How did i end up like this?

November 8, 1985, 21:35

Today, after closing the dojo, Master called for me. He said he wanted to speak alone. What could this be about? If it were sparring practice, I'd understand—but it's unusual for him to want to talk.

Master… Ryushou Kazama. My mentor in martial arts and life.

The first time I met him was over fifty years ago. Back then, I was still a child—not just in age, but also in my way of thinking. I wanted to learn martial arts simply because I lost a fight to a boy.

My grandfather introduced me to Kazama-ryu Aikido Jujutsu. When I first saw Master… well, I didn't think he looked strong. To be frank, he seemed older than my grandfather—just an ordinary old man.

When I first joined, I couldn't grasp Kazama-ryu at all. Back then, I'd begged to learn Shingen-ryu Kenpo instead. I even resented my grandfather for steering me here. However, I am very grateful to him now.

I still remember the first time I called him "Master" and truly meant it.

It happened about a month after I'd joined. However, I am very grateful to him now. Master had once been a Heaven's Arena floor master, so he must have likely come to claim fame by defeating him.

The challenger stood over two meters tall, muscles coiled like steel cables. Master was a wiry old man barely scraping 170 cm. There was no way he could win. That's what I thought,

But Master shattered that assumption like glass.

No matter how many times the dojo challenger tried to hit, his fist never reached Master. Instead, he spun through the air many times and was gently lowered to the ground. The moment the big man grabbed Master by the collar- he was on the ground. It was like seeing magic... It was at that moment that I was first captivated by the charm of Kazama-ryu.

I realized how lucky I was to have become Master's number one disciple.

From then on, every day burned bright. Once I understood the principles of softness—redirecting force, using an enemy's momentum—it became addictive. Master praised my talent, and I worked even harder, hoping to be praised again.

…

The day Master suffered his first defeat… it left me reeling.

Against that bastard Netero—ahem—Chairman Netero. Their battle was monstrous, that I, an inexperienced person, could not possibly comprehend it. After that fight, Master and Chairman Netero hit it off, and have been training together ever since...

But I know the truth. One day, Master will use that geezer—Chairman Netero—as a stepping stone to transcend martial limits. He proved it a month ago, didn't he? Crushing Netero in their rematch. I can still vividly remember the frustrated look on Biscuit's muscular body when Chairman Netero was defeated

…Ah! Rambling again. I can't keep Master waiting. To the dojo—move.

"Master. I apologize for my tardiness."

"Ah, think nothing of it. You secured the dojo thoroughly."

"It was no trouble. Now, Master—what did you wish to discuss?"

"Rīna. I hereby confer upon you this."

"This… the Menkyo Kaiden certificate?! But I—! There's still so much I must learn from you!"

"I've taught you all I possess. Accepting this is your duty as a disciple recognized by your master."

"But I'm nowhere near your level—!"

"—You misunderstand, Rīna."

"…What?"

"This certificate marks that you've learned my art. Not that you've reached martial mastery's zenith. To believe otherwise…" His voice hardened, a blade forged in decades of discipline. "…is arrogance."

"…!"

"When I received Menkyo Kaiden from my own master, I was far greener than you are now. Decades of refinement later, I still haven't transcended martial limits. This certificate isn't an end—it's a beginning. Let no pride fester. Keep honing your edge."

"Master…! Ah, I'm painfully aware of my inadequacy… But I'll accept this honor. Humbly."

"Good. Now… there's one more matter."

"Another…?"

"Ah. This is a favor to you. I want you to be the successor of this dojo."

"—!? You can't mean that! This dojo— isn't it your dream? How could I, freshly confronted by my own shortcomings, There are others who are more suitable than me!"

"Please, Lina. I'd like to retire peacefully soon too. I'm asking you because of you. You are my number one student and the one I trust the most."

"M-Master! …Understood. This unworthy disciple… I'll shoulder this duty with all my soul."

"My apologies… Don't overthink it. You can handle it… Let's end here for tonight. Its late."

"…Master?"

"What's wrong? Don't keep your family waiting too long. Be careful on the way home at night."

"Ugh—this is why I can't fully embrace my role! You still treat me like the child I was!"

"Hm. ...Sorry. Because I am alone in this world, I have come to think of you, my disciples, as my own children."

"What—?"

"Especially since you are my first disciple... I've known you since you were young, so... I'm sorry if I offended you."

"No! To be seen as family… We're honored, Master. All of us!"

"Good… Then rest. Tomorrow, you're inaugurated as dojo master. Don't let nerves fray your edge."

"Yes. Sleep well, Master."

"Good night.

...I never imagined this conversation would take such a turn...! I might be too excited to sleep tonight...

