Summary of No.6 Side Story: To the One Waiting Far Away
This side story was initially released via QR code in May 2026 before being published broadly in June 2026. It flashes back to a memory from Nezumi's childhood. It has no spoilers for No.6 Reunion. Summary of the side story under the cut:
Side Story: To the One Waiting Far Away
Nezumi and Shion are in the underground room, and Nezumi asks Shion if he just said something. Shion says it was nothing important and places several picture books into a bag.
Shion had found the bag buried beneath a mountain of books. The bag was old and worn, yet still sturdy, and just about the right size for a child to carry their belongings in, and Shion had wanted to ask Nezumi if it had once belonged to him when he was little.
He wanted to ask the question and hear the answer. He always wants answers from Nezumi, he thinks. He wants to hear him, to know him, to grasp and obtain him. Sometimes Shion reflects on just how selfish and greedy he truly is, and how he doesn’t want Nezumi to see that side of him even as he asks so much from him.
And so he swallows down the question about the bag instead of asking it aloud. He tells Nezumi he’s heading out for an hour to go read to Karan and Rico. Nezumi questions the idea, considering how cold it is outside, but Shion says that Karan will build them a fire.
Nezumi remarks just how completely Shion-like the whole thing is: reading books to hungry children around a fire under a cold West Block winter sky. Only Shion could think of such a thing. Nezumi’s words are cutting as always, but Shion knows he’s not serious—his tone seems gentle, even kind.
Some desires can be satisfied through books, Shion says, and even Nezumi knows this. Nezumi fires back, though, that that might just be self-satisfaction on Shion’s part. He then throws a sweet potato at him before he can reply. Shion asks if he got it from his manager at the theatre, and Nezumi, confirming this, wryly compliments Shion on his powers of deduction. Shion imagines Karan and Rico’s delight at getting to eat such a treat, however temporary it may be.
He also imagines the necessity of creating a world where children don’t go hungry, and can enjoy music and books. He then berates himself for thinking he’s capable of doing such a thing—he can’t even get one sweet potato on his own, living relying on Nezumi as he is.
Nezumi’s beautiful grey eyes meet his, sincere.
The scene transitions to Nezumi’s POV as Shion’s footsteps fade. Nezumi closes his book and recalls a voice from the depths of the past, one that had told him that it was alright and that he would make it until the end, to what waited for him there.
Why remember this now, he wonders? Because of the bag Shion took with him? How did he dig that up anyway?
He recalls the voice again, and feels like he hears a child’s laughter and the wind blowing through a grassy field. He closes his eyes for a moment.
The wind whips up the long grass. He walks in it, searching for a specific plant and putting it in his bag when he finds it. The bag was made by his mother and everything he puts in it is a treasure.
His mother admonishes that he be careful to pick the right plants. At his side, she peeks inside his bag and praises for doing a good job, mussing his hair gently. His parents are doctors and herbalists, and can also hear the voice of the god of the forest.
He pesters his mother with questions about medical herbs and feels pride in the way they’ve helped so many people. He asks his mother, excited, if he can grow up to be like them too, with excellent botanical knowledge. His mother sweeps him up into a hug and explains that he’s different—he’s a Singer.
He’s not sure what a Singer is, and his mother explains it as “one who carries the burden of fate.” He still doesn't understand, repeating the unfamiliar words to himself in his mind. It scares him a little. His mother senses this, and squeezes him even tighter.
His mother asks why he’s so anxious even though they’re so happy and she gets to hug him like this. She loves him so much! But she’s anxious herself because she hasn’t heard the voice of the god of the forest lately.
His mother’s body trembles. A few weeks ago, soldiers from No.6 had trespassed on their sacred forest. When the villagers had protested, they had simply left, saying they had lost their way. Was that why his mother was scared?
Ahead in the tall grass, his little sister calls for their mother to pick her up.
His mother hurries to her, treading on the grass. And then the entire scene loses its color, turning grey. He’ s struck with fear and can’t scream even though he wants to or move his body to chase after his mother.
He hears the faint flapping of wings, and a faint voice as well. The voice says there’s nothing to fear—he’s a Singer, and will spend his whole life shouldering the burden of fate.
Who are you? he wonders. Whose voice is that?
Mom, save me. I’m scared.
The voice chuckles, then says: Singer, you would do well to survive. To survive this world’s darkest days.
I’m scared. Mom! Mom! he thinks again.
It’s alright, says the voice. You’ll make it until the end, to the one who waits for you there. I know you can.
The voice cuts off sharply and in its place is his little sister’s voice calling him to say they’re going home. She’s waving at him as their mother holds her, black hair tousled by the wind. The sunlight is soft, the grass rippling, the birds chirping a chorus.
His mother beckons him over, saying she’s to teach him a song.
He recalls the phrase again, saying aloud, I’ll make it until the end, to the one who waits for me there, huh?
The scene transitions back to Shion in the present. Rico wants to eat more sweet potato and Shion’s heart aches, remembering how Nezumi had said he could never give these children anything but a momentary reprieve from hunger. Nezumi’s words were always true to reality. But at least for today, Rico wouldn’t die of starvation and be able to gather a little hope for tomorrow. It might be nothing more than just a nice thought, but only through living could one touch upon hope. This is also reality, Nezumi, Shion thinks.
Karan, warming her hands over the fire, says that the picture book they just read was so much fun. Face serious, she continues, saying that when she grows up, she wants to make picture books, too.
Shion replies that he’d love to read her picture books.
Karan says she’d give everyone a picture book and a bag for it, too, so that they can read it anytime, anywhere. A bag just like this one, she says, before pausing. Shion asks, what is it?
Karan has noticed something written on the bag, and asks Shion what it says. Shion studies the place she’s pointing at—it does seem that something is scrawled there, but it’s so faint and covered with wear that he can’t make it out.
Karan runs her fingers over it lightly and wonders aloud if it’s a name
A name? Shion holds his breath. The tips of his fingers suddenly feel hot.
Far away rings the cry of a mountain dove.
END OF SIDE STORY SUMMARY
