Early the next morning, the teacher woke Yarimato up, and they got dressed and went out into the fresh, cool air.
Takahashi-sensei stood Yarimato in front of him and said, “You did a good job, and I can see that the dojo is in good condition again, and everything around it is clean and there is no dirt.
You even cleaned the stairs, although they need to be washed again because of that ronin.
Yarimato: I tried my best, teacher.
Takahashi: Well, now let’s see how you trained during the month I was away.
Takahashi attacked Yarimato and began swinging his shikimizue without removing the blade from its sheath, but Yarimato was not ready and took all the blows.
Falling to the ground, Yarimato was in pain, but he did not give up and, getting to his feet, Takahashi threw a Bakken at him.
The teacher attacked again, and Yarimato dodged the blows and swung his stick to strike, but the teacher parried his attack and, coming up close, delivered a lightning-fast thrust with his scabbard straight into Yarimato’s torso, sending him flying straight down the stairs.
Falling and hitting each step, Yarimato grabbed one step and stopped falling.
Raising his head, he saw Takahashi-sensei attack again and swing for another strike.
Yarimato quickly pressed himself against the stairs and, dodging the blow, grabbed his bokken with both hands and swung for a strike.
The teacher, standing above Yarimato, simply sent him flying with a single kick to the face, and Yarimato tumbled down the stairs again.
The battle continued until Yarimato fell to the very end.
Beaten and exhausted, Yarimato lay on the ground and could not even move.
Takahashi: As I promised, I will begin to train you in the art of the sword.
Yarimato got up and sat on his knees and spoke.
Yarimato: Master, how did you defeat that ronin yesterday using only a tree branch?
Takahashi: It doesn’t matter what weapon you have in your hands, what matters is how you hold it and how you wield it.
Even with an ordinary tree branch, you can defeat your opponent with a single blow.
Therefore, when you can defeat me using only a stick against my sword, then I will teach you my style and show you, my techniques.
Yarimato: Okay, I’m ready to train.
Takahashi: Since you’re ready, here’s your first training session.
You must climb the stairs to the top of the mountain, and if you pass me and touch the dojo grounds, then the training is over, but if you don’t do it before sunset, you won’t eat today.
Yarimato: What?
That’s impossible, how can I get to the top .
.
Before he could finish speaking, Takahashi hit Yarimato on the head and began to climb the stairs.
Reaching the top, he sat down in front of the last step and waited.
Yarimato gathered himself and began to climb up.
When he had almost reached the top, Yarimato thought it was over, but Takahashi-sensei attacked him, and after a while, Yarimato found himself back at the bottom of the stairs.
Yarimato: Ouch, that hurts, damn it, I’ll never make it up!
Takahashi: Looks like you didn’t practice at all while I was gone.
Yarimato: What?
Damn, I really can’t do anything.
I need to concentrate, but when there’s a huge gap behind you, I feel a little uncomfortable.
Takahashi climbed up again, and Yarimato also began to climb again, and again, and again, and again, and again, until evening.
Yarimato was covered in scrapes, and all his clothes were dirty and torn.
Falling back to the bottom of the stairs, Yarimato lay on his back, not understanding anything, when suddenly three angels appeared above him.
Yarimato: What?
Am I dead?
Everything is blurry before my eyes, and I see three beautiful angels.
Have they come to take me away?
But in reality, it was the three maid girls who had returned to continue their work.
Takahashi: Get up, you idiot, or you’ll scare the girls with your pathetic appearance.
Yarimato: Sorry teacher.
Yarimato said sadly as he stood up.
Takahashi: All right, that’s enough for today, I’m tired of walking up and down these stairs myself.
Yarimato: Hooray, finally home!
He was finally glad, wanting to rest.
Takahashi: Yes, but you’re not eating today.
Yarimato: WHAT!?
Yarimato was surprised.
Takahashi: Stop whining!
Four months later.
Today is August 1st, which means that Yarimato is now 11 years old and has completed his first year of grueling training.
Takahashi: Congratulations, Yarimato, you did it, and to my surprise, you’re still alive.
But don’t rejoice, because every year you will become older and stronger, and therefore, with each passing year, the training will become more and more difficult and challenging.
Yarimato was happy about this, and his confidence grew as one year was already behind him.
But from the moment Yarimato tried to climb the ladder, he was unable to do so, and so Takahashi-sensei decided to abandon the idea and began training him from the most basic elements.
Therefore, over the past four months, Yarimato has only begun to master the basic elements of combat, which he still has to perfect.
Therefore, over the past four months, Yarimato has only begun to master the basic elements of combat, which he still needs to perfect.
Since Yarimato is only 11 years old, Takahashi understood that Yarimato needed to grow up, and therefore the second year would be easier for Yarimato than the first, as the first year was very important for Yarimato to overcome difficulties and continue fighting.
But Takahashi is not ready to take pity on Yarimato, so the hellish training continues, but new classes have been added.
At his young age, Yarimato is not like his future self, because now he is still foolish, weak, and unrestrained with his emotions.
Therefore, Takahashi will try to raise him to become who he will be.
Takahashi: So, first we will start training your reaction, which is a very important skill for any fighter, without which you will simply die.
We will start with something easy.
You will stand in front of me, and I will throw shuriken and throwing knives at you.
Your goal is to dodge and not let them touch you!
Yarimato: What?
I’ll die!
Yarimato was scared.
Takahashi: Begin!
The teacher shouted.
It wasn’t easy, but Yarimato tried his best.
The teacher also trained Yarimato’s eyesight, hearing, and even charm, as everything could be useful in the future.
Takahashi: Okay, now I’m going to cover your eyes and hit you with a stick, and you have to use your hearing to figure out which side the blow is coming from.
That’s how the first part of the second year of training went.
Yarimato also trained under a waterfall, holding his breath underwater and training his reactions and everything else.
And then, six months later, in the winter, just before New Year’s, Yarimato challenged his teacher to a fight, saying that the loser would make any dish the winner wanted.
Takahashi agreed, and they went out to the backyard behind the dojo and began their duel.