“Well. Time to test myself. Disarm them, huh? Easy job. But the time threshold… It’s weird… Why three seconds? Is it because Liniah did it slower? Or… I don’t know. He just said three seconds. Should be easy work.” Minosashi talked to himself in the forest.

  Then, the wind seemed to cease. Birdsong stopped as if holding its breath. The ground around his feet crumbled into pieces.

  He lunged forward.

  “Now!” Minosashi rushed toward the dummies, rapidly disarming them. Wooden swords brushed the straw edges of their faces. Muscles tensed, eyes constantly analyzing distance, legs moving in a blur across the ground. Afterimages of his body lingered as he disarmed them all.

  He stood panting in the middle of dismantled weapons and helmets, shoulders rising and falling, chest heaving as he caught his breath.

  “Master… I know you’re there. How much?” he smirked, tilting his head back to look behind.

  Tengen stood firmly in the shadows, his smile soft and radiant amid the darkness. He stepped out, hands clasped behind his back, steps as silent as ever.

  “Five seconds. A few milliseconds lower, perhaps.”

  “F-five!?” Minosashi’s voice squeaked as he shouted. His knees gave way and he slumped to the ground, burying his face in his hands. “I’m a shame… I’m a disappointment! Since when did I become so slow?!”

  A hard wooden stick tapped his head. Tengen stood beside him, eyes narrowed in frustration.

  “If I knew you would give up this fast… I wouldn’t have even invited you inside the dojo. You dumb idiot! Get up and try again!” His shouting sent a shiver through Minosashi’s body.

  This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

  “Y-yes, Master! I’ll try! I’ll try as much as needed!” Minosashi’s grip tightened around his wooden swords. As he stood to regain his composure, Tengen smirked.

  “Just so you know… You’re already behind Liniah and Tokimo. Texts say they did it on their first try, my apprentice.”

  “First try?… Under… three seconds?” Minosashi whispered, eyes widening in dawning realization. The memory of his battle against Liniah snapped into place. The way he seemed to move beyond time and space. The thousand cuts technique that left his body broken for days in the library’s hospital—the pain from that punch seemed to manifest again in his memory.

  No Third Eye… no power-ups… only sheer force and brutality… No wonder we were outmatched… He was on a different league entirely when I fought him… But I shall surpass him! I must!

  His grip tightened over the wooden blade. He knelt, then stood.

  “Then I shall prove I’m surpassing them… by doing what they couldn’t!”

  “By passing the second part of the technique,” they both whispered together.

  “Once you reach that specific threshold, you’ll realize it yourself, Minosashi. Don’t rush this part.” Tengen smiled as Minosashi lunged toward the dummies to begin his training again. The strikes were momentarily faster, yet his precision and control over the wooden swords still weren’t enough.

  Slowly, Tengen began to walk down the path away from the training ground. Then, he glanced back. The vision of a young and stubborn Minosashi faded from his eyes, replaced by the man before him—honor, mind, body, and concentration growing together. A single tear traced down his cheek. He didn’t move from his spot.

  “Akemi… I wish you could see… how your kid has grown… With your heart, and his father’s strength…” The tear fell softly to the ground as he whispered to himself. “Never forget why you are fighting, Minosashi… For her…”

  Tengen faded into the shadows of the bamboo trees under the moonlight, leaving Minosashi alone in the training ground.

  ———

  Minosashi's Letter

  Day by day, I tried harder. Stronger. Getting faster and faster. But in the end, I only managed to reduce it to four seconds in a full week. Seven damn days, mother! Seven! I felt lost. Unable to move forward. Each night, I dreamed about you. About when I’m returning to meet you after the duel. I know I said I can’t promise a return. But please stand and live on! Make everyone remember Amenokaze as the best café in Tokyo!

  He took another paper, filling the quill with ink again and writing on it.

  On day nine or ten, I finally did it. But it made me do a very, very stupid thing with my swords! Master Tengen hasn’t visited me yet. But I’m sure he will be amazed when he sees my Kusari-Katana technique! I connected both swords with a chain and I was able to hit two dummies at once! And yeah, mom, don’t ask—it took two days to master it. I’m still not sure if I’ve mastered it perfectly or not! But I managed to do the first part under three seconds! That’s all that matters! Now I just need Master Tengen’s permission to move on from the training! I’m visiting the dojo tomorrow to talk to him. And mom… Thanks for the bracelet. It always reminds me why I’m here. And what made me this powerful.

  Minosashi smiled as he wrote the last sentence. Tears fell freely on the paper, the sound of their splash filling the training ground.

  “Mom… I promise you… that I will be back…”