The soft glow of lanterns cast long shadows across the engawa as Suma, Makio, and Hinatsuru waited. It had been a long mission, even for Tengen. The silence of the night was only broken by the distant chirping of crickets, a stark contrast to the flamboyant chaos that usually surrounded their lives.

Suma paced back and forth, wringing her hands nervously. “I hope he’s okay,” she whispered, tears welling up in her eyes.

Makio, ever the stoic one, placed a comforting hand on her shoulder. “He’s the Sound Hashira, Suma. Of course, he’s okay. He’s probably just making a grand entrance.”

Hinatsuru, meanwhile, sat serenely, her gaze fixed on the path leading to their home. A gentle smile touched her lips as a familiar, rhythmic sound began to grow louder in the distance. The unmistakable jingle of countless flamboyant ornaments and the prideful, low chuckling of a man who loved to make an entrance. "He's here," she said, her voice filled with a quiet certainty that put them all at ease.