mist, her nine tails swaying lazily behind her. She moved as though the forest existed for her own enjoyment, and the world, out of habit, complied with her expectation.

Stone lanterns lined the path at irregular intervals. Their soft light reflected across the lake in broken bands of gold, stretching and warping with the water’s dreamlike motion.

Behind them, Baku’s home rose quietly, a stone edifice bearing the gentle, unsettling likeness of his own head.

Baku sighed, pausing to look out across the water.

“They’re happy.”

“They are,” Natalia-sama agreed, her tone pleased and satisfied. “More than I expected. From the sound of it, Sumire truly is blooming.”

Baku’s trunk twitched faintly before he smoothed his expression. “Blooming… ah yes. Although I worry they focus too much on physical training in my dream. It’s a body she cannot take with her. Even though it is the same body, she’s been training it in ways that her real one may not quite be able to keep up with.” He glanced aside. “It’s highly likely she’ll require physical conditioning outside once she wakes.”

Natalia-sama’s gaze slid to him, foxlike and knowing. “It isn’t the body that matters. The body she has is toned enough as-is. She could pass the exam with flying colors if potential were the only metric.”

Baku turned his head slightly. “I see. I confess I don’t understand the point, Lady Natalia. What good are such memories? A fleeting love story? How will this help her?”

“It’s far more important than you realize,” Natalia-sama replied without hesitation. “The instincts she’s learning are crucial. They will shape the way she integrates with others. Don’t assume my only goal was to prepare her for Rui’s ambitions.” She tilted her head, her tails stirring the misty air. “I care much more about how Sumire-chan will live the rest of her life. Would you believe me if I told you she used to be a man?”

Baku’s eyes widened, his trunk quivering. “No… not for a moment. Whenever I observe her in the dream, all I see is a beautiful girl, sometimes peculiarly awkward, sometimes unexpectedly brave.”

“That’s exactly it. Courage,” Natalia-sama said softly. “She always had that when things became difficult. What I want to give her is a sharpened sense of self. Before anything else, that is what she takes back.”

Somewhere in the bamboo, a small shape froze, blinked, and slipped deeper into the mist as her voice carried further than she intended.

Baku hummed, unconvinced. “And how does this make her a detective in the end?”

Natalia-sama’s smile sharpened just a touch. “A very good question. How does a love story teach someone to uncover truth?” She laughed lightly and bent to lift a stone, skipping it expertly across the surface of Baku’s lake.

“I do want the answer,” Baku said.

“Very well.” Her stone sank halfway across the water.

She lifted a finger, as though counting lessons no classroom could teach.

“She lived uneasy her entire life… never quite fitting in anywhere. She endured it. Adapted. Then one night uprooted her completely. She became aimless, though she never spoke of her fear. I saw it in her eyes.” Natalia-sama’s voice softened. “She moved only because someone told her where to go. That was all she had.”

Baku nodded slowly. “I see… how sad. I understand why moments of peace would help her.”

“Yes. She was always sensitive beneath the surface. And after the events that bound her to this body…” Natalia-sama’s smile faded. “She couldn’t stand on her own in that skin. She carried only regret and grief. I suspect she will always carry some sadness regardless. Life is like that.” She exhaled. “We fixate on pain and miss what matters. So I wondered—what if she could experience life without that holding her back? What if she could live what was denied to her from birth, even for a short time?” Her voice grew quieter. “From what she told me, her face was cursed. Her existence was always about surviving.”

Baku regarded her carefully. “You care for her deeply. Like a mother. If so, wouldn’t you want her to be happy above all else? Would it matter what path she chose?”

“You’re right,” Natalia-sama said gently. “But right now, she wants to be a detective. She made a promise to Rui, and Rui won’t allow her to forget that.” Her gaze hardened just slightly. “True happiness isn’t the absence of hardship. It’s learning to accept reality and still being able to move forward.”

Baku sighed. “I understand the martial training part of this. Would that I could offer her more myself. Knowledge, foresight—anything to ensure she survives and finds meaning in life.”

“I know,” Natalia-sama replied. “She relied on borrowed strength before… knowledge that wasn’t truly hers. This dream is unlocking her. Personality. Competence. Resilience. Potential.”

The mist thickened briefly, then thinned again, sliding off the path and back toward the lake.

