Part 2: Learning to Stand Again
Daigo's gaze shifted to the front calmly. "Alright, let's move on. Hina, please explain the next point—Falling."
Hina stood, smoothing her skirt nervously before stepping forward. "Falling… is what happens when someone tries, but even effort isn't enough," she said, her voice steadying as she went on. "It's not just failure—it's the moments when things spiral beyond control. You do your best, and yet you stumble, you make mistakes, you lose… and it hurts."
The students wrote down the point only—'Falling' in their notebooks.
Daigo nodded slightly. "Good. Now for the practical example, Izumi, please stand and show us what it looks like."
Izumi rose gracefully, walking to the small open space in front. "In practice, falling can happen anytime," she said. "During training or missions, you may plan everything perfectly, but something unexpected—an error, a misstep, a bad decision—can make you fail. This morning, many of us made one small mistake that caused us to get the answer wrong. That's falling—trying, but not quite reaching the mark."
Daigo gave a slight nod. "Exactly. Theory tells us the concept, but seeing it happen shows its real impact. Recognizing falling is important, because it teaches us how to rise next time."
Izumi returned quietly to her seat, and the students kept their pens down, only noting the point 'Falling' in their notebooks. Haruki still looked slightly embarrassed from Hina's comment, and a few students stifled giggles behind their hands.
Daigo turned his attention to Kaito. "Next point—Trying Again. Kaito, please explain the theory."
Kaito stood confidently, a faint smirk on his face. "Trying again," he began, "is when you've fallen or failed but decide to stand back up. It's not always easy. Sometimes it's exhausting, sometimes it feels pointless. But a Shinobi who keeps trying, even when it hurts, even when everything seems against them, is the one who grows stronger."
The students quickly wrote down the point only—'Trying Again' in their notebooks.
"Now for the practical side, Misaki, please give an example," Daigo said.
Misaki rose calmly, stepping to the front. "In practice, trying again can happen in small ways or big ones," she said. "This morning during the exam, some students got the wrong answer the first time, but instead of giving up, they attempted it again and corrected themselves. Even a tiny action like that is trying again—choosing not to let failure define you."
Daigo nodded. "Exactly. Theory gives the concept, but seeing it practiced shows how important persistence is. Recognizing the value of trying again is the first step toward improvement."
Misaki returned quietly to her seat, and the students kept their pens down, noting only the point 'Trying Again' in their notebooks.
Daigo turned toward Naoko. "Next point—Perspective. Naoko, please explain the theory."
Naoko stood up, adjusting her glasses before speaking. "Perspective," she began, "is about how people see you. Everyone has their own view, their own judgments. Some may overestimate you, some may underestimate you, some may misunderstand you entirely. A Shinobi must learn not to let others' opinions define them. What matters is staying true to your own path, even if others disagree. At the same time, you can influence how others see you by your actions, by what you choose to show them."
The students quickly wrote down the point only—'Perspective' in their notebooks.
"Now, Raizo, give us the practical side," Daigo said.
Raizo stood confidently and stepped forward. "In practice, perspective shows up all the time. During the drills, some students were judged by others for acting too quickly or too slowly. Those judgments didn't reflect the full situation—they were just each person's perspective. What matters is focusing on the actions themselves, understanding that people may see things differently, and showing through effort and consistency what is truly important. That's perspective in action—acknowledging how others see you, ignoring what doesn't matter, and shaping what can be changed."
Daigo nodded. "Exactly. Theory gives us the idea, but practice shows why understanding and managing perspective is crucial for growth and teamwork."
Raizo returned to his seat, and the students kept their pens down, noting only the point 'Perspective' in their notebooks.
Daigo turned toward Riku. "Next point—Protection. Riku, please explain the theory."
Riku stood, taking a deep breath before speaking. "Protection is about caring for others and being willing to act for their safety. A Shinobi doesn't fight only for themselves. They shield those who cannot defend themselves and take responsibility for the people they value. Protection isn't just physical—it's also about guiding, supporting, and making sacrifices when necessary."
The students quickly wrote down the point only—'Protection' in their notebooks.
"Now, Sanae, please give the practical example," Daigo said.
Sanae rose and stepped forward. "In practice, protection can happen in small ways or large. This morning, after the exam, Haruto stood up to protect Daichi when he was cornered. They didn't have to, but they acted without thinking of themselves, making sure Daichi felt safe. That's protection in action—not always dramatic, but showing care and standing up for someone who needs it."
As Sanae had just given her example of Haruto standing up to protect Daichi, Naoko's expression shifted slightly. It was subtle, but her eyes widened just a fraction—she seemed to understand what had really happened, putting the pieces together in her mind.
Daigo nodded. "Exactly. Theory gives the concept, but practical observation shows how vital protection is in daily actions and teamwork."
Sanae returned quietly to her seat, and the students kept their pens down, noting only the point 'Protection' in their notebooks.
Daigo turned toward Shin. "Next point—Rising Up. Shin, please explain the theory."
Shin stood up, adjusting his posture and speaking clearly. "Rising up is the act of facing adversity after being knocked down. It's not just about standing physically—it's about regaining courage, focus, and determination after failure. A Shinobi falls, makes mistakes, faces setbacks, but rising up is choosing to continue despite all that. It's a sign of resilience, of refusing to let circumstances define you."
The students quickly wrote down the point only—'Rising Up' in their notebooks.
"Now, Souta, give the practical example," Daigo said.
Souta rose and stepped forward. "In practice, rising up can happen in small moments or large," he said. "This morning, during the exam and drills, some students stumbled or failed, but they didn't give up—they got back up and tried again. That willingness to face the next challenge, even after mistakes, is rising up."
Daigo nodded. "Exactly. Theory gives the idea, but seeing it practiced shows why rising up is essential—not just to continue, but to grow stronger after each fall."
Souta returned quietly to his seat, and the students kept their pens down, noting only the point 'Rising Up' in their notebooks.
Daigo turned toward Tetsu. "Next point—Truth. Tetsu, please explain the theory."
Tetsu stood confidently, speaking clearly. "Truth is about acknowledging reality as it is, without hiding from it or twisting it to comfort yourself. A Shinobi must face the truth, even when it's painful or inconvenient. Understanding the truth allows you to act wisely, make informed decisions, and grow stronger. Ignoring it, or pretending it doesn't exist, only leads to mistakes and regret."
The students quickly wrote down the point only—'Truth' in their notebooks.
"Now, Yuna, give the practical example," Daigo said.
Yuna rose gracefully and stepped forward. "In practice, truth can appear in many forms. This morning, some students realized they had miscalculated during the exam but admitted it immediately, instead of covering it up or blaming others. Facing that reality allowed them to correct themselves and learn from the mistake. That's truth in action—acknowledging what is real, accepting it, and using it to grow."
Daigo nodded. "Exactly. Theory provides the concept, but practice shows how important it is to face reality honestly. Recognizing truth and acting accordingly is essential for progress and integrity."
Yuna returned quietly to her seat, and the students kept their pens down, noting only the point 'Truth' in their notebooks.