"Do not regret what you have done" – Musashi Miyamoto
The smell of wood. The sound of sweat dripping on the wooden floor. The musky sharp smell of sweat mixed with wood wafted through the young boy's nose. There was a creaking of bamboo tearing through the wind. It felt like a melody that struck his skin. Each swift stroke made the faint moonlight that dimly illuminated the room ripple into a thousand waves.
The light flowing clothes of the performer rustled with the wind. Each step he took was filled with the anticipation of the next strike. His sweat turned to an ocean that reflected the stars in every drop. He seemed like he moved but he remained motionless. The boy watched every action the performer took with awe at the beauty that unfolded before him. His eyes followed the calm movements of the bamboo blade as it dashed through the air.
He heard the sword call his name and the urge to answer overtook him. A slice ran through his face and the sword stopped before his eyes. His body was filled with cold sweat that dripped onto the tip of the sword. The scent of the bamboo allured him. His mind had met the sword. He was hooked.
He was enchanted
Tokyo was known to never go to sleep. Its bright lights always gave a sense of alertness despite its quietness. The streaks of sunlight gave rise to the early morning rush. Various men and women in suits and briefcases milled around to various workplaces. Students walked through the streets, excitedly chattering in groups. Shinai watched the sea of heads bob up and down the streets. He looked down and saw the elementary students playing around on their way to school and smiled faintly. "If only my life could be that fun" he thought with extreme depression to himself.
As he lit a cigarette, he didn't notice the flying feet that made their way towards his head. A loud crash scared everyone on the road and people made their way from the house. A young girl stood over Shinai's seemingly dead body and kicked his head. "Good morning, big brother" she greeted with an impish smile on her face. Shinai lay lifeless on the ground with extreme spasms running through his body. She brought her lips to his ears and whispered "If you're late, I'll make you breakfast".
Shinai's dead body rose to life and he laughed derilously. "How can you feed a dead person?!!!!" he announced to the world. "Oh my dear brother, if you do really want to die, then I shall entertain you" the young girl replied. "My dear sister, do not...…" he continued but stopped in his tracks as he saw that Sentoki had made a fist in her hands. He bowed his head and quietly walked to the bathroom. The sound of water running allayed Sentoki's fears as she smiled. Looking into the sky, she prayed. "I pray this year turns out differently for you".
The warm water bathed Shinai's skin. His body accepted the calming effect of the water. He stepped out of the sowers and looked at the mirror. His heart thumped and he let out deep breaths to his reflection. His blonde wet hair stuck to his face. The numerous piercings he had on his ears spoke volumes of the life he previously lived. He touched the scars on his skin and the tattoos that covered his muscular body. He breathed again and noticed his right tooth had grown into a fang. Sighing as he washed his mouth, he thought "This year is going to be horrible, isn't it?"
His uniform stood before him menacingly. He walked around it, studying if it had changed at all. He touched the material and nodded to himself. "Still the same" he said to himself. Loud punching sounds could be heard from beneath him. "She's at it again" he thought as he put on the white long-sleeved shirt. He tried to see if it was transparent to the tattoos but apparently he had nothing to worry about. He wore the jacket and went downstairs.
Sentoki stood before a punching bag. Her sweat ran down her body like buckets. She breathed in and let out a massive rush of blows to the punching bag. She threw a left hook, tearing her fists into the bag. A mighty kick followed, nearly sending the bag flying from the thin rope that held it to the ceiling. Her right hand curled into a tight fist and her hand went straight through the punching bag, tearing into it. The bag fell to the ground and rolled over to Shinai's feet. He picked it up and turned it over. "It looks like I'll need to sew this one for you" he smiled as he felt the old patches on the bag.
Sentoki heaved a deep breath as she sat on the wooden floor. She watched her brother walk to collect his sword. He swung it over his back, right over his school bag. Shinai went towards her and patted her head. She smiled at him. "Don't disturb the neighbours while I'm gone" he instructed calmly as he walked towards the door.
He looked back at the picture of a dead man and shook his head. "Not today" he thought. He waved goodbye at her and the door closed. She stood up and stretched her back. Walking over to picture of a dead man, she knelt down at it and paid her respects to the dead. "I still don't know why he won't pray to Father" she reasoned as she made her way to the bathroom.
