Over the weekend, Mika and I stood in front of the school in casual, practical clothes, waiting for the others. Today, the entire club was heading to Yuji’s house to test the weapon aptitudes of Tatebayashi-san and Hino-san.
To avoid inconveniencing his family with a string of separate arrivals, we had decided to congregate at the school first and head over as a group. For Mika and me, it actually would have been a shorter walk to go directly to Yuji’s place, but since Tatebayashi-san and Hino-san had never been there before, we chose the detour. Visiting a senior’s home for the first time is a high bar for any junior, so we figured going together would ease the pressure.
"No one else is here yet."
"True. But we did arrive a bit early, so I’m sure they’ll be here soon."
Since we had left the house ahead of schedule to ensure we weren't late, it looked like we were the first ones on the scene. There were still nearly fifteen minutes left until the meeting time, so the others were bound to show up shortly.
"Anyway, Yuji mentioned he’d have all sorts of things ready, but I wonder what he’s actually bringing out?"
"Who knows? He seemed to be agonizing over the selection because his family has so much. I imagine it’ll be the usual stuff you see in movies and manga, don't you think?"
"Probably. Though since Juzo-san was the one who collected them, some really obscure, enthusiast-level gear might make an appearance."
"Wait, really? We’re supposed to be picking things for Asami-chan and the others to use. Something normal and easy to handle would be best."
Mika had a point—for beginners, ease of use was paramount. Weapons that required specialized techniques took too long to master, making it difficult for a novice to reach a level of proficiency where they could actually use them in basic training or combat.
"Good point."
Yuji likely understood that as well, so I didn't think he’d prepare anything too eccentric. However, from the perspective of studying hidden weapons, being able to see a wide variety of gear would be quite helpful.
If anything, that was the main draw for me.
"Ah, Kokonoe-kun, Mika-chan, sorry to keep you waiting. You’re both quite early."
"Good morning, Hiiragi-san. We just got here ourselves, so we haven't been waiting long."
"Good morning!"
The next to arrive was Hiiragi-san. She was also dressed in casual wear—a practical pants-style outfit that looked easy to move in.
"The others haven't arrived yet, I see."
"There's still time before the meeting hour, so they’ll probably be here any second."
Just as I finished replying to Hiiragi-san, who was glancing around, Tatebayashi-san, Hino-san, and Saori-chan rounded the corner. All three were dressed in activewear.
"Ah, sorry to keep you waiting!"
"Good morning! We're sorry we're late!"
"Good morning."
Noticing that we were already there, the three of them looked a bit flustered and jogged over to greet us.
"Good morning, you three. You came together?"
"Yes. We ran into each other on the way, so we walked the rest of the way as a group."
"I see."
When I asked, Saori-chan gave me the answer. Since the meeting time was fixed, it was only natural for them to run into each other if they were coming from the same direction. At any rate, I was glad everyone had gathered more or less on time.
"It’s a little early, but since everyone's here, shall we head to Yuji’s house?"
"Yes. But perhaps it would be best to contact Hirose-kun and let him know we’re on our way? We’ll arrive a bit ahead of schedule, and he’ll need to be ready to welcome us."
"That’s a good point. Just a moment, I’ll send him a message."
I pulled out my smartphone and sent Yuji a quick text. He replied almost instantly, giving us the okay.
"He says it's fine. Let's head out."
"Right."
"Okay."
"Yes!"
With that, the six of us set off for Yuji’s house. I was fairly certain Tatebayashi-san and Hino-san would be in for a shock once they saw his place.
When we arrived, it went exactly as I’d expected. Tatebayashi-san and Hino-san stood frozen before the main gate, staring at it with expressions of pure bewilderment, as if they were looking at something from another world. Even if you're told it's just a friend's house, anyone seeing that gate for the first time would react the same way.
"I guess anyone would be surprised the first time they see this."
"Naturally. Even we were stunned when we first came here."
"Yeah, I actually doubted my eyes. I was like, 'Wait, seriously?'"
"I was secretly taken aback when I first saw this gate, too. Even after being told this was Hirose-senpai's house, I couldn't quite believe it. I thought it was a prank."
I nodded deeply, agreeing with everyone's impressions. I remembered how intimidated I felt when I first visited. I had heard his family ran a dojo, but I hadn't imagined it would be a massive estate with such a magnificent entrance.
"Are you two okay?"
"Eh? Ah, yes."
"Y-Yes. Um, is this really it? This is really Hirose-senpai's house?"
Snapped out of their daze by my voice, Tatebayashi-san and Hino-san looked at me with lingering disbelief. I understood the sentiment, but I gave them a firm nod and answered clearly.
"There's no mistake; this is Yuji's house. You both heard that his family runs a dojo, right?"
"Ah, yes. But still..."
"I never imagined it would be this... grand..."
Even with my confirmation, they still seemed unable to fully process it. They turned their gazes toward Mika, Saori-chan, and Hiiragi-san for further reassurance. The three of them gave knowing, slightly awkward smiles and confirmed that this was indeed the place.
"It's only natural to be surprised, but we shouldn't keep Yuji waiting. Let's head inside."
I pressed the button on the intercom near the side entrance. Tatebayashi-san and Hino-san looked startled by my casual approach, but we weren't going to get anywhere just standing in the street. Seeing the man himself would be the best proof they needed.
After a sharp electronic beep, a voice came through the speaker.
"Yes, hello. Who is calling?"
