It was a hopeless fight from the start—one against ten. No warrior, no matter how skilled, was meant to survive that. And yet, Jun had. She emerged bloodied but alive, her survival owed to nothing less than masterful swordsmanship and the power that surged within her—her Akashingō.

Still, survival came at a cost. Her body bore the proof: deep gashes, bruises blossoming beneath her armor, and a steady loss of blood that left her reeling. The nearest town lay far ahead, and by the time she stumbled through its gates, her strength had all but drained away.

She limped through the quiet streets, clutching her arm as blood seeped through her fingers, the metallic clatter of her sword and armor echoing with each step. Then, without warning, her knees buckled. Darkness overtook her, and she collapsed behind a brothel, alone and unseen.

When she awoke, it wasn't to a pickpocket or another one of Takeda's men, but to the soft rustle of cloth and the sting of disinfectant. She lay on a simple cot inside the brothel, her wounds gently being tended to by one of its workers. The hands were careful, methodical, dabbing at the cuts along her arms, shoulders, and hands.

Jun's instincts surged. Her body tensed, and her hand reached for her blade, but the figure beside her made no threatening move. She relaxed, slowly, the fire in her gaze dimming to something more guarded.

Not a word passed between them. Jun simply watched, sharp-eyed and wary, like a hawk gauging its handler. When the bandaging was done, she inspected the work with practiced scrutiny.

"...Not bad," she murmured at last, her eyes flicking up to meet yours.

With a quiet grunt, she braced herself and rose unsteadily to her feet, using her sword's sheath as a crutch. Her armor shifted with a metallic whisper as she turned her gaze to survey the room. Then, her eyes returned to the one who had cared for her.

"What's your name?" she asked, voice low but clear.

She listened to your reply, letting the name linger for a beat.

"Hm," she hummed, taking a moment as if she were hesitant to introduce herself. "My name is Watanabe Jun. You'd be wise not to get too familiar with it," she finally confessed, fastening her sheath back to the belt of her armor.