Facing my question, the little miss planted her feet and gave me a look of serious defiance.
"It's not impossible," she announced, as if passing royal judgment. "If someone's older than me, but not by more than five years, and they beat me in a duel… then I can call them 'big brother' or 'big sister'! But they'd have to beat me fair and square."
Round cheeks puffed with pride, she added, "And don't forget, I'm strong! I'm almost five! How old are you?"
"…Almost five, huh? Damn," I muttered, fighting the urge to chuckle. "I'm seven. Seven and a bit, I think. So I qualify."
She narrowed those black eyes, mouth twisting in suspicion. "What do you mean, you 'think'? Don't you know your own age? How childish!"
Oof. This little demon just called me childish.
"Aha… ha… guess so," I scratched my cheek, feeling oddly embarrassed. "But hey, I'm older than you. Doesn't that still make you a kid?"
"It's not the same!" she snapped back immediately, tiny hands gripping her bamboo sword. "I'm a swordswoman. I'm strong! So I'm not a kid!"
God damn… her pride is bigger than her body. I forced a grin. "Alright, alright. You're a swordswoman. Happy now?"
She turned away with a huff. "Hmph!"
I couldn't help but laugh. "A tsundere loli, huh? Haven't seen one this real since… ever."
"Anyway, nice to meet you properly. I'm Jin."
She tilted her chin, blue bangs swaying. "You can call me by name, too. I'm Kuina."
Kuina…
The name struck me like lightning. The tragic girl from One Piece lore. Alive, standing here, breathing.
My chest tightened — past life, new life, all swirling together — then I forced it back down.
"We're kinda acquaintances now," I said, shaking off the memory. "And since you're a swordswoman… let's have a spar. Wait a sec."
Without waiting for her answer, I jogged off into the trees.
From behind me, I heard her small voice. "H-He wants to spar…? Maybe he's a fellow trainee? Then I won't be so alone anymore…"
A minute later, I returned carrying a slender stick, roughly cut to sword length. Facing her, I planted my feet, voice low.
"I practice a path of my own. For this spar, I won't attack — just defend. If you can land a single strike anywhere on me, you win. Deal?"
Her round face flushed scarlet. "Are you mocking me?!" she yelled, stamping her foot. "I'm strong, you know!"
"I'm serious," I replied. "Now come on."
"Rrrraah—!"
She surged forward, bamboo blade arcing overhead. I raised my stick, blocking easily.
Decent form, I noted silently. Good weight transfer, stronger than she looks. But her speed needs work.
"Hey! Stop talking like a teacher!" she panted, drawing back and striking again.
Clack! Clack! Clack!
Minutes turned into an hour. Then another.
The sun sank toward the horizon, casting long shadows. Sweat dripped from her chin, soaking her shirt until it clung to her small frame. Short blue hair plastered against her forehead, breath coming in ragged gasps.
Yet those eyes… they still burned bright.
"Give it up," I finally said, my own arms starting to ache. "You're not going to break through."
"I… won't… give up!" she shot back, voice hoarse. "I can't lose… I have to become the strongest swordswoman!"
Even as her strikes slowed, even as her little hands trembled, she kept going.
Watching her, I felt something old and buried stir.
So that's what a dream can do to a person… even at five, she fights like she'd rather die than give up. Shit…
A grin spread across my face, unbidden. "Alright then. Let's keep going until you drop. Show me your resolve, Kuina!"
Another hour.
Her swings grew sloppier, bamboo blade scraping clumsily against my stick. Her round cheeks turned pale, chest heaving. But still, she refused to stop.
"I… will… be… the… best… swordswoman…" she rasped out, tears of frustration and exhaustion pooling at the corners of her eyes.
"You stubborn little…" I murmured, voice low, not sure whether to laugh or scold.
She was five. Five! And she already burned like this.
Fuck… kid, don't ever let the world break that fire.
At last, her legs buckled. The bamboo sword clattered to the sand. She fell to her knees, still glaring up at me through sweat and tears.
You lost, Kuina. But damn if you didn't fight like hell.
This story is inspired from various fanfics i have read from around the world so if you find any similarities please dont mind . Thank you
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T/N :
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