In the 1600s, a middle-aged woman related to Connor Noroi found herself in a fateful encounter with a malevolent cursed demon beneath the sprawling branches of a cherry bush. The demon, with a darkly seductive charm, presented her with a choice: save her village from imminent ruin but at the steep cost *of her family's well-being. She was desperate and accepted the bargain unknowingly sealing the fate of the future generation.
As the years passed, the weight of her choice cast a curse over her descendants. On the birth of Connor Noroi whispers of an ominous curse lingered in the air. It was foretold that he would bear the impact of the family's tragic legacy. In a cruel twist of fate, the curse manifested in the lives of his five children each marked by misfortune and haunted by the specters of the past. With strands of sacrifice and regret, as they struggled to escape the dark implications of a mother's desperate choice made centuries ago.
50 Years Later….
Connor wakes up, grabbing his blanket, and tossing it aside. His daughter Besetesuru then knocks gently on the door.
"Who is it?" He calls out, walking up to the door and gripping the handle. A small crack echoes in the stillness as he opens the door, revealing his daughter's bright smile.
"Good morning, Dad!" Her eyes shine with excitement as Connor opens the door. He sees her standing there with her backpack, ready to go to school.
As Connor turns to check the clock, he catches the determined glare from Besetesuru.
7:06 Am…
"Oh, It's already 7 AM, huh?" He exclaims, closing the door behind him "Give me a second to get my clothes, and I'll take you to school"
He hurries back to his room, quickly pulling on a shirt and a pair of jeans. Besetsuru giggles softly; she knows this routine all too well.
"Dad, you need to set your alarm earlier," she teases him with a playful grin on her face.
"Yeah yeah, remind me later when we get home then" he replied, trying to sound relaxed as he fumbled with his shoelaces. "I'll do better tomorrow."
When he finally appears in the hallway, Besetesuru waits by the door with her backpack ready. He ruffled her hair lovingly, and she laughed, playfully swatting his hand away.
"Ready to go?" he asks, reaching for his keys on the table.
"Ready!" she replies, her excitement eased to see.
As they step outside, the cool morning air greets them, and the sun rises over the horizon, lighting up their neighborhood. Connor can't help but smile.
Connor looks at the sky, with a smile, then he looks at his daughter, Besetesuru, and he smiles at her.
They both then walk to the parking lot where the car is parked.
Connor takes his keys out of his pocket, and using the key to open the car, he then opens the door for Besetesuru to sit down before he sits down in his seat, starting up the engine.
As they cruise down the familiar streets, Besetesuru chatters about her favorite subject at school, her smile unfaltering. "Dad, I'm excited about art class today! We're working on our project about family traditions," she says, her voice bubbling with enthusiasm.
Connor chuckles, trying to match her excitement. "That sounds great, Besetesuru! What family tradition are you planning to share?"
Her eyes light up. "Well, I was thinking about the cherry blossoms in grandma's garden! Do you remember those? I want to paint how pretty they look in spring."
At the mention of cherry blossoms, a chill runs down Connor's spine. It's not just a flower to him. It's a symbol of both beauty and sorrow, a constant reminder of the curse that lurks in their family history. Something in the wind whispers a warning he can't quite decipher.
"Yeah, I remember," he manages, forcing a smile. "Those trees are stunning. Just… Make sure you don't forget to talk about their significance."
"Of course, Dad! I'll tell them about Grandma's love for the blossoms and the stories she used to tell us, she beams, oblivious to his somber feelings.
As they arrive at the school, Connor parks the car and glances at the building looking before them. Children's laughter fills the air, mingling with the sound of the school bell ringing. It feels like a world away from the Noroi family's shadows, a temporary escape he desperately wishes his children could have forever.
"Here we are," he says, turning to Besetesyry. "Have a great day, sweetie, and remember to stand up for yourself, okay?"
"I will! I love you, Dad!" she says, swinging her backpack over her shoulder and bounding towards the school entrance.
As she disappears into the crowd, Connors's heart aches at how strongly he wishes to protect her from the curse that haunts their family. He sits in the car for a moment longer, staring at the building, feeling the curse deepen.
Suddenly, his thoughts are interrupted by a sharp knock on the window. He startles and turns to see Minori, his oldest child standing outside the car. He wears a look of concern mixed with empathy.
"What are you doing here, Minori?" he asks, rolling down the window.
"I wanted to see if Besetsuru was okay. She seemed anxious last night," Minori says, his voice steady, but there's an underlying tension in his tone. The unfortunate legacy of their family could rear its head at any moment, often during times when least expected.
"She's fine, just excited for art class," Connor replies, but he can see the doubt clouding Minori; 's eyes. "What about you? How are you holding up?"
"I'm managing. You know how it is. Just trying to ensure Cid and the others don't follow the curse's whispers," He says, glancing around as if watching for unseen threats.
Connor nods, understanding the unsaid. It was never just about Besetsuru. Each child battled their inner demons, some more fiercely than others, intertwined in a legacy they couldn't escape.
"Just stay strong for them, alright?" he responds wishing he had the strength to fight the curse for them. "Remember, you're not alone in this."
Minori offers a small smile, but it doesn't reach his eyes. "Neither are you, Dad."
With that, she turns and walks back towards the school, the leaves rustling as if echoing his silent fears, a reminder that the burden of their ancestor's deal weighs heavily on all of them.
One more, Connor sits alone in the car, staring at the school building, feeling the suffocating darkness that lurks just beyond the shadows of their everyday lives. As the bell rings again, he knows this is the beginning for Besetesuru and his other children.
And he fears the day they will confront the true cost of their family curse.