A few days had passed since the dinner with the Student Council and the incident with the drunks on the way back to Alya's house.
During that time, he maintained his usual routine: early in the morning, he went to the gym, then headed to school, sometimes trained with the soccer team, and every day stopped by the beach to play ball. At night, he dedicated himself to calisthenics, as well as meditation and yoga, aiming to improve his flexibility and mindset.
Now, he was adding one more thing to his routine.
It was Saturday morning.
The morning sun had barely reached the tops of the buildings when Isagi arrived at the narrow street lined with cherry trees still laden with green leaves. He adjusted the backpack on his shoulder and stopped in front of the dark wooden gate. The simple sign, written in firm calligraphy, read: "Seiryukan Dojo."
It was one of the most renowned dojos in Saitama Prefecture, known for training champions in various martial arts. They didn't limit themselves to a single style: there was boxing, karate, judo, kendo, and even aikido.
Isagi took a deep breath.
He wore basic training clothes: a white t-shirt, black athletic pants, and lightweight sneakers. Simple, but sufficient for his first day at the dojo.
As he pushed open the sliding door, he was greeted by a spacious hall covered with impeccably clean tatami mats. The smell of polished wood mingled with the rhythmic sound of strikes echoing in the air. Several students were already training, each group in a different part of the dojo. Some exchanged quick punches in boxing sparring, others practiced kicks in karate, while further back, two guys grappled in judo.
On the side, an older man observed everything with his arms crossed. He wore a navy-blue keikogi and carried a firm, imposing posture without needing to raise his voice. When he noticed Isagi standing at the entrance, he approached with slow steps.
"You're new…" His voice was calm but carried authority. "Name?"
"Yoichi Isagi…" He bowed slightly, as he recalled seeing in etiquette videos. "It's my first day…"
The man nodded.
"I'm Takayanagi, head instructor. Here, we don't just train the body but also discipline and respect. Do you have any experience?"
"A little… boxing and taekwondo," he replied, without exaggerating.
Takayanagi studied him for a few seconds, as if he could measure his determination just by looking into his eyes. Then, he pointed to one of the younger instructors.
"Shun, take care of him today. Show him the basics of the dojo, then have him train fundamentals…"
"Hai!" The young man, probably in his twenties, jogged over. He had black hair tied in a short ponytail and a light smile. "Nice to meet you, Isagi-kun. Let's start with the warm-up…"
Isagi followed him to a corner where other beginners were stretching their arms and legs. As he mimicked the movements, he felt his heart race—not from nervousness, but from excitement.
Shun explained every detail patiently: posture, stance, breathing. Then, he handed Isagi a pair of hand wraps and led him to the punching bag.
"Show me your jab. No need for power now, just technique."
Isagi nodded, raised his guard, and threw the first punch. The crisp sound echoed through the hall. Several students paused to look, perhaps curious about the newcomer. Shun raised his eyebrows, surprised.
"You said 'a little'? Hm… you don't seem like a complete beginner."
Isagi gave a slight smile, neither confirming nor denying.
They continued training the dojo's basic fundamentals.
Shun's gaze grew more serious as Isagi went through the sequence of punches. At first, they were just controlled jabs, but soon the instructor began correcting details—the position of the shoulder, the rotation of the hips, the movement of the feet.
And Isagi absorbed everything instantly.
Each correction became part of his body as if it had always been there. A tweak in his weight distribution, and his punches gained more stability. A detail in his leg rotation, and his kicks became more precise. Even his breathing, which so many beginners struggled with, seemed natural after just a few repetitions.
Shun scratched the back of his neck, chuckling awkwardly.
"This is kinda scary, you know? I usually have to repeat things five times before someone gets it. You nail it on the first try…"
"Just practice…" Isagi replied casually.
Takayanagi, watching from a distance, approached with his arms crossed behind his back. The head instructor's eyes missed nothing, catching every detail.
"Shun, pair him up. Let's see how he reacts in real contact."
Shun called over an intermediate student, a guy with a green belt in karate and a few months of boxing experience. He greeted Isagi with a confident smile, and they positioned themselves on the tatami.
"Just light sparring," Takayanagi warned. "No unnecessary force. I want to see your movement reading…"
The moment his opponent advanced, Isagi had already read his posture. The jab came too high, the hips misaligned. Instinctively, he tilted his head to the side, feeling the air brush past his cheek, and countered with a perfect straight that stopped an inch from his opponent's face.
The hall fell silent for a moment.
Shun's eyes widened. "You… knew you could stop the punch in time?"
Isagi lowered his guard and took a deep breath.
"Not exactly. It just… seemed obvious where he was going."
