Project: Star Child (Notes only by UHCM/Hanako)

NOTICE: Don't Reply In This Thread Unless You're UHCM!


First Name: Hoshiko (Star Child)
Surname: Minatumi (The harbour town she was born in)
Age: Late Teen
Gender: Female

Spoiler:

Tier 5-5 -> 0-0+ = Level 1 -> 46
Base Damage (Required Level 1):
Experience Points (Required Level 1):
Hit Points (Required Level 1): Escalation: Last Level HP + (25 * Level)
Spirit Points (Required Level 11): Escalation: Last Level SP + [25 * (Level - 10)]
Tide Breaker (Required Level 17): 1 per major tier (4 max)

Durability: How tough one can be.
>>>>Beginner: Spiritual Reduction: -10% | Physical Reduction: -0%
>>>>Adept: Spiritual Reduction: -20% | Physical Reduction: -5%
>>>>Advanced: Spiritual Reduction: -30% | Physical Reduction: -10%
>>>>Master: Spiritual Reduction: -40% | Physical Reduction: -15%
Speed: How quick one can be.
>>>>Beginner: 3 Actions per Turn Maximum
>>>>Adept: 6 Actions per Turn Maximum
>>>>Advanced: 9 Actions per Turn Maximum
>>>>Master: 12 Actions per Turn Maximum
Strength: How strong one can be.
>>>>Beginner: 150lbs Burden Limit | +1-1 Damage Boost
>>>>Adept: 200lbs Burden Limit | +2-2 Damage Boost
>>>>Advanced: 250lbs Burden Limit | +3-3 Damage Boost
>>>>Master: 300lbs Burden Limit | +4-4
Weapon: How well one can use a weapon.
>>>>Beginner: Preferred Boost: +2-5 | Other Boost: +1-1
>>>>Adept: Preferred Boost: +4-10 | Other Boost: +2-2
>>>>Advanced: Preferred Boost: +6-15 | Other Boost: +4-4
>>>>Master: Preferred Boost: +8-20 | Other Boost: +8-8
Spirituality: How well one can use spiritual powers.
>>>>Beginner: +0% of Base Spirit Power Skill | Spirit Power affects 1 Ally
>>>>Adept: +5% of Base Spirit Power Skill | Spirit Power affects 2 Allies
>>>>Advanced: +10% of Base Spirit Power Skill | Spirit Power affects 3 Allies
>>>>Master: +20% of Base Spirit Power Skill | Spirit Power affects 4 Allies
Valor: How brave one can be.
>>>>Beginner: Major Chance of Fear
>>>>Adept: Moderate Chance of Fear
>>>>Advanced: Minor Chance of Fear
>>>>Master: Immunity to Fear
Perception: How well one can analyze.
>>>>Beginner: +3% Extra Damage/Heal
>>>>Adept: +6% Extra Damage/Heal
>>>>Advanced: +8% Extra Damage/Heal
>>>>Master: +12% Extra Damage/Heal
Motivation: How well one can rally others.
>>>>Beginner: +1 to all allies' Weapon Use Skill
>>>>Adept: +1 to all allies' General Speed Skill
>>>>Advanced: +1 to all allies' Strength Skill
>>>>Master: +1 to all allies' Durability Skill
Willpower/Determination: How far one can persist.
>>>>Beginner: -10 Till Knockout | -25 Till Death
>>>>Adept: -20 Till Knockout | -50 Till Death
>>>>Advanced: -30 Till Knockout | -75 Till Death
>>>>Master: -40 Till Knockout | -100 Till Death
Mental Deduction: How well one can determine true and false.
>>>>Beginner: Overcome 4th Tier Illusion
>>>>Adept: Overcome 3rd Tier Illusion
>>>>Advanced: Overcome 2nd Tier Illusion
>>>>Master: Overcome 1st Tier Illusion
Pain Endurance: How well one can endure the pain. (D20 Required)
>>>>Beginner: 18-20 For Success Resistance
>>>>Adept: 14-20 For Successful Resistance
>>>>Advanced: 10-20 For Successful Resistance
>>>>Master: 6-20 For Successful Resistance
Focus: How well one can concentrate.
>>>>Beginner: Chance of Interruption = 100% Unprepared / 80% Prepared
>>>>Adept: Chance of Interruption = 75% Unprepared / 60% Prepared
>>>>Advanced: Chance of Interruption = 50% Unprepared | 40% Prepared
>>>>Master: Chance of Interruption = 25% Unprepared | 20% Prepared

Major Tier = Spiritual Pressure Ranking = Compared to Canon Character
5 = F = Faint = Keigo Asano
4 = D = Weak = Tatsuki Arisawa
3 = C = Fair = Yasutora Sado
2 = B = Moderate = Rukia Kuchiki
1 = A = Strong = Yachiru Kusajishi
0 = S = Immense = Kenpachi Zaraki

Tide Breakers: Tide Breakers are signature abilities that can drastically change the battle situation, but required certain criteria to be met. For Hoshiko, whenever she supported or healed anyone, she earns a point and for each 10 points, she can initiate a Tide Breaker of Level. So if she has 10 points, she can use any Tide Breaker as Level 1, but for 20 points, she can access second level of any Tide Breaker. The cap for Hoshiko was based on how much Tide Breakers, meaning she can only obtained up to four Tide Breakers and thus only obtained up to four Levels. Once the Tide Breaker is used, her Tide Break points will be fully depleted, regardless of remainders.
Level 17: Healing Wind: Heals everyone in the thread with comforting wind.
>>>>Level 1 (10 Points/Requires Healing Wind Unlock): All allies receives 20% Healing, All enemies receives 10% Healing.
>>>>Level 2 (20 Points/Requires Smite Evil Unlock): All allies receives 40% Healing. All enemies receives 20% Healing.
>>>>Level 3 (30 Points/Requires Gospel Unlock): All allies receives 60% Healing. All enemies receives 30% Healing.
>>>>Level 4 (40 Points/Requires Holy Unlock): All allies receives 80% Healing. All enemies receives 40% Healing.
Level 23: Smite Evil: Everyone in the thread who is going to attack or intending to attack will find their attack(s) stopped prematurely and rendered harmless for the next rounds depending on level. Defensive or support abilities like healing and barriers are allowed during these times.
>>>>Level 1 (10 Points/Requires Healing Wind Unlock): Lasts 2 Rounds.
>>>>Level 2 (20 Points/Requires Smite Evil Unlock): Lasts 3 Rounds.
>>>>Level 3 (30 Points/Requires Gospel Unlock): Lasts 4 Rounds.
>>>>Level 4 (40 Points/Requires Holy Unlock): Lasts 5 Rounds.
Level 29: Gospel: Everyone in the thread receives a substantial range of benefits as along Hoshiko is maintaining it, making her vulnerable and unable to defend herself during this time.
>>>>Level 1 (10 Points/Requires Healing Wind Unlock): Spiritual Armor (Protects against spiritual attacks)
>>>>Level 2 (20 Points/Requires Smite Evil Unlock): Physical Armor (Protects against physical attacks)
>>>>Level 3 (30 Points/Requires Gospel Unlock): Regeneration (healing over time)
>>>>Level 4 (40 Points/Requires Holy Unlock): Intervention (when a person was about to die, that person receives full restoration, only works once)
Level 34: Holy: The entire area of the thread is sealed off by a barrier that protects the area from any outside force of any level of power intending on destroying the area, but increases vulnerability to any attack for everyone inside.
>>>>Level 1 (10 Points/Requires Healing Wind Unlock): +20% Vulnerability
>>>>Level 2 (20 Points/Requires Smite Evil Unlock): +40% Vulnerability
>>>>Level 3 (30 Points/Requires Gospel Unlock): +60% Vulnerability
>>>>Level 4 (40 Points/Requires Holy Unlock): +80% Vulnerability

Spiritual Abilities
Cure: Heals the target in a near instant by 25% of user's hit points. When under the effect of Smite Evil, it can heal all allies by 50% of the user's hit points.
Protect: Create a barrier in between the attacker and the victim, rendering the physical attack useless, but the victim cannot attack through the barrier with a physical attack. All physical being cannot go through the barrier. This barrier can be broken by spiritual attacks and spirits can go through them.
Shield: Create a barrier in between the spiritual attack and the victim, rendering the attack useless, but the victim cannot use spiritual attacks through the barrier. All spirit cannot go through the barrier. This barrier can be broken by physical attacks and physical beings can go through them.
Valor: The target receives Regeneration (HP overtime) for five rounds. It generally lasts 2 Rounds.
Faith: The target receives Rejuvenation (SP overtime) for five rounds. It generally lasts 2 Rounds.

Finale: It is an auto-trigger ability for when the character supposedly dies. Considering its requirement that the character must die to trigger it, it is a super-ability, an ability that is too powerful for playable use at all. Story-wise, the super-ability usually plays a key role in the holder's story the moment it was obtained.
Life Stream: Hoshiko devoted her life for the lives of others and in some beliefs, enough sacrifices would be granted something close to godhood. However, when Hoshiko dies, her body remains for eternity without decay while her soul is freed and becomes part of the world she lives in as its restoring life force and its acting defense against those who threatened its existence...her existence. In the spirit world, she also becomes the guide for souls who have lost their lives so the lost souls can be sent to the Soul Society safely.

