"Crap! My alarm clock exploded again…"

Kamijou sighed as he wakes up, only to see that the time is already pass 8:30 a.m. which means that the time for their first class had already gone ahead to a start a good thirty minutes ago. Sighing, he contemplated about whether he should just cut classes for this day or he would simply come to school late, which would mean that he would get slaughtered by their homeroom teacher again. But if he chose the former, he would also get slaughtered by Komoe, who would regularly check on him if he's performing up to her standards. Ah, either way, I'm gonna die.

Suddenly, he remembered the book given to him by none other than the old man whose shop he accidentally stumbled upon yesterday and the words that was spoken to him. For some reasons, I find him very interesting. Ah, I think I know what I'm going to do for today!

After having breakfast by having milk and toasted bread, Kamijou quickly dressed up in his casual clothes and made his way to the old man's shop. Entering carefully, he called out with his loud voice, "Hey, good morning old man. Are you there? It's me, Kamijou Touma."

The old man came out of the back of his room once again with a gentle smile on his face. It seemed that he was just getting ready to start his day as he was wearing his black samurai kimono, "Good morning, Kamijou-kun. Do you need some clarifications, young one?" It sounded more like a statement rather than a question.

"Well, yeah." Kamijou rubbed his head sheepishly, "I don't understand any of this it. They go against most, if not everything, I have known all my life. In fact, I don't think I can follow number one and 16 of the Dokkōdō."

The old man nodded as he gave a positive expression, "I told you that those words would be unlike anything you ever read before; it contradicts everything you youngsters were taught here while growing up. I, too, felt the very same way when my master gave me this book. Come, young one. Let us talk more about these in my living quarters." He said, motioning for the young one to enter.

As they entered to the back of his humble abode, Kamijou couldn't help but marvel at the simplicity of the man's home.

"Hey, oyaji, is this all you have?"

"Yes." The old man replied, "I only carry what I need and nothing more. Come have a seat." As they became comfortable with each other after kneeling down on the mat face-to-face, he said, "I have a proposition for you. Would you like to hear it?"

Kamijou got a confused look on his face, "Uhhh….yeah sure. Why not?"

The next seven words would stun him to no end.

"Would you like to be my apprentice?"

This news had Kamijou Touma completely flabbergasted. Prior to this, very few people had ever given him anything in his life except his two caretakers in Komoe and Yomikawa and some other few and kind individuals. He was very cautions of people who offered him stuff because one time, they ended up taking advantage of his kindness and they mugged him of his money. "Is this some kind of trick?"

"No it is not," the gray-haired man said in a completely calm voice, unfazed by the spiky haired boy's mini outburst, "I would like to train you in the way of the warrior. My father and master told me that one of these days, a young child will appear before me and that I am to teach him the way of the Samurai. He also told me that I need not to go searching for the student because he will show up when the time and circumstances is right. I believe that you are the student that I am to train and to pass along the ancient teachings of our ancestor."

The young boy's eyes became wide with the old man's revelation. However, they quickly dropped. "Will I still be able to become a normal student? You know, I mean an Esper…"

"Fear not for you would still become a normal student but…" The old man looked a bit regretful, "I am sorry to say that your chances of being an Esper is practically zero, if I'm being honest. Your unique condition prevents you from becoming even the lowest ESP user and an Esper and Samurai are as different as the night is to the day. As I said before, the way of the Samurai is one of righteousness, heroic courage, benevolence and compassion, respect, honesty, honor, duty and loyalty and self-control. As much as I don't like to say it, the path of the Power Curriculum Program is one of sabotage, assassination, infiltration, espionage and in some cases, power struggle—something that I would like to avoid as much as possible. You must choose one or the other. In choosing the path of the Samurai, you may very well have to give up your dream of being an Esper and I'm sure that you don't mind the latter…"

With the revelation, Kamijou was frozen. In the back of his mind, he knew that somehow, the old mad had valid points. But still, giving up the potential to become an Esper is like spitting on the faces of his parents, who sent him here to have a normal life, "I…I need to think about this. old man. I have to consider a lot of factors…"

"Very well young one. You are right for thinking this over for this is a big decision for you that might have an effect on your future."

"Yeah, I will talk to you sometime again…" Kamijou said as he slowly walked out of the old man's shop and walked away.

