Capítulo 17: 15. The Last Test
The dojo was silent, save for the faint creak of the floorboards as Kenji adjusted his stance. Mei stood across from him, her shinai raised and her posture steady. Her usual calmness was there, but there was an edge to her movements, a sharpness in her gaze that told Kenji this wouldn't be like their usual matches.
"Ready?" Mei asked, her voice even.
Kenji gave a small nod, gripping his shinai tighter. His muscles were coiled, his focus razor-sharp. Without another word, Mei moved.
She closed the distance between them in an instant, her shinai slicing through the air with blinding speed. Kenji eyes widen and he barely managed to sidestep, the blade cutting just past his shoulder.
He didn't have time to think. Mei's strikes came one after another, a relentless assault that left him no room to counter.
Her shinai swung low, and Kenji hopped back, his feet skidding slightly on the polished floor. She pressed forward, aiming a sharp diagonal slash that he blocked at the last second, the impact reverberating up his arm.
Mei didn't stop. She twisted smoothly, her next strike cutting upward, forcing Kenji to duck under it.
Every movement was calculated, precise, and fast. Too fast. Kenji's breath came quicker as he backpedaled, his shinai darting to intercept each strike. His feet moved instinctively, trying to stay ahead of the storm of attacks.
"You're too slow," Mei said, her voice steady but carrying a hint of sharpness. She swung again, a wide arc that forced Kenji to pivot hard to the side. "If all you're going to do is dodge, this will be over before it starts."
Kenji didn't respond. He couldn't afford to. Every ounce of his focus was on keeping up, on deflecting the blows coming at him from every angle. Mei's strikes weren't just fast, they were relentless. Each one flowed seamlessly into the next, leaving him no time to recover, no time to think.
Mei knew that using even a little of her true strength may be a bit much. But she knew Kenji had more in him, and she wanted to see it. Just once, see his true strength.
She aimed a thrust at his ribs, and he twisted away, but she was already following up with a downward slash. Kenji raised his shinai to block, the impact jarring his arms. He stumbled back a step, his feet barely finding their balance before Mei was on him again.
Her shinai whistled through the air, cutting in a tight horizontal swipe that Kenji ducked under. He moved on instinct now, his body reacting before his mind could process the danger. But no matter how fast he moved, Mei was faster. Her strikes were too quick, each one designed to push him further onto the defensive.
"You're going to have to do better than this if you want to win" Mei called out, her voice cutting through the rhythmic clash of their shinais.
Her words stung, but not out of malice. They were a challenge, a reminder that she was taking this seriously, even if she wasn't going all out. This wasn't just a match. It was a test.
Something shifted inside Kenji. A spark. A faint, familiar feeling stirring deep within him. His grip tightened on the shinai, his stance lowering as his body steadied. The fatigue in his arms seemed to fade, replaced by a energy that made his chest hum.
Mei's sharp eyes caught the subtle change in his posture, her movements slowing for just a fraction of a second as she assessed him.
She didn't waste too much time thinking as she rushed forward again. Speed so fast that Kenji didn't even notice she had moved until her shinai was about to strike.
The spark inside Kenji flared into something more. He didn't notice it at first—too focused on the blur of Mei's shinai as it came streaking toward him. The world around him slowed, the edges of his vision sharpening as his muscles coiled instinctively. Mei's blade was a fraction of a second from landing a decisive blow.
And then it happened.
His body moved on its own, a burst of energy surging through him. He ducked sharply, the air splitting above him as Mei's shinai sailed past his head. His feet pivoted on the polished floor, his entire frame snapping upright with an intensity that left the air crackling around him.
Mei froze for the briefest of moments, her sharp eyes widening ever so slightly. Kiana, who was watching from the back smirked knowingly. "This is gonna be fun."
But neither of them heard her. Mei's lips curved into a grin. A grin that would have unnerved Kenji if he wasn't so focused. Her stance shifting as she raised her shinai again.
"So," she said, her voice carrying a note of excitement Kenji had never heard before, "Show me what you've got!"
