Unbeknownst to Ryoichiro, he had been under the watchful eyes of not just Ayane, but Fate itself. Fate was not a conscious entity with desires or emotions; it was an immutable force that governed the equilibrium of existence. It neither favored nor despised; it simply ensured that the scales of life and death remained balanced. In this world, every life was part of a grand equation, and any deviation from the norm triggered a reaction to correct the imbalance.

Ryoichiro’s brush with a shinigami, a harbinger of death, marked the beginning of his entanglement with these supernatural forces. When his fingers accidentally grazed the shinigami’s cold, ethereal form, it wasn't just a fluke — it was a signal to Fate that something was amiss. The shinigami, typically invisible and intangible to the living, was startled by this unexpected contact. But what began as shock quickly morphed into curiosity as it realized that this mere human had somehow bypassed the natural barriers that separated the living from the dead.

Upon closer inspection, the shinigami saw what Ryoichiro himself could not — the green reaper, a spectral manifestation of his mother. This wasn’t just a lingering spirit; it was a force born from Ryoichiro’s profound longing and unresolved grief. The green reaper wasn’t a typical ghost or phantom; it was a rare and powerful anomaly, a protector that defied the very laws that the shinigami were bound to uphold.

This discovery was crucial. The green reaper's existence disrupted the natural order because it allowed Ryoichiro to evade death, something no human should be able to do. The shinigami, duty-bound to maintain the cycle of life and death, reported this anomaly to Fate. Fate, in its impartiality, responded with a directive that was as inevitable as it was unfeeling: Ryoichiro had to die. This was the only way to dissolve the green reaper and restore the disrupted balance.

The first attempt to correct this anomaly occurred during the mugging incident. Ryoichiro’s death was meant to be swift, a simple event that would end his unnatural survival and release the green reaper. However, the green reaper, bound to Ryoichiro by his deep-seated emotions, intervened. Its protective nature, born out of his unresolved attachment, thwarted the shinigami’s attempt to carry out Fate’s directive.

This interference wasn’t a one-time event. Each subsequent close call — whether in his apartment, at his office, on the streets, or in the family restaurant — was another failed attempt by the shinigami to reclaim the life that was now long overdue. With every near-death experience, the green reaper acted as a shield, its power growing in response to Ryoichiro’s intensifying emotions.

Adding to the complexity were the wardings placed by Risa, which she had unknowingly charged with protective energy. These wardings, meant to safeguard against minor spirits and bad luck, had an unexpected side effect: they confused the shinigami. The shinigami, unable to penetrate these barriers easily, found their efforts to reach Ryoichiro delayed and frustrated. This bought Ryoichiro time, but it also deepened the anomaly, drawing even more attention from the forces of Fate.

The situation became even more precarious as Ryoichiro’s longing for his mother intensified. This emotional turmoil not only strengthened the green reaper’s bond to him but also amplified its presence in the world. The green reaper, fueled by his unspoken grief, became a more powerful and desperate force, determined to protect Ryoichiro at all costs. This surge in the green reaper’s power did not go unnoticed. The shinigami, sensing the growing disturbance, began to circle ever closer, their determination hardened by the knowledge that this anomaly had become a significant threat to the balance they were sworn to protect.

As Ryoichiro’s internal struggle deepened, so too did the inevitability of the shinigami’s next move. They were waiting, watching for the moment when they could strike, hoping to find a crack in the green reaper’s defenses or a lapse in Risa’s wardings. The shinigami knew that sooner or later, Fate’s decree would be fulfilled, and the balance would be restored. But until that moment came, Ryoichiro remained caught in the tension between life and death, his very existence a battleground for forces far beyond his comprehension.

The camera transitions into Risa’s apartment as it pans across the dimly lit hallway of a cozy apartment building, its walls adorned with vintage sconces casting a warm, amber glow. The elevator dings softly, and the camera follows as the doors slide open, revealing a plush carpet leading to a door with a brass number plate: 304. The frame lingers on the door for a moment, capturing the faint sounds of the urban landscape — a distant hum of traffic, the occasional muffled chatter — before the camera cuts to the inside.

The atmosphere in Risa’s place was tense, the kind of tension that feels like a heavy fog, thick and stifling, settling over everything. The living room, usually a place of comfort with its soft lighting and warm decor, felt almost too small, as if the walls were slowly closing in on the three occupants. The soft hum of the air conditioning and the distant sounds of the city outside the window were the only noises breaking the uneasy silence.