Level 1 (5-5) | Required XP: 0
Base Damage: 0-1
Hit Points: 25 (+25)

Level 2 (5-5+) | Required XP: 11 (+11)
Base Damage: 1-1
Hit Points: 75 (+50)

Level 3 (5-4) | Required XP: 32 (+21)
Base Damage: 0-2
Hit Points: 150 (+75)

Level 4 (5-4+) | Required XP: 63 (+31)
Base Damage: 1-2
Hit Points: 250 (+100)

Level 5 (5-3) | Required XP: 104 (+41)
Base Damage: 2-2
Hit Points: 375 (+125)

Level 6 (5-3+) | Required XP: 155 (+51)
Base Damage: 0-3
Hit Points: 525 (+150)

Level 7 (5-2) | Required XP: 216 (+61)
Base Damage: 1-3
Hit Points: 700 (+175)

Level 8 (5-2+) | Required XP: 287 (+71)
Base Damage: 2-3
Hit Points: 900 (+200)

Level 9 (5-1) | Required XP: 368 (+81)
Base Damage: 3-3
Hit Points: 1,125 (+225)

Level 10 (5-1+) | Required XP: 459 (+91)
Base Damage: 0-4
Hit Points: 1,375 (+250)

Level 11 (4-3) | Required XP: 560 (+101)
Base Damage: 1-4
Hit Points: 1,650 (+275)
Spirit Points: 25 (+25)
Cure Unlocked

Level 12 (4-3+) | Required XP: 671 (+111)
Base Damage: 2-4
Hit Points: 1,950 (+300)
Spirit Points: 75 (+50)

Level 13 (4-2) | Required XP: 792 (+121)
Base Damage: 3-4
Hit Points: 1,275 (+325)
Spirit Points: 150 (+75)

Level 14 (4-2+) | Required XP: 923 (+131)
Base Damage: 4-4
Hit Points: 1,625 (+350)
Spirit Points: 250 (+100)

Level 15 (4-1) | Required XP: 1,064 (+141)
Base Damage: 0-5
Hit Points: 2,000 (+375)
Spirit Points: 375 (+125)

Level 16 (4-1+) | Required XP: 1,215 (+151)
Base Damage: 1-5
Hit Points: 2,400 (+400)
Spirit Points: 525 (+150)

Level 17 (3-3) | Required XP: 1,376 (+161)
Base Damage: 2-5
Hit Points: 2,825 (+425)
Spirit Points: 700 (+175)
Tide Breaker Level 1 Unlocked: Healing Wind Unlocked
Protect Unlocked

Level 18 (3-3+) | Required XP: 1,547 (+171)
Base Damage: 3-5
Hit Points; 3,275 (+450)
Spirit Points: 900 (+200)

Level 19 (3-2) | Required XP: 1,728 (+181)
Base Damage: 4-5
Hit Points: 3,750 (+475)
Spirit Points: 1,125 (+225)

Level 20 (3-2+) | Required XP: 1,919 (+191)
Base Damage: 5-5
Hit Points: 4,250 (+500)
Spirit Points: 1,375 (+250)

Level 21 (3-1) | Required XP: 2,120 (+201)
Base Damage: 0-6
Hit Points: 4,725 (+475)
Spirit Points: 1,615 (+240)

Level 22 (3-1+) | Required XP: 2,332 (+211)
Base Damage: 1-6
Hit Points: 5,175 (+450)
Spirit Points: 1,845 (+230)

Level 23 (2-3) | Required XP: 2,553 (+221)
Base Damage: 2-6
Hit Points: 5,600 (+425)
Spirit Points: 2,065 (+220)
Tide Breaker Level 2 Unlocked: Smite Evil Unlocked
Shield Unlocked

Level 24 (2-3+) | Required XP: 2, 784 (+231)
Base Damage: 3-6
Hit Points: 6,000 (+400)
Spirit Points: 2,275 (+210)

Level 25 (2-2) | Required XP: 3,025 (+241)
Base Damage: 4-6
Hit Points: 6,375 (+375)
Spirit Points: 2,475 (+200)

Level 26 (2-2+) | Required XP: 3,276 (+251)
Base Damage: 5-6
Hit Points: 6,725 (+350)
Spirit Points: 2,665 (+190)

Level 27 (2-1) | Required XP: 3,537 (+261)
Base Damage: 6-6
Hit Points: 7,050 (+325)
Spirit Points: 2,845 (+180)

Level 28 (2-1+) | Required XP: 3,808 (+271)
Base Damage: 0-7
Hit Points: 7,350 (+300)
Spirit Points: 3,015 (+170)

Level 29 (1-3) | Required XP: 4,089 (+281)
Base Damage: 1-7
Hit Points: 7,625 (+275)
Spirit Points: 3,175 (+160)
Tide Breaker Level 3 Unlocked: Gospel Unlocked

Level 30 (1-3+) | Required XP: 4,380 (+291)
Base Damage: 2-7
Hit Points: 7,875 (+250)
Spirit Points: 3,325 (+150)

Level 31 (1-2) | Required XP: 4,681 (+301)
Base Damage: 3-7
Hit Points: 8,100 (+225)
Spirit Points: 3,465 (+140)

Level 32 (1-2+) | Required XP: 4,992 (+311)
Base Damage: 4-7
Hit Points: 8,300 (+200)
Spirit Points: 3,595 (+130)

Level 33 (1-1) | Required XP: 5,313 (+321)
Base Damage: 5-7
Hit Points: 8,475 (+175)
Spirit Points: 3,625 (+120)

Level 34 (1-1+) | Required XP: 5,644 (+331)
Base Damage: 6-7
Hit Points: 8,525 (+150)
Spirit Points: 3,735 (+110)

Level 35 (0-5) | Required XP: 5,985 (+341)
Base Damage: 7-7
Hit Points: 8,650 (+125)
Spirit Points: 3,835 (+100)
Tide Breaker Level 4 Unlocked: Holy Unlocked
Faith Unlocked

Level 36 (0-5+) | Required XP: 6,336 (+351)
Base Damage: 0-8
Hit Points: 8,750 (+100)
Spirit Points: 3,925 (+90)

Level 37 (0-4) | Required XP: 6,697 (+361)
Base Damage: 1-8
Hit Points: 8,825 (+75)
Spirit Points: 4,005 (+80)

Level 38 (0-4+) | Required XP: 7,068 (+371)
Base Damage: 2-8
Hit Points: 8,875 (+50)
Spirit Points: 4,075 (+70)

Level 39 (0-3) | Required XP: 7,449 (+381)
Base Damage: 3-8
Hit Points: 8,900 (+25)
Spirit Points: 4,135 (+60)

Level 40 (0-3+) | Required XP: 7,840 (+391)
Base Damage: 4-8
Hit Points: 9,000 (+100)
Spirit Points: 4,185 (+50)

Level 41 (0-2) | Required XP: 8,241 (+401)
Base Damage: 5-8
Hit Points: 9,200 (+200)
Spirit Points: 4,225 (+40)

Level 42 (0-2+) | Required XP: 8,652 (+411)
Base Damage: 6-8
Hit Points: 9,500 (+300)
Spirit Points: 4,255 (+30)

Level 43 (0-1) | Required XP: 9,073 (+421)
Base Damage: 7-8
Hit Points: 9,900 (+400)
Spirit Points: 4,275 (+20)
Finale Unlocked: Life Stream Unlocked

Level 44 (0-1+) | Required: Life Stream to be Triggered
Base Damage: 8-8 (MAX)
Hit Points: 9,999 (+99 | MAX)
Spirit Points: 4,300 (+25 | MAX)

Darkness all around and no way to know where to go, she is trapped in the womb as the room is closing in. Muffled barks “Push! Push!” and cries of deep agony are all that she can hear. It scared her as the air was too thin for her to cry out for help. It sickened her to not see, but feel the ooze that surrounds her and virtually suffocates her as the room gets smaller and smaller. Her heart raced with fear and hidden pain that crept her spine. The room began to conform to her sickly body and pressed her...herded her upside down in her twisted room. She tried to kick the room away from her, but her weak legs are only making things worse. Her fear is working against her as her legs kept kicking as the room is compressing her against a hole that is too small. Sickening sounds and feeling of the ooze smacking against her frail body was unbearable as she was forced into the tiny hole. “Push! Push!” the barking continued on and on and on as the cries is getting louder. It scarred her thinking about the cries of the agony. Squeezed tightly into the tiny hole, the pain must been unbearable and yet, she only felt tight and breathless as the room still pressed her feet into the hole. The hole began to squeeze and wrestle with her squishy body. The hole continued the job that the room could not complete. The cries get louder and louder as there was a chill on top of her head. “I can see the head! Keep pushing!” The voice cried out with encouragement. With one strong squeeze, she slid out of the hole and into the light. In pain and in fear, she cannot see anything and there was a bright light hurting her none the less while the chilling air was unfathomable. She screamed as the air subtly returns like water; it made her cry to know that she can breathe again. “It’s a girl, Minatumi-san!” A nearby voice proclaimed. She is blinded and confused while relieved that she can breathe. The cool breeze went by as the light was shifting around her blindness. A moment of weightlessness occurred before she felt safe in something soft. She stopped crying since that comfort came to her. There are giggles and breathing around her as she stays blind until the pain goes away. She was quiet, but breathing. “Hoshiko...” A feminine voice escaped her heavy-hearted breathing. “Star child.”

