(Sakura Yabaimori POV)

Hey, it’s me, Sakura Yabaimori. “Yabaimori,” you ask? It roughly means ‘crazy forest,’ if you care about that kind of stuff. It suits me just fine. I’m constantly bouncing off the walls, running around like firecrackers strapped to my shoes. It’s fun, you should try it sometime.

Oh, right! Serious stuff. I’ve been playing this high-stakes game of hide-and-seek with the Emperor of Shishouzan for years. Why, you ask? Geez, you’re so interested, aren’t you? Just kidding, keep those questions coming. To answer that, I’m this long-lost cousin in line for the throne or something. Old lineage, old news, but it’s a thing. Shishouzan had a little switcheroo in leadership some time ago—like a coup d’état but with more shiny swords and less paperwork.

“Get her, get Sakura…”

Right now, I’m on a run.

More specifically, near the Kenja forest in Kyoju Mori.

As this forest is known for having several monsters, I thought they wouldn’t follow me here, but I was wrong.

Not only did they follow me, they were right on my tail.

“Heads up, Sakura, the game’s on!” 

I muttered to myself, already feeling the adrenaline surging through my veins. Dashing toward a sturdy-looking tree, I jumped and kicked off its trunk to gain height. My hands grasped a lower branch, and I swung myself onto it with a quick pull-up.

The forest below was a blur of green and brown, the sound of my pursuers’ footsteps muffled but ever-present. They were close. Too close for comfort. Leaping from my perch, I aimed for another tree, catching a limb and swinging forward fluidly. My feet barely touched the branches before I was in the air again, vaulting from tree to tree like some forest ninja.

“Come on, legs! Don’t fail me now.” 

I panted, my breaths coming out in short, rapid spurts. The canopies above seemed to dance in the wind as if cheering me on—or maybe that’s just my mind doing its thing again. Whatever, focus, Sakura!

I heard the rustle of leaves and the snapping of twigs; they were trying the aerial route, too. But tree-top running is an art, my friends, and I’m a freaking Picasso up here.

When I thought I’d gained some distance, an arrow whooshed past me, narrowly missing my arm. 

“Really? Arrows?” 

I dodged another, altering my course with a sharp turn.

I could see a clearing ahead, like the forest’s edge.

Before I could escape the looming trees and their equally daunting shadows, a guard stepped into my path, blocking my way. He looked at me smugly as if he’d already won.

“Little ex-princess, it’s time for you to surrender.” 

“Not even over my corpse

My fingers wrapped tightly around the vial of blackening potion, and with a flick of my wrist, I tossed it at the guard blocking my path. The vial shattered upon impact, releasing a dark mist that enveloped him.

“The tables have turned, wouldn’t you say?” 

I watched the guard visibly weaken, his posture slumping and his grip on his sword faltering.

Just as I was about to take my victory lap, another guard appeared from behind and grabbed my arm. 

“You are under arrest.”

“Guys? You just don’t quit, do you?”

In that split second, my eyes darted around, scanning for an escape route, and there it was—a small cabin tucked between the trees. Without a second thought, I pulled another vial from my bag and smashed it at my feet, creating a smokescreen of black mist.

“Hey, what the—!” 

The guard’s voice choked off as he coughed and sputtered.

Using the momentary confusion, I freed my arm and darted toward the cabin. My heart pounded in my chest as if it was trying to outrun me. Every step was a dance between freedom and capture.

Just a little more. Almost there!

The door swung open as I neared the cabin, and a man stepped out. A sense of calm, mixed with an aura of stern authority, surrounded him.

“Welcome to my dojo.”