Chapter 33: A Date with Raiden Mei
After some dedicated experimentation, Rovel discovered that the proficiency bonus granted by his Basic Kendo skill was directly tied to its stage. The greater the gap between Basic Kendo and another sword skill, the more significant the boost.
For instance, his Battōjutsu was currently at the Entry Stage. With his Basic Kendo at the Minor Accomplishment Stage, a considerable gap existed between them. As a result, any proficiency he gained in Battōjutsu received a massive 300% bonus.
Once Battōjutsu advanced to the Proficient Stage, the gap would narrow, and the bonus would drop to 200%. By the time it reached the Mastery Stage, the bonus would be a mere 100%.
The logic was clear: the higher the level of his foundational Basic Kendo, the more potent its amplifying effect on other techniques. This meant that even as he acquired more advanced sword arts, he could never afford to neglect his fundamentals.
An impulse seized him—what if he just maxed out Basic Kendo first? If he endured a few beatings from Mei every day, he could probably push it to the next stage in less than a week. He wasn't sure if that next stage would be its pinnacle, but the potential was tantalizing.
Still, while Battōjutsu was undeniably powerful, its application was limited. It was an explosive opening move, a single, decisive strike. After grinding its proficiency up to the Mastery Stage, Rovel intentionally shifted his focus. In his spars with Raiden Mei, he could only use it once per match, which made leveling it a slow and tedious process. It was far more efficient to pour his efforts back into Basic Kendo for now. He'd find a better opportunity to practice the high-impact skills later.
"Mister Rovel, thank you for your hard work today. You've made a little more progress," Raiden Mei's voice, soft and encouraging, broke through his thoughts.
"You're the one who's worked hard, Mei," Rovel replied, his voice muffled by the wooden floor he was sprawled out on. "You spend every day practicing with me... I've basically monopolized all your free time."
Since the Bullying Incident the day before, Raiden Mei hadn't returned to her regular classes. Instead, she had remained in the Kendo Club, dedicating her time to sparring with him.
"...It's alright, because it's you, Mister Rovel." Mei shook her head gently, a warm smile dancing in her amethyst eyes. "Besides... I'm actually very happy."
She knelt beside him, a slender finger playfully poking his cheek. "But... if you truly insist on making it up to me, how about you accompany me for a walk tomorrow? It's Saturday, after all."
The simple, intimate gesture sent a pang of envy through Asaka Yuno, who was watching from the sidelines.
"Of course," Rovel agreed without hesitation, pushing himself up from the floor.
Just then, Asaka Yuno scurried over, her hands offering a neatly folded towel and a bottle of water. "Classmate Rovel, here's a towel and some water for you."
"Thanks," Rovel accepted her kindness but felt compelled to offer a gentle reminder. "But, Asaka-san, you should really spend more time on your own kendo. It feels like you haven't practiced much at all today. You've just been bringing me water and towels."
A bright crimson flush bloomed across Yuno's cheeks, her expression lighting up with pure excitement. "Thank you for your concern, Classmate Rovel! I... I will do my best!"
Rovel and Raiden Mei exchanged a silent, bewildered glance.
'Is this girl a little dense?' Rovel wondered.
He had already reminded her that morning that the Kendo Club had a strict assessment system. Fail, and you were out. The evaluations were held weekly, which meant if Yuno didn't show any tangible progress by next week, her time in the club would be cut short.
Yet here she was, blissfully misinterpreting his practical warning as a sign that he was worried about her.
He sighed internally. Oh well, there was no use trying to advise someone so determined to chart their own course. Hopefully, a dose of reality would be a more effective teacher.
The next day, Rovel logged on and made his way to their designated meeting spot. To his surprise, Raiden Mei was already there, evidently having been waiting for some time.
Her long, deep violet hair cascaded over her shoulders, each strand catching the light with a soft, ethereal shimmer. Today, she had traded her usual Chiba Academy uniform for a stylishly modified sailor outfit. A delicate white lace top was paired with a navy-blue pleated skirt, and a pink scarf tied neatly at her collar added a touch of youthful vibrancy to the ensemble. A thin black belt cinched her waist, accentuating her slender figure.
She stood beneath a large tree, the morning sun filtering through the canopy of leaves. A gentle breeze rustled the branches, causing patterns of dappled light to dance across her form, lending the scene a dreamlike quality. Her posture was impeccable, her back straight and elegant. Her purple eyes were curved into gentle crescents, a soft smile gracing her lips, her gaze filled with an unmistakable, radiant anticipation.
Simply by standing there, she was a stunning sight.
"Mei."
At the sound of his familiar voice, Raiden Mei's head snapped up. Her faint smile blossomed into one of pure, unadulterated joy.
"Mister Rovel," she responded, her voice a soft melody.
"Mei, you look... quite beautiful today," Rovel praised, his eyes taking in her entire outfit. He hadn't expected her to dress so exquisitely for a simple walk.
It was only then that the realization dawned on him. 'Wait... this feels like... a date?'"Only'quite'?" Mei blinked, her fingers casually brushing a strand of hair from her face. Her tone held a hint of playful dissatisfaction. "This is a combination I've never tried before."
"Hmm... now I feel a bit ashamed of my own appearance," Rovel said, turning as if to leave. "How about I go change and come back?"
Raiden Mei immediately closed the distance between them, her hand darting out to grab his. "I was joking!" she said, her voice laced with a slight urgency.
"So was I," Rovel chuckled, a teasing glint in his eyes. He grew more serious, his gaze softening. "But you really are very beautiful today, Mei. I guess I didn't realize that your invitation yesterday was for a date... so I didn't exactly dress for the occasion." He scratched the back of his head, a little embarrassed.
"...Did I cause trouble for you, Mister Rovel?" Raiden Mei's grip on his hand tightened. The appearance of Asaka Yuno had, admittedly, sparked a small sense of crisis within her.
Rovel was different. He was the one person who had offered her redemption when she felt lost. She was determined to keep him by her side, no matter what. This outing, this gesture, was her way of seeking something she desperately craved from him: a sense of security.
"You didn't cause any trouble at all," Rovel reassured her warmly. "But it's not too late for me to change, right? Since you can coordinate an outfit that boosts your charm by several degrees, your fashion sense must be way better than mine."
He met her gaze directly. "So, could I trouble you to help me pick out an outfit? Consider it a way to complete the sense of ceremony for our first date."
"Of course!" Raiden Mei finally let out a breath she hadn't realized she was holding. A wave of relief washed over her. "Please, leave it to me!"
Her mind, however, was already racing. He had admitted it was a date. Did that mean he acknowledged their relationship? The words she had spoken while teaching him Battōjutsu... they were practically a confession, weren't they?
'Could it be that Mister Rovel didn't realize that?'she wondered, a faint blush creeping up her cheeks.'Or maybe... this is his first time going on a date with a girl, too?'
Lost in her spiraling thoughts, she completely forgot that their hands were still intertwined.
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