“That is a good name, Meg-chan.” A light, masculine voice spoke. The pain simmered to a halt as the gentle warmth warded the chill away. The light dimmed, making it less painful for her blindness. Soon, the light became harmless and Hoshiko opened her eyes for the first time since her deathly ordeal. Before her are two people; the one cradling her was a woman with blue eyes that shimmered with radiance that complimented her full face. Her chocolate hair was loose and combed straight as the bangs only creeps along her forehead and hid away her sideburns. Her skin was youthful and vibrant with the life that is now bestowed upon Hoshiko. The woman was Hoshiko’s mother and her name was Minatumi, Megumi. A leaning distance away from Megumi was a man with light brown hair and a pair of green eyes. His hair was combed back like a bird’s mane and short enough that it never touched the back of his hair. The way his face was structured, he was sturdy and relaxed. He is Hoshiko’s father, Minatumi, Akira. Megumi lifted Hoshiko up as Hoshiko can see Megumi’s face closing in on her. It was not long until Hoshiko can feel the soft, smooth lips of her mother upon her forehead. Megumi’s face retracted smoothly away from Hoshiko a bit as Hoshiko was mesmerized by the beauty of seeing her pair of blue eyes. Hoshiko reached out for the eyes, but the only thing she could reach now was her mother’s nose. Megumi grinned upon the product of her labor as that product was trying to connect with her with curiosity. Akira smiled as well, knowing that it is what Megumi would want and what he wanted. Curiosity shifted in Hoshiko’s green eyes as she peered upon her father. She reaches out her left hand while her inability to coordinate forced her right hand to glide down her mother’s nose and lips and chin. Megumi looked at Akira, learning what Hoshiko is now curious about. “I think Hoshiko wanted to get to know you, dear.” Megumi softly spoke to Akira, thinking that Hoshiko’s hearing would be sensitive for now. Akira smiled as he raises himself from his chair a step away from Megumi’s right bedside. Carefully, Hoshiku felt that weightlessness again for a moment as her mother disappeared and her father became her new main attention. “Hello, Hoshiko. It’s papa.” Akira spoke softly to Hoshiko, minding her sensitive hearing that needed time to heal.

Akira’s gentle smile charmed Hoshiko as he sat back down on the chair. He turned to the side so Hoshiko can see her mother. “She is mama, Hoshiko.” Akira introduced Hoshiko to Megumi as Megumi slowly waved at Hoshiko. Hoshiko raised both her hands in lacking coordination and tried her best to move her tiny fingers. The best she could do was to make them curled up while making her arms go up and down. But with the smile of her father and mother, Hoshiko was not so discouraged by her faults. Her mouth gaped ajar and it became her first time smiling. Akira and Megumi get to see it for the first time too and it is one of many things they could never forget. “Look at that smile, Meg-chan.” Akira quietly marveled. “It is cute, just like your smile, dear.” Megumi softly awed at Hoshiko’s smile. “She does have my smile.” Akira happily confirmed. Hoshiko turned her curiosity to the sterile, white room where she will be staying for a while until her parents afford her leave and after her mother is fully recovered. Everything was new to her and honestly, it scared her slightly. There are even more people who are like her mother and father, but they are different. Clothing are either full of colors, white and black or in a single color. Some faces are either younger or older than her mother and father while some are covered with some kind of a cloth over their mouth. Only one was wearing a pair of glasses and no mask, yet dressed like one of those in white and black. His hair was blond while accompanied by a pair of green eyes like her father’s eyes. Akira looked at the man to find out what made Hoshiko curious now. The man smiled and waved at Hoshiko before walking out with the words escaped his mouth, “I’ll be working on another patient.” Is there another patient? What is a patient? Hoshiko was dumbfounded by the new words. “He is Doctor Yamamoto. He will be your doctor soon.” Akira spoken to Hoshiko, promising that she will see that man again in the future. Hoshiko looked at her father as he spoke purely on instinctive reflex as the sound was from somewhere else. There she is charmed again by her father’s smile and responds with a toothless smile. Akira stood up again and walked to Megumi. Hoshiko felt herself being passed over to her mother. While in her mother’s arms, Hoshiko yawned quietly and slowly fell asleep.

It was in the night of the twenty-fifth of November, twenty-three-ninety-five that Hoshiko was born and dubbed by her parents as the star that managed to pierced through the light-corrupted night sky over the large town of Minatumi Harbour. The Star Child was named after that special star that Megumi and Akira can bear witnessed to like the birth brought it out of hiding. It was in the morning when Hoshiko woke up out of her mother’s embrace and inside a transparent bucket with a soft blanket that was wrapped around her cozily. The room around her was white all around and was as bright as the room that she entered from her ordeal. She looked around with confusion and a fraction of insecurity. It is her first time not being held as she can move her tiny legs and arms. She kicked and squirmed out of her blanket and she discovered that she is now in a pink wardrobe that is oddly cozy. She looked ahead of herself and noticed a woman holding her hands together like one hand is embracing the other. It was new to her and she wanted to try. Her arms can only go up and down simultaneously and Hoshiko wanted them to come together. She looked at her legs and tried squirming again. She finds out her legs can move apart and together. She watched her legs moved around in awkward circles. She began negotiating her arms to start mimicking her legs. They kept moving up and down for a while before they started to shift a bit to a different direction. “What is she doing?” A male caretaker asked when taking notice of Hoshiko’s squirming. “I think she is trying to learn how to move her limbs. She was looking at that woman then at herself before squirming like that.” A female caretaker answered with some thinking behind it. Of course, the female caretaker was looking at Hoshiko for a while now since Hoshiko woke up before the others and expected some crying soon. Hoshiko’s arms continued to shift little by little inward and outward from each other. Right before the female caretaker’s eyes, Hoshiko eventually has her hands touching each other while curling up the same way as the woman behind the window was holding her hands together...like a prayer or a grasp of happiness. “She formed her hands like a prayer...It is something new to us in regards to babies.” The female caretaker commented before taking a glance at the woman behind the window. It is amazing to her coming from a baby.

Akira came by behind the window as he pushes the wheelchair that Megumi was sitting on. Perhaps the pain was still there as she half-asleep from just waking up or not having enough sleep. The male caretaker walked out of the room to meet up with Akira. When the male caretaker was talking to Akira, both Megumi and Akira are surprised as their eyes are wide open and Akira took several glances through the window, trying to find Hoshiko. Out of all the infants, Hoshiko was found by Akira as the only baby that has her hands together as the male caretaker described. Akira helped Megumi stand and pointed out Hoshiko for her. Like most of the town, they believed in many gods as the gods may be their ancestors who watch over them and protect them from evil spirits. They think she may have seen one of the ancestors watching over her, but in truth, she is just learning. The male caretaker returned to the room and told the female caretaker, “Everything is all set. Minatumi, Hoshiko is going home.” The female caretaker reached out and picked Hoshiko up after she nodded to the male caretaker in acknowledgement. Hoshiko noticed the bright room was moving as both she and the female caretaker are staying put. The door opened up as the male caretaker helped the female caretaker carry Hoshiko to Akira and Megumi. It was not long until Megumi has Hoshiko back in her arms and Akira pushed the wheelchair that Megumi was sitting in to the elevator, where they will head to the lobby. In the elevator, Megumi looked at Hoshiko as Hoshiko was still learning how to move her arms together and apart. To the parents, Hoshiko was slowly clapping her hands together in gratitude, but to Hoshiko, she was trying to replicate that woman’s hand-hugging. “How about we take her to that church that we like before going home?” Akira asked Megumi. “What if she is hungry?” Megumi asked Akira. “Not to worry, Meg-chan. The two people at the nursery kept her well fed.” Akira answered. “Then let’s go there then.” Megumi replied with happiness in tone. The elevator stopped and Hoshiko was still toying with her hands in plain curiosity as Akira wheeled Megumi through the lobby and out the door where Akira has left a pick-up truck waiting in front. Akira gets as close to the pick-up truck as possible for the wheelchair and opened the door before helping Megumi and Hoshiko into the passenger seat. Akira raced to the driver seat while Megumi buckled herself and secured Hoshiko in her arms. Akira started the engine.

A nudge was felt as Akira started driving the pick-up truck. Hoshiko glanced between her mother and the morning sky. Sounds of growling and squeaking polluted the silence that Hoshiko was used to. Since Hoshiko’s mother and father spoke about the church, Hoshiko was more curious about the church. What is a church anyway? Another nudge was felt as the truck stopped and continued its way to its destination. Hoshiko looked at her mother and noticed her being happy and it made her happy as well as she revealed her toothless smile. She looked back at the sky and marveled that the outside world was no more than just a massive room without a ceiling in sight. Deeper and deeper into the town of Minatumi Harbour, the pick-up truck entered a particular street with a particular alleyway that has a sign saying, “Soul Iris Church.” Akira parked the pick-up truck at the shoulder of the road next to the sign. With her left arm, Megumi held Hoshiko as she unbuckled herself with her right hand. She then transferred Hoshiko from her left arm into her right arm so she can open the door and get out. Carefully, she opened the door and slid out of the truck while making sure that Hoshiko will not fall out of her embrace. Meanwhile, Akira raced over to Megumi so he can help her, however, Megumi shown her strength as she stood without assistance. Akira deposited a few yen to the parking meter so that his pick-up truck would not get taken away during the visit to the church. Before they can enter the alleyway, Megumi and Akira looked at each other with a smile on their face. They leaned closer together and lightly kissed each other. Hoshiko witnessed the sight and grown more curious by the second that she discovered the new world outside the bright room. The small family entered the alleyway, unafraid of the chance of being mugged or killed. This particular alleyway was special and the church within it was even more special for the two parents. There are plenty of secrets in Minatumi Harbour, but there are mysteries behind each secret. “We are close, Meg-chan.” Akira spoke to Megumi as Megumi smiled while looking at Hoshiko, knowing that Hoshiko could be excited as well. Within the alleyway, they come across an opening that connected to two other alleyways and in front of the small family lies the church called, “Soul Iris Church.” Hoshiko looked at the church with awe.

