The plane flight was smooth as it chartered its course toward Japan. Jake, Carter, Akane, and Luna were all on board. Carter, excited about the trip, kept talking to Jake about his plans for Japan, seemingly forgetting their main mission. "When I get to Japan, I’m going to search for this limited edition Gunpla that you can only find in Japan," Carter boasted to Jake.

"Sure, bro! Hope you find it!" Jake replied with his usual optimism, entertaining Carter’s excitement.

Akane, meanwhile, was quietly listening to music through her headphones, half-asleep and not wanting to be disturbed. Luna, though focused on the mission, found herself distracted by the in-flight entertainment, watching some "new" movies on the screen—though, to her, these were considered old in her era. They were also served light snacks during the flight to keep them from getting hungry. As the air stewardess turned off the cabin lights, signaling it was time to rest, the group managed to catch some sleep on the overnight flight. Jet lag wouldn’t be an issue for them, as they would arrive in Japan the next morning.

After navigating the skies for eleven smooth hours, the sunrise lit up the horizon, signaling they were nearing Japan. "Good morning, Luna! Did you manage to catch some sleep?" Jake asked, concerned that Luna, being from the future, might not be used to long flights.

"I’m fine, Jake! Thanks for asking," Luna replied politely.

The plane gracefully descended onto the runway. "Jake, we made it to Japan!" Carter exclaimed excitedly. Once the plane came to a stop, the group disembarked and entered the arrival hall. The culture of Japan was vastly different from what they were used to in the U.S. As they navigated the bustling area, they noticed many citizens carrying traditional Japanese weapons, particularly katanas, which were a common sight. The group of teenagers stood by the baggage claim, waiting for their luggage to arrive on the carousel.

As Jake, Akane, and Luna had already collected their luggage, they were still waiting for Carter, who seemed to have brought more bags than anyone expected. They were unaware of this, as Carter had checked in his luggage earlier, before they arrived.

"Bro, how much luggage did you really bring?" Jake asked, eyeing the three pieces Carter had already collected, as they continued standing around the luggage carousel. Akane and Luna were beginning to look impatient after waiting for more than 20 minutes.

"The last one is coming soon!" Carter reassured them, as the final piece of his cargo had yet to appear.

Finally, Carter collected his last bag. "Sorry, guys! It's my first time in Japan, and I’ve got a whole list of goodies I plan to bring back," he apologized, though his excitement as a first-time visitor was clear from his eager expression.

"We’re not exactly here on vacation, you know," Luna reminded him gently but firmly, her tone serious as she refocused on the mission at hand—their true purpose of learning more about the Seven Swords.

Jake, always the peacemaker, broke the tension with his cheerful tone. "Relax, guys! Everything’s going to be awesome. I want this trip to be fun for all of us!" His own excitement was hard to contain, as his mind drifted to the thought of reconnecting with his cousin Yoko. "It’s been ten years since I last saw Yoko. I’m not even sure if we’ll recognize each other," he shared, his voice filled with a vibrant mix of eagerness and uncertainty.

image [https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/swordbound-the-heros-journey-to-silence-the-seven/images/3/3b/Yoko_Nomura_dressed_in_casual_clothes%2C_showcasing_her_relaxed_and_approachable_side.png]

After collecting all their luggage and passing through customs to verify their documentation, the group emerged into the arrival hall. It was crowded, bustling with friends and family waiting to greet travelers. The group stood behind Jake, waiting for him to recognize his cousin Yoko, whom he hadn’t seen in over ten years. Jake’s eyes scanned the crowd, trying his best to recognize her, but it was difficult since he had forgotten to ask his parents for a recent photo.

In the midst of the crowd, an unfamiliar face to Jake was waving vigorously in his direction. The girl had black hair styled in a Dutch braid, dark eyes, and light skin. She wore a light brown T-shirt under denim overalls. Jake squinted, trying to focus on her, unsure if she was waving at him or someone behind him.

"Jake!" the girl shouted, catching his attention.

"Yoko...?" Jake murmured, uncertain, as it had been so long since he had last seen his cousin.

"Yes! It’s Yoko!" she called back, still waving excitedly, her face lit up with joy at seeing Jake and his friends.

Jake, now sure it was his cousin Yoko Nomura, felt his own excitement build and ran toward her. Carter, Akane, and Luna followed closely behind.

"Hey, Jake, slow down!" Carter called out, but Jake, filled with excitement, kept moving quickly toward his cousin.

The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.

Their reunion unfurled as a beautiful tableau of warmth and nostalgia, with laughter and embraces flowing freely, effortlessly closing the chasm of years that had separated them. "You've grown so tall!" Yoko exclaimed, her eyes alight with a mix of pride and affection, her disciplined and nurturing essence shining through her words.

"And you, no longer the crybaby I remember," Jake responded in jest, his playful remark drawing a faux-stern look from Yoko. Her reaction, embodying the tranquil resolve of a seasoned mind balanced by the heartfelt warmth of her caring nature, painted a vivid picture of the depth and complexity of her character.

The cousins embraced joyfully after ten long years, their reunion filled with laughter and excitement. As kids, Jake and Yoko had been very close. Jake’s parents, Fumio and Elisabeth, had spent several months in Japan to resolve family matters, during which time Jake and Yoko had formed a strong bond. They were childhood friends as well as cousins, always visiting and playing together. But after Jake’s parents wrapped up their business, they returned to the U.S., and for the next ten years, the cousins lived on different continents.

