Chapter 9.

“Reiki is a mysterious force that flows through the bodies of all living beings. It is the energy that allows mortals to perform incredible techniques. It is composed of two elements: physical reiki, which comes from the body’s cells, and spiritual reiki, which comes from the mind and emotions. Reiki is a source of power and wisdom for everyone, but it also involves great risk. Its excessive or improper use can lead to exhaustion, injuries, or even death.”

“Reiki”

Atlas of the Known World

Great Alim, Ahmed Aljinn

“I don’t understand how they tolerate him,” Juro Tahara said in his nasal voice and aristocratic accent.

Ritsu shuddered at hearing it and stepped aside to let the gang of thugs following him pass. It wasn’t the first time they had harassed him, nor would it be the last. Since he had arrived at the academy, he had been the target of their taunts and blows. Juro was not alone, as always. He was accompanied by his usual henchmen, and some new faces who had seen in him an opportunity to rise in the student hierarchy.

Katsuo was still in the infirmary, recovering from his wounds, and Ritsu did not know if he would see him again. He hoped not. Anyway, things had not changed much, because since Professor Norio had injured Katsuo, Juro had taken over as the undisputed leader of the bullies.

“Pigs should stay in the pen,” another thug added, looking at him with contempt. “Why don’t you just go back to your shitsty?”

The others joined in the chorus of mockery and insults, surrounding him like a pack of hungry wolves.

“Why don’t you go back to your sty, pig?” Juro spat at him, pushing him so that he stumbled. Ritsu fell to the ground and felt pain in his knees and hands.

The insults continued as they walked away, turning the corner of the hallway. But Juro’s laughter and that of his companions echoed in Ritsu’s ears long after they were out of sight.

He hated them, with all his soul.

If he could, he would make them pay for everything they had done to him.

But he knew it was pointless to resist. Not all teachers were like Professor Norio. Some looked at him with the same hatred as Juro and the others, and they would not hesitate to punish him if he dared to raise his voice. So, the best thing was to endure in silence, hoping that someday things would change.

Although deep down he knew that was an illusion.

Despite rationalizing like this, he couldn’t help but clench his fists until his nails hurt. Anger burned inside him like a fire he couldn’t extinguish. It was only when a senior student shoved him as he walked past that Ritsu got up and set off. He headed to the eastern garden, where he would have his tsubo class.

There were no chairs or blackboards there, just an open space where students sat on the grass. Ritsu slipped to the back row, trying to go unnoticed. The dark-haired boy sitting next to him gave him a friendly smile, but Ritsu did not return the gesture. He knew that behind that smile there had to be something more.

Such were things at the academy.

A few minutes later, with the murmur of water and the whisper of leaves as witnesses, a woman of sublime presence made her entrance into the garden. Professor Hikari, with a beauty that eclipsed the very sunlight, advanced with a pink-toned kimono, wrapped in softness and grace. Her choice of attire blended her among the elegant cherry trees in bloom, whose arched branches rose around her.

The teacher walked to the center of the garden, everyone went silent, stood up, and bowed respectfully to her. The professor returned the greeting with a slight smile and headed to the center of the garden, where there was a porcelain statue.

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The statue was a masterpiece of craftsmanship. It depicted a naked man, in a relaxed posture and a serene expression. His body was modeled with amazing realism, reproducing every muscle, every vein, every bone. His skin had a pearly tone, and his eyes seemed alive.

It was hard to believe he wasn’t a flesh-and-blood person.

“Welcome to the reiki class,” said Professor Hikari with a sweet and melodious voice. “Today we will learn about the reiki points, or tsubo, which are the energy centers distributed throughout the body. Each tsubo is connected to an organ or vital function, and by manipulating them we can alter the flow of reiki in our body or in that of our enemies.”

The professor lifted her hand and gently touched the forehead of the statue.

“This is the third eye tsubo, which is related to intuition, clairvoyance, and extrasensory perception. If we stimulate it, we can increase our ability to see the invisible, to anticipate events. But if we block it, we can cause confusion, hallucinations or mental blindness.”

Everyone nodded with interest, trying to memorize the location and name of the point.

“How do you block a tsubo?” someone asked.