The church stood tall and wide with white stones and decorative bases and foundation. The windows are once stained glass tapestry of God’s triumphs, but now they are long been shattered by age and vandalism. The roof seemed to loom over its neighboring rooftops, but was in disarray due to abandonment. Two towers stood in front as guards for the gateway of old mahogany wood. However, the right tower was in ruins as if a terrible battle has taken place there. In the center of the front wall was a lotus-shaped window that only shines with the morning sunlight as the church was facing east. It would be considered gothic by the Christians as the mighty left spire still stood against time. Along the edge of the rooftop were rusted iron fencing elegantly crafted for the splendor of the church’s deity. In front of the church’s gateway was a pedestal holding a shallow bowl of marble. Looking into the bowl, it was recently cleaned while still has some rain water in it. This was a sign that someone was still taking care of this ominous monument. The mystery behind this church was its standing as it stood for generations before Hoshiko’s parents and it felt that it will stand for the generations beyond Hoshiko’s. It is unknown whether it was forgotten or just not discovered yet, there was that serene solitude of resolution to its appearance. Akira dipped his hands into the bowl and rubbed the water throughout his hands. He then does the same for Megumi’s hands and for Hoshiko’s tiny hands. With their hands cleaned, Akira and Megumi walked to the old mahogany doors with Hoshiko in Megumi’s arms. Akira reached out to the large, simple iron ring that hangs from the left door. Bang! Bang! Bang! Akira knocked on the door with the iron ring. Clatter spoken by the door in response as the locks are released and a gentle old man in a kimono opened the door with a wise, unhindered face of eternal gratitude. “Father Yamamoto. Your son helped Megumi give life to a new soul.” Akira announced to the old man. The old man looked at Hoshiko and was unfazed, but it is easy to tell he is very pleased. “And she is a beautiful baby girl. Hideki spoke of the birth this morning and I’ll gladly show your daughter the flowers my ancestors worked hard to grow.” Father Yamamoto replied. Father Yamamoto stepped aside as Akira and Megumi led Hoshiko into the church.

Upon entering the church, Hoshiko can see the wooden roof held by wooden supports and rafters as the rafters are supported by six tall pillars of white stones and decorative bases. In rows, twelve mahogany pews are lined up orderly and facing to the altar. In between the altar and the pews stood a garden that shown different, yet vibrant colored flowers with a supernatural glow to them as the morning light shines upon them. Hung from the rafters were gothic chandeliers that are without candles as if it was once there for a purpose, but the sun relieved them of their purpose, turning them into ornaments. Behind the altar was a pair of massive doors like a giant can walk in and out of it. Off to either sides both lead off to somewhere that Hoshiko cannot see. Father Yamamoto and Akira walked side by side like father and son as Megumi followed behind them with Hoshiko still curious in her arms. Closer and closer they go to the garden and Hoshiko felt something odd in a good way. It felt like someone was watching over them and she is safe. “It is good that you are still being looked after by the Gods, Akira. The loss of Miyazaki’s husband was hard upon our community.” Father Yamamoto spoke to Akira as if something happened. Megumi covered Hoshiko’s ears as it is something that Hoshiko will not need to hear of so early. “Kohaku is dead? How, Father?” Akira asked. “It happened in Shibuya when a mafia gang member mistaken him for another and shot him.” Father Yamamoto answered. Megumi frowned and Hoshiko noticed. Hoshiko wanted her to smile again, so she tried to do that trick again with her hands. Megumi looked at Hoshiko and noticed her hands in a prayer as if Hoshiko understood. “Father. Take a look at this.” Megumi sought for Father Yamamoto’s attention. Father Yamamoto looked at Hoshiko and smiled greatly. “This is a sign, my child. I know she will love it here.” Father Yamamoto concluded. “If she does, she may as well learn how to take care of these flowers. Like me and Hideki did before we parted ways.” Akira remarked and sounded like something died between him and Hideki. “I will tutor her when she is ready to learn.” Father Yamamoto replied. “What about school? In this society, smart people prosper while the optimists faltered.” Megumi asked, worried about Hoshiko’s future. Akira walked to Megumi and caressed her left cheek with a smile, “Don’t worry. I’m still alive and I’m an optimist.”

Hoshiko watched as Megumi and Akira kissed each other again as Father Yamamoto stood by like a justice to a bride and groom. “Megumi, you can put the child on a pew or on the floor if she desired to be sitting down or walking.” Father Yamamoto spoke as Megumi looked at him like she has forgotten something. “I think Hoshiko is not old enough to...” Megumi spoke before Hoshiko started squirming a bit like she wanted to try. “No one is too young to try something early. And do not fret, my child; the floor is kept smooth and waxed so there will be no splinters.” Father Yamamoto encouraged as he reminded Megumi that Akira is also a handyman. “All while you are in the hospital, Meg-chan.” Akira empathized on that promise. Megumi smiled as she knelt down and slowly lowered Hoshiko out of the blanket and onto her feet. From her lessons back at the nursery, she moved her feet like she did when squirming out of the blanket. Then before her parents’ eyes, she started moving her legs more independently. Megumi was holding Hoshiko up during this time, so Hoshiko would not hurt herself falling onto the wooden flooring of the church. “Seems that Hoshiko wanted to walk before standing.” Akira observed. Slowly, Megumi moved forward so Hoshiko can learn to walk forward. Father Yamamoto and Akira stepped aside to allow Megumi and Hoshiko to walk by. Hoshiko looked at the flowers and became focused on these pretty flowers in the garden. Halfway from where Megumi last stood with Hoshiko, Megumi lets go, but stood close, ready to catch Hoshiko if she falls. However, Hoshiko’s legs are holding her up while her walking balance was shaky at best. Akira walked over to the garden with Father Yamamoto following behind him; both are anticipating Hoshiko’s first walk. Soon, Hoshiko stopped before the garden, struck in awe by the beauty of the flowers. Not only she made her first walk, she stood well like the flowers helped her focus enough to keep her balance while walking. Megumi looked at Akira with a smile on her face. “That early and she is already progressing quicker than we’d imagine, dear.” Megumi said to Akira with a happy tone as if she gave birth to a real miracle right before their eyes. “It is the mystery of this church. It is only here can a miracle can happen so frequently.” Akira spoke softly as she squatted with a smile to Hoshiko.

For over five years, Hoshiko visited the Soul Iris Church every weekend, where she carried on conversations with Father Yamamoto and tended to the flowers as Father Yamamoto tutored her in how to tend these rare flowers. She was attending to classes normally and she made friends normally as well. Despite her steady climb in education, Hoshiko was keeping up with her homework as Megumi wanted her to, so she will tend to the flowers without being piled up in homework. She even learned the faith that her father and Father Yamamoto follow called, the “Shinigami.” She even learned the church’s history through Father Yamamoto. The history started after World War II when missionaries came and erected this church. Originally, Minatumi was small and the church can be seen very easily. They managed to convert some Japanese to Christianity, but in the end, the faith was forgotten and the church was abandoned because the missionaries could hardly afford its upkeep. For over 400 years, the church was decaying until the year twenty-three-eighty-five when the church was rediscovered by Father Yamamoto who has poor luck finding a shrine to call his own. Father Yamamoto not only rediscovered the church, he discovered these rare yet new irises that grew from the broken floor boards. Seeing it as a rare sight, Father Yamamoto and his young son, Hideki hired Hideki’s also young friend, Akira Minatumi to help fix it up, but keep the appearance the same because the uniqueness of its decay made it seem more serene than what it used to be. Back then, Akira was known as the Harbour’s Child because Akira does not have any parents and no one knew how he appeared in their lives as a handyman and Akira and Hideki were once good friends until Megumi came into their lives. They used to fight over who will ask Megumi out for even breakfast (despite Megumi usually chooses Father Yamamoto over the two boys to avoid a conflict.) They eventually went their separate ways when Hideki and Megumi graduated from high school and Megumi chose Akira over Hideki. Ever since then, Hideki usually gives Akira a cold shoulder as Hideki still cared about Megumi because they are childhood friends back at Shibuya. Since that rivalry, Megumi usually be the one to take Hoshiko to the doctor for her check-ups and medical concerns because Hideki (aka Dr. Yamamoto) can do it for her, but not for Akira Minatumi. Still, Hoshiko believed they will forgive each other eventually.

