Something to believe in

Akito listens, still and sure of himself. He remembers when he was uncertain of his abilities. It was no easy feat to master staff or any other weapon. Yet, the time old tale of ‘practice makes perfect’ rung true. Day after day, hour after hour, covered in sweat, panting, and exhausted, Akito practiced. Again and again until he could no longer stay on his paws. Was Seiko doing the same?

Hearing the words the younger Hattori speaks, Akito thinks. “Does your mind quiet enough for you to practice as such?” He questions, his own gaze traveling from stave to Seiko to training dummy. “Your paws work without you having to tell them what to do. Trust them,” Akito nods to the stave on the ground at Seiko’s paws. Taking a few steps back, he continues to ace Seiko as he moves in a circle around them.

“Try to hit me without thinking about it,” he offers, eyes never leaving the youth as he continued to move around the dojo’s training area.