“I’m back,” I said to Shin and Rai as I entered the gate.

  I removed my shoes at the entrance before I glanced up at the clock hanging above the front door. The time read 6:03.

  Our house was laid out in a square. If you were facing the front, going to the right would take you directly to the living room, then a side corridor that opens to a path towards the dojo. Further back is the dining and the kitchen. The left side would bring you to the individual rooms, then the bathroom at the back.

  I went directly to my room and grabbed a towel. I wiped myself as best I could and I tied my hair back into a small ponytail. Then I went directly to the kitchen.

  “I’m back,” I said to the people already there. Mother had taken over the cooking from grandfather. Kuuko baa-san was still there though she still looked like she was thinking over something.

  “Welcome back,” Mother greeted as I entered. “Had a good run today?”

  “The usual,” I answered back. “Nothing much happened.”

  “Father is already at the dojo,” she said as I passed by, my footsteps taking me directly out of the kitchen.

  “Okay.”

  On the left side of our house, a winding path leads directly to our detached dojo. The plot of land the building is sitting on is elevated enough for five steps, a representation of the five elements of Buddhism, earth, water, fire, wind, and void. The dojo itself is located at the center and is raised by 3 more steps.

  The dojo is facing north and the main entrance in the south, and another in the east, though that side is not used to enter. It is oriented this way so that when one enters from the main entrance, they are directly facing the altar.

  I found my grandfather waiting for me at the main entrance. He nodded when he saw me arrive.

  “I’m back.”

  “Welcome back,” he replied to my greeting. “Are you ready then?”

  “Yes,” I answered and we proceeded to open the dojo.

  Normally, the first thing you do is clean the dojo before using it, but our family does things a bit differently. And you may be wondering how we’re able to manage our rather expansive house with so few people living here.

  I do not know how, but my grandmother apparently contracted the local cleaning service. Every Sunday, they send six people to clean our entire property.

  As for our dojo, some of Grandfather’s students clean during the afternoon, so we don’t need to clean as much in the morning. And the cleaning service also takes care of it so it remains mostly spotless.

  First, just as we entered, we faced the Shōmen (正面), the honored front wall and bowed towards it and the altar, Kamidana (神棚). Then grandfather brought out our gear and we wore them in silence. Since I was already an advanced practitioner, I was allowed to use a bokutō (木刀) instead of the usual shinai.

  After checking that our equipment was fully secured, we opened the east entrance. This entrance, Shimoseki (下席), the junior side, led out to the veranda on that side. But because of the orientation of the building, the rising sun would fill the hall with the light of the dawn.

  We stood facing the rising sun and bowed, before we turned to face each other and we bowed again, then my morning practice began.

  First, is Suburi (素振り), swinging practice. 50 swings, focusing on precision and rhythm. Suburi must show dignity, no wasted motion, and sharp ki-ken-tai-ichi—the spirit, sword, and body as one.

  Next is Kirikaeshi (切り返し) or continuous cutting practice. I must show not only good striking form, footwork, and breath control but also demonstrate rhythm, seme (pressure), and the ability to maintain composure while giving and receiving strikes.

  It is followed by Uchikomi-geiko (打ち込み稽古), striking practice. It is to simply strike without hesitation at the opening created by your seme.

  Kakari-geiko (掛かり稽古) or attack practice is next, short bursts of all-out attacking with sutemi, full commitment and show decisiveness with each strike.

  Finally, Ji-geiko (地稽古), free sparring and Oji-waza (応じ技) counter-techniques. At this stage, I refined my timing and my ability to read and anticipate my opponent’s intention (debana-waza). The drills also incorporate evading (nuki-waza) and countering (kaeshi-waza).

  It was especially tough considering I had finished a 7 km jog, and I don’t think grandfather went easy on me. However, my practice sessions in the morning would only take at least 30 minutes. In my grandparents’ words, Kendo is more about precision, anticipation and timing than continuous output.

  A sharp focused mind, even with a tired but enduring body can in essence, deliver one decisive strike that can end the match. Endurance is simply a background requirement that would allow you to remain sharp enough to deliver that strike.

  After we finished, my grandfather and I bowed to each other again. Even though I was ready to lie down on the floor, I had to stay strong.