Sixth year, Hoshiko was able to tend to the flowers on her own while she learned many secrets that are meant to be kept for the sake of the flowers’ legacy. While the flowers are beautiful, they have healing and curative properties that can be used to cure poison and treat wounds by drinking them as tea. Although they taste like seaweed, they can be mixed with fish oil to make them taste like sushi while being good for the heart. Father Yamamoto usually has tea on a monthly basis so the flowers will not be all used up along with the upkeep funds. Most of the time, Dr. Hideki Yamamoto and Akira funded the church with a partial amount out of their hard earning while Akira tended to its repair. The strangest thing in this year was every time that Hoshiko prayed, the flowers reacted by glowing and growing more plentiful than before. Even Father Yamamoto’s prayer can do the same effect, but not as strong as Hoshiko’s attempts. Because of that, Father Yamamoto chose to collect a bundle of them, put them in a basket and handed them to Hoshiko to sell at the Harbour’s marketplace. Hoshiko kept her smile as couples from her high school came to her to buy the rare flowers. With the steady income, Hoshiko felt that Akira should not sacrifice so much to keep the church from falling apart. Each and every weekend, she takes the basket of flowers out to the market and returned with some income. Being an optimist, she believed these small incomes are enough to keep her fed and the church alive. In reality, Father Yamamoto was worried that she would be heartbroken to learn that even with her help, the government or a corporation would eventually find this church and tear it down. However, Hoshiko is vigilant and honestly happy about being in the church, even though she is oblivious to mortality. During one of the nights before Hoshiko’s eighth birthday, Father Yamamoto fell ill and became bed-ridden. Even his son’s medical knowledge and medicine could not simmer out the illness. Father Yamamoto told his son that it is his time to join with the Shinigami. Dr. Hideki Yamamoto put a bottle of painkiller by Father Yamamoto’s night table before leaving. Hoshiko came to the Church as Hideki was leaving and his words to her were disheartening, “I am sorry. There is not much I could do.” By Father Yamamoto’s bedside, it was the first time Hoshiko wept over someone’s fate.

Throughout the years since Father Yamamoto’s death, Hoshiko persevered as the new caretaker of the church. With events going by hard around the world outside the harbor, Hoshiko continued her struggles for her survival and the survival of the flowers. Akira and Hideki came together to help Hoshiko as to them, she reminded them of the time that they are in her shoes when Father Yamamoto fallen ill with a fever. Hideki used his internship paychecks to get medicine while Akira used his double effort to earn a bigger paycheck so the church can stay out of demolitionist’s sights. However, when Hoshiko was only eleven, fate took Akira away from Hoshiko and Megumi. It was a good season for fishing as Akira thought about taking Hoshiko out to teach her how to fish for her meals so she would not starve. While Hoshiko was on a motorized fishing boat, Akira and Hideki are preparing the net. When Akira tossed the net to the boat, Hideki had his foot caught in the net and was swept off the dock and into the water. Akira dived in after as bystanders are rushing to the scene. Some are shouting, “Man overboard!” Hoshiko froze in her tracks as she watched the whole thing happened. Suddenly, a knife floated onto water’s surface and a fisherman took the knife with his long arm. It was not long before Akira returned to the surface with Hideki, who was hocking up water. The other fishermen pulled Hideki out of the water and one wrapped him in a blanket before dragging him ashore. As for Akira, something strange happened. Akira’s eyes shot wide open before crying out in pain and disappeared into the water. Hoshiko’s eyes are wide as well as she was afraid that she will lose her father. Her fear was realized as the fishermen dragged her demoralized body ashore with Hideki. Her father is not coming back. Even with the search being deep, it is like something ate him alive. As a sign of remembrance, the fisherman who took the knife gave the knife to Hoshiko as a keepsake. Akira was killed or went missing in action; Hoshiko did not get a clear call about her father’s fate. She was escorted home with Hideki to bring the news to her mother, Megumi. When the news was passed on, Megumi went quiet and wept for a long time with Hideki comforting her. It was not a long time later that Megumi and Hideki became close as Hoshiko considered Hideki to be the closest person to a father.

Due to the situation involving family’s grief for the loss of Hoshiko’s biological father, Hoshiko did not attend high school at all as she was preoccupied with her sorrow and the sorrow that befell her mother. Hideki looked at Hoshiko with interest as if he kept it hidden when Akira was alive. Now that she is closing in on becoming sixteen, Hoshiko recovered from the emotional trauma and returned to her optimistic self, which Hideki and Megumi noted was because of her father. She is even behind on her education, which Hideki and Megumi felt disappointed because they could not help her recover from losing her biological father. As she tends to the flowers, Hideki tried his best to convince Hoshiko to leave the flowers behind and tend to her education, but like how she resembled her father’s unhindered optimism, Hoshiko denied Hideki’s plea and continued tending to the flowers. Because of her perseverance, fishermen who came to the church to pay condolence to Hoshiko, came back to check on Hoshiko each Sunday. Some of the visits bore gifts that the fishermen brought as thanks for the flowers she sold. The mystery of the flowers was the properties that can cure poison and wounds that many fishermen were inflicted from jellyfishes to poisonous mercury off of fish’s scales. As the days progressed, Hoshiko fared better than her mother expected as Hideki was faring poorer than he did before. Even in front of Hoshiko, he shouted into this mobile phone and argued with the board and something about DEPTH-Com, a pharmaceutical company that ran most of the medicinal goods around Japan. The worst of it was the recent days when an unknown illness began going about hospital that Hideki works in. Because of the illness, very little came to buy her flowers or to visit her. Her flowers managed to cure a few of the people, which implied that it was more of a poison than an illness, but with things going about, Hoshiko was stuck in her church as she has to help her townsfolk before seeking out for answers on who would have poisoned a town of only fishermen. In truth, Hoshiko wanted to leave the town to find who was harassing her step-father, Hideki Yamamoto and who was poisoning the town so she can stop it before it affects her mother. Her mother is all that is left of her biological family. She needs a sign of something that could help her find the culprit.

HISTORY

Darkness all around and no way to know where to go, she is trapped in the womb as the room is closing in. Muffled barks “Push! Push!” and cries of deep agony are all that she can hear. It scared her as the air was too thin for her to cry out for help. It sickened her to not see, but feel the ooze that surrounds her and virtually suffocates her as the room gets smaller and smaller. Her heart raced with fear and hidden pain that crept her spine. The room began to conform to her sickly body and pressed her...herded her upside down in her twisted room. She tried to kick the room away from her, but her weak legs are only making things worse. Her fear is working against her as her legs kept kicking as the room is compressing her against a hole that is too small. Sickening sounds and feeling of the ooze smacking against her frail body was unbearable as she was forced into the tiny hole. “Push! Push!” the barking continued on and on and on as the cries is getting louder. It scarred her thinking about the cries of the agony. Squeezed tightly into the tiny hole, the pain must been unbearable and yet, she only felt tight and breathless as the room still pressed her feet into the hole. The hole began to squeeze and wrestle with her squishy body. The hole continued the job that the room could not complete. The cries get louder and louder as there was a chill on top of her head. “I can see the head! Keep pushing!” The voice cried out with encouragement. With one strong squeeze, she slid out of the hole and into the light. In pain and in fear, she cannot see anything and there was a bright light hurting her none the less while the chilling air was unfathomable. She screamed as the air subtly returns like water; it made her cry to know that she can breathe again. “It’s a girl, Minatumi-san!” A nearby voice proclaimed. She is blinded and confused while relieved that she can breathe. The cool breeze went by as the light was shifting around her blindness. A moment of weightlessness occurred before she felt safe in something soft. She stopped crying since that comfort came to her. There are giggles and breathing around her as she stays blind until the pain goes away. She was quiet, but breathing. “Hoshiko...” A feminine voice escaped her heavy-hearted breathing. “Star child.”

“That is a good name, Meg-chan.” A light, masculine voice spoke. The pain simmered to a halt as the gentle warmth warded the chill away. The light dimmed, making it less painful for her blindness. Soon, the light became harmless and Hoshiko opened her eyes for the first time since her deathly ordeal. Before her are two people; the one cradling her was a woman with blue eyes that shimmered with radiance that complimented her full face. Her chocolate hair was loose and combed straight as the bangs only creeps along her forehead and hid away her sideburns. Her skin was youthful and vibrant with the life that is now bestowed upon Hoshiko. The woman was Hoshiko’s mother and her name was Minatumi, Megumi. A leaning distance away from Megumi was a man with light brown hair and a pair of green eyes. His hair was combed back like a bird’s mane and short enough that it never touched the back of his hair. The way his face was structured, he was sturdy and relaxed. He is Hoshiko’s father, Minatumi, Akira. Megumi lifted Hoshiko up as Hoshiko can see Megumi’s face closing in on her. It was not long until Hoshiko can feel the soft, smooth lips of her mother upon her forehead. Megumi’s face retracted smoothly away from Hoshiko a bit as Hoshiko was mesmerized by the beauty of seeing her pair of blue eyes. Hoshiko reached out for the eyes, but the only thing she could reach now was her mother’s nose. Megumi grinned upon the product of her labor as that product was trying to connect with her with curiosity. Akira smiled as well, knowing that it is what Megumi would want and what he wanted. Curiosity shifted in Hoshiko’s green eyes as she peered upon her father. She reaches out her left hand while her inability to coordinate forced her right hand to glide down her mother’s nose and lips and chin. Megumi looked at Akira, learning what Hoshiko is now curious about. “I think Hoshiko wanted to get to know you, dear.” Megumi softly spoke to Akira, thinking that Hoshiko’s hearing would be sensitive for now. Akira smiled as he raises himself from his chair a step away from Megumi’s right bedside. Carefully, Hoshiku felt that weightlessness again for a moment as her mother disappeared and her father became her new main attention. “Hello, Hoshiko. It’s papa.” Akira spoke softly to Hoshiko, minding her sensitive hearing that needed time to heal.

