After a long emotional day Karai decided to make herself a cup of green tea after placing the envelope on her desk followed by doing her usual stretches then going to the dojo. While Karai was in the kitchen boiling the kettle her mother walked by, kissed her on the head and asked, "How was your day, sweetie?" Karai gave a pleasant smile and took her black cat mug out of the cupboard and put a tea bag inside.
"Would you like honey or lemon with that?" her mother asked holding both up, one in each hand. Karai looked at her mother's left hand with the lemon loosely gripped, her mother threw it towards her and she caught it mid-air. "I don't know, after all these years how you can still drink that stuff, coffee is nice too." her mother kept the conversation going after Karai cringed at the sight of the coffee granules. "Don't worry, you're different and that's good, I wouldn't want it any other way. I love yo-" in an moment of rage Karai slammed her spoon on the counter and looked at her mother fiercely. The look in Karai's eyes screamed 'I don't want to hear those words'. Karai’s mom chose her words very poorly to tell her she cares.
Karai didn't believe in those words. They were a curse and Karai made it clear to her mother a year before. Her mother regretted it instantly for trying to push her luck.
"I'm sorry dear-" her mother apologized as she walked towards Karai but Karai wasn't having any of it. Karai took her mug and stormed off to her room with tears in her eyes.
After her tea was done Karai did some warm ups and stretches before heading out to the dojo.
Two hours later and Karai came home sweaty and worn out. *What a good workout, it keeps my mind off of things.* She thought to herself. Karai took her dinner plate and put it in the microwave on low for five minutes while she went to take a shower. *All clean and absolutely famished. Oh right! Ryuu gave me an envelope* Karai completely forgot about her hunger and ran up to her room to fetch the letter. She opened it with much excitement yet carefully not to damage the letter in any way.
"Dear Karai Prigge
Congratulations on behalf of the SNA Council! You have been selected to become a student of the Seigi No .
Academy. Many students try out each year to join this prestigious Academy;
you can be proud that the Seigi No Academy masters have invited you to become a part of this formidable team.
As a student of the Seigi No Academy team, you will train on a daily basis with your given masters to which you will report to about any negativity or suspicious activity. We look forward to having you become a part of a fine Ninjitsu tradition.
Being a member of the Seigi No Academy is an honor, but it also requires of you a special commitment. If you have been doing MMA at the recreational level, little may have been required of you.
If you decide to move up to the more competitive, select level of youth Martial Arts, you will be expected to make certain commitments to your masters. At this level of dedication and success, comfort at the dojo will not come without some extra effort. -"
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Karai continued reading when her stomach growled. She walked to the kitchen and slowly pecked at her food.
"-The will to overcome evil is not enough. We are speaking of more than just the effort it takes to show up at the dojo. We are talking now about the kind of effort that involves hard work, choices about the way in which you wish to spend your free time, and perhaps some sacrifices on your part. Before you accept this invitation to become part of the Segji No Academy, consider carefully the following commitments which each Seigi No Academy member must make. If you are not willing to make this commitment, then perhaps you should not move beyond recreational MMA. If you are willing to make this commitment, then we believe that we can help you become a hero for this country and maybe even the world. As masters, we commit to you that we also will work hard to help you improve your skills, gain in your knowledge of the art, and make practices a worthwhile experience. We will expect you to work hard, but we will make every effort to see to it that you have fun also.
We hope that you will decide to sign the Seigi No Academy Commitment to Excellence.
Here follows the member commitment letter:
As a Seigi No Academy member, I understand that the difference between being ordinary and being extra-ordinary is a little extra effort. I understand that wanting to overcome evil one day is worth nothing unless I have the will to prepare to win and put any villains to justice at any time without hesitation.
I promise to do the following:
1. I promise to arrange my schedule so that I can come to practice regularly and on time, and to participate in scheduled tournaments.
2. I promise to work hard at practice to improve my skills and my understanding of the art.
3. I promise that, at practice, I will give the masters my full attention and respect.
4. I promise to do whatever is asked of me, without complaining, for the good of the academy.
5. I promise always to encourage, and never to criticize any other students/members of the academy.
6. I promise always to hustle, and never to quit, until training is over.
Equipment:
Seigi No Academy will supply you with your training equipment, clothing, a room, food, dining and bathroom facilities, you just need to bring bathroom utilities, extra off camp clothing and any other necessities needed.
You will be granted freedom to go home over weekends if you please but it will be recommended that you carry a communicator with you at all times in case Seigi No Academy needs you for missions.
Transport will be granted in case you don’t have your own. Parking is also reserved for students and members.
Please Note: Signing this letter acquires your full commitment as a trainee student, it is much more than a job, so there will be much more expected from you.
SIGNED: SEIGI NO ACADEMY STUDENT
_______________________________
Masters of Seigi No Academy
Ryuu - Lone Wolf
Chujitsuna - Flame Lily
Kashikoi - Scabbard"
Karai had finished her dinner by the time she finished the letter and grabbed a pen to sign right away.
She was the top student in her MMA classes, exceptionally fit and flexible with a passion for what she did and with her losing her boyfriend, friends and family in such a short time she didn't have much back home except her mother and Karai wanted adventure and to save people, not for the sake of being a hero but because it made her feel good knowing that she could keep another family together and not have someone else go through the pain she had experienced. After mourning the loss of so many close people dear to her, she focused her energy into another direction and pushed even harder in her training and after school activities and it paid off well.