The morning had come and Senjuro, Nezuko , and Muichiro were busy getting supplies for their raft. As Nezuko got some fresh drinking water, she noticed Makomo looking out past the ocean by the dock.
"Hey, Nezuko . Have you heard about the legendary power of the paopu fruit? They say if you share it with someone you really care for, it binds you together forever and ever, through eternity!" The girl gave a dreamy sigh. "It's so romantic. I gotta try it sometime."
Nezuko giggled. "Maybe I should too if you're making it sound like that."
"Me? Well, I think I can do better than Yuichiro or Yushiro!" Makomo chuckled as Nezuko rolled her eyes but smiled.
Muichiro had collected some coconuts with help from Yuichiro . As he made his way to the raft to set them down, he heard a weird groaning noise.
Turning, the long black-haired boy saw the noise was apparently coming from the Secret Spot that he, Senjuro, and Nezuko first found when they were little.
It was a cave hidden by the roots of the big tree. Senjuro and Nezuko once thought the place was haunted But there was nothing to be afraid of in there. The only thing abnormal was the Wooden Door Without A Handle. It had been there for as long as anyone can remember and without a handle, the door couldn't be opened.
"What even was that noise?" Muichiro thought before brushing it off as his imagination simply playing tricks on him and resumed his path to the raft.
Senjuro was actually in the Secret Spot right now, looking at a drawing of him, Nezuko , and Muichiro together. It was rather poorly made since they made it when they were little, but it held deep value to him since it was when they all first became a true trio of friends together.
Grabbing a piece of rock, Senjuro began carving a paopu fruit on the wall that was in between the three of them, dividing it into three pieces for each one.
"That way, all three of us can be part of each other's lives no matter what."
Suddenly, a shiver ran up Senjuro's spine. The young lad had a feeling that someone was watching him. Quickly, he turned around to see a tall brown-robed figure. He couldn't see anything sticking out of the figure, not even the person's face under the hood.
"I've come to see the door to this world."
"What the... who are you?" Senjuro said defensively.
"This world has been connected."
"Wh-What are you talking about?"
"Tied to the darkness... Soon to be completely eclipsed."
"Look, whoever you are, stop freaking me out?"
Senjuro demanded, trying to sound tough.
"You do not yet know what lies beyond the door."
"So, you're from another world!" Senjuro said in realization.
"There is so very much to learn. You understand so little."
"Oh, yeah? Well, you'll see. I'm gonna get out and learn what's out there!" Senjuro retorted defiantly.
The figure shook its head. "A meaningless effort. One who knows nothing can understand nothing."
Senjuro turned back to look at the Wooden Door Without A Handle and noticed the keyhole in the middle. Was the key to leaving the world just behind the door? But isn't the door closed for a reason? Maybe to keep them in this world...Or to keep something OUT?
Senjuro turned to look at the figure again, only to realize he was gone. Shaking his head, he picked some mushrooms, which is what he had originally come to the Secret Spot for, and went back out to meet up with Muichiro and Nezuko
