[center][color=red][sup][h1][b]Jae-eun Yoshihide[/b][/h1][/sup][/color][img]https://i.imgur.com/tirnYfj.png[/img]

[b][sup][color=red]Location:[/color][color=white] Wasegawa University[/color]
[color=red]Mentions:[/color] [@Yu Narukami][@Randomguy][@Digmata][@King Kindred][/sup][/b][/center][hr]Jae-eun watched the exchange with a placid, almost detached curiosity. He observed Soyama Kenzo's booming entrance, a man whose presence was as overwhelming as his daughter Miyuki's was sharp and pointed. He listened as Kenzo spoke of hardship, of demons evolving, of the Corps' long struggle—all familiar refrains. The grandmaster's passion was like a bonfire, loud and crackling, drawing all attention.

When Kenzo asked about Hikaru, a heavy silence fell. Jae-eun watched Kairi deliver the news with a grim professionalism that he respected. He saw the shift in Kenzo's boisterous demeanor, the way the light in his eyes flickered and died. Another stone dropped into the well. Another life tethered to so many others, now severed. It was a story Jae-eun knew all too well. It was his own story, echoed in the grief of a stranger.

The demonstration with the demon, Chozen, was… illuminating. The speed, the impact, the visible dampening of regenerative abilities—it was a tangible answer to a problem that blades alone couldn't always solve. Jae-eun cataloged the movements, the angle of the strike, the point of impact. His mind, always working beneath the serene surface, analyzed the technique's potential. This was more than just unarmed combat; it was a weapon forged from flesh and bone, infused with the power to truly harm a demon.

Miyuki’s subsequent speech was less illuminating and more… abrasive. Jae-eun listened to her explanation of the scarlet ore, the breathing techniques required, the inherent danger of it all. It was a difficult path, but a logical one. The ore acted as a catalyst, something to be circulated through the body to achieve a temporary "Red Blade" effect through their strikes. It was ingenious. It was also incredibly dangerous.

Her disdain for the Hashira, however, was as sharp and unpleasant as thorns on a rose bush. She called him and Himari out directly. He didn't react to her jab, simply letting the insult wash over him like water. Her anger was a shield, just like his smile. She was hurt, disillusioned by loss, and lashing out at the symbols of a system she felt had failed. It was predictable. It was… sad. When Kairi's voice dropped, thick with restrained anger, the air grew taught. The Mirage Hashira was not one to be disrespected, and Miyuki, for all her skill, was testing the patience of a woman who commanded yakuza and slayed demons with equal poise.

Jae-eun stepped forward slightly, placing himself subtly between the two women. His smile remained, a gentle, placating thing. [color=red]"Miyuki-san,"[/color] he began, his tone light and airy, as if discussing the weather. [color=red]"You must be very strong. To carry so much anger and still have room to teach others… it's really quite impressive! It’s like trying to hold a hot coal in your hands while teaching someone how to weave a basket. You’re bound to burn yourself, aren't you?"[/color]

He tilted his head, his one good eye holding a look of guileless curiosity. [color=red]"You hate us because you think we have the power to protect everyone, and yet people still die. That’s fair. It’s a heavy burden, being a Hashira. It’s like being told to catch all the rain in a thimble. You do your best, but some drops will always hit the ground."[/color]

He gestured gracefully toward Himari, who was bristling.[color=red] "And Himari-san… she’s not whining. She’s trying to clean up a mess left by a family member a long, long time ago. It’s like your family keeps a beautiful house, but there’s a terrible stain on the floor that everyone sees first. She’s just trying to scrub it out. We all have stains we're trying to deal with, don't we?"[/color]

Finally, he looked directly at Miyuki, his smile softening into something that almost looked like genuine empathy. [color=red]"You're right. We should get down to business. I'm ready to learn. You don't have to like me, or her, or anyone here. But we're all here for the same reason, to kill demons and save lives. So please, teach me. I promise I'm a very good student."[/color]

His words were a gentle stream, designed to divert the torrent of Miyuki's anger without challenging it head-on. He was offering a truce, not a surrender, acknowledging her pain while gently nudging her back toward their shared purpose. [color=red]"Break my body down and reforge me into a weapon."[/color] Jae-eun said, his face and tone going flat. [color=red]"A broken blade is of no use to its master."[/color]