Sentarō Hachibei, the young man who had trained diligently for five long years under Master Ujiyuki, had honed his body, mind, and swordsmanship to reach a level of skill he considered respectable. Yet nothing in all his training had prepared him for what he had just witnessed. A single uppercut — a blow so strong it sent a grown man flying through the air — had left him staring in disbelief.
He blinked several times, trying to reconcile the image of that astonishing power. How could a girl his age — a mere girl — possess strength of such magnitude? The scene left only one question echoing in his mind: Are there more people like her?
Both Shigekatsu and Sentarō were rooted to the spot, their eyes glued to the girl. She noticed them at last.
"HEY, YOU TWO!!" The shout was piercing, shattering the stunned silence and immediately dragging them back to the present.
In a blur of motion, she charged toward them. Her speed was unnatural, almost preternatural, and her gaze bore a deadly intensity. Sentarō and Shigekatsu barely had a moment to react before she was upon them.
"You two must be more suitors!" she accused, fists clenched and ready to strike.
Both men leapt aside instinctively. Her punch slammed into the earth, the impact sending a shockwave through the ground, scattering dust and small stones into the air. Sentarō gawked, his jaw nearly hitting the dirt. "How… how is that even possible?!"
The girl's golden hair whipped behind her as she shouted, "Father must have sent samurai this time! But I will not be married off!" She surged again from the dust cloud.
"Sentarō, watch out!!" Shigekatsu barked, his eyes wide, his voice sharp with seriousness.
Her fist cut through the air toward Sentarō, but he rolled aside just in time, narrowly avoiding another devastating strike. She lunged again, but with a swift motion, Shigekatsu grabbed her wrist, twisted it behind her back, and forced her to the ground. Within moments, he pinned her firmly, her strength struggling against his hold but unable to throw him off.
"Calm yourself, girl," Shigekatsu said evenly. "We are not suitors."
"You can't fool me!" she spat, struggling against his grip. "My father sent you, didn't he? You came to marry me off!"
Sentarō hurried forward, his hands raised in a gesture of peace. "We are not suitors! We mean you no harm!"
But the girl's resolve was unshakable. With a sudden burst of energy, she twisted free from Shigekatsu's hold. Without hesitation, she struck the ground with her fist, another shockwave erupting, sending a cloud of dust and debris into the air.
"Mr. Shigekatsu, are you alright?!" Sentarō called through the haze, feeling his way forward.
"I'm fine, kid! Just keep out of the dust!" Shigekatsu shouted back.
When the dust cleared, Sentarō finally saw her once more. She was charging at him, fist clenched, a grin of determination stretching across her face.
"Tell my old man tha—"
THUD!
A swift kick from Shigekatsu struck her stomach, sending her tumbling backward. Yet, astonishingly, she landed on both feet, ready to continue the fight. Sentarō's eyes widened in awe. The girl's tenacity, even against such a skilled opponent as Shigekatsu, was astonishing.
He felt the stirrings of his own resolve ignite within him. If she could fight like this, then he could not stand idle.
"Listen," he said, stepping forward, voice firm. "I usually do not strike women… but seeing as I must reach the Fourth Division in time for the exam, I have no choice."
Her eyes narrowed, shocked by the mention of the Fourth Division. In an instant, Sentarō vanished from sight, closing the distance between them in a blink. Shunpū… he thought, summoning the technique that had taken him years of practice.
THUD!
Before she could react, a devastating punch struck her cheek, sending her sprawling several paces backward, landing hard on the ground. Sentarō did not pause. "I'm sorry," he said quietly, turning to Shigekatsu. "But I have no time to delay."
The girl struggled to rise, dusting herself off, her eyes blazing with determination. "Wait!" she called. "Are you… here for the police force entrance exams?"
Sentarō nodded. "Yes, that is why I cannot delay."
Shigekatsu, standing to one side and observing her recovery, thought to himself: She endured my kick, and Sentarō's punch, and she is still standing… a true beast.
"I am," she said, her voice softening as she bowed respectfully. "I apologize for my actions. I believed my father had sent you to marry me off. It was wrong of me to assume."
