Chapter 2 – Training, Failures, and Tiny Sparks
The next morning, Akihiro arrived at Shinkage High early, determined to redeem himself after his humiliating debut in the chess club. The courtyard buzzed with students, some already practicing with their Kagekisen, others whispering about yesterday's matches.
"Look! It's Takeda Akihiro!" a girl giggled nearby, pointing at him. Another waved. "Hey, wait for me! I wanna spar with you!"
Akihiro's face flushed deep red. He tried to wave politely, but the attention made him stiff. He only relaxed slightly when he noticed Mina and Sayaka standing at the clubroom door. Mina's dark eyes evaluated him as always, Sayaka's blonde hair catching the sunlight. Only their glances made him feel calm.
"Focus today," Sayaka whispered as he passed. "Forget the others. Just train."
Akihiro nodded, swallowing nervously.
The first lesson of the day: basic Kagekisen control.
Akihiro concentrated, trying to summon his aura. A faint shimmer appeared—slightly stronger than yesterday, but still flickering like a candle in the wind. He tried to push it forward, but it collapsed mid-strike.
"Again," Mina said, arms crossed. "Faster. Sharper. Don't waste your aura."
"Y-yes," Akihiro stammered.
Hours passed. He tried repeatedly, summoning and controlling his weak Kagekisen, but each attempt ended in failure. He tripped over his own aura, miscalculated movements, and accidentally knocked over several pawns on the training boards.
Meanwhile, a few girls hovered around him, whispering and giggling. "You're so cute when you're concentrating!" one said. Another waved a notebook full of sketches. Akihiro's face burned hotter with every compliment.
"Stop! I… I'm not good at this!" he shouted, waving his hands helplessly.
The girls only giggled louder. "But you're so talented!"
Akihiro glanced toward Mina. She raised an eyebrow, unimpressed, while Sayaka's calm gaze encouraged him silently. Only their approval matters, he reminded himself. Forget everyone else.
After yet another failed attempt, he slumped against the wall, exhausted. His aura flickered weakly, almost invisible. He was still trash. Still hopeless.
And yet…
A small spark pulsed briefly, flickering stronger than before. He noticed it—a tiny, almost imperceptible improvement. Not enough to fight seriously, not enough to impress anyone, but it was there.
Mina's voice cut through his thoughts. "Hmph. Slightly better than yesterday. Barely."
Akihiro looked up, heart racing. Slightly better. For the first time, he felt… hope.
Sayaka smiled faintly. "You're learning. Keep going. That spark matters more than your failures."
Akihiro straightened. He wiped the sweat from his brow, focused, and tried again. Another flicker—a tiny pulse of control—then it collapsed. Not perfect, but it had happened.
The day ended with Akihiro exhausted, humiliated by his failures, yet secretly thrilled by the first signs of progress.
Walking back through the courtyard, girls continued to call his name, but he ignored them, only glancing at Mina and Sayaka, who were walking together ahead. His heart surged slightly.
One day, he thought, I'll make them notice me for more than just these sparks. And then… I'll finally be strong.
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