"For the next few years, I continued to train in swordsmanship at the Isshin Dojo. Koushirou-sensei treated me very well, but I still couldn't shake off my resentment. I always dreamed of one day reviving the dojo."
"Especially a few months ago, a guest from Asakura Island came to visit sensei. When I asked about the Sakuraba Dojo, the guest was stunned for a long time—he had never even heard of it!"
"This kind of thing, this kind of thing…"
Junichi clenched his fists tightly, his teeth grinding audibly. "I can't accept it! If my father were still here, how could this have happened? Back in the day, the Sakuraba name was known to everyone on Asakura Island!"
"It's all my fault! I'm too incompetent! I couldn't take up my father's legacy and responsibilities, I didn't become a swordsman strong enough to stand on my own, and that's why the dojo has fallen into such ruin!"
"Stop, stop, stop."
Xiano's goosebumps were practically rising, and he quickly raised his hand to interrupt.
"That's enough, really. I can't stand it. You're so young, yet you keep talking about responsibility and reviving the dojo. Let me ask you, how old were you when your father died?"
Why bring this up?
But Junichi answered honestly, "Ten years old."
"Well, there you go," Xiano said, spreading his hands. "Didn't you say all your senior brothers ran away? If even adults couldn't change the situation, what could a ten-year-old kid do?"
"What's with all this crying and wailing, blaming yourself for everything? Who are you trying to impress? Isn't this just being a masochist?"
"Remember, instead of exhausting yourself with self-blame, exhaust others. Otherwise, you'll fall into endless anxiety, and one day you might even hang yourself."
He spoke with the tone of someone who had been through it all. "Your top priority is to focus on training your swordsmanship properly under Koushirou. When you're tired, curse out those who ruined the dojo to vent, and then keep training. It's not your fault—it's clearly theirs!"
"…" Junichi was stunned.
This guy, who was even younger than him, how could his words sound so profound?
"But my swordsmanship is already quite strong…"
He said urgently, "This time, when I return to Asakura Island, I'm aiming for the Swordsmanship Tournament. I want to win the championship and let the people from the Seven Great Dojos know that the Sakuraba Family hasn't fallen! It's just… just…"
"You don't have the money to register?" Xiano glanced at him sideways.
"Yes."
Junichi hung his head in frustration, then became angry again. "You saw the notice on the bulletin board, right? The registration fee alone is 10,000 Berries, and the Kendo Uniform and Bamboo Sword must be bought in their designated styles, which are sold at exorbitant prices. Altogether, it's almost 20,000 Berries."
"Not to mention, only disciples from the Seven Great Dojos can register. Outsider swordsmen have to find a way to pay to join a dojo… It's insane! How can they call this the most authoritative swordsmanship event in the East Blue with such greed?"
"Swordsmanship, and the dojos that teach it, shouldn't be like this at all!"
Bang! As he spoke, he grew more and more agitated, unable to resist slamming the table and shouting, "Why do the Seven Great Dojos have to be like this! When the Sakuraba Family first established the Swordsmanship Tournament, they never charged any fees and even sponsored the travel expenses for swordsmen who were short on money. The atmosphere back then... how could it have turned into such an ugly mess now! Do they have no sense of honor or self-awareness as swordsmen at all?"
"You're so loud! Seriously... I can't even hear the beautiful lady talking. Shut up, kid!"
The table next to them was also slammed, and a man with gold-rimmed glasses, who had been flirting with a hostess, rolled up his sleeves and stood up, ready to throw a punch.
Xiano coldly turned his face.
"Sorry, please continue."
The man with gold-rimmed glasses instantly sat back down.
Junichi, realizing his own outburst, quickly stood up and bowed to all the other patrons who had turned to look at him.
After sitting back down, he kept his head low and didn't speak again, though his clenched fists trembled slightly.
"..." Xiano quietly observed the thin young man before him and suddenly spoke, "I need to confirm two things with you."
"Wh-what?" Junichi looked up, confused.
"The Swordsmanship Tournament, the registration deadline is tomorrow, right? When does it start, and how long is the competition?"
"It starts the day after tomorrow. As for the schedule..." Junichi shook his head, "There's no real schedule. Everything is decided on the same day. The Sea Selection is in the morning, the semifinals in the afternoon, and the finals in the evening."
"So, it only takes one day." Xiano nodded, "Got it. Second thing, is the Sakura Courtyard Dojo still officially registered? Can I sign up directly?"
"Yes," Junichi hesitated, "Actually, I don't understand why the Seven Great Dojos haven't removed Sakuraba from the list yet. Maybe they're worried about the backlash, since the Swordsmanship Tournament was founded by my father..."
Suddenly, he realized something and looked up with a face full of surprise, "Y-you mean, you're willing to lend me money to help me register?"
"No."
Xiano shook his head, then thought for a moment and added, "I could lend it to you, but my main point is, perhaps you could give me a position in the Sakura Courtyard Dojo, like a vice-master or something. That way, I could also participate in this Swordsmanship Tournament."
"Eh? You?!"
"Why that doubtful look? Be careful, or I might change my mind about lending you the money."
Xiano placed the empty wine glass on the table, stood up with a lemon slice in his mouth, stretched, and smiled, "There's something I forgot to tell you."
"Actually, I'm also a swordsman with some basic skills."
...
Half an hour later, at the registration office.
With a newly purchased standard Kendo uniform and a fresh bamboo sword tucked under his arm, Xiano reluctantly put away his wallet and handed one of each to Sakuraba Junichi.
"It's really a rip-off."
On the way back to the inn, Xiano cursed the Seven Great Dojos again, "This fabric, this shoddy sword, the bamboo isn't even properly shaved, and they dare to charge fifteen thousand Berry for each? Isn't this just pure exploitation? With such high barriers, why are so many people still rushing to get scammed?"
The fifty thousand Berry that Bellemere had given him was instantly gone.
If it weren't for the spare change he had saved up from before, he probably wouldn't even be able to afford a night at the inn tonight, and the two of them would have to sleep on the street together.
"After all, the prize money is quite substantial, and becoming the champion… no, even just making it to the semifinals would be a great honor for the swordsmen of the East Sea."
Junichi followed closely by his side, "By then, several local newspapers from the East Sea will be there, and the champion will instantly gain fame. Who doesn't dream of becoming famous? But…"
"But what?" Xiano stopped in his tracks and turned to look at him.
"But I still doubt whether you're a real swordsman."
Junichi's tone was sincere, "Mr. Xiano… let's call you that for now. Although I'm very grateful for your guidance and comfort, and for lending me such a large sum of money, you really don't seem like a swordsman, do you? What kind of swordsman goes out without carrying a sword?"
The sword is in the backpack slot, you just can't see it.
Xiano muttered in his heart.
After obtaining the "Masamune" blade, he had thrown away that small wooden sword. After all, it was now shorter than his arm, and carrying it around would only make him look like a clown.
"Your reason for doubting is valid."
Xiano looked down at the scrawny boy in f
ront of him, "But don't we have a sword now?" He weighed the standard-issue bamboo sword in his hand and grinned, "How about we find an open space and spar a bit?"
(End of Chapter)