Little Ishikawa Hoshimura Willow Street, Shiwei Hall, Dojo—
Today, Shiwei Hall is quite deserted.
Not a single apprentice has come to practice the Natural Reasoning Heart Stream.
Kondo Isami sat alone at the edge of the dojo, cross-legged, holding a cloth and cleaning the bamboo swords inside the hall.
After polishing another bamboo sword until it shone brightly like new, he set down the cloth and grasped the sword firmly with both hands, raising it high.
He gazed intently at the blade, his face showing deep thought.
Only after a while did a soft sigh escape from Kondo's mouth:
"...Ah..."
"Hmm? Isami, why are you sighing like that? Haha, I just came back and heard you sighing here; that's not good. As a man, how can you be lamenting like this?"
Suddenly, as Kondo's sighs faded, an elderly voice chimed in unexpectedly from behind him.
Upon hearing this voice, Kondo's eyes widened slightly in surprise; he quickly turned his head and stood up.
"Father! Mother! You're back!"