"'Seemed obvious'?" The opponent laughed, a bit embarrassed. "If you keep this up, you'll surpass me in a week…"
Takayanagi stepped closer, observing carefully. "Good reading, good stance. Your spatial awareness is above average…"
He paused for a second before adding, "You learn too fast. That can be a blessing… or a curse. Depends on how you use it…"
Isagi bowed respectfully, thanking the dojo's 'Sensei' for his words.
Shun, trying to lighten the mood, patted his shoulder. "Well, Isagi-kun, I think you just became the rookie sensation…"
Some students around murmured, commenting on the talent of the newcomer who seemed to have trained his whole life.
Isagi let out a short, almost shy laugh and shook his head.
"Don't exaggerate… I'm still crawling here."
He didn't want to seem arrogant. He stayed humble, even as everyone around noticed how his learning curve stood out from the norm. To him, it was just part of his disciplined routine, nothing more.
Shun, however, noticed how naturally Isagi deflected curious glances and refocused on training.
"Alright, let's keep going. Technique over strength, remember that."
The sparring resumed. With each exchange, Isagi showed near-instant adaptation. A punch that slipped through was blocked in the next move. A kick that seemed slow became faster after correction. His feet moved fluidly, as if dancing through his opponent's openings.
Some students stopped their own training entirely to watch. It was like seeing months of learning condensed into minutes.
Takayanagi observed in silence, but his eyes revealed deep interest. He knew the signs of rare talent.
Isagi, meanwhile, kept a serious expression, breathing steadily, never getting carried away by the enthusiastic comments. When his opponent tried a bolder sequence, he responded with calculated moves—block, dodge, and a counter in the air, stopping short of contact.
Shun whistled softly, impressed.
"No denying it… you're a genius!"
Isagi just tilted his head slightly, humble, as if he didn't understand the admiring looks.
Takayanagi finally raised his hand, ending the test session.
"That's enough for today. Isagi, go back to basics with Shun. We'll strengthen your foundation before moving forward. You have potential, but you need structure to avoid getting lost in your own talent."
Isagi bowed respectfully, accepting the words without question.
The training continued without pause.
After the sparring, Shun took Isagi back to the fundamentals. While some beginners got distracted, messing up their stance or laughing among themselves, Isagi maintained absolute focus. Every jab, every side kick, every stance transition was executed with growing precision.
"Lower stance, don't forget balance," Shun corrected.
Immediately, Isagi adjusted his feet and repeated the move. This time, it was perfect.
"That's… perfect," Shun muttered, half-incredulous.
Time flew by. Between punches on the bag, dodging drills, and shadowboxing, Isagi showed no more fatigue than expected. Sweat dripped down his face, his shirt clung to his body, but his eyes remained sharp, absorbing every detail.
Other instructors began to take notice. Some even whispered among themselves, commenting on the unusual talent of the rookie who seemed to master in hours what others took weeks to grasp.
By late morning, Takayanagi gathered all the beginners in the center of the tatami.
"Good work. Remember: discipline and repetition are what build true strength. Without them, talent means nothing."
His eyes lingered on Isagi for a moment before continuing:
"Rest well today. Tomorrow, we come back stronger."
The students bowed and thanked him.
Isagi took a deep breath, wiping sweat with the towel provided by the dojo. He also drank some water from the fountain.
Shun approached, smiling.
"You were amazing today, Isagi-kun. But don't forget… the path of martial arts is long. Only effort can make your talent shine…"
Isagi smiled back, humbly.
"Got it, Shun-senpai. I'll work hard to get stronger!"
Shun laughed, shaking his head.
"Great determination!"
Shortly after, he left the dojo. The sun was high, warming the quiet street lined with cherry trees.
Isagi stretched, breathing in the warm morning air.
Instead of heading straight home, he decided to take a walk.
He strolled a few blocks, passing by cafés and small shops, until a colorful storefront caught his attention: an otaku store. Anime posters decorated the windows, action figures gleamed under artificial light, and even cosplays were displayed on mannequins.
He paused for a moment. In his past life, he had never entered a place like this, though he enjoyed reading manga and watching some anime… He was about to move on when something made him freeze.
A little further ahead, near the store's entrance, was Marin Kitagawa.
Even in casual clothes, she stood out from afar—a short plaid skirt, a pink anime-themed shirt, a backpack adorned with dangling keychains. She was gesturing, trying to move away from two guys standing right in front of her.
"Hey, no need to run, cutie. We just wanna talk…" one said with a crooked smile.
"Yeah, let's exchange Line. You're into cosplay, right? We could help with some… private photos," the other added, leaning in too close.
Marin stepped back, her eyes wide. She tried to keep her tone firm, but she was clearly uncomfortable.
"I already said I'm not interested. Get out of my way, seriously."
The guys laughed, ignoring her warning.