Kenji didn't reply. He couldn't, not because he didn't want to, but because he wasn't even aware of what had changed.
His breath came evenly, his focus narrowing entirely on Mei. The hum of One For All coursed through his body, invisible but undeniably present.
Mei stepped forward, her shinai slicing through the air with a sharp whistle. Kenji moved to block, but the force of her strike was unlike anything he had faced before. The impact rattled his arms, and before he could regain his footing, the sheer force sent him flying across the dojo.
He hit the ground in a controlled roll, his body sliding to a stop against the far wall. The breath rushed from his lungs as he sat there, stunned, his shinai still clutched tightly in his hand.
"Mei-Senpai!" Kiana's voice rang out, laced with concern. "Aren't you taking this too far?"
The question hung in the air for only a second before it answered itself.
Kenji's body blurred as he shot forward, closing the distance between them in an instant. Mei's grin returned, her stance shifting to meet him. Their shinais clashed in a deafening crack that echoed through the empty dojo.
The force actually creating powerful winds that flew throughout the dojo. Making Kiana's hair fly around as she yelled out in awe.
Kenji's strikes came fast, fueled by a mix of raw instinct and the power humming through his veins. Mei deflected each one with precision, stepping backward to maintain her footing. But Kenji pressed harder, his movements sharper and faster than ever before.
With one final swing, his shinai cut toward her shoulder in a wide arc. Mei ducked low, her body twisting like a coiled spring. As Kenji stepped in to follow up, she pushed off the ground in a smooth backflip, landing lightly on her feet at the far edge of the dojo.
Kenji's chest heaved as he paused, gripping his shinai tighter. He barely had time to reset before Mei rushed him, her movements a blur of speed and power.
Her shinai cut toward him in a flurry of strikes, each one faster and harder than the last. Kenji twisted and dodged, his body reacting almost on its own as he weaved through her attacks. A sharp swipe aimed at his legs forced him to leap, his feet skimming just above the floor as Mei's blade passed beneath him.
The instant his feet touched the ground, Mei was there, her shinai crashing down in a vertical slash. Kenji raised his own weapon, blocking the strike with a forceful thud. The impact drove him down slightly, his legs bending under the pressure, but he held firm.
Mei's grin never faltered as she pushed harder, the force of her strikes relentless. "Not bad," she said, her tone laced with genuine respect. "But you'll have to do better than that."
Kenji didn't answer. His shinai twisted sharply, deflecting her blade just enough to step into her range. He lashed out with a quick jab, forcing Mei to pivot sideways. Her movements were smooth, almost effortless, as she spun out of his reach and reset her stance.
The air between them crackled with tension as they circled each other, both of them breathing heavily but unwilling to back down.
Kenji lunged forward, his shinai cutting diagonally in a sharp arc. Mei parried it with ease, but he didn't stop. His strikes came faster now, each one flowing into the next like a seamless wave. Mei blocked and dodged, her movements fluid as she gave ground, her feet skimming lightly over the polished floor.
Kiana watched from the sidelines, her hands clenched tightly as her eyes darted between the two fighters. "Kenji, where the heck has this been all this time?" she muttered to herself, a mix of awe and disbelief in her voice.
Kenji swung again, this time aiming for Mei's midsection. She twisted away, her shinai deflecting his strike with a sharp clang. Before he could follow up, Mei darted to the side, her shinai cutting upward in a tight arc.
Kenji dropped low, the blade slicing just above his head, and surged forward with a quick counterstrike. Mei leapt back, her feet barely touching the ground as she flipped into the air, her movements as graceful as they were powerful.
The instant she landed, she dashed toward him again, closing the gap in the blink of an eye. Her shinai came down in a heavy slash, and Kenji raised his weapon to block, the force of the impact driving him back several steps.
Their movements became a blur as the fight reached its peak. Kenji pushed harder, his strikes faster and more precise, each one testing Mei's defense. She met him blow for blow, her own strikes carrying a weight and speed that made the air around them hum.
