Kanata heads to Shigure, led by Marika, wondering what kind of person the woman known as “Rai-tei” (Thunderbolt) is.
“This is the land battleship ‘Samidare’ of the Second Unit. It’s a ship that befits the practical and robust Shigure, isn’t it? Not like Todd’s perverted chair at all.”
“……I could see my dead grandma waving from the opposite bank.”
“Perhaps it would have been better to just send me to the opposite bank to avoid any lingering attachments.”
Kanata and Marika, who managed to escape the killing headlock and then let it escape, arrived at the second hangar.
The land battleship Samidare had no flashy decorations and appeared to be designed with practicality in mind.
A commanding woman, who looked like a commander, was giving instructions near the loading bay.
That tall commander with her hair tied back must be Shigure-san.
Marika had said she had no intimidating presence, but her commanding figure was undoubtedly dignified.
“Shigure, you’re back.”
When Marika said that, a slightly smaller woman with a bob cut, standing next to the commander, approached them.
Marika also walked towards the short woman.
Huh? The tall commander isn’t Shigure-san?
The bob-cut woman and Marika shared a brief hug, then approached me, who was bewildered.
“You’re Corporal Amagake Kanata, aren’t you?”
The bob-cut woman spoke to me.
Although I couldn’t see it before due to her hair, this person has a large, crescent-shaped scar under her right eye.
“Kanata, greet her.”
Urged by Marika, I snapped back to reality.
“I am Sergeant Amagake Kanata. Uhm, are you Captain Mibu?”
“Yes, I am Mibu Shigure. Marika, I was told he was a corporal?”
“He was promoted after I sent the notification. Iska does good things occasionally.”
Shigure nodded, as if understanding, and then turned towards the loading bay, issuing instructions.
“Abumi! I’ll leave the rest to you. I have business with Marika and Sergeant Amagake.”
The tall woman with her hair tied back nodded at them, and Shigure said,
“Then, let’s go.”
She said, and started walking.
“I suspect Sergeant Amagake thought Abumi was the captain?”
“Please call me Kanata. Everyone calls me that.”
“Then you can call me Shigure. Everyone does. Shall we return to our earlier conversation? You were mistaken, weren’t you?”
“Shamefully, you are correct.”
Marika put a cigarette in her mouth, lit it, and said,
“I’m astonished, truly astonished you have no eye for people.”
“Until now, only Marika hasn’t mistaken Abumi for my superior. Lieutenant Ishiyumi Abumi. She is my second-in-command.”
“I see. I sincerely apologize. Please forgive my rudeness.”
“It’s fine. It’s true that Abumi looks more like a commander.”
“So, as I requested, could you teach Kanata swordsmanship?”
“I’ve never refused Marika’s requests, have I? I’ll take it on if I’m good enough.”
“Thank you. It’s a bit presumptuous, but I have one more request. Hotaru respects and loves you as much as I do, maybe even more. So, she’s jealous that I asked you to train Kanata. Could you also look out for Hotaru? I’ve tried to reason with her, but she just gets more defensive.”
“Understood. I will handle Hotaru’s matters as well, as they are not unrelated to me. However, Marika, Hotaru’s deepest respect and love are for you, not me. You must understand that.”
“……I wish I could believe that. ……I just don’t have the confidence.”
They are truly good friends. This is the first time I’ve heard Marika express such vulnerability.
…But does Marika know about the incident from earlier?
Rasen shouldn’t have stayed silent either… No, as the vice-captain, he couldn’t.
“Then, Kanata, let’s head to the training ground immediately. Strike while the iron is hot.”
“But you just returned. You must be tired.”
“No problem. I wasn’t injured. So, Marika, I’ll be borrowing Kanata.”
“Ah, please do. Don’t hold back.”
…Ugh, it’s curry that tastes like stomach acid again.
In the training room, holding a training sword, I faced Shigure.
She’s a strange person. While Marika’s presence felt like it was piercing my skin, I felt nothing from Shigure.
No, whether someone is unskilled or a master, they usually have some kind of presence or intimidating aura, but this person is “nothingness.”
She stood as if no one was there.
Just as Marika said, she had absolutely no intimidating presence, zero.
Still facing me, Shigure spoke.
“I see. Kanata, your fighting style seems similar to mine. You let the opponent attack, observe, and then counter. It’s ‘going after the first move,’ isn’t it? Well then, let me make the first move.”
Shigure glided forward, slowly closing the distance.
Soon, she’ll be within the range of one-step-one-sword.
One-step-one-sword is the range where your sword can reach if you take one step.
…Here it comes!!
I took a step forward and swung my sword down from an upper stance. It’s not just about going after the first move.
I can take the first move too!
