Chapter 6: Seji-sensei's training (Parts 3-4)

Chapter 6 Part 3

Chikara, now recovered, excitedly approaches us.

— Well, here's what's next!

Seji-sensei brings us a pair of wooden swords.

— Now you'll have a duel with wooden swords...

The wind blows, sweeping the hair from our faces right after Seji-sensei says "wooden swords"...

— A duel with wooden swords? — Hiroki exclaims upon hearing "wooden swords".

— Yes, wooden swords... — Kibō says, emphasizing that we're talking about "wooden swords".

...I start to feel something inside me...

I stand up with a serious face, understanding what we're about to do.

— I've been in many fights and never seen anything like this...— I say, referring to the duel with wooden swords.

I look up at the sky and exclaim:

— I don't know, but I'm pretty sure we're going to have a duel with wooden swords...

I turn to look at everyone and continue with my comments about the duel with wooden swords...

— I think we're going to fight with wooden swords... Ouch!

Seji-sensei hits the bump on my head.

— Stop that nonsense, idiot!

After that hit, Hiroki, Chikara, and Kibō start laughing.

I really don't know how many times the phrase "wooden swords" is said in this part...

— Anyway, stop wasting time and take one.

Hiroki and I each take one of the wooden swords, I said it again...

After taking it, I realize something very important.

— Huh? Excuse me, Seji-sensei, but I don't know how to use a sword.

— It's true, I don't know how to use it either.

Neither Hiroki nor I know how to use them, you can tell by the way we're holding them.

Seji-sensei seems to already know we're inexperienced.

— For now, I just want to see what you can do, so... I don't know, swing at each other like piñatas or something.

It seems Seji-sensei didn't have any specific training planned for us...

I'm really hurt, doesn't anyone notice?!

I turn to Seji-sensei to express my complaints.

— Hey! Don't you see Hiroki has a huge advantage?! I'm really hurt and, besides, he has the strength diamond! Don't you see he's going to kill me?!

— If you don't trust your abilities, you won't get anywhere, so take your sword and fight.

Chikara, very angry, approaches me.

— You had the advantage of climbing the mountain steps!

Hiroki rests the sword on his shoulder and, with a confident smile on his face, says to me:

— Now it's my turn, Uraseku...

— Tch! If that's what you want, fine... Kibō!

Kibō flies towards my diamond and Chikara flies towards Hiroki's.

Under the radiant afternoon, I place the wooden sword at Hiroki's neck and he does the same, placing his at my neck.

Our gazes are fixed on each other, unable to make any moves before the duel officially begins.

— I suppose you've been waiting a long time for this moment, Hiroki.

— It's my revenge, for beating me on the steps and for always being with Miru-chan. I won't allow it!

Hiroki begins to emanate a powerful aura, almost as strong as it was a moment ago.

I start to feel danger, gathering strength to release my aura, which is very weak compared to Hiroki's.

— Begin!

We both remove the swords and take a big leap back.

As part of my strategy, I start running around him to carefully analyze his movements, which consist of randomly throwing punches and sword strikes.

Hiroki seems really upset, almost like some kind of villain.

— Don't run, you scumbag!

A slip-up causes him to appear behind me.

I make a super strange move I didn't know I could do; I drop to the ground and with a spin, I avoid the direct cut he could have caused.

Damn, he's really too fast! But for some reason, I could see his movements...

After thinking about that, I quickly get up and place the sword to protect myself from the second cut he could have caused.

Seji-sensei sits under the cherry tree of the house, analyzing the match.

I see...

I talk to Kibō through my mind while the battle continues.

— Kibō, I can see all his movements, is it thanks to the diamond?

— Of course you can see his movements, the diamond can be used like a third eye. If you expect something to happen, it can be visualized in your mind even seconds before it happens. You're starting to understand the power of the diamond!

That reminds me that a moment ago, I could tell him something quickly, almost as if everything had moved in slow motion.

— Understood, this will be very useful...

— But also focus on attacking!

At this moment, I take control of the battle, with the roles reversed and me starting to attack Hiroki while he defends himself.

