After receiving Takagi's address from Rei, Lucas walked out of the school building. But instead of heading straight to her house, his feet carried him to the dojo.
He needed time to sort out his thoughts.
As Lucas slid open the dojo door, the sound of swift footwork filled the room. Saeko, dressed in her kendo uniform with her hair tied back, was practicing alone. Her gaze was focused, and the movements of the bokutou in her hands were both graceful and sharp.
Saeko turned when she sensed Lucas's presence. "Oh? Lucas?"
Lucas gave a small smile. "Yo, Saeko. Busy?"
Saeko lowered her wooden sword and leaned it against the wall. "Just the usual training. Did you come to practice?"
Lucas shook his head. "No, I just… needed a place to think."
Saeko patted the wooden floor beside her, gesturing for Lucas to sit. He complied, crossing his legs in front of her.
"What's on your mind?" she asked, her voice gentle yet attentive.
Lucas exhaled, trying to gather his thoughts. "I… had a fight with Takagi. Well, not exactly a fight, but she misunderstood something. Now she's not coming to school, and I don't know if I should go see her or not."
Saeko studied his expression. "What are you afraid of?"
Lucas stared at the dojo ceiling, thinking. "I'm afraid I'll just make things worse. I don't want to ruin my relationship with Takagi, but I also don't want to force her to talk if she still needs time."
Saeko gave a small smile. "Lucas, you're an interesting man. You think about other people's feelings more than your own. That's a good thing, but don't let it make you hesitate to act."
Lucas looked at her. "So, you think I should just go see her?"
Saeko met his gaze directly. "If she's important to you, then you should. If you hesitate, the distance between you might only grow wider."
Lucas remained silent. Her words made sense.
"And besides…" Saeko continued with a slight teasing smile. "I don't like seeing you sulk like this. The Lucas I like is confident and knows what he needs to do."
Lucas chuckled. "So you like me that way, huh?"
Saeko simply smiled without directly answering. "I just want you to stay true to yourself."
Lucas let out a deep breath and stood up. "Alright… I'll go see Takagi. Thanks, Saeko. You always know what to say."
Saeko stood as well and patted his shoulder. "Don't keep her waiting too long."
Lucas nodded firmly. With a clearer mind, he hurried out of the dojo, ready to face Takagi.