Down to earth

The atmosphere was tensing up again as the issue of why were the girls hiding was rising again, and the master walking around the tatami, mumbling with a blank stare, didn't help

Takumi: So you not remembering has to do with the Tendou conglomerate going after you?, is it really that big of a deal?, what, will it cause me nightmares if i know?

Amano: there’s rituals to read people’s memories, if they check and you know stuff, there’s no telling what could they do

Yuriko: Hey old man, isn’t it enough pacing around? When are you telling us what you mean by “miracle war” ?

the master stopped in his tracks, stared blankly at Yuriko and suddenly went back to normal

Master: ah yes, the miracle war, the beginnings of kiseki code

Takumi: How did you do that?, he normally doesn't listen to me when he’s like that

Yuriko: shush, he’s explaining something

Master: Your parents may be too young to remember, but your grandparents surely do, society was very different before creating kiseki code, hmm, or i should rather say, Taming miracles?

Takumi: i think they told us a bit of that in history class, but i honestly didn’t pay much attention

Amano: I never really went to school properly, so I don't know what happened back then either, but knowing what the Tendou are capable of, “taming miracles” sounds too generous, i would rather say they Enslaved them

Yuriko: we’re are not one of the 4 big families for nothing, well, they

Master: Yes yes, the Tendou family, one of the winners of the miracle war, but they were not the type to use the miracles, they wanted to communicate with the gods, they wanted a pact, a pact with the gods, and they did it. Then why is this girl…

his eyes went blank and he started pacing around again. Though Yuriko looked confused and annoyed at how short the master’s lucidity was, Amano was clearly disturbed

Takumi: Hey, deity of devouring snacks, ready for round 2?

his challenge woke Amano from her spiraling trance

Amano: huh? ah!.. i have a name you know?, my name is Amano, pay your respects

Takumi: make me

Yuriko: such gall, give him a good beating Amano

they got into position, Amano still seemed distracted, constantly being remembered of something by sensing the master walking around, when her eyes were lost somewhere else, Takumi rushed in

Takumi: never take your eyes off your opponent!

Amano was snapped back to the present, she resisted Takumi’s grappling, and reversed the position to throw him from the hip, it seemed that he would slam to the ground, but his feet landed first, forming a bridge with his body. he couldn’t finish his counter so he let loose and disengaged

Amano: You don't waste any chance do you? I like that, bring it on!

they both thought fighting each other would be like fighting Yuriko or the master, but despite the similarities, their styles were different, Amano was more resistant to takedowns and tended to block instead of dodge, Takumi deflected instead of whatever the master was doing and he was way more offensive, constantly pressuring with strikes and sweeps

while Yuriko was trying to figure out how to set up the timer, Takumi and Amano had been fighting for a while, they were getting tired enough to slow down and use more grappling than striking

Amano: ahaha! this is great, show me more, more!

Takumi: not bad for a lazy bum who eats snacks all day!

while they were tangled up in their struggle, Hinami arrived with someone

Hinami: teacher, Takumi!, oh? we have new people?. Hello, nice to meet you, my name’s Hinami!, and this is Yamazaki

Yuriko: h-huh?, hey, peasant, your friend is here, talk to her

Takumi: As you can see, I'm a little–busy right now!

Amano: an opening!

Takumi: nope!

Yamazaki: sheesh, they’re going at it, perhaps I shouldn't have come today. Where's the teacher?

Yuriko: old man!, your students are here, talk to them or something

Master: ah! welcome young ones, ready to train?

Yamazaki: i wanted to do some light stretching, didn't know today was sparring day, i guess i’ll be back some other day? hehe

Takumi: every day is–sparring day!

Amano: Your opponent is me!

their postures were getting sloppy, but they refused to give up

Hinami: wow, she's intense, what school are they from?, i thought there weren’t many traditional dojos out there

Master: they are hmm university students from Takumi’s class

Takumi, Yuriko, and Amano felt relief seeing how the master kept his promise so inconspicuously. After disengaging for the last time, the two fighters stared at each other, knowing that another exchange would be futile

Takumi: tired yet? What happened to the alarm?

Yuriko: I didn't figure out how to use your stupid phone, but the round is over, ding ding ding

Amano: no wonder we had so much time to try everything

Hinami: That was very good!, but are you okay? your face is all red

Amano: huh?, hah, such a human thing to… I mean, I just had a lot of fun, I guess it's a normal reaction?

Takumi: its been a while since i had such a good fight, as i said before, you’re not bad

Amano: hah!, you’re finally paying your respects, told you im the dei— the best at fighting, at university, yeah

Takumi: don't get ahead of yourself, you should train more, instead of thinking stuff that won't lead you anywhere, like, you know, the past or whatever

she realized what Takumi had done, and couldn’t help but smile

Amano: hehe, being inside for so long was really messing with me, we should come here more often, right Yuriko?

Yuriko: huh? as long as i can play games, i guess

Yamazaki: so her name is Yuriko, what a beautiful name, my name is Ya-Yamazaki, at your service

she just rolled her eyes and ignored him

Takumi: Yamazaki, i heard you broke the barbell, if you got time to skip sparring, you have time to help me fix what you broke

Yamazaki: y-you see, i remembered i have something to do–owowow i was just joking, you mix the concrete and i’ll hold the bucket

Takumi and Yamazaki got to work while the master supervised them, Yuriko was shy so she stood close to Amano while Hinami approached

Hinami: now that your hands are free, i can introduce myself properly, im Hinami, looking forward to training with you

Amano took a hot second to process what was happening, for the first time in a long time it felt like she was making a new friend, she did a slight bow to reciprocate Hinami’s,and Yuriko noticed instantly

Yuriko: Amano!

Amano: It's okay, we’re just university students, right?. nice to meet you too Hinami, my name is Amano

Hinami: Amano!, oh, you're from Takumi’s class aren’t you?

Amano: not really, we’re from the same school but not from the same umm, you know, the same uhh class yeah

Hinami: ooh, i was going to ask you if he’s taking his classes seriously. he was obsessed with karate in highschool you know?, he would say he was going to the bathroom and then the teachers found out he was out training

Amano: so he has been like this, i knew he was a proper warrior

Hinami: a “proper” warrior huh? maybe if he knew some kiseki code, he’s trying to fight in the kiseki fight league with just his karate, can you believe that?

Yuriko: absurd indeed

Takumi: Hinami! i can hear you!

Hinami: oops, hehe

Amano: Now tell me about you Hinami, what do you uh, what do you do?

the girls chatted for the rest of the class, Yuriko just commenting occasionally, the boys repaired the dumbbell and the hole on the roof, and before they knew it, it was time for Takumi to go

Takumi: woah, its time, we gotta go

Hinami: already?, i didn’t get to throw a single kick yet!

Amano: you can go ahead, let us stay here a bit longer, i wanna train a bit more

Takumi: is that so?, hmm

he pondered on the risks, but saw Amano’s enthusiasm and Yuriko doing some stretches

Takumi: alright then, i’ll leave you the keys, i’ll knock on the door when im back from work, you better not fall asleep before that

Hinami: keys…?

Takumi: ah, yeah, they left their backpacks at my place

Hinami: i see