I was certain I had got her. But it was only a certainty.
Shigure took half a step back, or rather, just enough to dodge my downward thrust.
And then her counter-attack touched my neck.
“Hmm, not bad. But that wasn’t one-step-one-sword range. That’s the range before penetration increases. Your one-step-one-sword is wider right now. Let’s try again.”
I tried multiple times, but the result was always the same. If I attacked, she dodged; if I waited, she seized the initiative.
I understood the meaning of the epithet “Rai-tei.”
She doesn’t move with incredible speed like Marika.
Instead, she moves gracefully and fluidly, like leaves flowing in a stream.
Yet, she dodges attacks with a lightness like a feather, barely a millimeter from danger.
It’s like attacking a feather dancing in the air with all your might, but never hitting it.
And the moment she shifts to a counter-attack, Shigure becomes lightning.
The sharpness of her honed technique, transitioning from stillness to motion, is the origin of “Rai-tei.”
It’s like shifting from low gear straight to top gear in a car.
…So there are strong opponents of this type too. The world is vast.
“Let’s take a short break and get some water.”
“I can still go!”
“No, Kanata. You are mentally exhausted. You won’t learn anything if you continue in a state of lacking concentration.”
“…Yes.”
It’s frustrating, but I have no room to argue. I’ve been completely outmatched.
When Marika beat me up, my body was battered, but I felt a sense of accomplishment.
Today, everything was a near miss, so my body is unharmed, but my spirit is shattered.
While drinking a sports drink in the training room, I asked Shigure for advice.
“What am I doing wrong?”
“You’re overthinking things because you can think. Your concentration is lacking.”
“I always think I need to concentrate, that I need to concentrate more, but it seems it’s still not enough.”
Shigure gave a slight smile and said,
“Kanata, you are always thinking ‘focus, focus.’ But don’t you think that in itself is a distraction?”
…Ah! Th-that’s right. Is the mind fixated on concentrating already a form of mental clutter!
“Try thinking: ‘I will not blink.'”
‘Not blinking, not blinking.’ …Ah, I blinked.
…Let’s try again. …Huh? …Why is this so difficult?
I never blink normally, but the moment I try to consciously avoid blinking, I end up blinking.
“Humans are free creatures who lose the ability to do things they normally do the moment they become conscious of it. So, let’s try to free your mind a little. By doing so, you will see things you couldn’t see before, and feel things you couldn’t feel.”
“Free my mind, you say?”
“Yes. You may not achieve it overnight, but take small steps. Then you will realize. Not ‘how can I do this?’ but that you *can* already do it. Do what you can do, naturally. It’s easy to say, but it’s actually the hardest thing.”
“What should I do?”
“For starters, let’s try meditating for one hour every day. It’s fine to be filled with distractions at first. Don’t have a strong will to reduce them, but continue with a light heart, wishing you could reduce them. In my Kyosui Jigen Ryu, reaching a state of emptiness is called ‘Kyosui.’ If you attain the mind of Kyosui, you can fully exhibit your abilities.”
“Shigure-san is strong because she possesses the mind of Kyosui.”
“I haven’t reached that state yet. I am as immature as you are, Kanata. But you understand now, don’t you? If you can perfectly predict the opponent’s attack, a simple strike is all that’s needed. That is the essence of Jigen Ryu. My Kyosui Jigen Ryu doesn’t have flashy, powerful techniques like Marika’s Hihōkaku Ninjutsu. It is, in essence, swordsmanship for the weak, for those not blessed with physical prowess.”
“Shigure-san is strong. I don’t feel I can match you.”
“Then let me ask. Did I possess any eye-catching power or speed? …Be honest.”
“…No, that’s…” “You do have high abilities, but…”
However, I didn’t feel the overwhelming difference in physical ability that Marika had when we first tested.
“…Among the captains of the Asura Unit, I have the lowest penetration rate and Nenshin Strength. I’m not being humble; it’s the truth. There are even those within the unit, including the vice-captain, who surpass me in penetration rate and Nenshin Strength.”
If I had to describe it with words, she’s an extraordinary person, Marika had said that.
I see, this person, Mibu Shigure, is someone who has reached the pinnacle by perfecting being ordinary.
“I understand now why Marika chose Shigure-san as my master. It’s because you are the one who can teach me what I lack the most.”
“Heh, no. Kanata, me teaching you is not the most important thing. What is important is…”
…what you learn. Shigure said.
According to Marika, there’s a difference between not having an intimidating presence and not being intimidating.
My sword master is an extraordinary person. I have much to learn from him.
I noticed I haven’t gone bowling, my hobby, even once this month. My bowling ball must be lonely, so I’ll go throw some balls this weekend.
