Nei nods big.
Your grandfather taught you Kendo, right?
This time, Nagisa asks.
Yes, I was practicing with Grandfather since young age
Did your grandfather’s dojo accepted a child from the same generation as Reika-oneesan? Gender doesn’t matter No. When I was born, Grandfather was really old. Even though the whole building is a dojo, he hasn’t taken any young apprentice ever since Then you practice alone with your grandfather?
Nei asks.
Well, when I was in elementary grade. There are times Grandfather’s old disciples come to the Dojo.so they accompany me in practice but every one of them is on their prime age
At Reika’s elementary age, she didn’t practice with anyone but her old grandfather and people as old as her father.
Reika-oneesan, did you play with friends during elementary school?
No, it would make Grandfather worried. I go home right after school is over. I had to buy dinner along the way. Grandfather was also very pleased to practice with me What about middle school? During middle school, of course, I joined the Kendo club. The adviser was a woman, but she’s one of Grandfather’s old disciples. I was given lots of lessons What about the other girls from the club? That’s, I have already learned Kendo from elementary, however, the others started from middle school, besides Besides? The others were doing Kendo as a sport, but I was trained to aim to be a swordswoman
Swordswoman?
From there on, it’s already.
I have decided to surpass the sword techniques passed to me
Err.
Shouldn’t you become a Kendo instructor in that case? Normally you would
When Grandfather passed away, I know that it would be a lifelong loneliness
Reika said.
Then, you didn’t get along with the people from the club?
Nei asks.
That’s not true, I was famous for being strange, but they all know that I strive towards my way of the sword, it’s surely showing in the results After the national convention during the first year, nobody talked behind my back anymore No, that’s not it.
That would just make potential friends keep their distance.
Was it like that during high school too?
This time, Nagisa asks.
Yes, I went to the same school. In High school, the advisor is a female, this time, she wasn’t my Grandfather’s disciple but, the local coach knows who Grandfather is
As expected, Reika’s isolated
She’s been concentrating on the sword alone.
Then, you won the national competition and was scouted by Tanizawa-san
Yes, my skill as a swordswoman was acknowledged, I was hired as a guard in Kouzuki security service I feel grateful to that
Yeah
I somehow see it now
Reika-oneesan, can I ask a bit of a strange question?
Nei shows a distressed face.
Yes, go on
Onee-san, do you like swords, Kendo?
Reika
Hmm. I have never thought of that
You’re not doing it because you like it, right? Yes, because my sword is my livelihood. It’s a technique I learned in order to live. I don’t think of things whether I hate it or like it
For Reika, her way of the sword is too sacred.
Since it’s a specially big pillar in her life among the rest. She doesn’t feel ‘like’ or ‘hate’ it.
Then, another question.Onee-san, have you ever come to like a boy?
I haven’t
Reika replied calmly
Have you ever thought of relationships, or dating a man?
I haven’t, men don’t like me after all
Reika replied.
I know that everyone evaluates my strength in swords, my ability as a guard and that I don’t have the charm as a woman. I kept it in my mind
Reika
Why do you think so?
Nei asks, showing a sad face.
Because, I’m very tall for women, I’m also muscular. I’ve grown very tall ever since elementary. When I went to middle school Kendo match, the boys saidHuge!when they saw me They even sayBoys can hide in your skirt.
Finally.
We’ve arrived at the origin of Reika’s complex.
Then, you started to dress manly?
Nei cuts to the chase.
That wasn’t the case, in particular, the people from the club wants me to have that image
Did the people from Kendo club tell Reika to look boyish?
Nei’s surprised.
Reika shook her head.
In the tournament, I became someone who everyone pulls in the club. I was chosen as the representative from the first year, as a first match athlete, I had to work as a point getter. Then, it’s’ more effective to change the look to intimidate the opponent, making the best use of my height and strength Reika
During the second half of the second grade, I was appointed to be the captain, then, everyone in the club trusts me so to embody the strength and dignity, somehow, it became one thing This person’s desperate to have her isolated self-be accepted by the people around
Then, I tried various things to bring out a masculine image. I tried to cut my hair like the boys from athletics club. After losing in the semi-finals of the national tournament, The people around saidput on some spirit It’s actually not that.
Reika wants to establish her own image as a swordswoman. To intimidate the enemy with her form. Thinking that the club members depend on a strong captain.
But, the closed clip hair was for delinquent. Uhm, back then, there was a fan club for me at the school
Reika’s fan club?
Since it’s an all girl’s school, they immediately draw into a boyish senior. In my case, half of the Kendo club and the other was from literary clubs. Then, the literary club member saidSenpai, please do this hairand I was shown a photobook of Tarazuka’s men is that so?
At first, I did that. Then, then a butler from a Shojo Manga? They showed me a lot of photos about butlers
Fujimiya-senpai, please copy this imageI was told
Nagisa’s amazed.
I see
Takarazuka to a butler
Then, could it be this British Gentleman look too?
Nei asks.
No, well, a lot happened. Until I became a butler, I somehow understood their feelings but afterward, those girls brought books of Shinsengumi or Sengoku commanders
Ah, they went that way?
But, I was aiming to be a swordswoman, not to play historical drama. Besides, I’ve read most of the books about Samurai in the past in Grandfather’s library back in elementary
Reika shows a gloomy face.
What those girls brought have different contents. Their books have a bit of strange history, The Sengoku warrior was a woman and Shinsengumi were vampires!
Err.
Then, well, I didn’t go for that. Feeling that, one of the girls from the fan club brought her British Victorian Art collection.
Oh, we’re finally in the British Gentleman! No, it’s a book of maids. It’s a book about the dress and lives of a British maid at the end of the 19th century, but the illustration of the maid is serving tea to a guest.I thought what a great world that is That’s why you went British Gentleman route?
Nagisa’s dumbfounded
Yes, it’s much better than the strange warriors or Shinsengumi
Well, that’s true though
Then the girls from my fan club came to me dressed as a maid when cheering me on a match
No way, what about Reika-oneesan? I’m in my school uniform, I haven’t crossdressed in high school yet Ah, good
Nei said, but
That’s not good at all If the girls come to cheer her are supposed to be in maid clothes. Won’t Reika think that she has to be a British Gentleman to match the maid?
Everyone called meMaster And I was made to call themMy cute maids
Look.
Then, I begin to research more and more about British culture and customs, that I got hooked. To the gentleman’s world. Therefore the start was the fan club but, I’ve come to really like Victorian era. I think that the customs and culture at the end of the 19th century is my lifework Coming from Kendo.