Side Chapter – Murasame

November 18, 2028

The scent of worn bamboo and the faint smell of sweat hangs in the air, a testament to the countless hours of practice that have taken place here. My family dojo, though simple and unadorned, resonates with a sense of calm and discipline. It has always been like this.

My father had always been respectful of culture and traditions. Even if we have enough money, he will always refuse to renovate the Yamamoto clan dojo.

The wooden floor beneath my feet feels smooth and well-trodden, the echoing sounds of kiai, and the spirited shouts of the kendoka fill the air, creating a rhythmic symphony of dedication and effort. The clashing of the shinai, the bamboo swords, is a constant drumbeat, punctuating the air with sounds of engagement and combat.

In one corner, a group of beginners are being taught the basic stances, their faces a mix of concentration and excitement. Nearby, a pair of advanced students spar with fluid grace, their movements a dance of power and precision.

My father, the sensei of this dojo, a figure of respect and authority, watches over the practice with a keen eye, offering advice and corrections when needed. His stern yet caring gaze is a constant reminder of the discipline and respect that kendo embodies.

Despite the physical exertion and the competitive spirit, there's a sense of camaraderie that pervades the dojo. Everyone, regardless of their skill level, is united by a shared passion for kendo. The thought of everyone enjoying my passion made me feel calm and inspired a sense of belonging.

"Aoi senpai, would you please honor me with a match!" a tall and fit man spoke in a respective tone.

I'm brought out of my musings by his request for a spar.

I gazed at him, scrutinizing his very being. Hiroshi Nakamura. He was an underclassman of mine in the dojo but almost my age. He is currently the most skilled out of the people we are teaching.

As I recall, his stance focuses on balance, his feet are about shoulder-width apart, with his left foot slightly behind the right. This stance allows him to maintain equilibrium and be ready to strike or defend at any moment.

He always maintains his center of gravity and keeps his movements fluid and controlled, ready to strike or parry at a moment's notice.

His strikes are precise and powerful. Whether it's a men (head) strike, kote (wrist) strike, or do (body) strike, he aims to make each one count. He also doesn't just swing wildly. Each strike is aimed at exploiting his opponent's weaknesses.

He is also good at capitalizing on his opponent's shortcomings without hesitation from what I had observed from him in his past duels. An admirable feat as he respects his opponent's skills and doesn't hold back at all.

"U-uhmm, Aoi senpai?" he said bashfully as his face visibly reddened.

Oh, I did it again huh? I must have made him uncomfortable with my stare. A habit of mine when analyzing my foes. This is why people call me taciturn sometimes.

I nodded at his challenge.

"Really?! Thank you for your guidance!" he smiled gleefully.

We proceeded to position ourselves at the center of the dojo. Most of the students instinctively knew that we would have a bout so they distanced themselves readily from the middle. Most of them gleamed with anticipation, I had become somewhat of a celebrity in our dojo after I won the women's national so every sparing I did, there would be a lot of observers. Not that I had any challenging sparring matches these days, none of the members here could match up to my skills.

My grip tightened on my shinai as I looked across at my opponent. He was taller, and I could see the determination in his eyes. But I was ready.

The match began with the signal of my father. We both bowed as a sign of respect, before assuming our stances. His eyes were fierce, a huge contrast to my calm and focused stare.

His strike came fast, aiming for my head. But I was quicker. I blocked his strike but the sheer strength of it left my stance almost broken, he's going all out, and he knew that the only way he could win was by capitalizing on his strength. I did a jab towards his midsection but due to my stance being shaky by his previous blow, it was a bit slower than I intended. He blocked it and our shinais clashed with a loud crack that echoed around the room. He was overpowering me in our exchange so I mustered my momentum and pushed his shinai while simultaneously leaping back to widen our gap.

We stood still for a while before circling each other, both of us trying to find an opening that could turn the tides in our favor.

He had drastically improved the last time we fought. I could feel the sweat trickling down my back, but I didn't let it distract me. My focus was solely on my adversary. Looks like I need to get serious after all.

I entered the zone state.

My eyes focused on him intensely. I saw every fiber of his being, the way his muscles twitch, his next step, his next move, all his weaknesses, and where I should strike to take advantage of those weaknesses.

He became like an open book, and I the scholar.

He lunged at me, leaving his side exposed.

I was always a firm believer that offense is the greatest defense, and so, on the offensive, I went.

I seized the moment, instantly striking him with all the strength and speed I could muster through my mastery of the sword before he could even land his attack.

“Do(body),” I stated to confirm a body hit.

"Urk!" he exclaimed.

"Point! Aoi!"

Father's voice resounded throughout the silent dojo signaling that I had scored.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

The fight was over. The tempo fell in my favor as soon as I got serious and he never got a single point. We bowed to each other once more, a mutual sign of respect. He seemed happier than before even though he lost completely.

"It was an honor, Aoi senpai!"

I nodded at him, he fought well given the skill gap between us.

I heard murmurs surrounding us after the match, all from the students we were teaching.

"Wow, she's so good that she can even beat men at the kendo!"

"He easily beat Hiroshi, and he's the strongest of all the male students!"

