Jin found himself standing barefoot on the smooth, polished floors made of hinoki cypress wood, which shone brightly under the afternoon light. Even though the wood showed signs of wear from years of use, it still felt soft and nice under his feet. Sunlight streamed in through the traditional rice paper windows, with the delicate shoji screens softening the intense glare from Neo-Tokyo into a warm, almost dreamlike golden glow that felt otherworldly.
In this serene space, tiny dust particles floated around in the glowing air, looking like little galaxies in motion. Each speck sparkled as it reflected the light, creating mini rainbows that danced around him, making the whole scene captivating and magical. It was so beautiful that it stirred a deep longing within him for something he couldn't quite put his finger on.
He had no idea how he ended up in this amazing place, but there was a strange sense of familiarity that wrapped around him like a cozy hug.
Neo-Tokyo was a shining example of civilization, a crown jewel of the world with its maglev trains moving seamlessly through the towering landscape. Skyscrapers reached high into the sky, creating an incredible skyline filled with sky bridges and shiny structures made of steel.
Among these architectural wonders was the Yamashiro Institute, a well-respected school known worldwide. Here, the kids of global leaders, innovative tech minds, and elite thinkers came together—not just to learn academics, but to level up their intellectual, physical, and spiritual skills. This place was a true oasis for the exceptional, where big dreams were nurtured in an environment of excellence.
At the center of this prestigious school was a famous dojo, its walls decorated with ancient scrolls and hand-forged bokken, each telling tales of honor and bravery. High above the well-worn mats, a striking red banner hung, embroidered with flowing characters that hadn't changed over centuries. The letters, a bit like elusive wisps of a dream, felt oddly familiar, though their meanings slipped away from him.
Sunlight gently poured through the shoji panels, washing away the harsh neon lights of the busy city and filling the space with warm, golden shades. Dust motes continued to float like stars in this peaceful backdrop, the only sound breaking the silence being the distant practice strikes from another room. The calming scent of sandalwood incense mixed with the rich aroma of lacquered wood wrapped around him, anchoring him deeper into this personal haven.
As he glanced around, Jin took in the dojo's walls adorned with wooden racks showcasing neat rows of bamboo shinai. The racks stood tall, reminiscent of ancient cathedral pillars, with specially carved spaces for the heftier bokken. In a corner, a stunning katana rested behind a locked glass case, seemingly glowing with a gentle light, as if sharing stories of bravery and history.
When Jin picked up a shinai, it fit naturally in his hands; the familiar grip felt just right, even though he couldn't recall grabbing it from the rack.
This bamboo sword was truly a work of art, made from four strips of bamboo expertly tied together with silk cord. It symbolized the deep bond between a warrior and their weapon, nurtured through practice and honor.
Before Jin realized it, his body shifted into position, his heel lifting slightly to balance his weight. His left foot slid back smoothly on the polished wood as his hips dropped, spine straightening as his center of gravity settled low—completely ready for action.
He raised the shinai into chudan-no-kamae, the central guard stance, pointing it perfectly at an imaginary opponent's throat. His posture was spot-on—the stance of someone who had dedicated countless hours to perfecting their craft. Jin felt completely in tune with this position, like a river naturally finds its way to the sea.
Taking a deep breath, he inhaled a sense of calm that comes with full concentration. His breathing aligned with a slower heartbeat, and for that moment, the world around him shrank down to the brief space between eternity and himself—connecting him intimately to the now.
This fighting stance, known as kamae, wrapped around him in a soothing embrace.
Now, he found himself holding a bokken, a wooden sword carefully shaped from white oak. It was a bit heavier than the bamboo shinai, but still felt comfortably familiar, like it had always been part of him.
Without actively thinking about it, his body flowed through the kata, the choreographed movements that form the basis of all sword arts. Each step he took on the gleaming floor was perfectly timed, transitioning smoothly from one move to the next.
These techniques had been honed for six centuries by numerous sword masters, each motion tested and refined through countless battles, evolving through generations until they achieved a kind of perfect harmony.
With every shift, his body seemed to resonate with recognition: a thrust aimed with pinpoint accuracy at an opponent's heart, followed by a sweeping move that combined elegance and power, as if he were channeling the spirit of the martial ancestors who had walked this path before him.
Over time, the kata—the traditional practice of martial arts—went through a major shift, transforming into a faster and deadlier style of combat.
What began as the simple wooden bokken eventually transitioned to steel, marking a key turning point in the training of skilled practitioners. This change drew Jin into the discipline of iaijutsu, known as the art of the lightning-fast draw, a skill that truly set the real masters apart from the amateurs in the martial arts scene.
In one smooth motion that nearly seemed to slip through the grasp of time itself, Jin executed a draw so quick and precise with his wooden sword that it left a memorable impression on everyone watching.
He delivered a perfect rising cut—had it been a real sword, it would have surely split an opponent in half from hip to head.
At the Yamashiro Institute, the globe's future leaders were shaped with real thought and care—this place was way more than just your typical school. Launched in 2031 by the well-known educator Genzo Yamashiro, the institute quickly became the top university worldwide. This impressive change happened by mixing the latest tech with timeless wisdom.
The campus was a stunning sight, blending traditional Japanese design with high-tech training facilities that could mimic pretty much any environment imaginable—from Mars' dry surface to the deep ocean. It featured holographic classrooms and advanced quantum computing labs, making it a real playground for the bright minds of the future.
Every morning, right at 5:30 AM, Jin would find peace in the Zen garden, a peaceful spot designed to keep cherry blossoms blooming all year round thanks to some nifty climate controls. This was his escape from the heavy expectations that came with being a student at such a top-tier school. He could just hang out in this calm atmosphere, surrounded by gently swaying bamboo and the soothing sound of water trickling over smooth stones.
His morning routine was pretty much locked in: thirty minutes of zazen meditation followed by some solo kata exercises with his bokken, a wooden practice sword. He'd had that sword since childhood, and its surface was shiny from years of use. Unlike many of his friends who were drawn to the flashy modern training simulators, Jin found real peace in the traditional movements and rhythms of Tenshin Shoden Katori Shinto Ryu, one of Japan's oldest martial arts schools.