Ah, before I realized it, tears were streaming down my cheeks... How embarrassing. Could it be that I've become more sentimental with age?

November 11, 1985 – 01:25 AM

The succession of the dojo has been settled, and Master can finally rest peacefully. He even mentioned that he would drop by from time to time to help with training. That alone is something to be grateful for. There's nothing to worry about.

And yet...

...Why do I feel so uneasy...? I don't know what it is, but I feel an overwhelming urge to go to the dojo right now... Even though I know no one should be there at this hour...

Driven by an inexplicable anxiety, I leap over the dojo gates and rush inside... and there—

"Master!? Please, stay with me, Master!!"

Lying motionless in the depths of the dojo was Master...

His breathing—stopped!? His heart—it's not beating!!

I called the Menphil General Hospital immediately!

I have to perform CPR until the ambulance arrives!

Master! Please, don't die! Master!!

…

Despite my desperate efforts, they were in vain—on this day, Master left this world...

Master... Why? Why did you pass with such an expression of regret...?

Was it truly that unbearable... to have never reached the peak of martial mastery...?

Master... I will carry on your will. I will reach the pinnacle of martial arts that you so desperately sought...

So please... please rest in peace...

November 11, 1985 – 15:28

Jab! Jab! Jab!

...Phew. That's ten thousand gratitude punches done.

...Might as well go for another ten thousand, huh? Damn you, Ryushou. Last month, you managed to snatch victory right from under me…!

Saying I let my guard down would just be an excuse… Seriously, that old man reads my intentions like some kind of clairvoyant. He may be a training-obsessed geezer most of the time, but when it comes to battle, he turns into a completely different person.

Still… that Penetrating Palm of his really did a number on me.

It's not a technique for external destruction but internal destruction. And when he channels a massive amount of aura into it, it turns into a true one-hit kill… Normally, the fundamental principle of combat is to focus your aura at the moment of impact, but his Penetrating Palm gathers aura after the strike lands.

Using a specialized strike, he sends a shockwave deep into his opponent's body. At that exact moment, he channels his aura inward, directly into the internal organs… If you take it head-on, you're dead.

A regular Ko attack can be blocked with Ko, but against his technique, you have to concentrate your internal aura to withstand the shock. He went easy on me, apparently, but I still couldn't eat properly for three days…

Damn it. Just thinking about it pisses me off… I'll make sure to settle this in our next fight.

Well, no use dwelling on it. I should get back to training. Can't let age catch up to me—if I slack off, I'll start deteriorating in no time.

"Chairman! There's an emergency!"

Hmm? Beans? What's got you all riled up?

"What's with all the noise? Did the government send some kind of order?"

"N-No, it's not that… It's… um…"

...!?

"W-What did you just say!? R-Ryushou… is dead!?"

T-That's impossible! What kind of nonsense are you—!?

November 13, 1985 – 14:20

…Ryushou… You really went and died on me, huh…?

You damn idiot… Winning and then just running off to the afterlife like that…!!

Who the hell am I supposed to fight now?

I never once considered that those dreamlike days of ours would ever come to an end…

But I guess… we're only human. An ending was inevitable. I knew that. I just chose to ignore it…

Ryushou…

November 15, 1985

It has been two days since Ryushou's funeral. I can't bring myself to do anything… I haven't touched my daily training, nor have I attended to any of my duties at the Association.

Sigh. I feel like I've aged all at once…

"Chairman, um… a letter has arrived."

"…Just leave it there. I'll read it later."

"Um, about that… it's a letter from Ryushou himself…"

"What!? Bring it to me at once!"

A letter from Ryushou!? What the hell is going on!?

This is… definitely his handwriting! And the date it was sent… a week ago?

The contents… Just a single sheet of paper, with one line written in Ryushou's hand:

"Do not neglect your training."

"Do not neglect your training," huh…

Heh… Damn you, Ryushou. Even now, you still read me like a book.

Fine then! Just you watch from the afterlife as I rise to the very peak of martial mastery!

Get ready, Ryushou—I'll make sure you're grinding your teeth in frustration from the other side!

Wait for me in the afterlife, Ryusho!!

Ryushou Kazama – Passed Away on November 11, 1985

Ryushou's funeral was attended by countless people, including his disciples, the Hunter Association Chairman Netero, and many others. Yet, among them, not a single relative or family member was present.

A warrior so renowned that he was called a living legend—Ryushou Kazama.

Tracing his footsteps always leads to the birthplace of the Kazama style, Japon, where his trail mysteriously vanishes.

Where he was before that, where he came from—no one alive knows the answers.

Excerpt from "Unraveling the Mystery of the Legendary Warrior, Ryushou Kazama."