A week had passed since Sentarō began his training. Yet he made a decision that would surprise most—he put his sword training on hold and instead focused on strengthening his body. Day after day, he engaged himself with rigorous workouts, exercises that tested his stamina, and stretches that pushed his stiff body toward flexibility. He was waiting, hoping, for results.
The sun rose slowly, brightening the entire plain, painting the sky gold, and declaring the start of another day. Morning had arrived, and with it came the return of daily activities. Inside his home, Ujiyuki stirred as the rays of sunlight pierced through the paper windows and landed directly across his face. Though he twisted and turned, the light refused to leave him alone, its warmth tugging him back to consciousness. In the end, he had no choice—nature herself had chosen to wake him from slumber.
Groggy, Ujiyuki rummaged through a pile of clothes by his side, pulling out what seemed to be an all-yellow kimono, though its color was a little faded with age. He scratched the back of his head, let out a yawn big enough to rattle the hallway, and shuffled toward Sentarō's room.
Thud! Thud! Thud!
His knuckles landed on the wooden door.
"Hey, kid, don't tell me you're still sleeping," he called, his voice half-annoyed, half-expectant.
He waited. Silence. Not even a stir.
Confusion knit his brows. He knocked again, harder this time, his irritation growing.
Thud! Thud! Thud!
Still nothing.
His frustration boiled into anger, his voice echoing through the hallway. "HEY, KID, WHY THE HELL AREN'T YOU REPLYING?!"
No answer. Not a sound.
That was all it took for Ujiyuki to burst open the sliding door with force, ready to scold the boy. "You damn kid, you really thought you could ign—"
But his words froze on his tongue. The room was empty. The futon neatly folded to the side. Sentarō's clothes and few belongings carefully organized.
Ujiyuki blinked, his anger melting into a small, begrudging smile. "Huh… seems the kid went out already." Satisfaction replaced his fury—it wasn't disobedience, it was determination. Sentarō hadn't grown lazy. He'd gotten up early to train.
"Stupid kid… why tell me to wake you if you didn't need it?" Ujiyuki exhaled, rubbing his temple. Still, he couldn't deny a spark of pride at the boy's consistency.
As he made his way to the kitchen, a new thought crossed his mind. In all the time Sentarō had been with him, the boy had only seen two places: the house and the training grounds. His world was still painfully small.
He began preparing breakfast, but soon realized something troubling—the shelves were nearly empty. Feeding two grown mouths drained food stores faster than expected. If they didn't restock soon, meals would be nothing but plain rice.
"Tch, seems like I'll have to make a trip to the market," he muttered. Then, an idea struck him. "I wonder if the kid would like to go. Maybe I should ask."
Grabbing a cart, he left the house and followed the path into the forest, heading toward Sentarō's training grounds. After a few minutes of weaving through trees, he arrived.
There was Sentarō, already drenched in sweat, his body trembling as he trained with all he had. By the dead tree that stood in the middle of the clearing, the boy's palms pressed against the ground, legs stretched out straight behind him. Push-ups. The intensity of his effort was written all over his strained face.
"Seven… eight… nine… ten…" His voice was steady, but his pace was already slowing.
Ujiyuki stayed in the shadows, arms crossed, observing quietly. He noticed immediately—the kid's movements were losing speed.
"Nineteen… twenty… twenty-one…" Each rep took longer, Sentarō's arms shaking under the pressure. Finally, at twenty-five, he collapsed, lying on the ground and staring at the sky as birds fluttered overhead. His chest heaved with ragged breaths.
Ujiyuki finally stepped out with a smirk. "So you can only manage twenty-five? …That's pathetic, kid."
Sentarō flinched at the voice. "Mr. Ujiyuki?" He scrambled to his feet, brushing dirt off his blue-and-white striped samue. He stared at Ujiyuki in confusion. "What are you doing here?"
But the sight of him triggered Ujiyuki's earlier annoyance from the morning. His eyes narrowed, finger pointing accusingly. "You damn kid, why'd you ask me to wake you if you could wake yourself, huh?!"
Sentarō blinked, then burst into a laugh. Ujiyuki's grumpy face looked more comical than scary. "Haha, sorry, Mr. Ujiyuki. I think I've just gotten used to waking up early." He rubbed the back of his head sheepishly.
But then his tone shifted, his eyes growing serious. "Anyway… ever since I started my training, you haven't come to see me once."
The words cut deeper than he intended. Ujiyuki froze, his smirk fading, a flicker of guilt passing across his face. His hand went to his mouth, and he gave a fake cough. "Ehem."
"The thing is… I'm heading to the market. We're running a little low on supplies, hehe." He scratched his head nervously, clearly avoiding the question.
Finally, he asked, almost awkwardly: "So… do you wanna come along, kid?"
Sentarō tilted his head. Ujiyuki's voice carried an odd nervousness. He noticed it but ignored it. His heart leapt at the opportunity. He had lived his whole life within the boundaries of his small village. To step beyond, to see the world—even just a market—was something monumental.
"Really? Of course! Let's go!" His excitement lit up the clearing.
Relief washed over Ujiyuki, his tension fading. "Alright, kid. Let's go. I know a way to the market from here."
They departed from the training grounds, walking through the forest until they reached a dirt road. Sentarō's eyes widened in disbelief. A proper road existed only a few dozen paces away, yet he had never noticed.
Travelers dotted the path. Some pushed carts laden with goods, others walked with children in tow. Sentarō's world grew with every step, his gaze darting from one passerby to another.
After a long walk, they arrived at the market. The sheer number of people left Sentarō frozen in awe. Voices overlapped in a lively chorus. Stalls brimmed with fresh vegetables, fabrics, trinkets, and spices. The smells of grilled fish and steaming dumplings mixed in the air.
"Wow! Mr. Ujiyuki, the people here could fill an entire village!" His excitement nearly burst out of his chest.
Ujiyuki gave him a sideways glance, bewildered by his reaction. To him, this was just the common market of the Kurogane District.
"Hey, kid… your parents never took you to a market before?"
The joy on Sentarō's face dimmed. He lowered his gaze. "To be honest… my parents never took me anywhere except within our village."
Ujiyuki cursed himself internally. He hadn't meant to hit a nerve. Quickly, he tried to patch the mood.
"Well then, since this is your first time, let's get something for you, kid."
The effect was instant. The frown disappeared, replaced with a grin so bright it could rival the sun. "Thanks, Mr. Ujiyuki!"
Together, they stepped into the bustling market. Sentarō's eyes widened with every new sight, soaking in the overwhelming tide of people and colors. For the first time, the world felt bigger than he had ever imagined.