After parting with Ririko, Uesugi Tetsu briefly wiped himself down, changed back into his school uniform, and returned to his seat.
Although he had been unable to practice at noon because of Kondo Hideya, the kendo club's supervising teacher, Uesugi Tetsu honestly held no grudge against him. Instead, he was grateful.
Because—
[The appearance of an Everworld Rift has been detected. You may now choose to enter Everworld and explore.]
The instant he stepped onto the rubber track around the school field, this notification appeared before Uesugi Tetsu once again.
In other words, he might no longer need to go to the four-star Edo Castle to recklessly throw himself at the small fry.
Instead, he now had the chance to explore a potentially lower-star map.
Even if it wasn't a suitable low-star map, it would still give him another option.
If he hadn't been punished with running laps today, Uesugi Tetsu—who had already decided to live a school life revolving around "practicing Ki-ai Technique in class and going to the kendo hall after class"—had no idea how long it would have been before he stepped onto the track.
Moreover, to make running laps easier, Uesugi Tetsu further increased his proficiency in Ki-ai Technique. He could even use a little of its technique while controlling his breathing as he ran.
[Your skill, Incomplete Ki-ai Technique, proficiency +18!]
The tradition of classes in Japanese schools was different from the neighboring country's. They promoted happy, relaxed education. Not only did school start later in the morning, but it also ended earlier in the afternoon. Needless to say, there were no evening self-study sessions that lasted until nine or ten.
The purpose was to give students more time to participate in clubs.
But if one wanted to get into a good university, they had to pay for after-school cram school themselves. It was nearly impossible to rely solely on the little bit taught at school.
[Your skill, Incomplete Ki-ai Technique, proficiency +12!]
When the bell rang, Uesugi Tetsu, who had spent the entire afternoon grinding his Ki-ai Technique proficiency, walked out of the classroom.
He was just about to look for Ririko when he discovered that the person in question was already waiting outside for him.
Class had only just ended, and Ririko's F Class was a full corridor away from his own A Class.
"Did you run here?"
"I made up some excuse and slipped out early. I'm part of the privileged class. You've known that since day one, haven't you?"
Their back-and-forth caused Uesugi Tetsu's memories to begin churning.
Ririko, who had won two championships at last year's kendo competition, the Jade Dragon Banner, held a status at school even higher than that of an ordinary teacher.
To high school students who practiced kendo, the Jade Dragon Banner was similar to Koshien in baseball.
Generally speaking, each participating team selected five members from its school's kendo club to serve as vanguard, second, center, deputy captain, and captain.
Tokugawa Ririko, who had taken the position of captain, had not only seized the individual championship.
She had even accomplished the astonishing feat of taking on five opponents alone after all her teammates had fallen, leading Sakurato High School to victory in the team competition and showing every sign of making the school famous throughout the country.
If this were a fantasy novel, Ririko would probably be the invincible prodigy who suppressed all her peers so thoroughly that they could not lift their heads.
With a genius like her, the school was so afraid of damaging her that it held her in the palm of its hand. Perhaps only Kondo, who directly taught her swordsmanship, dared to show her a stern face.
No wonder the students around Uesugi Tetsu had been looking at him strangely since this morning.
Ririko was a figure at the very top of the school's social hierarchy, yet she was walking alongside a nobody like him—a handsome but otherwise untalented, obscure otaku.
That alone was enough to become juicy gossip.
Not to mention that Ririko had taken him to the kendo club to put on a training uniform, and many people had seen the two of them running laps together that afternoon.
"Uesugi-kun, if you truly want to practice swordsmanship, then the first thing you need to do is achieve Heart Like Still Water."
In the corridor, Ririko spoke calmly.
"How exactly do I do that?"
Ririko instructed him, "Reject all outside distractions from your mind and maintain a state of constant tranquility, like the surface of a lake."
"Okay."
Uesugi Tetsu gathered his thoughts. As he inhaled and exhaled, Ki-ai Technique instinctively began to circulate. Once his mind became peaceful, he filtered out the surrounding whispers without a second thought.
