"The important thing is participation..."
Inside the infirmary, Shion looked at Sakura Ohgami, who had already woken up, and offered a few words of comfort.
Sakura Ohgami's injuries weren't serious.
Gensai Kuroki had only struck vital points to knock her unconscious. There were no broken bones, not even a sprain. After waking up, she was essentially fine.
What Shion was actually worried about wasn't her body.
It was her spirit.
After all, this had been Sakura Ohgami's very first Kengan match-and she had lost decisively.
Shion was concerned that the psychological blow would be too heavy, that Sakura Ohgami might lose heart.
"I'm fine."
Sakura Ohgami shook her head and smiled as she spoke.
"You don't need to comfort me, Chairwoman Soryuin. My strength was simply inferior. That's all."
"When I become stronger, I'll naturally find another chance to fight them."
Shion met Sakura Ohgami's gaze.
After confirming that she truly wasn't putting on a brave front, Shion finally relaxed. She chatted with her a bit longer, then turned and left the infirmary.
Soon, Sakura Ohgami was alone.
She lowered her head.
Her fists clenched slowly.
Then a voice sounded from the window.
"You're frustrated, aren't you..."
"...!"
Sakura Ohgami immediately looked up.
At some point, the window had been opened, and Jaden was sitting casually on the windowsill, looking at her.
"Master Jaden! I-I..."
Sakura Ohgami instinctively tried to maintain the same composure she had shown Shion, but Jaden's sudden appearance threw her off completely.
She froze.
Jaden shook his head lightly.
"Don't hide it."
"This was your first official Kengan match, and you ran into someone like that."
"If you weren't frustrated, I'd have to reconsider whether you're even suited to becoming a Kengan fighter."
Shion wasn't a fighter.
There were things she simply wouldn't understand.
Jaden himself had never lost-but he carried Jack Hanma's memories.
No one understood frustration better than he did.
After all, Jack Hanma's father was Yuujirou Hanma.
And his brother was Baki Hanma.
There were countless reasons to feel frustrated.
Otherwise, Jack Hanma would never have shouted-
"I can do that too!"
"...Yes."
Sakura Ohgami finally stopped pretending.
"I am frustrated."
Her expression collapsed.
She lowered her head, gripping the blanket tighter and tighter.
"The opponent saw through everything."
"All of my movements."
"To the point where I couldn't even properly use Flowing Force."
Jaden had watched the match.
He knew exactly what she meant.
Although he didn't know how Gensai Kuroki did it, it was as if the man could see the future.
Every move.
Every rhythm.
Even the exact moment Sakura Ohgami tried to use her flowing technique-or deliberately held back.
On top of that, her physical condition was weaker.
She knew fewer techniques.
Her combat experience was nowhere near her opponent's.
She was suppressed in every possible aspect.
She never even glimpsed a path to victory.
That was why the frustration was so deep.
"This tournament is important to you, Master Jaden."
Sakura Ohgami spoke softly.
"And yet, you still spent several days teaching me before it began."
"I hoped... even if it was just a little, I could help you."
"But I lost in my first match."
"I wasted your time."
"I was completely useless..."
This was what truly hurt.
Losing was painful.
But worse-
She hadn't even forced her opponent to reveal anything.
She hadn't gathered intelligence.
She hadn't contributed in any way.
-How could she accept that?
Jaden's pupils narrowed slightly.
He had expected frustration.
He had even planned to use that frustration to motivate his "cheap disciple" after the tournament. Once she became a bit stronger and her physical foundation improved, he intended to teach her Kami-e.
But this-
This wasn't what he had expected.
So.
Jaden stepped forward and flicked Sakura Ohgami's forehead.
"Ow-!"
She cried out, clutching her forehead with both hands, staring up at him in confusion.
"You only need to worry about your own frustration."
"You lost this time."
"So next time, I won't say you need to win."
"But at the very least..."
"Don't lose so disgracefully again."
As he spoke, a breeze flowed in through the open window behind him.
The clouds parted.
Warm afternoon sunlight poured into the infirmary, carrying the faint scent of the sea and vegetation from Ganryu Island.
"As for my matters..."
Jaden extended his finger again.
He poked Sakura Ohgami's forehead a second time.
The movement looked casual.
But it was a technique-one that specifically targeted the skin to maximize pain.
Hitting the same spot twice made Sakura Ohgami's eyes water.
This time, however, she didn't cry out.
Because she saw something she had never seen before.
Jaden had always been strict.
Poker-faced.
A little short-tempered.
But now-
He was smiling.
It was extremely faint.
Almost imperceptible.
Yet it was enough to leave Sakura Ohgami stunned.
"My situation hasn't reached the point where you need to worry about it."
"This tournament may be important."
"But for me..."
"Even without preparation."
"Even without knowing my opponents."
"I won't lose."
Jaden withdrew his hand.
"What does it matter whether I know my opponents or not?"
"Even if they go all out, the most they can do is surprise me a little."
"That's all."
"When you first called me Master, I told you that my strength might not suit you."
"But even then..."
"I never denied my own power."
"My strength has never been in doubt."
As he spoke, Jaden calculated the bracket in his head.
"If Gensai Kuroki keeps winning..."
"I'll probably face him in my fourth match."
"The semi-finals."
"I'll let you see how I fight then."
With that, Jaden turned and left.
After the door closed, Sakura Ohgami's voice came from inside the infirmary.
"Yes, Master Jaden!"
"I'll definitely watch!"
Hearing that, somewhere she couldn't see, Jaden began to laugh quietly.
Then he shook his head.
"If that's the case..."
"I won't be able to rely on curses against that Black Arm."
"...Whatever."
"Since I've already said it, I'll just have to be a bit more serious."
After all-
"No matter how 'cheap' this disciple is..."
"She's still my disciple."
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