Contents
Chapter 7: The Sun
Overview
Misaki reflects on a loveless marriage, Susumu’s cruelty, and two miscarriages that deadened her spirit. Setsuko’s compassion helps Misaki recover, leading to three more sons. When Mamoru returns after the roof incident, he confides Kwang’s heresies; Misaki admits they’re true but warns secrecy. At sunrise, she guides Mamoru toward independent judgment, and they reconnect with hope.
Summary
Misaki remembers burying her sword to become a dutiful wife and mother, repeating Master Wangara’s lesson that a jijaka can be strong in any shape. Her marriage to Takeru proves cold and distant; even newborn Mamoru’s frigid jiya repels her, and she forces love despite numbness.
Seeing Mamoru’s precocious power, Misaki secretly teaches him control until Susumu intervenes, deriding her and forbidding “impure” techniques after she shows blood congealing. Misaki swallows her rage, recognizing Susumu’s bitterness at his own lifelong failure. Later, after Misaki’s first miscarriage, Susumu strikes her; Takeru’s clinical indifference deepens her despair. A second miscarriage leaves her feeling like a puppet.
Setsuko joins the family and confronts Misaki’s self-blame, insisting miscarriages aren’t her fault. Buoyed by this faith, Misaki reanimates and eventually bears Hiroshi, Nagasa, and Izumo, finding small warmth in mothering, especially with less-cold Izumo.
That night, after soothing Izumo, Misaki encounters bruised Mamoru returning from roof duty. While washing his uniform, she senses deeper turmoil. Mamoru confesses he struck Kwang after hearing claims that the Empire hid mass deaths during the Keleba. Misaki, after warning secrecy, confirms the claims are true, shocking him.
At dawn on the front deck, Misaki admits her hunger for warmth and counsels Mamoru through his crisis: adulthood means choosing what to think and acting despite uncertainty. She urges him to listen broadly but speak carefully. Mamoru draws strength by recalling the first Matsuda Takeru’s openness to learning. Misaki affirms his goodness and promises someday to share her past. As the sun warms the fog, Mamoru dozes against her; their younger brothers burst in playfully, and Misaki allows herself hope that Mamoru will grow different from his father.
Who Appears
- Misaki MatsudaMother and former fighter; recalls abusive in-laws, miscarriages, secret training of Mamoru, and counsels him about truth, discretion, and adulthood.
- Mamoru MatsudaFourteen-year-old heir; returns bruised after roof fall, grapples with Keleba cover-up, seeks guidance, bonds with Misaki at sunrise.
- Matsuda TakeruHusband; emotionally distant, clinically handles Misaki after miscarriage, nightly impersonal intimacy, absent disciplinarian.
- Matsuda SusumuFather-in-law; bitter, abusive, forbids ‘impure’ techniques, strikes Misaki after miscarriage, resents his own failures.
- SetsukoSister-in-law; challenges Misaki’s self-loathing, rejects blame for miscarriages, rekindles Misaki’s sense of self.
- Takashi MatsudaBrother-in-law; discusses training norms and Takeru’s likely stance, gentle foil to Susumu’s severity.
- Hiroshi MatsudaSecond son; cold, powerful child who appears sleepy in the morning scene.
- Nagasa MatsudaThird son; energetic toddler, playfully wakes Mamoru, lightens the closing scene.
- Izumo MatsudaInfant; less-cold baby Misaki soothes with a lullaby, emblem of renewed warmth.
- Kwang Chul-heeNew student; offstage catalyst whose claims about the Keleba trigger Mamoru’s crisis.