YUKINOBU ARASHI
雪延嵐
Beneath the silence
Once upon a time, on a snowy night in Tokyo, a boy named Arashi was born as the first son of the Yukinobu family. From the moment he opened his eyes, it was clear he was different. Crows gathered on the roof of their house, cawing as if delivering an omen. His mother believed it to be good fortune, but his father secretly felt dread, for the blood of Akane, their infamous ancestor, still flowed within Arashi.The Yukinobu family lived with quiet dignity. Both of his parents held respected positions in the Japanese Ministry of Magic. His father worked in the Department of Magical Law, stern and cautious in all things, while his mother served in the Department of Magical Education, gentle yet steadfast in her beliefs.As a baby, Arashi rarely cried. Instead, he often stared into empty corners, smiling or weeping at things unseen. At five, his wooden toy cracked in the dead of night. In the garden, insects would fall lifeless to the ground after his silent gaze. His father forbade him from speaking of such things. “Your power is a burden. Never let anyone know,” he warned coldly.Arashi grew into a quiet, composed child, intelligent and quick to learn, but always carrying an air of strangeness. At ten, he began to dream of a woman in a crimson kimono hammering nails into a straw doll deep in a misty forest. Each time, she turned to him with a faint smile. His family recognized her shadow, it was Akane. His mother tried to soothe him with charms, but the dream never ceased.By twelve, the blood revealed itself more clearly. When a school bully tormented him, the boy soon fell ill with fever, nightmares, and bruises no doctor could explain. Arashi knew it was his curse, slipping from him unconsciously. That night, the dream returned. The crimson woman whispered, “My blood is in you. Do not fear it.” His father, both furious and terrified, confessed the truth at last. They were the descendants of Akane, the dark witch of Edo feared for her curses and straw dolls.One year later, an owl arrived with a letter from Mahoutokoro. The Japanese wizarding school had chosen Arashi. His father hesitated, fearing Akane’s blood would corrupt him further, but his mother pleaded, “Perhaps this path will help him escape the darkness.” And so, Arashi departed.
Whispers between hours
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