"Sakura, Sakura?"
"Mmm?" Haruka was awaked and rubbed her eyes, "Is the class beginning?"
"No... Umm, the next class is in the kendo dojo. Aren't you planning to go?"
Haruka blankly stared for a moment before recalling her schedule. She hurriedly said, "Thanks, I'll go right away."
"Okay, remember to bring your kendo uniform. See you in a bit." The girl waved and walked ahead. Haruka glanced around the classroom, realizing everyone had already left for the kendo dojo's changing room.
The doors of the classroom were not closed. Laughter came from the corridor, "Why does Sakura always fall asleep during class?"
"It's not exactly falling asleep. She's still attentive during class. She just rests during breaks."
"Is that normal? Could it be that she lied about her age, and she's actually only eleven or twelve, unable to handle the intensity of high school studies?"
"Shh, keep your voice down! It's not good to gossip about others behind their backs."
"It's just us four here. No one will hear..."
The voices gradually faded away. Haruka shook her ears, feeling a bit angry. Her hearing was superb because her home was always noisy. Without the ability to discern subtle sounds, she wouldn't be able to handle her sisters who liked to play tricks behind her back.
She mentally kept a small account for the girls who had just gossiped about her, except for the one who kindly woke her up. Then she went behind the classroom, found her locker, and pulled out her kendo uniform. Somehow, she thought of something and pouted.
The expenses at home increased a lot this year, but the income from the restaurant didn't meet expectations. That's why she had to work so hard. Those people didn't know anything. They just know to gossip behind her back...
Blaming the invalid and the gigolo, they ruined her perfect plan! Especially that gigolo!
Wait, the next class is kendo, and it seems to be a big class. She always wanted to give Kazuya a beating but couldn't find the opportunity. Today, let's see if it works... How dare you insult me, pretend not to know me, and cause me losses! Haruka had made up her mind, grabbed her bag, and headed to the kendo hall.
...
"Kazuya, you seem to have lost weight! Ouch, that hurts!"
In the men's changing room at the kendo hall, Hajime Kazuya was changing into his kendo uniform. He slapped away the hand Yuma Yuma extended from behind him.
Yuma suspected his eyes were playing tricks on him, but his hand was still throbbing with pain. Nevertheless, he didn't mind, turning to Shin, "Shin, do you think Kazuya becomes thin?"
Shin, who was discreetly changing clothes in a corner, looked over at the sound of the conversation. Seeing Kazuya's naked back with visible muscles, he blushed a bit, "Kazuya's physique is indeed good."
"What are you talking about? I'm asking if he's gotten thinner... He was already quite thin, and now he's even thinner, right?"
Kazuya put on the cotton kendo uniform and replied irritably, "I've done sports lately!"
"Sports? Are you practicing kendo at home for real?" Yuma was still skeptical and reached out to pinch his arm, "It's so hard! You've really built some muscles!"
Shin immediately looked concerned and approached, "Have you really started training?" He came over and felt Kazuya's arm shyly, then turned his head after a brief assessment. "Um... at the beginning, you need to control the training intensity. If you strain your elbows and wrists, it could be troublesome."
Shin was sometimes a bit effeminate, or rather, shy. Kazuya was polite to people with softer personalities like him. "I see. Thank you, Shin... Can I call you Shin?"
Shin was pleased, "Of course, I'd be happy. And can I call you Kazuya?" Then he felt a bit embarrassed and quickly changed the topic. " I can help you check your posture and swings. Practicing with the correct form will prevent injuries."
Kazuya's postures were derived from the [Ancient Swordsmanship], so he thought it should be fine, but he still accepted, "Sure. Thanks, Shin."
"You're welcome... I thought you were just reading books and didn't expect you'd really start training. How about trying out the club activities in the afternoon..." Shin paused, remembering that Haruka might also be in the kendo club. Although the possibility of meeting her were small, he would likely be targeted if she was really there.
Yuma continued the conversation, "Shin, has that shorty caused you trouble in the kendo club?"
Shin and Kanae were siblings. Though they had a big fight once, they reconciled shortly afterward. Shin often participated in kendo club training to prepare for the summer tournament.
