Class Two-B

When I walked into the classroom, the atmosphere was different. Not the usual noble gossip or polite conversations about family legacies. This was something else—tangible, sharp, and heavy with tension.

Everyone seemed on edge, their eyes darting toward the door as if expecting someone to burst in. A few whispered among themselves, their tones hushed but urgent.

I leaned toward Aiko, who sat casually at her desk but couldn't quite hide the stiffness in her shoulders. "What's going on? Why's everyone so worked up?"

"You don't know?" she asked, raising an eyebrow. "Today's Duel Day. It's been posted all over the academy."

Damn it. Between sparring with Hiroshi, Aiko's political maneuvers, and adjusting to the academy's social web, I'd completely overlooked the announcement boards.

"What's Duel Day?" I asked, my curiosity piqued.

Her expression turned serious. "It's when two random classes spar against each other. The instructors set the matchups, and there are restrictions on what can be used. It's preparation for the third-quarter tournament."

"Oh? And who are we fighting?" I asked, feeling a flicker of excitement.

"That's the thing—we don't know yet. Hiroto hasn't told us. But I really hope it's not Class Four-A."

"Why? They're that strong?"

She shot me a look. "Class Four-A isn't just strong—they're monsters. The best students in the academy. We're not ready for them."

I leaned back, letting her words sink in. So, this is more than just practice—it's about survival.

"Aiko." I said, my tone steady, "we'll win this. Trust me."

Her lips curved into a small smile, the tension in her shoulders easing slightly. "You're confident. I'll give you that."

A few minutes later, Instructor Hiroto entered the room, his calm presence silencing the murmurs instantly. His sharp gaze swept over the class before he spoke.

"I'm sure you've all heard. Today is Duel Day." he said, his voice steady but commanding.

Every student braced themselves, their attention locked on him.

"We will be battling Class Two-B." he announced, his expression as unreadable as ever.

The tension evaporated in an instant, replaced by a collective sigh of relief.

"Class Two-B fights aggressively." Aiko whispered to me. "But at least it's not Class Four-A."

I couldn't help but smile. "This will be fun."

When we arrived at the training grounds, a group of older students stood waiting. They were unmistakably from noble samurai families, their postures confident, their expressions radiating superiority.

One of them stepped forward, a tall boy with his long hair tied in a bun, wearing a pristine blue kimono. His sharp features carried an air of arrogance.

"Class One-A, I hope we have a good spar." he said, his tone polite but his eyes narrowing as they locked onto me. "I've heard a lot about your new student."

He didn't need to say it, but I could feel the weight of his words. He wasn't addressing the class—he was addressing me.

"I'm Taro Ueda of the Ueda Clan." he added, the pride in his voice impossible to miss.

I gave him a smirk, letting my words drip with mock sincerity. "Don't worry. I'll go easy. Wouldn't want anyone crying after the duel."

Taro's face twitched, his carefully composed mask slipping for just a second. Got him.

Before he could retort, Ryu Kazuki stepped in, his silver hair catching the sunlight. "Takeda, let's go."

"Yeah."

As we walked, Ryu leaned in slightly. "Taro's the strongest in Class Two-B." he muttered. "Honestly, I'm not sure I could beat him right now."

"They randomize the matchups, don't they? We'll see how it goes."

Soon enough, Instructor Hiroto called everyone together. His tone was as calm as ever, but the weight of his words commanded absolute attention.

"The matchups and restrictions have been decided," he began. "Today, you will fight without the use of Ki. It will be two-on-two battles."

The class murmured in surprise. A fight with no Ki? That meant this was pure combat—skill over power.

Taro remained calm, his expression unbothered.

Instructor Hiroto began assigning the pairs, and to no one's surprise, I ended up teamed with Ryu. Our opponents? Taro Ueda and a stocky boy named Satake Soji.

"This had to be planned." I muttered under my breath.

Ryu gave a wry smile. "Of course it was."

The matches kicked off, the clash of wooden

weapons echoing across the grounds.

Aiko was the first from our class to step into the arena, paired with a boy named Kimatsu. To my surprise, she carried a spear. Her opponents, Kato and Arima, wasted no time exploiting the weapon's range limitations. Aiko held her own briefly, but Kato closed the gap too quickly, his strikes overwhelming her.

Kimatsu fell soon after, leaving Class Two-B with an early lead.

The next few matches followed a similar pattern—our class struggled against the older, more experienced students. By the time Hiroshi stepped into the arena, Class Two-B had racked up nine wins to our four.

Hiroshi was paired with Kanbei, a quiet student who wielded a katana. Their opponents were the Yagyu brothers—Jubei, a hulking brute with an axe and shield, and Munenori, a wiry swordsman with incredible speed.

On Hiroto's signal, the battle began.

Hiroshi moved first, dodging Munenori's strikes with ease and closing in on Jubei. The large samurai blocked with his shield, but Hiroshi anticipated the move, sweeping his legs out from under him.

Before Jubei could react, Hiroshi struck his chest with a swift powerful punch, knocking him out cold.

Munenori tried to capitalize on the distraction, but Hiroshi turned on him in an instant, landing a devastating blow that sent him sprawling.

The match was over in less than a minute.

As the crowd murmured in stunned silence, Hiroto called the final match.

"Takeda Hanzo and Ryu Kazuki versus Taro Ueda and Satake Soji."

Finally.

The students parted as we stepped into the arena. Taro stood across from us, his calm expression betraying no emotion, while Satake cracked his knuckles, eager to fight.

Ryu glanced at me, his grin sharp. "Ready for this?"

I smirked. "Always."

This wasn't just a fight—it was a test. For them, for me, and for what came next.