During the night time, Kamijou was lying emotionlessly on his bed as he kept pondering on his decisions and whether his next choice of action would be right. He's been like this for almost two hours since he just finished eating his dinner and not even the thought of breaking his cellphone again due to his abominable luck could distract him from his inner thoughts.

Would I really want to become a samurai? I mean, that would mean that I have to kill a person, right? But it's not a part of my beliefs…on the second thought, the old man really wanted to teach me and it's not like I would have something to lose…

Kamijou then turned his body to the left side of the bed.

I have grown used to the treatment that I'm receiving from other people and to be frank, I don't really care about their opinions to me as long as I can make others happy but why am I being restless? Maybe because the old man was somehow right. I have repeatedly failed the basic Power Curriculum Program requirements and I don't even think I can develop any single Esper ability. Maybe I am not cut out to be an Esper. Maybe the old man was right—I think I'm cut out for way of the sword but is that what I was really meant to do? Maybe I might find some peace of mind away from the constant struggle for in this chaotic world? Do I want to follow the path of the Bushido? Do want to live a life of honor, duty and loyalty and self-control—even if it means having to die?

His mind then went back to the scroll, Dokkōdō—The path of Aloneness.

The path to be walked alone.

His mind also went back to the old man's words. If you focus only on the leaf you miss the tree; if you focus on the tree you miss the forest; if focus only on the forest you miss the world. You must learn to see everything in its entirety. "Is there more to life than being an Esper? Have I been so preoccupied with just being who I am that I am looking past everything else? I need to speak to Komoe-sensei about this." The young boy thought as eventually, his eyelids felt heavy and soon, his snoring can be heard from the other side.

The next day, Kamijou immediately packed his belongings after yet another uneventful day with his class and the destination in his mind was a certain high school. The school where Yomikawa and Komoe worked as teachers is located on a hill, and one needs to climb an inclination and a number of steps to reach its main entrance.

Immediately sprinting to its location, Kamijou bumped into an old lady, who cursed him under her breath although he didn't pay attention to it. I needed a talk with Komoe-sensei. He thought as eventually, he finally managed to reach the place he was looking for. The school has a large main building, towering several stories and with several other buildings surrounding the main one. Around the school there are various areas of interest, such as open areas where students can congregate and consume their lunches; one is notable for being close to a small pond. The school also has a large field, probably used for sport-related events, as well as tennis courts.

Kamijou then went on to visit the teacher's lounge, where he knew Komoe and Yomikawa are staying.

"Hey, Komoe-sensei, Yomikawa-sensei, what's up? I wanted to talk to you about something?" the boy said in a somber tone as he quickly spots two having a lively chat with each other.

"Hello, Kamijou-chan! What seems to be the problem? It's rare for you to come here so I think this problem of yours is a bit heavy," Komoe replied as he faces her child, who took a seat in front of the two of them.

Kamijou hesitated for a bit before he eventually blurted it out, "Komoe-sensei, I don't think I'm cut out to become an esper. Don't be wrong; I still plan to finish the Power Curriculum Program here but being an Esper isn't my priority right now. I have bigger plans to do."

"What!" Was the gasping reply of Komoe and Yomikawa.

"Look Komoe-sense, as much as I know you wanted me to succeed as a high-ranked Esper, I simply can't," Kamijou sounded regretful, "I barely passed the exam twice in a row at my school and there isn't any improvement that I'm making so far."

"That's no reason to give up, Kamijou-chan!" Komoe looked horrified, "I could get extra tutoring for you with Yomikawa-chan and even one of our friends in Yoshikawa-chan! Just because you're a Level 0 doesn't mean that you will give up this early. Look, Misaka Mikoto-chan was once a Level 1 but…"

"Please, Komoe-sensei, cut me that crap about the story about a lightning user who is on the way to becoming a Level 5 through hard work. I heard that from you nearly 20 times and hear me out," Kamijou sighed, "Look, I'm not giving up about Academy City, Komoe-sensei. I met this old man and he wants to teach me the way of the Samurai and I want to learn it. I don't want to be an Esper. I feel like if I'm able to protect everyone else, I felt that following the Bushido would do me better…"

"Kamijou-chan…don't you want to become an Esper anymore? I know it's been years since you have first set foot here but…"

"I don't know anymore, there are too many things that I don't know about. I don't know why I am misfortunate and the constant put downs and jeers by the students in the class. I feel like by following the Bushido, I would be able to find peace internally."

