And why?
Because he was different? Why should that matter?
Nobunaga believed those differences should be your strength, not your weakness.Let go of hatred and turn it into something useful.Pain only makes you stronger if you grow from it.
That was why he wanted to be more like Nobunaga. To become more than what others thought he was. To prove to the world that he was honorable.
Worthy.
“I’m sorry, Kato. There’s wisdom in your words. It’s just not that easy to let things go.”
Kato shrugged with a nonchalance that Ryuichi was pretty sure he didn’t feel. “It’s all right. We all have pain to bear. It just wears different faces and attacks us in different places. The past is like a shadow. It’ll always be a part of us, but we control the shape it takes. At least that’s what my father says.”
Before Ryuichi could respond, he realized someone was coming up behind him. He whirled, weapon raised.
Takara stood there, frozen. “How do you do that?”
Ryuichi arched a brow. “Do what?”
“Know whenever someone’s behind you? It’s so eerie.”
Now he understood what Kato had meant before, about his spear work. Some things were just natural. “No idea. It’s like breathing. I just know.”
“Wish you could teach it to me. It’d save me so much pain from Mikito.”
Just as it had saved Ryuichi much pain from other boys over the years.
“Hai!”
Ryuichi paused at the fierce sound. In fact, everyone did.
Like thunder, the handful of Black Tortoise students rushed onto the field with astounding synchronicity. They moved like water. Fluid. Graceful.
And with force.
Mesmerized, he couldn’t take his eyes off them.
No wonder Mikito had spoken so reverently about their skills. “They’re incredible.”
Takara nodded. “And well they know it. Somehow they missed the humility part of their lessons.”
He couldn’t slight them on that. If he could spar while walking, like they were doing, he’d be arrogant too.
The tallest of them brushed past Kato with a hateful grimace. “Clear the area.”
Kato bristled. “It’s our time to practice.”
“Not anymore.” He grabbed Kato’s bamboo spear. Carelessly, he slung it backward, driving the tip toward Ryuichi’s face.
Acting on pure instinct, Ryuichi deflected it and swept his own staff around until he disarmed the boy.
His nostrils flaring, he turned on Ryuichi with a hiss. “What was that?”
Ryuichi sputtered.
Now I have skills? Seriously?
He’d been losing all day to Kato, but with this arrogant jerk, he suddenly remembered how to disarm someone.
