The sun had just risen, its gentle rays slipping between the tall buildings. The city was beginning to come alive, and people were starting their day.
Musashi sat in a simple tea shop, watching the hustle and bustle passing before his eyes. Around him, the murmur of quiet conversations filled the air, and people walked past, absorbed in their busy lives.
He held a cup of warm tea, sipping it slowly. Musashi's life had changed over the past month since his last encounter with Aiko's shadow, which led him to decide to move on.
Musashi, gazing into his cup in contemplation :"It's been a long time since I've lived this peacefully… no battles, no blood staining my hands. This world… strangely, it feels so quiet."
He observed the teacup in his hands, recalling the days when his life was filled with clear purpose and a burning resolve. Now, he was trying to find meaning within the silence, though shadows of the past continued to linger in his mind.
As he finished his tea, Musashi decided to visit the dojo where he had once learned martial arts—a place he had left long ago but never truly forgotten.
The dojo was located in a corner of the city. It looked old and modest yet stood tall, with a sign reading "Dojo Tsurugi" above the door. Musashi slid the door open, greeted by the warm scent of wood as if time had stood still there.
Inside, he saw a few young students practicing, following the movements with focused attention. Musashi gave a faint smile as he watched their spirit, remembering his youth when he first learned about discipline and strength.
Suddenly, Sensei Tsurugi noticed him and approached with a warm smile.
Sensei Tsurugi, smiling as he walked closer:"Musashi! … It's been a long time. You've come to visit at an unexpected moment."
Musashi bowed his head in a traditional Japanese greeting as a sign of respect.
(Musashi, in a low, respectful tone) :"I wanted to revisit the days of training, Sensei. Life has become so quiet lately."
Sensei Tsurugi smiled gently, his eyes filled with profound wisdom :"Calm doesn't mean emptiness, Musashi. Sometimes, we find the answers we have been searching for in silence."
Musashi nodded, trying to absorb his teacher's words. He stood in silence, allowing those words to resonate within his heart. Sensei Tsurugi stepped closer, looking at him with a gaze filled with the warmth and attentiveness of a teacher.
Sensei Tsurugi, with a sharp yet gentle gaze :"There's something you're searching for, isn't there? Even if you don't want to admit it, your eyes are still filled with shadows of the past. Aren't you tired of carrying that burden wherever you go?"
Musashi lowered his head, his gaze falling to the wooden floor of the dojo, staring blankly as if searching for answers within the delicate cracks beneath his feet.
Musashi, in a heavy tone :"Maybe so, Sensei. There are memories I want to leave behind, but I also want to hold onto them forever. … without those memories, I'd lose my reason to keep going."
Sensei Tsurugi gave a slight, understanding smile, sensing the unspoken feelings within Musashi's words :"Musashi…in a warrior's life, the shadows of the past can be a heavy burden, but they can also be a great source of strength. There's nothing wrong with wanting to keep memories, as long as you don't let them bind your steps."
Musashi fell silent, digesting each word from his teacher. His restless heart found a brief sense of calm, though he knew this calm was only temporary. The shadows of his past, especially about Aiko, continued to linger at the corners of his mind, demanding answers he had long ignored.
Sensei Tsurugi patted Musashi's shoulder, looking at him warmly and understandingly.
Sensei Tsurugi, in a soft yet firm tone :"Musashi, perhaps it's time for you to face those shadows, not with your sword, but with an open heart."
Musashi nodded slowly, then stood up to bow respectfully. Inside, he felt a new determination growing—a desire to find peace within the memories he cherished.
Musashi, in a steady voice :"Thank you, Sensei. Perhaps it's time I stop hiding from my past."
Sensei Tsurugi smiled softly as if giving him his blessing :"A warrior's path is to seek the truth within himself, Musashi. Remember that."
After quiet time at the dojo, Musashi stepped outside, inhaling the fresh, calm morning air. The stillness of the morning was accompanied only by the sound of leaves rustling in the wind, and the morning sun cast a soft, warm glow on the wooden gate of the old dojo.
But as he approached the gate, his eyes fell on a figure standing silently by the side of the road. The man seemed like a shadow as if his presence merged with the emptiness of the morning. His hair was disheveled, his face weary, yet his gaze was sharp, watching Musashi with an intense stare. The man said nothing, merely stood there, gazing at Musashi as though he recognized him without the need for words.
Musashi stopped and looked at the man cautiously :"Is there something I can help you with?"
The man did not respond immediately. He stood in silence, then slowly lowered his head. After a few seconds, he walked away without a word, leaving Musashi in deep curiosity.
Musashi's thoughts :"Who is he…? His gaze seemed to hold unspoken secrets. Could it be…?"
Though the stranger left without a word, Musashi felt something significant had occurred—a brief encounter that left a deep impression. He didn't know who the man was, but the look he left behind echoed in Musashi's mind, adding to the weight of curiosity that had haunted him since his encounter with Aiko's shadow.