Baku’s expression softened, regret settling behind his eyes.

“And when she leaves,” he said quietly, “she’ll be shattered. Her love is but a dream.”

Natalia-sama did not deny it.

“Yes.”

Baku exhaled heavily. “You can be very cruel, despite your warmth and maternal instincts.”

Her gaze remained forward, serene. “I have faith she’ll gather the pieces when it ends. I will help her with that. And when she does, she’ll be tempered by what she lived.”

Baku gave a quiet, humorless laugh. “You’re like a lioness pushing her cubs from a cliff.”

Natalia-sama smiled faintly. “Would you prefer a cub that never learns to climb?”

Baku fell silent.

Instead, he looked toward the distant glow beyond the bamboo, where the dream-city slept. Its lights were muted and unreal, resting atop the vast, unseen fabric of his domain.

And somewhere within that fabric, moving carefully… quietly—

…a shadow in a top hat walked on two legs, his eyes searching.

Morning arrived too fast.

I woke up hugging my pillow like it was flotsam in a deep sea, my cheeks warm, my head full of scattered fragments that made my stomach twist in a way I absolutely refused to examine too closely.

I buried my face for one second, mortified, then rolled out of bed and stood in front of my closet.

I had my mind on only one thing.

Our date…

I stared at the closet like it was an enemy.

I had this many clothes in here?

So many!

…Too many!!!

I’d barely worn anything except for my school uniform. I hadn’t really explored my room because there’d never been a reason to. It was my room. Why would anything in it surprise me?

And yet it did.

Memories came rushing in all at once. Shopping trips with Mom, laughter with old friends I hadn’t thought about since middle school. We’d parted ways when we graduated and prepared for High School. I remembered picking these things out, every one of them, and still, the sight of them felt strangely unreal.

Blouses that looked almost too pretty to belong to me.

Dresses for dances I barely remembered… or sometimes no occasion at all, just because I’d wanted a dress.

Light, breezy skirts that fit my waist perfectly, like they’d been made for me.

My gaze drifted to the older clothes tucked into the corners of the closet, things that would feel a little too tight now. Wearing those would be a little awkward.

I’d grown since middle school in many ways.

That realization made my heart thump in an odd, unsettled way as I stood there, surrounded by proof of a life that felt familiar.

I picked a green dress that made my legs look longer and revealed just enough cleavage to draw attention. The thought of wearing it made my cheeks warm, but it was only Aoi-chan’s eyes I was trying to catch and keep on me. On instinct, I paired it with black stockings and stood in front of my bedroom mirror, staring at myself.

The girl in the mirror still had lovely green eyes, still projecting a sweetness.

But there was something else there now… a spark of determination that hadn’t been there before. Probably what my family had noticed.

My hair, on the other hand, was a tangled mess.

That took longer to deal with.

I brushed and adjusted it, tried again, then again, until the bangs and the rest finally looked… and felt… right.

It was my style. Adjusting my hair like this always made my face look the best.

For good measure, I opened my desk’s drawer and pulled out a green ribbon, one that would be clearly visible once tied in place. My drawer was filled with them. One for every outfit or occasion. I gathered my hair and fixed it into a ponytail like Aoi-chan’s, then made small, careful adjustments to preserve my hair’s texture and volume, even with the ribbon in place.

My chest fluttered with anxious excitement.

Today is a special day. My first ever date!

Not even that little voice deep inside me argued.

DOKI-DOKI… BADUMP

The doorbell rang.

I jumped, my heart slamming hard enough to make me gasp. I darted for my bedroom door, left it open without thinking, and nearly tripped racing downstairs.

Haru had already opened the front door. I rushed forward and froze as I looked at them, especially at Aoi-chan.

Aoi-chan stood there… with Riko and Yuna standing just behind her… sunlight bathed the three of them like a grand spotlight.

Aoi-chan’s outfit hit me like a punch.

Short shorts, shredded at the sides. They clung to her, sitting somewhat higher up on her hips, unapologetic, like she’d cut them that way herself and dared the world to comment. Her shirt was fitted, the dark fabric stretched smooth across her swelling chest, the bold English text across the front shouting FIGHT YOU in blocky letters. She wasn’t going for a cute vibe. The statement was blunt.