Kenji could feel the strain building in his body, this was the first time he used OFA against someone, a person far beyond his strength and it drained him faster than he expected.
But he didn't stop. He couldn't. Each step, each strike, each dodge felt like a culmination of everything he had learned, not just from Mei and Kiana, but from every moment he had spent in this world.
Mei's shinai came down in a wide arc, and Kenji sidestepped, his own blade cutting upward in a quick counter. Mei spun away, her feet skimming the ground as she reset her stance. Kenji followed immediately, his shinai slashing toward her side in a calculated strike.
For the first time, Mei's defense faltered. Kenji's blade slipped past her guard, the tip of his shinai cutting toward her shoulder.
But in the last possible moment, Mei's shinai came up in a blur, blocking the strike with a deafening crack. The force of the impact reverberated through both of their armsand actually sent a small shockwave that was felt throughout the dojo.
Before Kenji could recover, Mei twisted sharply, her shinai snapping upward in a final, decisive strike.
The wooden blade struck Kenji's forehead with a loud thwack, the force sending him straight to the ground, actually making a small dent in it. His shinai slipped from his grasp as he laid on the ground.
Mei lowered her shinai, her breathing steady despite the faint sheen of sweat on her brow. A small, genuine smile tugged at her lips. "You've come a long way," she said softly, her voice filled with respect.
Kenji picked himself up and let out a breathless laugh, his chest heaving as he met her gaze. "But I still have a ways to go."
From the sidelines, Kiana broke the silence with a loud clap. "Are you kidding me? That was insane! Kenji, you almost had her!"
Kenji smirked, brushing a hand over his forehead. "Almost."
Mei stepped closer, offering him a hand. Her grip was firm as she helped him back to his feet. "Almost," she repeated, her tone lighter now. "But not quite."
Kenji nodded, his grin widening despite the ache in his arms and the sting on his forehead. "Thanks, Mei."
She returned the smile, a quiet pride evident in her eyes.
---
After their spar, they cleaned up and headed out of the dojo to a quiet park.
The park was quiet except for the faint rustle of leaves in the cool night breeze. The streetlights cast soft, golden halos over the playground, illuminating the swings and slides that stood empty at this hour.
The three of them sat on a large wooden structure shaped like a pirate ship, their shoes dangling off the side as they leaned back, enjoying the calm after the intensity of the dojo.
Kenji rested his arms on the wooden railing, gazing out at the empty park. His forehead still tingled slightly from Mei's final strike, and his muscles ached, but it wasn't the kind of exhaustion he minded. It was the good kind, the kind that reminded him he'd given it his all.
Kiana broke the silence first, leaning back on her hands with a contented sigh. "That fight sure was something, wasn't it?"
Mei, sitting beside her, tilted her head slightly, a faint smile tugging at her lips. "It sure was," she said, her voice calm and steady. She glanced at Kenji, her eyes sharp but warm. "Looks like we were right to think you were hiding something from us."
Kenji stiffened slightly, his shoulders tensing as guilt crept into his expression. He opened his mouth, his words rushed. "Look, I—"
"Shh!" Kiana cut him off, placing a finger to her lips as she leaned forward dramatically. Kenji blinked, startled, as Kiana stood and moved to stand directly in front of him.
"Hey," she said, her voice softer now, her usual playfulness tempered with sincerity. "We all have our secrets. Even me. You don't have to tell us everything. We're not going to take it personally." She smiled, her eyes gleaming with the honesty of her words.
Kenji looked up at her, her words sinking in deeper than he expected. He let out a breath he hadn't realized he was holding and gave her a small nod. "Thanks, Kiana."
Mei stood as well, brushing off her jacket before stepping beside Kiana. "She's right," Mei added, crossing her arms lightly. "We're not mad that you hid this from us."
Kiana grinned, cutting in with a playful smirk. "Or tried to, at least. "
Kenji's eye twitched, and he leaned forward slightly. "Well, how the heck was I supposed to know you two could sense my powers?!"
