Both the girls returned before us. They were waiting for us in the Washitsu with the food they had ordered.
I saw Keiko sitting on the other side of the Kotatsu, watching TV. I walked over to her and sat beside her. The other two left the room to set the table. We both knew that they had gone out to give us some space.
Now that we were by ourselves, I moved closer to her, leaning my right shoulder against her left shoulder, and said,
"You don't need to worry about not expressing yourself. I liked you when you couldn't express yourself. I liked your strong personality and soft nature. You don't need to worry about being a burden to me. Instead, I should be the one worrying about being a burden to you."
Keiko rested her head on my shoulder and spoke.
"No, I will express myself properly starting now, because I don't want any misunderstandings, whether they are small or big, which may cause us to drift apart. I don't like that to happen. And why would you worry, you idiot? I am not at your level yet, and how are you planning on winning tomorrow's match?"
I looked at her in shock, thinking, how did she find out? He said she left. How much does she know?
All these thoughts ran through my mind.
"Don't look at me like that. It makes me feel shy. Kenji texted me about everything," she said while looking at the TV.
"Everything?" I asked her doubtfully.
"Yes, everything, including the bet you placed wagering me," she said with a bit of anger in her voice.
"I am sorry. I didn't like them disturbing you, and you don't say anything, so this is the only way I could think of how I can make them not disturb you and—"
"I know, so don't worry and just focus on defeating him. And don't go overboard like you went with the baldie. Or should I fight them myself?" she said, cutting me off in the middle.
"There's no need for that. I will fight them and will refrain myself. By the way, I always wanted to say this to you. Can I say it now?" I said with a sweet tone, looking at her.
"What is it? You can say anything you want," she responded, still looking at the TV.
"You look beautiful," I said and turned my face towards the TV.
I wanted to know how she looked, so I rolled my eyes towards her. Her face turned red, and she replied,
"I know."
She said it with a flustered expression.
When we were about to have a decent conversation without any worries, Akiko entered, shouting,
"The food is ready!"
She saw us both and said,
"You both are having a good time, huh? Sorry to disturb you, but we need to eat now, so just bear with us, okay?"
The two of them came in with the food, and we had our dinner, which was four seafood ramen and a few other dishes.
After finishing our food and cleaning the dishes, we all sat down to watch a movie. I picked up the remote and opened Netflix to select a movie.
As I was searching for a movie, Akiko shouted,
"You have a match tomorrow, but you just came back, flirted with her, ate food, and now you are going to watch a movie instead of training? You two talk some sense into him and make him train, or else he's going to lose tomorrow!"
That shout scared me. The other two seemed to worry about me, thinking about the match.
Kenji scooped under the Kotatsu, turned towards his left, and said,
"He's not a kid anymore. He knows what he's doing, and he wouldn't propose such a bet if he's not confident about winning. So, leave him be and don't wake me up."
He said that and fell asleep.
After hearing him say that, Akiko went silent. A few seconds later, she got up and mumbled something in Keiko's ear, and the both of them left the room without saying anything.
Just a few seconds later, I was left alone, and the room became silent. I, too, went to sleep beside Kenji as there was nothing left for me to do.
The next day, I got up before everyone and left for training.
I didn't feel good leaving without saying anything to them, but it was better than facing them now.
I went to the HQ to train and crack some codes.
Finally, the time had come.
It was five in the evening, and I had just arrived at the JSA training stadium. Kenji texted me that the six of them had arrived before me and were all waiting near the ring.
I changed my clothes quickly and entered the stadium.
Ryuu was warming up for the match, while the remaining five were sitting in the audience stands.
I entered the ring for the sparring match and started my warm-up. Ryuu was stretching his body while standing opposite me.
"What are your friends doing there?" I asked him.
"Why? Aren't the audience supposed to be there?" he replied with a face that said, What's with this question?
"Are they afraid to fight?" I asked him.
"What? No. Why do you ask?" he answered.
"Aren't the three of you supposed to fight me?"
"What? Are you crazy? Why would the three of us fight you? It's basically bullying."
"You sure are confident for someone who's going to lose."
"Yeah, what can I do? I am blessed."
"Oh! Let's see how blessed you are."
"I can't wait to show you," he replied.
