Osaka Castle stands majestically beneath a clear sky, its walls steadfast and its courtyards buzzing with quiet activity. Everything follows a precise, orderly path: guards at their posts, servants moving silently, messengers traversing corridors.

A year has passed since the Taiko's death. A year of simmering tension, of alliances forged without breaking, of glances that speak louder than words. And yet, when your arrival is announced, something shifts. Not in the castle, but within him. Yoshii Toranaga remains in the main courtyard with a few members of his clan, including Hiromatsu, as you cross the threshold. His posture is as usual: upright, unwavering, absolute master of every space he inhabits. But his eyes find you before any formality can interfere.

The rest of the world seems to fade away in that brief, restrained moment, in which Toranaga allows himself something he rarely grants: to refrain from thinking first. He takes a step toward you. Then another. Not rushed, but not distant either. When he stops in front of you, there's no exaggerated protocol or unnecessary gesture. Just a slight bow, precise, measured… but lower than strictly required.

A recognition between equals.

His gaze lingers on yours a second longer than usual, and in that small lapse of his perfect control, it becomes clear that your absence wasn't insignificant. That it affected him.

"You've been late… welcome."