For a moment, there was silence. Then, as if on cue, all three of them burst into laughter, the tension melting away in the cool night air. Kiana leaned back on her hands, wiping a tear from the corner of her eye as her laughter subsided.
"You're too easy to mess with, Kenji," she said, her grin wide.
Kenji rolled his eyes, though he couldn't help the small smile tugging at his lips. "Yeah, yeah. Laugh it up."
Kiana tilted her head, her grin turning curious. "So… the Night Runner, huh? That's you, isn't it?"
Kenji froze for half a second before shaking his head a little too quickly. "What? Me? The Night Runner? No way. Sounds like a cool guy, though. Probably really good-looking, too."
Mei raised an eyebrow, her lips twitching as though she was fighting a smile. Kiana snorted, crossing her arms. "Uh-huh. Sure. I totally believe you."
Kenji held up his hands defensively, trying to keep his expression neutral. "I mean it. I don't know what you're talking about."
Kiana stared at him for a long moment before bursting out laughing again. Mei, for her part, let out a quiet chuckle, shaking her head. "Subtle," she said dryly.
Kenji sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "You two are impossible."
...
For a while, they sat there in silence, the night wrapping around them like a comforting blanket. Kenji glanced at Mei and Kiana, his chest tightening slightly at the thought of this being their last evening together like this.
The dojo, the sparring, even the quiet moments like this, they had all become a part of his routine, a part of his life. Letting go wasn't going to be easy.
Kiana broke the silence again, her voice softer now. "You know," she said, her gaze fixed on the empty swings swaying gently in the breeze, "this was fun. All of it. Training with you, hanging out. I'm gonna miss it."
Mei nodded, her calm demeanor tinged with a faint sadness. "So will I. But it's not really goodbye, is it?"
Kenji tilted his head, looking between them. "I sure hope not."
Mei smiled faintly. "We'll see each other again. Maybe not tomorrow or next week, but someday."
Kiana grinned, her usual energy returning. "Yeah, and when we do, we'll probably be famous Valkyries, saving the world and looking amazing while doing it."
Kenji chuckled, leaning back on his hands. "You two better be. I expect to see you on the news, taking down Honkai beasts and making it look easy."
"Don't worry," Kiana said, puffing out her chest dramatically. "We'll make sure to give you a shoutout. 'This one's for Kenji, our favorite sparring dummy!'"
Kenji groaned, covering his face with one hand. "Why do I even talk to you?"
Mei laughed softly, the sound light and genuine. "Because you'd miss us if you didn't."
Kenji let his hand drop, his smile fading slightly as he looked at them. "Yeah," he said quietly. "I would."
The three of them sat in silence again, the weight of the moment settling over them. The playground felt timeless, the creak of the swings and the hum of the night creating a backdrop for their shared memories.
Kiana hopped off the structure suddenly, dusting off her hands as she turned to Kenji. "Alright, enough of the mushy stuff," she said, her grin returning. "Let's make a deal."
Kenji raised an eyebrow. "A deal?"
"Yeah." She held out her hand. "You keep training, keep getting stronger, and we'll do the same. And the next time we meet, let's see if you could land a clean blow on full fledged Valkyries."
Mei stepped down beside her, nodding in agreement. "She's right. Don't stop improving, Kenji."
Kenji stared at their outstretched hands for a moment before standing and clasping them firmly. "Alright deal."
Kiana grinned. "Good. Because I'm not going easy on you next time, mister 'Night Runner' "
"I already said I'm not the Night Runner!" Kenji shot back, his tone light.
Mei smiled, her gaze steady. "Take care of yourself, Kenji."
"You too," he said, his voice quieter now. "Both of you."
They stood there for a moment longer, the night air cool against their skin. And then, without another word, Kiana and Mei turned and began walking away, sending him a wave as they got further away.
Kenji watched them until they disappeared from view, the weight in his chest a mix of sadness and gratefulness. He took a deep breath, his hands slipping into his pockets as he turned toward the playground one last time.
"Looks like I'm going solo for a while" he murmured to himself, but he wasn't sad. Even with this parting, a small smile tugged at his lips.
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