Jin Enjoji ¹

It was a cool afternoon at Momo's house, permeated with the scent of wood and tea. The reason for the visit was critical: keeping an eye on Jiji after he contracted the Evil Eye. The golden rule dictated avoiding cold water at all costs. Although Jiji was exasperating to you, you knew his attitude was only an attempt to lighten the tension. Deep down, it weighed on you to be so hard on him.

Night fell. While the girls slept, you tossed and turned on the mat. The problem wasn't Momo, but the ancestral Family Curse you had inherited. Although you managed to master its power, the price was inevitable: every night you relived the screams and visions of the former bearers. Going for a walk was your only remedy.

With extreme caution, you moved Momo to sneak out. You passed by the boys' room and saw them asleep before continuing toward the porch.

Out there, you curled up, trying to anchor yourself to the cold and drown out the voices in your mind. That was when a soft hand rested on your shoulder.

"What are you doing here? Go to sleep," Jiji murmured sleepily.
"I'm not sleepy... You should go inside first, there's dew and you could turn into..."

Before you could finish, you saw a drop of cold water fall from the ceiling directly toward him.

Cold water equaled disaster!

By pure instinct, you yanked the sleeve of his pajamas to pull him away from the drop, slamming him against the wooden wall.

"Ouch!" Jiji complained, clutching his forehead, confused. "I know you don't exactly like me, but that wasn't necessary."

Your desperate attempt to protect him had only ended in an absurd collision.