"The way of the Bushido? A samurai?" Yomikawa asked incredulously, "Who the hell is this pervert?" The Anti-Skill officer asked in a menacing yet concerned tone.

"He runs an old armor and scroll shop not far from here…just a stone's throw away from my current school…"

Komoe sighed as she then said, "If you're going to ask me personally, I don't want that kind of life for you, Kamijou-chan. But since you decided for yourself, if that is what you truly want, then I won't stop you for now. But we will have to keep tabs on you on your samurai training since you still need to attend the Power Curriculum Program. Also, we need to meet with this man."

"Yeah," Yomikawa sounded disgruntled, "He sounded like one of those peeping toms."

"Thanks, Komoe-sensei…"

"Before you go Kamijou-chan, I have one final question?

"What is it, sensei?"

"How do you feel towards Academy City and its people now?"

"Academy City is my home and that will never change. If anything, I will still fight to protect what is precious to me. Well…just not as an Esper of Academy City…"

"Very well then. You really are surprising us, you know that Kamijou-chan…"

"Yeah sensei, I know…"

After a peaceful and productive day in his shop, the old man was reading a small book in his room that was lit only with a candle and a lamp. Even though his head was still in the book, he suddenly sensed two great vital forces that seemed to come towards his shop. True to his senses, thw two vital forces came inside his abode so he started to speak, "You two can come on out now, Tsukuyomi-san, Yomikawa-san. All are welcomed in my humble abode. Although I am not as dangerous as you make me out to be, any wrong move you do and you won't like the consequences."

Suddenly, the two figures of Yomikawa and Komoe faded out of a dark corner in the room and stood before the old man, with Komoe suspiciously frowning on the old man although the latter wasn't even intimidated. "I sense that you care deeply for the boy that you two decided to stop drinking and smoking to pay me a personal visit in the middle of the night."

"How do you know that?" Now, Yomikawa was contemplating whether to arrest the old man for charges of being a pedophile and breaking the anti-stalking law.

The old man hasn't even raised his head, "You two are famous enough that even me, a recluse samurai as of now, has heard of you two. You, Tsukuyomi Komoe-san, are famous for being the topic of the local legend concerning your age and height when in fact, you're in your forties and you're known for being a heavy smoker. You, Yomikawa Aiho-san of the Anti-Skill authorities, are famous for being a drunkard in times of peace. Nothing more, nothing less."

"You know…I might really have to arrest you…" The taller Yomikawa gritted her teeth as her cheeks reddened at hearing the words of the old man.

"How is it that you were able to set up an armory shop here?!" Komoe spoke up, wanting to divert the topic, "It's forbidden in Japan to sell bladed weapons and it's against…"

"On the contrary," the old man replied, still not even taking off his head from his book although he suddenly flung what looks like a blue license card to the hands of the pinkette, "We're allowed to create and sell bladed weaponry provided that we have a certification and the blue license that I have given you is proof of that."

Hearing this, Komoe and Yomikawa decided to check the license and true to the man's words, it seemed that the old man was allowed to create various nihonto weapons as well as other traditional Japanese armor and weaponry. The latter sighed before saying, "So you're allowed to build weapons disguised as art, Miyamoto Mokichi? While I'd rather not argue with the legality of your business, I find it offensive and disgusting that you're masquerading your business as a form cultural preservation."

"The nihonto and the armor are part of our Japanese roots. I find it amusing that you seemed to have not studied that when you two are younger," this time, the old man placed down the book and looked straight into the gazes of the two women. Komoe froze as her eyes met with the old man's cold and steely orbs. She felt power and skill leeking out of his aura. This was no mere shop owner.

"So be it, however you want to say but you can't stop me as long as I have certification and for your information, my would-be apprentice would be receiving a genuine sword made by one my our ancestor's greatest smiths." Mokichi proudly replied then his facial features scrunched, "And besides, didn't you come here to talk about your student and my protégé? Make it quick; I have little patience dealing with your unnecessary situation."

"Kamijou-chan told me that you asked him to be your apprentice. Why did you even do that?" Komoe asked quickly.

"I had no choice," Mokichi replied without any hesitations, "He was ready to walk the path that me and my ancestors and students and masters alike have gone through…"

"How do you know this? Are you a scammer or what?" Yomikawa didn't fully trust the man, "You didn't even know him in the first place."