"It's Kokonoe. I have an appointment with Yuji-kun."
"Ah, Kokonoe-san. I've been informed. Please, come in."
"Thank you."
The maid unlocked the side gate as soon as she finished speaking. It seemed Yuji had told her we might arrive early, as she let us in without a hitch.
"She said we can go in."
"Let's head inside then."
"Yeah."
"Come on, don't just stand there. Let's go."
"Ah, yes!"
"Y-Yes!"
Mika and Saori-chan gave the two frozen girls a gentle push from behind, and they passed through the gate with hesitant steps. Now then, should we head straight for the dojo, or the main house...?
"Yo, morning everyone."
"Ah, Yuji. Morning. Sorry for barging in so early."
"Nah, don't worry about it."
While I was debating our destination, Yuji appeared from the direction of the dojo, dressed in his dogi. It seemed the maid had relayed our arrival.
"Good morning, Hirose-kun. We're in your care today."
"Good morning, Hiiragi-san."
Good morning!
"Morning."
Hiiragi-san, Mika, and Saori-chan greeted him naturally, having grown accustomed to seeing Yuji in his element. However, Tatebayashi-san and Hino-san seemed completely overwhelmed by the atmosphere. They stood stiff, looking like they were struggling just to form a sentence.
"Morning, you two. You look awfully tense. Are you all right?"
"Y-Yes, I'm fine! Um, that is, good morning! We're in your care today!"
"G-Good morning! Looking forward to working with you!"
"Haha, same here."
In their extreme nervousness, they bowed deeply from the waist. Yuji gave a wry smile at their formal reaction.
"Alright, I'll lead you to the dojo."
"Yeah, thanks."
Led by Yuji, the six of us made our way toward the training hall. As we walked, the newcomers observed their surroundings with wide-eyed interest. After all, you don't often get the chance to walk through a sprawling samurai-style estate.
"Alright, come on up."
"Excuse us."
When we entered the dojo, my eyes were immediately drawn to the various mock weapons lined up against the wall. At a quick glance, there were over a dozen different types.
"That's quite an impressive collection."
"And this is after I narrowed it down to the standard stuff, like mock swords. If I included the specialized gear, there’d be several times this many."
"Whoa, several times...?"
We were all struck by Yuji's comment. Even as a 'limited' selection, the variety was staggering, though they were all orthodox types we had seen before.
"Let's get started. Though we'll begin with warm-ups first."
After setting our bags down against the far wall, we all did some light stretching and warm-up exercises. Even for simple practice swings, jumping straight into physical activity first thing in the morning was a recipe for injury.
"Alright, warm-ups are done. Let's begin."
Yes!
Having finished our prep, we decided to start with practice swings using the uchigatana-sized bokuto Yuji recommended. In many ways, it was the baseline for all weapon training.
"Alright, you two, I'll show you the form first, then I want you to try ten swings. Daiki, Hiiragi-san, please watch them closely and see if anything looks off."
"Got it."
"Understood."
To be honest, I wasn't so well-versed in martial arts that I could definitively judge aptitude, but I figured I could at least spot awkward movements. Mika and the others were also observing, so I planned to ask for their thoughts later.
"Here we go. One! Two! Three!"
One! Two! Three!
Following Yuji’s lead, Tatebayashi-san and Hino-san began their practice swings. Since they had been practicing after school, their form was actually quite respectable.
"Ten! Alright, that's enough."
At Yuji’s signal, they stopped. Neither of them seemed particularly out of breath, proving that their daily basic training was paying off. For someone who didn't exercise regularly, even ten swings could be tiring.
"What do you think? Did you notice anything about their swings?"
"Hmm, honestly, it's hard to tell. We haven't seen them use anything else yet, so I don't have a comparison."
"I agree. Without seeing them try other weapons, it's difficult to say if their form is 'off' or just unrefined..."
"Yeah, I figured. Well then, let's move on to the next one."
Yuji nodded and began explaining the next mock weapon. This time, it was a shorter, kodachi-sized bokuto. Even a small change in length significantly alters the mechanics of a swing.
"Alright, here we go. One! Two!"
One! Two!
Under Yuji's guidance, Tatebayashi-san and Hino-san spent the next hour working through various mock weapons. Even with only ten swings each, the sheer variety meant it took a considerable amount of time. By the end, the two of them were clearly feeling the fatigue.
"Alright, good work. That's the end of the initial testing."
Thank you very much!
They gave Yuji a polite bow and then accepted towels and tea from Mika and Saori-chan. Meanwhile, Yuji came over to get our final impressions.
"So, what's the verdict? Having seen them go through the whole lineup, what do you think?"
"Well... speaking as an amateur, it felt like Tatebayashi-san is a bit clumsy with long-reach weapons."
"On the other hand, Hino-san seemed much more natural with the longer ones."
Watching them, it felt like Tatebayashi-san’s awareness didn't quite extend to the tip of the weapon; she hadn't quite grasped its full length. Shorter weapons like a kodachi or a knife seemed like they would suit her better. In contrast, even with a naginata or a spear, Hino-san seemed to have a natural sense for the weapon’s reach. With practice, she looked like she could strike targets accurately from a distance.
"I see. My impression was the same. So, Tatebayashi-san for short range and Hino-san for long range?"
It seemed Yuji’s assessment aligned with our own. For now, I thought we should have them try a light mock battle using those types of weapons. Seeing how they moved when actually facing an opponent would likely provide the final confirmation we needed.