After that conversation with Ryoji he said to me to "Get some good nap kid 'cause you won't get any after today" with a devil grin on his face. (He already look like one though!...)
—NEXT MORNING—
The Sun was barely able to see (why sun is white?). the morning air was so cold that it send chill through my body as I stood outside. I was gripping a wooden training sword like every protagonist in novel and anime like I was one. The village was still asleep, and birds in this world sounds creepy in morning. The sky painted in shades of deep blue as the first hints of sunlight hit over the horizon.
I took a deep breath and adjusted my stance.
Last night's conversation with Ryoji kept replaying in my mind that I couldn't get any decent sleep. The seventh unrivaled one. It sounded ridiculous. Him? Some kind of legendary warrior?
But… why was even summoned to this world and who summoned me here? (I sound like Subaru).
If I really had hidden power, I needed to control it.
And if I did… I want to know who summoned me here.
So, I decided to train. (So I thought)
—THE TRAINING DISASTER—
Step One: Warming Up
I stretched my arms, trying to recall the warm-ups I used to do back home. A few squats, a couple of push-ups, some basic footwork. Simple enough, right?
Wrong.
After about twenty minutes, my muscles were already burning, and I was gasping like a dying fish.
"Damn it… I thought I was in decent shape, I just did some pushup" I muttered, wiping sweat off my forehead.
I wasn't some weak office worker, but my body felt heavier here. Maybe it was this world's gravity? Or this new body?
Either way, I won't stopping.
—Step Two: Sword Practice (A.K.A. Swinging Sticks Like an Idiot)—
I grabbed the wooden sword and started swinging it in controlled motions.
One. Two. Three.
At least, that's what I thought I was doing.
From an other's perspective, I probably looked like a drunk idiot flailing a stick.
That's when I heard a yawn behind me.
"Hiroshi-san, what the funny thing are you doing here…?"
I turned to see Kaito, still half-asleep, his hair sticking up in every direction. He rubbed his eyes and stared at me like I was a madman.
"I'm training," I said, trying to sound serious.
Kaito blinked. "You look like a dying goose."
I nearly dropped my sword. "What?"
He grinned. "I mean, what kind of sword stance is that?"
I frowned, looking down at my posture. It wasn't that bad… right?
Kaito stretched his arms, then picked up a stick from the ground. "Here, let me show you."
Step Three: Learning from a Kid
Kaito took a stance, his movements suddenly sharp and refined.
SWISH. His stick cut through the air with a satisfying sound.
SWOOSH. Another swing, perfectly balanced.
I stared. "You… you actually know what you're doing?"
He grin just like his father. "Of course! My dad was a soldier before he retired. He sometime teach me how to fight when I was little."
I sighed. "Great. So I'm getting lessons from a twelve-year-old."
Kaito grinned wider. "Thirteen, actually."
"Right. That totally changes things."
Kaito laughed. "Come on, watch closely! You need to stop swinging like an old man trying to swat flies."
I groaned but followed his instructions. Surprisingly, he was a good teacher.
"Keep your knees bent a little."
"Hold your grip firmer, but don't tense up."
"Move with your whole body, not just your arms!"
At first, it was awkward. But after a while, I started getting the hang of it.
Step Four: Sparring Disaster
"Okay, now let's spar," Kaito said, spinning his stick like a pro.
"Wait, wait, wait," I said quickly. "I just learned how to hold the damn sword. Can we—"
WHACK.
Before I could finish, Kaito lunged forward and smacked my leg.
"OW!" I yelped, hopping on one foot.
Kaito laughed. "Too slow, Hiroshi-san!"
"Oh, you little—"
I swung back, but he dodged easily, poking me in the ribs.
"ACK!"
"Come on, you need to react faster!"
"I'll react when I'm NOT BEING ATTACKED BY A GREMLIN!"
For the next few minutes, I desperately tried to land a hit, but Kaito danced around me like a damn ninja.
SWISH. Missed.
SWOOSH. Another miss.
BONK. Right on my forehead.
I collapsed onto the grass, groaning. "I hate this."
Kaito burst into laughter. "You're not bad for a beginner!"
I glared at him. "I hope a Direwolf eats you."
"That's rude," he snickered. "But don't worry, Hiroshi-san. You'll get better. Eventually 'cause your getting a new trainer."
I sighed, staring up at the sky "A Trainer".
Maybe this world wasn't so bad.
At least for now, this is new.