"It was the same for me, and my master," Mokichi replied in his gruff voice, "My master, who is also my father, said in his last moments in this world that I will meet a child with a great burden. He told me that a series of small but violent and decisive wars will occur—the likes of which you two have never seen before."

"A series of small but decisive wars?" Komoe sounded skeptical, "You shouldn't joke on matters like that, Miyamoto-san…"

"Believe what you will but I never joke on matters like this," Mokichi sounded a bit offended as his voice became terse, "As I said, those wars would soon come and that child will be the focal point of those conflicts."

"Are you sure about this?" Yomikawa said in a solemn yet doubtful voice, "Because you said it yourself; matters like that aren't something to be made fun with."

"As I said before, they are the words of a dying man." The old man replied, "The boy was ready and thus, he found his way to me. You must understand Tsukuyomi-san and Yomikawa-san that what he is about to learn is much more than about the way of the sword and art of war and deception. What he is about to learn is more than about any particular profession. He is going to learn the most important thing that a warrior must know about before every technique, strategy, and battle."

"And what would that be?"

"His own person and identity," Mokichi said, "He needs to learn about himself before he can even learn about the ways of war. He must learn his strengths and weaknesses; how to turn his weaknesses into strengths and to hide his strength so that his enemies will not be able to discover them. There is a saying that goes, 'Know yourself and know your enemy and you need not fear the outcome of a thousand battles'. Before I teach him any techniques, he must accept himself for who he is, and his life for what it is as well as what Kami-sama and the higher beings have decreed upon him."

"What are you talking about? I don't follow." Yomikawa honestly admitted.

Mokichi's eyes turned ice-cold, "You're telling me that you're not even aware of his own burden? That's amusing. In fact, I can tell you that your little Superintendent of this whole city seemed to know about what is residing in his right hand. Any idiot with at least a respectable amount of brain cells should have seen this, even if you don't know it by its real name…"

"Look, Miyamoto-san…" Yomikawa was exasperated, "I don't know about this bullshit you're spouting but I can tell they're non-sense. If you're saying there is magic and other supernatural stuff, then I can say you're insane…"

"Listen to me here, young woman," Mokichi calmly interrupted her, "Have you heard of the Legend of the Gensō Goroshi?"

"Well…no…"

"No surprised there," Mokichi nodded, "According to the oral tales passed down to us, the Gensō Goroshi is a mysterious power that appears only on mediums that had significance to that mysterious power. Alas, that power is poorly documented in the ancient times but according to what we're taught, the Gensō Goroshi is a compilation of elemental beasts of immense power and malevolence. One beast alone cannot be simply defeated or killed. The only way to defeat such a beast is to seal it or contain it in some form or fashion. Now, sealing such a beast in a nonliving object is useless because the beasts will just break free. Such elemental powers needs to be contained in a living entity, something to tie its life force to in order to chain and control it. I believe that boy has it and I know it because our great ancestor's older patriarch was said to have been born with the Gensō Goroshi."

The three were all silent for the moment the moment Mokichi finished narrating before Komoe sighed.

"Miyamoto-san, I know you believe this old fairytales but please, stop telling those ridiculous stories in this day and age," the pinkette said.

Mokichi sighed and asked, "Well than, would you rather deny your student of his wish to learn things that might be more suitable for him?"

Komoe looked taken aback by the unexpected question, "W-Well…it's not that we don't want to…it's just that…"

"Let me ask again. Do you or do you deny him?"

The two women contemplated at it before they asked, "Well, what are you going to exactly teach him?"

"As he told you, I am teaching him in the ways of war. Also, I am going to pass down my sword style to him."

"What is the name of this sword style of yours?" Yomikawa asked yet again, becoming a little intrigued with this little tale of Mokichi.

"The sword style I am going to teach him is called Nitojutsu," Mokichi then drew his katana, pointing it into the nose of Komoe, "He is going to learn how to wield two blades at the same time. Its techniques are passed down from master to student from the school of Niten Ichi-ryū, the school of the two-sword kenjutsu techniques either called called Niten Ichi (two heavens as one) or Nitō Ichi (two swords as one). The style was developed by a man known as the Kensei. He will be my successor in the style."

Suddenly, he threw what looked like a shuriken towards Yomikawa, who barely dodged it. But as soon as the shuriken lodged on the wall, the Anti-Skill officer suddenly felt a twinge of cold metal suddenly poking her neck. What? How come I didn't see that?! Yomikawa was stunned as she found herself looking straight into the sword of Mokichi, who replied, "I thought you Anti-Skill brats are better skilled with these fancy toys of yours. Seems like I was wrong." He then sheathes back his katana.

