The red coloured shrine door shined bright against the falling sun. 

Huashin, after checking the time on her phone, stepped toward the wooden side entrance of Shimana Shrine, she rang the rope bronze bell three times, hoping someone would respond. 

Several minutes later, footsteps approached from inside, and the wooden door slid open.

Standing on the other side were two familiar figures — a tall man with blond-brown hair and angled chin, in his mid 30s; and a shorter girl with round features and short brown hair. Both of them were dressed in dark blue shrine robes. 

 “Good afternoon, Master Yon,” Huashin smiled and greeted Yon. 

“Just call me Instructor Yon like you usually do, Araka,” Yon, brushing his bangs from his forehead, said, “I was just assigned to this position because of the order from the Otanaku elders.”

Araka’s eyes, meanwhile, were on the girl. Wait, couldn’t she be …

“Sara-cha!” Before Araka could speak, the girl responded first, “it’s good to see you again.”

It’s Jinhui, the girl I saved during the entrance exam to the SAIR! Araka said to herself. 

Then, Jinhui hurried forward and wrapped both arms around Araka. 

The sudden embrace caught Araka completely off guard: “Jin-Jinhui, It … it’s good to see you too. And I’m glad … You’ve changed.”

“Really?” Jinhui said, eyes open.

“Uh-hum,” Araka said, “You looked more confident now.”

“Well, thanks, hehe,” Jinhui said, face blushing, “Working under Yon, even by doing some paperwork, really makes me learn something. And plus, you’re amazing too — I’ve heard all the stories about you from Hakasa-sa. Couldn’t believe you actually beat those rogue Matake users while you just learned how to use your lightsaber.”

“Well, that’s impressive, hehe.” 

“And that’s why I’m your fan,” Jinhui smiled sweetly. 

“Yon, guess you’re really a good instructor,” Huashin, standing nearby with hands on her hips, said. 

“Well, trust me, Jinhui is far more helpful than you expected,” Yon said, arm crossed. “Anyway, welcome to Shimana Shrine.”

—

As Jinhui and Araka carried the luggage inside and set up the dorm, Huashin and Yon were walking along the long roofed corridor around the shrine courtyard. 

“Yon, there’s something I’ve been wondering,” she said, “The techniques you sent me last week … they’re almost entirely reconstructed from historical scrolls.”

Yon nodded.

“So how exactly are you planning to teach Araka?” Huashin continued, "After all, most of those techniques haven’t been practised for generations.”

Yon smiled slightly. “I won’t be doing it alone.”

Huashin raised an eyebrow.

“There is someone who can help, someone from the Hikuyomi Grandmothers,” Yon said, “though she’ll mostly be correcting Araka’s basic movements.”

Huashin looked puzzled. “If you say she’s one of the shrine elders, don’t you mean…”

“Otanaku Kinekama (烏海 金華), the youngest among the Otanaku elders,” Yon said, “You’ve met her during the Meidon New Year celebrations last year. If any of the elders would believe in experimenting innovative Matake spells, that must be her.”

“… Though I never expected she’d be the one guiding Araka,” Huashin said.

“Neither did I at first,” Yon smiled, “But when I first explained the proposed composite technique, she became genuinely interested — something worth preserving for the next generation of Matake users.”

“Didn’t realize she’s that avant garde when it comes to experimenting with Matake spells,” Huashin said.

“Well,” Yon smiled, “That is why the Otanaku Clan and the Hikuyomi Shrine lineage survived century after century. Here is the quote from Master Kinekama: ‘we negotiate our past knowledge with the future, and move with confidence once we believe it is the future’.”

Huashin nodded.

“Oh, one more thing,” Yon continued, “If Araka would like additional training later this week, Hakasa should be available.”

Huashin looked pleasantly surprised upon hearing the news. “Really?”

Yon nodded. “Her current assignment finishes in several days, and considering her current standing and trust she had earned within the Hikuyomi Shrine circle, I can think of few better people to help Araka prepare for the certification examination…”

He glanced toward the courtyard, where Araka and Jinhui were already chatting after carrying the luggage into the guest room. 

“…Especially since those two already know each other since the entrance exam and through the Milo incident,” Yon said, “or even the family connection.”

Huashin nodded.

