Training Session

"Wait, wait a moment" Ryota was trying to speak as Ryosuke and Takashi were pushing him.

"Come on Mr. Endo we got a lot things to do" Takashi said paying no attention to Ryota entreaties

"Wait, NOW?! But it's already past 21:00 i need to go home to get some rest, i got to go to work tomorrow and..." 

"Oh quiet already, what did you expect would happen when you agreed to become a member of SAEA?" Ryosuke said to him with a sharp tone

"Well that i will help you from time to time with..."

"SAEA it's not a subscription to the gym, you can come to train whenever you want, SAEA is a way of life and you have a lot to learn" Ryosuke told him with a sharp look on his face 

"Arg, wait wait let's talk about this for a moment.."

Paying no attention to his complains Takashi and Ryosuke escorted him downstairs and after they arrived in the basement of the café Takashi reached a hidden rune into the shelves, then raised his hand to pull a hidden trigger. A door behind the wall opened, it was big and old but working without any issue as it made an opening the three of them to go inside.

Ryota looked around in fascination, the door lead directly to a large kendo gym. Same size as the whole café above, but built in a way to be spacious and durable enough for professional training.

"What...the?...where are we?" asked completely lost by the whole situation

"Into the basement of the café of course" Masami said said closing the door behind her after everyone got inside. Meanwhile Sayaka was holding Nyoka into her embrace as usual, as if it was a security blanket for a grown lady like her.

"But, that's illegal...no forget that, that's insane !!! how a place like this can be underneath a whole café"

"Oh nothing is impossible without a little magic Ryota dearie, i just used a small spell to create a parallel place so we can train"

"And since when did you made this place ?"

"Since i bought and made this café of course"

"WHAT?, aren't you afraid of someone finds out or...?"

Masami smirked calmly to him with her hands on her waist as she looked to the training area. A place she created knowing there wasn't any room for doubts or uncertainty. Ryotas words died in his mouth as he looked to Masami's expression, like her eyes answered instead of her lips. It was a determination that Ryota wasn't familiar with, but deeply respected it.

"Enough with that, we're wasting our time, take off your jacket and grab a kendo sword" Ryosuke said to Ryota, snapping him back to reality, while he already did took of his jackets and held his katana.

Ryota took off his jacket slowly, and grab a kendo sword calm but lacking confidence

"Ehm, you do know i don't know how to fight right?"

"Of course i do, that's why Takashi will instruct you first" 

Takashi went behind Ryota's back and hold his hands above his on the sword.

Takashi stayed close to Ryota and spoke instructions to a gentle simple tone which made Ryota a little less uneasy, in contrast with Ryosuke, Takashi was a more polite and patient type of teacher. He followed the elder man's order's one by one, moving the sword in his amateur and slow way. While Takashi corrected him whenever was needed.

After a short while Ryosuke walked behind him and did a swing with his sword causing Ryota to lose balance

"Don't lose your concentration or you will be dead in the fight" Ryosuke told him with a sharp tone

"What's this now?" Ryota asked confused

"You need to learn to be focus on the situation in front of you without getting distracted by movements around you" Takashi explained to him as he helped him adjust to the this training method

"Demons are mischievous and crafty creatures, they will try anything to make you lose focus, and then attack you" Ryosuke kept saying 

"So the point of this exercise is to focus to the battle in front of you" Takashi straighten Ryota's posture and make him grab the sword more correctly

"Where your feet are, your mind should be too, demons have the sneaky habit of creating distractions to take your mind out of focus" Takashi explained 

Ryota continued the swings. Ryosuke also continued to swing his sword close to him trying to make him lose control. 

"Keep your eyes on me Mr.Endo, here is your enemy in front of you nowhere else, Again"

Ryota continued swing his sword up and down while Ryosuke continued swinging all over around him trying to distract him. After countless swings and corrections, Ryota finally started keep focus on his swings without paying any attention to Ryosuke, so there was at least some progress for first class.

"Alright that's enough, great work Mr. Endo" Takashi clapped his hands once to stop him now that Ryota took a small taste from one of the things he's gonna have to learn.

"Hm, you're learning faster than i expected, nice going old timer" Ryosuke pat his shoulder with encouragement

"Aah, thank you.." Ryota was trying to catch his breath after all this practice

"Excellent work for your first time Ryota dearie, i can tell you gave your best" Masami said in an approving voice as she stood near the door observant

"Nice job" Sayaka muttered calmly as she used Nyoka paws to applaud, holding them softly at her fingers to tap them together in a sweet, unfiltered gesture.

"Now for your next exercise you will face an actual opponent" Takashi said

"What already? don't i need more practice until...." Ryota tried to complain but Ryosuke stopped him with his sharp voice

"We don't have the time to focus only to your physical  strength, you need to earn some experience or else you will be useless in actual fights."

Ryota understood that the situation wasn't to paly around.

"Okay then, i will do my best" Ryota raised his kendo sword, accepting this challenge now that he got more trust to this team and to himself

"Splendid, but you won't fighting neither Takashi nor Ryosuke" Masami said 

"Then who will act as my opponent" Ryota asked confused 

"Me, Ryota " Masami answered while she was leaving her cape on the chair near the door and walking up to face him

"But i don't have any fighting experience so far"

"That's the whole point Ryota dearie, if you fighting someone that is weaker than you its no good, you must be ready for anything unexpected.

Confidence is double-edged sword you can win any opponent with the proper amount of confidence and self-trust but you can also lose if you let it blind your judgment and lead on overestimating your capability

Ryota understood that all of this was true. And he also knew it will be better to lose his confidence now than losing in the actual battle.

"I understand" 

"Lovely, now i hope you don't mind but i always prefer to fight with actual weapons" Masami raise her right hand and a sharp long sword appeared.

"Of course i won't actual hurt you, the key to this exercise is to keep your weapon in your hands, now let's start, are you ready?"

"Ready" before finished his word, the wooden sword left his hands and landed to the other side of the gym. Ryota looked completely surprise Masami who she was like magically teleported in front of him.

"How...?" tried to speak but Masami silent him with her finger

"Shhh, it's all about the unexpected dearie, you would be dead by now so you better learn from your mistakes, also don't think ,not even for a second, that a demon would hesitate to do anything to bring you down" Masami looked at him deeply into his eyes while she advised him

"Ah, got it" Ryota whispered, slighty flustered....He didnt know if it was from her velvet teaching words or the gleam in her grey-blue eyes

"Now again"

This time Ryota looks closer to her movements, maybe two seconds later his sword was send flying from his hand. Masami looks at him mischievously. "Im not in any rush"...."Dearie" she spoke that word of endearment that seemed to be almost like a catchphrase of hers in a lower tone as she kept training with Ryota.