The Passive Income System

I got dressed in a standard Kendo uniform. The outfit consisted of a loose-fitting keikogi jacket, tied securely at the waist, and a hakama with wide pleats that fell gracefully to my ankles. The black color was unexpected, but I liked it. The crisp folds reflected the care the club took in maintaining it.

Walking out, now fully dressed, I was handed a standard Kendo sword, properly known as a shinai. The bamboo sword felt nothing like I had imagined. For some reason, I thought it would be heavier, but it felt as light as a feather.

I was sure that once I started swinging it and actually using it, the weight would feel more burdensome.

I stared at Saeko; her entire demeanor had changed completely. A cold sweat trickled down my back as I felt the weight of her aura—the aura of a seasoned warrior.

"Are you ready?" she asked, standing tall with her shinai pointing downward, held loosely in her grip. Yet, even that relaxed stance warned me not to move recklessly. Her attire was similar to mine, the only difference being its dark blue color and the fact that she wore it far more properly. It made me reflect on how disastrous it would have been if I'd worn traditional Japanese clothing on my outing with Sawako.

If I'd worn those clothes... I would've embarrassed myself completely, and everyone would've called me out for it!

I didn't have any issues with my current attire, but what I lacked was the refinement and prescence of proper wearers.

I took a deep breath and exhaled. "Ready as I'll ever be!"

Saeko raised her sword into a proper stance, and I mimicked her positioning. This prompted her to raise an eyebrow.

"Copying me?" she asked, not teasing or mocking but genuinely curious.

"Only for the initial stance."

"You do know that's quite foolish?"

"Probably."

"Yep~!"

Eh?! Damn, experiencing this up close is insane!

She vanished in an instant and reappeared right before me! I lunged forward, my left shoulder driving ahead like a battering ram, closing the gap between us in a heartbeat. With an unpolished thrust, I jabbed forward, my movements clumsy but guided by the only logical option I could see!

Swoosh~

Da~ Da~

Surprised but not caught off guard, she retreated two quick steps backward.

"Wow!" Despite her excitement, her demeanor remained cool and collected. The fierce glint in her eyes grew even more ferocious, almost beast-like! With more energy, she came at me with each strike growing more cold and brutal. 

Pah~

Pah~

PAH~!

The sound of bamboo colliding was all I could hear. My eyes were locked on her, and I felt something click in my mind, making my overall performance improve! I still couldn't strike back, but my defense was becoming stronger.

I knew I was getting better, but she was definitely toying with me... tch! An annoying feeling swelled up within me, but there was nothing I could do. I resolved to just try my best and not let it get to me!

Da~! I lightly jumped to the side, dodging another attack. In the same instance, I loosened my grip and adjusted my footwork into a fast, circular swing aiming downward!

Saeko didn't flinch at all. Instead, she readjusted herself, meeting my blade head-on—a move that anyone else would think was reckless. However!

Pa~

Our blades collided.

SCHHH~!

She adjusted her blade and body, allowing the force to travel through her without giving herself any trouble.

PA!

Then, using the momentum and force from my own attack, she struck at me!

"Hmph!"

Haha… scary! Her sword stopped mere millimeters from my throat. Throughout the entire exchange, all I could do was watch, my body too slow to keep up with the sheer precision and grace she displayed. But what truly drove home the vast gap in our abilities were her eyes.

Her blue eyes locked onto mine. They were cold—colder than any ice and, to me, colder than anywhere on earth. Yet, at the same time, they blazed with a heat of brutality and excitement that I'd only ever seen in those truly devoted to their craft. In that instant, her bamboo sword felt as imposing as a real blade, and I couldn't move an inch.

I met her gaze with sheer astonishment and admiration. She lowered her sword while keeping eye contact, her flaring aura cooling into a calm, collected demeanor.

She smiled lightly. "You aren't that bad. I only used the basics, and you managed to handle yourself well at an intermediate level. Mainly, thanks to your physique. You've done a good job of balancing it."

Hearing her analysis, I bowed deeply, though not quite as much as a traditional Japanese bow. I was aching a bit, but it wasn't as bad as it could've been. I thanked her and offered my own words in return.

"You're truly skilled. I could tell before, but experiencing it firsthand was something else! I thought I'd last longer."

"Haha~, if you want, I can go all out next time!"

Gulp~

I raised my hands in surrender. "Please, God, no!"

This made her laugh harder, her calm demeanor cracking just a little. Instead of a still pond, it now felt more like a serene lake.

Does that even make sense? It sounds strange, but somehow, it fits her. I shook off the out-of-place thoughts and refocused as practice continued.

Saeko pulled me into a few more practice matches, though none were as intense as the first. This time, she fully embraced her role as a proper senpai, drilling the basics and proper footwork into me with meticulous care until she decided we were finished.

"All right, that's enough! Come back tomorrow."

With that, she left. My aching body barely made it back to the locker room, but a smile stretched across my face.

Haha~, the feeling of improving is always great. Maybe, one day, I won't be afraid to face her full strength!