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Chapter 17: The First Day (I)

—Saturday.

Today marks the first day of my new extracurricular activity. 

From now on, I'll be learning ancient martial arts alongside Nakuru. 

Though, to be precise, she is my senior in this.

Yuji drove me after lunch, and upon arriving at the Hinobe household, Nakuru, full of energy as always, welcomed me and eagerly pulled me towards the dojo.

Meanwhile, Yuji greeted Shuichiro and left soon after to head to his swimming lessons.

"Nakuru seems really excited," I observed, as she happily pulled me along.

"Ehehe, I've been looking forward to this so much!" she exclaimed.

Apparently, Nakuru hadn't had any peers her age to train with until now.

(Well, it's not typical for a six-year-old to want to learn ancient martial arts.)

In today's world, most children gravitate towards more mainstream sports. 

The sports scene in Japan is quite lively, with soccer and basketball being particularly popular. 

There are even popular manga and anime based on these sports, enjoyed by a wide audience from kids to adults. 

Although traditional sports like sumo and judo have their followers, soccer and basketball, especially after the recent World Cup successes, stand out.

So, it's no surprise that few children would choose to learn ancient martial arts.

When Nakuru and I entered the dojo, Tsutae was already there, seated in the center in a dignified posture, her back straight and still, exuding an almost intimidating presence. 

As she opened her eyes and looked at us, she smiled.

"Hello, Okinaga-kun."

"Ah, hello, Nanamiya-san. Thank you for having me. I look forward to learning from you!" I greeted her, ensuring to show proper respect to my senior.

"You're full of energy, I see. Nakuru, give that to Okinaga-kun," Tsutae instructed.

"Yes, ma'am!" Nakuru responded enthusiastically, fetching something from the corner of the dojo and bringing it to me.

"Here, Oki-kun, this is for you!"

She handed me what appeared to be—

"A... gi?"

It was the same outfit Nakuru was wearing, indicating that it had been prepared specifically for me. 

I took it in my hands, feeling the fabric and couldn't help but express my admiration with an "Ooh."

It was different from a judo gi. 

This one seemed more akin to a karate gi, lighter and more flexible.

"Nakuru, show him how to put it on."

She guided me to the changing room where individual lockers were lined up, each with a name and a lock. 

We found mine with my name, "Satsuki Okinaga," on it. 

I unlocked it, stowed my bag with my towel and change of clothes inside, and began changing.

With Nakuru watching and smiling beside me, I thought,

(Well, whatever.)

Kids at this age don't feel embarrassed about changing in front of each other. 

It might have been different if Tsutae was here, but in this case, my previous life's memories seemed more of a nuisance.

I stripped down to my underwear and started putting on the gi pants and jacket, while Nakuru kindly guided me through the process. 

After tying the belt securely, we returned to the dojo.

"Looks good on you," Tsutae commented.

"Thank you. But it feels a bit strange."

"It's a different material than regular clothes, but you'll get used to it soon enough. Now, both of you, stand before me."

Standing up, Tsutae faced us with a dignified air.

"Allow me to introduce myself formally. I am Nanamiya Tsutae, an assistant instructor of the Hinobe-ryu school of ancient martial arts. I welcome you both as my fellow students."

"I'm Satsuki Okinaga. I promise to do my best and not be half-hearted in my efforts. Thank you for having me," I said, hoping my greeting was adequate. 

Tsutae nodded in satisfaction.

"Now, sit," she instructed. 

We both sat in seiza, a formal kneeling position, even though I feared my legs would fall asleep.

I would have to get used to this too.

"Let me explain something you might be curious about, Okinaga-kun. That's probably about the training regimen, right?"

"Yes," I replied.

While I had a rough idea from Monday, I didn't know much about the details of Hinobe-ryu ancient martial arts.

"Since you're a beginner, you won't be doing sparring sessions like Nakuru right away. Such practices could lead to injuries. So, even if you're curious, refrain from attempting them."

She emphasized that I should stick to what was taught here. 

While I understood her caution, given my mental maturity, I felt confident there was no need for concern.

"Initially, we'll focus on flexibility and building physical strength. Muscle training will be moderate since overdoing it at a young age can be counterproductive."

I nodded along, understanding the rationale.

"Though it's ancient martial arts, rigorous training comes much later. First, you need to build a solid foundation, which is crucial."

It's the same in any sport. 

Without a solid foundation, one can't excel. 

Trying intense movements without a well-developed body could lead to injuries.

"For now, the training might seem boring and tough, but it's important for your future growth, so please endure it."

Her words might be too complex for a typical six-year-old to grasp fully, but I understood everything.

"Usually, I would explain this to older students, but I believe you can understand, Okinaga-kun."

She had noticed that I was not a typical six-year-old, hence her detailed explanation.

"So, I’ll tell you more. Ancient martial arts were originally developed for survival in battles. The Hinobe-ryu school has a long history, dating back to the late Muromachi period, about five hundred years ago."

"Wow, that’s really old."

I knew ancient martial arts had a long history, but I hadn't expected it to date back to the Muromachi period.

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Tn:

• Hinobe-ryu can also be called as [Hinobe Style]

• Gi is the uniform that a japanese martial artist wears.