First Day of Training: Keisuke Yamanami

Scenario: It's your first day of training, and the one who found you is the one responsible for your instruction. What will it be like to train with him as your mentor?

Standing as straight as I possibly can in the courtyard, I feel a bit nervous as Sannan-san inspects me with a look of thoughtfulness and consideration.

"Do you fight with a weapon?" He asks. It is just another of the many questions he has previously put towards me. I shake my head.

"No sir."

"What do you use for defense?"

"I am a physical fighter, sir."

He nods. "Yes; I well remember that from the morning we first met."

I blush a little as I lose a bit of my soldier-like stiffness. "I'm still very sorry for what I did to you." He laughs lightly, smiling kindly at me.

"There's no need to apologize again. You were in the right; it must have been a bit unnerving for a strange man to grab you with no apparent reason."

I look into his eyes to see a warmth and compassion which I had never experienced from my past commanders. His kind expression reassures me that he'll treat me as an equal but that he won't be harsh, and I begin to feel myself relax and trust him a bit.

"Shall we begin your training?" I nod. Sannan-san holds out a sword. "Do you know how to use one of these?"

I nod again. "Yes, but I'm not very good."

"That's why I'm here, now isn't it?" His sarcasm is gentle, and I giggle.

"Yes, I guess so!"

The two of us spend the next few hours training, and I soon grow weary. Carefully setting the katana down as I sit cross-legged on the grass, I rub my aching arms as I try to relax my now sore muscles.

"Tired?" I look up at Sannan-san, who is standing over me.

"Yeah." He takes a seat next to me.

"You'll let me know if you need a break, won't you?" My eyes widen a fraction.

"You would allow that?"

"Of course. We can't have one of our warriors falter in our time of need, now can we? It takes time to build up stamina, strength, and agility, which I'll help you do little by little."

"So, you don't think that, since I'm a girl, I'm useless?" I begin to feel hopeful.

"Not at all; you just need the correct training." Sannan-san pushes his glasses up on the bridge of his nose.

"How do you feel about continuing with your training?" He asks, standing and helping me to my feet.

I smile. "I think I can manage another hour."