Tokyo, Jujutsu High Training Ground.
"Your movements are too stiff! Loosen up!"
Maki Zenin's sharp rebuke echoed across the empty Training Ground.
Holding a wooden practice sword in both hands, she lowered her stance slightly, her gaze sharp as a blade as she stared intently at Junpei Yoshino a short distance ahead.
Junpei wore Jujutsu High training clothes. Sweat covered his forehead, and his breathing was a little ragged.
He held a wooden sword too, but his stance was clearly unpracticed, his footing unsteady. His knuckles had turned white from gripping the sword so nervously.
"Yes!" At Maki's rebuke, Junpei instinctively straightened his back and answered loudly.
"You're too relaxed! Are you even taking this seriously?!" Maki immediately frowned and pointed her wooden sword forward.
"Keep your center of gravity steady! Sink into your stance! Do you think you're dancing?!"
"Yes!!" Junpei hurried to adjust his stance, trying to crouch lower, but his movements became too deliberate, making him look even clumsier.
"Don't just keep saying yes! Make your body remember how it feels!!" Maki's voice rose sharply. She pushed off the ground and lunged in front of Junpei in an instant, her wooden sword striking toward his chest like a venomous snake!
Junpei hurriedly raised his sword across his body to block.
Thud!
The wooden swords collided with a dull sound.
Junpei felt a tremendous force surge through him, numbing the web of his hand. He staggered back several steps, nearly landing on his backside.
"Yes!!!" He steadied himself and answered loudly again, but now his voice was clearly breathless and strained.
Maki: "..."
For a moment, she was speechless as she watched this junior, who kept dutifully answering "yes" even though he was being beaten without any chance to fight back.
At the edge of the Training Ground,