The scenery was bathed in the soft light of early morning as Hōkai and Daisuke stood at the outside Hōkai's house. Observing their two students, Sakutarō and Kotoba, prepared for their sparring session. Sakutarō's nerves tingled with anticipation, while Kotoba wore a confident grin on his face, knowing his experience gave him an edge.
Kotoba, always one to seek balance and fairness, decided to penalise himself to level the playing field. With a nod from Hōkai and Daisuke, he lowered himself to his knees, relinquishing the use of his legs. The gesture brought smiles to the faces of his instructors, impressed by his humility.
As the match began, Sakutarō could sense Kotoba's strength and skill looming over him like a shadow. Desperate to find a way to overcome his opponent, he scanned the surroundings for an advantage. In a moment of quick thinking, he pretended to adjust his wooden clogs, launching a cloud of gravel and dust towards Kotoba.
Caught off guard momentarily, Kotoba's vision obscured, Sakutarō seizing the opportunity to strike. However, his swing carried him into an unexpected 360-degree spin, leaving him disoriented.
When he regained his bearings, Kotoba had evaded the attack with astonishing agility, his body bending back nearly parallel to the ground. The sight left Sakutarō in awe, admiring Kotoba's skill even as his strike was thwarted.
Kotoba raised himself back up, staring into Sakutarō's eyes, shaking his head.
Undeterred, Sakutarō pressed on, engaging Kotoba in a flurry of swordplay. With each clash of their Katanas, Sakutarō pushed himself to the limit, seeking openings in Kotoba's defenses. Yet, no matter how he tried, Kotoba countered each move with elegance and precision, his fluid parries and blocks which proved testament to consistent training.
Despite his disadvantage, Kotoba moved with an unexpected grace, using his upper body strength to compensate for his lack of mobility. With lightning-fast reflexes, he anticipated Sakutarō's every move, deflecting blows with a precision that belied his kneeling position.
Their swords danced in an orchestra of steel, the sound of clashing Katana's sending shivers through the air. Sakutarō, fueled by his drive to become stronger, unleashed a barrage of strikes. Howver, each one was met with a calculated response from Kotoba. The intensity of their exchange heightened with each passing moment, drawing gasps of admiration from Hōkai and Daisuke.
The climax of the match came with a swift kick from Sakutarō, landing squarely in Kotoba's liver and winding him. Seizing the opportunity, Sakutarō moved to strike again, but Kotoba, although winded, refused to yield. With a decisive headbutt, Sakutarō brought Kotoba to the ground, the tip of his Katana hovering dangerously close to his neck.
With Daisuke's shout of approval and Hōkai's applause ringing in their ears, the two combatants rose to their feet, panting and sweating from the intensity of their bout. Hōkai, proud of Sakutarō's progress, praised his determination, while Kotoba acknowledged his own shortcomings, recognising Sakutarō's skill and resilience.
As the dust settled, Hōkai revealed a surprise.
"Makoto and several other Samurai students will be joining you for training in the coming days."
With a nod of conviction, Sakutarō and Kotoba stood side by side.
"That was a good fight, Kotoba." Sakutarō said, gesturing for a handshake.
Kotoba nodded and smiled back, happily shaking Sakutarō's hands in return.
"I guess I have a long way to go. But, it should be fine. I have you and Hōkai to help me."
Daisuke walked over.
"I won't leave to do my own training until I'm satisfied with the culture here. I want to make sure you're in good hands. Both of you." Daisuke said. "Take some rest. We will continue in a little while."
Sakutarō and Kotoba found solace outside Hōkai's door, sitting together on the ground, their backs resting against the cool wooden wall of the house. As they caught their breaths, Sakutarō broke the silence with heartfelt words.
"You don't need to feel bad about beating me if we spar normally," he said, his voice soft. "It's the only way I can get stronger. I'd rather lose now than lose later."
Kotoba nodded in understanding, his expression a mixture of respect and admiration for his new companion.
"It must be really hard... not being able to speak," Sakutarō continued, his gaze fixed on Kotoba.
Kotoba looked at Sakutarō' briefly before looking away, a flicker of emotion crossing his face.
"I don't look at you any differently just because you can't speak," Sakutarō reassured him. "In fact, it means you must be a really good listener. You can learn a lot about people just by listening to them."
A small smile tugged at the corners of Kotoba's lips, a silent acknowledgment of Sakutarō's understanding.
"We all have difficulties in life," Sakutarō went on, his tone gentle yet resolute. "I lost my father and my brother. It's about how we respond. Not letting life get you down or hold you back."
With a thoughtful expression, Kotoba reached into his pocket and retrieved a piece of parchment and a thin piece of coal. He began to write, the charcoal leaving dark strokes against the pale surface of the paper. Once he finished, he handed the parchment to Sakutarō.
Sakutarō's eyes scanned the words written in Kotoba's elegant script, each letter imbued with a sense of sincerity and respect.
It read:
I'm sorry to hear about your family. I grew up not knowing mine. I heard that I may have an older brother, but I don't know if it's true. Now that we are training together, you are my brother. I will do whatever it takes to make sure you get stronger.
Tears welled in Sakutarō's eyes as he read the heartfelt words, his heart swelling with gratitude and warmth. He let the parchment fall to his lap, overcome with emotion, before leaning in to embrace Kotoba in a wordless gesture of brotherhood and solidarity. As they hugged, Kotoba closed his eyes, feeling a sense of relief he hadn't felt in countless months.