Shigekatsu waved his hand dismissively. "No need for apologies. It was a simple misunderstanding."
She straightened, her expression earnest. "I am also traveling to the Fourth Division for the entrance exams."
Sentarō's eyes lit up like a torch. Another aspiring samurai! His excitement was palpable. "So you, too, wish to become a samurai?"
"Yes!" she exclaimed, a bright smile forming on her face. "I want to follow the path of the samurai just like you!"
For a moment, both of them forgot everything else in the world, caught up in the shared exhilaration of their goal. Their conversation and laughter echoed through the fields, leaving Shigekatsu to mutter in irritation:
"YOU FOOLS! Don't you want to focus on the exam?!"
He shook his head at their antics, watching them with a mixture of amusement and exasperation. "Enough playing around — let us move."
As they continued along the road, Sentarō asked, "I almost forgot — what is your name?"
"Reiko Kobayashi," the girl replied. "And you?"
"Sentarō Hachibei," he answered with a grin. Their banter continued as they walked, chatting easily, their camaraderie forming naturally. Shigekatsu trailed behind them, muttering under his breath as he tried to keep them on track.
"Keep up, both of you. Hibarimura Village is not far. We must arrive in time," he urged.
By midday, they reached Hibarimura Village, where the Fourth Division of the police force had been stationed. The sight filled Sentarō with awe. Crowds of candidates and officers moved across the wide courtyard, practicing sword forms, calling out drills, and tending to equipment.
"Wow! This place is bustling!" Sentarō exclaimed.
Reiko tilted her head, puzzled. "Huh? Aren't you used to villages like this?"
"The village I grew up in… it never had this many people," Sentarō admitted. "Everything here… it's remarkable!"
"Where did you grow up?" Reiko asked, intrigued.
"Kurogane-machi District," he replied simply.
Shigekatsu clapped his hands sharply. "Enough chattering, you two. We have arrived. Welcome to the Fourth Division of the Police Force."
The headquarters were impressive — wooden structures with plastered walls and thatched roofs, encircling a spacious courtyard lined with training posts, targets, and practice areas. Sentarō's joy nearly erupted at the sight.
"Remember your way back, Sentarō," Shigekatsu said, glancing at him. "Once you enter, I won't be waiting."
"I remember," Sentarō said firmly, bowing slightly.
Shigekatsu's expression softened. "And for mine and Ujiyuki-nii-san's sake, stay alive, all right?"
"I will return a police officer," Sentarō said confidently, though a trace of solemnity crept into his tone.
Reiko, standing beside him, could not help but mirror his excitement. Together, they entered the bustling courtyard.
Time passed, and more candidates arrived. The courtyard quickly overflowed with aspirants — young men and women eager to prove themselves. The total likely exceeded two hundred. The atmosphere was tense, filled with anticipation and the scent of sweat and steel.
A commanding voice suddenly boomed across the courtyard.
"HELLO, EVERYONE! I AM SHIMIZU RYŌTARŌ, YOUR INSTRUCTOR FOR THIS EXAM!"
The candidates snapped to attention, their eyes fixed on the raised platform where the man stood. His all-black zoroye and white haori bore the kanji for Justice emblazoned proudly across his chest.
"NOW, I WILL EXPLAIN THE—"
"DID YOU REALLY START THE EXAM WITHOUT THE MOST IMPORTANT PERSON?!"
The shout echoed like a cannon across the courtyard. Every head turned toward the source, and all eyes widened in astonishment.
A young man stood atop the roof of the headquarters, his purple hair catching the sunlight. His zoroye was deep blue, his white haori adorned with a riot of colors — purple, blue, red, orange, and pink patterns danced across the fabric. Two sheathed swords hung at his left hip, and his presence radiated overwhelming charisma.
"HOSOKAWA TADATOSHI HAS ARRIVED!!" he declared, flashing a wide, confident grin. The energy of his entrance rippled across the courtyard, sending a shiver of excitement and anticipation through every candidate.
Sentarō and Reiko exchanged a glance. Their journey was only beginning, and already, the path ahead promised trials, challenges, and the forging of their very spirits.