Author's note

Hi, before the start of this chapter, I would like to thank all the people who read, support and follow my story. This is the first time I'm writing a fanfic, so please bear with me. After reading a comment by Theorize about Multiple point of views, I've decide to group Ruka and Hikaru's side of the story by arcs ( A few chapters). Thus, this chapter will be about Ruka again and the next few chapters will be on Hikaru. Hopefully, it will be less confusing and more smooth to read. Thank you all and have fun reading this chapter.

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Chapter 7 - My love(obsession) story- Ruka

After defeating all the challengers( both his juniors and seniors), I was extremely tired as I dragged my feet home. Normally beating all the kendo club members will be an easy feat for me, not that I want to brag. However, due to the back-to-back matches with all my overly enthusiastic seniors and juniors in the kendo club, the physical drain inflicted on me was too much to bear. By the time I defeated the last challenger, sky was pitch black.

As I was walking home, my stomach held a vocal protest against me. The noise that it was making was loud enough for the whole district to hear! It was about 2 hours after my usual dinner time after all. I was famished! Once I reached home, I dived for the dining table and gobbled my food as if I haven’t eaten in days.

“Now I guess its about time for me to continue my painting.” I mumbled to myself. I fall in love with painting since I was 8 years old. Painting was my second love after swordsmanship, that is apart from Yui...cough..cough... In my free time apart from my usual sword training, I would walk around town sketching or painting the scenery that I like.

My current art piece is a painting of the sunset from the view of the roof of the school building. It was almost completed, but I was not very satisfied with it. It could have been better. It was a shallow piece, pretty but not good enough to touch the hearts of others. I know that if anyone else saw my painting they would praise it. The town bathed in the warm orange sunset, giving of a warm feeling of happiness and joy. It was truly a work of art. The painting was beautifully unique in its own way. However, it just was not good enough to me.

I picked up my palette and made the finishing touches to his artwork. It was lacking something. The painting just could not fully convey the feelings I wanted to show, unlike my first masterpiece of the shadow of a girl swinging her bamboo sword in the sunset under the school cherry blossom tree….

It was the start of the first year. I was still deciding if I should join any of the clubs or be part of the go-home club, as I toured around the booths on recruitment day together with oh-so my super popular brother.

“Should I join the Kendo club, or should I join something else?” I thought silently to myself as I followed Hikaru through the crowd. The school ground has over night turned into a carnival, with all the various sports, performing arts and interest groups running booths to showcase their club. The atmosphere here was very lively and the senpais were all very friendly. However, I could see a hidden fire in the depths of their eyes, as if they were going to war. It was slightly nerve-wracking as they approached us. My intuition was right on the mark as I discovered later from Hikaru that the different clubs were involved in a competition to see which club has the highest increase in the number of recruits compared to last year. The winning club will get a increase of $200 in budget, as sponsored by the student council.

“Join the student counsel!”

“Soccer! We are looking for courageous men to join!”

“Hi! we are giving out free samples of food from the home economics club. Would you like one?”

Many of the seniors called out to HIkaru and I with overpowering enthusiasm, it was a very nerve-wracking day. Many people (mostly girls) were surrounding us trying to get Hikaru to join their club, but he just smiled and decline politely. I wish I was as relaxed as Hikaru. With so many people swarming us, I was stiff with nervousness. I did not know how to handle them! Those unknown creatures called girls. It was really beyond me.

All the people surrounding my brother and I were chatting to my brother endlessly. I could not stand any more of this crowd of people and noise. The emotional burden was too much for me. I made an excuse to Hikaru saying that I had a sudden stomach ache and slipped out of the crowd quickly.

“Phew..I’m glad that I finally got rid of that crowd. I should make my way to the kendo club booth and then go home.” I decided. I was still unsure if I should join the Kendo club. During elementary school and middle school, there was no kendo club. Thus, I was part of the go-home club. Everyday I walk past all those athletes training together with their club mates, I can’t help but feel a bit envious of them being able to laugh so freely with others. I really wish I wasn’t so shy. Maybe I could have joined a club in the past…Made some good memories with the great friends that I could of had! Well its too late for regrets. The past is the past, no point crying over spilled milk. I need to focus on the present!

As I neared the school dojo, I saw a large commotion at the entrance of the dojo. A large sea of people were gathering around what seems to be a quarrel between a kendo club member and a girl. I was not a busybody by nature, but I had to walk over to found out more on what is going on. I did not want to join a club with problems. I rather be alone than be in a club full of trouble makers.

“Why can’t I join the kendo club?!” a beautiful, long-haired girl exclaimed in frustration. As she glared at the kendo club booth personnel. Boy, was she fierce…. You really do not want to mess with her in that state. She was puffing up her rosy cheeks in anger as her eyes were shooting daggers at the poor guy. Though, she did look quite cute when she puff up her cheeks…..Eghh! Snap out of it, man!

“Eh..Miss, this is a boys only club. So I’m afraid that you cannot join this club.” The personnel replied slightly intimidated by the girl much shorter than him.

“So just because I’m a girl I can’t do kendo?! What gender discrimination!!!” The girl shouted in fury.

Just then a tall, stern looking third year in kendo practise uniform walked out from the dojo. He pushed up his glasses on his nose and said: “What was all this commotion about?”

“Captain! This girl says she want to join the kendo club!” the personnel said in disbelief.

“Miss, I’m sorry but this is a boys only kendo club...but if you really want to do kendo, I can let you join on the condition that you can beat me. So do you still want to join the kendo club?” The captain told the girl cooly hoping that she will back down quietly with this announcement.

“Yes! I will challenge you to a kendo match!” the girl replied firmly with fire in her eyes.

