🪷 Chào Bạn 🪷

A shadow carrying the moonlit night on its back gracefully leapt from the rooftop.

Twisting through the air as if dancing, the white blade in his hand caught the moonlight.

The hamon, curved like a crescent moon, gleamed—

With a sharp, piercing sound, the sword was knocked from the man's hand.

Man: —Huh.

The surroundings fell completely silent, and the man collapsed weakly to the ground.

As the crowd watched from a distance, Hisahide alone glided forward and knelt before Yoshiteru.

Hisahide: I have been waiting for you.

Hisahide: The thirteenth shogun of the Muromachi shogunate———Ashikaga Yoshiteru-sama.

Villager 1: Yoshiteru-sama, you say...?

Only the night air flowed quietly, and not a single person even made a sound as they breathed.

Amid the silence, Yoshiteru slowly lifted his face.

Yoshiteru: —Even after I departed, the world continued to be thrown into chaos.

Yoshiteru: There must have been days when you were overwhelmed by despair, believing that an era of peace would never come.

Yoshiteru: Even so, there were those who never let go of their humanity and continued to pray with all their hearts.

Yoshiteru: Then I shall grant it. I shall show it. To those who reside in the capital of Kyoto, I shall bring eternal peace.

Yoshiteru: —Because you wished for it, I have returned once more to this chaotic world.

In the silence that returned once again, someone clasped their hands together and let out a voice filled with sobs.

At that moment, an overwhelming cheer erupted, surging through the capital like thunder.

—The capital of Kyoto was overflowing with vitality.

The malice that threatened the people and the vile hierarchies were eliminated, and a long-awaited peace was brought to those who had been oppressed.

Villager 1: Hey, did you see His appearance that night? Yoshiteru-sama truly is a miraculous being, the savior of Hinomoto!

Villager 2: What's more, I heard that the very men who were branded as rebels were personally chosen by that very person.

Villager 3: He truly possesses a discerning eye. Under the shogun's command, he has brought us a prosperous life and a peaceful order.

Villager 1: Hey... that wall looks just like the boundary line between this world and the next.

Villager 1: This is the most peaceful place in Hinomoto. You could even call it a paradise.

Villager 2: Yes, that's right. Surely, it is.

Villager 3: With Yoshiteru-sama's divine protection, all the people can escape from every hardship and become happy.

Villager 1: Whoa!?

Saizo: Ah... I-I’m sorry...

Villager 1: No, it's fine, but... your complexion looks terrible. Are you alright?

Saizo: Ah, please... don't worry about me.

Villager 2: He left already. Who was that?

Villager 1: Who knows...

Hisahide: ...Now then. May I hear your answer soon?

Rikyu: Hah, you called me here, and I wondered what it was about... but it's that? A little late for that, isn't it?

Kanbei: At this point, it doesn't seem like the paths we are taking will diverge. So I will lend you my strength.

Hisahide: I see. Then there's only one person left.

Yoshiteru: ...How long are you going to keep hiding? Your role as the rear guard is already over.

With a loud clunk, the floorboard came loose.

When Saizo appeared, a heavy shadow fell across his face.

Saizo: ...Have you heard of this rumor? They say there is a monster that dwells in the night mist on the battlefield.

Saizo: Once you encounter it, it's over. You can never return alive. That is... me.

Saizo: Sometimes, I am even called the "Monster of the Battlefield"...

Yoshiteru: A monster? The one standing there is Saizo.

Saizo: .......

Hisahide: That's right. Saizo, who carried out his duty as the rear guard admirably.

Rikyu: The Saizo who spends the whole time trembling in fear like a little puppy.

Kanbei: Our Saizo, who is honest, earnest, and adorable.

Yoshiteru: Welcome back.

Saizo: .......

Saizo: ...I-I’m home... I’ve returned.

When Saizo bowed his head, Yoshiteru nodded...

Yoshiteru: Everyone is here. Let us begin.

Saizo: Huh?

Yoshiteru: I haven't had tea today yet.

Rikyu: What a sudden request. Yes, yes, wait a moment.

Saizo: Yoshiteru-sama, you really do love tea, don't you?

Yoshiteru: Yoshiteru is fine.

Yoshiteru: Commoners who are friends with each other call one another by their names. There is no need for such formal speech either. I will make a special exception and allow it in this place.

Saizo: Eek………… calling you by your name without honorifics!?

Yoshiteru: I said it's fine.

Rikyu: Well, that's quite something. You don't often get the chance to casually call the shogun by his name.

Rikyu: To even call the act of trying to poison you "a playful jest"... you truly possess the vast heart of one worthy of ruling Hinomoto.

Hisahide: I’ll accept your feelings, at least for trying to create a “moving” shogun through the proof of my immortality.

Hisahide: Though I did find it a little distasteful. Perhaps something a bit more mysterious would have been better.

Kanbei: If you desired a more mysterious presentation, then why didn't you use a "wormhole" in this plan?

Kanbei: You were able to create what seemed like a splendid opening at first glance...

Kanbei: For a shogun who possesses the power of miracles, I feel there were many parts that were rather cunning and modest.

Yoshiteru: ...Because miracles are sometimes imperfect.

Yoshiteru: Eternity, peace, and people are the same. They are all alike.

Saizo's shoulders gave a slight jolt, but Kanbei paid him no mind and ruffled his hair.

Kanbei: My role is to secretly gather soldiers for the Ashikaga Army's forces and have them lie in wait throughout the provinces surrounding the capital.

Kanbei: And as a strategist, it's my job to move the pieces.

Kanbei: Now then, can you tell me how I should make use of Saizo?

Saizo: Heh.

Kanbei: What are you capable of? And why were you recruited?

Kanbei: The fact that you're a shinobi from Kirigakure Village alone proves you possess considerable skill.

