Eriri and Shirogami headed to Shizuku Yaegashi's family dojo, accompanied by Kaori. Upon arrival, they found themselves in the dojo's garden, watching Shizuku practice with her father, Koichi Yaegashi. Koichi was an imposing man with serene eyes that radiated wisdom and experience. Every one of Shizuku's movements was precise and fluid, reflecting her skill and dedication to kenjutsu.
Kaori and Eriri watched their friend in admiration, while Shirogami observed silently, intrigued. It was then that Koichi noticed his guests and asked Shizuku to take a break.
Koichi approached Shirogami, looking at him intently, examining him with interest. "So, you're Eriri's brother," he commented, crossing his arms. "Tell me, Shirogami, why do you want to learn kenjutsu?"
Shirogami met his gaze directly. "I want to become stronger," he replied firmly and sincerely.
Koichi raised an eyebrow, a bit surprised by the boy's direct answer. Then he nodded, a faint smile appearing on his face. "Well, that's a valid reason. But strength goes beyond physical skill; it also requires discipline and patience. Go change, and we'll begin training."
After changing into suitable clothing, Shirogami returned to the training area, where Koichi started evaluating him with some basic exercises. He had Shirogami do push-ups, sprints, and agility drills. To Koichi's surprise, Shirogami showed remarkable strength for his age and an unusual level of endurance.
"Interesting," murmured Koichi, observing the boy. He then decided to teach him the basics: how to hold the sword correctly, the proper stance, and the initial strikes, like the cut and slash. Each movement required precision and coordination, but Shirogami picked them up quickly, moving with an almost inhuman calm and focus.
However, Koichi noticed something that needed improvement. "You have a blind eye," he commented, pointing out Shirogami's lack of vision in one eye. "That puts you at a disadvantage, especially against unexpected attacks. You'll need to strengthen your other senses to anticipate movements you can't see."
Before Shirogami could respond, Koichi launched a quick strike with the practice sword, bringing it close enough to test his reflexes. Shirogami couldn't react in time and barely perceived the movement until the sword was already in front of him. He felt a hint of frustration, though it didn't show on his face.
"This is what I mean," Koichi explained. "You need to train to sense attacks even when you can't see them coming."
Meanwhile, inspired by Shirogami's enthusiasm, Eriri and Kaori asked to join the training. Koichi looked at them with a hint of caution.
"You tried this once before," he said with a slight smile. "Are you sure you want to try again?"
Both nodded with determination. Although they hadn't been able to handle the physical effort before, they wanted to support Shirogami, and Koichi agreed to let them train.
Thus, the morning passed with exercises, cuts, and endurance drills. Eriri and Kaori tried to keep up, though it wasn't easy. Kaori soon showed signs of exhaustion, and after a while, she was completely out of breath, panting as she tried to catch it. Eriri was also worn out, but surprisingly, she handled the training better than Kaori. Koichi observed her effort with interest, wondering if something else was driving her to endure the physical strain.
At the end of the practice, Shizuku, though slightly tired, got up with ease and brought drinks for her friends. She was accustomed to the intense training, and her endurance was evident.
Shirogami, on the other hand, only showed a few drops of sweat on his forehead, his expression as impassive as ever. Yet there was something different about him. Although his face remained neutral, his eyes gleamed with a hint of satisfaction. His physical strength surprised everyone, even himself, as he began to discover a new sense of purpose in his actions.
They spent the rest of the day playing in Shizuku's garden. Eriri had brought some board games, and between laughter and friendly competition, the group relaxed after the intense training. Shirogami participated with a renewed interest, though his face didn't show much emotion. However, Eriri noticed something different in his demeanor. She watched him interact more comfortably with the others, and in small moments, he seemed to enjoy the company of his new friends.
As the sun began to set and the games came to an end, Shirogami felt something strange. Being surrounded by friends, feeling part of the group and accepted, made something inside him slowly start to open up.