"Mr. Kondo, hasn’t Boss Kiryu and Miss Kinoshita arrived yet?" Aoto glanced around the "spectator seats" and found no sign of Boss Kiryu and the others.

But he did see Madam Abi.

Abi had been opposed to holding the "Red and White Battle" with Little Chiba Sword Dojo at the "Plum Blossom Festival" until the very end.

However, despite being opposed to it, she eventually came to watch the competition, albeit reluctantly.

At this moment, she was sitting side by side with Zhouzhu in the best seats on the north side of the venue, which were reserved for those with a deep connection to Shiwei Hall and Little Chiba Sword Dojo.

Her expression looked less like she was there to watch a match and more like she was looking for a fight...

"Boss Kiryu is usually very busy," Kondo said, "and he generally doesn’t like coming to these overly noisy places, so he probably won’t come to watch the competition. Here, Mr. Tachibana, this is your bamboo sword."

Boss Kiryu and Miss Kinoshita can’t make it... Aoto felt a twinge of regret.

After all, both of them were friends he knew well.

Not seeing the friends that he and Chokata had enthusiastically invited a few days ago in the "spectator seats" left Aoto feeling a bit incomplete.

Aoto took his bamboo sword from Kondo’s hand and then started warming up with Chokata and the others, stretching and getting ready.

Time ticked by little by little, and more and more spectators gathered around.

Suddenly, without warning—the surrounding spectators suddenly became restless. 𝐟𝐫𝕖𝗲𝘄𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝕧𝐞𝚕.𝕔𝕠𝐦

"Ah..." Chokata, standing next to Aoto and warming up with him, mumbled as he looked across from them, "Little Chiba Sword Dojo’s ’main team’ has arrived..."

Aoto raised his head, following Chokata’s gaze to the opposite side... towards the west side of the venue.

They saw a group of about a dozen young people, all in their prime, enter through a corner of the "spectator seats" in single file and stride towards Little Chiba Sword Dojo’s "Main Array."

They were probably the competitors representing Little Chiba Sword Dojo today.

The earlier commotion in the "spectator seats" was stirred up by them.

Many people craned their necks, curiously looking at the Little Chiba Sword Dojo competitors who had finally arrived.

Chiba Shigetarou, grinning widely, walked towards this "main team" and engaged in cheerful conversation with them.

Aoto scanned Little Chiba Sword Dojo’s "Main Array," then glanced at the "VIP seats," but still didn’t see anyone resembling Little Chiba Sword Dojo’s current Hall Master: Chiba Dingji, prompting him to ask Chokata beside him:

"Has Mr. Chiba Dingji not arrived yet?"

Aoto was somewhat curious about the legendary sword master who had helped his brother promote the Beichen One-Sword Style and was eager to see what the legendary sword master looked like.

"Mr. Chiba Dingji seems not to have arrived yet." Chokata looked around, "We probably have to wait a bit longer to see him."

After speaking, Chokata turned his attention back to Little Chiba Sword Dojo’s "Main Array," which was now becoming very lively, as well as the spectators who were still curious and observing the Little Chiba Sword Dojo competitors.

"...The renowned Little Chiba Sword Dojo is indeed more popular than us." Chokata gave Aoto a cheeky smile, then continued in a joking tone, "There weren’t many people looking at us when we appeared just now."

"Compared to Little Chiba Sword Dojo, we still have a long way to go..."

Chokata laughed, speaking in a carefree, joking manner.

However, after saying this, in his eyes... a flicker of loneliness passed, unnoticed by Aoto...

Just at this moment, suddenly—

"Tachibana, it’s been a while."

A gentle male voice came from beside Aoto.

Hearing this male voice, Aoto was initially taken aback and then hurriedly looked towards the source—a young man with a rather handsome face and an air of elegance.

"Yamanaka?" Aoto exclaimed in surprise.

The owner of the male voice was none other than Aoto’s old friend, whom he hadn’t seen in a while: Yamanaka Keisuke.

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Initially, I wanted to post a burst of 10,000 words, but I really can’t keep writing (crying with a cheetah emoji.jpg)

Requesting monthly votes! Requesting recommendations!