Episode 14, Confrontation

TAKUMI TSURUGI

The whistle blew, signaling the end of the match. Shinji’s team emerged victorious, their faces showing no sign of remorse. The other students watched with a mix of awe and apprehension.

Rykeru Goro approached Shinji’s team, his expression unreadable. “Well done. You’ve proven your skill and strength. You’ll be receiving the cursed sword.”

As I laid on the ground, the weight of the defeat sank in. I had hoped to prove myself, but instead, I had been quickly overpowered. Kiyomasa helped me up, his face showing concern. “You did your best, Takumi. It’s a tough environment here, but you’ll get stronger. We all have to start somewhere.”

The training event concluded and as the crowd dispersed, I spotted Shinji standing off to the side, his expression as cold as ever. My frustration bubbled up, and I made my way over to confront him.

“Shinji,” I called out, my voice steady despite the anger simmering beneath. “Why did you attack me first? You could have gone after the more experienced members of my team. Why target me?”

Shinji’s gaze remained indifferent, and he began to turn away, clearly uninterested in engaging in any discussion with me. Annoyed, I stepped in his path, blocking his exit.

Without a word, Shinji moved with speed. He drew a dagger from his belt and pressed it against my neck, the cold metal sending a shiver down my spine. The surrounding students gasped, their eyes wide with shock.

I held my ground, meeting Shinji’s gaze with unwavering resolve. “Why do you prey on people like me? Attacking someone who’s clearly unprepared isn’t something someone of your skill should be doing.”

As I spoke, the dagger cut a thin line along my neck. A sharp sting made me wince, but I continued to look Shinji in the eye. The blood trickled down slightly before Shinji withdrew the dagger, his expression one of irritation mixed with a hint of surprise.

Yumi stepped forward, her face a mix of concern and frustration. “Takumi, stop. You need to understand that we all face challenges here. Complaining won’t change anything.”

Before I could respond, Hana’s voice cut through the conversation, laced with frustration. “You’re the reason our team failed. You can’t keep blaming Shinji for your mistakes. If you’d fought harder or been more prepared, things might have turned out differently.”

"I did my best, I..." I looked at each of them. However, the reality of the situation settled in. No one seemed willing to support my side of the argument. The sense of isolation and defeat was overwhelming.

Feeling the weight of their collective disapproval, I turned on my heel and walked away. The corridor felt endless as I made my way back to my room, the sting of the dagger and the harsh words echoing in my mind. I knew I had to find a way to adapt, to improve, and to prove myself in this unforgiving environment. For now, though, all I could do was focus on my own shortcomings and prepare for whatever challenges lay ahead of me.

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