Risa sat across from Ryoichiro, her legs tucked under her on the couch, holding a cup of coffee she had made earlier. She had barely taken a sip. Her eyes, normally so full of light, were clouded with concern, darting between Ryoichiro and Ed, who stood by the window, arms crossed, his presence as imposing as ever. The Nurarihyon loomed in the background, its shadowy figure blending with the dark corners of the room, as if it were part of the very walls themselves.

Ryoichiro’s hands trembled slightly as he rested them on his knees, the weight of what he was about to say pressing down on him like a physical force. He took a deep breath, steeling himself, before finally breaking the silence.

“It happened in the park,” Ryoichiro began, his voice low, almost as if he were afraid that speaking too loudly would shatter the fragile calm in the room. “When I first encountered the shinigami, I was sure my time had come. I was terrified, completely paralyzed by the sheer presence of it. But then, out of nowhere, this green light enveloped me, shielding me from its grasp. At first, it was just a cloaked figure, shrouded in blinding light, but as I stared harder, I began to see through the glow. I caught glimpses of its form, and then… I saw its face. That’s when I realized — the green reaper was my mother.”

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Risa gasped, her hand flying to her mouth, eyes wide with shock. “Your mother?” she whispered, the disbelief evident in her voice. She had been expecting something strange, something supernatural given the circumstances, but this revelation was beyond anything she could have imagined. Her mind raced, but no coherent thought could settle. Was this really his mother? How could this be possible? She took a tentative step forward, wanting to comfort him, but her feet felt like lead. “Ryo-chan,” she whispered, her voice trembling. She didn’t have the answers, but she couldn’t leave him like this. With a deep breath, she knelt beside him, her hand reaching for his, offering what little comfort she could, even as her own heart raced with fear and confusion.

Ed remained silent, his expression unreadable as he continued to stare out the window, though his posture stiffened ever so slightly. His eyes, usually sharp and calculating, softened momentarily, a flicker of understanding passing through them.

Ryoichiro nodded, his gaze distant, as if he were looking at something far beyond the room they were in. “It all started making sense after the incident in the park,” he continued, his voice steady despite the turmoil raging inside him. “I felt this… overwhelming presence, like I was being watched. I thought it was just the reaper at first, but then… I saw her. Just for a moment. It was her face, but not like I remembered. She was different… ethereal. And then it hit me. She’s been with me all this time.”

Risa’s eyes filled with tears, her heart aching for Ryoichiro. She reached out, placing a comforting hand on his arm. “Ryo-chan… I’m so sorry,” she said softly, her voice trembling with emotion. “I can’t imagine what that must feel like, to realize that…”

Ryoichiro shook his head, a bittersweet smile forming on his lips. “It’s strange, Risa-chan,” he admitted, his voice tinged with sadness. “It’s comforting in a way, knowing she’s been watching over me, protecting me. But it’s also terrifying. This… thing that’s been saving me, keeping me alive when I should have died — it’s my mother. And because of her, I’m now entangled in something far more dangerous than I ever imagined.”

Ed finally turned away from the window, his eyes locking onto Ryoichiro’s. His expression was grave, his usual sarcasm and aloofness absent. “This changes things,” he said, his voice low and serious. “A green reaper… that’s one thing. But if it’s your mother, that means there’s a deeper connection here. For starters, we don’t even know how that came to be. The shinigami aren’t just after you because of some random reaper interfering with their work. They’re after you because you’ve become something that shouldn’t exist — a human with a green reaper’s protection. And not just any reaper, but one with a personal connection to you. The shinigami are bound by fate, Ryoichiro. They don’t act out of spite or malice. They’re driven by a force beyond understanding, a compulsion to maintain the balance of life and death. When your mother’s spirit manifested as the green reaper, it tipped the scales. And fate doesn’t tolerate imbalance.”

Risa tightened her grip on Ryoichiro’s arm, her worry deepening. “Fate? You mean like destiny?” she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Ed sighed, running a hand through his hair. “We need to figure out how to sever that connection without losing your mother entirely,” he said, his tone grim. “We should assume the shinigami already got wind of what she really is, and they’ll stop at nothing to destroy her — and you along with her. This isn’t just about keeping you alive anymore. It’s about saving her soul as well.”

