As soon as school ended for the afternoon, all the Tennis Club regulars skipped evening practice and showed up in a body at the Kendo Club.
Even Yagyuu and Niou, who had also gone out for a sparring match during the second half of the lunch break, were there.
Yagyuu's excuse for showing up was to return a handkerchief, while the white-haired fellow was simply there to join in the fun.
Because Asuka Youyou's skirt was extremely inconvenient for movement, Sanada had specifically borrowed a set of clothes for her from one of the club members.
It was just that the Kendo Club members were mostly big and tall, and even the female members were quite statuesque for their age.
Even though he had picked the smallest member in the club, the outfit was still somewhat large on her.
Although her height of 160 centimeters was not particularly short, she unfortunately had a petite bone structure.
Naturally blessed with the frame of a beauty, she looked delicate and exquisitely refined in every way.
Inside the kendo hall, the girl stood looking spirited and heroic in her white kendo uniform. Her hair was tied up in a high ponytail, swaying gently with her movements. Her bright, energetic eyes betrayed a sense of determination and confidence.
The collar of her kendo uniform was tightly fastened, accentuating her slender neck. The sleeves and hem of the outfit were loose, allowing her greater freedom of movement. Tied around her waist was a black belt, making her waistline look as slender as a willow branch.
In her hands she grasped a bamboo sword, its blade slender and straight. Her stance was textbook and graceful: her feet were apart and shoulder-width, her knees slightly bent, her body leaning forward a fraction with her weight on her front foot. Her arms were extended straight, and the bamboo sword was held high, ready to strike at any moment.
The entire kendo hall was filled with a tense yet vibrant atmosphere. The little girl's figure, set off by the kendo uniform, appeared exceptionally striking; she was like a shining star, emitting a unique radiance.
Right now, the Kendo Club members were whispering amongst themselves.
"Who is she? What on earth possessed her to challenge the captain!"
"This little girl is really biting off more than she can chew!"
"Don't go saying that just yet. What if she's actually got real skills?"
"No matter how skilled you are, you shouldn't challenge the captain! You have to remember he's a national champion!"
"The captain's torso is probably big enough to cover two of her."
"Still, her posture is very standard. She's definitely trained before."
The skeptical comments reached Asuka Youyou's ears, but she didn't care in the least.
It was true that she looked rather unpromising, but they wouldn't know the outcome until they actually fought!
Equally calm on the court was Renji Yanagi.
He knew the capabilities of both Sanada and his younger sister well enough. Watching the dead-serious Sanada and his fiercely adorable little sister, for some reason he felt a slight urge to laugh.
A little kitten squaring off against a big gray wolf?
Once this match was over, he might just harvest some great data!
Renji Yanagi's lips curved upward slightly.
Sanada was an exceptionally persistent and earnest person. Although during a match he might pull his punches slightly so as not to injure anyone, once he truly grasped a bamboo sword in his hand, all thoughts of holding back or being careful were cast to the winds.
The kendo education he had received since childhood meant he never underestimated an opponent. At this moment, his gaze was steady as he looked at the girl. The veins on the hands gripping the bamboo sword bulged slightly, and his voice was deep.
"Are you ready?"
"Ready!"
Nodding slightly, Sanada said, "Then let's begin."
The kendo match between Asuka Youyou and Sanada attracted the gazes of numerous spectators. The two engaged in a fierce contest on the court, swords crossing amidst an intensely charged atmosphere.
Asuka Youyou launched the first attack.
She moved her feet rapidly, her bamboo sword slicing through the air like the wind and producing crisp snaps. Her movements were agile and powerful, every strike brimming with force and technique.
Sanada was not to be outdone, reacting in an instant. With a powerful flick of his bamboo sword, he easily deflected the girl's attack while simultaneously executing a counter-rollover to pin her sword.
However, the girl saw right through it, using brute force to bat his weapon away.
What formidable strength!
Sanada's brow furrowed tightly. Feeling a slight numbness in his hand, he silently marveled that the girl was truly no ordinary opponent.At the same time, he took the initiative to launch an attack and engaged in a fierce duel with the girl.
Sanada's swordsmanship was fierce and powerful, while Asuka Youyou responded skillfully with nimble footwork.
Everyone watched the two of them intently, their gazes growing increasingly fervent and shocked.
As his day-to-day teammates, they were well aware of Sanada's true strength.
Although the two currently looked evenly matched on the surface, a closer observation would reveal that the girl was faintly gaining the upper hand.
Amidst the fierce exchange, Sanada was the first to launch a fierce assault, knowing that if he did not take the initiative, he would undoubtedly lose the match.
His bamboo sword thrust toward the girl like lightning. Asuka Youyou possessed equally exceptional athletic reflexes; she reacted swiftly, blocked the attack with her bamboo sword, and seized the momentum to launch a counterattack.
Their bamboo swords crossed in mid-air with a loud, sharp crack.
The match entered a white-hot phase. Sanada's stamina was gradually depleting, and his back was soaked with sweat, yet his fighting spirit remained undiminished.
In contrast, Asuka Youyou—who held no advantage in physical build or other aspects—had eyes that grew increasingly bright, with only a thin layer of perspiration glistening on her forehead.
The two constantly adjusted their postures and attacking styles, attempting to find flaws in each other.
Finally, Asuka Youyou seized a mistake made by Sanada and successfully struck his chest.
In the end, relying on her outstanding performance and a slight edge, Asuka Youyou won the match.
Though narrowly defeated, Sanada showed not the slightest bit of dejection; instead, he expressed his full recognition of Asuka Youyou's strength.
After the match, the two shook hands, their eyes filled with mutual respect. They knew deeply that this match was not merely a contest of victory or defeat, but also an opportunity for mutual learning and growth.
"You are strong!"
Sanada lowered his gaze to look at the girl, who was a head shorter than him. This time, he was looking not at a friend's younger sister, nor at a junior he found agreeable, but at a genuinely admirable opponent and powerhouse.
"You're strong too! You're the strongest peer opponent I've ever sparred with! Besides, as you could probably tell, I was only able to beat you this time because I have greater raw strength."
Saying this, she looked a bit sheepish and awkwardly scratched the back of her head.
Before the match, she had made bold remarks about wanting to see how many moves the opponent could last against her, only to realize afterward that she had won by bullying him with sheer physical strength while falling considerably short in technique.
Master was truly right; she still needed to practice more. Compared to those who had truly dedicated years to mastering a single craft, someone like her who dabbled in everything simply couldn't compare.
Having just exchanged several blows with the girl, how could he not know her weaknesses? Though he didn't know how such a small body could burst forth with such immense power, a loss was a loss, and he would not make excuses.
"Raw strength is also a talent; you don't need to be overly modest. Also..."
"I would like to invite you to train at the Sanada Family dojo. They have more professional coaches and training equipment that can help you improve yourself further," Sanada said sincerely.
Asuka Youyou was somewhat surprised; she hadn't expected Sanada to extend such an invitation.
She pondered inwardly. Going to train at the Sanada Family dojo might be a good choice, but she still felt a bit hesitant—after all, this was no trivial matter.
She decided to think it over carefully before making a decision.
"Thank you for the kind offer, but I still need to think about it," Asuka Youyou replied.
Sanada chuckled softly. When someone who was usually so serious smiled, it carried a unique, striking charm.
"That's fine, you can take your time. If you're interested, you can come find me anytime."