Game Without Limits

"Ayana, you're not bad at this, huh?" — Kaiyo extended her hand to her opponent, though her eyes still danced with the spark of the recent fight. Despite her victory, there was a genuine admiration in her gaze.
Ayana, a little taken aback, hesitated for a moment before accepting the hand. The warm shake was unexpected, but there was respect in it.
"And yet, you fought way better than these slackers," — Kaiyo added with a frustrated smirk, gesturing toward the boys who had been watching their duel.
Ayana, doing her best to keep her emotions in check, let her mind wander for a brief moment. Battles had been a part of my life as far back as I could remember. Sword training was like breathing. No matter who I faced, the ability to defend myself and anticipate an opponent's moves had become second nature. I might not have been able to win in an all-out fight, but my training had never been for nothing.
"I only gave up because you're a girl," — muttered one of the guys under his breath, the one with the katana, still rubbing his scraped hands.
"What'd you say? Say it again if you've got the guts!" — Kaiyo snapped, turning toward him with a look that promised no playful sparring this time.
The guy with the katana, Takeshi, paled and immediately bolted, forgetting all about his bruises. His pathetic retreat made the others chuckle.
"Don't mind that coward," — Kaiyo sighed lightly and turned back to Ayana. — "As you've probably already heard, I'm Kaiyo. Nice to meet you."
"Likewise. And thanks for the... warm welcome," — Ayana replied, bowing her head slightly as a gesture of respect.
"I'm Panda!" — suddenly shouted the guy in the panda mask, raising both hands as though presenting himself to an audience. His voice was so confident that Ayana couldn't help but smile.
"And this shorty in the scarf — that's Hikaru," — Panda added with a grin, slapping his quiet companion on the back. Hikaru simply frowned slightly, adjusting his too-long scarf, and gave Ayana a short nod in greeting.

"We're happy to meet you, Ayana," — Hikaru said briefly, but his soft voice sounded genuine.
Everything around Ayana felt surreal. She had come here with the intention of just watching, but instead, she found herself caught in this strange, almost familial atmosphere where everyone, despite their quirks, felt... alive.
Kaiyo tilted her head slightly, eyeing Ayana with interest.
"Teacher mentioned you, and the events from yesterday. Looks like Panda here is already wanting to be your friend, huh?"
"Yep!" — Panda chimed in, as though he had already claimed her as his responsibility. — "First, I'll show you how to roll! That's my signature move!"
"Yeah, sure, next you'll say you can fly," — Hikaru smirked, though his eyes softened a little when he looked back at Ayana.
Kaiyo just shook her head.
"Well, I'm sure you'll have fun with us. Welcome to our little crazy corner of the world."
Ayana felt something inside her, something she had long forgotten, begin to warm. She smiled, a little shy but genuine.
"Thank you. I'll try not to fall behind."
"You've already done better than most," — Kaiyo reassured her, adjusting her glasses. — "So, shall we continue the training? Or are you going to give them a head start?"
"And me?" — Panda raised his hand like a schoolboy waiting for his turn.
"You, Panda, go find yourself a tougher opponent. Maybe a tree," — Kaiyo waved him off, and everyone burst into laughter again.
Though this was just the beginning, Ayana could already sense it: this place, these people, might become something more than just a random encounter for her.
The morning was just beginning to fill with light when the Fujiwara family finally came to their senses and began searching for Ayana. After quickly scanning the house, they came to a unanimous conclusion — she was probably not inside. They checked the garden, and upon confirming her absence, they asked the servants. The servants pointed them in the right direction, and the family made their way toward the training grounds.
Out in the open space, Ayana stood facing Kaiyo, in a perfect combat stance. There wasn't the slightest hint of fatigue — each move was precise, like a gunshot. Her gaze was focused, her mind cold. In training, where no real danger loomed, she could release her soul, unrestrained, not thinking of the consequences.
Kaiyo, on the other hand, moved with grace and confidence. Her combat style was more elegant, almost like a dance. Every motion was calculated but sharp, ready to explode into a deadly attack at any moment. They didn't speak much — only clashed weapons, as if each strike was a challenge. And that's exactly what Ayana sought. The inner tension melted away, like smoke. Every sword strike wasn't just a battle; it was a farewell to a part of herself.
"You really aren't scared?" — Kaiyo smirked, deflecting another blow, her eyes gleaming as though she was savoring the moment.
Ayana didn't respond right away. Her thoughts drifted back to years of training, the grueling sessions where, since childhood, she had tried to forge herself into a weapon. Family, school, strict mentors — all part of the path she had chosen. But here, in this fight, it all felt distant and unnecessary. She wasn't just "good" like others called her. She was simply herself — the one who was always a step ahead, who left no room for doubt. Her mind lingered on the events of yesterday, those last moments. This fight, in a way, cleared her mind, allowing her to relax.
"Scared? Fear isn't really for me," — she finally replied, her gaze hardening even further. Kaiyo nodded, as if she understood something deeper than words could express.
At that moment, when their weapons met once more in the air, Ayana's eyes briefly caught someone at the edge of the field. It was Hiroto, standing with her parents, watching the duel. He couldn't hide his surprise, and then admiration, as his gaze slid over to Kaiyo. He wasn't sure what exactly drew him to her — her grace or the cold confidence in each of her moves. But one thing was clear: she wasn't just a force; she was something more.
"Now this... this is something," — he whispered, unable to tear his eyes away from the girl who, it seemed, had noticed his presence immediately.
When the fight ended, Ayana took a few steps back, stretching her wrist before crouching down and brushing off the dust, leaving the battlefield. No expression of victory or pride — only calmness. The fight was over, and she gave her opponent her due.
Kaiyo didn't say a word, but her gaze followed Ayana as she walked toward the group standing at the edge of the field. There was a strange sincerity in her eyes, as if she was foreseeing something important. Ayana didn't pay attention to her look; she simply turned toward her family. By now, her parents had figured out that her absence hadn't been accidental.
"Are you training again?" — her father asked gently, though there was still a hint of worry in his voice. Ayana never skipped her lessons, even in daily life.
"Yeah, just warming up a bit," — Ayana replied, noticing Hiroto still staring intently at Kaiyo. She narrowed her eyes, not explaining that her inner feeling at that moment was unusual.
"Well, since you're done, we need to discuss something important," — her father said as they approached. Hiroto, who hadn't moved closer, remained standing, still fixated on Kaiyo.