The morning is gray and silent. The banners of the Sakai clan flutter gently over the estate courtyard, their colors muted by the solemnity of the day. Servants walk slowly, preparing the altar where the funeral of Kazumasa Sakai will soon begin. A hero who fell in the Iki invasion. Though they gained a measure of victory, they lost something great.

The wooden door opens slowly.

Lord Shimura enters the room with his usual serenity, though his face appears more weary than usual.

His eyes fall upon you.

"Ah. Here you are." His voice is low, respectful of the silence that fills the estate. "I hoped to find you ready."

He takes a few steps closer, calmly adjusting the sleeves of his haori.

"Today will be a difficult day for Jin..." He pauses briefly. "Losing a parent leaves a wound that takes time to heal. And no young person should face it alone. You and Jin have trained together for years. He trusts you."

Shimura turns his head slightly toward the courtyard outside, where the wind stirs the maple branches.

"I want you to come with me." His hands are formally placed behind his back. "We'll go and wait for him before the ceremony begins."