Practicing kendo does involve using bamboo mats—but only when the sword being used is a real one.
And what was Kotomi holding in her hands right now? A bamboo sword!
At least a wooden sword had a somewhat blunt edge, but a bamboo sword was strictly for training, prioritizing safety above all else. It didn't have an edge at all.
That said, getting hit by one still hurt quite a bit.
But back to the point.
Thinking she could use a bamboo sword to slash through bamboo mats like in the videos she'd seen with real swords—saying something like that would get her laughed at, not just by a kendo expert like Kisara Tendo, but by anyone with even a basic understanding of kendo.
Kisara, who had been about to demonstrate how to swing properly, and Mai Sakurajima, who was sitting on the side watching, both froze in shock upon hearing Kotomi's words.
They turned their stunned gazes toward her, their eyes filled with disbelief.
Under their intense stares, Kotomi's face grew increasingly red.
And then—
"Hahahahaha—!"
As expected, laughter erupted. Kisara immediately pulled Kotomi into a hug. If she weren't wearing her face mask, she probably would've reached out to pinch her cheeks.
Who would have thought Kotomi could be this cluelessly adorable? Holding a bamboo sword in one hand and, with all seriousness, asking: "Why isn't the training target a bamboo mat?"
Thankfully, there were only the three of them in the dojo today. If any other Kendo Club members had been present, they would have undoubtedly burst into laughter as well.
The dojo echoed with their joyous laughter.
Only Kotomi, her face flushed bright red, hung her head low, staring at the tips of her shoes, wishing she could find a crack in the floor big enough to crawl into.
Five whole minutes passed before Mai Sakurajima, still sitting on the floor, could finally catch her breath—she had been laughing so hard that she could barely sit up straight.
Kisara quickly forced herself to stop laughing, worried that if she kept going, Kotomi might get upset and refuse to ever return to the Kendo Club.
That was absolutely not an option!
Right now, Kotomi was her greatest hope.
"Ahem! Alright, I won't laugh anymore. Kotomi, let me show you how to swing—"
Kisara, still slightly breathless from laughing, hadn't even finished speaking when Kotomi, her cheeks puffed up in frustration, pouted and huffed:
"No need…! I—I can swing the sword on my own!"
Her voice was firm, but it sounded more like a little girl who had just embarrassed herself, stubbornly insisting I can do it! I really can!—as if she were seconds away from stamping her feet and calling them bullies.
"Alright then, try attacking the dummy and show me what you've got," Kisara said, stepping aside.
Kotomi gripped the bamboo sword in one hand and stomped over to the training dummy. She took a moment to recall the kendo techniques she had learned as a child.
Although she hadn't practiced for very long back then, and years had passed since, she still had a faint impression of the basics—especially how to swing.
The fundamental movements gradually became clearer in her mind, as if a series of images were being projected before her. Taking a deep breath, Kotomi raised the bamboo sword high above her head, and with a loud shout, she swung down with all her might.
"Heh!"
A side note—when Kotomi swung, she instinctively let out a sharp "heh" sound.
As the bamboo sword sliced through the air, it created a distinct sonic boom—an explosive pop that echoed throughout the dojo.
The impact struck the dummy with such tremendous force that a deafening boom reverberated through the room, sending fragments of shattered bamboo flying everywhere.
A single strike.
And the bamboo sword—completely shattered.
The once-sturdy training dummy, now covered in cracks and splintered wood, let out a creaking groan, lost its balance, and collapsed onto the floor with a thunderous crash.
Kisara's eyes widened in shock as she stared at the scene unfolding before her. Instinctively, she stepped forward, and upon inspecting the damage, her expression froze in sheer disbelief.
The solid, weighty wooden dummy—crafted to mimic the structure and density of the human body—had been struck so hard by Kotomi's bamboo sword that the top of its head had a dent.
Although the dent wasn't too deep, any experienced kendo practitioner would immediately feel a chill run down their spine at the sight of it.
Because they knew exactly what this meant.
If that strike had landed on a real person's head, the damage would have been far worse than what had happened to the dummy.
Even with full protective gear, there was still a very real possibility that the person on the receiving end would die on the spot.
Kisara was both terrified and thrilled at the same time. Her breathing unconsciously grew heavier.
