Yuichi jolted awake as his internal sense of time alerted him that he had only managed a brief hour of sleep. Panic surged through him as he glanced at the window, realizing he was perilously close to being late for his class. With a quick burst of adrenaline-fueled energy, he threw off his blanket, scrambled out of his futon, and hastily began to dress.

In a whirlwind of urgency, Yuichi managed to put on his uniform, barely taking a moment to catch his breath. He cast a fleeting look at his room, its disarray reflecting his chaotic morning, before rushing out the door and sprinting through the academy's corridors.

His heart pounded in his chest as he reached the classroom just in the nick of time, panting slightly as he entered. His relief was short-lived, however, as he was met with the instructor, Kensei Muguruma, who stood at the front of the room with a stern expression.

"Ah, Yuichi," Kensei greeted with a raised eyebrow. "Since you've decided to make an entrance, you've also volunteered yourself for a little demonstration. A practical way to remind you of the importance of punctuality."

Yuichi's heart sank at the realization that his tardiness had landed him in this predicament. He wanted above all else to stay under the radar which meant doing just well enough to remain mediocre. If he was either the best or worst he would be noticed. He gave a quick nod, acknowledging his mistake, and braced himself for whatever was to come next.

Kensei led the class to the training grounds, and Yuichi's apprehension grew. As they arrived, Kensei explained the lesson for the day: a demonstration of Hakuda, a combat style that involved close-quarters combat and physical techniques. Yuichi's anxiety deepened as he wondered how he would fare in this impromptu trial.

"Listen up," Kensei addressed the class, his voice carrying a tone of authority. "Today, we're going to have a little challenge. Yuichi here is going to try and land a hit on me using only Hakuda. His goal is to force me out of the circle I've drawn on the ground. If he succeeds, he'll earn a pass for all future Hakuda lessons."

Yuichi's eyes widened at the stakes involved. He realized that this challenge was an opportunity to potentially earn a valuable exemption. Filled with regret that there was no way to win Yuichi put on a fake determined expression, he took a step forward, ready to lose to Kensei's formidable skills head-on.

Kensei's eyes bore into Yuichi, his stance solid and unwavering. "Come at me with all you've got," he challenged, his voice carrying a mix of seriousness and expectation.

Help support creative writers by finding and reading their stories on the original site.

Yuichi swallowed his nervousness and focused his energy. He had trained regularly in various combat techniques, including Hakuda, and he was determined to give it just enough. He entered a defensive stance, his muscles tensed and his mind focused. He observed Kensei's every movement, searching for an opening only to find there was no such thing. Mei had told him during their training that when fighting a stronger opponent that you could not escape from it was best to attack trying to throw their rhythm off and create an opening.

With a burst of speed, Yuichi lunged forward, his fist aimed at Kensei's midsection. Kensei effortlessly sidestepped, his movements fluid and precise. Yuichi adjusted his strategy, attempting a swift roundhouse kick, but Kensei smoothly evaded once grabbed his leg, and threw him back.

The two engaged in a dance of evasion and attacks, Yuichi doing just enough to make it look as if he were trying his hardest. He unleashed a flurry of strikes, each one met with Kensei's expert counters. Time seemed to blur as they continued their intense exchange.

‘Now seems like the best moment to I try a big attack. I should create so many openings in my form that Kensei should attack me to end this lesson. I can’t keep wasting my time on this pointless endeavor.’

Now focused, Yuichi channeled his reiatsu into strengthening his body, aiming a powerful strike at Kensei's chest. Kensei's response was lightning-fast. He deflected Yuichi's strike with a precise block and swiftly countered, his fist connecting with Yuichi's stomach. The impact was controlled, a reminder of the gap in their skill levels.

Yuichi flew back, his heart pounding and his body aching from the exertion and the pain. He glanced at Kensei, who stood within the circle, his expression unchanged.

Kensei's eyes bore into Yuichi, before turning to face the other students. "Now before you all group up and start practicing, can anyone tell me what Yuichi did wrong throughout our sparring session?"

Several hands shot up as eager students vied for Kensei's attention. Kensei pointed to one of them, a young soul reaper with a determined expression.

"He was too predictable," the student answered confidently. "Every move he made was leading up to that final strike, and it was clear that he was trying to create an opening. Kensei-sensei saw through his intentions and capitalized on it."

Kensei nodded approvingly. "Exactly. Predictability in combat is a glaring weakness. Your opponent can easily anticipate your actions and turn them against you. Yuichi, remember that the key to success lies in adapting and keeping your opponent guessing. Use feints, change your rhythm, and never reveal your true intentions too early."

Yuichi, still catching his breath, absorbed Kensei's words. The student's observation had hit the mark, and he realized he had fallen into a trap of his own making. Had this been real then he made some mistakes. First, he had underestimated Kensei's experience and had been playing into Kensei’s hands by trying to make an opening. He learned a valuable lesson from this. The best possible strategy can easily be exactly the move your opponent expects or what they didn’t. Adapting was the most important lesson.

"Thank you for the insight," Yuichi replied, a mixture of genuine gratitude in his voice. "I'll make sure to apply what I've learned in the future."

Kensei gave a nod of acknowledgment before turning to address the rest of the class. "Now, take what you've observed and apply it to your own sparring sessions. Remember, combat is as much a mental game as it is a physical one. Adaptation, observation, and innovation are your greatest assets. Once you fall into your opponent's rhythm and lose these tools then the battle is as good as lost already."

As the class dispersed to begin their own practice sessions. Yuichi joined a practice group, ready to apply the lessons he had learned. As he sparred with his fellow students, he experimented with feints, changed his rhythm, and employed a more unpredictable approach. Gradually, he began to see improvements in his technique and an increased ability to keep his opponents on their toes.