After successfully calming Takagi down and inviting her on another date, Lucas felt relieved. He was about to say goodbye when the door suddenly opened.
A man with a dominant aura stepped inside. His face was stern, his eyes sharp, and his body built like a veteran warrior. Behind him, a beautiful woman in traditional clothing stood with a gentle smile.
Lucas immediately recognized them—Takagi Souichiro, head of the Takagi family and a powerful political figure, and Takagi Yuriko, Takagi's mother, known for her intelligence and strong presence.
Takagi seemed slightly surprised by her parents' sudden appearance. "Father? Mother?"
Souichiro gazed intensely at Lucas, while Yuriko only smiled warmly.
"So, you're Lucas," Souichiro said in a deep voice. "The boy who made my daughter skip school."
Lucas scratched the back of his head, feeling a bit awkward. "Uh… That's a misunderstanding, sir."
Takagi quickly intervened. "Father, don't scare him. This isn't Lucas's fault."
Souichiro didn't respond immediately. He stepped forward and observed Lucas from head to toe, his eyes analyzing him.
Lucas could feel that piercing gaze as if it was seeing through him.
"Your body…" Souichiro muttered. "I can see it clearly. Your posture, your balance, the way you carry yourself… You're a swordsman."
Lucas was slightly surprised. Souichiro could tell just by looking at him?
"I practice kendo," Lucas admitted honestly. "But I'm still learning."
Souichiro smirked slightly. "Interesting. I want to test you."
Takagi immediately tensed up. "Wait, what? Father, don't mess around!"
Yuriko only smiled softly, looking unsurprised by her husband's behavior.
"Calm down, Saya," Souichiro said to his daughter. "I just want to see if this young man is worthy of standing by your side."
Lucas raised an eyebrow. "So… this is like a son-in-law test?" he joked.
Souichiro chuckled. "If that's how you see it, so be it. But I'm serious. We'll fight one round with bokken."
Lucas turned to Takagi, who just covered her face with her hands.
"Is your father always like this?" Lucas whispered.
Takagi sighed. "Yes. If he takes an interest in someone, he tests them with a duel."
Lucas let out a deep breath and smirked. "Alright. If this will make you trust me more, I accept the challenge."
Souichiro grinned in satisfaction. "Good. Follow me."
Lucas was led to the vast backyard of the Takagi estate. There was a dedicated training area filled with martial arts equipment, like a private dojo for the Takagi family.
Two bokken (wooden swords) were prepared. Souichiro took one and tossed the other to Lucas, who caught it effortlessly.
Takagi and Yuriko sat on the sidelines, witnessing the duel.
Souichiro held his bokken in a ready stance. "The rules are simple. The first to make the opponent lose their balance wins."
Lucas nodded and took a defensive stance.
"Alright, let's begin."
Without warning, Souichiro dashed forward!
Lucas barely had time to react before the first strike hit his guard hard.
BAM!
Lucas was pushed back several steps.
"His attack power is insane!" he thought.
Souichiro didn't give him time to think. Blow after blow rained down—fast, powerful, and relentless. Lucas was forced to defend with all his strength, but he knew that if he only focused on defense, he would lose.
Seeing a small opening, Lucas leaned forward and deflected an incoming strike with a circular motion. He used the momentum to spin and counterattack from Souichiro's side!
WHACK!
Souichiro blocked it, but Lucas had anticipated that. He quickly lowered his stance and swept at Souichiro's legs.
THUD!
Souichiro nearly lost his balance, but at the last second, he twisted his body and remained standing.
Lucas smirked. "Almost got you, sir."
Souichiro raised an eyebrow, seemingly impressed. "You're no beginner."
Lucas just shrugged. "I've learned from experience."
Souichiro grinned, then suddenly lunged even faster than before!
BRAKK!
Lucas barely managed to block the attack. Souichiro's strength was truly monstrous!
Lucas knew that if he kept defending, he would lose. So, he made a bold decision.
As Souichiro launched his next strike, Lucas deliberately dropped his bokken and used his hands to block the incoming attack, gripping Souichiro's bokken tightly.
Souichiro was momentarily surprised—that was all Lucas needed.
With a quick movement, he used his body weight to push Souichiro back, forcing the older man to take two steps backward.
Both men stood still for a moment.
Then…
Souichiro laughed.
"Hahaha! You're really something, kid!"
Lucas smirked, though his hands still stung from blocking the last attack.
Souichiro lowered his bokken and nodded in approval. "You pass."
Takagi, who had been holding her breath, finally sighed in relief. "Oh my god… I thought my father was going to kill him."
Lucas raised an eyebrow. "Pass in what?"
Souichiro smiled mysteriously. "Just a little test. I wanted to see your determination and how you think in battle. You have good instincts, but there's still much you can learn."
Lucas sighed. "Then I need to train more."
Souichiro patted his shoulder. "Good. If you want to train seriously, the Takagi family dojo is always open for you."
Lucas smiled. "I'll consider it, sir."
Yuriko, who had been quiet, finally spoke. "Souichiro, you were too hard on our guest."
Souichiro just chuckled. "If he wasn't strong, he wouldn't be worthy of our daughter."
Takagi groaned in frustration. "Whatever, Father…"
Lucas just laughed softly. This might not have been the kind of family meeting he imagined, but at least he had earned Takagi's father's trust.
And that was enough for today.