Since the announcement, life on Mount Momoyama had taken on a new pace. While physical and sword training remained tight, the ratio of duels and meditation increased. As Kuwajima put it: physical training has no end, but spiritual training is equally vital.
A few days later, Tatsuya finished a set of a thousand swings. He was wiping his sweat, his wooden sword replaced by a standard-issue Nichirin Sword used for trainees. It lacked the personal "connection" of a custom blade, but it helped him get used to the weight of real steel.
He saw his master walking up the mountain path. To his surprise, Kuwajima wasn't alone. A thin, unfamiliar figure followed behind him.
It was a boy around thirteen or fourteen, a year or two younger than Tatsuya. He had black hair and wore faded, patched clothes. He was slender and walked with a cautious gait. What stood out most was his gaze—not the clear or innocent eyes of a child, but a wary, calculating look that took in everything, including Tatsuya.
"Tatsuya, come here," Kuwajima called out.
Tatsuya stepped forward, looking curiously at the newcomer. "Master, you're back. And this is...?"
Kuwajima stepped aside. "This is my new disciple, Inadama Kaigaku." He then turned to the black-haired boy. "Kaigaku, this is your senior, Izumo Tatsuya. From now on, the two of you shall train together. If you have any questions about your drills, you may ask your senior."
"Junior Kaigaku?" Tatsuya smiled brightly and extended a hand. "Hello! I'm Izumo Tatsuya. I guess I'm your 'Big Brother' now. Nice to meet you!"
So this is the 'seed' Master was observing... Tatsuya thought. His eyes look very guarded. Not the easygoing type.
Kaigaku looked up briefly. His gaze flickered over Tatsuya's defined arm muscles, his sweat-soaked uniform, and the Nichirin Sword on the side. He then lowered his head, adopting a posture of extreme, almost forced, humility. "Yes! Kaigaku greets Senior Tatsuya! Please be strict with my training and look after me!" His tone sounded sincere, even submissive.
Tatsuya's extended hand faltered for a second. Something felt... off. It was as if the boy was playing the role of a "perfect junior." But he dismissed it, thinking the boy was just nervous. He patted Kaigaku's thin shoulder. "Don't be so stiff. We're family now."
Kuwajima watched the interaction in silence, his eyes lingering on Kaigaku's lowered face before shifting to his honest, open-hearted elder disciple. He gave a tiny, silent sigh.
In the following days, training continued. Tatsuya maintained his staggering intensity. Golden electricity would occasionally tear through the air as he practiced his forms. The sounds of breaking air and heavy footfalls filled the mountain.
Kaigaku, however, was assigned basic fitness drills—running mountain paths, stretching, and hauling rocks. It was a stark contrast to Tatsuya's spectacular display of sword forms.
Tatsuya would occasionally glance at Kaigaku. He noticed that during his dull runs, the boy's eyes were constantly drawn to the golden lightning on the other side of the clearing. In those moments, Kaigaku's eyes held a hungry, greedy longing, which he would quickly suppress into an expression of impatient frustration.
Whenever Kuwajima urged him to "focus on the foundation and not look too far ahead," Kaigaku would immediately bow. "Yes, Master! I understand!" But Tatsuya would catch the way his lips thinned and his knuckles turned white.
Even more concerning was that Tatsuya often saw Kaigaku alone in secluded spots before dawn or after training, clumsily trying to mimic the slashes he had seen Tatsuya perform. His movements were stiff and wrong, but the desperate desire not to be "behind" was clear in every swing.
Once, Tatsuya walked over and tried to speak kindly. "Junior Kaigaku."
Kaigaku jumped, stopping his movements.
"Foundation drills are boring, but they really are important. Master is doing this so you can handle Thunder Breathing later. I started exactly where you are. Once the foundation is solid, the Breathing Styles will come to you naturally."
Kaigaku's face instantly shifted into that submissive, fearful mask. "Thank you for the guidance, Senior! I... I'll remember. I'll work harder on my foundation. I won't let Master or you down."
His words were perfect, but Tatsuya saw the way his eyes flickered toward the Nichirin Sword. He probably thinks I'm trying to hold him back, Tatsuya thought.
A few days later, Tatsuya saw that Kaigaku was still at it, only more secretive. He decided to try a heart-to-heart. In the evening, he saw Kaigaku sitting on the porch staring into the distance. He brought two rice balls and sat beside him.
"Kaigaku, you always push yourself so hard. Did something happen in the past? You can tell me if you want," Tatsuya asked casually.
Kaigaku took the rice ball and stayed silent for a moment. "My parents died when I was very young," he said in a raspy, suppressed voice. "I wandered the streets. Hunger and cold were normal... and I was bullied and looked down upon by everyone."
He looked up, his eyes seemingly watery. "So... I swore I would become strong! Stronger than anyone! I want to be at the top! I never want to go back to being trampled on. Master took me in and gave me a chance... and you're so strong... I have to catch up. Faster."
His words were a classic story of "rising from the bottom," full of resolve.
However, as Tatsuya listened, he stopped chewing. He didn't doubt that Kaigaku had suffered, but something about the way he told the story felt... too "standard." It was like a script he had prepared, with every pause and every emotion calculated to gain sympathy. Especially the phrase "be at the top"—the obsession in his voice was a sharp contrast to his usual submissive humility.
The "weirdness" Tatsuya had felt since their first meeting became clearer. He felt that Kaigaku wasn't showing his true self, but rather a mask of the "hard-working junior" he thought his master and senior wanted to see.
"I see... you've really been through a lot," Tatsuya said, not calling him out. "But in training, impatience is the greatest enemy. A house built on a weak foundation collapses in an instant. If you have trouble, you can always talk to me."
"Thank you, Senior! Really... thank you so much!" Kaigaku looked up with gratitude, but Tatsuya caught a glimpse of annoyance and dismissal in his eyes.
Well, that was a waste of time, Tatsuya thought.
Watching Kaigaku rush off to "train more," Tatsuya sighed. He felt that this new junior was much more complicated than he appeared. He suspected that Master hadn't just brought back a "gem," but a potential source of trouble.
Behind the corner of the hallway, Jigoro Kuwajima had observed the entire conversation. He saw Tatsuya's doubt and Kaigaku's impatient departure.
Late that night, a faint light came from Kuwajima's room. He wasn't asleep; he was waiting. Sure enough, there was a hesitant knock.
"Come in," Kuwajima said.
Tatsuya entered, looking conflicted. "Master, you're still awake?"
"I knew you'd come," Kuwajima gestured for him to sit. "Is it about Kaigaku?"
Tatsuya scratched his head and sat down. "Yes. Master... I think Junior Kaigaku is a bit strange."