The two walked side by side, bathed in the afterglow of the setting sun.
Along the way, Yu Sheng Nan kept trying to make Ikenami Shizuka happy. By the time they arrived at the pre-booked sword hall, some of the radiance had returned to her delicate face.
Standing at the door of the changing room, Yuzuru suddenly seemed to remember something and casually asked, "Master, did you bring any luggage?"
Upon hearing this, Ikeba Shizuka simply smiled and remained silent. Instead, she calmly took out a multi-purpose capsule from her pocket, waved it gently in front of him, and then walked gracefully into the changing room.
"Tsk~ I forgot!" Yu Shengnan patted his head. The apprenticeship gift he gave last time included the useful little gadget, the all-purpose capsule.
I didn't expect it to come in handy so soon.
Before long, the two had changed into their training clothes and gathered in the spacious venue.
Yu Sheng Nan, holding the wooden sword engraved with the names of the master and disciple, flicked his wrist and performed a beautiful sword flourish, saying with a smile, "Master, it's been a long time. Today, I'll let you see if your disciple's swordsmanship has improved."
Chi Bo Jinghua nodded slightly, her gaze gentle as water, and replied softly, "Well, then I must open my eyes wide and take a close look."
As soon as he finished speaking, Yu Shengnan's eyes narrowed, and he instantly entered a state of focus. His movements were as swift as the wind, his swordplay sharp and powerful, and every action was clean, efficient, and full of strength.
Ikeba Shizuka stood quietly to the side, carefully observing Yuzuru Nan's every move. At first, everything seemed normal, but gradually, a hint of doubt appeared in her eyes, as if something was not quite right.
This pace of progress is too fast!
Is this still the same clumsy student she remembers?
The saying "A scholar should be viewed with new eyes after three days' absence" doesn't apply here!
Just as Chibo Jinghua frowned slightly, filled with suspicion, as if by telepathy, the overpowered Yusheng Nan also restrained his sharpness and deliberately held back.
We can't let our master become suspicious at this time, at least not now.
When she saw that Yuzuru Nan's subsequent sword moves had reverted to their previous clumsy manner, Ikenami Shizuka's brows relaxed again.
That's more like it! This is the clumsy apprentice she knows. She almost thought there was something wrong with her teaching methods.
After finishing a set of sword techniques, Yu Sheng Nan sheathed his sword and stood up, looking at Ikenami Shizuka with anticipation. "Master, how was it?"
"Your swordsmanship is becoming more and more skillful, but your aura is still lacking. You need to hone your mental state more." Chi Bo Jinghua slowly stepped forward and gently handed over a handkerchief.
Yu Sheng Nan took the handkerchief, wiped his forehead, and casually put it at his waist, nodding repeatedly and saying, "Master is right!"
Having grown accustomed to the fact that she always lost a handkerchief when teaching her apprentices sword practice, Ikeba Shizuka pretended not to notice and said, "Keep practicing, your teacher will accompany you."
The master and apprentice returned to their state from when they were in Osaka.
One person practices with focused dedication, while the other patiently and meticulously teaches.
Whenever Hanyu Nan's movements deviate or have problems, Ikenami Shizuka would naturally step forward and personally provide guidance.
As for the little tricks that a certain clumsy apprentice might do during training, such as occasionally pretending to be tired and lying on her chest without moving, or playing a little trick, Chibo Jinghua mostly let him be.
Only when his actions are too intimate or inappropriate will she playfully slap him on the head.
"Master, please have a seat. I'll go pour you some tea."
After finishing his training, Yuzuru Hanyu diligently ran to pour him tea.
Ikeba Shizuka sat cross-legged on the clean floor, watching her apprentice bustling around with gentle eyes, her gaze filled with endless tenderness and a hint of barely perceptible confusion.
She pondered to herself that her relationship with this young man seemed a little too intimate. As a married woman and a teacher, this was highly inappropriate.
But for some reason, she didn't reject this kind of intimate behavior.
She wasn't stupid; how could she not see through her foolish apprentice's hidden thoughts?
But every time she sees Yuzuru acting cute and playful in front of her, Ikenami Shizuka finds it very amusing, her mood instantly improves, and she can't help but want to keep playing along with him like that.
Especially after arriving in Dongdu this time, the boy's increasingly approachable aura made this strange feeling even stronger.
"Master, what are you thinking about?"
Yu Sheng Nan poured the tea and, imitating Ikeba Shizuka, sat cross-legged in front of her. Then, he reached out and gently waved his hand in front of her slightly dazed eyes.
"Nothing, just thinking about some trivial things." Chi Bo Jinghua shook her head slightly, concealing her complicated emotions, and reached for her teacup, taking an elegant sip.
The aroma of tea wafted through the air, creating a tranquil atmosphere.
The two chatted happily over tea and snacks, but neither of them mentioned the fortune-telling incident again, as Ikenami Shizuka had already made her own decision.
She was never an indecisive person.
"Master, our kendo club wants me to participate in the National College Kendo Competition in a while. Do you think I can win the championship with my current skill level?"
"you?"
Holding her teacup, Ikeba Shizuka first glanced at Yuzuru Nanami's confident demeanor, then took a sip of tea before glancing at him again, her gaze gradually becoming strange.
Who gave his clumsy apprentice the courage to participate in the competition with such a mediocre skill level, and even think that he could win the championship from those geniuses who have been practicing swordsmanship diligently since childhood?
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