My walk home was very quiet most of the way. It was a bright April afternoon on the outskirts of Tokyo. The streets were dotted with a few people going to and from the train stations. This was a usual occurrence around the neighborhood I lived in. Everyone here was pretty well off financially, which allowed them many luxuries.

“Nogu!” The girl who shouted my name was Ichika Yukimura. Her long ivory white hair reached her waist. Every time she laughed or moved it caused her long elegant hair to flow like a quiet stream. Her voice was just as pure, it left almost a flowery feeling in the air. She was slightly shorter than me but not as short as Charlotte was.

“Hi Ichi!” I waved her over to me so we could talk without shouting. “Come over here! It’s been a while!” She giggled and flung open her yard’s gate, after that she ran out into the street and tackled me in a hug. ‘Why am I short of breath?’ My face began to flush. ‘She looks so different now, from when we were kids.’ I stood there awkwardly with my hands to my sides.

“Hi! Hi! Nogu!” When she greeted me, it was as if someone were strumming a koto. Each syllable was a breath-taking note that played a cheerful song in my ear. One thing hadn’t changed about her and that was her bubbly personality. She was wearing the same university uniform that I was given after the exam.

I backed away from her embrace and composed myself. She shut her left eye and stuck her tongue out playfully. ‘She always used to do that when we were younger.’ My attention was drawn back to her clothes when she twirled around to show off her uniform skirt. “Oh, Ichi… Are you going to the Martial Arts Academy?” I nervously looked away from her deep blue eyes. She stared for a second in confusion.

“Awe! Nogu! are you going too?” She jumped up and down in excitement. “Oh yeah, you are a martial artist after all.” A dumbfounded look washed over her face. After a moment her tide of embarrassment receded. “I think I forgot!” She grinned childishly and brushed her silky hair over her shoulder.

I looked to the side and blinked in disbelief at her airheaded nature. “I didn’t see you at the entrance exam.” Our gazes met simultaneously. “How did you get in? I didn’t see you at the exam.” I gasped and leaned closer. “Did you get a golden recommendation?”

She took out an iron fan used for the sacred art of Tessenjutsu. She opened it and fanned herself playfully. “Yes! That’s it Nogu! My dojo used their recommendation on me! It makes me really happy you got in as well?” She shut the fan gracefully and concealed it all in one fluid motion.

“That’s really great Ichi! I’m super happy we get to go to school together again. It’ll be like old times right?” I glanced at my feet. ‘She has totally changed a lot. What do you mean “like old times” you idiot.’ I shook the negative thoughts out of my head and smiled at her.

Her eyes glimmered at the statement. “Yeah, I can’t wait! Do you want to come inside for tea? Sadly, my parents aren’t home though so you can’t say hi to them.” She grabbed my arm and drug me through the yard up to her front door. “Don’t forget to take off your shoes Nogu!” She opened the door to a dark entryway.

I could hear a low growl that sounded like a cornered animal ready to fight. I gulped and peered into the darkness to locate the source and saw the glint of an animal baring teeth. MY imagination fabricated so many different possibilities of this creature’s nature. ‘No, I won’t be caught off guard by another attacker.’ I readied myself in a defensive stance known as the Takeo style air palm stance. ‘This is my greatest defense technique! I’m ready for anything!’

Ichi looked over at me and giggled loudly. “That’s just my dog Aki, he won’t do anything too dangerous. His growl is much worse than his bite.” She leaned over and scratched the mutt behind its ear. The dog was small, fluffy, and snow white. The little creature couldn’t harm a hair on anyone’s head let alone mine.

“Sorry Ichi, I just had a really insane day with the exam going on…” Memories of the horror that was that demon flooded my mind. Dark chills ran down my spine sending me into a state of panic. After a moment that seemed like an eternity, I recovered my grasp on reality. I cleared my throat and sighed shakily. “I think it’s best I head home, Ichi. I hope to see you on Monday.” I bowed quickly and scurried across the yard like a frightened deer.

“Okay, Nogu! I hope we are roomies at the academy!” Ichi yelled across the yard cheerfully. She was waving and jumping which caused me to blush because I was staring too long at her uniform’s blouse.

‘As much as I appreciate you as a friend Ichi, that would be extremely uncomfortable.’ I gathered my composer and started jogging home.

***

“Proctor Fumio, I think the Takeo boy shouldn’t be admitted! It’s a mockery of our prestigious university.” The counselor’s eyebrows were furrowed in frustration at me.

“Never in the history of our great academy has anyone passed out during an entrance exam and passed it. What could possibly be so great about this boy?” He slammed his fist on my dark oak desk.

“That’s simple, I am proctor Ueno Fumio and it’s my job to see the potential in young fighters.” I pushed up my glasses and made sure the ceiling light reflected into his eyes. ‘I detest the politics these men play. Why can’t it just be about fighting?’ I noticed the counselor’s face turned redder. I opened my drawer and retrieved a letter. “Even if you don’t accept my terms, Mr.Burrow has elected to give the boy a golden recommendation.

The counselor’s face shrunk. “What! That’s not possible, the boy is a disgrace to his father’s legacy!”

My hand slapped the desk in a loud thump. “No sir, that kid has got more fighting spirit than many martial artists that attend this so-called prestigious academy. Leave my office, there is nothing further to talk about!”

The counselor sighed in aggravation and hobbled out of the office. “One mess up and that boy is out of this academy.” He slammed the door shut behind him and shouted at a janitor in the hallway as he left.

“Ha, to think that man is a school official.” I put the letter back in my drawer and slid it shut.