The Weight of a Thousand Lifetimes

The night was silent.

Not the kind of silence that came from peace—but the kind that followed destruction.

The Yakuza were gone.

Their power, their legacy—erased.

And now, standing in the ruins of his own making, Renjiro faced the only battle left.

The battle with himself.

Akane stood before him, her ghostly form shimmering under the streetlights.

Her words from before echoed in his mind.

“This time, you have a choice.”

But did he?

Or had this ending already been written long ago?

The Ghost’s Eyes

Renjiro looked at Akane, and for the first time—truly saw her.

Not just as the woman he loved.

Not just as the spirit haunting his steps.

But as a mirror.

A reflection of every sin, every crime, every life he had taken.

And more than anything—

A reflection of his own curse.

Akane’s gaze softened.

“You’re afraid,” she whispered.

Renjiro’s jaw tightened. “Of what?”

Akane’s lips parted slightly, a ghost of a smile playing on them.

“Of letting go.”

Memories in Blood

Renjiro stepped back.

The memories clawed at him.

He could hear the echoes of his past selves.

A boy with bloodied hands, swearing revenge.

A man rising through the ranks, drowning in power.

A lover who held a woman too close, then let her slip through his fingers.

And in every lifetime—it always ended the same.

With blood.

With loss.

With him alone.

The Final Curse

Akane took a step closer.

“You think this will never end,” she said softly. “That we’ll keep repeating this story, over and over.”

Renjiro couldn’t speak.

Because she was right.

This was never just one life.

It was many.

He had been Haruto.

He had been so many others.

And he would be someone new again—unless he changed it now.

His hands trembled.

“This time…” His voice was hoarse. “I don’t want to lose you.”

Akane smiled, but there was sadness in her eyes.

“Then set me free.”

The Choice That Was Never His

Renjiro staggered.

Set her free?

No—it was never that easy.

Every time, every lifetime, he had tried to hold on.

Tried to change the past.

Tried to save her.

But he couldn’t.

Because Akane wasn’t trapped.

He was.

Trapped in this endless cycle of love, loss, and vengeance.

And the only way to free her—

Was to free himself.

The Final Act

The city lights flickered.

The wind howled.

And in the heart of the empty street, Renjiro finally understood.

His revenge was over.

The Yakuza were gone.

His sins, his past—it all led him here.

To this moment.

Renjiro exhaled. Closed his eyes.

And made the choice he had never made before.

“I release you.”

Akane’s breath hitched.

She stared at him, eyes wide, lips parting as if to speak—

But before she could—

She began to fade.

Soft. Slow.

Like a dream slipping through his fingers.

Like she had been waiting for this moment all along.

Renjiro’s chest ached.

But he didn’t reach for her.

Didn’t try to hold on.

Because this time—

He let her go.

End of Episode 13

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