The two women looked at the man. The man was very perceptive and intelligent, not to mention powerful. "Well…for now…we will allow you to train our student but one wrong move and even I won't hesitate to have him removed from you." Komoe warned the old man.

Mokichi looked unimpressed, "You need not to worry about that. It's not your concern."

Yomikawa looked at the man and glared, still feeling embarrassed by what happened, "We will have our eyes on you."

"Do what you wish," replied with the old-man without even a hint of fear.

Soon, the two women left, melding back into the shadows.

The Next Day...

"Have you come to a decision, young one?" Mokichi asked as he and Kamijou Touma sat face-to-face on the mat while drinking green tea.

"Yes, I accept your offer." Kamijou nodded and then bowed in respect.

"Very well then but I must warn you," the old man began to speak, "A Samurai is one who studies the art of war; he is a student of war and seeks to learn everything about it and he thirsts for its knowledge and application. You must know that this training, just like the book that I gave to you, will be unlike anything you have done or learned from textbooks and classroom stuff before. It will be rigorous and very harsh. I will not spare you for even a moment in our training. In choosing to be a student of war, you have chosen to enter in to world of violence, pain and death. I will push you to the limits of your body, mind and soul and I will not be kind. With this teaching, you will be able to face any hardship and overcome it with everything you got."

Kamijou's face held a silent but fierce determination. "I will not back down for this is my choice and I made this choice myself."

"Okay, young one," Mokichi nodded, "In the scroll, there are 21 precepts that you must contemplate before we move forward with your training. Each day, I will explain to you each precept in order and you will spend the rest of the day contemplating the precept. There is much for you to learn but we shall take our time. Don't expect to understand every precept and don't force yourself for that is impossible for any person, even when I was your age, to do in just 21 days. "

"Yes, sensei," Kamijou replied in a very solemn and determined tone.

"Good. Since I know that you just came from school. Take the rest of the day off and meet me tomorrow as Saturday morning to begin your training," Mokichi then decided to add more, "Every week, after school, come meet me so we can train and every weekends, we'll train for the whole day."

"Hai, sensei!"

The Next Saturday Morning

The morning rooster hasn't even cocked yet and the clock hasn't even stuck at five in the morning when Kamijou Touma, wearing a black kimono and wooden clogs that was given to him yesterday, arrived in the shop.

"Hey Sensei I am here," he said.

The old man came from the back of his store with his trademark gentle smile. "Good, good young one let us begin." He then gives a cup of hot green tea to his new student, who gracefully accepts it as he drinks it. "Lesson number one, youngster. Accept everything just the way it is. People mistakenly believe that we are in control of our lives; however nothing could be further from the truth."

"What do you mean, sensei?" Kamijou asked.

"Think about it, young one," Mokichi then points to the window just besides them, "We don't control the rising and falling of the sun, the raging tides of the ocean, the flow of the waterfall, or more importantly, life and death. Things happen in their own way, and in their own time. Thus, refusing to accept something as it is, we are thus unable to effectively handle the situation. It is the same with war for we do not choose our enemy, their numbers, when they will attack or their skill level. In battle, we may encounter a more skilled opponent, a less skilled opponent or an equally skilled opponent. There will be times when we have to attack, and times where we have to defend ourselves. There are times when things and events go perfectly as we have originally planned and there are times when things just go all wrong and out of control. Life is unpredictable at best and volatile at worst. We are never sure when or where something will happen. In accepting everything just the way it is, we acknowledge that we are not in control of what is happening in our surroundings and we allow whatever happens to be without forcing ourselves or trying to control the situation. It is then that we are then able to create the right action and that is to do what is necessary in that moment. We may suffer losses and we may be hurt but we will be at peace and we will have no regrets. In accepting things the way they are, we are able to accept ourselves the way we are and thus, we are able to find peace. Peace brings calm and a calm warrior in the heat of battle is virtually unbeatable and in turn, a single but calm and composed warrior can beat ten men out of his own knowledge."

"What is right action then, sensei?" Kamijou asked in a solemn tone to which the old man replied, "You will know it when you have created it. This has been your first lesson for today. Same time tomorrow and expect things to get harder as each day passes."

Kamijou nodded. Things are just about to get interesting at this point.