Chapter 132: A Visit

After school, Aoki Tsukasa stood by the roadside and hailed a passing taxi.

As the car pulled up, he opened the door, slid into the backseat, and said calmly, "Driver, please take me to the Busujima-ryu Dojo."

"Uh, excuse me, sir, did you say the dojo in the old town district?" The driver stared at Aoki’s face in the rearview mirror, cold sweat instantly breaking out on his forehead.

The Busujima family dojo was located in a very remote area, nearly a twenty-minute drive away, almost outside the city limits.

*This guy—no, he isn't planning to rob me, is he?* The driver swallowed hard, his eyes filled with panic. In a place where security cameras were virtually non-existent, if something happened, there would be no one to hear his cries for help.

Seeing that the driver hadn't started the car, Aoki frowned and asked, "Yes. Could you go a bit faster? I'm in a bit of a rush."

After visiting Senior Busujima, he still had to go home to cook for Sora and then head to his boxing practice. *Why is fruit so expensive in Japan? This tiny bit of fruit cost over ten thousand yen.*

Thinking about how he worked so hard every day, only to watch his wallet grow thinner and thinner, Aoki felt that life was truly incredibly difficult.

The driver’s trembling hand rested on the gear shift, unable to bring himself to move it. Finally, he suddenly blurted out, "I'm so sorry, sir, but my shift is ending soon. I can't head out that way, please forgive me! Could you please take another car? I’m willing to compensate you!"

*If I don't give him money, he might complain about me or just get angry,* the driver thought, bowing his head in fear and refusing to meet Aoki's eyes.

"Huh?" Aoki’s eyes widened.

After exiting the car, Aoki stood there with a blank expression, wearing a deadpan gaze as he watched the taxi peel away as if it were a race car. He chuckled wordlessly.

The five-thousand-yen note he held in his hand fluttered in the bleak autumn wind, rustling incessantly.

In the distance, another taxi approached. Aoki extended his hand with a hint of stiffness and gave a gentle wave.

***

Half an hour later.

"Driver, please take me to the Busujima-ryu Dojo." Aoki opened the car door, sat in the back, and pulled his hat down low.

The driver glanced at the student in the back seat—whose face was obscured by his hat and school uniform—and said cheerfully, "Alright! Are you going there to learn swordsmanship? I heard they aren't taking students anymore."

"No, I have a friend there. I'm just going to visit," Aoki replied, cautiously using the medical book in his hand to shield his face, trying his best to keep the driver from seeing his features.

The driver sighed to himself, impressed by the diligence of today's students, and didn't bother him any further as he started the car.

Aoki breathed a quiet sigh of relief, wiping the sweat from his forehead with a wry smile. He secretly took out his wallet to count his money and realized he actually had slightly more than before he had bought the fruit.

*Is money really this easy to make?*

Thinking to himself that the people in this area were truly honest and simple-hearted, Aoki happily tucked his wallet back into his pocket. *Seriously, I could understand if you didn't want to take me, but why is everyone being so polite?*

The taxi wound its way through the streets, gradually heading toward the sparsely populated old district. Soon, an impressive dojo appeared before them.

He had left in such a hurry last time that this was the first time Aoki had properly taken in how grand the Busujima family dojo really was.

*At a glance, it must be several hundred, maybe even a thousand square meters!*

The entire structure was a classic, elegant wooden design. The plaque above the entrance, inscribed with "Busujima-ryu Dojo," was clearly written by a master calligrapher, every stroke exuding a bold and imposing air.

"That will be 13,000 yen," the driver said, turning around with a smile.

Aoki pulled out his wallet, muttering with a pained heart, "It's so expensive..."

As he looked up to pay, he noticed the driver’s expression shift upon seeing his face. The driver swallowed visibly and suddenly shouted, "Oh! I must have misread the meter, it's actually..."

"Here, take it," Aoki said, rushing to hand over the money as he saw the driver clearing the meter, seemingly ready to erase a zero from the fare.

