In Jeopardy (Discontinued)

Chapter Three-Katsu's Dojo

            “So, what,” Katsu ventured. “You get called up to Magician’s Tesla, you don’t tell me, and now it turns out you’re apprenticed to Zachariah Casianaias? The Rose of  Magic, the ultimate Grand Mage? Not some other Zachariah who sells pies down your street?”

            I snorted, ironically choking on the last bite of my pie. “No, actually. The pie seller’s name is Barry. Y’know, Barium?”

            Now it was Katsu’s turn to snort. Calling the local pie seller ‘Barium’ was a running joke between us, ever since we first started learning the periodic table-probably about three years ago now.

            Katsuya, or Katsu as he preferred to be called, was my best friend, and had been since year 4. We became friends after I found him ‘meditating’ behind the play block at our school. I groaned inwardly at the memory.

            Bored out of my mind within the first few days of the new school year, I had started wandering around the playground. On a whim, I decided to look behind the play block. Sitting there was a vaguely Japanese-looking kid from my class. I tussled with my memory for a few seconds, then recalled his name-Katsuya.

            “What are you doing.” I laughed at him, crouching down on the ground beside him.

            Katsuya opened one eye and peered at me. “Meditating,” he said eventually.

            I frowned, then laughed again. “You look silly. Why are you doing that?”

Katsuya sighed. He seemed to like acting as though he were a year older than other kids, or more. Still frowning, he opened his eyes and glared at me.

“You’ll laugh!”

“I won’t, promise.”

“Alright then… Well, after school, I go to a place called a ‘dojo.’”

“What’s that?”

“It’s like a place where people learn to fight, really well.”

“Umm… why? Can’t you just hit and kick?”

“That’s kinda what it is. Karate, I mean. But the sensei-the teacher-says that karate is an art, not just fighting. The best way to fight is with a clear mind, no distractions.”

“So… that’s why you have to sit here?”

Katsuya laughed. “I don’t,” he replied. “But meditating helps m to ‘clear my mind.’”

“What a waste of a playtime,” I groaned. Then I sat up and punched him on the arm.

“OW!”

“C’mon, let’s go play.”

We became friends pretty quick after that,  and I started to come to his dojo for a little bit of training.

After three years, I was still hopeless.

“Oi! Denzyl!”

I blinked. “Sorry. Lost in thought.”

“Oh, yes, the great Denzyl alone can get lost in a place called ‘Thought,’” Katsu remarked drily. “Honestly, do you ever pay attention?”

I grinned at him. “Nope.”

“Miyahira! You next!” barked Juhatsu, Katsu’s sensei, or training instructor. “Reinier, get behind up here, or is club fee just sponsorship?”

“Hai, sensei,” Katsu called.

I grinned mischievously at Juhatsu. “Nooo, I pay for the club so I can come and annoy you.”