It felt like someone had distilled her whole presence into that slogan.

I wondered if FIGHT YOU meant something.

She looked comfortable in what she wore. More than that… It was perfect. I wondered if she moved through the world like this whenever she wasn’t in her uniform or gym clothes or if what she put on was chosen specifically for today.

She gave a strong vibe.

Sharp, solid, a little dangerous. Her legs looked as strong as I knew they were, her posture was loose but ready, her shoulders relaxed in a way that promised she could spring into motion at any moment.

I realized, distantly, that I was staring at her.

DOKI-DOKI… BADUMP

Aoi noticed, of course. She always did. One corner of her mouth tugged up, not smug, just quietly pleased, and she leaned closer.

“Are you going to keep staring, Susu?” she asked casually. “Did you forget how doors work?”

My face warmed. “S-sorry. Good morning, Aoi-chan.” I stammered as my heart beat hard.

She chuckled under her breath, clearly unconvinced, and brushed past me through the door, pressing her lips against my cheek as she passed. She was close enough that I caught our rose scent on her and felt my heart hiccup.

I turned to invite the other two, blushing.

Riko wore a cropped athletic top layered beneath an open overshirt, paired with fitted shorts that emphasized her hips and thighs without crossing into outright workout gear, sporty enough to signal confidence, stylish enough to compete. Her sneakers were pristine, her hair carefully done, and her smile carried the quiet satisfaction of someone who knew she looked good and meant to.

Yuna wore a lavender blouse with soft frills at the sleeves and bodice, the fabric dipping just enough to reveal the gentle swell of her cleavage without any attempt to hide it. The cut was intentional.

Feminine, inviting and quietly confident.

She paired it with a skirt and stockings like mine, the colors coordinated with an effortless sense of harmony that made everything look well-planned rather than showy. She looked soft and elegant, as always, like she’d stepped out of a romance novel where affection was unhurried, touches lingered, and beauty wasn’t something to apologize for.

All three of them had clearly put thought into how they wanted to dress today.

My face heated all the more.

Why did they dress like this even if Riko-chan and Yuna-chan are just here to hang out and take care of Haru while Aoi-chan and I are on our date?

Riko’s gaze flicked over my dress with obvious approval. “You look very cute.” Her eyes practically sparkled.

Yuna smiled warmly. “You look very lovely, Sumire-chan.”

Haru stared up at the three girls, suddenly shy.

I cleared my throat, forcing myself to act normal. “Th-thank you. C-come in.”

I insisted on cooking breakfast alone, tying on a large apron to protect my dress, partly out of pride, partly because I needed something to do with my hands before I short-circuited entirely.

Aoi-chan is as beautiful as ever…

My heart refused to slow down.

They sat at the table with my brother, talking softly, while I moved around the kitchen with focus and determination.

I decided on using Mom’s favorite breakfast recipe, the one that Haru would most expect. The one that would make everything feel normal.

Freshly steamed rice, miso soup, grilled fish, tamagoyaki and pickles.

My mother’s hands lived in my muscle memory, guiding mine as I worked.

When I finally set the plates down, Aoi-chan looked briefly impressed, then immediately tried to hide it, her expression snapping back into neutrality.

“Thank you! It looks delicious!” Riko grinned, clasping her hands together theatrically. “Should I pray before eating?”

“Don’t worry,” I said, beaming as I finally sat down once everyone had their plates.

Yuna nodded and took a careful bite of the grilled fish. Her eyes softened.

“Ahhh… you’re very talented,” she said, savoring it in a way that felt sincere rather than performative.

Haru, meanwhile, ate like he’d been starving for a week, just like always. Rice vanished. His fish disappeared and the tamagoyaki followed.

The familiar sight of them enjoying their meal eased my tension over whether they would like my cooking.

My little brother was treating my cooking exactly the same way he treated Mom’s.

That made me smile.

Our meal passed quickly after that, warm and uncomplicated. Plates emptied. Cups were drained. The house itself seemed to hum with forward motion, like it already knew we wouldn’t be staying long.

Soon enough, we were back at the door again.

Riko and Yuna stayed behind, waving from the genkan as Aoi-chan stepped close to me.

“You ready?” Aoi-chan asked.

I nodded, my heart hammering.