Akira’s gentle smile charmed Hoshiko as he sat back down on the chair. He turned to the side so Hoshiko can see her mother. “She is mama, Hoshiko.” Akira introduced Hoshiko to Megumi as Megumi slowly waved at Hoshiko. Hoshiko raised both her hands in lacking coordination and tried her best to move her tiny fingers. The best she could do was to make them curled up while making her arms go up and down. But with the smile of her father and mother, Hoshiko was not so discouraged by her faults. Her mouth gaped ajar and it became her first time smiling. Akira and Megumi get to see it for the first time too and it is one of many things they could never forget. “Look at that smile, Meg-chan.” Akira quietly marveled. “It is cute, just like your smile, dear.” Megumi softly awed at Hoshiko’s smile. “She does have my smile.” Akira happily confirmed. Hoshiko turned her curiosity to the sterile, white room where she will be staying for a while until her parents afford her leave and after her mother is fully recovered. Everything was new to her and honestly, it scared her slightly. There are even more people who are like her mother and father, but they are different. Clothing are either full of colors, white and black or in a single color. Some faces are either younger or older than her mother and father while some are covered with some kind of a cloth over their mouth. Only one was wearing a pair of glasses and no mask, yet dressed like one of those in white and black. His hair was blond while accompanied by a pair of green eyes like her father’s eyes. Akira looked at the man to find out what made Hoshiko curious now. The man smiled and waved at Hoshiko before walking out with the words escaped his mouth, “I’ll be working on another patient.” Is there another patient? What is a patient? Hoshiko was dumbfounded by the new words. “He is Doctor Yamamoto. He will be your doctor soon.” Akira spoken to Hoshiko, promising that she will see that man again in the future. Hoshiko looked at her father as he spoke purely on instinctive reflex as the sound was from somewhere else. There she is charmed again by her father’s smile and responds with a toothless smile. Akira stood up again and walked to Megumi. Hoshiko felt herself being passed over to her mother. While in her mother’s arms, Hoshiko yawned quietly and slowly fell asleep.

It was in the night of the twenty-fifth of November, twenty-three-ninety-five that Hoshiko was born and dubbed by her parents as the star that managed to pierced through the light-corrupted night sky over the large town of Minatumi Harbour. The Star Child was named after that special star that Megumi and Akira can bear witnessed to like the birth brought it out of hiding. It was in the morning when Hoshiko woke up out of her mother’s embrace and inside a transparent bucket with a soft blanket that was wrapped around her cozily. The room around her was white all around and was as bright as the room that she entered from her ordeal. She looked around with confusion and a fraction of insecurity. It is her first time not being held as she can move her tiny legs and arms. She kicked and squirmed out of her blanket and she discovered that she is now in a pink wardrobe that is oddly cozy. She looked ahead of herself and noticed a woman holding her hands together like one hand is embracing the other. It was new to her and she wanted to try. Her arms can only go up and down simultaneously and Hoshiko wanted them to come together. She looked at her legs and tried squirming again. She finds out her legs can move apart and together. She watched her legs moved around in awkward circles. She began negotiating her arms to start mimicking her legs. They kept moving up and down for a while before they started to shift a bit to a different direction. “What is she doing?” A male caretaker asked when taking notice of Hoshiko’s squirming. “I think she is trying to learn how to move her limbs. She was looking at that woman then at herself before squirming like that.” A female caretaker answered with some thinking behind it. Of course, the female caretaker was looking at Hoshiko for a while now since Hoshiko woke up before the others and expected some crying soon. Hoshiko’s arms continued to shift little by little inward and outward from each other. Right before the female caretaker’s eyes, Hoshiko eventually has her hands touching each other while curling up the same way as the woman behind the window was holding her hands together...like a prayer or a grasp of happiness. “She formed her hands like a prayer...It is something new to us in regards to babies.” The female caretaker commented before taking a glance at the woman behind the window. It is amazing to her coming from a baby.

Akira came by behind the window as he pushes the wheelchair that Megumi was sitting on. Perhaps the pain was still there as she half-asleep from just waking up or not having enough sleep. The male caretaker walked out of the room to meet up with Akira. When the male caretaker was talking to Akira, both Megumi and Akira are surprised as their eyes are wide open and Akira took several glances through the window, trying to find Hoshiko. Out of all the infants, Hoshiko was found by Akira as the only baby that has her hands together as the male caretaker described. Akira helped Megumi stand and pointed out Hoshiko for her. Like most of the town, they believed in many gods as the gods may be their ancestors who watch over them and protect them from evil spirits. They think she may have seen one of the ancestors watching over her, but in truth, she is just learning. The male caretaker returned to the room and told the female caretaker, “Everything is all set. Minatumi, Hoshiko is going home.” The female caretaker reached out and picked Hoshiko up after she nodded to the male caretaker in acknowledgement. Hoshiko noticed the bright room was moving as both she and the female caretaker are staying put. The door opened up as the male caretaker helped the female caretaker carry Hoshiko to Akira and Megumi. It was not long until Megumi has Hoshiko back in her arms and Akira pushed the wheelchair that Megumi was sitting in to the elevator, where they will head to the lobby. In the elevator, Megumi looked at Hoshiko as Hoshiko was still learning how to move her arms together and apart. To the parents, Hoshiko was slowly clapping her hands together in gratitude, but to Hoshiko, she was trying to replicate that woman’s hand-hugging. “How about we take her to that church that we like before going home?” Akira asked Megumi. “What if she is hungry?” Megumi asked Akira. “Not to worry, Meg-chan. The two people at the nursery kept her well fed.” Akira answered. “Then let’s go there then.” Megumi replied with happiness in tone. The elevator stopped and Hoshiko was still toying with her hands in plain curiosity as Akira wheeled Megumi through the lobby and out the door where Akira has left a pick-up truck waiting in front. Akira gets as close to the pick-up truck as possible for the wheelchair and opened the door before helping Megumi and Hoshiko into the passenger seat. Akira raced to the driver seat while Megumi buckled herself and secured Hoshiko in her arms. Akira started the engine.

A nudge was felt as Akira started driving the pick-up truck. Hoshiko glanced between her mother and the morning sky. Sounds of growling and squeaking polluted the silence that Hoshiko was used to. Since Hoshiko’s mother and father spoke about the church, Hoshiko was more curious about the church. What is a church anyway? Another nudge was felt as the truck stopped and continued its way to its destination. Hoshiko looked at her mother and noticed her being happy and it made her happy as well as she revealed her toothless smile. She looked back at the sky and marveled that the outside world was no more than just a massive room without a ceiling in sight. Deeper and deeper into the town of Minatumi Harbour, the pick-up truck entered a particular street with a particular alleyway that has a sign saying, “Soul Iris Church.” Akira parked the pick-up truck at the shoulder of the road next to the sign. With her left arm, Megumi held Hoshiko as she unbuckled herself with her right hand. She then transferred Hoshiko from her left arm into her right arm so she can open the door and get out. Carefully, she opened the door and slid out of the truck while making sure that Hoshiko will not fall out of her embrace. Meanwhile, Akira raced over to Megumi so he can help her, however, Megumi shown her strength as she stood without assistance. Akira deposited a few yen to the parking meter so that his pick-up truck would not get taken away during the visit to the church. Before they can enter the alleyway, Megumi and Akira looked at each other with a smile on their face. They leaned closer together and lightly kissed each other. Hoshiko witnessed the sight and grown more curious by the second that she discovered the new world outside the bright room. The small family entered the alleyway, unafraid of the chance of being mugged or killed. This particular alleyway was special and the church within it was even more special for the two parents. There are plenty of secrets in Minatumi Harbour, but there are mysteries behind each secret. “We are close, Meg-chan.” Akira spoke to Megumi as Megumi smiled while looking at Hoshiko, knowing that Hoshiko could be excited as well. Within the alleyway, they come across an opening that connected to two other alleyways and in front of the small family lies the church called, “Soul Iris Church.” Hoshiko looked at the church with awe.

The church stood tall and wide with white stones and decorative bases and foundation. The windows are once stained glass tapestry of God’s triumphs, but now they are long been shattered by age and vandalism. The roof seemed to loom over its neighboring rooftops, but was in disarray due to abandonment. Two towers stood in front as guards for the gateway of old mahogany wood. However, the right tower was in ruins as if a terrible battle has taken place there. In the center of the front wall was a lotus-shaped window that only shines with the morning sunlight as the church was facing east. It would be considered gothic by the Christians as the mighty left spire still stood against time. Along the edge of the rooftop were rusted iron fencing elegantly crafted for the splendor of the church’s deity. In front of the church’s gateway was a pedestal holding a shallow bowl of marble. Looking into the bowl, it was recently cleaned while still has some rain water in it. This was a sign that someone was still taking care of this ominous monument. The mystery behind this church was its standing as it stood for generations before Hoshiko’s parents and it felt that it will stand for the generations beyond Hoshiko’s. It is unknown whether it was forgotten or just not discovered yet, there was that serene solitude of resolution to its appearance. Akira dipped his hands into the bowl and rubbed the water throughout his hands. He then does the same for Megumi’s hands and for Hoshiko’s tiny hands. With their hands cleaned, Akira and Megumi walked to the old mahogany doors with Hoshiko in Megumi’s arms. Akira reached out to the large, simple iron ring that hangs from the left door. Bang! Bang! Bang! Akira knocked on the door with the iron ring. Clatter spoken by the door in response as the locks are released and a gentle old man in a kimono opened the door with a wise, unhindered face of eternal gratitude. “Father Yamamoto. Your son helped Megumi give life to a new soul.” Akira announced to the old man. The old man looked at Hoshiko and was unfazed, but it is easy to tell he is very pleased. “And she is a beautiful baby girl. Hideki spoke of the birth this morning and I’ll gladly show your daughter the flowers my ancestors worked hard to grow.” Father Yamamoto replied. Father Yamamoto stepped aside as Akira and Megumi led Hoshiko into the church.

