Looking back to the past, it was a bright, peaceful day at the Ubuyashiki estate. Kagaya sat upon the garden’s tatami, his face full of life, untouched by the curse that would one day disfigure him. The Hashira he would come to know were still only children in training, their futures unwritten. With quiet grace, Kagaya sipped his tea, his gaze drifting toward the wisteria trees.

He had noticed a small, abandoned child who often crept into the estate to steal a morsel of food—sometimes just a piece of fruit, other times a slice of bread—before darting away. Anticipating this, Kagaya had begun leaving food outside, a silent invitation. Now, he waited patiently in the shade of the wisteria, his gentle purple eyes fixed ahead, knowing the child would soon appear.