A new term was about to begin, but before that came the annual sports meet.
Dexter, being someone who found interest in observing others, had no real business at the meet other than just being there.
Yet, it wasn't boring nonetheless.
It was mid-April; the heat was still gentle enough for people to come outside and enjoy.
As Dexter wandered the school, noticing all the activities around him.
Basketball court caught his eye—
Not because he cared for the game itself, but because he spotted Vanessa.
On the court, moving gracefully— almost effortlessly.
Vanessa caught him staring.
Dexter started to walk away.
But Vanessa wasn't about to let him escape that easily.
"What were you looking at?"
she asked, raising an eyebrow.
"I was just surprised you could move like that. You can do anything, huh? You are good at academics… and sports too"
Dexter said while trying to emphasize his excitement.
Vanessa exhaled proudly before replying,
"That I am. Aren't you the same? You're good at studies too! Bet you're good at sports as well."
Dexter sighed, replying without much enthusiasm,
"Academics is where I shine, I'm not particularly good at sports"
Vanessa wasn't convinced.
She advised him to look around for something he could be good at.
"Maybe I'll try kendo— I like swords, after all"
Dexter said in an attempt to escape the conversation to which Vanessa replied, "Well, good luck! Tell me if you take up on it".
Dexter did as she said and went to check the kendo club.
There, he spotted two people,
Sparring at cutting edge speed,
Faster than the normal eye could see or react to,
But to Dexter, their moves were perfectly visible as was the intent behind every strike and slash.
Dexter noticed the one on the offensive was leaving no room for a role reversal and continued to attack while the defensive stayed on guard and parried everything that came his way.
After a brief exchange,
The defender found an opening— and so did Dexter.
The defender struck and the sparring was over,
As both stepped off the tatami and removed their headgear,
Dexter recognized the person on the defensive,
It was Kensei.
"I did not know you were into kendo!"
Dexter exclaimed,
This was the first time Kensei heard Dexter being so excited and was quite surprised.
Then he remembered that Dexter did mention that he likes swords.
"Yo! Came to check the club? How was my performance? Incredible, wasn't it?"
Kensei started a casual conversation which he expected to be soon taken down by Dexter but that was not the plan for today.
"You were amazing— you parried everything perfectly and struck when you got the chance, that must take skill, I don't think I could do it in a hundred years."
Dexter rambled away.
Kensei noticed the gleam in his eyes and thought to himself,
"Did he always talk this much? Guess that's how he really is".
"Wanna give it a shot?"
Kensei asked. Dexter agreed almost instantly.
The two of them wore the sparring gear and before putting on their headgear Kensei warned Dexter,
"I won't go easy on you just because it's your first time".
He didn't mean it though,
He was going to give Dexter some leeway since he was a complete amateur.
Both of them picked up their bokuto and the sparring began… or did it?
There was a stillness in the room,
Kensei expected Dexter to jump and attack Kensei as soon as the sparring started,
It had been two minutes into the sparring and neither of them had moved.
Kensei finally broke the silence,
"Why don't you move?"
"I don't see an opening; a futile attack would only put me at risk."
Dexter replied with his eyes focused on Kensei's feet.
Kensei was almost taken aback by his statement and exclaimed,
"Well, if you won't come then I will!"
He jumped to attack Dexter,
As he closed in,
He realized Dexter didn't have any openings in his stance and that he was the one who was about to be attacked,
Dexter swung his wooden sword(bokuto) aiming for the head, Kensei pulled back and avoided the strike just barely.
Kensei thought to himself,
"Is he really an amateur? It was careless of me to hold back; I'll go all out now!"
He once again leapt for an attack;
Dexter was about to counterattack but he soon realized that the leap for the attack was just a feint and that Kensei was going to attack on the second strike so he maintained a distance where Kensei could not reach for the second strike.
Kensei was shocked,
He didn't expect Dexter, an amateur, to read his moves that far into the attack,
It was almost as if he could see the future.
Kensei was still processing the current sequence when Dexter closed in on him,
He regained composure and began to deflect the flurry of strikes that Dexter threw at him,
He could not believe that he was being pushed back by the same quiet, meek Dexter from class.
After a long scuffle Dexter finally moved away, out of breath.
Kensei saw his chance and went for the waist— but Dexter revealed it to be a trap and aimed for the right leg,
Kensei realized this and lifted his right leg, pivoted on his left foot, circling around Dexter, and struck his back.
The sparring was over,
Both of them exhausted.
The room was silent for a while and came back to life in an instant.
A commotion ensued.
Kensei, the one who was selected as the junior prodigy and was about to enter the kendo league in the summer had been pushed that far by a complete newbie.
Kensei exhaled heavily and said in admiration,
"You really are something, did you do this before?".
Dexter, still catching his breath, replied,
" No...…I have never...done this, it's...just that my father…. forges some blades and gives them out for people to use, so when They get their swords, I see them test the swords, also I saw you sparring before I entered the tatami so I had a general idea of how to move".
Kensei was astonished,
He couldn't believe his words,
How can someone who has never picked up a sword match him with his speed and strength.
There was but one answer.
"You really are gifted; you have the instincts and talent to become a master swordsman"
Kensei suggested that Dexter take up on kendo.
"Please consider it. I'd gain a new rival if you do, can we spar again sometime?"
Kensei asked and looked up, he saw Dexter's lit up face.
"I think I might actually enjoy this… please teach me."
Dexter said in a warm, soft tone.
And so, Dexter gained a new rival and a friend in a very long time.