>>87676268Once upon a time, in the misty mountains of Japan, there lived a kind red oni named Yocci. She had a fiery spirit, yet a gentle heart, and longed to be friends with the humans who lived in the nearby village. Every day, Yocci would watch the villagers from afar, wishing she could join in their laughter and games. But whenever she tried to approach, the villagers would scatter in fear, believing her to be a fearsome monster.
Yocci was heartbroken. She couldn’t understand why her kind nature was met with such fear. One day, she shared her sadness with her closest friend, Kuu, a blue oni who lived deep in the forest. Kuu was wise and calm, and always had a solution to every problem. She, too, was a kind-hearted oni, though she preferred the quiet solitude of the woods over the company of humans.
After listening to Yocci, Kuu came up with an idea. “What if I go to the village and cause a little trouble? Then you can come and ‘save’ the villagers. That way, they will see you as a hero and no longer be afraid of you.”
Yocci hesitated. “But Kuu, I don’t want anyone to get hurt.”
Kuu smiled gently. “Don’t worry, I’ll make sure no harm comes to anyone. It’s just a plan to help them see your kindness.”
With that, the plan was set. The next day, Kuu went down to the village and started to cause a ruckus—knocking over carts, shaking trees, and pretending to be wild and uncontrollable. The villagers were terrified, running for shelter and crying for help.
Just then, Yocci appeared, rushing down from the mountains with a fierce look on her face. She charged straight at Kuu, and with a loud roar, pretended to knock her unconscious. Kuu, playing her part, fell to the ground dramatically, and the villagers cheered.
“Thank you, kind oni! You saved us!” the villagers exclaimed, gathering around Yocci. She smiled shyly, her heart swelling with joy. For the first time, the humans weren’t afraid of her. They invited her to stay and play with them, and soon, Yocci had made many friends in the village. Her dream had come true.
As the days passed, Yocci became a beloved figure in the village. But in all her happiness, she noticed something strange—Kuu hadn’t come to visit her. After some time, Yocci decided to visit Kuu in the forest to thank her for the clever plan and share the good news.
But when Yocci arrived at Kuu's house, it was empty. On the door was a letter written in Kuu’s familiar handwriting:
"Dear Yocci,
I’m so happy that you’ve found friendship with the humans. I knew this would make you happy, and that’s all I ever wanted. But I also know that if I stay, they might find out the truth about our plan, and I don’t want to get in the way of your happiness. So I’ve decided to go on a journey for a while. Don’t worry about me. I’ll always be your friend, even from afar.
—Kuu"
