Chapter 4
Hah! Sei! Haah!
…… (Staring at him unblinking)
Seiya—! Foo…! Haah!
…… (Staring at him unblinking)
…Kanzaki. I ‘ppreciate the enthusiasm, but you sittin’ in the corner of the dojo just starin’ at me like that is gettin’ me all distracted…
And there’s somethin’ about how good your posture is that makes you impossible to ignore…
Prithee, leave me be! Thou mayst think of me as but a Jizo statue!
Gettin’ the stare-down from a Jizo feels kinda… What’s up with you? Ya just asked to sit in on my training all of a sudden. Ya finally seein’ the appeal of karate or somethin’?
Nay. I am a samurai by my birth—I must not part with this blade.
Admirable it be to have a body strong enough to do battle e’en without sword in hand, but I will not relinquish mine own!
‘Tis no exaggeration to say that this katana and I in body and soul be one!
Then why’re ya sittin’ in while I’m practicin’?
Ungh…! ‘Tis my duty, and so…
Duty? The hell’s that mean?
Nay, I mean—! As warriors, my family insists that we must never neglect our training—To observe thee practice defense is but mine own training!
Wouldn’t it be better for you to look at kendo or somethin’ then? ‘Cause you’re a samurai an’ all?
Urgh…
(Speak I on this more, surely I will let something slip… Were only Nagumo here…!)
S–speaking thus. Is Nagumo absent? I have not seen him today. Might he be coming soon?
You got some business with Tetsu? Looks like he’s got lessons with Ryuseitai, so I doubt he’ll make it. But I can pass on a message?
(How could this be! For today to be the one during which he has you-nit practice… I cannot even beg his help with this.)
Kanzaki? Ya got a pretty sour look on your face there. Somethin’ happen with Tetsu?
Nah, ‘tis not that I had business with Nagumo—only that I feel he would save me should he come hither…
Whatcha need saving from? Have you guys always been so close…? Well whatever, I’m glad you’re gettin’ along.
In any case, I wish to remain by thy side and observe thy training, Kiryu-dono.
But in my being here, have I become a hindrance to thee…?
Nah, ‘s not like you’re in the way or anything… Man, I can’t keep up with ya when ya go all kicked-puppy on me.
Yeah, yeah, it’s fine. Tetsu’s not comin’, but you can still hang around all ya like, Kanzaki.
Is that truly all right?!
But it’ll be kinda awkward if you’re gonna stare at me like before…
Okay, what if you swing your sword around or somethin’ while I keep practicin’? Get some training in. The dojo’s pretty big, so we can do it together ♪
In truth?! To train alongside Kiryu-dono, am I caught in a dream…?!
Oh, howe’er…
(I am duty-bound to keep watch o’er Kiryu-dono…)
(Howe’er, would it not that I fulfill my duty thus whilst I train with him, so long as we remain together…?)
Unngh…
What’s up, not feelin’ it anymore?
Actually, I kinda got some reasons of my own, but I wanna learn how to use a sword. So I was hopin’ you could show me the ropes. But if you’re not up to it then—
Ho! If that be so, then I shall lend thee my aid! I pray thee watch me to thine heart’s content ♪
Let us begin at once, Kiryu-dono!