Absolute In/Existence

Studying the paper, Sora only saw 11 moves and various pictures depicting how to perform them. Then, below the names are short simple explanations to the moves.

——

Iaido: Sword draw movement that requires extreme speed.

Hooking: A swift cutting motion that requires extreme flexibility.

Hanging: A cutting motion that starts with the sword hanging from above the shoulders with the sword tip tilted downwards. Requires extreme arm strength.

Carrying: An upwards cutting motion that requires extreme strength in the legs.

Piercing: Direct strike with the tip of a sword. Requires extreme precision.

Slicing: Basic cutting motion that requires extreme stability and speed to slice through anything.

Hacking: A chopping motion developed to be extremely heavy but sharp. Requires extreme deftness to strike from anywhere.

Pointing: AKA Feint/Intimidation. To deceive and/or scare the target with powerful/scary moves with no weight behind them. Requires an extremely strong mind and killing intent.

Deflecting: Designed to knock things off their intended course of trajectory. Requires extreme concentration and hand to eyes coordination.

Block: Prevent an attack from finding or making its way to its target/goal. Requires extreme tenacity/ability to reach far away attacks.

Parry: Defending and counterattacking. Requires extreme decisiveness.

——

Nodding at the descriptions and memorizing the movements, Sora placed paper to the side and grabbed the wooden sword.

Swiftly, Sora went to an empty and open area to train the sword for an hour.

Since it was only simple repetitions, Sora didn't need to do anything drastic until he gets home.

If possible, he would change the wooden sword for something really heavy and use resistance bands.

A very tortuous training that is extremely effective. A shame that there is a limit to this training since he can't just simply continue increasing the weight without a size increase.

The same went by for the resistance band.

…

Grabbing the wooden sword, Sora began to wholeheartedly focus on the repetitive movements. He focused on every detail and poured his heart into training the basics.

Since he had such a terrible talent this time around, training the basics to a high realm would mean that he would master other moves much easier because the basics are their foundation.

Only prerequisite is to continue to train wholeheartedly and in a focused manner.

Before beginning his practice, Sora grabbed a wooden dummy and drew some marks on the dummy. Target marks designed for Sora to focus and aim for to improve his concentration and hand-eye coordination.

After writing all the marks, Sora began his practice.

Placing the sword at his waist, Sora changed his mentality to that of a life or death situation.

His face was extremely serious and his muscles were in a relaxed but alert state.

Gripping the hilt tightly, Sora drawed the sword at his waist clumsily and struck the wooden dummy.

Pa!

The wooden sword struck the wooden dummy, but it failed to hit the intended mark.

Without wasting a second, Sora got back into the Iaido stance before repeating the move.

Pa!

Again!

Pa!

Once more!

Pa!

…

50 moves later, Sora still failed to hit any target mark.

However, his determination was stronger than before. He didn't let the failures get to him, he only continued to pursue improvement.

Moving onto the next movement, hooking, Sora got into position, his sword already drawn out.

Pa!

Pa!

Pa!

***

An hour later, Sora finally finished an entire set of fifty moves per sword move.

Looking at the sword in his hand, Sora frowned a little, feeling a little slow.

Only 550 moves in an hour.

Shaking his head, Sora left the dojo after saying goodbye to Katashi and Ryou. The sun was already setting and Sora made his way home.

This is a daily routine he will have to do for the next couple of years.

Not a single day of rest is available.

…

"Mom! I'm back," Sora said as he entered the house with the wooden sword that Katashi gifted to him.

Putting away the wooden sword, Sora didn't think he will be using it ever again in the future. He might begin using a heavy metal pole to continue his training.

"Cutie? You're finally back, I've missed you."

Sora heard footsteps approaching and turned his head to noticed his mother approaching him. She had an expressionless face but her it was toned down with tenderness.

Approaching Sora, Akira hugged Sora, pressing his head against her breasts like usual.

"Mgh…" Akira sighed contentedly as she felt Sora's head on her breasts. "So wonderful. I've missed my little cute boy's mouth and the feeling of breasts being emptied out from all my milk."

Sora froze at his mother's words as she sighed in reminiscence.

What did he say?

Hell yes!

Just pop them out mom!

???

Sora sighed and simply took it slow with her, he looked up at her and smiled between her plump breasts.

"Mom, do you have any milk?"

"Mm?"

Akira tilted her head slightly and looked down at her breasts as she kneaded them lightly with a frown.

"No. I'm completely empty…"

"Uhm… mom…" Sora stammered, his face red. "I… I don't mind mommy…"

"Don't… mind?"

Akira looked at Sora's faces and saw his cute face turn beat red. She stood there for a second, stunned, before hugging him tighter once more.

"My little boy is so adorable. I can just eat you up," Akira said as she pulled away from Sora before lowering her head and giving Sora a kiss on the cheek. "Hmhm… come and eat honey."

Sora nodded at his mother's words and he watched as she left to the kitchen, her plump butt moving with every step. His face returned to its natural look and he smiled slightly.

"My mother is so adorable," Sora sighed as he followed behind her.

***

Days passed by quietly, Sora continued his daily routine.

Going to school, sparring at the dojo for 3 hours, training in the basic sword moves for two hours and training his body rigorously for two hours.

