"What else could it be if I didn't learn it secretly?"
Even cornered by Ririko, Uesugi Tetsu remained unfazed. "Is there really room in your heart for any unnecessary feelings besides cultivation, swordsmanship, and becoming stronger?"
"Uesugi-kun, I'll be very sad if you put it that way." Ririko tapped his shoulder with one finger and raised her eyelids. "But that is indeed the truth."
Heh. What else could it be?
Having lived two lifetimes, Uesugi Tetsu had never seen anyone else who could push themselves so relentlessly apart from Ririko.
"However, when I discussed swordsmanship and the sword heart with Kondo Taisho a few days ago, he told me a way—or rather, a theory—for reaching perfection in the sword heart more quickly."
Ririko braced one hand against the wall and slowly leaned closer, looking up at him. "Do you want to know what it is?"
Uesugi Tetsu had a bad feeling about this, but before he could speak, Ririko curved her lips into a smile.
"—Face your true heart."
Ririko moved even closer, pressing Uesugi Tetsu's shoulder against the wall with her other hand. In an exceedingly serious tone, she said, "The best way to cultivate the sword heart is to understand what you want to do, and whether you truly want to do it."
"—If you do, then do it."
Ririko did not shy away from her direct attack. "Uesugi-kun, in my eyes, you belong to me."
Uesugi Tetsu remained expressionless, ready to punch the girl in front of him away at any moment.
He gave a dry laugh. "I'm also one of the steps in your sword-heart cultivation, right?"
"Exactly." Ririko's calm air vanished in an instant, and she spoke as though it were only natural. "And a crucial step at that."
After a long bout of eye