Those who did not know Aoto or were unfamiliar with him, such as Saito Mijuro and others, showed expressions of surprise and anticipation.
Throughout the "audience seats," only Kiryu and Mukiwa's expressions were entirely different from everyone else's.
Mukiwa was first startled, then delighted.
"Oh..." Kiryu raised an eyebrow, a mysterious smile appearing on his face.
The reason everyone in the "audience seats" was reacting this way was because Aoto on the field had assumed... the stance of Iaido!
...
...
"...Toshisuke, can you help me knock one of Chiba Daisaburo's swords out of his hand? Either sword will do. Wakizashi, Tachi, both are fine."
"Hmm?"
Just as Toshisuke turned his face in confusion, he saw Aoto placing his left palm on his left waist, using it as a scabbard, then slightly lowering his waist, flipping his right wrist to twirl a fancy sword flower, and then in an underhand grip, lithely sheathing the bamboo sword in the "scabbard" at his left waist.