I really don't want to hurt him; I'll keep it like this until he gets tired.

His attacks become quite predictable, so much so that it seems I don't even need the diamond to see his movements.

The sound of wooden swords echoes throughout the place.

Hiroki is giving it his all while I stay calm. Our swords clash, preventing either of us from attacking.

— Did you think I wouldn't be able to keep up with you, Hiroki?

I notice the fury in his eyes; annoying him at a time like this will only make things worse... but that's exactly what I want!

— No matter how hard you try to "get revenge," a girl like Miru-chan would never look at someone like you!

Hiroki lets out a powerful scream along with a great yellow aura. Seji-sensei stands up from his seat with an excited expression on his face. The mark of Hiroki's diamond on the upper part of his right arm transforms into a real diamond embedded in his skin. In his hands, what appear to be small crystal fragments form into a yellow nunchaku—Hiroki's weapon!

— Aahhh, URASEEEEEKU!

Why do they always mispronounce my name?! Is it that hard?

— Ah, I don't know what to expect from this, I can't see his movements!

I take a step back and fall to the ground. Kibō speaks to me through my mind:

— Neither can I, you're on your own for this!

Kibō quickly exits the diamond to get to safety, leaving me lying on the mountain grass.

— I'm dead...

Well, dead or not, I know I'm really dead, haha...

Even with my eyes open, I didn't see when Seji-sensei got in front of me. He's stopped him by holding two gray sickles; one blocks Hiroki's sword and the other protects me from any potential attack.

— Enough...

Our power auras dissipate.

— This was just practice, not a fight to the death.

Hiroki collapses to the ground while I sigh with relief. That sigh feels like my soul is leaving my body, literally...

Nice reference to that anime about the girls forming a rock band!

Kibō tries to return my soul to my body while Hiroki talks to Seji-sensei.

— I'm sorry, I think I got carried away.

— At least we discovered your weapon. Good job, let's take a break.

Chikara, very excited, comes out of the diamond.

— Point for Hiroki!

Apparently, it's only a competition when it suits them...

We all sit under the shade of the cherry tree. Hiroki and I drink water while Seji-sensei drinks alcohol with the spirits of our diamonds. A question invades my mind.

— Seji-sensei, since when can you create your weapon?

Seji-sensei becomes very proud, just like Chie.

— Haha, since the day I got the diamond.

— Yeah! It's just that we never used it before.

— You managed to summon your weapon without any effort?

Chie and Seji-sensei hug each other like they're drunk friends.

— Hahaha, it's because we're so smart!

...

— Since when do you get along so well?

— I like him, as long as he's not taking my sake!

— That's why our weapon is stronger than Hiroki's. The better your relationship with your diamond's spirit, the stronger you'll be.

I hadn't thought about it that way...

Chikara joins the conversation.

— So that's why Rasec is so weak. It's not just his fault, it's also Kibō's.

— How is it my fault?!

Seeing Kibō so agitated, I remind him why it's also his fault.

— When Hiroki tried to attack me, you ran away like a coward instead of facing the situation by my side.

Hiroki, seeing the situation, understands that my weakness is because Kibō and I don't get along.

— I won't get along with someone who doesn't deserve to be the bearer of the diamond of hope! — Kibō says, quite annoyed.

— Well, you'll have to deal with it. It won't be long before I die and you're free! — I reply.

I just said that I'm actually going to die!

Everyone is surprised by what I said.

— I knew it... — Seji-sensei says with a serious face. — Those cuts weren't normal.

— S-Seji-sensei, let me explain!

— The diamond is rejecting you and won't stop until the process kills you...

Chie, quite worried, approaches me.

— Your diamond, not being fully bonded, will consume all your energy and then wait for a new bearer...

For some reason, Hiroki seems concerned.

— Why didn't you say this before?

I bow my head and remain silent.

I really didn't say it because I didn't want to worry anyone, but apparently, that's exactly what I ended up doing.

Seji-sensei turns to me very seriously and says:

— You're my responsibility. I can't let you die, but this has become a personal issue for you. You need to find a way for the diamond to accept you.