More people gathered to watch the match as I stayed at the back of the crowd watching this commotion. Wow that girl has guts! I moved through the crowd to get a better view of the match. Luckily, the people just move out of my way and let me pass through….hmmm I wonder why…

The girl borrowed a wooden bamboo sword (shinai) from one of the members and they went into the dojo to have the match. They stood across each other in their own respective stance waiting for the start of the match.

“First one to 3 points is the winner, same rules as normal competition. You may now begin!” the student referee played by another third year announced.

The two of them paced each other measuring the opponent, as they stepped closer to each other ready to strike. The girl made the first move, lunging at the captain with astonishing speed for a girl for a Kote-bu, a hit to the right or left wrist. The captain quickly dodge it and went in for a Do-bu, a hit on the right or left side of the torso careful not to hit her too hard.

The girl fell back in shock. She did not seem to expect that her attack would fail. If the captain was a normal kendoist, her attack would have succeeded. However, that captain is above average in speed and technique. Wow… this match is getting more interesting. Both are definitely stronger than average kendoist at the school level.

“1 point to Captain! The match will now resume.” the referee announced.

Both of them went back to their starting position. The girl was more cautious now waiting for the captain to attack instead. They circled each other and bait each other by swinging their shinai slightly but giving no room for an opening for an attack. They suddenly lunge at each other with great speed and their shinai clashed at the centre. Both of them held their ground as they try to push back the opponent. The captain being a guy was much stronger than the girl, so she lost the battle of strength and was push backed.

The captain saw an opening when the girl faltered and did another Do-bu, gaining yet another point.

“2:0! The match will continue in 2 minutes.” the referee announced.

The captain of the kendo club said to the girl: “ Give up now. You are no match for me.”

“Even so I will still try my best cause I really want to join this club!” The girl shouted back with determination.

They both resume their match, this round was very intense. Both of them were not backing down from each other. They went blow to blow, paring each others attack. In terms of speed they were neck to neck. However, in terms of strength, the captain held the upper hand. Each time the captain swing his sword, the impact the girl felt was getting greater and greater as evident by how far she was pushed back each time. But never the less, she gritted her teeth and held her own. She was bent on winning this match!

The girl tried a feint, aiming for a hit to the left wrist but is actually going to counter the captain’s block to roll out into a hit to the right side of the torso. However, the captain did not fell for the trick and dodge the Do-bu. The both of them eyed each other waiting for the next move that will decide it all.

They clash once again with their shinai, but this time that captain finally released his full strength and hit the shinai out of the girl’s hands. The force causing her to fall back on her back, as she bruised her arm.

“Give up now! You are not strong enough to beat me.” the captain said at he stared at the girl coldly. The captain is so mean to the girl, maybe I should not join such a club.

“Never!!!” The girl shouted back with fury as she grabbed her shinai once again.

“The match will now resume. You may now begin.” the referee announced as he looked at the girl with worried eyes.

The girl rush at the captain again with more determination than before, but she was rather reckless too. Both of them are definitely stronger than normal high school students, but if Hikaru was their opponent they would have been beaten rather quickly. Hai...I wonder if it was okay to ditch Hikaru like that…

As for the match it was really pitiful and inspiring at the same time. The girl kept on rushing at the captain, but she was just completely pushed back! She fell to her feet numerous times and her eyes were moist with tears. Yet, she refuse to back down. I guess she is really desperate to get into this club. I wish I could have taken her place to fight for her on her behalf. It was a really heart-wrenching to see her like this... Eh I mean my heart goes out to her...in sympathy of course!

The captain seems to have enough of this match and quickly did a hit on her right side of her torso again without hurting her. The girl stood there stunned as tears flowed down her rosy cheeks. That captain is a demon! A heartless beast to bully such a cute girl! Eh I mean a NORMAL girl.

“3...3:0! The match goes to Captain!” the referee announced, as he glared at the captain.

The girl fell to her feet in grief. The spectators were all giving the captain cold glares. Even I who was usually very calm, was gravely upset (more like burning with anger) with what the captain has done. I wish I could have taught him a lesson or two with my swords and it won’t be pretty for him!

“You may join the club. Go find more girls to join, so that you can enter the regionals.” The captain said to the girl as he revealed a small smile.

“Kuro! I thought you were so heartless! So you were just a big softie~” the referee tease the captain with a smile on his face.

“Akira! Stop calling me that and I’m no softie! Go help the girl, I will talk to the teacher.” the captain growled out as he walk out the dojo.

“Hai! Hai! Kuro- neko!” the referee called out behind the captain, as he winked at the girl. That skirt-chaser! Pedophile! Preying on cute, younger girls! Grrrr…

“Hello Miss. I’m Akira Uragi, the vice-captain of the kendo club. Let’s get you treated for your wounds.” With that Uragi-senpai, helped the stunned looking girl up and accompanied her to the infirmary.

The crowd started to disperse seeing that everything turned out alright. The number of sign ups increased due to the commotion caused, as they were awed by the heated match. There were even some girls in the spectators that signed up after being inspired by my girl, just like me. Eh I mean that girl. Egh! Ruka! What is wrong with you today? Well I guess the club seems decent enough, besides that overly stern captain...No harm joining it.

Back to the present...

Looking back I was rather erm stubborn and in denial about my feelings. That incident was my first impression of Yui-san and the trigger of my obsession with Yui~ eh I mean crush of course. Cough..Cough..

That beautiful girl that stole my heart with her perseverance and determination. She was running through my mind all the time. I just can’t get her out of my mind. Thus, I painted her silhouette, afraid to show anyone who the girl that appears in my painting so frequently is. I’ve been in love with her for two years and I haven’t had the courage to talk to her much less ask her out yet. However, this year will be different! I will ask her out even if my life depends on it! Now how do I go about it?

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