  “Good job today,” my grandfather said fondly after he removed his helmet. “Go ahead and take a break, just leave everything there, I’ll clean it up.”

  “Thank you, Ojii-san,” I replied, feeling grateful.

  After my jog and morning drill, my body ached and I was sweating a lot, so a nice hot shower would feel amazing, second only to a long bath.

  After I arrived at the bathroom, I stripped down to my underwear and tossed most of my clothes into the laundry basket. Everything else would get machine-washed except for my scarf.

  As for the scarf, I researched online on how to clean it and according to what I read, you are supposed to dry clean them. Handwashing would tear the fabric because of how delicate cashmere is.

  But from what my friend told me, I should just soak it in my favorite fabric conditioner, stir it around a bit, and then hang it up to air-dry.

  Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

  Apparently, this particular scarf was durable enough to survive daily machine-washing without fraying, hence the high price tag. The downside was that colors would fade so he recommended the earlier method instead.

  After more than two years of using it, it still looks brand new because of how vivid the colors remain. As instructed, I left it to hang but secured enough that it didn’t need a clothespin.

  The sport I would have chosen if I didn’t have Kendo would be swimming. It may sound a bit childish but I enjoy playing around in water. When we were little, my two friends and I would often wade in the shallows of the river, though we also often got scolded.

  It goes without saying then that I would love nothing more than to have a nice warm bath, but unfortunately, I still have things to do.

  I quickly walked back to my room. I love the cold when running, but not right after I’ve finished taking a shower. Fortunately, I still hadn’t turned off the heater to my room, so when I arrived there, the cold was manageable.

  After changing into a shirt and pajamas, I sat down and checked my phone for any messages. I found that there were none, so I took a few minutes to rest. The time was 6:45 when I heard a knock on my door.

  “Onee-chan, breakfast.”

  “Okay, I’ll be right there.”

  The one who called me was my youngest sister, Mizuki. According to the instructions given by the organization, we were supposed to take the 4:30 pm train ride to Tokyo where we would be chaperoned by one of the organization’s representatives.

  And though both my sisters still had school today both said they would be back to send me off later.

  All of us, at least me and my classmates that would be attending the event, agreed that we would meet up at the station at around 4:00 pm. Fortunately, the station wasn’t far from our school in the city so they should be able to make it.

  By the time I arrived at the dining room, everyone, save for grandfather was already there. I took my place beside mother.

  Our breakfast today consisted of rice, miso soup, fried eggs, fried eggplant, and chilled tofu topped with green onions, bonito flakes and soy sauce. My father was casually reading the morning newspaper, his morning coffee half finished. Grandmother was silently drinking her miso-soup.

  “Hurry you two, Hanazono-san will be arriving any minute,” mother said to my two sisters.

  “It’s fine Kaa-san,” Tsukine said before shoveling another bite of egg.

  “That’s right, we still have time,” agreed Mizuki.

  “It’s not fine,” mother countered before she started to eat. “It’s rude if we keep him waiting.”

  “Both of you should listen to your mother,” Father interjected, before taking a sip of his coffee.

  “And like we keep telling both of you,” Tsukine said sounding a bit exasperated. “Uncle Seiji doesn’t mind.”

  “He even said that, despite him picking us up and dropping us off, he would have more than 30 minutes extra time before his shift starts,” added Mizuki.

  This kind of argument is common especially during early mornings.

  My family and Reika’s are close. This connection is because my grandmother and Reika’s grandmother, Nana Kagamiya (火神屋 凪夏), have the same ancestors. Both of our families go back for multiple generations.

  And because of this, uncle Seiji, as he said we should call him, had offered, or rather taken it upon himself to be the one to pick us up and drop us off at school. Their house is a bit farther from ours in the nearby neighborhood of Sekiboricho.

  His route would take him to our house then use the same route as my jogging path before cutting into an intersection towards the inner city to our school. It would take around 15 to 20 minutes by car to arrive there depending on the traffic.

  Which fits perfectly with his morning schedule because he works as a doctor for the city hospital and the hospital is only half a kilometer southeast of the school.

  Their argument continued even after we finished eating and both my sisters have finished brushing their teeth. But instead of arguing in the dining room, we moved to the living room where they waited for uncle Seiji.