Kanbei: And on top of that, the fact that you managed to leave your village and now stand here as a free man means...

Saizo: ...! U-ugh... th-th-th-that's...

Kanbei: Does that mean you're exceptionally talented at hiding?

Kanbei: Why don't you spar with me as a test? It might help us get to know each other better.

Saizo: H-Hide-and-seek...!?

Kanbei: Now, what should the punishment be if you're caught?

Saizo: Eek...! Even though it's just a friendly game to help us get to know each other, there's a punishment!?

Saizo shrank back like a cornered puppy.

Looking somewhat satisfied, Kanbei finally released Saizo's hair, which had become a complete bird's nest.

Saizo: I-I don't know why someone like me was recruited.

Kanbei: And you're here without even knowing why?

Saizo: I just... thought that if a land of peace could be built, maybe I wouldn't have to fight anymore.

Saizo: Or perhaps... somewhere along the way to building it...

Saizo trailed off and looked up at Kanbei.

Saizo: ...Kanbei, um... why...

Kanbei: Because they survived those four years, and their ambition had not been crushed.

Kanbei: For now, that's all. The real value will be found from here on.

Kanbei: ...Even so, "equals," huh? That's an interesting way to put it.

Kanbei: Even if it was nothing more than a whim from a few years ago, a promise is still a promise.

Saizo: ...A promise...

Kanbei: Hmm? Would you like me to make a promise with you too, Saizo?

Saizo: Huh!? N-no... someone like me doesn't deserve something like that...

Saizo: I'm not someone who deserves something like that. ...You don't have to treat me like a person.

Yoshiteru: It's been a while, you two.

Freed from the officials, Rikyu and Kanbei were greeted by Yoshiteru, who emerged from the darkness of the night.

Rikyu frowned at Yoshiteru's dazzling white attire, which seemed to glow in the darkness.

Rikyu: ...You really went and gave us away, didn't you?

Kanbei: Reporting Rikyu and me and having us arrested for treason against the shogun... that was quite a rough way of doing things.

Yoshiteru: This was the quickest way for us to regroup. Besides... it makes it easier to lure them out.

Kanbei: Heh, that's quite a luxurious decoy.

Saizo: A-are you two really arguing at a time like this...?

Hisahide: Don't worry, Saizo. I'm sure they both understand why they were used as decoys.

Hisahide: ...On the day Honnoji was consumed by towering flames, the former shogun, Ashikaga Yoshiteru, was reborn.

Hisahide: A miracle like that is far too tame.

Kanbei: A miracle is only a miracle when many people witness it.

Yoshiteru: That miracle will be brought to all the people who seek eternal peace.

Yoshiteru: Our destination is... the capital city of Kyoto.

Saizo: —Then I'll cover the rear. The guards from earlier are approaching.

Yoshiteru: They won't come.

Saizo: I-I’m not someone suited for the spotlight... I’ll stay here.

Trusting Saizo, who had rushed ahead alone, the group marched on toward the capital.

Villager 1: Hey, what on earth is happening!?

Villager 2: I-I have no idea! Are they fighting among themselves...!?

The sudden fierce battle that erupted within the capital shattered even the stillness of the night.

The people could not hide their confusion at the bizarre sight of the Ashikaga Army led by Kanbei clashing with the Ashikaga Army that had sided with the samurai man.

The commotion spread like ripples, eventually rousing even the man who had been hiding away in his lair.

Man: Hey, what on earth is all this commotion about!?Man: I am the one who governs this capital under the orders of the shogun, Ashikaga Yoshiteru-sama. If you oppose me, I will show no mercy!

Hisahide: —Governs.

Hisahide stepped forward alone from among the crowd.

Hisahide: Wasn't the order Yoshiteru-sama gave you to "bring peace to the people"?

Hisahide: I don't believe that has been accomplished in the slightest. Wouldn't that itself be considered rebellion?

Man: Hah. Then bring the real one here.

Villager 3: Eek...!

The man dragged out a nearby villager and held a sword to their neck.

Man: Come on, hurry up. Otherwise, that precious citizen's so-called peace will be taken away, won't it?

Man: Though, I doubt a miracle would happen for such a worthless little life.

Hisahide: ...Are you saying Yoshiteru-sama's resurrection is nothing but a fabrication?

Man: Of course. You are nothing but a ridiculous bunch of fools who were fooled by that story.

The man scoffed and looked around at the people.

However— they were all looking up at the sky.

Villager 1: ...Hey, look at that...

Hisahide: —Oh. That hut burned down.

Hisahide: Well, I suppose it's fine. For us who have built a paradise, it's already a place we no longer need.

When Hisahide said that, the others nodded without much interest and took a sip of their tea.

Saizo: ...Huh. The tea bowl...

Yoshiteru: It broke.

Saizo: Something that looked so expensive, something I could never possibly afford...! W-What a waste...

Rikyu: You're exaggerating. I didn't throw it away.

Rikyu: I had a craftsman repair it with kintsugi and combined it with the fragments that had been kept separately.

Rikyu: There are probably people who would say that there is beauty and charm within its imperfections.

Kanbei: Beauty and charm?

Rikyu: Even if it is broken, if the pieces are joined together, it can be revived like this. As if it is declaring that it is still alive.

Rikyu: ...Or so they say.

Hisahide: It all depends on how you choose to put it.

Saizo: But... it might be beautiful?

Kanbei: Oh? You understand the beauty of it. Saizo, you're admirable. I'll give you all of my tea sweets.

Saizo: Uwaa!? D-Don't stuff that much into your mouth all at once! Yoshiteru-sama...!

Yoshiteru: More.

Rikyu: Yes, yes.

Today as always, gentle sunlight shone down upon the capital.