“Anyway,” Yon said, “The real training won’t start before Master Kinekama’s arrival tomorrow morning. So you guys could have a break here at the shrine. Though I have to remind you — do not go to the main hall area on top of the hill or the front public facing buildings.”

Huashin raised her eyebrows. 

“The shrine’s priest told us many times that Shimana Shrine is intended to be a shrine of peace. Even though the Otanaku Clan had promised the certificate will help advance the peace aspect of Matake power, the priest is still … let’s say, ‘skeptical’ about any Matake spells.”

“Guess that really happens to a shrine if the shrine hasn't had an active Matake user for decades,” Huashin commented calmly.

—

By the time the evening bell echoed across Shimana Shrine, the sun had already begun sinking behind the mountains.

Following the shrine’s custom, both Araka and Huashin had changed into simple blue shrine robes prepared for visiting trainees. Compared with SAIR uniforms, they felt surprisingly light.

Araka adjusted the sleeves before stepping into the corridor: “Shall we head to the dining hall?”

Yon, just exited from the back of the room, called Araka: “Araka.”

She turned around: “…Instructor Yon?”

“You don’t need to go to the main dining hall tonight.”

Araka blinked. “…We don’t?”

Yon smiled faintly: “Someone will bring dinner here.”

“…Really?”

“Think of it as a welcome gift.”

Then, a gentle knock sounded outside. Jinhui slid open the wooden door. Standing there was another familiar young woman with long brown hair carrying a stacked lacquered wooden tray.

“…Jinlin,” Araka recognized her immediately.

Jinlin then gave a polite bow.

“Good evening,” one by one, she placed the dishes onto the low wooden table.

The meal seemed inviting: a steaming bowl of bamboo mushroom and tofu soup, a large, carefully deboned salt-pickled fish arranged neatly on a ceramic plate, and several bowls of freshly cooked rice.

The aroma quickly filled the room.

“Please enjoy your meal,” Jinlin said, her voice remaining calm and courteous.

Before anyone could begin another conversation, Jinlin picked up the now-empty serving tray.

“I still have several deliveries to make,” she said, “the priests are waiting.”

She bowed once more.

“Excuse me.”

The sliding door quietly closed behind her.

Araka looked toward the door before turning to Jinhui.

“…Jinhui.”

“Hm, Sara-cha?”

“…What’s going on with your sister?”

Jinhui tilted her head: “What do you mean?”

“I’m not being judgmental, but she …” Araka searched for the right words, “…looked a little tense.”

Jinhui lowered her eyes slightly.

“…She’s still the same kind sister,” she smiled softly.

“But… whenever your name comes up, she always seems a little confused.”

“…Confused?” 

Jinhui nodded: “I don’t really know why.”

Before Araka could ask another question, Huashin turned toward Yon: “Does Jinlin still work with your team?”

Yon picked up his bowl of soup before answering. “She does.” Yon said, “In fact, she’s still one of the most capable agents we have. Before the Milo incident, Jinlin was remarkable — her mind is exceptionally sharp, and she can drive almost any type of vehicle. She even earned nearly every specialized operating licence she could apply for before she turned twenty-five.”

Huashin nodded knowingly. “I remember you mentioned that during the entrance exam last year: her specialization is industrial safety inspection.”

Yon nodded. “That was her area of study. More importantly, she is also a decent markswoman.”

He paused briefly. “But after everything that happened last year, something changed.”

Huashin looked at him.

“Still participated in every operation, and never hesitated when people needed help, but …” Yon slowly placed his chopsticks down: “…she began questioning Matake itself.”

The room became noticeably quieter.

Jinhui spoke gently: “My sister once told me she wanted to understand Matake, and I thought maybe she wanted to learn it someday. But …she never seemed interested in becoming a Matake user herself.”

Araka quietly looked down at the bowl in front of her.

Then, a memory surfaced: the first time she had met the sisters, before her Matake had even fully awakened…

She had instinctively used her unusual perception to save Jinhui from a threatening bully. 

Back then, my ability had saved someone’s life, Araka thought, but now … Jinlin started questioning the same  power. 

Araka quietly lowered her gaze. “…I hope, one day she’ll tell me what she’s really thinking.”

Yon gave a small nod: “I believe she will when she’s ready.”

—

The next morning, before the city could wake up, the bell echoed gently across Shimana Shrine.