Shin replied, "No, she doesn't participate much in practice. It seems she has an agreement with my sister. She only joins competitions, and practice has to be squeezed in whenever she has time. It seems she has to help with the family store or something. My sister agreed to let her check her skills for an hour a week." He recalled something, "However, I took the opportunity to spar with her a few times last week, . I found that she's quite straightforward. Maybe there was a misunderstanding before. I plan to find a time to talk to her and clarify..."
Before he could finish his words, Yuma exploded, "Are you trying to be a traitor?"
"A traitor?"
"She provoked us first, and we didn't do anything to her!"
"No, I just want..."
Seeing them argue again, Kazuya quickly stepped in to separate them. "Alright, this is not your concern. Sakura is targeting me."
Yuma grumbled indignantly, "We're good friends. If she targets you, she targets all three of us! In the comic books, the hot-blooded youth needs an enemy. I think that shorty is quite suitable. She looks like an antagonist... Let's make it our goal to defeat her in the next year!"
Kazuya advised, "I can handle it myself. Thanks, Yuma."
Yuma shook his hand, "Your business is my business. Don't be shy! I'm Yuma, a man of loyalty, not like the disloyal Shin!"
Shin was shaking with anger and yelled, "I'm doing this for Kazuya's sake!"
Yuma gave Shin a sidelong glance. "If that shorty causes trouble in the kendo class, whose side will you be on? Clubmates or friends?"
Shin was taken aback, and just as he was about to speak, Kazuya stopped him, "If Sakura causes trouble again, I won't be polite with her. You don't need to help me."
Shin intervened, "Misunderstandings can be resolved. Kazuya, the next kendo class will focus on theoretical explanations, and Sakura won't have a chance to cause trouble. Let's talk to her and figure out why she hates you..."
Yuma stopped him, "Kazuya, I'll help you. If she dares to make trouble later, we'll beat her together!"
Thinking of the prompt "[Ancient Swordsmanship] LV6" he saw on the game panel yesterday, Kazuya said, "I can handle it alone."
Although Hope Peak Academy was well-funded, it didn't have the resources to provide kendo gear for all students. The kendo class began with around eighty to ninety students from the Class A/B/C sitting in the kendo dojo that Kazuya had visited. This dojo was primarily used for classes, and the school couldn't afford to build such a large building specifically for a club with mediocre achievements. The kendo club could just use it after school.
The kendo teacher, a seasoned swordsman hired from an external dojo, arrived on time. Facing the students, he explained historical development of kendo, the spirit of kendo, and other theoretical aspects. Afterward, he showed the use of kendo gear and the method of tying the headband. Once everyone had seen the demonstrations, they got the bamboo swords for basic practice.
After practicing with bamboo swords for a while, most students began to feel their arms getting sore and becoame impatient. It wasn't professional training, so the kendo teacher waved his hand to signal a brief rest when noticing that nearly forty minutes had passed. The dojo was immediately filled with students sitting on the floor, but the kendo teacher scold them and asked everyone to sit upright folowing the proper etiquette of kendo.
Yuma and Shin both had experience in kendo practice, so this warm-up exercise wasn't a big deal for them. However, Shin stare adt Kazuya, "Kazuya, your movements are very standard... Has anyone taught you?"
Kazuya shook his head, "No, I've been practicing according to the books. Does it look alright?"
"It looks very good, but the bamboo sword should be placed on the right side of your body when you sit."
Kazuya looked at the sword on his left, "Is there a requirement for that?"
"Yes. Placing it on the right ensures that you can only draw the sword with your right hand at the first moment. It's a friendly gesture as drawing the sword with the right hand is inconvenient. It's a tradition passed down from the past."
Kazuya complied and moved the bamboo sword to the right side of his body. After all, there was no one here who would suddenly jump out and attack him like the situation in Meditation Battle.
Shin nodded satisfiedly but still found it strange, "Has really no one guided you?"
"Yes, no one..."
Shin admired, "Kazuya, you're truly gifted!"
Kazuya was about to make another modest remark when a crisp voice sounded, "Sensei, I have an idea!"