The next day, Swordsmanship class.
Sunlight streamed through the windowpanes, casting intersecting shadows on the floor.
The wooden floor, worn smooth and old by countless footsteps, was scattered with deep and shallow marks left by the students' practice.
Inside the spacious and bright dojo, the students were lined up in two rows, waiting for the arrival of the instructor.
"So, you are the new students of this year's Elite Class. Not bad."
A loud, slightly husky male voice rang out. A man wearing a loose black teaching uniform walked in from the side door of the dojo. His clothing was somewhat baggy and not tied as strictly as his homeroom teacher, Kamiki.
A wooden sword with a dark cloth-wrapped hilt was tucked into his waist, his left hand resting casually on the hilt, swaying slightly with his steps.
A head of grizzled hair matched a weather-beaten face, his rugged appearance exuding a sense of wild nonchalance.
He brought four senior students with him and strode to a stop in front of the freshmen. His gaze was sharp, like a scrutinizing alpha wolf, seeming to pierce through people's hearts.
While his words sounded like praise, the unseen pressure brought by his scrutinizing gaze caused many of the lined-up students to unconsciously straighten their backs, their breathing automatically softening.
"My name is Saito Yuichi. I will be teaching you Zanjutsu (Swordsmanship) from now on."
"My teaching rules are simple: I teach, you practice."
"I will teach everything that needs to be taught. How well you master it depends on how much effort you put in."
Saito Yuichi spoke, his words carrying a teacher's composure, unlike his outwardly unrestrained appearance.
"Those with a Kendo background stand to the left. Those who have barely held a sword will follow Shikanosuke and the others to practice basic footwork and suburi (practice swings)."
He tilted his head, gesturing towards the four senior students behind him.
His instructions were concise, without unnecessary small talk.
The curriculum at the Shin'ō Academy was generally like this. While the spiritual power levels of new students might not vary greatly, the difference in technical skill was often significant.
Students who had not yet grasped the basics were usually guided in practice by senior students.
Only when their proficiency reached a certain standard would the instructor personally take over the teaching.
The freshmen began to move, naturally separating into two groups.
Most of the Elite Class students had a good understanding of their own foundations, and everyone quickly took their places on the left or right.
"You, you, you two move to the right."
"Can't even walk steadily; how can you practice the sword?"
When he arrived in front of the students on the left, Saito Yuichi said nothing more. His fingers pointed out two freshmen casually yet accurately.
In the eyes of an experienced person like him, the mere fluctuation in their center of gravity and brief moments of hesitation while walking exposed the fact that their lower bodies were weak and their foundations unstable.
"Yes...!"
The named students stiffened instantly, their faces flushing with shock and embarrassment. They answered softly.
Daring not to lift their heads, they shamefully retreated back into the right-hand column.
And Suō Tsukasa, standing on the left, clearly felt the gaze of the long-haired student next to him.
The gaze carried deliberate provocation, like tiny needles pricking the back of his neck.
Suō Tsukasa merely looked straight ahead, as if unaware of the attention.
He knew the other student must be waiting for a spar during free practice, intending to humiliate him in front of everyone.
But for him, the most important thing right now was listening to the lesson content.
As for the so-called "spar," it was nothing more than an irrelevant farce.
Soon, the other group of freshmen began practicing under the guidance of the senior students.
Saito Yuichi focused his attention on the advanced students in front of him, the casual look on his face much diminished, replaced by focus and seriousness.
"The most fundamental and also the most difficult aspect of Zanjutsu is—the Stance."
He drew the wooden sword from his waist, his feet naturally spread, his center of gravity steady, and his movements clean and sharp.
He held the wooden sword in the common Chūdan no Kamae (Middle Stance), pointing the blade diagonally upward, with the hilt close to his abdomen.
The moment the sword was in his hand, his entire presence changed, blending into the floor beneath his feet and the sword in his hand, like a steady, heavy mountain.
"This is not just a stance; it is the very foundation of your future combat."
"Center of gravity, breathing, vision, the distance from your opponent—everything in Zanjutsu begins with the stance."
As he spoke, he slowly shifted his feet, the tip of the sword changing angles with the movement of his steps.
He demonstrated several variations of the Chūdan no Kamae in detail. The shift in the center of gravity during each movement contained the potential for subsequent attacks and reactions.
"Remember, the stance is not static; it is alive."
"It's not an empty pose you strike, but something that can truly erupt and change at any moment."
"The rhythm of attack, defense, and counterattack is yours to decide and control."
"Alright, the theory and demonstration end here for now. Now, all of you pick up your swords and strike your most familiar stance."
Saito Yuichi withdrew his posture, pointing his wooden sword at the students as he instructed.
Although the stances of different schools vary, they all follow the same fundamental principles.
Hearing this, the students immediately complied. Suō Tsukasa also steadily raised his sword and took a stance.
After everyone had settled into their stances, Saito Yuichi walked among the students, occasionally tapping their wrists, elbows, or the backs of their knees with his wooden sword, correcting errors in their postures.
"Too rigid!"
"Your center of gravity is floating!"
"Your breathing is erratic!"
When he reached Suō Tsukasa, his gaze fixed upon him.
Suō Tsukasa's stance was different from the Chūdan no Kamae of the others in the field.
The wooden sword was raised high above his head, the blade nearly parallel to the ground, the tip pointing slightly toward the floor. His left hand gripped the end of the hilt, and his right hand gripped the top closer to the guard.
His entire body's center of gravity was slightly forward, the stance aggressive and full of explosive potential, like a fully drawn bowstring.
A very standard Jōdan no Kasumi (Upper Mist Stance).
"Jōdan no Kamae? That's a good stance."
Compared to the defensive nature of the Lower Stance and the balanced offensive/defensive Middle Stance, the Upper Stance often strives for absolute victory.
Of course, striving for victory is not a bad thing for a Shinigami. The style just needs to suit the wielder.
Saito Yuichi's mouth curled into an almost imperceptible smile. Without any warning, the wooden sword in his hand sliced straight down with a whooshing sound.
The target was Suō Tsukasa's exposed side shoulder, which was vulnerable due to the raised sword.
Hoo—
The next instant, the sound of wind cutting through the air rang out again—not a block, but a quicker counterattack.
Almost at the same moment Saito Yuichi moved, Suō Tsukasa swiftly rotated his wrist. The tip of his sword, which had been lowered, curved in a small arc like a circling bird, meeting the descending wooden sword.
Boom—
The two wooden swords collided violently in the air, creating a dull impact sound.
"Excellent!"
"Withdraw."
Feeling the jarring force transmitted through the sword, Suō Tsukasa's counterattack demonstrated precise control over timing, angle, and power.
Calm, stable, and extremely solid fundamentals.
Saito Yuichi retracted his sword and stepped back, looking at Suō Tsukasa with undisguised appreciation.