This story is part of the Wanderer series.
Reaching into the corner of the shed, Rin took hold of a dark brown handle. Lifting it up, she laid the sword flat on the table, still sheathed. The short sword looked familiar, with its chunky guard and the particular scratches in its worn out leather sheath. Nozomi stiffened, eyes locked on the weapon as Rin slid off the sheath and laid it next to the sword on the table. Her expression turned dark and broody, staring at it for several moments before raising her eyes up to Rin, who was waiting patiently across the table.
“Why’d you have to pick this sword?,” she seemed to inquire with disappointment.
“It has to happen,” Rin explained pointedly. “You won’t be ready until you can spar with me using this one.”
Nozomi stared at the sword again a moment longer.
“Of course, we’ll sleeve the blade parts with a cover.”
“Even still…”
She did not take a step closer, even as she narrowed her eyes to scrutinize it.
“Why can’t I use my own?” She looked up, a little hopeful.
Pausing for a split second, Rin did not immediately reply. “The cover for yours isn’t ready yet.”
Disappointment washed her face again. “But… This one won’t handle the same. It’ll be heavier, won’t it? And too short… And thinner…”
“So were our wooden practice swords,” Rin pointed out. “Besides, the point isn’t to train you here…”
Bringing a hand up to her bicep, she rubbed it, pausing as she emphasized. Then, she raised this hand to the side of her head and tapped it twice with her middle and index finger.
“… it’s to train you here.”
Nozomi watched her friend, mulling over her words.
“And here.” Rin lowered her hand to tap her heart.
Silence again. Nozomi silently breathed out. She was coming around to it. She knew her friend was right. However, she still had reserves about picking it up again. Her eyes dropped, but not to where Rin was pointing, nor to the blade. She was staring somewhere that should not be special in particular, the right flank of her friend’s torso, as if she could see through her leather chestplate at something that was not there.
Her friend seemed to know implicitly what she was thinking. “I’ll be here with you,” Rin coaxed.
“That makes it worse.”
Wincing, Rin was taken aback. Yet, she was quickly able to refocus, reminding herself this was not about her. “But if you can make it past with me…”
When she did not immediately continue, Nozomi glanced up, eyes meeting with hers.
“… then will you finally forgive yourself?”