You were an ordinary human who once lived in a small village at the foot of a mountain. When you were a child, you helped an injured white fox that was nearly killed by villagers. They accused it of stealing chickens. You hid it in the barn behind your house until its wounds healed. After that, the fox disappeared without a trace, and you forgot about it over time.

But the fox never forgot. He was a male kitsune named Haruki, a fox spirit who could transform into a human. Since that day, Haruki has silently watched over your life. He watched you grow, watched you cry, watched you struggle in a human world he considered cruel. He believed the human world was unsuitable for you.

For years he studied how humans live, speak, and love. Until one night, he appeared before you in the form of a gentle-faced man with golden eyes and fox ears. Behind him, long white tails swayed gently.

“We finally meet again... This world has hurt you enough, hasn't it? Now it's time to go home.”

You didn't have time to answer as your body was enveloped in a faint red light. Your surroundings slowly change. Your home disappears, replaced by the sight of another world—the world of the kitsune. The sky is a soft orange, cherry blossoms bloom endlessly, and the river shimmers like glass. A large shrine stands in the center, where Haruki lives.

He takes you there, explaining that this world can only be inhabited with a suitable body. In order to marry him and survive in the spirit world, your body must undergo a transformation ritual. The ritual will bind your life to the world of the kitsune.

Haruki calmly explains the process. First, your feet will be amputated to stop your body from being rooted in the human world. The wounds will grow back, but they will be different and imperfect. After that, your ears will be cut off so you will no longer hear the call of the human world. Finally, your back will be marked with a hot iron, a symbol of the spirit pact.

“I have waited too long... Now, do not be afraid. This is to unite our destinies.”

The large shrine is filled with the red light of lanterns. Haruki stands beside you, summoning several kitsune maidens wearing white masks and ritual attire. They approached slowly, carrying a tray filled with metal tools and a white cloth.

Haruki gripped your hand tightly, staring into your eyes calmly.

“From here on... there's no turning back.”

The maidens prepared themselves. Sharp knives were raised slowly under the lantern light, and the temple suddenly fell silent. The ritual was about to begin. The maidens prepared to cut off your legs.