Mizuki Kawano was born in Fukuoka under a shadow of misfortune. As a baby, he was surrounded by unexplained tragedies—grandparents lost to unnatural causes and a mother who drowned in a freak accident. His father, disturbed by their streak of bad luck, was convinced their bloodline was “cursed”. Each night, Mizuki was told tales of malevolent spirits that haunted their family as he was tucked into bed.

As his father’s mental state worsened, he fled with Mizuki to Tokyo in a desperate attempt to “escape the curse”. He plunged them into debt, taking out loans with the Hashimoto Clan to pay for lucky charms, exorcists, and anything else said to ward off misfortune. But as fate would have it, he too was found dead one day, leaving Mizuki to fend for himself.

The nine-year-old Mizuki inherited his father’s debt to the Hashimoto—and his belief that “the curse” would claim him next. But one of the clan's Elders took a keen interest in the boy, seeing potential where others saw a burden. In a surprising show of mercy, the Hashimoto offered to forgive what Mizuki owed in exchange for his loyalty to their organization. With nowhere left to turn, Mizuki accepted his fate, believing that resisting it as his father had might trigger the curse again. He was initially too young for their criminal dealings, so he was often left behind in the stronghold, and in his boredom, he often wound up in the company of Toshiro Yamagami—a captured weaponsmith famed for crafting anima weaponry. As Mizuki grew old enough to take on clan jobs, it was Toshiro’s kindness that balanced his harsh walk of life.

When the clan tasked Mizuki with infiltrating the rebellious Yokai of Kanezaka, he sought Toshiro’s advice one last time. He was reluctant to embark on a mission where he might have to hurt innocents—yet his fear of both the Elders and his curse made it difficult for him to even think of abandoning his responsibilities. Recognizing Mizuki’s inner struggle, Toshiro gave him one final gift: his very own anima kusarigama—a symbol of his faith in Mizuki’s power to take control of his own fate. Toshiro urged him to find his own path on the journey ahead, encouraging Mizuki to seek his own place in the world.

Now in Kanezaka, Mizuki has successfully joined the Yokai, finding himself caught between his clan duties and the desire to protect his newfound friends. Only time will tell if he can maintain his cover—and decide where his true loyalties lie.