"So, how do we have this spar? Is there a type of fight or any kind of rules you want to add to the fight?"
He didn't answer me.
I repeated myself, thinking that he wasn't able to hear me, but he didn't reply this time either.
When the time for the match arrived, Kenji came to the ring, and we both stood in our positions.
"I don't have any type of fight or rules that I want to include in this match. If you have any, feel free to add them," Ryuu said to me as he stood in his position.
"Then, let's have a fight with our fists and not with our swords. So, do you agree?" I asked him.
He looked at me with a surprised expression and answered,
"Whatever makes you admit your defeat easily."
I gave out a small grin as he fell into my plan.
Kenji then declared it a melee spar and came to collect the swords from us. When he came near me, he said,
"Are you sure about this? You might not know, but he's good with his fists too."
I handed him my sword and looked at him with an expression that said, Are you serious right now?
"Are you worried about me? That's cute," I teased him and continued, "But don't worry. I won't lose."
"I am not worried about you. Just be careful, okay?" he said.
He left to put the swords away, then came back and stood between us.
"The first one to fall on their knees or the one unable to continue the spar loses," he said.
Our match began right after that.
I took the compact MMA stance, hands high, chin tucked.
He stood taller, his Kyokushin posture blended with Muay Thai rhythm, his weight heavy on the lead leg.
I sent out a jab, then a cross. I didn't plan on hurting him yet, just trying to read him.
He stood there, heavy.
His answer was fast; a hard low kick slammed into my thigh.
I felt the kick immediately. That told me everything. He wanted to slow me down early.
I adjusted my stance, circled, and kept my hands busy so he wouldn't settle.
I jabbed again, feinted a level change, and stepped inside with a short hook.
I clinched instinctively, but he was ready. He pulled me into a Muay Thai plum and drove a knee up. I blocked most of it, but I knew staying there would cost me.
I fired a tight uppercut just to create space and broke away.
He threw a kick next. I caught it clean, felt his balance shift, and swept his standing leg.
He hit the mat but bounced back up fast and tough.
I let him stand, as there was no need to chase.
He came forward with pressure, gave out a straight punch, continued with a low kick, and threw a straight punch again.
I shelled up and watched the pattern, then slipped inside and countered with a clean hook and a cross.
His head gave a snapping sound, and I felt his rhythm break for the first time.
I saw him leaning forward too much, so I shot for a takedown.
He sprawled hard and clipped me with a short elbow. It was a smart move.
I disengaged immediately with no stubbornness.
My lead leg was starting to feel the damage. He noticed it and ripped an inside leg kick that shook my base.
I switched stance on the fly and drove a switch kick into his ribs.
I heard him exhale sharply. That slowed him down.
We clinched again, but this time, I fought for inside control.
I shut down his knees, landed two of my own, and tripped him to the mat.
He stood quickly, but now he was breathing heavier than before.
That's when frustration crept in.
He swung wider now, relying on toughness instead of timing.
I slipped one punch, countered with a short combination, and chopped his leg again.
His stance weakened, but he kept coming.
In the final exchange, he threw a heavy punch with bad intent and worse balance.
I slipped inside and met his arm with a tight, rotating counter while trapping his wrist against my guard.
I felt the break before I heard it.
His hand folded unnaturally as the force travelled through his face instantly.
He stepped back, clutching his hand as pain finally broke through his composure.
He dropped to one knee.
Kenji stepped in as Ryuu held his broken arm against his chest.
The other trainees also arrived. They were all standing around the ring, and I didn't hear any of them coming.
As I was lost in thought, Kenji called me to help him carry Ryuu to the infirmary.
I didn't even get the chance to relax, as I was also hurt.
When we were about to lift him up, the remaining two butted in, saying that they would take him.
We left him to them, as it would lessen the burden for us.
I fell on my back, trying to relax.
Kenji also joined me.
I closed my eyes and concentrated on my breathing.
I could hear the others talking about our fight as they scattered to start their warm-ups.
They thought I won because Ryuu let his guard down. They didn't have the slightest bit of idea about me.
It was obvious that I would win, they lack an eye for recognizing the obvious.
To be frank, I am a bit disappointed that they don't even consider me winning because of the skills I have.