The previous driver had refused service, so Aoki felt justified in not complaining about the fare, but this driver had at least delivered him to his destination. If he relied on his looks to get a free ride again, Aoki felt it would be a bit much.

*The man has to make a living, after all!*

The driver tremblingly reached out to take the money. "Is... is this really alright?"

"Yes, yes, please, go ahead," Aoki said, hopping out of the car. He offered a helpless, bitter smile as he watched the taxi perform an exaggerated drift in front of the empty dojo before disappearing into the distance.

*Tsk, have I finally found the right way to make money with my face?*

Aoki chuckled, feeling a strange mix of amusement and frustration.

He walked through the main gate. In the center of the vast, empty dojo, Saeko Busujima was kneeling on the tatami mats, dressed in a white floral kimono, holding a wooden sword as she meditated with her eyes closed.

The setting sun cast its glow on Saeko’s profile, bathing her long purple hair in light. The sunset’s crimson hue acted like blush on her fair cheeks, lending an even more alluring charm to her cold and beautiful face.

The sash of her floral kimono hugged her waist, accentuating her full bust, which strained against the loose fabric. Below the sash was a waist so slender it seemed it could be gripped with one hand. Beneath the hem of the kimono, her small feet, clad in white socks, were vaguely visible.

As she sat there holding the wooden sword in meditation, Aoki felt as if he were looking at a swordswoman who had stepped out of an ancient painting. Her beauty felt almost surreal.

"Aoki-kun?" Saeko slowly opened her eyes. Seeing him standing at the entrance, she smiled slightly. "Welcome to the Busujima-ryu Dojo."

Aoki’s heart skipped a beat at her smile, which blossomed like a hundred flowers. He blinked and stood at the doorway. "Good afternoon, Senior Busujima."

As Aoki took off his shoes, he watched Saeko slowly rise from the tatami. The kimono complemented her tall, slender figure perfectly.

"Senior Busujima, you look truly beautiful in that kimono," Aoki remarked with genuine sincerity.

Saeko blushed slightly at the comment, pursing her lips in a smile. She opened her arms gracefully, showing off the attire without a hint of coyness, and said, "Do you think so? I bought this outfit a long time ago. If you like it, Aoki-kun, then it means my taste is still quite good. My hand is a bit inconvenient, so I only managed to boil some tea. Please forgive my lack of hospitality this time."

Aoki felt his face flush at her gesture. He waved his hands frantically. "I already told you on the phone—please, don't prepare anything. You really shouldn't say such things."

Seeing the thick bandages wrapped around her right hand under the kimono sleeve, Aoki frowned slightly. He stepped forward and looked at her hand with concern. "It doesn't look like it will be better in just a week. Senior... are you really alright?"

Saeko pulled her hand back almost imperceptibly, maintaining a calm and breezy demeanor. "Don't worry. As a swordswoman, I take my hand injuries very seriously. I've seen a doctor and had all the check-ups; it's truly not that serious."

"Thank you for being so concerned about me, Aoki-kun," Saeko said with a soft smile, leading him toward the living quarters at the back of the dojo. "We haven't had guests in a long time, so I’m actually quite excited."

Aoki rubbed his head and replied with a smile, "I’m the one who should be excited. Being allowed into the home of such an outstanding woman as yourself is a dream for many."

"You're exaggerating, Aoki-kun," Saeko said, covering her mouth as she laughed, her charming phoenix eyes crinkling into crescents. "Do you talk to every girl like this?"

Aoki thought for a moment and replied seriously, "I think that’s the first time I’ve complimented someone other than my younger sister."

"Then I am truly happy to hear that." Saeko glanced at Aoki, seeing only sincerity in his eyes, and couldn't help but offer a genuinely shy smile. "Alright, alright, please don't keep complimenting me. If you keep going, I might actually start to believe you."

Aoki blinked and nodded with a smile.