Upon entering the church, Hoshiko can see the wooden roof held by wooden supports and rafters as the rafters are supported by six tall pillars of white stones and decorative bases. In rows, twelve mahogany pews are lined up orderly and facing to the altar. In between the altar and the pews stood a garden that shown different, yet vibrant colored flowers with a supernatural glow to them as the morning light shines upon them. Hung from the rafters were gothic chandeliers that are without candles as if it was once there for a purpose, but the sun relieved them of their purpose, turning them into ornaments. Behind the altar was a pair of massive doors like a giant can walk in and out of it. Off to either sides both lead off to somewhere that Hoshiko cannot see. Father Yamamoto and Akira walked side by side like father and son as Megumi followed behind them with Hoshiko still curious in her arms. Closer and closer they go to the garden and Hoshiko felt something odd in a good way. It felt like someone was watching over them and she is safe. “It is good that you are still being looked after by the Gods, Akira. The loss of Miyazaki’s husband was hard upon our community.” Father Yamamoto spoke to Akira as if something happened. Megumi covered Hoshiko’s ears as it is something that Hoshiko will not need to hear of so early. “Kohaku is dead? How, Father?” Akira asked. “It happened in Shibuya when a mafia gang member mistaken him for another and shot him.” Father Yamamoto answered. Megumi frowned and Hoshiko noticed. Hoshiko wanted her to smile again, so she tried to do that trick again with her hands. Megumi looked at Hoshiko and noticed her hands in a prayer as if Hoshiko understood. “Father. Take a look at this.” Megumi sought for Father Yamamoto’s attention. Father Yamamoto looked at Hoshiko and smiled greatly. “This is a sign, my child. I know she will love it here.” Father Yamamoto concluded. “If she does, she may as well learn how to take care of these flowers. Like me and Hideki did before we parted ways.” Akira remarked and sounded like something died between him and Hideki. “I will tutor her when she is ready to learn.” Father Yamamoto replied. “What about school? In this society, smart people prosper while the optimists faltered.” Megumi asked, worried about Hoshiko’s future. Akira walked to Megumi and caressed her left cheek with a smile, “Don’t worry. I’m still alive and I’m an optimist.”

Hoshiko watched as Megumi and Akira kissed each other again as Father Yamamoto stood by like a justice to a bride and groom. “Megumi, you can put the child on a pew or on the floor if she desired to be sitting down or walking.” Father Yamamoto spoke as Megumi looked at him like she has forgotten something. “I think Hoshiko is not old enough to...” Megumi spoke before Hoshiko started squirming a bit like she wanted to try. “No one is too young to try something early. And do not fret, my child; the floor is kept smooth and waxed so there will be no splinters.” Father Yamamoto encouraged as he reminded Megumi that Akira is also a handyman. “All while you are in the hospital, Meg-chan.” Akira empathized on that promise. Megumi smiled as she knelt down and slowly lowered Hoshiko out of the blanket and onto her feet. From her lessons back at the nursery, she moved her feet like she did when squirming out of the blanket. Then before her parents’ eyes, she started moving her legs more independently. Megumi was holding Hoshiko up during this time, so Hoshiko would not hurt herself falling onto the wooden flooring of the church. “Seems that Hoshiko wanted to walk before standing.” Akira observed. Slowly, Megumi moved forward so Hoshiko can learn to walk forward. Father Yamamoto and Akira stepped aside to allow Megumi and Hoshiko to walk by. Hoshiko looked at the flowers and became focused on these pretty flowers in the garden. Halfway from where Megumi last stood with Hoshiko, Megumi lets go, but stood close, ready to catch Hoshiko if she falls. However, Hoshiko’s legs are holding her up while her walking balance was shaky at best. Akira walked over to the garden with Father Yamamoto following behind him; both are anticipating Hoshiko’s first walk. Soon, Hoshiko stopped before the garden, struck in awe by the beauty of the flowers. Not only she made her first walk, she stood well like the flowers helped her focus enough to keep her balance while walking. Megumi looked at Akira with a smile on her face. “That early and she is already progressing quicker than we’d imagine, dear.” Megumi said to Akira with a happy tone as if she gave birth to a real miracle right before their eyes. “It is the mystery of this church. It is only here can a miracle can happen so frequently.” Akira spoke softly as she squatted with a smile to Hoshiko.

For over five years, Hoshiko visited the Soul Iris Church every weekend, where she carried on conversations with Father Yamamoto and tended to the flowers as Father Yamamoto tutored her in how to tend these rare flowers. She was attending to classes normally and she made friends normally as well. Despite her steady climb in education, Hoshiko was keeping up with her homework as Megumi wanted her to, so she will tend to the flowers without being piled up in homework. She even learned the faith that her father and Father Yamamoto follow called, the “Shinigami.” She even learned the church’s history through Father Yamamoto. The history started after World War II when missionaries came and erected this church. Originally, Minatumi was small and the church can be seen very easily. They managed to convert some Japanese to Christianity, but in the end, the faith was forgotten and the church was abandoned because the missionaries could hardly afford its upkeep. For over 400 years, the church was decaying until the year twenty-three-eighty-five when the church was rediscovered by Father Yamamoto who has poor luck finding a shrine to call his own. Father Yamamoto not only rediscovered the church, he discovered these rare yet new irises that grew from the broken floor boards. Seeing it as a rare sight, Father Yamamoto and his young son, Hideki hired Hideki’s also young friend, Akira Minatumi to help fix it up, but keep the appearance the same because the uniqueness of its decay made it seem more serene than what it used to be. Back then, Akira was known as the Harbour’s Child because Akira does not have any parents and no one knew how he appeared in their lives as a handyman and Akira and Hideki were once good friends until Megumi came into their lives. They used to fight over who will ask Megumi out for even breakfast (despite Megumi usually chooses Father Yamamoto over the two boys to avoid a conflict.) They eventually went their separate ways when Hideki and Megumi graduated from high school and Megumi chose Akira over Hideki. Ever since then, Hideki usually gives Akira a cold shoulder as Hideki still cared about Megumi because they are childhood friends back at Shibuya. Since that rivalry, Megumi usually be the one to take Hoshiko to the doctor for her check-ups and medical concerns because Hideki (aka Dr. Yamamoto) can do it for her, but not for Akira Minatumi. Still, Hoshiko believed they will forgive each other eventually.

Sixth year, Hoshiko was able to tend to the flowers on her own while she learned many secrets that are meant to be kept for the sake of the flowers’ legacy. While the flowers are beautiful, they have healing and curative properties that can be used to cure poison and treat wounds by drinking them as tea. Although they taste like seaweed, they can be mixed with fish oil to make them taste like sushi while being good for the heart. Father Yamamoto usually has tea on a monthly basis so the flowers will not be all used up along with the upkeep funds. Most of the time, Dr. Hideki Yamamoto and Akira funded the church with a partial amount out of their hard earning while Akira tended to its repair. The strangest thing in this year was every time that Hoshiko prayed, the flowers reacted by glowing and growing more plentiful than before. Even Father Yamamoto’s prayer can do the same effect, but not as strong as Hoshiko’s attempts. Because of that, Father Yamamoto chose to collect a bundle of them, put them in a basket and handed them to Hoshiko to sell at the Harbour’s marketplace. Hoshiko kept her smile as couples from her high school came to her to buy the rare flowers. With the steady income, Hoshiko felt that Akira should not sacrifice so much to keep the church from falling apart. Each and every weekend, she takes the basket of flowers out to the market and returned with some income. Being an optimist, she believed these small incomes are enough to keep her fed and the church alive. In reality, Father Yamamoto was worried that she would be heartbroken to learn that even with her help, the government or a corporation would eventually find this church and tear it down. However, Hoshiko is vigilant and honestly happy about being in the church, even though she is oblivious to mortality. During one of the nights before Hoshiko’s eighth birthday, Father Yamamoto fell ill and became bed-ridden. Even his son’s medical knowledge and medicine could not simmer out the illness. Father Yamamoto told his son that it is his time to join with the Shinigami. Dr. Hideki Yamamoto put a bottle of painkiller by Father Yamamoto’s night table before leaving. Hoshiko came to the Church as Hideki was leaving and his words to her were disheartening, “I am sorry. There is not much I could do.” By Father Yamamoto’s bedside, it was the first time Hoshiko wept over someone’s fate.

