Is It Just Me, or Does That Guy Looks Like He wants to kill Us

[Kaito Haruki]

Shaggy brown hair almost covers dark eyes, but even from the sidelines, Haruki can still see the intent to harm clear as day. Every attack that ashigaru has made in these past 2 training excercises made contact, 8 for 8. At least Kokyou is able to walk it off. Haruki could barely hold in a wince just looking at it.

[Kakita Kenji]

Kenji, still euphoric from his performance, went over to Haruki. "Hey, Haruki-san, how was your training?"

[Kaito Haruki]

"My training went GREAT. I dodged every attack and was significantly faster than my opponent. Hey, just confirming, that guy sparring with Kokyou was the same one who sparred with Aiichiro right?"

[Kakita Kenji]

"Could be, why you asking?" Kenji asked innocently. "You want to train with him? Did something happend to Kokyo-san? I was rather distracted" he grinned

[Kaito Haruki]

"I'm not sure if I want to spar with him or not. He's landed every hit he's attempted, and he just made enough wounds in Kokyou that he needed to stop early." Haruki is conflicted, sure it would be a great challenge, but he also needs to consider his grades (definitely not because he doesn't want to have an open wound from the guy. Fear of damage is not fitting for a samurai).

[Kakita Kenji]

"Really?!" Kenji exclaimed "Either he is really good, or really lucky, never heard of such an talented Ashigaru, mine wasn't able to hit me once, and i even wanted him to attack me harder"

[Kaito Haruki]

"Pretty sure it's because of his skill. Have you looked into his eyes? I doubt a person can be that lucky this consistently, he's crippling them but not taking the air out of their lungs. To do that consistently with children means he's got to have control."

[Kakita Kazuko]

Kazuko decided to take a walk around and look at the others spar after watching Kenji but soon came back after a short while, managing to catch the tail end of the conversation.

"Oh, hello Haruki-san. Those frogs you caught were most delicious! I must say, I did not expect to like frogs so much. What's that about control with children?"

[Kakita Kenji]

"You mean, he hates us?" Kenji implied. Upon seeing Kazuko he needed to boast a little "Hi Kazuko-san, have you seen my fight?"

[Kakita Kazuko]

"Of course, you did excellent! The ashigaru couldn't even hit you. Good job Kenji-san!"

[Kaito Haruki]

"I wouldn't say that just yet, but I'm not ruling it out. Maybe they intentionally hid Ronin in among them, to humble the good students?"

[Kakita Kazuko]

Kazuko, still unaware of what they are talking about, just stands there confused. That won't stop her from trying to join in on the conversation though.

"Umm, Ronin? You mean in the ranks of ashigaru? I doubt that."

[Kakita Kenji]

"Thank you, Kazuko-san, your fight was also very impressive! With a real katana, you are definitely scary!" Kenji said honestly.

He turned to Haruki again "That would be one possibility, but why did they let him loose on Aiichiro-San? He is one of the most humble students here"

[Kaito Haruki]

Haruki points out the subject of conversation discretely, trying not to draw attention to them. "You saw how that one did against Aiichiro and Kokyou right? How else do you explain these results Kazuko-San?"

[Kakita Kazuko]

"Thank you, Kazuko-san, your fight was also very impressive! With a real katana, you are definitely scary!" Kenji said honestly.

He turned to Haruki again "That would be one possibility, but why did they let him loose on Aiichiro-San? He is one of the most humble students here"

"Thank you! That means a lot to me as I aim to become one of the best duelists in the kingdom!"

Kazuko is genuinely happy at the compliment.

Haruki points out the subject of conversation discretely, trying not to draw attention to them. "You saw how that one did against Aiichiro and Kokyou right? How else do you explain these results Kazuko-San?"

"I do not know... I know Aiichiro-san and Kokyou-san were injured pretty badly but maybe they just got unlucky? I was not paying close attention to their fights."

[Kaito Haruki]

"I guess you were right Kenji-san, I probably do want to train with him, if only to see if he's actually that good or that lucky." Turning to face Kazuko, "I hope we get a chance to practice dueling here once everyone proves themselves able to control the blade enough to practice proper iaijutsu."

[Kakita Kazuko]

"Say, what sort of skills do you know right now, Haruki-san?"

Kazuko would offer to teach Haruki the basics of dueling immediately, but she already promised to teach Nobuko and Ginkarasu in exchange for their own knowledge so offering Haruki the chance for nothing in return would make her feel like a dirty scammer.

[Kaito Haruki]

"I was sent here because my training was . . . a little unorthodox for a student of the Eternal Phoenix Dojo, Kaito who have no potential to be Shrine Keepers first are taught the basics in a remote dojo. One meant more for little children and 2nd year samurai who are learning the basics of what it means to be a leader. As such, you learn a little bit of a lot of different skills and basic conditioning work. My sensei pulled a few favors to keep me in his care after I helped him babysit his kids when the servant got sick. I didn't know at the time that was when the Masters learned about the Ruby Champion's experiment, and I guess that's why they let me stay and just learn more basics. I really am an experiment for my clan too."

[Kakita Kenji]

"The best duelist in the empire, second only to me," Kenji said to Kazuko with a broad grin

Kenji listened carefully to Haruki's story

[Kakita Kazuko]

"The best duelist in the empire, second only to me," Kenji said to Kazuko with a broad grin

Kenji listened carefully to Haruki's story

"Ha! You wish! Duel me sometime, then we'll see," she smirks back.

"I was sent here because my training was . . . a little unorthodox for a student of the Eternal Phoenix Dojo, Kaito who have no potential to be Shrine Keepers first are taught the basics in a remote dojo. One meant more for little children and 2nd year samurai who are learning the basics of what it means to be a leader. As such, you learn a little bit of a lot of different skills and basic conditioning work. My sensei pulled a few favors to keep me in his care after I helped him babysit his kids when the servant got sick. I didn't know at the time that was when the Masters learned about the Ruby Champion's experiment, and I guess that's why they let me stay and just learn more basics. I really am an experiment for my clan too."

Kazuko can't help but feel a bit sympathetic towards Haruki as she listens.

"You're more than just a simple experiment. You're more than what they think you are. Also, if you want to surprise your senseis when you get back, I can teach you the basics of dueling if you promise to teach me a skill later too."