“If she’s trapped in that form… she must be suffering,” Risa said with deep sadness in her eyes.

Ryoichiro nodded, his resolve hardening. “Then that’s what we’ll do,” he said, his voice firm. “We’ll find a way to save her. And I’ll face whatever comes next, head-on.”

Risa looked at him, admiration and fear mingling in her gaze. “We’ll face it together, Ryo-chan,” she said, her voice steady. “No matter what happens.”

Ed nodded in agreement, the weight of the situation pressing down on all of them. The room fell silent once more, the fog of tension thickening, but now there was a spark of determination cutting through it — a determination to fight against the impossible, to protect the bonds that tied them together, no matter the cost.

Ryoichiro sat still for a moment, his gaze fixed on a spot just beyond the room, as if expecting Ayane to materialize out of thin air. He had called out to her, his voice tinged with an odd mixture of desperation and hope, but the silence that followed was heavy and unforgiving. Risa watched him closely, her worry deepening with each passing second of unanswered anticipation.

When no response came, Ryoichiro sighed and lowered his head, feeling a pang of disappointment. It wasn’t like Ayane to leave him hanging, especially after the intense encounters they’d shared. He couldn’t shake the feeling that she was out there, watching, but choosing not to reveal herself.

Ed broke the silence, his voice calm yet reassuring. “Don’t sweat it, Ryo. Ayane did say that if we find out more about the reaper, the organization would know how to handle it. They’ve got resources, connections — things we don’t even know about. I’m pretty sure she already knows what’s going on.”

Ryoichiro looked up at Ed, his expression a mixture of concern and resolve. He nodded slowly, acknowledging the logic in Ed’s words. Ayane had always been elusive, but she wasn’t careless. If there was something significant at play, she would be on top of it. Still, the uncertainty gnawed at him.

Ed, sensing Ryoichiro’s unease, offered a reassuring grin. “And since we’ve got a clearer picture now, I think it’s time we put some of Nurarihyon’s big brain to use. This thing’s not just here for show.” He glanced over at the towering figure of the Nurarihyon, its silhouette dark and imposing against the dim light of the room. “I’ve been working on something with it — a way to tap into its knowledge, its memories. The Nurarihyon isn’t just some run-of-the-mill spirit; it’s ancient, and it’s seen things that might just give us the edge we need.”

Ryoichiro’s eyes flicked to the Nurarihyon, a mix of curiosity and apprehension in his gaze. The creature had always been an unsettling presence, its aura thick with an air of mystery and power. But if Ed believed it could help, then maybe it was worth exploring.

Risa, who had been quietly observing the exchange, leaned forward, her interest piqued. “How exactly do you plan to do that?” she asked, her tone a mix of skepticism and intrigue. She knew Ed well enough to trust his instincts, but the idea of tapping into a spirit’s memories sounded… dangerous.

Ed shrugged, the casual motion belying the seriousness of his plan. “It’s not without risks, that’s why I didn’t dabble in it before. But I think I can channel some of its knowledge through me. It’s tricky, though — Nurarihyon’s mind is like a labyrinth, full of twists and turns that could easily trap someone who’s not careful. But if we’re lucky, we might be able to extract something useful. Something that could help us understand the nature of the green reaper, or even how to protect Ryoichiro from the shinigamis.”

Ryoichiro felt a flicker of hope at Ed’s words. They had been grasping at straws for so long, trying to make sense of the chaos surrounding them. If Ed could tap into Nurarihyon’s knowledge, it might be the breakthrough they desperately needed.

“Okay, Ed-san,” Ryoichiro said, his voice steady with determination. “Let’s do it. Whatever it takes to figure this out, I’m in.”

Ed nodded, a glint of determination in his eyes. “Alright, then. Let’s get to work. We don’t have time to waste.”

As the three of them prepared to delve deeper into the unknown, the room seemed to grow quieter, the air thickening with a sense of anticipation. They were about to venture into uncharted territory, facing dangers they could barely comprehend, but for the first time in a long while, Ryoichiro felt a sliver of hope.

The green reaper, his mother, was out there. Whatever it took, whatever the cost, he would save her. He had to believe that she was still in there, waiting for him to bring her back. And with Ed’s plan in motion, they might finally find the answers they needed to protect her — and themselves — from the forces that sought to tear them apart.