~ 💎 WEEKLY POWER GOALS 💎🔥 60→1ch | 100→2ch | 200→5ch ⏰ Resets Monday!
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[Author’s note: Marking this spot for Tougo-sensei, debating whether to bring in a student named Nanao Tsubasa later.
If things go off the rails, the Kendo Club president who called in absent would obviously be Miyajima Tsubaki.
(Pure-route character, gets absorbed at light speed, see Rurikawa Tsubaki for reference.)] …
Not long after.
Katsura Kotonoha led Li Ancheng out of the Kendo Club, apology written across her face.
“Ancheng-kun, I’m sorry…
the club president called in sick today.” She dipped her head slightly, fingers curling around the hem of her skirt.
“Tomorrow — tomorrow I’ll definitely bring you back…” “What are you apologizing for?” Li Ancheng gave a soft laugh and shook his head.
“The president being absent isn’t your fault.
Though…” He glanced back at the empty training hall, something thoughtful crossing his face.
“I didn’t expect the Kendo Club to be this quiet.” “Mm…” Katsura Kotonoha nodded gently, her voice soft.
“Kendo doesn’t have formal competitions anymore.
Ordinary people just can’t close the gap against students from the Supernatural Studies Department…” “I see.” Li Ancheng turned that over in his mind, then looked at her.
His eyes were smiling.
“In that case — how about you teach me?” “…Eh?” Katsura Kotonoha went still.
She blinked, visibly flustered.
“B-but I only just started learning not long ago…
and I only joined to stay in shape, I’m not really…” Her words died there.
Li Ancheng had already crouched down and picked up a slender iron rod from the side of the path.
The next moment.
He reversed his grip and tucked it at his waist, feet naturally apart, knees bent slightly.
Katsura Kotonoha stared.
She forgot to speak.
WHOOSH!
The air split with a sharp cry.
A silver-gray arc swept low across the ground.
The empty can against the wall divided into two halves without a sound, the cut so clean it looked like a blade had passed through it.
“Gulp…” Katsura Kotonoha swallowed without thinking.
Her gaze locked onto the two pieces of the can, then drifted slowly to the iron rod in Li Ancheng’s hand.
That speed.
That force.
All of it packed into a single instant.
And the path of the swing itself, fluid past the point where fluidity seemed possible…
T-that iai slash…
Li Ancheng tossed the iron rod aside and dusted off his palms.
“Sorry.
I suddenly remembered splitting cans as a kid and couldn’t help myself.” Katsura Kotonoha let out a quiet breath.
A faint flush crept across her fair cheeks.
“Ancheng-kun…
you really love iaido, don’t you.” Li Ancheng nodded.
“Yeah.
I do.” “Actually…” Katsura Kotonoha lowered her head, ears warm.
“So do I.
I started learning when I was little…
but that slash just now was too fast.” She looked up suddenly.
Her eyes were bright, like she wanted to say something, then thought better of it.
The light in them faded.
Li Ancheng caught every shift.
He bent down, picked up the iron rod, then reached over and selected a suitable branch from nearby.
He held it out to her.
“True iai isn’t in the slash.
It’s in the mind.” He stepped to her side.
“Come on.
Start with your stance.” “…S-stance?” “Mm.
I’ll show you.” Katsura Kotonoha drew a quiet breath and took the branch.
She was genuinely surprised.
Ancheng-kun had understood what she couldn’t bring herself to say.
He was close.
Close enough that she could hear the steady rhythm of his breathing.
“Feet a bit wider, shoulder-width…
yes.” “Right hand like you’re holding a brush.
Don’t grip too hard.” His voice was low, grazing her ear.
Katsura Kotonoha’s fingers tightened around the branch.
Her heart kicked like a drum.
The wood still felt warm, as if it carried the heat from his palm.
“Back straight.
Eyes forward — not on the enemy.
On the line.” She looked ahead.
Her gaze kept sliding to his profile anyway.
“Breath is the rhythm.” Li Ancheng moved through a slow sheathing motion.
The line of his shoulders and back curved like a drawn bow, smooth and unhurried.
“Inhale to gather.
Exhale to move.” “If the breathing holds, the slash won’t hesitate.” Katsura Kotonoha followed him.
In.
Out.
Her heart was racing like she’d been running.
“Now try a swing.” “Don’t go for speed.
Just make the arc clean.” She raised the branch and traced the motion the way she’d watched him do it.
The movement was stiff.
The arc wobbled off to one side.
Her ears burned red with embarrassment.
She could normally do this without thinking.
Li Ancheng didn’t laugh.
He just watched.
“Turn from the waist.
Root through your feet.” The iron rod in his hand cut a slow arc through the air.
