It turns out Yasuo had a knack for getting under people's skin. With a unique perspective and a penchant for strange questions, he excelled at pointing out things others would rather not think about.
The two other Wind Village boys traveling with him knew Yasuo well enough to keep their distance. If Yasuo was at the front, they stayed at the back.
For his part, Yasuo seemed uninterested in picking on them. His full attention was on Elder Suma, pestering him with endless questions about the history of the Sword School, notable swordmasters, relations with other schools, training routines, food, and more. Suma was nearly overwhelmed. How could a boy from a small village have so many questions?
Even worse, Yasuo kept comparing the Wind Sword School to others. With the Wuju School, it was reputation; with the Kinkou Order, numbers and influence; with the Shilana Monastery, age and tradition; and with Kashuri, advanced methods. And every time, he made a point of declaring the Wind Sword School's weaknesses loudly.
When Elder Suma asked why Yasuo felt compelled to compare, the boy had a startling response: "I'm setting my goals so I can help the Wind Sword School surpass all others." And he said it so seriously that Suma didn't have the heart to discourage his "big dreams."
By the end of the day, Suma's patience was worn thin. He decided it was time to give the boy something to keep him busy. As they were staying near a bamboo grove that night, he finally thought of a plan.
The next morning, before Yasuo could begin his daily "questions," Elder Suma preemptively addressed him.
"Yasuo," Suma began, patting the boy's shoulder with a smile. "I've never seen talent like yours, so I've been thinking about how to help you adjust to life in the Wind School. We can't practice sword techniques on the road, but there's something else you could start with."
"Something else?" Yasuo looked intrigued. "Like what?"
"Focus. The sword requires more than just skill; it demands focus. But not just any focus—what we call the way of the wind needs a special sort of aid."
"Aid?" Yasuo asked, surprised. "What kind of aid?"
"Music." Suma pulled a length of purple bamboo from behind his back. "Let me teach you to play the shakuhachi."
Shakuhachi? Yasuo stared, stunned, as Elder Suma deftly trimmed and carved holes into the bamboo, fashioning it into a flute.
At that moment, Yasuo's system pinged with a new quest.
"Bonus Quest No One Defeats Me with My Own BGM unlocked."
"No One Defeats Me with My Own BGM, Step 1: Every hero needs a theme. Choose your musical instrument for a personal BGM. Once chosen, this selection cannot be changed."
So if I master the shakuhachi, I could have an epic flute solo every time I strike? Yasuo thought, grinning.
Meanwhile, Elder Suma noticed Yasuo's contemplative silence and assumed he'd impressed him with his musical skills. He was so pleased that he accidentally made a huge mistake.
"Of course, if the shakuhachi isn't to your taste, you can pick something else. As long as it's wind-related, I can teach you any instrument in Ionia!"
At that moment, Yasuo understood his quest: he could choose any instrument as his background music. Watching Elder Suma's confidence, a mischievous smile crept across Yasuo's face.
"In that case…" Yasuo straightened and announced with a serious expression, "Elder, I want to learn the suona."
Suma stared, speechless.
There was a suona in Ionia, yes—but he'd never expected anyone to ask for it. The suona, of all things!
This was the first time Suma genuinely wanted to crack open Yasuo's head to see what he was thinking. A suona? The sound was anything but subtle!
But the trouble was, Suma had already claimed he could teach anything. He could only imagine Yasuo's opening remark upon arriving at the Wind School: "Does everyone at the Wind School break promises like Elder Suma?"
Suppressing a deep sigh, Suma attempted to salvage the situation.
"Are you sure you wouldn't prefer the shakuhachi?" he asked, forcing a smile.
"No, no," Yasuo said, resolute. "It's gotta be the suona. It's lively, full of spirit—just perfect!"
"After all, 'When the suona plays, all come to an end!'" Yasuo proclaimed, reciting a famous saying. "Nothing says finality like a suona solo!"
Suma could only stare in despair as Yasuo explained why the suona, with its unique cultural role, was the ultimate choice.
Finally, Suma and Yasuo locked eyes. The silent battle ended with Yasuo victorious; the elder relented, admitting that he didn't have a suona on hand and would have to get one later.
Yasuo, content to see his quest marker "BGM Instrument: Suona" light up on his system screen, gave a satisfied smile.