Chapter 2

"Sukehiro, Hisashi, Ichika, what do you guys want to be when you grow up?" Yuna, their mother asks. Sukehiro looks up before shrugging.

"I don't know yet." Sukehiro looked serious. "That's okay. Don't get sully right now. You're still young so don't rush it." Itsuki, the father replied.

Ichika also answered and said, "I don't know too but I want to grow tall!" Sukehiro interfered and said, "Sure, sure, in your dream." Ichika then rushes to punch his brother as they all laugh. They then looked at Hisashi who was thinking hard.

"I got it! I know what I want to do when I grow up! I'll venture out into the world and look for all new things. Then, I'll be able to write my own magnificent story." Hisashi declared.

"What do you mean your own story? Isn't this book your own story?" Yuna curiously asks.

"No. This story is based exactly on what happened in my dream. That is why I don't want to change it. If I can explore the world, I will be able to write my own story."

The couple looked at each other concerned but happy. "Then, you can't leave until you reached 15. You need to finish swordsmanship training and Ki training before you can leave this house, okay? Also, if you have your aptitude for sorcery, you must be strong with that too." Yuna told him seriously.

Hisashi thought about it and when he was about to say something, Yuna spoke again. "That means you will enter the capital school and learn with your peers." Hearing this, Hisashi's expression changed so many times. He went from surprised, to curious, to sad, back to serious again but this time, with resolve in his eyes.

"Okay! I'll do my best to become strong, Mother! Father! That way, you guys don't have to worry about me being in danger. Heck! I will become even stronger than the Shogun and Seven Ryuzen!" Hisashi raised his fists. However, a smack reached the back of his head.

His mother's eyes lit up and looked angrily. "Who taught you that word?! HUH?" Hisashi trembles and immediately snitches.

"It was father and brother! Father uses it always. Then I hear brother use it a couple of times!" All three of them received their lump in the head.

-----

The next day, Ryuya knocks on the door as he and Sukehiro agreed to come together to the school.

Everyone in the Hino country attends school once they reached the age of six. There, they were first taught good moral conduct, basic writing, basic arithmetic, and basic language lesson. As they advances, they thought of more and more subjects that can help them like agriculture, blacksmithing, architecture, art, fishing, and many more.

At the age of 10, there they start to learn the basics of Ki and more advanced swordsmanship. Only until the age of 15 will they be taught sorcery application.

Hisashi opens the door for him and was not surprised to see Ryuya.

"How d'ya doing, little Yami!" He smiles smugly. Hisashi attempts to kick him but Ryuya just jumps back to dodge it.

Hisashi didn't stop and sent a flurry of punches and kicks which Ryuya effortlessly dodges and blocks. "You've improved, ya little twerp! If you start training now, you would reach us in no time."

After his fist was caught, Hisashi stopped and ran to get his book. "Ryu! Read this right now. I've made it. Tell me what you think." He shows his book.

Ryuya then enters and reads the book. Just like the others, he laughed at Sukehiro being a scary guy with a bad reputation. Soon he comes down the stairs and saw Ryuya and Hisashi. "You finished with your dump?"

"Yeah, let's go." He stood up and leaves with his friend. "Oh, that was a pretty good start, Hashi. HAHAHAHA!" He laughs as the two walks to their school.

As soon as the two left the house, Hisashi went to their backyard and took two firewood from the pile. The ones he picked are pretty heavy for his size. As a child, his prideful nature and intense desire to get stronger faster caused him to pant after 3 minutes of swinging in the woods.

Itsuki, who is just watching how his son is doing, smiled. He knows that Hisashi is taking the talk seriously. Seeing how bad he does, he walks to him to teach him his swordsmanship. Although he is just a known fisherman, he still completed his studies and even used to train as a samurai.

Fortunately, he fell in love with his now-wife and decided to be a fisherman. Because of this, he and Yuna gave birth to their first son quite early in their life.

"You should start with one sword first." Hearing a voice, Hisashi looks back to see his father. "What do you mean, Father?"

"What sword style do you want to learn? One-sword style or Two-sword style? Whatever it is, you should always start with the basics." Itsuki says as he takes the woods from his son's hand. Suddenly, a dark mist surrounds his arm and a bokken (training sword) appears in his hand.

"Woah! That's your sorcery, right father?" Hisashi's eyes sparkled, seeing his father's magic for the first time.

"Don't tell your mother that I did that, okay? Or we'll be in big trouble." "Un, un." Hisashi just nods for affirmation.

"Here, take this. Start by swinging your sword vertically 1000 times. If the form isn't good, it isn't counted." Hisashi's brain shut off for a moment hearing it. 'O-o-one thousand times? This sword is even slightly heavier than the two before combined.' However, he can't refute it as he has already shown his eagerness to learn.

In the first few minutes, Hisashi wasn't even able to make one given his poor form. After a few critiques from his father, he was able to make one and finish the whole course in more than 4 hours. Just like his father, his mother and sister just watched after seeing what he is doing, but more secretly.

The two sat down on an elevated step for rest while Hisashi rests. "My sword teacher gave me tips about how to train my sword. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to learn it myself to teach you, but I'll tell it you anyway." Hearing this, the kid looked at his father and listened carefully not to miss any detail.

"The first thing you need in training is dedication. Being a samurai is a lifestyle. It isn't something half-assed. Once you've learned the foundation, the next is to train at your own pace. Not anyone else's but yours." Confused, the kid asks his father.

"What do you mean, father?" The latter just stares before speaking.

"You're a kid with a very vivid imagination and a lot of creativity. That alone tells me that you would be different from us, your parent. You know, son, hearing what you said last time at the dinner table, I and your mom were worried. As much as possible, we want you to grow up safely and live a happy life without suffering. However, seeing how much dedication you've shown today, I would talk to her."

'I'd be holding your future back if I can't do that for you at least.'