Chapter 16: Kotonoha’s Blunder
In truth, Kotonoha didn't want to attend the apprenticeship ceremony at all. While she genuinely loved kendo and knew that becoming Master Busujima's disciple would greatly benefit her future, as a young girl who was still a virgin and had never even had a boyfriend, Kotonoha longed for love.
She dreamed of meeting a boy her age, preferably a classmate, and experiencing a perfect campus romance.
However, it's just that Kotonoha never got the chance to voice her reluctance. With Manami's strong-willed nature, how could Kotonoha have the right to speak about such a big event?
This ceremony wasn't just about Kotonoha's future in kendo, it also concerned her physical health, according to her mother.
Consequently, even Manami's husband had no say in the matter.
Besides, Chiba Katsura was more of a household decoration, a man who had secured his job through his wife's connections. His opinions held little weight in important family decisions.
"Greet!"
Kotonoha's mind tightened as she looked at the group of masters she had only seen on the news. Regardless of feeling like she had inadvertently walked into a lion's den, there was no turning back now.
She kowtowed nine times to Master Busujima, who sat at the head table, before picking up the teacup next to her.
"Master, please have tea..."
Enzo took the teacup from Kotonoha's hand with a pleased nod, smiling broadly.
It was true that disciples who entered the household enjoyed their master's extensive network and connections, but they also had to serve the master meticulously.
For example, in the fields of sumo wrestling and judo, disciples were expected to perform tasks as personal as washing their master's butts.
While kendo was less demanding in this regard, Kotonoha would still be obligated to comply with her master's requests, unless they were excessively unreasonable.
Of course, with Kotonoha's character, even if he did something excessive to her, she wouldn't dare to resist.
After presenting the tea to honor her master, the next step was for Saeko to explain the rules and regulations of the Busujima Dojo to Kotonoha.
Typically, this task would fall to other disciples, but since Master Busujima's previous disciples were all in the United States preparing for a new dojo, Saeko had to take on the responsibility herself.
Saeko kept sizing up the girl in front of her while passing on the dojo rules. Kotonoha looked delicate and weak, so Saeko thought she was probably not the same as her slutty mother.
After all, people often try to protect their loved ones from their own mistakes, and even those who do wrong don't want their children to follow the same path.
In Saeko's opinion, Master Busujima had remained chaste for many years. The reason he had succumbed to a relationship with Manami was undoubtedly due to her deliberate seduction.
Especially in the past two days, every time she fell asleep, she would think of the other person's big butt that kept squirting out semen and vaginal fluid, and then she had to get up and change her underwear.
It was incredibly frustrating.
But there was nothing she could do about it. After all, Saeko was a fully sexually mature young woman.
She had been exposed to such provocative scenes recently, and then, due to an "accident," she found herself walking across the courtyard with her breasts exposed.
Thus, it was only natural for her to have some lascivious thoughts.
Of course, "someone" would never admit to slipping a bit of sexual stimulant into her meals over the past few days.
Compared to Kotonoha and Manami, his favorite was, of course, his own daughter!
But that was a topic for another time.
"Now, our new disciple, Kotonoha, will demonstrate her sword skills to everyone!"
After more than two hours of exhaustive rituals, the apprenticeship ceremony had finally reached its climax.
Kotonoha needed to show her strength in front of many masters.
As long as Kotonoha executed a proper sword slash, whether slicing through an apple or a wooden dummy, she would pass the test with ease.
Everyone would offer a polite round of applause, and the matter would be concluded.
However, after over two hours of strenuous rituals and continuous kneeling, even a robust person would feel faint, let alone Kotonoha, who was already of frail constitution.
She was now in a state of extreme exhaustion, her body trembling with fatigue.
She managed to stand up on the stage, but halfway through the cut, her blade lost strength and became stuck in the wooden figure.
"…"
"…"
"…"
Everyone, who had been ready to applaud, was left dumbfounded.
Seeing the little girl's posture and momentum as she drew the sword, they believed she had great potential.
Then how could such an error occur?
The crowd immediately began to whisper.
Saeko stared at the uneasy Manami with burning eyes, feeling that this woman had tarnished her father's esteemed reputation.
Kotonoha, standing on the stage, also suddenly turned red with embarrassment.
She struggled to remove the wedged knife but failed.
Not knowing what else to do, she suddenly rolled her eyes and fainted.
Enzo quickly stepped onto the stage, catching Kotonoha in his arms before she hit the ground.
"My apprentice isn't feeling well today. Please forgive her," he said to the group of spectators around him, holding Kotonoha protectively.
Everyone immediately began to nod in agreement, remarking that Kotonoha's initial momentum and posture were impressive. They reasoned that her loss of strength must have been due to illness.
As for what everyone was truly thinking, only they themselves knew.
After dispersing the noisy crowd, only Saeko, Manami, Kotonoha, and a submissive-looking man wearing gold-rimmed glasses remained in the Busujima dojo.
The man's name was Chiba Katsura, and he was Kotonoha's nominal father. However, he knew that when he married Manami, she was already more than four months pregnant, making it impossible for Kotonoha to be his daughter.
"I'm really sorry for what happened today!" Manami kneeled on the ground, bowing deeply before Enzo.
Saeko stood beside him, secretly grinding her teeth in anger as she glared at this charming woman who used her breasts as cushions to raise her butt high.
This lustful woman must have used this sow-like body to seduce her father. Otherwise, why would her father accept such a sickly girl as his apprentice?
Kotonoha was also kneeling next to Manami, but she could only be regarded as a little transparent, and no one cared about her at all.
"It's nothing. I know that Kotonoha's heart isn't in good condition. Since I have become her master, it is my duty to help her get well," Enzo said, waving his hand indifferently.
As a master, wasn't it reasonable and appropriate for him to check his disciple's body?
"I'm truly grateful. If you need me to do anything, please feel free to give me your instructions, Master Busujima." Manami said it excitedly.
She and Enzo both looked at each other in the eye; as for what they were secretly communicating with their gaze, only they knew.
'Hehehe.'