Chapter 27: Chapter 27 - Miyajima Tsubaki (Part Two)
After enough rest to regain some of her stamina, Miyajima Tsubaki paused her conversation with Itou Yoshito and Miyajima Sakura.
She stood up, wielding her bamboo sword with both hands, and her sharp eyes gleamed with anticipation, a spirited excitement evident between her brows.
"Yoshito, let's begin our battle!"
Though she had been a wife, mother, and teacher for many years, Tsubaki often forgot to maintain her mature demeanor when it came to kendo, as if she were back in her youth, bursting with vitality.
Itou Yoshito, grinning, rose to his feet in tandem with Sakura and responded in kind.
"Heh heh heh… Tsubaki-san, I'm considerably stronger now. Get ready for your second defeat!"
"I'm looking forward to it!"
Tsubaki licked her lips, her gentle hand nervously rubbing the handle of her sword. Her breath became heavier and more urgent, her fiery gaze filled with an intense fighting spirit.
———
In the spacious and quiet dojo, the two figures faced each other.
Even as they stood on the cold wooden floor, the heat of their competitive spirits enveloped them.
With Sakura's assistance, they donned their protective gear, and Itou Yoshito and Miyajima Tsubaki took their stances, silently accumulating their energy as they concentrated.
At the moment Sakura dropped her hand, the atmosphere changed.
"Ha!"
With a fierce cry, Tsubaki charged forward, her energy bursting forth like an arrow released from its bow.
Her unique footwork allowed her to quickly close the distance to Yoshito, and her bamboo sword came down mercilessly, striking toward him at high speed.
Tsubaki was well aware that, as a woman, her height and strength paled in comparison to the male Itou Yoshito.
This meant that her offensive capabilities were limited, and if she fell into a defensive position, he would overwhelming her with his strength, forcing her to waste her stamina and ultimately leading to her defeat.
Only by staying close and executing continuous, rapid attacks could she hope to pressure him, find an opening, and achieve victory.
Tsubaki's gaze was sharp and focused as she locked onto Yoshito. Her sword swung powerfully and quickly.
In contrast to the past when he had been overwhelmed by her relentless attacks, Yoshito now found clarity in her movements.
Ger previously disorienting sword strikes now appeared much more straightforward.
What had been a flickering light was now clear and traceable in his mind.
Tightly gripping his sword's handle, Yoshito leaned slightly forward. His bamboo sword moved in a seamless defense, successfully blocking Tsubaki's strikes with precision and speed each time.
He wasn't eager to attack.
Tsubaki's speed with the sword was rapid, and reckless offense would only fall into the rhythm she was trying to set.
Both had completely discarded the traditional kendo rules, and the match felt like a true battle, with victory only counted when one party was knocked down.
The tension heightening as both fighters met in an intense standoff, Tsubaki felt her stamina waning.
She knew that if this deadlock continued, she would exhaust herself and be faced with defeat.
She blocked one of Yoshito's strikes with a swing of her sword and then retreated, panting lightly.
Strands of hair, dampened with sweat and clung to her flushed cheeks, framed her excited face.
In her sharp eyes, it was as if pink hearts flickered briefly, revealing her faint, unspoken affection.
"You've… become so strong, Yoshito! I'm so excited…"
Tsubaki's joyful tone hinted at her delight, and she playfully licked her pink tongue across her lips, the glistening beads of sweat catching the sunlight as they mingled with fragrant droplets.
Taking in Yoshito's stance, Tsubaki realized she could not afford to delay any longer. She needed to launch her final offensive.
Crouching slightly, Tsubaki gently grasped the blade's edge, building her energy before suddenly springing forward, her tightened muscles propelling her into a strong draw and slash that forced Yoshito to retreat several steps.
Seizing the moment of Yoshito's backward movement, Tsubaki's attacks grew more ferocious, each strike becoming increasingly lethal, pushing Yoshito into a defensive position and forcing him further back.
The tips of their swords traced ethereal arcs through the air, producing a sharp and lively sound as they clashed in a symphony of steel.
As Tsubaki's breathing grew more labored, the power and speed of her swordplay began to wane.
The echoes from the clashes reminded Yoshito that Tsubaki was beginning to weaken.
He ramped up the intensity of his attacks, going from defense to offense, forcing her to continue retreating.
Suddenly, Tsubaki's breath hitched; her sword momentarily faltered in the air.
Seizing the opportunity, Yoshito struck with deceptive swiftness, relentlessly pounding on Tsubaki's defense and accelerating her defeat.
She ultimately collapsed helplessly onto the wooden floor.
"Ah…"
———
'So strong! Yoshito has become so strong!' After catching her breath for a moment, Tsubaki prepared for one last desperate attack.
'This is my final offensive, Yoshito! Please delight me one last time!'
The draw and slash were deftly blocked, and Tsubaki, not surprised, continued to swing her weapon wildly, exclaiming:
"Yoshito, come on! Defeat me again! Conquer me! I'm so thrilled!"
As Tsubaki began to show signs of fatigue, Yoshito shifted his strategy from offense to defense.
"Smack!"
Power surged through the blade into Tsubaki's body, forcing her back.
'What incredible strength! Ah… This feels so good… gives me such a thrill!'
"Bang!"
The bamboo sword struck hard against her protective gear.
Yoshito's strong, masculine posture struck down like a heavy hammer, the strength of his blows penetrating her defense and leaving an indelible mark in her heart.
"Thud!"
Tsubaki collapsed onto the floor, her accumulated sensations of pleasure crashing over her like a torrent, overwhelming her completely.
'Yoshito, Yoshito, this is thrilling! I… I can't take it anymore!!!'
"Ah…" A sweet, melodic moan escaped from Tsubaki as she sat on the wooden floor.
———
"Ah…"
Initially thinking he had accidentally struck her too hard on the protective gear, Yoshito quickly discarded his sword, rushing to Tsubaki's side to support her.
"Tsubaki-san, are you okay?"
Yoshito looked at her with concern.
Tsubaki slowly lifted her head, resting it against Yoshito's chest.
Out of his line of sight, her blushing cheeks had turned to a flushed hue, her captivating eyes now rolling back, her lips slightly parted, revealing her soft tongue resting there, sticky with sweet perspiration flowing slowly down.
'Mira, I can't hold back any longer… I want to devour him so badly...'
"Auntie, are you alright?"
Yoshito reiterated anxiously.
Tsubaki nestled her head closer into his chest, greedily inhaling the scent of his masculine sweat.
With a soft voice, she responded, "I'm fine…"
"Yoshito, is everything alright?"
Miyajima Sakura approached at a quick pace, her footsteps echoing on the wooden floor.
"I'm fine," Tsubaki managed to reply weakly, still languishing in Yoshito's embrace, unable to rise.
"Let's carry Tsubaki-san to the resting room!"
With a show of strength, Yoshito lifted Tsubaki effortlessly, cradling her like a princess as he made his way to the resting area.
Tsubaki obediently wrapped her pale arms around his neck, leaning her radiant face against him, basking in his intense masculine aura.
'Yoshito…'