The Shinsengumi Recruitment Exams, a trial that separated those who merely dream from those strong enough to fight for it.
It was the exam Sentarō had trained for, these past five years, and the same exam that kept both He and Ujiyuki on edge.
As the sun dipped below the horizon, a cold breeze swept through the countryside, brushing against the walls of Ujiyuki's home. Night fell quietly, but unlike other nights, this one felt heavy. There was something in the air, thick, invisible, and suffocating.
Anxiety.
Two long weeks had passed since Sentarō's test against the tiger-bear, and now the day of the entrance exam loomed just hours away. None of them could sleep. Instead, they prepared.
"Come over here, kid!" Ujiyuki said, standing at Sentaro's room door with as his voice echoed through the quiet house.
Sentarō stepped out and followed Ujiyuki into the main room, rubbing the sleep from his eyes. Ujiyuki then sat cross-legged on the tatami mat, dressed in a royal purple kimono. Beside him sat Shigekatsu in blue, sipping tea with his usual calm demeanor.
In front of them lay two neatly folded pieces of clothing, a sealed envelope, and a long, cloth-wrapped object. Sentarō eyed the items curiously but kept silent, he knew better than to interrupt Ujiyuki's ritual-like seriousness.
Ujiyuki studied Sentarō for a moment, immediately noticing the tension behind his eyes. "I you too couldn't sleep, huh?"
Sentarō scratched the back of his head, forcing a small grin. "Yes… the knowledge of tomorrows exam doesn't want me asleep."
"Sit down, kid," Shigekatsu said gently, gesturing to the mat. "Let's talk about the morrow."
Sentarō obeyed, settling opposite them.
Ujiyuki then picked up the letter. "As you know, the exam starts at noon tomorrow. And after sending the letter of your participation it took some time, but we received this from the exam officials."
Shigekatsu nodded. "In-case you didn't know it a response letter that tells us your candidate number and the location for your exam."
Sentarō's heart skipped a beat. The first real step toward his dream , right there in that envelope.
But confusion quickly crossed his face. "Wait?… what do you mean by, my location?"
"Let me handle this one, Ujiyuki," Shigekatsu said before Ujiyuki could answer. He leaned forward, tone calm but serious. "You obviously aren't the only one who wants to join the Shinsengumi. There are over a thousand candidates each year."
"WHAT?!" Sentarō's jaw dropped. "A thousand?!"
"Keep it down, you idiot," Ujiyuki snapped, glancing toward the paper-thin walls. "It's the middle of the night."
"Sorry," Sentarō muttered, shrinking a bit.
Shigekatsu chuckled lightly before continuing. "Anyway, because of the sheer number, it's impossible to hold one exam for every single candidate. So, candidates are distributed across the Twelve Units of The Shinsengumi each one hosting its own trial."
"I see…" Sentarō nodded slowly, processing the information.
"Good. Now listen carefully," Ujiyuki said, straightening up. "You've been assigned the candidate number 103. Your location—"
"The Fourth Unit! Where is that?" Sentarō interrupted, sneaking a peek at the letter due to impatience.
"Stop cutting me off, you damn brat!" Ujiyuki's voice cracked, his face twitching in irritation.
"Take it easy, Ujiyuki. He's just enthusiastic," Shigekatsu said with a teasing smile.
Sentarō looked between them, unsure if they were about to argue or start sparring.
Shigekatsu turned back to the boy and placed a hand on his shoulder. "Your luck is one of a kind, Sentarō. The Fourth Unit is located in the district I reside."
Before he could elaborate, Ujiyuki interrupted again, voice edged with annoyance. "Can you two finish up? It's late, and I plan to sleep soon."
Shigekatsu gave him a comically dark glare. "Ujiyuki, you do realize it's rude to interrupt people while they speak?"
"I know," Ujiyuki replied flatly, unfazed. "But Sentaro has to leave before dawn if he wants to make it there on time tomorrow, and he'll need his rest."
That earned a teasing grin from Shigekatsu. "Once again, Ujiyuki is right."
Ujiyuki sighed dramatically but turned his attention back to Sentarō. "Listen carefully, kid. The letter has the official approval seal, meaning it's your only ticket into the exam grounds."
He handed the envelope to Sentaro, who nodded solemnly.
"Next," Ujiyuki continued, picking up the folded clothes, "this is your clothes for tomorrow. I chose it specifically for you." He handed the outfit to Sentarō. It was a white KOSODE/ and a black HAKAMA, it's color basic but natural.
Sentarō held both of it carefully, like it was something sacred. "Thank you, Ujiyuki-san."
Shigekatsu chuckled lightly and then gave Sentaro a certain glance that had it's true intentions hidden behind the smile.
Ujiyuki sighed and picked up the last object, the stick-like figure wrapped in faded brown cloth. He held it out for Sentarō. "And this… is your final gift."
Sentarō blinked. "What is it?"
But Ujiyuki remained silent.
Hesitantly, he took the wrapped item and began to unravel the cloth.
The dull gleam of metal caught the light, a katana. Its handle was matte black, and the blade a muted silver, worn but strong. It wasn't flashy or ceremonial. It was practical. Real.
Sentarō's face lit up like a child receiving his first toy. "A real sword! I can't believe it!"
Shigekatsu laughed. "You're happy over an old katana?"
"Of course I am!" Sentarō grinned, holding it reverently. "Up until now, I've only used wooden swords for training, but now I have everything I need to take the exams!"
Ujiyuki's tone hardened. "Don't get ahead of yourself, kid. The exams aren't as simple as you think."
The air shifted. Even Shigekatsu's playful expression grew grim.
"He is right, Sentaro" Shigekatsu said quietly. "It happens every year, four out of five candidate die during the exam."
Sentarō froze. "That's a lot."
"That's the reality," Ujiyuki said sternly. "If you want to fight, you have to be ready to face death."
"And these exams are made to weed out the weak, physically and mentally."
Sentarō's hands trembled slightly as he held the sword, but then… he smiled. "I don't know why," he said softly, "but after hearing all that, I feel even more excited than ever."
Ujiyuki blinked, startled by the boy's words.
"I don't feel afraid anymore," Sentarō continued, voice steady. "I've trained for this. I've bled for this. If one person out of five people survives… then I'll be one of that one person."
For a moment, silence filled the room. Then Shigekatsu burst out laughing. "Hahaha! Ujiyuki, this kid's got spirit!"
Ujiyuki grinned widely, pride gleaming in his eyes. "ALRIGHT, KID! I believe in you!"
Sentarō stood tall, gripping his new sword. "JUST YOU WAIT! I'M GONNA CRUSH THAT EXAM!"
"WILL YOU TWO KEEP IT DOWN?!" Shigekatsu shouted, though even his stern voice couldn't hide the smile creeping onto his face.
Their laughter and bickering echoed through the quiet night, breaking through the heavy tension that had filled the air.
For that moment, it wasn't anxiety that surrounded them , it was determination.
Tomorrow would mark the start of Sentarō's journey into the world of samurai.
And no matter how dangerous it would be, he was ready to face it head-on.
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Wassup guys, we have now come to the end of the Introductory Arc, and starting next chapter, The Recruitment Exam Arc commences. Remember;
Creation is hard, cheer me up!
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