September 7, Sendai Colony.
At noon, sunlight spilled through gaps in the gray sky, breaking into dazzling flecks of gold on the stream.
Kenjaku crouched beside the stream, staring blankly at his reflection. The water flowed soundlessly, with only the occasional dead leaf drifting down from upstream, swirling past him.
Yet his mind churned with something entirely unrelated. Should he still merge Tengen with all of humanity? He had pondered that question for days. Each time he thought he had an answer, a new thought would overturn it before long.
I just can't decide.
As his thoughts wandered, a familiar voice came from behind him.
"Yo, Kenjaku."
Kenjaku looked back, the corners of his mouth slowly lifting. "Yo. Long time no see, Kashimo." His gaze passed over Kashimo's shoulder and settled on the woman beside him. She was tall, her long hair falling to her shoulders, the Sky-Piercing Blade slung at her side. Standing in the afternoon light, she looked like a blade freshly drawn from its sheath.
Kenjaku narrowed his eyes, his smile deepening.
"Ah... so you did find your little sidekick after all."
"Heh. Little sidekick?" Fenghua's voice turned cold. Her hand was already on her sword hilt, her knuckles whitening slightly.
"Haha, just kidding. Don't get worked up." Kenjaku waved a hand, smiling all the more easily at Fenghua's expression, as though she might draw her blade at any moment.
He withdrew his gaze, his tone shifting from teasing back to business.
"All right, let's get down to business," Kashimo said.
"Why haven't you added any new rules yet? Everyone from Jujutsu High has already entered the barrier. They should have found the Prison Realm by now, too."
Kenjaku raised his eyebrows.
"All right, all right, I know." Kenjaku waved a hand, a faint smile on his