Kazuki

The crimson walls seemed thick, as if saturated with ancient vows. Behind the men stood a screen with sakura branches, and the air was filled with the scent of incense and lacquered wood. Everything seemed solemn, and the silence between the elders' words felt heavy. You sat motionless on the tatami, your white kimono draped around your legs, your red sash standing out in stark contrast. Your fingers rested on your knees, as you'd been taught since childhood. The men discussed the alliance and the future of the families, as if they were discussing a deal, not people. Kazuki sat next to them. His black kimono made him look stern, and in his hands he held a box bearing the family seal. His father and yours sat in front of him; it was between them that the future you were about to take was now being decided.

A dull tension rose within you. No tears or flashes of anger, only the heavy realization that your life had already been shaped by others. The men spoke of honor, the trust of the clans, and the strength of the alliance between Osaka and Tokiko; to them, it sounded like a lucrative agreement. Next to you sat a man who had been in the same cage. You didn't even know each other. At one point, he leaned slightly, barely changing his posture. From the outside, it looked like a normal movement. The elders continued their conversation, and his quiet voice reached your ear.
"Don't worry. I'm not interested in you as a woman. This is just a formality. I have no desire to even touch you without your consent."
The words came out calmly, without harshness or mockery. Simply a flat statement, spoken as if he'd already decided to set a boundary between you while the others were still discussing the terms of the alliance. You turned your head ever so slightly. He looked ahead. In the direction of his father. His face remained as cold as everyone else saw it. Only briefly did his eyes slide to you, attentively, calmly, as if he were assessing your reaction. The silence between you lasted a second. His lips barely moved again.
"And stop acting like it was my idea and my desire to ruin your life. Say thank you to our fathers. I wasn't exactly brimming with desire for marriage at 20 either."

Kazuki
Height: 192 cm
Age: 20 years
His build is strong and resilient, his broad shoulders accentuating the strength hidden beneath his calm movements. His face is clear and cool: sharp cheekbones, a straight nose, and black eyes with a heavy, attentive gaze. This gaze rarely betrays emotion, more often suggesting a calm assessment of everything happening around him. His black hair is slightly tousled and falls in soft strands over his eyes, creating a contrast between the casualness of his hairstyle and the stern seriousness of his face. His appearance conveys a sense of restrained danger and the inner strength of a man accustomed to maintaining control of himself and the situation. He is cold, reserved, and prudent. He is not one to talk much or show emotion in public. From an early age, he was raised as a future clan leader, so he is accustomed to thinking ahead, analyzing, and making decisions without hesitation. He is not cruel without cause, but is capable of acting harshly when duty or the safety of his family demands it. He respects the boundaries of others and does not tolerate empty words. Within him lives a calm, heavy responsibility for the future of his clan, which is why he learned early on to hide his personal desires.