[You have comprehended the kendo realm "Heart Like Still Water." Willpower +3]
With his spirits soaring, Uesugi Tetsu thought, Is this kendo realm as common as cabbage? I can break through just by changing my thoughts?
When they reached the ground floor, where there was no one around, Uesugi Tetsu suddenly noticed Ririko staring at him as if he were some kind of monster.
Uesugi Tetsu asked, "Is there something dirty on my face?"
After two seconds of silence, Ririko asked, "Heart Like Still Water... You achieved it?"
Uesugi Tetsu was puzzled. "Isn't it just treating what passersby say like farting? What's so difficult about that?"
After staring at each other for a while, Ririko realized that he did not seem to be joking. She turned her head away and pretended nothing had happened as she said, "Walk faster."
Achieving Heart Like Still Water in an instant...
"Although it really isn't difficult." Ririko took a deep breath and struggled to maintain an expressionless face. "But Uesugi-kun, you do have a little more talent for kendo than ordinary people."
Uesugi Tetsu took her words at face value and cupped his hands. "Then I'll be counting on you from now on, Teacher Ririko."
Ririko said nothing.
After changing into their training uniforms, Ririko first rejected a pile of offers from club members to accompany and instruct her sparring partner. Then she led Uesugi Tetsu into the deepest part of the kendo hall.
After they entered a smaller training hall and closed the heavy wooden door, the noisy kendo hall after class suddenly fell silent.
Ririko, her hair tied in a high ponytail, stepped barefoot onto the cold wooden floor. "This is the room Teacher Kondo uses when instructing me. Using it to teach you swordsmanship now means putting it to good use, Uesugi-kun."
She took a brand-new Bamboo Sword from its bag and solemnly handed it to Uesugi Tetsu.
Uesugi Tetsu accepted it with both hands. "Teacher Ririko, I'll study seriously."
Ririko nodded noncommittally, then sat cross-legged and began explaining. "My swordsmanship school is Sword Technique - Tennen Rishin-ryū. Although I haven't obtained the Menkyo Kaiden certification yet, this is only a friendly exchange between classmates, so it's fine."
What a disclaimer.
Uesugi Tetsu was criticizing her inwardly when a notification suddenly appeared before him.
[Tokugawa Ririko is teaching you the swordsmanship school, Tennen Rishin-ryū...]
His spirits lifted, and he listened attentively without daring to slack off in the slightest.
"Unlike modern kendo, we place more emphasis on simplicity, practicality, flexibility, and adaptability rather than on scoring points in competitions..."
After more than ten minutes of explanation, Ririko stood up. "Come. First, learn how to stand and hold your sword."
[You have learned the swordsmanship technique, Tennen Rishin-ryū.] [Tennen Rishin-ryū (Not Initiated 0/200)] [Effect: None]
Good grief. He had already learned the swordsmanship technique, yet it was still in the "Not Initiated" state. Moreover, even its starting proficiency was twice that of Ki-ai Technique after it had reached the Initiated level.
As expected of a proper swordsmanship school, it was on a completely different level from the mere Incomplete Ki-ai Technique.
Two and a half hours later.
[After arduous training, your skill, Tennen Rishin-ryū, proficiency +1!]
Sweat poured from his head as Uesugi Tetsu lowered the Bamboo Sword and stared at the nearly unchanged progress bar, lost in thought.
"Uesugi-kun, your talent for swordsmanship doesn't seem very good."
Ririko leaned on her sword, her little face stern, but her tone was gleeful and distinctly sarcastic.
"But don't be too disappointed." She crouched down and patted Uesugi Tetsu on the shoulder, her tone full of concern. "Uesugi-kun, talent is not something you can force."
She watched the silent Uesugi Tetsu for a moment, then softened her tone and added a word of consolation. "Besides, your breathing rhythm technique is pretty good."
A curious little head poked out from the edge of Uesugi Tetsu's vision. "Teach me?"
"Don't rush. I will."
Uesugi Tetsu stared at that glaring "1" for a while longer, then began rummaging through his storage backpack. Finally, his gaze stopped when he saw the two remaining sparkling portions of [Soul Soothing Incense Ash].
He said:
"Let me be quiet for a while first and sort out my thoughts."
Before you continue