Before sunrise had fully reached the courtyard, a hurried knock sounded outside the guest room.

“Good morning. Excuse me,” A young shrine priest called softly through the sliding door: “It is time to wake up.”

Inside the room, Huashin buried her face deeper into the futon.

“…Five more minutes…”

While in her dream, she didn’t see the sunrise. Instead, she was standing before a camp fire. A beautifully roasted wild boar leg slowly turned above the fire, its aroma drifting through the mountain air.

“Mmm, that smells amazing…”

Then, before Huashin could grab the meat, the roasted meat somehow became heavier.

“…Mm?” she pulled the leg one more time: “…Wait, why is the boar moving?”

Then, the weight  landed squarely across her shoulders.

“Wah—!” Huashin suddenly woke up from her dream and found out what the grilled boar actually was — the young shrine priests had accidentally leaned too far while trying to wake her, nearly losing her balance.

“Huashin-sa, I-I’m terribly sorry!” The priest quickly stepped back, bowing repeatedly.

Huashin sat upright, still half asleep. “Ahh… so that’s my boar leg …”

Araka, already awake on the opposite side of the room, lowered her body and said: “Instructor Huashin, you were dreaming about food again, weren’t you?”

Huashin nodded slowly. 

Before Huashin could say anything else, another voice came from outside.

“Huashin,” it was Yon’s voice. 

“Instructor Yon?” Araka turned toward the door and said. 

“There seems to be a small situation at the front entrance,” the young priest who had awakened them bowed apologetically. 

“So what’s going on?” Araka said. 

“My morning shift encountered an elderly visitor before opening. I politely explained that the shrine was not yet open, but she insisted on seeing Master Yon.”

Huashin, rubbing her eyes, thought for only a second. “…Kinekama?” she said.  

Yon closed his eyes briefly. 

“…Most likely,” he rubbed his forehead, “I specifically told her to use the back entrance, but … guess dealing with elders is a bit different.”

—

Several minutes later, the group of five arrived at the shrine’s front gate.

In front of a small red compact car parked along the front road, an old woman, in the typical black SAIR uniform with her long white hair tied back, immediately drew Araka’s attention: although her skin clearly showed signs of age, her face still carried surprisingly youthful features, making it difficult to guess her age at first glance. 

The woman folded her arms while glancing at Yon; 

“Agent Yon, I thought the shrine had already agreed to let the certification program operate here,” she sighed dramatically, “So why couldn’t I get in?”

Yon gave a polite bow. “Master Kinekama, the priests were only following instructions of the shrine guideline,” he said, “The certification program is using only the rear section of the shrine, and the front grounds remain open only during normal visiting hours.”

Kinekama blinked. “…Oh.”

Yon continued: “Besides, it was Director Hakimo who made that arrangement to align with the shrine’s principles.”

Kinekama stared blankly for a moment, then lightly tapped her forehead: “…Ah, my dear Hakimo-sa… I think I forgot that part.”

Yon smiled knowingly. “I will explain to the shrine priests about it soon, so that there won’t be future troubles.”

Kinekama, however, had already shifted her focus on Araka, who stood right beside Huashin.

“Oh…, so you’re Araka.”

Araka straightened instinctively. “…Yes, ma’am.”

Kinekama smiled warmly: “Hakimo showed me your photograph. He said I should remember your face.”

Araka blinked: “…Director Hakimo?”

Before she could ask further, Jinhui stood right beside Araka, looking back and forth between them.

“Sara-cha,” Jinhui said, slightly curious, “You already know Master Kinekama and Director Hakimo?”

Araka hesitated: “Well…”

For a brief moment, she wasn’t quite sure how to answer: she had to answer how I managed to learn about them from Leana, my classmate; then how she met everyone from the Otanaku clan through that encounter last year; and more importantly — how Leana is not a Matake user despite carrying the Otanaku surname and has a relative who is among the Otanaku elders. 

Before her thoughts drown in the spiderweb of connections, Araka responded: “It’s … a bit complicated — a bit of a long story for sure.”

Huashin, noticed, also continued: “Yeah … I mean, surely Hakasa introduced Araka to the Otanaku clan after her impressive performance during the Milo crisis, right?”

Araka nodded and let out a small laugh. 

Thank you, Instructor Huashin, Araka channeled the message to Huashin.