Bleach: Gazing Mirage

Chapter 17

As Yuichi and Niko left the library, Yuichi couldn't help but feel a sense of excitement and anticipation. The idea of working on a project related to artificial souls had greatly began fascinated him and he couldn't wait to dive deeper into the topic with Niko. However, before he could fully immerse himself in the project, he knew he needed to focus on honing his skills.

With that in mind, Yuichi decided to head to the training ground to practice. As he arrived, he saw Mei, his fellow student and trainer, already deep in her own training. She was wielding a sword with precision and grace, striking at invisible opponents with deadly accuracy.

As he approached, Mei noticed him and paused her training. "Ah, Yuichi. I saw your battle against Kira earlier," she said, her tone critical. "You have potential, but there are still many areas where you need to improve."

Yuichi couldn't help but feel a pang of embarrassment. He had lost that battle and knew there were certainly areas where he needed to improve.

Mei must have sensed his discomfort because she softened her tone. "Don't worry, I'm here to help. We'll be sparring today. You can use this opportunity to put into practice what you've learned and to work on the areas you need to improve."

Yuichi tried to protest, "I'm not sure if that's a good idea, Mei. I haven't fully recovered from my previous battle yet."

Mei gave him a stern look. "Don't make excuses, Yuichi. If you want to improve, you need to push through the pain. Besides, you'll never get stronger if you don't train and push yourself. You won't have to worry about fully recovering from wounds if you learn how to not get hit."

Yuichi knew she was right and steeled himself for the sparring match. Mei launched a fierce attack, leaving him no choice but to defend himself. The battle was intense, and Yuichi found himself struggling to keep up with Mei's speed and skill. But even as he fought, he could hear Mei's voice in his ear, giving him tips and advice on how to improve his technique and strategy.

As they fought, Mei began giving Yuichi advice mid-battle. "Watch your form, it's too loose," she called out as she struck at him. "You're leaving yourself open for counterattacks."

Yuichi tried to adjust his stance, but Mei's speed and precision made it difficult for him to keep up.

"Timing is everything," Mei continued. "You're trying to attack too soon, wait for the right moment."

Yuichi tried to take her advice to heart, but it was hard to focus on both the battle and her instructions at the same time.

"And your overreliance on kido spells is draining your reiryoku quickly," Mei pointed out. "You need to learn to control your energy and use it more efficiently."

Yuichi knew she was right. He had always relied heavily on kido spells in battle, but he knew it was a weakness that would need to be addressed later. Currently, he had no effective means of attacking someone stronger than himself.

Although he heard nothing but a constant stream of critiques, Yuichi couldn't help but feel grateful for Mei's guidance. He knew he had a long way to go, but with Mei's help, he felt confident that he was somewhat improving. As he remembered his father once telling him "A true champion realizes that defeat is necessary and he also knows that learning from it is much more useful than winning than always winning. That is part of the path to mastery.

Despite his best efforts, Yuichi ultimately lost the sparring match without being able to land a hit on Mei. But as he caught his breath, he realized that he had learned a great deal from the experience. He would be able to continue improving and one day be able to hold his own against opponents like Kira, Aizen, and even Yhwach.