The sheer power of that strike… the flawless technique Kotomi had just displayed…
How could this possibly be the swing of someone who was only now picking up kendo again?!
Perfect execution, precise timing in raising and swinging the blade, and unparalleled full-body coordination. The moment Kotomi gripped the sword hilt, it was as if her entire being had entered a completely different state.
Every enemy's weak point seemed to appear before her eyes like visible death lines!
Even though there was no actual scabbard at her waist, Kotomi, someone who always valued dramatic effect, knew that if she was going to show off, she had to fully commit. With an elegant flourish, she flicked her sword, creating a dazzling arc before smoothly "sheathing" the bamboo sword into a completely nonexistent scabbard.
And as it turns out, as long as the skill is impressive enough, no matter how chuunibyou the action, it never looks awkward.
At this moment, in Mai Sakurajima's eyes, Kotomi seemed like a completely different person.
She looked like a lone swordswoman, dressed in a pink and white lotus-patterned kimono, standing barefoot amidst a sea of flowers, her short white hair gently tousled by the soft breeze carrying scattered petals.
"Kotomi! How on earth did you just do that?!" Kisara Tendo hurriedly stepped forward, her mouth agape, her face filled with pure shock.
Feeling the admiring gazes of both Kisara and Mai, Kotomi's desire to show off was instantly ignited. Like a lone, prideful swordsman, she lifted her chin and cast her gaze toward the farthest depths of the sky. Her voice carried a deep, mysterious air as she spoke:
"Tendo-senpai… there is something I have been keeping from you."
"When I was very young, my grandfather and grandmother taught me a secret kendo philosophy. It is both a mental discipline and a sword technique."
"What I just demonstrated—was merely the most basic swing from that school of technique."
"What kind of philosophy?! Your grandfather and grandmother… they must have been incredible kendo masters!"
Kisara, utterly shaken by Kotomi's display of power, believed her without question.
At the same time, she was inwardly astonished—Kotomi had been hiding this so well! She never expected that her grandparents were highly skilled kendo practitioners!
"From the far shore, the ghostly blade of the netherworld flashes, bringing peace to all souls."
"—Immaculate Cognition: The Realm of Emptiness."
Immaculate Cognition: The Realm of Emptiness!
The name echoed in Kisara's mind, her heart pounding wildly, unable to calm down.
Even though the Tendo family was a renowned household in the world of kendo—even though she herself was often called a Sword Demon—she had never heard of such a profound kendo philosophy or technique!
For a moment, her legs felt weak beneath her.
Meanwhile, Mai Sakurajima, sitting off to the side, simply watched Kotomi with a knowing smile.
Her phone had been recording the entire time.
From the moment Kotomi had dramatically "sheathed" her sword, Mai had been filming everything.
As she recorded, she couldn't help but chuckle internally—
I never expected Kotomi to be such a chuunibyou! I can't wait to see her reaction when she watches this footage later. What kind of face will she make? I'm so excited to find out!
Mai giggled softly, saved the recording, and put away her phone—acting as if she had done nothing at all.
Of course, after saving the video, Mai also took a quick photo.
Kotomi, who had just finished swinging her sword, was drenched in sweat, her kendo uniform clinging tightly to her body, highlighting her youthful figure in all its fullness.
The three of them left the dojo together. Since they had taken some time to clean up, the sky had already begun to darken by the time they stepped outside.
Ever since witnessing Kotomi's strike, Kisara's face had been frozen in an expression of deep shock, her entire body seemingly lost in thought.
Every time they reached a corner, Kotomi had to tug on Kisara's sleeve to prevent her from walking straight into a wall.
As they exited the school building, Kotomi spotted Megumi Kato standing outside, waiting for her.
At the same time, Megumi also noticed Kotomi walking out with Mai Sakurajima and Kisara Tendo.
Just as Kotomi was about to run over to Megumi, Kisara, who had been in a daze the entire time, suddenly snapped back to reality.
She had been so absorbed in the memory of Kotomi's strike that she had completely forgotten they had already left the dojo.
Kisara rushed in front of Kotomi, blocking her from reaching Megumi.
With unwavering seriousness, she grabbed Kotomi's shoulders tightly, looked straight into her eyes, and shouted:
"Kotomi, please… you must become mine!"
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