Tenko Chabashira's Neo-Aikido Class

Chapter 1

[Art by shinich00 on tumblr]

CHARACTER SPOTLIGHT: SHUICHI SAIHARA

  Oh boy. Saihara was late for class. He had somehow overslept today-he always wakes up on time-and was now rushing to the club near Tenko's place for her Neo-Aikido class. Man, Tenko is definitely going to throw me over her shoulder for being late, he thought.

Shuichi opened the door to the room they used for Tenko's classes. He leaned against the doorframe, panting. He looked around.

Tenko was sitting down on a bench, and Himiko was sleeping on her shoulder. Maki and Kaito were making small conversation in the corner of the room.

Maki looked up. "Shuichi," she said. Shuichi returned the greeting.

Kaito walked over to Shuichi, putting an arm around him. "Hey, how's my sidekick doing today? What's got you in such a rush?"

"I...I thought I was late?" Shuichi asked, still catching his breath.

"What, no! You're early! Kaede isn't even here yet, see?" Kaito gestured across the room.

"Huh. I guess I never realized it, since I always come early..." Shuichi murmured.

"Shuichi!" Tenko stood up abruptly, waking Himiko up. "H-Huh?" she drawled.

"S-sorry, Himiko!" Tenko apologized, before turning back to Shuichi. "You're finally here! You're late!"

"What? But Kaito told me I was early."

"You can never rely on degenerates, Shuichi! Haven't I told you this? Ah, but I don't expect a degenerate male like you to understand," Tenko hissed. Shuichi smiled. Ever since he had met Tenko, she hasn't changed at all. Speaking of, she definitely made a first impression he would never forget...

It was a chilly weekend. Shuichi had joined a self-defense class run by a girl called Tenko Chabashira. His good friend Kaito Momota had recommended the class to him, and he accepted because why not? When he found the classroom, he opened the door...only to be lifted up and thrown across the room!

"OW! What the-" Shuichi refrained from swearing, but it was hard not to due to the pain he was in. "I think my back is broken," he groaned.

"Hey! Get up, you degenerate male! Who are you and why have you entered my classroom?"

"...Huh?" Shuichi looked in the direction of the strict voice. There stood a girl with her arms folded. She was wearing what looked like a cropped blue school uniform with a matching skirt, and she wore a large green ribbon behind her head.

"What are you looking at, huh? Get up!" the girl repeated.

"Who...who are you?" Shuichi asked weakly.

"I'm Tenko Chabashira! The Ultimate Aikido Master! HAI-YAH!"

Aikido?

"Ah, um..." Shuichi questioned. "Isn't Aikido about not attacking people?"

"What?" Tenko scoffed. "My class doesn't teach any ordinary Aikido. I am the founder and teacher of Neo-Aikido!"

Neo...Neo-Aikido? Shuichi was just left even more confused than he was before. Just then, Kaito and his other friend Maki walked in.

"Oh, hey Shuichi!" Kaito grinned, waving. Shuichi waved back.

"Wait, THIS is Shuichi Saihara?" Tenko gasped. "I thought you said he would be skilled!"

"Hey..." Shuichi murmured. 

"Tenko!" Kaito grumbled. "You shouldn't throw people as soon as they're in the room. That won't even give them any reaction time!"

"I only throw degenerate males," Tenko shot back. What is up with this girl and males? Shuichi thought.

While Tenko and Kaito were arguing, Maki walked over to Shuichi. "You okay?" she asked as she helped him up. "Ah, yes. Thanks, Maki." he replied.

"...No problem." Maki said.

After a few more minutes of arguing, Kaito finally convinced Tenko to enroll Shuichi into her class. 

...And that's how he met Tenko.

"Hey, Shuichi!"

Shuichi was snapped out of his thoughts by Tenko shouting in his face.

"It's time to begin. Kaede's already here," she said. Shuichi looked around the room and spotted Kaede. Kaede waved at Shuichi. He waved back.

"Alright, class! ARE YOU READY?"

"Yes, ma'am!" the class shouted in unison.

Note: Wow.