“There are several ways,” the professor replied. “One is to press hard on the point with a finger or with a pointed object. Another is to use our own energy to interfere with the other’s. And another is to use objects or symbols that have a special power over the tsubo.”

“What kind of objects or symbols?” the student persisted.

“That’s something you will learn later,” commented the professor with a mysterious look. “For now, it’s enough to know that they exist and that they are very dangerous if used improperly.”

The woman continued to explain the different tsubo that were on the head, neck, chest, abdomen, arms, and legs of the statue, indicating their functions and their effects when activated or inhibited. They listened attentively. Some took notes on their scrolls, others repeated the professor’s words in a low voice.

When they were finished, she gestured for them to approach the statue.

“Now we are going to do a practical exercise,” she said, infusing the statue with reiki. “I want each of you to choose a tsubo and press it with your finger, trying to feel the reiki flowing through it. Then, try to block or stimulate it, according to what you have learned.”

The students lined up and took turns passing by the statue, touching different points and focusing on their sensations. Some removed their finger, saying they felt a heat or a sharp cold, others a tingling or tickling sensation, others continued trying without feeling anything at all.

Unfortunately, he was one of the latter.

“Don’t worry if you don’t feel anything,” the professor encouraged them. “Reiki is something subtle and requires a lot of practice to master. The important thing is that you familiarize yourselves with the tsubo and their effects.”

When all the students had finished, the professor asked them to move away from the statue and form a circle around it.

“Now I will show you another way to use reiki,” she added. “A more direct and powerful way, but also more dangerous. It’s about using reiki to strengthen the body and perform blunt blows that can tear muscles and break bones.”

The professor closed her eyes and placed her hands in front of her chest, as if praying. Ritsu watched her curiously, not knowing what she was going to do. Suddenly, the professor opened her eyes and extended her right hand toward the statue. The palm of her hand lit up with a white light, and an aura of energy surrounded her.

“Reiki!” the professor shouted, and struck the statue with incredible force.

The sound of the impact was deafening. The statue shattered, and the pieces of porcelain flew through the air. Everyone covered their faces with their arms, trying to protect themselves from the fragments. Some let out exclamations of amazement, others of fear.

The professor withdrew her hand and smiled contentedly. Her palm was intact, with no wounds or marks.

“This is what can be done with reiki,” she said. “But do not be deceived by its apparent simplicity. It is a very difficult technique to control, and if not done correctly, can cause irreparable damage to one’s own body or to that of the opponent. Therefore, it should only be used in extreme cases, when there is no other option.”

The professor made a gesture with her hand and the statue was restored as if by magic, (or rather, reiki). The pieces of porcelain returned to their place, and the naked man regained his original form. Then, the professor looked at them with a stern expression.

“Now, I want you to seek out the tsubo in a real person,” she indicated. “Pair up with the closest partner and try.”

The apprentices looked at each other nervously. Some hurried to form pairs with their friends, others remained undecided, waiting for someone to choose them.

Nobody wanted to be the last to find a partner.

Ritsu closed his eyes and felt a knot in his stomach. He was the loneliest in the class. He had no friends. Surely no one would want to pair up with him.

What was he going to do?

Get up and ask the professor to forcibly pair him with someone who hated him? Or stay still and wait for the professor to punish him for not participating?

But something pulled him out of his gloomy thoughts. Someone was touching his shoulder. Ritsu opened his eyes and saw the boy who had smiled at him earlier.

“You don’t have a partner, do you?” he asked in a friendly voice.

Ritsu nodded, confused. The boy extended his hand for a handshake. He had a sincere smile on his face.

Was it a joke? It didn’t seem like it.

“Shinji Hatanaka,” he introduced himself. “It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

Ritsu took his hand shyly.

Shinji had a warm and firm hand.

“I... I am Ritsu Akechi,” he stammered. “The pleasure is mine.”

Shinji released his hand and winked at him.

“Come on, don’t be shy,” he said. “We’re rank-mates, right? Besides, we have something in common.”

Ritsu looked at him curiously.

“What do we have in common?” he asked.

Shinji leaned in close to his ear and whispered:

“We’re both ‘pigs’.”