"You’ve grown so tall!" Yoko exclaimed. "I remember you being shorter than me when you and your family left for the U.S.!"

"And you’re no longer the crybaby I remember," Jake teased with a playful grin. "I still remember when you cried because a kid accidentally stepped on a flower. You were always so kind."

"I’m still kind! But I’m a lot stronger now—definitely not a crybaby anymore," Yoko retorted, showing her growth in both maturity and personality.

Then, with a curious look, Jake asked, "Yoko, do you carry a weapon now?"

"I do," Yoko replied.

image [https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/swordbound-the-heros-journey-to-silence-the-seven/images/d/d9/Tanto.png]

Yoko subtly drew out her tanto, a traditional Japanese dagger, and showed it to Jake. The compact yet deadly weapon was a symbol of her samurai heritage, reflecting the precision and grace she applied in both combat and life. The tanto, forged from high-quality steel and measuring around 11.8 inches, was perfectly designed for close-quarters combat, allowing Yoko to strike swiftly and with precision. Its hilt was wrapped in black silk, providing a firm yet comfortable grip.

"Ahem! Excuse me, Jake, we're still here, you know," Carter gently interrupted their playful exchange, his light-hearted words serving as a nudge to remind Jake of the group’s presence.

Jake, momentarily lost in the warmth of reuniting with his cousin, quickly turned back to his companions. "Guys, this is Yoko—my cousin. Yoko, meet Carter, Luna, and Akane," he said, bridging the worlds of family and friendship as the group took turns introducing themselves to Yoko.

"Hi, I'm Carter, a pleasure to meet you!" Carter said, extending his hand for a handshake. His grip was firm, radiating the confident assurance of an athlete. Yoko, slightly surprised but impressed, smiled and remarked, "That's quite the handshake you've got there."

Carter, grinning with pride, couldn’t resist adding a little boast. "Yep, I'm considered the strongest in our group," he said, his voice carrying a playful mix of pride and good-natured bravado, a perfect reflection of his competitive spirit.

Next was Luna. "My name is Luna, delighted to meet you. When might we have the chance to meet your father?" she asked, wasting no time steering the conversation toward her mission. She was eager to gather more information about the whereabouts of the other six legendary swords—knowing one was already in Jake’s possession.

Yoko’s expression softened as she responded with empathy. "Hi, Luna. I'm really sorry, but my father is currently away on business. He won’t be back until tomorrow evening," she explained, her tone filled with genuine regret.

A subtle "Oh..." slipped from Luna’s lips, the disappointment clear on her face, and easily noticed by the rest of the group.

Jake, ever the optimist, quickly stepped in to dispel Luna’s dismay. "Hey, Luna, let’s take today as a chance to relax and enjoy ourselves after the long flight. Plus, Carter has already planned an entire shopping adventure for us!"

"Exactly!" Carter chimed in, full of excitement. "Luna, this is your first trip to Japan in our time, and I promise it’s going to be fun and unforgettable!" His enthusiasm for the trip was palpable, completely different from Luna’s focused mission.

"I suppose so," Luna replied, forcing a smile. She knew she needed to set aside her concerns for now and enjoy the day with her friends, trusting that she would meet Yoko’s father soon enough.

The last to introduce herself was Akane. Shy by nature, she hesitated briefly before speaking, but when she did, her words came out in fluent Japanese. This surprised both Carter and Jake, who had been friends with her for over three years yet had never heard her speak Japanese, even though they knew she was Japanese-American.

"Hi Yoko, I’m Akane," she said softly, her introduction short but flawless in Japanese.

"Akane, you speak Japanese?" Carter exclaimed, clearly surprised. "Why didn’t you tell me? I would’ve asked you to translate the Japanese on my figurine boxes!"

Jake, equally astonished, added, "Yeah! We had no idea you knew Japanese!"

Akane gave them both a "duh" look and whispered, "I am Japanese…"

Yoko laughed at the interaction and responded to Akane in Japanese, delighted by the unexpected exchange in her native language. "What a joy to meet you, Akane! Did you move to America when you were young?"

Akane, still a bit shy, whispered back, "My family migrated to America before I was born, but we always spoke Japanese and English at home. My parents made sure to teach me both languages."

Yoko smiled warmly. "I hope this visit to Japan will help you connect more with your roots and culture."

Feeling a bit left out from the linguistic exchange, Carter interjected, "Hey, don’t forget about us! Let’s keep the conversation in English, shall we?" His playful remark made both girls laugh, helping to build mutual friendship and understanding among the group.

"Alright! First things first—we need to deal with all this luggage!" Yoko said, glancing at Carter, who was struggling with his four bags. "Let’s head to my house and drop everything off. We’ll take the train," she suggested.

The group agreed, and with Yoko’s natural leadership, she led them through the bustling airport and out into the city. As they stepped outside, they were greeted by a vibrant mix of modern and traditional Japan—a city rich in cultural heritage. Many people walked by carrying traditional Japanese weapons, not just katanas, as the group made their way through the busy streets, following Yoko to her home.