The morning sun stretched lazily across the horizon, washing the sky in shades of bright blue and gold. Birds sang in gentle harmony, their melodies mingling with the fresh scent of morning dew. From Ujiyuki's small home, the comforting aroma of miso soup and green tea drifted through the air, wrapping the place in warmth.
Inside, three figures sat cross-legged on the tatami floor — Ujiyuki, Shigekatsu, and Sentarō — their bodies weary from the night's ordeal. The table before them held simple but satisfying dishes: bowls of steaming gohan, cups of green tea, and fragrant miso soup still releasing curls of steam.
"Wow, Mr. Ujiyuki, this looks amazing…" Sentarō said, eyes locked onto the meal, a string of drool threatening mutiny. "But, you know… Oden would've hit harder."
Shigekatsu froze mid-bite. "What?! How dare you insult Ujiyuki-nii-san's cooking!" he barked, lifting his rice bowl dramatically like a samurai about to draw his blade. "Ungrateful brat!"
"Ah, sorry! My bad!" Sentarō bowed quickly, realizing his mistake. Ujiyuki, meanwhile, remained calm — too calm. He just picked up his bowl and began to eat without saying a word, his expression unreadable.
The room filled with the sound of quiet munching and sipping. For a brief while, there was peace — just the clinking of chopsticks and the rustle of fabric as they ate in silence.
Finally, Ujiyuki set his bowl down, still half-full. "Alright then…" His tone grew serious. "Shigekatsu, what do you think?"
Sentarō blinked in confusion, chopsticks frozen mid-air. "Think? About what?"
Shigekatsu also placed down his bowl, matching his brother's stern look. "The kid's good," he said flatly.
"That's it?" Ujiyuki's brow twitched. "You came all the way here for 'the kid's good'?"
"Eh?" Sentarō glanced between them, clueless. "What's happening right now?"
Ujiyuki sighed. "Don't worry, kid. I just want Shigekatsu's full report on your fight with the bear."
"Ahh…" Sentarō relaxed slightly, though he couldn't help but wonder how detailed Shigekatsu's 'report' would be.
Shigekatsu polished off the last of his rice and lifted his tea cup, taking a slow, exaggerated sip before letting out a long, contented sigh. "Haaaaah, that hits the spot."
Ujiyuki's eye twitched again. "Shigekatsu. The evaluation."
"Oh, right, right," Shigekatsu said, straightening up. His playful grin disappeared, replaced by focus. "Let's start with his fighting style. From what I saw, the kid's movements are light and reactive, evasive footwork, quick counters. He's a speed-type samurai."
Sentarō's eyes sharpened at the words, his earlier relaxed expression shifting to one of intensity.
"Despite the bear's brute strength," Shigekatsu continued, "he dodged everything thrown his way. Didn't rely on raw power, just pure speed and timing."
"I see," Ujiyuki said, arms crossed as he analyzed. "A samurai who specializes in evasion and counterattacks. Efficient… but risky."
"Exactly," Shigekatsu nodded. "What surprised me, though, was that he used the Shunpū technique."
Ujiyuki's eyes widened. "The Wind Step? That's an advanced samurai running technique! He mastered that already?"
Sentarō looked down modestly. "I, uh… practiced a lot."
"That's not all, nii-san," Shigekatsu added, his tone dropping lower. "He also used Gekishō."
The room went silent.
Ujiyuki stared blankly for a long moment. He'd secretly observed Sentarō's training countless times, but not once had he seen him perform either technique, let alone both. "You're kidding."
Shigekatsu smirked. "Nope. Saw it with my own eyes."
Ujiyuki's disbelief melted into pride. "Hah… unbelievable. To master both Shunpū and Gekishō in just five years… Sentarō, you're a prodigy."
The boy smiled, scratching his head. "Everything I did came from that old manual you gave me. I just… didn't stop training."
His voice softened as he remembered those mornings by the riverbank — endless slashes, bruised arms, aching legs, and the countless failures before his technique finally clicked.
Ujiyuki nodded, eyes glinting with warmth. "I know. You came home battered and bleeding every night. I'd patch you up, and the next morning, you'd be back at it again. You've earned this strength."
Shigekatsu leaned back with a small grin. "It's clear the kid took his training seriously." He stood up, gathering his empty bowls. "With that said, I think it's safe to say you're ready to become a samurai of the police force."
Sentarō's eyes widened. "Really?!"
"Hold your horses," Ujiyuki sighed, his proud smile morphing into mild annoyance. "The paperwork's a nightmare."
"Paperwork?" Sentarō tilted his head.
"Wait, you didn't know that?" Shigekatsu asked, incredulous. "You want to become a samurai and you don't even know about the bureaucratic part?"
Ujiyuki groaned. "That's exactly what I said when he didn't know about the entrance exams."
Sentarō's face remained blank, the brothers' banter doing nothing to clear his confusion.
"Alright, let's start from the top," Shigekatsu said, adjusting his posture like a teacher. "The Police Force is divided into twelve divisions. One of them, the Training Division, specializes in raising young samurai. Trainees under that division can take the entrance exam whenever they're ready."
He paused to sip his tea, then continued. "But for someone trained privately by a former samurai, like you, there's an extra step. You can only take the exam if your mentor sends an official letter of recommendation to the force."
"In other words," Ujiyuki added, "if I vouch for you, I'm responsible for your actions. Your mistakes become my mistakes."
Sentarō nodded slowly. "So… that's why you tested me against the bear. To see if I was ready."
"Exactly." Shigekatsu smiled. "That trial wasn't just about strength. It was about control, instinct, and will."
"There are other paths into the Police Force," Ujiyuki said, waving his hand dismissively, "but that's not your concern right now."
Sentarō blinked. "So… does that mean Mr. Shigekatsu came here just to evaluate me?"
"No way, kid," Ujiyuki said with a grin. He stood and walked over to his younger brother, placing a hand on Shigekatsu's shoulder. "He's not just your evaluator he's also your escort to the exam."
Sentarō's jaw dropped. "Wait, really?!"
"Really." Shigekatsu chuckled, ruffling his hair. "Guess you're stuck with me for a while."
Sentarō's face lit up, a fire burning behind his eyes. "Then let's do this! The Police Force entrance exams — here I come!"
His shout echoed through the house, startling a few birds outside. Ujiyuki and Shigekatsu exchanged amused looks — one proud, the other quietly entertained.
The three of them glanced at each other, laughter and mock bickering filling the air once again. Outside, the wind rustled through the trees — gentle, refreshing, and alive with the promise of change.
The trials of the night were over. The next chapter of Sentarō's life had begun.
Soon, he'd stand among the twelve divisions of the Police Force — not as a trainee, but as a samurai ready to carve his name into the world.
And this time, he wouldn't be facing beasts or loneliness.
He'd be facing destiny itself.