  Our living room is wide and is a blend of traditional and modern furniture. We don’t have chairs like in our dining room, we have Zaisu—legless chairs with backrests and a large rectangular tea table.

  If you face away from the kitchen, the left side is traditional, complete with a tokonoma, a ceremonial display space and Tokowaki, the built-in decorative alcove. The opposite side is simply a barren wall, since the tokonoma is the focal point of the room, it cannot be facing anything.

  However, the adjacent wall, the one closest to the entrance, we have a lowboard cabinet with a TV on top.

  We were all sitting around the table while Father and my sisters were continuing their discussion. Mother was washing the dishes while Grandmother was content to listen.

  “Shizuku wasn’t like this when she was your age,” Father grumbled. “And for both of you to go through your rebellious phases at the same time—”

  “We’re only a year apart!” Tsukine said indignantly.

  “That’s right!” Mizuki followed up, “wait till Shizu-nee gets a boyfriend! We’ll see who’s rebelling then!”

  My hand slammed against the coffee table.

  “What does that have to do with anything!?” I asked feeling a bit irritated. Just a bit.

  “Our parents keep comparing us to you because you’re too much of an honor student!”

  “That’s right, Nee-chan! You’re too serious and stiff.”

  “Don’t you know, that’s not cute at all!”

  “And that spartan training you do is too boring.”

  “Boys won’t like you if you are too serious and boring at the same time.”

  “It’s time for you to stop your little good child act and rebel! Find yourself a boyfriend and live!”

  “Shizu-nee, there is a rumour going around school that if you confess to someone during your trip you will be together forever.”

  “That’s a good idea Tsuki-nee! Use the trip to get yourself a boyfriend, Shizu-nee!”

  “I agree with Mizuki, Shizu-nee! We don’t mind if you don’t bring back any souvenirs, just bring back a boyfriend.”

  Both of my hands slammed against the coffee table.

  “What does that have to do with anything!?” both me and father said, our voices a bit louder than usual.

  Even though both of them are my sisters, that was too much.

  “Don’t try and change the subject,” my father said sounding irritated. “No matter the state your sister’s love life is in, it has nothing to do with both of your punctuality.”

  I’m not getting angry. Definitely not angry, one bit.

  Before anyone else could say a word, someone interjected.

  “The law of our house is clear,” grandfather said as he and mother entered the room.

  “They have to beat me first before they so much as call any of my daughters theirs,” mother said with conviction.

  “No, I would be the one they need to defeat,” Father said, correcting Mother.

  “Well, that can’t be right," Grandfather said, looking as if he were trying to remember something.

  “Didn’t we each agree that we would set a challenge for any potential match to overcome?” Father said sounding confused.

  “Yes,” Grandfather said, looking at Mother and Father. “But I believe that I am the one they need to defeat, and you two would set the financial and character challenges?”

  Just what are they saying?

  “Didn’t you know Shizu-nee? Our parents proclaimed that to many of your classmates,” Tsukine said now sounding curious. “I think they did that twice already.”

  “It was to basically anyone who would listen really. I think half the school knows about that rule.” Mizuki said sounding bored.

  “WHY DID I NOT HEAR ANY OF THIS!?” I said, my voice, definitely above conversational volume.

  “Shizuku-chan, be quiet,” mother said calmly. “The adults are talking.”

  WERE THEY THE REASON!?

  Okay—I maybe—just maybe—am getting a bit angry now.

  “The law of our household is that I am the one they need to defeat,” even Grandmother said, joining the conversation. “If you three want, you can challenge them after me.”

  “Of course, mother, and since I am going on the trip, I can keep an eye out for potential suitors and challenge them first.”

  “Agreed—but dear wife, please do not do that. Introduce that person to us first.”

  “I will not allow Shizuku to get married to simply anyone. As head of this household, it is my duty to see to that.”

  I turned my head to the side, my hair completely covering one side of my face.

  I didn’t think there would be rain here. That’s right—it was rain. I wiped the rain from my eyes.

  When I looked back, I saw my sisters fist-bump each other.

  These people.

  ========================================================================

  Narrator 1, note 1: HA-HA! And 2 days later, I rose again! I broke the fourth wall and went straight through the dry wall in to this story! Let me just say, that was funny as hell! AHAHAHA!

  Narrator 1, note 2: No! Wait! Not the face!