A Kendo Attitude

Sato

After all the... excitement of the front, Rebe had told Sato he should go home and rest for a bit. Sato hadn't argued. He hadn't been home for almost two months. He was desperate for a much-needed break. 

Sato was simply excited to go home, see his mom, his cat, and his other friends. Still, breaking his training regime would be tough. He didn't know if he'd ever be able to pick up his intense training regime again if he suddenly stopped. He had never been disciplined at sticking to a schedule, especially a workout schedule. 

Sato's muscle growth and scarring from Æurea transferred back with him. Sato had wondered if his body would return to the way it had been when he returned, but apparently not. If time hadn't truly passed for his body there, then it couldn't have changed, right? Also, his memories of training and experience remained. That meant Daniel's time travel theory had to be wrong. It made sense, as long as he didn't think about it much. 

Sato's unexpected growth might be hard to explain. He had been a fairly out-of-shape bench-warming baseball player before he left. Now he looked more like a martial artist. His arm muscles look massive compared to how he remembered them. Sato was sure he had lost weight too, converting a lot of fat into muscle. While the muscle was heavier, the exchange was not an equivalent one. 

He would have to tell his mother his new job was a highly physical one. He was already sure he was in for it when he got home. Summer break had long since elapsed. 

Sato had decided he would try out for the kendo team, or maybe the fencing team if there even was one, so as to keep up with his training. What he had not kept up with was his studies, so the transition back to normal school life would be rough. He was in for it. Daniel and Rebe had promised to help him through it the best they could, but he was in for it. Sato was drained. Guess he was a delinquent now. Sato waited till after class to head to school.

On his way to the kendo club, Sato spotted Connor and Skip. They both had baseball practice after school. Sato had missed so much baseball practice that he was surely off the team. 

Connor was an army brat like Sato. Connor was a tall African-American boy. He buzzed his black hair weekly to keep it short and breathable. Skip was Japanese. He was Sato's height, but much more athletically built. At least he had been. He also buzzed his hair, though not nearly as frequently. They were both wearing their baseball uniforms with their bases and bats hanging from their backs. 

Sato did not put on a convincing show.  When he told them about his kendo aspiration, they were both surprised. He hadn't ever shown interest in any sport other than baseball. He wasn't much of a sporty type, more of a nerd. He was more into collecting baseball cards and learning stats than the game itself. Connor reminded Sato that Sakura was the president of the kendo club. Sato decided to ask her about joining.

Sato found Sakura in the art room with Lily. Lily was from France. Her father, like Rebe's father, was a very successful businessman. They worked in very similar industries. She had long platinum blonde hair and spacey eyes. She was rarely all there. Sakura was Japanese. She had recently cut her own hair short into a bob, dyed the tips pink, and tied it up with a red lace. She said she "did it to look more like her namesake." Really, Sato knew it was to separate herself physically from who she was when she was popular and a bully. 

"Have you seen Rebe lately. She's been out for weeks," they asked him. They seemed worried.

Sato assured them that Rebe was on a business trip with her father out of the country. That convinced Sakura, but not so much Lily. Perhaps she knew more than she let on. Either way, she didn't challenge him, so it was of no matter.

Sato said his goodbyes to Lily and asked to walk Sakura to practice. Sakura seemed surprised. Lily didn't seem to notice at all. She was already deeply absorbed in her painting. It looked like a photo-realistic emperor penguin. Sakura hesitantly said yes, and Sato and Sakura excused themselves, not that Lily noticed.

"Hey, I was wondering if the kendo team or club is accepting new members," Sato said,  getting right to the point. He knew that Connor liked Sakura, and Sato liked Rebe, so he didn't want Sakura to get the wrong impression about his intentions here. He hoped Sakura hadn't expected a confession. 

"You want to join the kendo club?" Sakura looked him up and down questioningly. Sato had not been scrawny per se, but he certainly wasn't athletic, and Sakura knew that. She knew he was a nerd among nerds. An AV, manga, and video games geek. The whole thing. "I don't know what you've been up to, but clearly you've put on some serious muscle. Look, if you are actually serious, I'll give you an entrance test in fifteen minutes. I need to warm up first. But if this is just a big joke or some sort of scheme, cut it out right now," Sakura added, offering him an out.

"I'm not, I promise. Thanks, Sakura." Sato rushed off down the hall, waving back at her. There was no need to linger in limbo, for any of their sakes. And he really didn't want to get caught for truancy. 

Sato found his way to the gym where Sakura was waiting, fully equipped in her blue kendo gear. She had some gear out for Sato, too. She went to hand Sato a Bokken, but he removed one from his backpack. It had been hanging like a baseball bat, and she must have assumed it was one. 

"Where did you get that? The quality and upkeep are expert. Who taught you...?" Sakura puzzled. 

"My Sensei," Sato blabbered before realizing he would only have to explain more.

"How long have you been training?" Sakura questioned.

"Only the past two months or so, but it's been pretty intense training," Sato equipped the equipment, figuring Sakura wouldn't allow him to fight without it. Sato hated how it felt. It slowed him down and limited his visibility, just like the armour he wore to the front. Sato froze.

"Sato. Sato. Sato! Are you alright?" Sakura implored in increasing exacerbation. 

"Yeah, sorry about that. Just a bit heady. I'm ready." 

Sakura bowed, and Sato responded in suit. The duel commenced. Sakura was fast and well-practiced, but Sato was stronger and had better precision. He ultimately won after a long match with many points on each side. Both were tired and sweaty.

"How did you beat me? I've been training for years." Sakura sounded genuinely curious. 

"Beginner's luck?" Sato speculated.

"You should definitely join the club and try out for the team as well. You're a nature." Sato smiled. 

At least he could keep up his training with Sakura. This would be a productive break.