Chapter 23: National Prodigy (Time skip 2/2)

[] Speaking English

{} Speaking German

Everything else is Japanese unless otherwise specified. (I won't be doing honorifics)

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(Toru POV)

"Please welcome to the stage, national prodigy and the youngest kendo grandmaster in history, Ayah Krieger!"

Looking around at the sizable crowd it was an interesting sight, the younger parts of the crowd were loudly applauding while the older ones looked incredibly disgruntled.

"And next, please welcome to the stage kendo grandmaster Tetsu Ishi!"

And looking over at her opponent who was in his mid fifties I understood why, Ayah was a first. A women reaching this point was rare in the sport, adding in her being the youngest ever grandmaster at 14 a lot of older audiences were rather displeased.

Turning back to the match I watched as Ayah crouched into a starting stance. Drowning out the announcer I felt a small blush began to form on my face, the intensity she had whenever she fought someone was incredibly attractive. And I definitely wasn't going to complain about the tight clothing they had to wear… well maybe the other guy.

I had long since accepted my feelings for her, my mom had helped me a lot through the process, and I was almost sure she would return them as well. She seemed rather bothered by the idea of a relationship with a man, so bothered in fact that I had promised to never bring it up again, so I was fairly certain I had a good shot. But mom had advised me to try and make it special and so that's what I planned to do….

Refocusing on the match, I saw that Ayah had already scored two hits and the third match was starting.

"Alright ladies and gentlemen, the competitors are now at match point with grandmaster Krieger needing one point to win. Assuming she succeeds this could go down as the fastest finals match in our tournaments history!"

The referee started he match and Ayah dashed forward. The moment she was in range she made two feints before making a real attack at the mans torso. The man brought up his blade to block the attack but it was also a feint, instead she used a strange set of footwork to dance around him and strike the back of his head. (I have zero idea how kendo works or is scored besides a 3 minute google dive… be gentle)

"And the third and final hit is completed, officially making this the fastest finals round in our tournaments history! Everyone please cheer for the victor of the 212th All Japan Kendo Championship!"

Once again the crowd was split between wild applause and applause that was only to be polite. I'm honestly glad that Ayah had us keep our degrees hidden, as I could only imagine that the academic community would react the same way. Jumping up from my seat I started making my way towards backstage, I wanted to see her before the medal ceremony.

After flashing the ID card she got me to security I was let backstage and started heading towards her room. Upon arrival I could see her shaking hands with someone that I recognized as the head of the All Japan Kendo Federation. Catching up to her as he began to leave I jumped at her with arms open like I'd been doing since we were kids. Catching me in a hug she stumbled slightly before getting a solid footing on the ground once more.

"Toru, one of these days I'm actually going to fall because of that. We're the same size now ya know!"

"I know"

I replied with little to no care in my voice, mainly because I knew she didn't actually care either and also because I was focused on hugging her. Honestly I sometimes felt like a pervert doing this, after all she didn't know I liked her so she let me have lots of physical contact…. Not that I was going to say anything or stop.

*sigh* "Okay well let go so I can change for the ceremony."

Letting go she quickly backed into the room while I followed. What happened next was one of the biggest reasons I felt like a pervert sometimes, she immediately began to strip with zero hesitation or care. But once again I wasn't going to say anything, I would just appreciate what I'm seeing… (I am about to write something incredibly cringe and painful. Please accept my apologies in advance)

Underneath her kendo outfit she was wearing a nice breathable set of sports undergarments. Ayah was beautiful, every time I saw her like this I reaffirmed that in my mind. She may not have been absurdly thick in assets but what she had was shapely and firm, combined with a nice set of abs she looked absolutely gorgeous. I had zero idea how she was as strong as she was when the only defined muscle she had was her abs but I'd learned to accept it… and appreciate it.

Looking at her take off the rest I felt blush begin to cover my face. Bowing my head slightly to hide the blush I began to feel both incredibly happy and also, just like every time, a little guilty. But I mean, I would make it up to her when we get married so it's probably fine… ah, my inner thoughts came out.

(Ayah POV)

Glancing over at Toru who had her head bowed a blush spread across her face I couldn't help but wonder if I was going to have to confess first. Toru had grown up into a beautiful confident young women and after spending so much time with her it was only natural I felt myself be attracted to her. (Teen Toru photo)

I was fairly certain she felt the same if her reactions were anything to go by, but I wanted to give her the chance to be the decision maker for once. Ever since we were little I made most decisions for the both of us, after all I was the more mature one and also technically her teacher. However, when it comes to relationships we are both equally new and if anything she'll have an easier time because she hasn't seen what I have.

So I had decided that I was going to concede to her the first move. I had planned a lot in advanced for this and after heavy research on the subject I'd determined that the song love is a battlefield was easily applicable. In order to fulfill my plans of 'winning' I decided to let her strike first and play the reactionary. But, as time dragged on I was considering confessing first. After all we were both 14 going on 15 and I wanted to start our relationship before interactions with the main cast began.

I didn't want to take any risks that this was a harem anime and the green haired protagonist boy had the harem aura or something. So, the best way was to simply be in a relationship before meeting him. Hopefully the combined power of a lesbian couple and a pre-protagonist relationship would allow us to get the nice side character couple bonus of being immune to the harem aura.

Snapping back to reality I realized I was still naked and Toru looked like she was about to melt. Giving only a slightly smug glance over at her I quickly began to put on more formal attire for the medal ceremony. This was my last step in kendo as we both would take the UA entrance exam soon and then school would take up most of my focus, with my number one priority being finding the spy.

I felt as though I prepared myself and Toru as much as possible for the start of canon. We both had multiple degrees were I had three and she had two, both of us were experts in at least two forms of martial arts, Toru had learned more about her quirk and how to control it and my quirk had grown stronger and stronger, and most importantly I had managed to kill all the self sacrificing and overly heroic worshiping spirit Toru had.

I was about as ready as I could be for someone who knew basically nothing about the plot, I guess I just had to hope it works out how it does in canon and spare me some effort.

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Next chapter canon starts. Also for any girls who like girls or kendo practitioners I'm terribly sorry for probably misrepresenting something about your community or sport. I will repeat what I've said before, I'm an unathletic straight guy writing a book about a professional martial artist lesbian I can only do so much.