Shinai placed a band aid on his face as he stepped outside the building, starting his journey to school. He pulled out his phone and checked the time. "It's just nine in the morning. I'm just an hour late" he thought as he walked along the pathways. The familiar smell of his house was now replaced with the choking scent of grass and leaves. The chirping of birds and the faint sound of cars breezing past filled his ears. The sun shone lightly across his face. It really felt like this was going to be an extremely bad day. He pushed his way through the crowd, blending with it. However, his blonde hair and multiple piercings stuck out and the first thought that came to people's minds were
"Just another delinquent"
He knew the strange stares people gave at him and he sighed. He walked into the train and kept his head down, not wanting to cause a commotion with anyone there. A heavy shaking caused him to raise his eyes up and at that instant their eyes met.
Ruffled pink hair that stuck to the head. Her shoes were untied and her bag was open, letting out books from its mouth. A piece of bread was stuck between her lips as she waved furiously for the train to stop. A second passed and the laces of her shoe brought her face down to the ground. The bamboo swords on her bag cluttered against her face, making an extremely subtle noise that intrigued Shinai. He saw that she was in his school and smiled to himself thinking how funny it would be if she was in his class.
Shinai stood before the entrance of his school gates. He watched how the students glared at him in fear from the classrooms. Shinai didn't miss the disgusted glare the teacher shot at him. "I thought I told you last semester that if you come back here with those piercings, you'll not be allowed to pass through these gates" he spat with a tone of disgust.
"My family does not have the money to afford those treatments" Shinai shot back. These types of teachers never listened and that's why he hated them. The obese man pointed to his hair and spat again. "Why is your hair like that?" he asked again. "I was born like this" Shinai replied. The teacher looked at him from his head to toe. "Go in" he said and watched the tall student walk through the gates.
"Tch!!! That's why they don't have anything. The brother's a delinquent and the sister's a shut in. Worthless dregs of society" the teacher said in strong hatred for Shinai. That truly was the thought of everyone in the school. All students from nerds to delinquents were scared of him. As he walked down the hallways, there was this vibe of fear that each class let out. The door to his class creaked open and he walked through in silence.
Sitting on his chair, he watched the leaves on the trees fall off. A hand hit his desk and he saw his best friend stand before him. Chahan was the Kendo Club president and had been his childhood friend for many years. Her smile warmed his heart but he knew why she was here. "Shinai!!! Happy new session. Now, I give you the choice of either dating me or joining the Kendo club!!!" she announced loudly.
Shinai shook his head and replied "Neither". She made a face of genuine shock and said to him "C'mon, when will you join us?". Shinai touched her hand and answered "When you stop being my only friend". She looked at him awkwardly and was about to go on a tirade when the teacher stepped in. Shinai heaved a sigh of relief as the teacher had saved him from her. He looked down and saw a note. Picking it up, it read
"Make sure you talk to someone today"
"Everyone, I will be introducing a new transfer student. Please treat her well" The teacher announced to the class. He beckoned on the person outside and there was a sudden scent of flowers that burst through the room. Flowing pink hair that streaked with the wind. Bright golden eyes that seemed to light up the room and suck all those who looked at her into it. Her beautifully pale skin only complimented her beautiful body even more. She walked to the front of the class and stood, unsmiling. The wind responded to her every move and as her eyes scanned through the classroom, there was a sense of anticipation that ran through everyone.
Shinai looked up and his eyes widened. It was the same clumsy girl that he saw running by the train station. As their eyes met, his lips unconsciously broke in a smile. Her feet walked up to him slowly. The eyes of the class followed her very step. A soft feeling came on his cheek as her hands touched his face. Her lips were brought to his ears and her warm breaths hit him.
"Did you see me on the train?"
Her soft voice travelled through his ears with a hint of unsteadiness. He nodded his head slightly. "What is your name?" she asked again. "Shinai" he answered. She walked back to the podium in the class and announced.
"My name is Chisai Mijikai. I'm a new student of this school and I hope you all will take care of me" she said aloud and bowed. As she looked upward, she took a deep breath and pointed to Shinai. "And as of this moment, Shinai is my boyfriend".
The drop of a pencil was enough to make the world blow to smithereens. Shinai looked at the sky and sighed.
"This year is going to be horrible, isn't it?"