Ichiro came back early, and once he heard about those stories, was willing to tell one of his own. His take on the tale of the Red and Blue Oni.
"Once upon a time, there was a red oni and a blue oni that lived together in the mountains. The blue oni was infamous for terrorizing villages, even among other oni. The red oni being infamous for beating up anyone who messed with him."
The blue oni is Samatoki and the red oni is Ichiro.
"They lived together happily and peacefully. As per usual, the red oni watched over the nearby village, fascinated by humans.
"Aah-... Again?" The blue oni asks.
"Hm..."
"You know they won't accept you just because you're an oni, you know."
"I know," the red oni sighs, "They hate and fear oni like me... But I just..."
The blue oni sighs, patting the red oni's head, "Let's go home for now, aight?"
The red oni blushes, "Aight."
Saburo and Jiro were at attention, a bit stressed at what their brother was implying when telling this story.
Ichiro continues, "Then, one night, the blue oni suggested a plan...
"You want to fit in the village, don't you? I'll help you."
"First, I come to the village and terrorize it. Then, you swoop in and save the day," the blue oni explains.
"But...are you sure that this will work? That you want to do this...for me?" the red oni questions.
The blue oni just pats his head again, smiling, "I'm sure."
With determination, the red oni smiled, "OK."
The next day, the blue oni terrorized the village as planned.
Villager A and B are Jiro and Saburo.
"Help!"
And the red oni swooped in and drove the blue oni away.
The villagers thanked the red oni and welcomed him in like one of their own.
When the red oni went home, the blue oni was waiting for him.
He hugged him, "Thank you."
However, for a month, day after day, the blue oni began to see less and less of the red oni. To the point that one day, he just left, never to return.
The red oni found a note from the blue oni.
Dear Red Oni,
I'm sorry for just leaving like this, but it's time we parted ways. I have left to find another home. This one's all yours. I wish you happiness.
- Blue Oni
The red oni cried all night then, mourning the loss of his precious friend, the only one who understood him. But after...he decided to stay and protect the village. Hoping that one day, he'll see the blue oni again."
"Poor red oni!"
"Poor blue oni!"
The children cried a bit.
Ichiro just smiles at them, "The moral of this story is to treasure your friends, all of them. Ne?"
"Hai~!" answered the children.
Saburo and Jiro were silent though, thinking over that story...and feeling guilty.
'Was that how Ichi-nii/Nii-chan felt back then?'
"Geez, that story was a bit depressing," Dice rubs the back of his neck.
"I must admit, that was quite the interesting story," Gentaro comments.
"Thanks," Ichiro smiles at him...but it doesn't exactly reach his eyes.
Later...
Gentaro muses, "The blue oni in your story... You picture him as Aohitsugi-san, right?"
Ichiro chuckles, "Yeah...that role just suits him."
He sadly smiles, "The other moral is that life is not fair."
"Do you still-"
"Nii-chan/Ichi-nii!"
"Aah... Sorry. We have to go home now. It was nice seeing you."
"Uh, yes. You too," Gentaro politely sighs.
"We should go too!" Dice adds.
They went their separate ways, Gentaro sighing.
"I was going to ask him if he misses Aohitsugi-san...but I guess not answering is an answer in and of itself," Gentaro smiles.
'Still... "Life is not fair" huh...'