Seji-sensei gets up from the ground, closing the topic.

— Ha! Break's over, let's head to the final training.

Hiroki and I look confused.

— Come on, we're going to my dojo. With the help of your diamonds, you'll fight me hand-to-hand...

Huh? I have no idea what Seji-sensei has in mind, but I know he's going to give us a nuclear beating!

I had even forgotten that Seji-sensei had a dojo. Basically, it's a large room for practicing and teaching meditation or martial arts.

Chapter 6, Part 4

Inside the dojo, we were ready to start the battle, but...

— Why are we dressed so ridiculously?

Hiroki and I were dressed like Seji-sensei, in a traditional Japanese outfit that made it hard for me to move because it almost feels like a dress...

— It's the uniform you'll wear, so if you're going to train here, get used to wearing it.

— Understood, Seji-sensei.

— What?!

Hiroki didn't seem to agree with wearing this for fighting, but Chikara looked very excited.

— Alright, everyone inside!

The spirits enter our diamonds, and Hiroki and I emit our auras of power, while Seji-sensei does not.

Is he hiding something?

Hiroki and I rush at him and try to attack.

Seji-sensei limits himself to defense.

— Tch! Kibō, I can't see his movements, how is this possible if he's not even using his power? — I say to Kibō in my mind.

— Could he be hiding any sign of his power? If so, that's an amazing ability...

Seji-sensei lowers his entire defense.

This is my chance!

I launch an attack, but before I even touch him, I quickly back away.

— Damn it, if I had continued the attack, he could have done a lot of damage to me!

Hiroki sees Seji-sensei's unprotected back and charges at him.

— You let your guard down! — shouts Hiroki.

Seji-sensei turns halfway around and before Hiroki can even touch him, he grabs him with one hand and slams him into the ground in a comical way...

— Ah!

— Yelling at the enemy that they've let their guard down is pretty stupid, idiot.

Seji-sensei is distracted, and this time his guard is truly down. This is my chance!

I charge at Seji-sensei, hoping to land a blow.

But before I can even hit him, he steps aside and I end up hitting Hiroki, who is still lying on the floor, by mistake.

— Ah!

— Did you really think I let my guard down and would be distracted? I didn't think you'd be so dumb. I knew you'd attack me from behind; it was a very predictable move...

Hiroki gets up, very angry.

— Idiot, watch who you're hitting!

Hiroki punches me hard in the face, and we both fall to the ground, out of combat.

The diamond spirits come out. Chikara and Kibō are very exhausted, while Chie looks perfectly fine.

— Another thing, the objective was to attack the enemy, not your allies!

Hiroki and I remain on the floor, very tired and beaten...

Chie asks Seji-sensei what he thought of the fight.

— You have a lot to learn, but I have to say you exceeded my expectations somehow. Good job.

Seji-sensei grabs his things and walks away, leaving us on the ground.

— Remember, you guys are paying for the food, hahaha!

At least it wasn't a nuclear beating...

We have a lot to work on...

Chapter 6 Final Part

At the pupusería, we are inside with Miru-chan, who seems worried about our condition, and Neko-chan, who is trying hard not to laugh.

— Um... how did it go? — asks Miru-chan.

— What do you think? — replies Kibō while Hiroki and I have expressionless faces with lots of bandages and bruises.

— I-I see...

— So, how did it go for you? — Hiroki asks them.

Neko-chan bursts out laughing.

— Apparently much better than you guys, hahaha!

— It was a big and beautiful place! — says Ai, very cheerful.

— Everything was so peaceful... — adds Yasuragi. — except for that girl, her vibe was chilling...

— And she was very rude... — adds Miru-chan.

On TV, a news report talks about someone who was shot near the mountains. Seji-sensei seems interested in the news.

— Huh... who would have thought we'd see this kind of thing here too... anyway, remember the losers pay for everyone's food.

In the end, it seemed he didn't give much importance to the news.

I wish he had forgotten we had to pay for everyone's food...

Despite all this, everyone there had a good time together.

— I wouldn't want to keep training!