It was only during the weekends when Sora had the most time free to spend time with his mother and father.

He basically had no free time, all because of his poor talent and his dedication to building a powerful and perfect foundation for martial arts.

…

One particular day, many weeks after being enrolled at the dojo, Sora was at school.

It was class time and Sora was casually performing a horse stance as he attended class. No chair or anything to relax his legs.

Even when at school, Sora took his time to train.

Spinning a pencil in his hand, Sora tossed the pencil from hand to hand. It traveled fluidly and would occasionally fall the desk.

Another form of training.

One that helps increase the dexterity of his hands to keep them nimble and not rigid.

Whilst casually doing a horse stance and training his hands, Sora waited for the bell to ring for lunch time.

Ding!

The bell rang and Sora remained in place as he watched various students rapidly leave the room. Some remained back and simply pulled out their lunches from their bags.

Standing upright, Sora calmly made his way to the school cafeteria to get some food.

He walked through the school's corridors, each step of his heavy because of the weights he was secretly wearing beneath his clothing.

Dun!

"Ugh…"

Suddenly, a girl about two years younger than him bumped against him and fell on her butt.

"Are you okay?" Sora asked as he helped up the young girl.

"Mm! I… I wasn't looking where I was going…" the girl said, her head hanging a little low.

"Are you sure you're alright?" Sora asked, worried that the 8 year old girl was really hurt and was putting on a tough act.

Hearing Sora's question, the girl raised her little head and looked up at Sora with a smile.

"Mm! I'm fine!"

The girl moved swiftly and moved her little feet but she only managed two take three little steps before realizing that her feet weren't on the ground anymore.

Looking down at her dangling feet, she turned her head curiously to look at the culprit who was carrying her.

"You're not very good at lying," Sora said as he smiled at the little girl. As a person who was not just a father, but also a grandfather, Sora is able to pick up when someone is lying and/or hurt.

For instance, the little girl in front of him.

"Huh?"

The girl looked at Sora in a confused manner, unsure of what he meant.

"That little smile of yours isn't genuine at all. Are you really okay?" Sora asked once more, his golden eyes parting into the little girl's yellow eyes.

At Sora's words, the girl's little smile fell a little and revealed a sad expression. However, she quickly caught herself and tried to smile, but it was too late.

It was like Sora had touched a dam, and because of its poor quality, it instantly broke.

Tears streamed down the little girl's face.

Sora looked at the little girl quietly for a few seconds before slowly letting her down back in her feet.

'This isn't the crying of a child that's hurt…' Sora thought quietly. 'It's the sound of a child being forced to do something and lacking familial love…'

Thinking to there, Sora thought of his past life's family. He had always done his best to take care of everyone, but as someone who's limited to circumstances, there were instances when that wasn't possible.

A family member passing sway… realizing that you have to grow up… parting ways with someone…

They were all things that will eventually happen, whether one wants it or not. The only thing one could do, is to embrace it and let it happen. Prepare one's heart and be strong for those around you.

But one should also remember, that it's okay to cry.

Unconsciously, Sora brought the little girl into a hug and carressed her little head, hoping to at least relieve some of the girl's emotional pain.

Smiling wryly, Sora felt how the girl seemed to jump slightly at the sensation of his hug.

The girl wanted to struggle and pull away from Sora's grasp, but she began to feel weird. A soft fuzzy feeling caressing her little heart.

'So warm…'

…

Whilst Sora was hugging the little girl, various other students passed by and looked at them weirdly. Sora didn't mind them whatsoever.

He just calmly held the girl and waited for her to stop crying.

Soon, the little girl's crying came to an end and Sora smiled at her.

"Join me for lunch. It's on me," Sora said as he dragged the little girl along.

The little girl remained quiet as she let Sora drag her along. She gazed at the back of his head, wondering what he was thinking.

It only took a couple of steps to arrive at the cafeteria and Sora took the girl to the lunch store. He looked at a couple of items and chose them before turning to the girl.

"You can choose to eat whatever you want. Go ahead."

The girl listened to Sora and grabbed a couple of items before turning to Sora nervously, afraid he will say no.

Responding to her with a simple smile, Sora reminded her, "Anything ~ you want."

Looking at the items in her hands, the girl hesitated a bit before placing them back where they were before she grabbed other more delicious, but also expensive, food.

Paying for the items, Sora went to an empty area to sit down and eat. The little girl followed closely behind and sat in front of Sora, her big and adorable yellow eyes looking at him.

Not paying her too much attention, Sora unwrapped his food and began eating.

It wasn't until Sora began eating that the little girl began to also unwrap her food excitedly before chomping down.

"Mm~!"

The little girl moaned in delight as she savored every bit of the food in her mouth. Her adorable cheeks turned rosy and a happy smile spread on her face.

Sora looked at her and smiled.

"That right there, is a genuine smile," Sora suddenly told the girl before resuming to eat.

…

Soon after finishing his food, Sora grabbed his trash and threw it away before looking at the girl.

"Take care, I need to head back to class," Sora said, smiling warmly at the girl.

The girl wanted to say something, but she could only watch as Sora walked away.

She turned her head and looked at the food before her before she smiled and continued eating.