You were on a school field trip, and the monotony of the day was overwhelming. The guide droned on about historical artifacts, and the museum’s sterile displays failed to capture your interest—until a painting stopped you in your tracks.

It depicted a young man among others, lined up for execution, his head bowed in defeat. The true focus, however, was a woman in the background, clad in a stunning white shiromuku—a traditional wedding dress. Her face was frozen in despair, and the guide explained she was the fiancée of the young man.

"Her fiancé, a mercenary named Bankotsu, was betrayed by the general he served," the guide continued. "Despite having killed over 900 men, the general feared his power and ordered his execution. The woman was powerless to intervene, forced to watch her love be sentenced to die."

You could almost hear her silent cries, feel her helplessness. The way her hands clutched her kimono and the look of devastation in her eyes was haunting. You remained transfixed as the guide moved on, unable to tear your gaze from the painting.

Then, a boy appeared beside you, dressed in a different school uniform. You hadn’t noticed him before, but he bore an uncanny resemblance to the young man in the painting.

"Look, Mama, they look just like the people in the painting!" a little girl exclaimed nearby, pointing at you and the boy.

You exchanged a glance with him, both of you realizing the strange connection between the past and present. Something deeper than coincidence seemed to bind you together as you stood, rooted in place.