Part One — The Beginning
In psychology, Carl Rogers reminds us that people grow best in environments that feel supportive and intentional. In philosophy, Alain de Botton reminds us that reflection is how we make sense of the rush of days. And when it comes to food, a well-seasoned stew reminds us to slow down, let things simmer, and savour every flavour.
Nimi Okawa sighed from where she stood in her living room, letting her handbag slip from her hand and fall to the floor. Another day of wishing she was filthy rich. But she wasn't.
She shook her head, rubbing her temples. Accounting spreadsheets, endless calls, deadlines to meet—all swirled in her head. The life of an accountant. It was especially brutal at a corporation that demanded more but paid less. Nimi didn't know why she still worked there. Well, she did. The certainty and comfort, though ironic, kept her there. Nimi was not afraid of quitting her job, but rather of finding a new one. That was her fear.
"Tadaima (I'm home)," Nimi whispered to the air with a soft and tired tone.
No response came back. That was how it had been for the past two months, ever since she broke up with her toxic ex, Ryuji. He had tried to film her discreetly and sell the tapes. But Nimi had caught up to his games faster and dumped him. She even went as far as filing a restraining order against him.
Now she was back to living alone in her two-bedroom apartment. It was cold, lonely, and dull, but at least she was safe here.
Nimi's eyes glanced around her living room before they landed on something particular. Her heart thudded in her chest, just at the mere sight of it.
Perched on the edge of a small wooden shelf beside the window, partly hidden behind a few books and a ceramic vase, was the jade ornament. It wasn't bright or flashy, but the soft green stone seemed to catch the room light on its own. A delicate swirl of water was carved into it, and a thin silver chain ran through it hinted at the care it had been given over generations.
Nimi crossed the room slowly, almost reverently, lifting the ornament into her hands. It felt cool and familiar, heavy in the right way, like it had always been there to calm her when things felt too hard. She ran her fingers over the swirls, the same patterns her grandmother had described in hushed, almost fearful whispers years ago.
"Nimi-chan, our family is not like other families. We will always need protection until our last breath."
Nimi remembered a memory from when she was ten. She had hit her left knee on a table, tearing the skin and leaving blood slowly trailing down her leg.
The whole family had gathered around her, urgency and tension in the air. Now older, Nimi understood why they had worn such worried expressions when the incident had happened.
"Nimi-chan, what happened today will never happen again," her grandmother said while tending to her wound. "When you grow up, you'll understand today. And you'll never forget."
Her grandmother had been right. She never forgot. The scars were still on her left knee, even with the passage of time.
"The jade will always protect you, just like it has protected us. Nimi, we will never lose it. Ever again." Her grandmother finished speaking, and the memory faded.
At the time, Nimi hadn't understood the meaning of the jade or her injury. Now she did. She knew that the consequences of her brother's actions had led to her wound.
Nothing must ever happen to the jade. Nothing.
With a sigh, Nimi placed the jade ornament back in its place with careful precision and walked over to the bathroom. A cold shower was what she needed—to wash away the day's stress and welcome the cold of the night air.
Out of her work clothes and under the shower, Nimi welcomed the hiss of the water. Her movements continued quietly in her slightly soundproof bathroom. Then a thud made her startle. She froze, listening. When it came again, she quickly turned off the shower, pressing her hand to her chest as her heart raced.
The sound came louder this time, and Nimi rushed out of the bathroom. She grabbed clothes from her bedroom and slipped them on quickly.
Her eyes immediately scanned the room for her phone, and then she realized.
She gasped. "My bag. It's in the living room."
Panic clenched her chest. Nimi had never faced intruders before, but she had heard stories of people who did. It featured on the news from time to time. How people were murdered coldly by strange people who broke into their home—some with grudge, some for no reason at all.
Nimi wondered what number she'd be on this person's murder list.
She didn't want to die. But as she looked around her bedroom, she realized the only slightly heavy weapon she had was her reading lamp. So she grabbed it.
She couldn't stay in her room forever. It was only a matter of time before whoever was on the other side broke through the door.
But how did they get in?
Who could it be? Ryuji? Surely he wouldn't dare violate a restraining order. But what if he did? What if he had come to kill them both in a twisted act of revenge?
The thought made Nimi's hands sweat and her heart pound. But if there was anything she had learned from her family's history, it was that they were strong people who had survived the worst. Nimi would survive this too.
Wielding the lamp and moving with quiet steps, she slipped out of her room and came face to face with the mess that was her living room. Things were upturned and in disarray. Scattered and shattered. And standing in the middle of it were four men in ski masks, still tearing through her belongings, too focused to notice her presence at first. Nimi's eyes widened in disbelief.
She just needed to grab her bag, get her phone, and call the cops.
She tightened her grip on the lamp and crept forward, but one of the men quickly spotted her. All four of them froze, staring back at her.
What happened next was a mess. Two of the masked men grabbed whatever was nearest and threw it at her.
"Run, run, run!" the one who had seen her shouted, and they all bolted toward the door.
Nimi knew she couldn't let them all get away. She had to catch at least one. So she ran after them and managed to grab the last man in line. He struggled, pushing her to the floor, and sprinted toward the exit.
But Nimi swung with everything she had, and the lamp hit him square on the head.
His body slumped to the floor. Nimi dropped the lamp as if it had burned her and slowly crouched down to check if he was still breathing. He was. She exhaled, a long, shaky breath, and ran out the door to see if she could catch a glimpse of the remaining three. They were gone.
With an exasperated, defeated sigh, she walked back inside. Her purpose was clear. She stepped past the unconscious man, her breath hitching and her hands trembling as she moved toward the wooden shelf by the window, carefully avoiding the scattered debris. The shelf lay tipped on the floor. At the sight of it, her heart pounded. Drawing on a strength she didn't know she had, she lifted it back into position and began searching for the most important thing.
The thing that must be safe. The thing that had to be protected. The thing that mattered more than her life. The thing that should never, ever be broken.
As Nimi lifted the books one by one, her heart thudded in her chest. When she reached the last one and moved it aside, she saw it.
Her heart shattered. Fear. Pure, raw fear washed over her.
"No, no, no, no. Please, no," she whispered, her lips trembling, as she lifted the pieces in her hands.
The jade ornament. Passed down from generation to generation. Had broken into two.
Nimi Okawa's family luck, her protection, her safety—all of it lay in her hands. Broken.
The jade ornament had broken.
From here on out, Nimi Okawa and her family were as good as dead.