Episode 11, First Fight

TAKUMI TSURUGI

I sat on the edge of the bed after Kiyomasa stepped out, trying to wrap my head around everything that had happened. A loud bell suddenly rang and Kiyomasa, entered the room. He looked both urgent and focused.

"Alright, Takumi, we need to get you ready. The bell just rang, and that's for the awakening."

I looked at him, confused. "Awakening? What’s that?"

Kiyomasa's expression was serious. "It’s when new students are introduced and given their first real test. If you want to understand more, follow me. Quickly."

We hurried out of the room, Kiyomasa leading the way. The hallways were vast and lined with more of those ornate symbols and tapestries. We reached the center of the school, where a large courtyard had gathered a crowd of students. They were all standing in neat rows, chatting quietly and glancing at the front where a man in battle attire stood waiting. His stern demeanor was unmistakable; he was the same one who had punched me earlier.

The man cleared his throat and began speaking. "Welcome to the Academy of Celestial Arts, I am Rykeru Goro, the head and founder of this great school. As you know, this is where we train to become masters of our crafts. Remember, here we value discipline and strength. Anyone who fails to train properly will be sent away as a vegetable. This is not a place for the weak."

The crowd murmured in response, and the man continued. "Today, we have a new student joining us. Takumi Tsurugi, step forward."

My heart missed a beat, I didn't know I'd be the center of discussion. At first, I hesitated but felt Kiyomasa’s hand on my shoulder, urging me forward. As I approached, the man’s gaze was sharp and unyielding.

"Let me introduce him to our students. Takumi will be joining you from today."

He turned to a quiet figure standing off to the side, it was Shinji.

 “Shinji, it’s your turn to show Takumi what we’re about. Let’s see how he fares.”

Shinji’s eyes met mine, revealing a cold indifference. Without a word, he drew his sword, its blade gleaming menacingly under the courtyard’s lights. Before I could protest, another sword was tossed in my direction. I caught it clumsily, my nerves frayed.

“I haven’t trained before,” I said, panic creeping into my voice. “I’m not ready for this.”

But Shinji was already in motion. He moved with an unsettling speed, his blade flashing through the air with deadly precision. I barely had time to react before he struck. I parried as best as I could, but his attacks were relentless, each one faster and more accurate than the last.

The fight was over almost as quickly as it began. I found myself sprawled on the ground, gasping for breath. Shinji stood over me, his expression unchanging. The crowd watched in silence, their faces a mix of curiosity and boredom.

Rykeru Goro clapped his hands to signal the end of the demonstration. “That’s enough. This concludes the awakening for today," he looked at me with a pitiful eyes. "And we all thought you were better."

I watched him leave and Kiyomasa quickly came to my side, lifting me up with a concerned look. “Come on, let’s get you back to the room.”

He supported me as we made our way back, my limbs heavy and my mind reeling from the shock of the fight. Once we were back in our room, Kiyomasa helped me settle onto the bed. Shinji was already there, sitting silently at his desk, absorbed in his work.

“You did well for a first try,” Kiyomasa said, though his voice was tinged with sympathy. “It’s not easy for anyone starting out. Just give it time, and you’ll get used to it.”

I nodded weakly, still trying to process the harsh reality of this place.

Kiyomasa looked at Shinji with a mixture of frustration and concern. “Shinji, why were you so harsh on Takumi? He just got here and hasn’t had any training yet.”

Shinji didn’t immediately respond, continuing to write or study at his desk without showing any interest in the conversation. Kiyomasa’s persistence seemed to only irritate him further.

“Come on, Shinji. You know he’s new and untrained. There’s no need to be so severe.”

Finally, Shinji stood abruptly, his movements so swift that I barely had time to react. He drew a pen from his desk and, with a flick of his wrist, stopped it mid-air, just inches from Kiyomasa’s eyes. The suddenness of his action was enough to make my heart race.

“Enough,” Shinji said coldly, his eyes locked onto Kiyomasa’s. “Watch your words. This is not a place for the weak. If you can’t handle the training, you’re not fit to be here.”

He turned his gaze to me, his expression hardening. “And you, Takumi Tsurugi, you’re a weak guy. You’ve got one week to toughen up and face your fears. If you don’t, I’ll make sure you regret it. I promise you that.”

With that, Shinji returned to his desk, his demeanor as cold and unyielding as ever. Kiyomasa exhaled sharply, clearly unsettled but trying to maintain his composure.

“Don’t worry about him too much,” Kiyomasa said, turning back to me with a reassuring smile. “Shinji can be tough, but he’s just trying to push us to be better. It’s part of the training. We all have to go through it.”

I faked a smile, Shinji's warning had really shaken me. What exactly was this place? It's reality was starting to hit me hard. The idea of having only a week to prove myself was daunting, especially after such a brutal introduction.

Kiyomasa sat beside me, his tone softer now. “I know it’s a lot to take in. Just focus on taking it one step at a time. We’ll get through this together.”

I nodded, trying to steady my breathing and calm my racing thoughts. "Thanks, Kiyomasa."

"It's nothing," he said and sat beside me while I shut my eyes close to have a rest.

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