Chapter 27: Sparring with Saeko Makes My Swordsmanship Improve Rapidly

After physical education, Aoki Siji always felt that every teacher was suddenly more cautious and distant toward him, which left him bewildered as he finished his day of study and lazily walked toward the kendo club hall.

He had already called the fighting club, setting his work hours from seven to ten in the evening. His plan was to practice kendo from 3:40 after school until five, then head home to prepare dinner for Sora, go to his part-time job, and after returning, practice kendo again before sleeping.

Thinking it through, this meant he would be up before seven every morning and not sleep until midnight. Aoki Siji sighed, feeling he was drifting further from the leisurely high school life he had once imagined.

Upon entering the kendo hall, he keenly noticed that many people’s gazes toward him had changed again. Besides the familiar fear and apprehension, there seemed to be a hint of schadenfreude in some faces.

“Aoki,” Saiki greeted him warmly, waving as he saw Aoki Siji arrive.

Aoki grabbed a bamboo sword from the storage area, nodded, and smiled, “Come, let’s practice again.”

Saiki didn’t overthink it this time, merely nodding in agreement and quietly asked, “Why didn’t you come to the kendo club yesterday?”

Aoki shrugged, putting on his protective gear as he replied, “I was working a part-time job.”

“Uh…” Saiki seemed surprised by this answer and, after hesitating while looking at the scars on Aoki’s face, cautiously asked, “Are those injuries from...?”

“Oh, I work as a sparring partner at the fighting club,” Aoki explained, grimacing as the mask pressed against his wounds.

Saiki seemed relieved, thought for a moment, then leaned closer to whisper in Aoki’s ear, “You should be careful of Ishihara seeking revenge. His older brother, Ryota Ishihara, is in the third year and has quite the reputation here.”

Aoki pursed his lips and frowned slightly, but didn’t seem overly concerned.

In his view, Ishihara Kaita was someone who cared deeply about his image and was quite proud. If he lost in a straightforward kendo match, he’d likely try to reclaim his honor through kendo. If he instead called his brother to deal with Aoki, how would he ever hold his head high in front of Saeko Busujima? Saeko was clearly the independent, strong-minded, and mature type—she’d never like someone who runs to family for help at every turn.

Aoki could tell at a glance that Ishihara Kaita must harbor feelings for Saeko Busujima. So he wasn’t worried; by second year, high schoolers weren’t total kids anymore—surely they had some sense.

The two quickly donned their gear and began sparring in a corner.

Although Aoki’s kendo level was still short of third rank, he felt his technique had improved significantly, becoming much more proficient. With his attributes enhanced by mixed martial arts training, Saiki was still left only to defend, unable to counter.

This time, Aoki deliberately slowed his attacks, controlling the rhythm so their match appeared more balanced, with both sides gaining advantage.

After three minutes, Saiki, panting, sat on the floor and looked at Aoki with a bitter smile. “Fighting you feels very different. Kendo is supposed to be a sport of instant victory, but with you, every moment is attack and defense, and the pace never slows.”

Aoki smiled beneath his mask, replying calmly, “Maybe it’s because I haven’t fought many matches—I don’t understand things like rhythm, just attack, attack, attack. Honestly, sometimes I’m not even sure when I lose or score.”

Seeing his experience points nearly maxed, Aoki impatiently said, “Let’s go another three minutes.”

“Why not let me spar with Aoki?” Saeko Busujima’s voice came from behind, and Aoki turned to see her, already fully equipped except for her mask, her fair face glistening with sweat—clearly just finished with a bout.

Aoki considered and nodded, “Then please guide me, Saeko.”

“We won’t need a referee for this match, alright?” Saeko smiled gently, brushing her sweat-soaked purple hair from her cheek.

Aoki was momentarily stunned, for the sunlight poured down, illuminating Saeko’s flawless face and making her appear to glow with beauty. For an instant, even his heart seemed to skip a beat.

He shook his head lightly to dispel the illusion, realizing he was simply dazzled for a moment. Smiling, he nodded, “Alright, I’ll follow your lead.”

Saeko smiled, put on her helmet, and faced Aoki, raising her bamboo sword. “You may attack first. Don’t worry about kendo match rules—treat me as a real enemy, and the sword in your hand as a real blade.”

Aoki paused, gripping his bamboo sword more tightly, and said solemnly, “Then please be careful, Saeko!”

With that, he thrust rapidly forward—a move that in a kendo match would almost always be a giveaway. But Aoki’s strength and explosiveness gave his strike new life; if this were a battle with real blades, it would be highly dangerous.

Saeko’s eyes, calm beneath her mask, flickered with interest. She dodged gracefully, like a leaf swaying in the wind, and before Aoki could react, her bamboo sword stopped at his throat.

So fast!

Aoki’s eyes flashed with shock.

Saeko’s strike seemed even faster than his full-force thrust!

“Again,” Saeko’s cool voice sounded. Aoki gritted his teeth and swung his bamboo sword horizontally.

Saeko, as if anticipating, stepped back barely half a pace, and as Aoki missed, her bamboo sword spun like a crescent moon, striking his mask with a sharp “pa!”

Aoki’s exceptional dynamic vision saved him—a strike unavoidable for most was clear to him. He managed a desperate sideways leap, his body following, and the sword just grazed his mask as it sliced down. It was a close call; a moment slower and he wouldn’t have evaded.

“Hah!” Aoki shouted, flicking his wooden blade upward.

Saeko smiled, not panicked at all, and with a casual motion slid her bamboo sword downward. When their swords met, Aoki’s blade was knocked aside; there was no great resistance, but his sword ended up wildly off-target.

Then, with little effort, Saeko easily pressed her sword against Aoki’s chest.

Aoki shook his head with a wry smile. “You really are strong, Saeko.”

[Kendo LV3: You have now entered the basics of kendo. You are no longer limited to simple kendo matches; you can now hold your own in real kendo combat. Strength +1, Agility +1, Charisma +1 (Experience: 13/300)]

Surprised to see his experience suddenly spike, and gaining over ten points after leveling up, Aoki felt his mind fill with a wealth of new kendo knowledge.

No, not just knowledge—he felt far more familiar with the bamboo sword in his hand. An inexplicable sense of mastery made him grip the sword more firmly.

Was this… experience?

If before Aoki had relied mainly on his reaction speed in matches, now he felt as if he had gained a wealth of practical kendo experience.

“Do you want to continue?” Saeko withdrew her wooden sword, her head tilted as she looked at Aoki, who was suddenly stunned. Beneath her mask, her expression was puzzled: it seemed the way he held his sword had changed quite a bit…

“Again!” Not only because his kendo skill had leveled up, but because sparring with Saeko Busujima gave him so much experience, Aoki raised his wooden sword with renewed fighting spirit.