After finishing the practice swings with the weapons Yuji had prepared, their respective aptitudes were starting to become clear. It seemed Tatebayashi-san was suited for short-range weapons, while Hino-san was better with long-reach gear.
If the two of them could coordinate effectively, they would make an excellent pair, each covering the gaps in the other's reach.
"Alright, you two, let’s wrap up the break and try a bit of light sparring. Based on your swings earlier, Tatebayashi-san seems better with short weapons and Hino-san with longer ones, so let’s start with those for now."
Y-Yes!
Since we had given them a decent rest, both Tatebayashi-san and Hino-san had finished catching their breath. They already possessed impressive recovery speed, even for a short duration; it felt like the results of their daily training were finally manifesting.
When someone is out of shape, even light exercise leaves them gasping for air for a long time.
"Well then, Tatebayashi-san, let's start with this tanto. I’ll focus on defense, so don’t worry about form—just strike at me however you like. I’m going to block you, though, so be careful. If you put too much force in the wrong way, the recoil might hurt your wrist."
"Oh, okay. But... how exactly do I 'be careful'?"
As Yuji handed the tanto-shaped bokuto to Tatebayashi-san, he explained the precautions for the drill.
He was right to warn her. If she struck with all her might without considering the block, a powerful recoil would kick back in proportion to her strength. In the worst-case scenario, the attacker would be the one getting injured.
"Let's see... since I'm going to block, just try a light strike first. It’s easier to understand how much recoil to expect by actually feeling it."
"I understand."
Saying that, Yuji stepped back to create some distance and took a stance with the uchigatana-sized bokuto in his hand.
He likely didn't intend to use intimidation, but Yuji’s sheer presence when he took his stance seemed to overwhelm her. Tatebayashi-san looked slightly frightened, her movements turning stiff and awkward as she raised her tanto-shaped bokuto. Yeah, proper sparring was going to be impossible like this.
"Alright, you two, hold on a second."
I called out to pause the session.
"Yuji, sorry, but it’s probably better if you don't take a formal stance. Look, Tatebayashi-san is totally frozen."
"Yikes... you're right."
"I'm serious. You might not be doing it on purpose, but when you square up, you're projecting a ton of pressure. It’s too much for a beginner to handle."
Yuji wore a sheepish expression, scratching the back of his head with his free hand. It was the kind of aura naturally emitted by a martial arts master; I suppose he couldn't help it, but it made it nearly impossible for an amateur to work up the nerve to strike.
"In that case, should I just stand naturally and defend when they attack?"
"That would be much better. Given their speed, you'll have plenty of time to react even if you move after they start their swing."
Based on the swings we had seen earlier, no matter how hard Tatebayashi-san or Hino-san swung their bokuto, they wouldn't be able to touch him.
However, the one who would actually be doing the striking wasn't so sure.
"Wait, isn't that dangerous?"
"She's right! If you can't block in time, you'll be seriously hurt!"
It was only natural for Tatebayashi-san and Hino-san to worry. To two people who hadn't even become explorers yet, our proposal probably sounded like madness.
However, Mika and Saori-chan—who were already reaping the benefits of leveling up—knew exactly how capable Yuji was. They didn't look worried in the slightest. In fact, they looked like they expected this level of performance from him.
"It’s fine. I won't fail to block a strike from you two."
But...
"Hmm. Oh, I know. Daiki, help me out for a second."
Seeing that they still didn't believe him, Yuji looked troubled before coming up with an idea and calling me over.
"Help with what?"
"Well, the reason they're so worried is because they haven't seen me actually do it, right? Showing them should be the quickest way to convince them."
"Ah, yeah. I suppose so."
"Great. Daiki, come at me."
Yuji tossed me the bokuto he had been holding and picked up a spare one leaning against the wall. He was right—showing them was faster than trying to explain.
And so, Yuji and I began a demonstration.
"Alright, here I come, Yuji. I'll ramp up the speed as we go."
"Right, bring it!"
I gave him a signal and then swung the bokuto in a horizontal sweep toward his flank. I kept it slow at first, roughly the same speed Tatebayashi-san and the others had been practicing, which I figured was fast enough to look real to them.
As expected, Yuji’s bokuto met mine with a sharp, wooden crack.
"See? Even without a stance, I can make it in time."
...Whoa.
"Okay, Daiki, keep 'em coming. Faster."
"You got it."
Paying no mind to the wide-eyed stares of our juniors, I gradually increased my speed. I struck at Yuji from every angle—high, low, left, and right—but he deflected every single one with a calm face, never moving an inch from his spot.
By the time I reached full speed, Tatebayashi-san and Hino-san probably couldn't even follow the wood with their eyes. All they likely heard was a rapid-fire sequence of sharp cracks.
"Alright, Daiki, that should be enough proof."
"Agreed."
After about twenty seconds of sparring, we stepped back and gave each other a brief, respectful bow.
For Yuji and me, that was a heavily restrained exchange, but to Tatebayashi-san and Hino-san, it looked like a clash of titans. They might have seen martial arts at school sports festivals, but seeing such intense combat right in front of them was a first.
"So, what do you think? I told you I'd be fine."
...
