(That indescribably tough day is finally behind us. Sigh. I did my part yesterday—now it's your turn, dear readers. I haven't begged for anything yet, so how about some clicks, favorites, recommendations, or even some dog food? Just a little, please! ヽ(ｏ`皿′ｏ)?)
"Are you pirates?"
The moment these words left the red-haired boy Edmond's mouth, the atmosphere became tense.
Aramis, who had been somewhat distracted, immediately straightened his posture, his right hand instinctively moving to the hilt of his scimitar as he fixed his gaze on Edmond, his eyes flickering with uncertainty.
Agin and Vallon were no less affected. The moment Edmond spoke, their expressions and demeanor shifted noticeably.
For the four of them, their pirate identities were a closely guarded secret. Yet here was a stranger casually blurting it out. William's stirring speech by the campfire that night was still fresh in their minds—a grand vision for the future that had ignited their youthful passion and dreams. To them, anyone who threatened to disrupt that vision was an enemy.
William had carefully planned the first step of their journey: to use their yet-undiscovered identities to train, grow stronger, and prepare for their eventual departure to the seas. If their pirate status were exposed now, it would undoubtedly throw a wrench into their plans.
Despite the tension, none of the three acted rashly. They were all waiting for William's lead.
In truth, William's heart skipped a beat when Edmond asked the question. But unlike the others, he maintained his composure. With a faint smile, he countered, "Of course not. Otherwise, why would Koushirou-sensei allow us to join the dojo and train?"
"Oh, I see..." Edmond sighed, sounding a bit disappointed. "I heard you were from out of town and was hoping you might be pirates or something."
William smiled as he walked alongside Edmond into the dojo. "Do you ask every out-of-town student the same question?"
Edmond nodded unabashedly and added, "Not many people come from outside, and most of them can't handle the tough training here. They usually leave after ten days or so."
Crisis averted. Behind them, Aramis rolled his eyes, and even the usually composed Agin couldn't help but twitch his lips.
The Isshin Dojo covered a large area. As Edmond led the group through the grounds, he casually introduced the environment while engaging in small talk.
After a while, Edmond circled back to the topic from the dojo's entrance, his tone tinged with a mix of encouragement and anticipation. "Aren't you curious why I was so eager for you to be pirates?"
Aramis and Agin ignored him, but Vallon, being the straightforward one, asked earnestly, "Yeah, why would you hope we're pirates?"
Edmond cleared his throat theatrically, puffed out his chest, and, with a self-satisfied yet deliberately hushed tone, as if sharing a great secret, said, "Because I'm a pirate too."
The moment he finished, he noticed that William and the others showed no reaction at all. Unaware that the four before him were actual pirates, Edmond let out a confused "Huh?" and asked, "Why aren't you surprised?"
"Surprised?" Aramis smirked sarcastically. "We're so surprised we're speechless. What's even more surprising is that this dojo takes in pirates. Koushirou-sensei didn't kick you out?"
Edmond faltered, stammering, "Well... actually, I haven't gone to sea yet."
"You haven't even set sail? Then at best, you're just a bandit!"
Edmond turned his head away, refusing to engage further with Aramis. His face, however, betrayed his embarrassment, his ears turning a noticeable shade of red.
William gestured for Aramis to stop teasing Edmond, and though Aramis shrugged nonchalantly, he turned his back to Edmond and William, making a mocking gesture by tapping his temple with his index finger. He then mouthed something to Agin and Vallon, his lips forming the silent word "idiot."
But Aramis's lip movements didn't say "idiot"—they said "Vallon."
Vallon glared at Aramis, fuming, while Aramis remained unfazed.
Meanwhile, William tried to lighten the mood. "Where I'm from, there are plenty of stories about pirate adventures. Lots of kids our age dream of becoming pirates."
Hearing this, Edmond's spirits lifted again, as if the earlier teasing had never happened. His reaction left William at a loss for words.
Big-hearted, perhaps?
"Most of those stories are probably made up," Edmond said smugly. "My father was a real pirate. He told me loads of adventure stories and even wrote a book about his experiences!"
As he spoke, Edmond's expression grew solemn. With an almost theatrical air of gravitas, he declared, "I am the son of a pirate!"
William's expression froze slightly. Turning his head, he asked politely, "Is your father still a pirate? What's his name? Maybe we've heard of him."
"...You probably haven't," Edmond replied after a brief silence. "We haven't heard from him in years."
The smirk on Aramis's face faded, and the atmosphere grew a touch heavier.
"Maybe he went to the Grand Line," William suggested, though his mind inexplicably drifted to the image of the groveling Danton. "A lot of pirates in adventure stories dream of going there."
"Maybe," Edmond said with a forced smile.
The group arrived at the training grounds, where the bearded man from the previous day, Pattinson, was overseeing the students' swordsmanship practice. Upon seeing William and his companions, Pattinson frowned and barked, "What took you so long?"
Turning to Edmond, he scolded, "Have you been telling the new students about your so-called pirate heritage again?"
A chorus of chuckles erupted from the surrounding students. Edmond lifted his chin, feigning indifference to Pattinson's tone, but William noticed his ears turning red once more.
Aramis, who had been mocking Edmond earlier, now seemed annoyed. Though he didn't dare confront Pattinson, he glared at the laughing students, his expression menacing.
Fortunately, Pattinson didn't press the matter further. He proceeded to demonstrate basic swordsmanship techniques, using the session as both a learning opportunity for newcomers and a review for returning students.
After some time, Koushirou arrived at the training grounds. He observed for a while before dividing the students into groups, pairing newer students with more experienced ones for detailed guidance. He and Pattinson continued to patrol the grounds, ensuring that the students practiced correctly and that the senior students didn't teach improper techniques.
William, Aramis, Agin, and Vallon were naturally grouped together, with Edmond assigned as their instructor.
Despite his earlier antics, Edmond was surprisingly serious and meticulous when teaching swordsmanship. His explanations were logical and clear as he demonstrated techniques such as proper grip, stance, footwork, judging distance, and breathing. After ensuring that Agin, Aramis, and Vallon had grasped the basics, he patiently broke down the movements for them.
Though William already had some foundation in swordsmanship, he didn't mind revisiting the basics, using the opportunity to cross-reference and solidify his knowledge.
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