The sun had risen by the time Johan reached the outskirts of the Butterfly Estate. His footsteps were silent, but the aura around him had changed—not just stronger, but heavier. Like a blade freshly tempered in battle.
He carried no wounds, but the air shimmered faintly around his body, proof of the immense energy barely contained beneath his skin. His clothes were torn from battle, stained with faint traces of ash and ice.
He had killed Doma.
But more importantly—he had saved Kanae.
The Return
Inside the estate, the courtyard was quiet. Kanae stood under the blooming wisteria trees, sunlight catching the pink in her eyes. She turned sharply as she sensed him.
"Johan…"
He stopped, only a few feet away. Their eyes met.
She gasped—not in fear, but in awe.
"You're… glowing," she whispered.
Johan smiled faintly. "I'm back."
Without hesitation, Kanae rushed forward, throwing her arms around him. For the first time in what felt like lifetimes, he let himself relax—one arm gently wrapping around her waist, the other resting against her back.
"You're safe," she murmured into his shoulder. "I don't care how strong you are—don't do that alone again."
Johan didn't respond immediately. But when he pulled back to meet her gaze, his expression softened.
"I promised to protect you," he said. "And now… that future where you die? It won't happen. Not anymore."
Kanae's eyes widened.
She felt it—the shift in him. His words were gentle, but there was a shadow behind his smile. He wasn't just a warrior anymore. He had killed with precision. With purpose.
And something inside him had changed.
Private Moment
Later that evening, Johan sat quietly in the garden, staring at the sky. Kanae approached, sitting beside him. Neither spoke for a while.
The wind was gentle.
"...You feel different," Kanae finally said. "Darker. But also… warmer."
Johan closed his eyes. "I remembered everything. My life before. Who I was."
Kanae blinked. "You weren't from here?"
"I'm not," he admitted. "But now, I've decided to live in this world. For real. No more regret. No more aimless walking."
She watched him for a long moment. "Do you regret remembering?"
He opened his eyes—serene, focused. "No. Because now… I know exactly what I'm willing to protect."
Their hands found each other between them, slowly, fingers intertwining.
System Update (Hidden)
System Notification: New Path Unlocked.
Affection Bond: Kanae Kocho – [Strengthening]
World Anchor Established: Butterfly Estate
Emotional Stability Increased
Human Emotion Curve: 74% Synced
New Quest Available: Meet the Hashira & Ubuyashiki
Note: Johan's presence has begun to shift fate's course. The world is watching.
Ending Scene
That night, Johan stood alone on the rooftop. The moon hung full overhead.
His eyes glowed faintly as he summoned a single blade into his hand—a fusion of fire and frost, forged by both Doma's power and his own Sun Breathing evolution.
"I'll rewrite this world," he whispered to the wind. "One step at a time."
Behind him, Kanae stood in the doorway, silently watching.
He didn't turn around, but he knew she was there.
And for the first time since his reincarnation… he felt home.