Throughout the years since Father Yamamoto’s death, Hoshiko persevered as the new caretaker of the church. With events going by hard around the world outside the harbor, Hoshiko continued her struggles for her survival and the survival of the flowers. Akira and Hideki came together to help Hoshiko as to them, she reminded them of the time that they are in her shoes when Father Yamamoto fallen ill with a fever. Hideki used his internship paychecks to get medicine while Akira used his double effort to earn a bigger paycheck so the church can stay out of demolitionist’s sights. However, when Hoshiko was only eleven, fate took Akira away from Hoshiko and Megumi. It was a good season for fishing as Akira thought about taking Hoshiko out to teach her how to fish for her meals so she would not starve. While Hoshiko was on a motorized fishing boat, Akira and Hideki are preparing the net. When Akira tossed the net to the boat, Hideki had his foot caught in the net and was swept off the dock and into the water. Akira dived in after as bystanders are rushing to the scene. Some are shouting, “Man overboard!” Hoshiko froze in her tracks as she watched the whole thing happened. Suddenly, a knife floated onto water’s surface and a fisherman took the knife with his long arm. It was not long before Akira returned to the surface with Hideki, who was hocking up water. The other fishermen pulled Hideki out of the water and one wrapped him in a blanket before dragging him ashore. As for Akira, something strange happened. Akira’s eyes shot wide open before crying out in pain and disappeared into the water. Hoshiko’s eyes are wide as well as she was afraid that she will lose her father. Her fear was realized as the fishermen dragged her demoralized body ashore with Hideki. Her father is not coming back. Even with the search being deep, it is like something ate him alive. As a sign of remembrance, the fisherman who took the knife gave the knife to Hoshiko as a keepsake. Akira was killed or went missing in action; Hoshiko did not get a clear call about her father’s fate. She was escorted home with Hideki to bring the news to her mother, Megumi. When the news was passed on, Megumi went quiet and wept for a long time with Hideki comforting her. It was not a long time later that Megumi and Hideki became close as Hoshiko considered Hideki to be the closest person to a father.

Due to the situation involving family’s grief for the loss of Hoshiko’s biological father, Hoshiko did not attend high school at all as she was preoccupied with her sorrow and the sorrow that befell her mother. Hideki looked at Hoshiko with interest as if he kept it hidden when Akira was alive. Now that she is closing in on becoming sixteen, Hoshiko recovered from the emotional trauma and returned to her optimistic self, which Hideki and Megumi noted was because of her father. She is even behind on her education, which Hideki and Megumi felt disappointed because they could not help her recover from losing her biological father. As she tends to the flowers, Hideki tried his best to convince Hoshiko to leave the flowers behind and tend to her education, but like how she resembled her father’s unhindered optimism, Hoshiko denied Hideki’s plea and continued tending to the flowers. Because of her perseverance, fishermen who came to the church to pay condolence to Hoshiko, came back to check on Hoshiko each Sunday. Some of the visits bore gifts that the fishermen brought as thanks for the flowers she sold. The mystery of the flowers was the properties that can cure poison and wounds that many fishermen were inflicted from jellyfishes to poisonous mercury off of fish’s scales. As the days progressed, Hoshiko fared better than her mother expected as Hideki was faring poorer than he did before. Even in front of Hoshiko, he shouted into this mobile phone and argued with the board and something about DEPTH-Com, a pharmaceutical company that ran most of the medicinal goods around Japan. The worst of it was the recent days when an unknown illness began going about hospital that Hideki works in. Because of the illness, very little came to buy her flowers or to visit her. Her flowers managed to cure a few of the people, which implied that it was more of a poison than an illness, but with things going about, Hoshiko was stuck in her church as she has to help her townsfolk before seeking out for answers on who would have poisoned a town of only fishermen. In truth, Hoshiko wanted to leave the town to find who was harassing her step-father, Hideki Yamamoto and who was poisoning the town so she can stop it before it affects her mother. Her mother is all that is left of her biological family. She needs a sign of something that could help her find the culprit.

PERSONALITY

MILDLY UNEDUCATED
Hoshiko never went to high school due to emotional trauma that has afflicted her mother and the responsibilities that she felt necessary for the church. Some would have a feeling that if she leaves Minatumi Harbour, she would not survive on her own. She has a tendency of being overwhelmed with complex instructions, thus getting confused fairly easy.
UPBEAT
Hoshiko is proud and happy as the person she is now and due to her inextinguishable optimism, she can be a boon to anyone who have doubts. She can motivate people, and she can comfort people. However, despite her optimistic and energetic personality, she can tremble or get scared when overwhelmed by an encounter of a hostile kind.
INDISCRIMINANT
Hoshiko was virtually unaware of any discrimination or segregation in the world she lives in, so she can even treat a lowly thief with the same compassion as she does to anyone else. So to all races, she can treat them with the same care and respect as she does to her friends. However, she would be unaware of who would be the real enemy though.
UNCONDITIONAL
Despite her morality being passive and she can protest when conflicted, but she felt that disliking or hating someone is more sinful than to show mercy to an enemy. She can be hurt a lot, but she is always forgiving, even if that person who she was hurt by did stray from their path and the betrayal was upon her with painful result.
MERCIFUL
Hoshiko has a knack of trying to consort to avoid a confrontation, but if it comes to fighting, she would either run or rely on other people to fight her fights, but she can still support her friends. If the enemy is defeated, she is likely to defend the enemy so the enemy will not be killed because she does not like seeing death before her eyes.
HARMLESS
Hoshiko is great at showing mercy, but causing damage or interrogating is theatrically “interesting,” meaning she cannot threat well enough to save the world. Although, she is not a pacifist, so she can still fight, but not all that well compared to real fighters, so she frequently would appear behind her friends during violent encounters.
CHILDISH
She is a free-spirited girl, but could not hold attention for long as she has tendency of daydreaming or getting into a fantasy session in her head, which can be comical if someone is trying to lecture her about something. When scolded, she can get timid and emotionally hurt because of her sensitivity to personal emotions.
EMPATHETIC
Hoshiko is mindful of others’ feelings and emotions as she can also get worry about the people around her who she deemed as innocents who would get caught in the conflict should a conflict arise. However, it can work against her as she would get too personal if she was present during an interrogation mistaking leverage as threats or something harmful.

COMPASSIONATE
Hoshiko believed in kindness to all with equality. Because of that, she is well-respected in Minatumi Harbour and reputed to be well-respecting of others while generous enough to go out of her way to help someone who is hurt in one way or another. However, it is that kindness that would be her downfall as she can be taken advantage of for it.
JUSTIFIABLE
Hoshiko believed in the laws of nature, meaning that she will protest about killing when it is unnecessary. Despite Hoshiko using complex logic that often confused her in the end, Hoshiko can come up with a good point why even an enemy can be spared. Some of the time, she gets threatened or scolding for defending a downed enemy as if it is dumb.
HONEST
Hoshiko believed that telling the truth yields better rewards in spite the turmoil it may follow. She felt if she lied, she would cause more harm than help, but it does not mean she would blurt out information to those who sought to cause harm; she would rather keep her mouth shut than to tell them anything that can be harmful to others.
SELF-SACRIFICIAL
Hoshiko believed that if she cannot give away something, she is not helping. She spent her free time helping other people who needed her, even if they don’t have much to give back. If she felt it is needed, she is willing to risk her life to help someone, but she is no fool as she can spot and refuse to die if the compensation is not enough.
HUMBLE
Hoshiko believed her values are just like the others around her. She understood that she can die at any moment and she cannot be any more special than anyone else. Her inner-pride can hardly be damaged as it would be too flexible to break at all. By being at their level allowed Hoshiko to forgive when a normal person could not.
HONORABLE
Hoshiko has standards of her own and she respects the honor of others, but can protest should honor be blurred with shameful words and actions. Because of that aspect, a betrayal from her would be extremely unlike her. If she defeated someone, she will not pursue into killing and if she can, she can help anyone find real honor.
SPIRITUAL
Hoshiko believed in herself and it is enough for her to have the hope needed to carry on with her life. While she believed Father Yamamoto’s beliefs in Death Gods, she earned her adamancy through Father Yamamoto teaching her that she has to stay strong so the Death Gods can be strong for her and not falter against the demon within her.
BRAVE
Hoshiko believed that if she cannot stand for what she believed, she would be nothing compared to others who did. Though she can be scared, she can still stand for herself and fight when necessary. Thus causing permanent damage to her morale will be impossible unless killing is involved. Her fire can easily be reignited when doused.

Skills and Abilities

BEGINNER DURABILITY
Hoshiko is as capable of resisting attacks as she is human, meaning she cannot take a strong hit from either spiritual attacks or physical attacks.
>>>>Spiritual Reduction: -10%
>>>>Physical Reduction: -0%
SPECIAL KNOWLEDGE: SOUL IRIS
Hoshiko attained knowledge in these rare flowers that are usually grown in the mountains of the Soul Society. How she understood these flowers was as much of a mystery as how these specific irises are grown on Earth.
>>>>Soul Irises can be used to make a special tea to cure poison and wound.
>>>>Any Soul Irises can be identifiable by Hoshiko without effort.
FIRST AID SKILL
Hoshiko learned from Hideki on how to use basic materials and medicine to tend to someone’s injury. She is even able to stabilize a dying person with this knowledge.
>>>>Capable of Revival only with very minimal health, rendering them incapacitated.
>>>>Can cure wounds if she has a first aid kit with her.
SPIRITUALLY BLIND
Hoshiko is a mere human being, so of course she cannot see spirits. However, it can be temporary if with enough spiritual encounters or she obtains a special power.
>>>>Cannot hear spirits.
>>>>Cannot see spirits.
>>>>Cannot feel spirits.
>>>>Cannot taste spirits.
>>>>Cannot smell spirits.
>>>>Cannot sense spirits.

Statistics

Name: Hoshiko Minatumi
Gender: Female
Age: 16
Level/Tier: 1/5-5
Current/Required Experience Points: 0/11
Hit Points: 25
Spirit Points: 0
Current/Base Damage: 1-7/0-1
Current Weapon/Preferred Weapon: Old Man Yama’s Walking Stick/Quarterstaff
Current Weapon’s Damage: +1-6

Appearance