Many people filled the streets — walking, chatting, bartering at market stalls, watching street performers, and carrying baskets of goods. The air buzzed with life.
Katsu wandered through the busy town square, taking in the sights.
Then —
BUMP!
An old man collided with him and fell backward.
"Oops! Sorry, sir — are you okay?" Katsu asked, helping him to his feet.
"Thank you, young man. I'll be fine," the old man said with a gentle smile.
"Well, glad you're okay," Katsu replied with a relieved grin.
The old man nodded politely and walked away.
Katsu brushed off his hands, proud of himself for doing a good deed — but something felt off. He glanced down and spotted a small leather pouch on the ground.
"Huh? What's this?"
He picked it up and peeked inside. It was stuffed with gold coins.
"This must've belonged to that old guy. Guess I should return it."
Just as he was about to go looking—
"HALT!"
Katsu spun around. A man in full plate armor stood before him, sword drawn.
"Uh… can I help you?" Katsu asked cautiously.
"I am Matsumura Yasuhiro of the Royal Guard. I'm searching for a man named Hari Ashikaga. Have you seen him?"
Katsu blinked. "Hari… Ashikaga? Uh, no. Sorry, I just got here. Don't know anyone."
"I see. Carry on." The guard turned to leave—then stopped. His eyes locked on the pouch in Katsu's hand.
"Where did you get that?"
"This? Oh, it's not mine—"
"DO NOT RESIST! I AM TAKING YOU IN!" the guard bellowed, pointing his sword.
"Wait—WHAT?! WHY!?"
"Thought you could fool me, huh? Hari Ashikaga!"
"WHAT?! NO! YOU GOT THE WRONG GUY!"
"Nice try, but save your lies, you criminal!" Matsumura sneered. "Finally! I caught the most wanted man alive! The promotion's mine! I'll be Captain of the Guard in no time!"
Katsu stood there blinking, completely dumbfounded. At first, he was terrified — now he was just annoyed.
As the guard rambled to himself about glory and fame, Katsu slowly turned and started walking away.
"HEY! WHERE DO YOU THINK YOU'RE GOING?! It's rude to walk away when someone's monologuing!"
"WHY ARE YOU MAD AT ME?! YOU'RE THE ONE ACCUSING ME OF BEING SOME RANDOM CRIMINAL!" Katsu yelled back. "And maybe if you stopped bragging about yourself, you'd actually catch the real guy!"
The guard froze. Then muttered softly, "...Sorry."
Katsu blinked. "Oh. Uh. Okay then."
As he walked off, he sighed. "Kinda feel bad for yelling at him."
Then—
WHOOSH!
"DID YOU REALLY THINK I'D APOLOGIZE!? HOW DARE YOU TALK BACK TO A GUARD!" Matsumura screamed, charging forward at blinding speed.
"What the—?! HOLY SH*T, HOW FAST ARE YOU?!"
"YEARS OF TRAINING AT THE ACADEMY! TOP OF MY CLASS! THIS ARMOR IS NOTHING TO ME!" he shouted proudly.
"Oh my god, he really can't stop bragging!" Katsu thought.
"Not only that, but I have an ability!" Matsumura said with a smug grin.
"An ability?"
Suddenly, his sword began to stretch — metal twisting and snaking through the air.
"WHAT THE HELL IS THAT!?"
"I was blessed with the power to control and reshape any metal I touch!"
"YOU CANNOT BE SERIOUS RIGHT NOW!!"
The extended blade wrapped around Katsu's legs. He tripped and hit the ground face-first.
THUD!
"OW! What's your problem!?"
"That was disappointingly easy. I expected more from the infamous Hari Ashikaga."
"STOP CALLING ME THAT!!"
Matsumura puffed out his chest. "Doesn't matter. I, Matsumura Yasuhiro, have captured the greatest thief alive!"
"You really are a moron," Katsu mumbled into the dirt.
"Save it, criminal. You'll have plenty of time to reflect before your execution."
Before Katsu could protest, Matsumura confiscated his sword and dragged him off.
"HEY, THAT'S MINE!"
"You won't need it where you're going."
He was thrown into a dungeon, chained to the wall.
"This is the end for Hari Ashikaga," Matsumura said, gloating. "The thief with a thousand faces is finally behind bars."
"For the last time — I'm not him!!"
Matsumura scoffed. "No one's going to believe you." He turned to another guard. "Watch him closely. My reputation's on the line."
SLAM!
The door closed.
The other guard sighed. "Man, I hate that guy. Just because he's the General's son, he thinks he can order everyone around."
Katsu blinked. "Wait — he's a general's son? That explains so much…"
"Yeah, total jerk. Brags, shouts, never cleans up after himself — leaves the toilet seat up too."
Katsu chuckled. "You have my sympathy."
He leaned back. "For the record, I'm not this 'Hari Ashikaga' guy. Never even heard of him."
"Really? Everyone knows him. He's an international thief. Been on the run for ten years."
"And what — just like that, everyone assumes I'm him?"
"Well… no one knows what he looks like. They say he can cast illusions — change faces, even reshape how people see the world."
"Ah. That explains it…" Katsu muttered.
Suddenly —
CRASH!
"What the hell!?" The guard rushed out to investigate.
Katsu was left alone.
A moment later, the keys on the nearby table began to float.
"What the—?!"
"Shh! I'm trying to break you out," whispered a voice.
SHK!
"Wrong key."
SHK!
"Crap."
SHK! SHK! SHK!
"WHY ARE THERE SO MANY DAMN KEYS!?"
"Who's there!?" the guard shouted from the hall.
"Uh—no one! Just me!" Katsu said nervously.
"Suspicious… I'm moving you to another cell."
The guard stepped inside—
CRACK!
His neck snapped. He collapsed instantly.
"OH MY GOD!!!" Katsu yelled.
"Sorry. Had to do it," said the disembodied voice.
"W-who are you?" Katsu stammered.
"Right, one sec—"
A burst of energy filled the cell, light swirling into a human form.
When it cleared, a man stood there with a sly grin.
"My name," he said coolly, "is Hari Ashikaga."
FUN FACT:
The name Matsumura means "Pine tree village", and Yasuhiro means "Quiet and Peace" (Very Ironic).