"Of course, it's only natural, she is this year's national women's kendo champion after all!"

Natural huh?

That is not true though. I had a hard time fighting the guy. I had to use all my focus in the fight and enter the zone just to close the gap between our respective strengths and physiques with my sheer skill and perception.

I had already fought men who competed at the nationals in sparing practices and I cannot win at all if they leveraged their strength against mine. The overpowering strength of their blows makes my hand so numb and my stance so broken that I cannot move as smoothly as I intend to.

I am not disappointed with that though. I have already accepted it as a natural fact. That women cannot win in a sport that utilizes strength against men.

But I sometimes find myself asking the question lately. Can I really be considered the strongest if I can only win in women-only tournaments?

I put that question on the back of my mind as I to our dojo onsen.

The onsen was relatively large. The Yamamoto clan has always had an upper-class income moreso now that we have more students because of my title as the women's national kendo champion.

We have a personal onsen at home as we do not skimp on bath luxuries. We Yamamoto love baths, and I am no exception.

When I arrived at the onsen, I smiled in anticipation as if I was about to relax in heaven. I think it is well deserved after a long day of helping my father teach the students.

As I enter the onsen, a sense of tranquility washes over me. The soothing sound of running water fills the air, and the warm, mineral-rich steam envelops my senses. I take off my shoes and step onto the smooth wooden floor, feeling its warmth beneath my feet.

In the changing room, I found a small basket to store my belongings and then headed towards the bathing area.

The door slides open, revealing a serene scene of natural beauty. The onsen is nestled in a picturesque setting, surrounded by lush greenery or perhaps even overlooking a breathtaking mountain view. The air is filled with the faint scent of sulfur, a reminder of the mineral-rich waters that await me, and the best part is, that I have it all to myself today.

I found my usual spot to sit on the rinsing station. Using a wooden bucket, I rinse myself thoroughly, cleansing away the sweat and grime for the day. The warm water cascades down my body, relaxing my muscles and preparing me for the main attraction.

With a towel draped over my shoulder, I enter the hot spring bath. The water embraces me, its warmth seeping into my bones. The gentle steam rises, creating a dreamlike ambiance.

As I soak, I feel a sense of serenity and rejuvenation. The onsen not only cleanses my body but also revitalizes my spirit. The peaceful atmosphere contributes to my relaxation so much that I feel I would doze off any second now.

Time seems to stand still in the onsen. I close my eyes, allowing the therapeutic waters to wash away any tension or fatigue. It's a moment of pure bliss, a sanctuary of tranquility where I can truly unwind and find inner peace.

While relaxing, I mused about the current state of things.

I have plenty of time on my hands after winning the women's national kendo championship. I lack the motivation to practice all day as I did before when I was pursuing my goal. But now that I have already achieved my long-time goal I feel empty and unmotivated. Is this what the arrival fallacy feels like?

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

After taking a bath and dressing myself, I went to the living room to watch the media.

I opened the T.V. and watched the usual mindless dramas. Halfway into the movie, I heard my little sister Hana arrive from her school. She rushed through the door, going directly to our family living room.

I stared at her, questioning her hurried demeanor.

"It's starting! Please let me watch nee-chan!"

"Watch what?"

"The Andartha Cup finals! It is about to start! Team Paragons versus Team Nexus Gaming!"

"Just watch on your laptop," I answered lazily.

"But I want to watch the finals on the big screen, please nee-chan! It's a once-in-a-lifetime game! My favorite player Yuusha is playing!”

Sounds like a mockery of our language.

"Fine," I surrendered.

"Thanks, nee-chan! You're the best! Oh I know, let's watch the matches together! The players participating are the best in the world!"

"I don't even play video games," I rebuked.

"It's a 'VR' game, there is a huge difference! Here you can actually use your real-life mastery in kendo like me! Just watch it with me and you will see how good this game is!"

I stared at her in contemplation. Might as well take her offer. Better than watching mindless dramas.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

"A 1v3! Yuusha did the impossible! Snatching victory from the jaws of defeat!" the caster shouted.

Hana for her part suddenly jumped a couple of times in celebration.

"Kyaaaaa! She won! She did it! I can't believe she actually did it!" Hana shrieked like an idol fangirl.

"Is it normal to beat three of them by only herself?" I asked curiously.

"Of course not! But I suppose you wouldn't comprehend how absurd that is. Think of it like this, it's like she beat three of the men in a national kendo match all by herself! I mean not just by herself since the enemy is weakened a bit and she did receive a haste buff from Celeste. Honestly, there are a lot of in-game mechanics going on that you would not understand. But the point is! She has proven she is the strongest of all the CoA players in the world!"

The strongest huh? A woman becoming the strongest in a field where men are included sounds... nice. A contest of pure skill and technique, without any strength involved or body physique disadvantages in both genders.

I had already achieved my goal. It wouldn't hurt to find a new one. I could always quit if it was not for me.

"Hana, do you think you could teach me how to play your coma game?"

"It's CoA! But why the sudden change of heart? You never played any video games before. Don't tell me Yuusha's cool and graceful moves inspired you to play. Have you become her fan?"

"Who knows... but I do want to challenge her someday."