Bab 57: Disciple
"To start, can you explain why you want to become my apprentice?" Tomoki asked after sitting on the living room.
"As you must already know, one century ago the blacksmithing families from the Raiden Gokaden were mostly destroyed, with only the Amenoma Art and our Isshin Art as survivors. However, unlike the Amenoma Art that it's still thriving, the Isshin Art was barely able to keep alive." Kazuha explained.
"For unknown reasons, my great grandfather decided to abandon the Isshin Art due to an error and even when my grandfather tried to recover from his mistakes, he was unable to repair them." Kazuha said sadly "That had caused the once noble Kaedehara Clan to continuously lose its power, prestige, leaving only a shadow of what it was once."
"My father gave out, accepting the end and impossible recover of our family and that the Isshin Art would cease to exist following the Futsu, Hyakume and Senju Arts. But!" His sad and unfocused eyes fixated over Tomoki "You appeared! The new lord of the Niwa family and showed everyone your attainments of the Isshin Art."
"I'm not so great, Kazuha" Allen didn't understand why but Tomoki had a sad look over his face as he listened at Kazuha praising him.
"How can you not?!" Kazuha exclaimed "You returned Inazuma and directly went to the Amenoma Forge, forging a Legendary rank sword with the Isshin Art under everyone's gaze, even chall-"
"Please, stop Kazuha" Tomoki said sadly "That was simply a one-time thing, a favor to repair. I'm not someone that you should take as a master."
"Why not?!" Kazuha exclaimed "I want to follow you and be like you. I want to learn the true essence of the Isshin Art and reveal it to all Inazuma, reviving my fallen Kaedehara Clan."
"You shouldn't try to be like me" Tomoki shook his head "Power? Prestige? What have I done with them? I'm only a man living without an objective. Nobody should follow my footsteps."
"But the Kaedehara Clan is at it's deathbed, it won't last another generation!" Kazuha shouted worriedly "If can't learn the Isshin Art my clan is done, all the history of it reduced to ashes."
"And it's really so bad?" Tomoki asked with weight "Some history is better to be buried. The Niwa Clan was completely erased but here I am resurrecting it. However, the only thing that I ask myself is if it was really worth reviving it, how my should have been my life if I hadn't discovered it? Maybe it would have been quite better." Tomoki sighed and turned to Kazuha "Are you really sure you want to follow me?"
Kazuha doubted for some second, but quickly make a decided face "Yes, I want to save my clan. I don't know how I would end in the future, but I know that if I let an opportunity escape, I will regret it."
Tomoki glanced at Kazuha's gaze and in the end he sighed "I respect your decision."
"So you would make me your disciple?!" Kazuha said with shining eyes.
"First of all, I would have a talk with your father" Tomoki said.
"But my father...!" Kazuha tried to defend but was quickly shut down by Tomoki.
"You are only a little kid now and you should respect your father" Tomoki refuted "He is the one that had raised you. At least, I'll need to listen his opinion, don't you think?"
"Yes" Kazuha said looking downcast.
"I'll see him now. You can stay here for the time being" Tomoki said standing up and turning to Honoka who was standing outside the door "Prepare them some breakfast, I would return short."
Honoka nodded and quickly prepared a light breakfast for Allen and Kazuha, the typical one of rice and soap for Kazuha and juice and toast for Allen who had different preferences.
"Hello Kazuha" finding alone with him, Allen started with a friendly tone "We haven't present well before, I am N-"
"Niwa Allen!" Kazuha said excited "I heart all about you!"
"Really?" Allen made a confused face while laughing a little inside 'I really doubt it.'
"The adopted genius swordmaster of the Niwa Clan who had showed great talent and strength, continuously climbing over the ranks of the Tenryou Commission with his sword talent alone."
"That's only rumors, I had some help thanks to Tomoki and Kujou Sara. So I'm not someone so great." Allen answered humbly.
"No! You are great" Kazuha refused "We have the same age and I haven't accomplished anything" He said sadly "You even have been recognized as a blacksmith. If only I could be like you..." Kazuha shook his head, cheering himself "But I will start now. If lord Niwa become my master, I know I can reach my dream, if only my father can accept..." Kazuha sighed.
"Bad relation with your father?" Allen asked.
"It's not that it's bad, it's kind of difficult." Kazuha said "I respect my father a lot, he raised me alone after my mother died when I was young and put all his effort to revive the clan, but..." He make a difficult face "He pushes me aside when it comes to clan's matters, keeping me at distance of it. That's why I'm worried that lord Niwa won't be able to convince my father."
"If Tomoki put his all, he can be quite convincing" Allen reasured 'The question is, would Tomoki really want it?'
...
"I have talked with your father and..." After finishing their breakfast and having some light talk about hobbies and the like, Tomoki finally returned with a serious face.
"I knew it, he doesn't let..." Kazuha made a sad face.
"He accepts me as your master." Tomoki finished.
"Really?!" Kazuha's eyes went wide with excitement "Thanks, lord Niwa!" *Pum* He made a dogeza hitting his head.
"Yes, is the truth, but I have some rules first of accepting you as my disciple so lift your head." Tomoki said.
"Yes! I would do anything!" Kazuha lifted his head, his gaze fixed on Tomoki.
"First of all, I hate formalities so as I said before don't call me lord Niwa!" Tomoki exclaimed.
*Pum* Kazuha hit again the ground with his head "Sorry, lo-sorry, Tomo!"
"Second, stop apologizing for everything" Tomoki ordered "Apologizing for everything will only lower the value of an apologize and you would truly lost the meaning behind it. So unless is for something truly important never bow your head in apologize."
"Yes!" Kazuha lifted his gaze.
"And the last one, it doesn't matter how hard and exhausting is the training, you must never doubt it and follow it. You must follow all my words" Tomoki said "If you are skip or decided to not follow it, this apprenticeship would end. Are you ready for it?"
"Yes, Tomo! I'll put all my effort in it!" Kazuha answered excitedly.
"Okay, I accept you as my discipline" Tomoki nodded "For start you are forbidden to return to your home for the time being."
"How much time would it be?" Kazuha asked "Father is not in the best health and I need to help him."
"That would depend on your progression, so put all your effort in it" Tomoki explained "You will live here with us, Honoka would prepare a room for you and about the training..." Tomoki turned to Allen "Allen was about to go some running, follow him."
"Yes!" Kazuha turned to Allen with shining eyes.
"Okay" Allen sighed as he stood up "Let's go, Kazuha."
"Oh, and Allen" Tomoki stopped Allen from leaving "Don't let him rest, even if he ends up crawling."
*hah* Allen sighed leaving the house with Kazuha.
"How much we will run?" Kazuha asked excited while Allen was stretching his muscles.
"The usual morning routine, 20 km" Allen answered as if nothing.
"Hah?!"
PERTIMBANGAN PENCIPTA 
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