26 Kendo Tournamen (1/2)

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One week quickly passed by. A cold atmosphere can be felt inside the kendo club's dojo. No one had any idea why, but it was getting colder as the day went by. All the members were afraid to approach the corner of the dojo where the chill was originating from. Only one person emotionlessly remained by that side training with dedication. That was none other than the girl who had adapted the nickname 'robot girl'.

”Captain do you know what's wrong?” one of the members asked Mahiru.

”I don't know. I didn't really notice anything until yesterday when I asked for another spar”

”Could it be the pressure since the tournament is tomorrow?”

”Hmm… maybe. I'll go ask him then” Mahiru walked towards the corner where Kazuya had been training with a wooden sword.

She stopped as chills went down her spine as he continued to swing his sword in different directions. Each strike emitting a strange pressure that she felt could injure her even if he was still a distance away.

”?” Tomoyo turned towards the team captain after seeing her approaching. Mahiru ignored her since she knew that the robot girl would interfere if she tried to get too close to him.

”Kouzuki Kazuya, can I ask for a match?” surprisingly, it wasn't Mahiru that talked but was another member.

”Hmm?” Kazuya's gaze landed on the person who now bypassed Tomoyo and Mahiru. ”You are… err… short hair senpai”

”It's Ainu! At least remember the names of your teammates Jeez!” Ainu stomped on the wooden floor.

”Wear your gear… I accept” Kazuya didn't plan on making small talk and immediately accepted which piqued the interest of the other members. He would usually reject people and make them challenge Tomoyo first. They were immediately worried for the short haired girl who they were afraid that would get Kazuya's bad mood get poured on.

”Sensei, please referee for us” She said before turning towards Kazuya. ”Please treat this a serious match. I don't want pointers and just want to experience a match with the most likely candidate to take the individual championship” She wore her equipment and faced him seriously.

”I see…” having realized something, Kazuya complied and wore his own gear. Everyone was surprised because he would refuse to do so every time he did a spar. Even Tomoyo couldn't help but stare at him curiously for this. She had already completed his request and got acknowledgement for her swing but he still didn't wear the appropriate gear when they sparred again.

”Ready?” Miyamoto oversaw them. Kazuya took his usual stance and held the sword with his left hand. ”BEGIN!”

Ainu wasted no time and attacked. Everyone's mouths instantly gaped. However, it was not because of any attack but rather he purposely stepped over the line of the duel area. Everyone noticed this aside from Ainu as she continued to chase him.

”Point Ainu!” Miyamoto immediately shouted but Ainu didn't hear him. As her focus remained on Kazuya who was smirking inside his headgear.

”HAA!” she tried to strike. Kazuya on the other hand raised the bamboo sword horizontally in front of her vision and showed her how he let it drop to the ground as if dropping a microphone tauntingly.

*Klak* the sound of the sword falling to the ground was like a pin drop in the silenced hall. It was only then that Ainu had noticed that he had gone over the line on his own volition.

”Congratulations. You have won this match. Are you satisfied to have won the match against the 'most likely champion?' Can you focus all your attention towards the tournament now? I warn you, focusing on anything else will be detrimental to your future” He didn't bother looking back and went back to his corner.

”Kazuya-kun that was a bit mean” Mahiru walked up to him.

”That wasn't directed only at her. It was directed to everyone. There's no need to focus on anything else right now” he mercilessly replied and glanced towards those who were still looking in their direction instead of training,

”Did something happen? Why does your mood seem to be getting worse every day?” She asked straightforwardly because she would never get through this guy if she beat around the bush.

”See? Didn't I already say to focus on winning the tournament?”

”Can't you see that I care for the state of mind of my teammates as their captain?” Mahiru knew that he may seem a bit scary, he was actually a very reasonable guy.

”Hmm… Fine. It's just that I've had bad luck in fishing recently. The fish have been extra careful and the people with me keep scaring the ones I'm about to catch so it's quite annoying” he sighed regretfully.

”Fishing?” Mahiru tilted her head since she never took him to be the type to go fishing. ”Are you trying to catch them by hand by any chance?”

”Something like that” he gave a wry smile.

Kazuya had been pretty excited when he noticed that he was being observed. It wasn't only at school but there were several people outside that took notice of his presence. This was without a doubt Lee making a move. He was a little impressed since he could even extend his hands over students in his department to do his bidding.

His excitement however de-escalated as the days went by. Tomoyo had been a major reason for it because she would always insist on sticking close to him. He found a couple of opportunities to shake her off at school but nothing happened. He even went as far as approaching them alone but they made no moves.

The meticulousness of them didn't look like the work of Lee so he was at a loss. That guy would always straightforwardly bully him so what was the difference now? This made Kazuya have second thoughts about these weird observers being under the command of that bastard.

Kazuya's mood got worse as the days without movement went by. He had a bad feeling about how everything was going so his senses was on edge. He didn't know when they were going to strike so the only thing he could do was wait.

Talking to Mahiru seemed to have lightened his mood a little. He thought that this girl was clever and humorous. She took his words literally and would probably faint if she found out what he really meant whenever they talked. She would usually talk to him about how he became strong or if she and the team would get stronger if they were to do all his weird training.

”That sounds pretty amazing. Are you strong without your sword too?” she looked as the wooden sword in his hand.

”Me? I'd have to say that I can't beat the strong enemies I've faced before without it” he answered honestly.

”I find that hard to believe”

”Believe it or not… it's true. I probably won't even be able to make them look at me in my state…” he knew that he couldn't even make their heads turn towards him if they saw him now.

”You're looking down on yourself too much. We're only human and can get sick. Don't beat yourself too much about it” It was unusual for Kazuya to show any weakness so she blamed it on his mood and tried to comfort him instead.

”That's not what I… never mind. It will be a while before I face them again. All I need to do is catch up” he laughed.

Everyone was amazed, she was able to turn the seemingly hopeless situation after talking to him. They considered her captain status had become in-name only after Kazuya joined. All of them gained new found respect for Mahiru after she made the chilling atmosphere disperse by talking to him.

”

…” Tomoyo, was a little surprised, He had never shown that side of himself whenever she talked to him. Well, communicating with their weird way. He was always hard on her training and she didn't mind but she envied how Mahiru was able to communicate with him like that.

”Looks like your faithful robot is going to send me away soon” Mahiru giggled as both of them noticed Tomoyo approaching.

”Huh? Faithful robot?” Kazuya turned to the person in question who seemed to have stopped in her tracks. She stared at him as if waiting for his response.

”You were the one who called her robot girl. We observers changed it a bit to your faithful robot since she only follows and listens to you” Mahiru giggles after stumbling onto something interesting. She was always shooed away by Tomoyo and this was a rare chance to get back at her.

”You seem to be misunderstanding something. She just follows me around but doesn't listen to me. It's her grandfather that she listens to and not me so she's her grandfather's robot not mine” he quickly denied it.