Young Yuji

Diary

Young Yuji was born a beat after the last war ended, close enough to smell the smoke but too late to swing a blade that mattered, and ever since he has been trying to manufacture glory out of thin air and cheap sake. He talked himself into greatness on a crowded street corner, mouth running faster than his feet ever could, right up until Azuma stepped forward and turned his big talk into a very public nap. Yuji woke up with gravel in his teeth and the distinct sense that his so-called crew had filmed the whole thing for the timeline instead of pulling him out of it, phones up, loyalty at zero, floor price of friendship somewhere below the pavement he was lying on. He tells himself now that discipline is the plan, early nights, sharp mind, better company, the whole ronin-monk glow-up, but he is still awake at four a.m. rewatching the clip and workshopping his comeback line instead of his footwork. Somewhere under all that noise is a kid who really did want to be a warrior, just born one war too late and one nap too many behind schedule.