The wind gave a low hum.
“Like wind through bamboo.
Follow what’s already there.” Katsura Kotonoha pressed her lips together and tried again.
The arc came out smoother this time.
“And after the slash?” She asked it quietly.
“After the slash is where it starts.” Before the words finished, the iron rod in Li Ancheng’s hand blurred into an afterimage.
Impossible to follow, then perfectly still the next instant.
“The mind must not scatter.
The intent must not break.” He looked at Katsura Kotonoha.
“Your turn.
Slash, then hold for 3 seconds.” She focused.
Swung.
Froze.
The tip of the branch trembled.
She held her breath and pushed against the shake.
Counting silently.
One.
Two.
Three.
“Good.” At some point Li Ancheng had moved in front of her.
He took the branch from her hand, and the tip of it tapped lightly against her shoulder.
Katsura Kotonoha blinked, confused.
The spot where it touched her began to feel faintly warm.
A wave of heat seemed to move through her body, and the tension in her limbs quietly eased.
“It feels…
different from what I learned before.” “Because what you learned before was form.” Li Ancheng smiled faintly.
“What I’m teaching you is the gap.” “The gap to cut through an opening.
And the gap of a mind that’s gone still.” He tossed the branch aside.
“Practice 3 things every day: breathing, the arc, and stilling the mind.” “When you’ve got those down, I’ll teach you the next part.
And I’ll be watching your progress every day.” Katsura Kotonoha pressed a hand lightly to her shoulder and nodded.
Beneath her hair, her eyes caught the sunlight.
They were very bright.
…
When Li Ancheng and Katsura Kotonoha got back to the classroom.
Their teacher was at the lectern, mid-lesson.
Solidly built, calm in front of the room.
Half the class turned to look as Li Ancheng came in.
The teacher smiled.
“Ancheng-kun, Kotonoha-kun, go ahead and take your seats.” “Also, Ancheng-kun, share a textbook with your deskmate for now.
I’ll have one sent over after class.” “Of course, Tougo-sensei.” Katsura Kotonoha bowed and quick-stepped back to her seat.
“Of course, Tougo-sensei.” Li Ancheng nodded.
The name felt faintly familiar for some reason.
He didn’t chase the thought.
He walked to his seat, sat down, and looked over at Kiyoura Setsuna.
“Kiyoura-san, did something happen?
Everyone was looking at me pretty strangely just now.” Kiyoura Setsuna lowered her voice.
“Earlier…
Sekai said she likes you.
And Ito and Sawanaga got into a fight, so the teacher took them to the office to call their parents.” “Saionji-san?” Li Ancheng glanced toward Saionji Sekai, who was sitting near the front of the room.
“Mm…” Kiyoura Setsuna nodded.
“Ito-kun said Sekai likes him, and she probably just reacted in the moment…
you don’t need to read too much into it.” “Alright.” Li Ancheng looked away and nodded with a smile.
Kiyoura Setsuna watched him for a moment.
She hesitated, then asked quietly, “Ancheng-kun…
that thing you mentioned before.
The missing little sister…” “Made up.” Li Ancheng said it with a smile, turning to look at the side of her face.
“I thought you were cute.
So I wanted to sit next to you.” “C…
cute?” Kiyoura Setsuna’s breath hitched.
She dropped her head fast, cheeks going red, words coming out in a stumble.
“A-Ancheng-kun…
don’t just say things like that…” Li Ancheng smiled.
“I’m stating a fact.” Kiyoura Setsuna peeked up at the teacher and redirected him.
“J-just look at the book.
Stop looking at me…” “Okay.” Li Ancheng nudged his chair a little closer to her side, folded his arms on the desk, and tilted his head to read.
Kiyoura Setsuna’s heart got worse.
From this close…
Ancheng-kun really was good-looking.
Saionji Sekai turned around for a quick look.
Frowning slightly.
Was Ancheng-kun into Setsuna’s type?
The whole tall-meets-short thing?
She was still turning that over when she caught another set of eyes pointed at Li Ancheng.
She followed the line of sight on instinct.
Blinked.
Kotonoha?
That expression on her face was not a normal one.
Katsura Kotonoha was thinking.
Should she ask Ancheng-kun to move seats?
The desk beside her had always been empty.
They had things in common now, after all.
Meanwhile, across the room.
Hyoudou Issei had already drifted deep into a daydream.
Did this count as completing the mission the grown-up gave him?
When would Amano Yuuma show up?
A beautiful, gentle girlfriend.
Real love.
Oppai…
“Hehehe…” “Hyoudou!
To the back of the room!” ➤ Next: Rias’s Invitation; Issei: Big Bro!