"Looks like they need a minute to process that."
Seeing the two of them in a near-catatonic state, Yuji suggested we give them a break.
Yeah, a little time should fix that.
With Mika and Saori-chan’s help, Tatebayashi-san and Hino-san recovered after a few minutes. They bowed to Yuji, apologizing for doubting his skill. It was a hard thing for an ordinary person to believe, so they didn't really need to apologize, but it seemed to put their minds at ease.
Finally convinced it was safe, the two of them moved on to their own sparring matches.
"Now then, shall we try that light strike again? Just to see how the recoil feels."
"Yes... Here I go!"
Tatebayashi-san gripped the tanto-type bokuto in her right hand and closed the distance. Yuji stood relaxed as she swung horizontally at his ribs, just as I had.
Predictably, the strike was met by Yuji's bokuto with a loud clack.
"Ngh!"
"You put a lot of weight into that one. Are you okay? Wrist feeling alright?"
"Y-Yes, I’m fine. My hand is just tingling a lot..."
"I'm glad you're not hurt. That tingling will fade in a bit."
Tatebayashi-san switched the tanto to her left hand and shook out her right, looking a little pained.
She had learned the hard way that attacking recklessly could hurt the attacker just as much. To strike with power, you also had to learn how to manage the feedback.
"Alright, the tingling should be gone now. Can you try striking with that same strength again? I want to show you a little technique that's helpful for training."
"Eh... okay....Here I go!"
It was natural for her to hesitate after just getting hurt.
Steeling her resolve, Tatebayashi-san gripped the tanto and swung at Yuji again. But...
"? Wait, what?"
"How was that compared to the first time?"
Tatebayashi-san froze with her tanto still pressed against Yuji’s defense, staring at the wood with a baffled expression.
I see, so he pulled that off.
"Um, I hit it just as hard as before, but my hand doesn't tingle at all. Did you do something?"
"Bullseye. The first time, I just blocked you, which created a big recoil. This time, I absorbed the impact as I caught your strike. That’s why there’s no kickback, and your hand didn't go numb."
"Whoa... you can actually do that?"
"Well, it's impossible against a martial artist of similar level, but against beginners like you, it's doable. It’s not a technique with many practical uses in a real fight, but it’s great for teaching without hurting the student’s hands."
Yuji spoke as if it were a simple trick anyone could do, but honestly, that was master-class technique. I suppose Hiiragi-san or I could do something similar thanks to our levels, but it wasn't something I'd want to attempt casually.
Mika, Saori-chan, Tatebayashi-san, and Hino-san were all staring at him in sheer awe.
"So, as you can see, I can block you even if I'm not ready, and I can cancel the recoil. Don't hold back; just come at me."
"Oh, okay!"
"I want you to keep attacking until I tell you to stop."
"Understood... Here I go!"
Now that she understood how skilled Yuji was, the look of apprehension on Tatebayashi-san’s face was gone, replaced by a determined, relieved smile as she lunged in with her tanto-shaped bokuto.
She continued her barrage for two full minutes until her stamina ran out. Even with an unfamiliar weapon, she was surprisingly nimble. Looking at her, I thought it might be interesting to try having her dual-wield tanto later to increase her attack speed, much like Yuji.
"Alright, stop!"
"Haa... haa... thank... you... very much."
When Yuji called the end of the session, Tatebayashi-san was gasping for air. She had been moving intensely, and the exhaustion was clear.
Once she caught her breath, Yuji gave his assessment.
"Good work. You handled that quite well. You seemed a bit clumsy at first, but you were chaining your attacks together nicely. It looks like you really do have an aptitude for short weapons."
"Is that so? I can't really tell myself, but it definitely feels easier to swing than a normal-sized bokuto. It feels... more natural."
"That’s likely because you have an intuitive sense of the weapon’s reach. If you don't have that, your attacks will either fall short or overextend, making precise strikes impossible."
"...I think I get what you mean. It was definitely easier to hit exactly where I was aiming."
Though she couldn't quite put it into words, Tatebayashi-san seemed to feel the connection to the short blade herself.
In a dungeon, you often have to react instantly to a monster's ambush, so using a weapon that feels like an extension of your own body is the safest bet. I'd heard plenty of stories about beginners who couldn't master their gear and ended up hurting themselves or their teammates. By the time someone becomes a mid-level explorer, they've usually learned to use most things passably, but aptitude makes a huge difference at the start.
"I'm glad to hear it. Let's stick with that for a few days and see how it goes. If it doesn't feel right later, we can always try something else."
"Yes! I'll do my best!"
With that, it was settled that Tatebayashi-san would use the tanto-type bokuto for the time being.
Hino-san’s sparring session with the naginata followed, and just as we suspected, she showed a natural talent for long-reach weapons. She also agreed that it felt right in her hands.
"Alright, you two, let's see how these feel over the next few days. Like I said, we can change them if they don't work out."
Yes!
"By the way, these are loaners, so you can take them home. Make sure to get some practice in."
Thank you very much!
With that, the weapon aptitude tests for Tatebayashi-san and Hino-san were successfully concluded.
Now then, let's head out for some shopping—we all deserve a bit of a break.