That's when Isagi furrowed his brow. He obviously wasn't going to let some guys harass a girl, especially one who was a classmate and acquaintance…
In a few steps, he was beside them.
"Is there a problem here?" His voice was low, firm, but carried authority.
The two guys turned, surprised. Marin blinked, recognizing him.
"Isagi…-kun?" she said, almost in shock, as if she hadn't expected to see him there.
One of the guys laughed, trying to dismiss him.
"And who are you? Her boyfriend? You're sticking your nose where it doesn't belong."
Isagi didn't answer immediately. He just stared at them, his eyes cold, his posture upright. His presence alone was enough to weigh on the air.
"She told you to leave. So leave."
The silence stretched for a second. Passersby began to notice, slowing down to watch.
The two guys hesitated. Perhaps because of Isagi's unwavering gaze, perhaps because a small crowd was forming. They muttered something inaudible and, reluctantly, walked away.
Marin let out a loud sigh, almost laughing from nerves.
"Ugh… those guys just don't get a 'no,' do they? What a pain!"
She turned to Isagi, her eyes bright and a sincere smile spreading across her face.
"Thanks so much, Isagi-kun! You saved my Saturday! That kind of thing has never happened to me before! Seriously, it was like a scene from a manga, you know? The hero showing up right at the critical moment! I was already thinking about spin-kicking one of them, but it'd ruin my nails, and I just painted them, look!"
As if they were old friends, she held out her hands to show off her pink, glittery nails.
Since both attended Ichinan High School and shared classes as classmates, they had exchanged words here and there, but they couldn't be called close friends. He knew her enough to not be surprised by her behavior.
If he had to describe her, Marin was someone who stood out naturally—loud, extravagant, and chaotic, the type of person who rarely went unnoticed in any setting. Despite her chaotic and flamboyant nature, she was also kind and very outgoing. She had no patience for people who judged others based on their tastes, and she made that clear when she noticed such attitudes. At the same time, she was clumsy in many situations, which only reinforced her natural and approachable demeanor.
Isagi glanced briefly at her nails and replied simply:
"…Pretty…"
"Right?" Her eyes widened in surprise, and she laughed loudly. "Wow, you're the first guy to actually look and say that… Most guys don't even notice stuff like this…"
Isagi shrugged.
"You showed me, so I was just being honest."
"Hah! Straight to the point, I like it." Marin crossed her arms, satisfied, but quickly kept talking nonstop. "But anyway, thanks so much, seriously. Those idiots were really getting on my nerves. I get so pissed when someone doesn't understand the word 'no.' Like, hello? I was CLEAR. It doesn't get clearer than that, right?"
Isagi just nodded.
"They don't know how to listen…"
"Exactly!" Marin raised her hand as if she'd just won a match. "Finally, someone who gets it!"
"But putting that aside…" She continued, looking at him. "You show up out of nowhere, save the day, look at my nails, and even say they're pretty… Seriously, Isagi-kun, this can't just end like this. I feel like you deserve at least a reward…"
Isagi raised an eyebrow.
"Reward?"
"Yeah! Like… coffee, a milkshake, something! It's my moral duty to thank you. And trust me, it's not every day I thank someone like this, so you should feel lucky."
"No need, Kitagawa-san. A 'thank you' is enough…" Isagi shook his head and smiled.
Marin blinked but didn't let it slide.
"Hey, hey! Don't dodge it now, okay? I insist!" she said with a wide, playful smile. "Besides, look at you. You're sweaty, tired… I think you deserve a break. My treat!"
"It's not about the money…" he replied, keeping his tone calm. "I just don't want to mess up your morning… Like you said, I'm all sweaty, people might think it's weird seeing us together…"
"Aww, you're too proper, Isagi-kun!" Marin lightly tapped his shoulder, laughing. "That's exactly why I need to drag you to grab something. Think about it: the hero saving the damsel in distress, then going for a milkshake. It's like the perfect shoujo anime scene!"
Isagi gave a slight smile and rolled his eyes.
"You didn't have to dramatize it either…"
"Dramatic? Me?!" Marin pointed at herself and denied it. "Never! I just want to make the most of the moment, you know? These kinds of scenes are rare. Plus… I don't even know when I'll get another chance like this…"
She paused, crossing her arms and looking at him sideways with that mischievous smile.
"So, what do you say? You in? I'll pick the place, I promise it'll be fun."
Isagi stayed silent for a few seconds. Finally, he gave a slight nod.
"Alright, I accept your invitation then… Let's go?"
Marin flashed a huge smile, almost jumping with joy.
"Yes! I knew you wouldn't resist! It's gonna be epic!"
And so they went, her chatting animatedly about random things, from cosplay to wild anime theories, while he listened, smiling faintly, almost unaware that he was being pulled into a morning he hadn't expected.
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