The morning sun filtered through the train windows as Wataru and his companions journeyed from Osaka's Tennoji Station to Kyoto, a trip that would take roughly an hour. For Mariell, Eir, Croché, and Stella, this marked their first time leaving Osaka—a small yet meaningful milestone.
Their destination: the workshop of Sakakibara Senju, a legendary master sculptor. Known as a Daibutsushi, Sakakibara's renown extended across Japan as an artisan who could breathe life into stone and wood. Securing an audience with him had been no easy feat, but through a chance connection with Ayano Koyuki, a former client, they had finally arranged a meeting.
Wataru, however, saw the trip as more than just business. The group's morning hours were free, so he decided to take advantage of the opportunity and give his companions a taste of Kyoto's history and culture.
