Our Road Our Goal!

+Osaka, 

"Sei-chan, what are you looking at so intently?" an older student inquired, noticing her rapt attention.

In a quiet corner of the room, a four-year-old girl sat quietly, her small form barely noticeable amidst the bustle of the training session.

She was nestled comfortably near the mentors, looking up at them with wide, curious eyes. But her gaze was drawn irresistibly to a katana that hung prominently on the wall, its blade gleaming with an otherworldly light.

"Eh... I just feel like that katana is calling to me!" the girl exclaimed, her small finger pointing toward the weapon with an innocent fervor.

Her declaration caused an immediate stir among the other students, who exchanged bewildered glances, their conversations fading into whispers of astonishment.

"Silence!" the older student retorted sharply, his voice cutting through the murmurs like a sword.

"But, Senpai," another trainee chimed in, "Sei has—"

Suddenly, the room erupted in chaos as a young boy nearby exclaimed, "Woah! I'm surrounded by mist! Am I disappearing?" He waved his hands around frantically, spinning like a top.

Another young boy exclaimed, "Look! It's windy and so shiny!" He pointed at the gusts of Air swirling before him, his face reflecting a delightful mix of joy and astonishment.

Meanwhile, a third student yelped, "Why is there lightning inside? Shouldn't it knock first before coming in?!" He pointed dramatically at the sparking light, his eyes as wide as saucers.

The young boy at the center of the commotion grinned mischievously, "I'm playing tag with lightning! Catch me if you can!" With a flourish of his fingers, the Lightning danced around him like an overexcited puppy.

The students' eyes were as big as saucers, mouths agape. "How...?" was the only word that escaped their lips, their minds boggled by the scene unfolding before them.

+Kyoto, Takahashi Shrine

Meanwhile, in a remote shrine nestled within the lush greenery of Kyoto, a young boy named Haruto was engaged in his daily meditation. The shrine was a place of solitude and reflection, with ancient stone lanterns lining the path to the main sanctuary.

Haruto, though only four years old, possessed a profound sense of tranquility that belied his age. He sat cross-legged beneath a towering cherry blossom tree, its petals gently falling like whispers of silk in the gentle breeze.

As Haruto closed his eyes, he felt an unusual warmth spreading from his fingertips. The sensation was peculiar, yet comforting as if the very essence of the cherry blossom tree was infusing him with its life force.

Suddenly, the air around him shimmered, and the petals began to swirl in a graceful dance, forming delicate patterns in the sky. Haruto opened his eyes, astonished to see the blossoms responding to his unspoken thoughts.

"Haru!" a voice called out, breaking his concentration. It was his older brother, Ryo, who had been watching from a distance. "Did you just…?"

"What's that? Aniki!," Haruto replied, his voice a mix of awe and uncertainty. "I didn't mean to."

"Don't worry, that's great news for both you and us, Haru!" Ryo said with a smile.

Ryo approached his expression a blend of pride and curiosity. "Father must hear of this," he said, placing a reassuring hand on Haruto's shoulder. Together, they walked toward the shrine's main building, where the elders awaited news of this extraordinary event.

+Tokyo, Shiba Clan

In the bustling heart of Tokyo, within the stately Shiba Clan, a young boy named Takeru was immersed in his studies. The Clan was a blend of modern architecture and traditional Japanese aesthetics, reflecting the Shiba family's storied history.

Takeru, a precocious four-year-old, was known for his insatiable curiosity and remarkable intellect.

As he pored over a book on ancient mythology, Takeru felt an unexpected warmth radiating from his palms. His fingertips tingled with fiery energy, and the pages of the book began to sing at the edges as if touched by invisible flames.

Startled, Takeru glanced around, his eyes widening as small, flickering flames danced along his fingers, casting a warm glow around the room.

"Takeru-sama!" his tutor exclaimed, rushing into the room. "Are you alright?"

"I'm not sure," Takeru replied, his voice trembling slightly. "Everything just… ignited."

The tutor, a wise and gentle man, nodded thoughtfully. "We must inform the head of the family," he said, guiding Takeru out of the study. As they walked, Takeru couldn't help but wonder what this newfound fiery ability meant for his future.

+Yokohama, Sato Homestead

In the sprawling farmlands of Yokohama, a young boy named Kaito was tending to the crops with his family. The Sato Homestead was a place of hard work and simple pleasures, where the rhythm of life was dictated by the changing seasons.

Kaito, though only four, had a deep connection to the earth, often spending his days among the fields and forests.

As he planted seeds in the rich soil, Kaito felt an unusual pulse beneath his fingertips. The ground seemed to hum with vitality, responding to his touch in a way he had never experienced before.

To his amazement, the seeds began to sprout and grow at an accelerated rate, their leaves unfurling toward the sun in a vibrant display of life.

"Kaito!" his mother called, her voice filled with a mix of wonder and disbelief. She had witnessed the miraculous growth from the farmhouse, her heart swelling with pride and astonishment. "What have you done?"

"I don't know, Mama," Kaito replied, his eyes wide with excitement. "The earth just… listened."

His mother embraced him tightly, tears of joy streaming down her face. "You have a gift, my son," she said softly. "We must share this with the elders."

+Hokkaido, Oedo Clan

In the snowy land of Hokkaido, there were two boys playing together on the ground. They weren't just playing with toys; instead, they were examining different types of stones. One boy, who wore glasses, focused intently on a light blue stone, while the other boy read a book that described the stone's details.

"What do you think, Kei?" the boy with glasses asked his friend.

"Hmm..." Kei replied, his face scrunched in confusion as he glanced at his friend. "I don't know, Shin!" he exclaimed.

"Huh! What about this stone? What do we do with it?" Shin said, gazing at Kei while holding the stone in his hand. Suddenly, the stone transformed into ice.

When they saw this, both boys were surprised. Kei suddenly felt something strange behind him, but before he could react, Shin pointed at him and shouted,

"Kei!! Your back!"

"Ahhhh!" Kei cried out as he saw a leaf caught up in a nearby swirling storm, and they both started running away.

.....

''So, what do we need to do?'' A young guy wearing glasses pushed them up while talking to his friends, relaxed like it was summer break.

''Can't we wait until tomorrow?'' another friend chimed in, smiling brightly at the group.

''If we wait, I think we won't be able to surpass the 3rd year,'' a young girl in the team glanced at them and agreed with the first guy.

''Heh... do you think they are nice to us?'' another guy who was fixing his stone looked up at his friends and asked.

''Well, we know they just want to get rid of us,'' a guy who was reading a book and sitting nearby spoke up.

''What the 2nd years said is true!'' a guy holding a shinai, training with a friend, chimed in.

''But I think it's best if we connect with the 2nd years,'' that guy exclaimed.

''Ehhh… if we don't do as they said, they'll fail us in S・A!'' someone with a cup in hand joined in, taking a sip.

''It's okay if we follow their lead,'' another boy with a plant in his hand said, surprising his friends.

''What's with your looks? We're S・A, right?'' he gazed at them. ''So, what are we afraid of?'' He smiled slyly, and as the others nodded, he continued,

''Let's surpass them and achieve victory!''