Like thunder, the handful of Black Tortoise students rushed onto the field with astounding synchronicity. They moved like water. Fluid. Graceful.

And with force.

Mesmerized, he couldn’t take his eyes off them.

No wonder Mikito had spoken so reverently about their skills. “They’re incredible.”

Takara nodded. “And well they know it. Somehow they missed the humility part of their lessons.”

He couldn’t slight them on that. If he could spar while walking, like they were doing, he’d be arrogant too.

The tallest of them brushed past Kato with a hateful grimace. “Clear the area.”

Kato bristled. “It’s our time to practice.”

“Not anymore.” He grabbed Kato’s bamboo spear. Carelessly, he slung it backward, driving the tip toward Ryuichi’s face.

Acting on pure instinct, Ryuichi deflected it and swept his own staff around until he disarmed the boy.

His nostrils flaring, he turned on Ryuichi with a hiss. “What was that?”

Ryuichi sputtered.

Now I have skills? Seriously?

He’d been losing all day to Kato, but with this arrogant jerk, he suddenly remembered how to disarm someone.

Great. The boy hit him square in the chest with an open palm. “You trying to embarrass me?”

“No.” Definitely not.

“That’s right. You know better.” When the Black Tortoise moved to slap him, Ryuichi caught his wrist. Normally, he’d have let it go, but this was a new school.

A new day.

And he was done being slapped and laughed at by arrogant scum who thought they were better than him. “I’m not your practice dummy.”

More anger flared in the boy’s dark eyes. “Who are you?”

For the first time in his life, he lifted his chin with a newfound dignity. “Mahōtsukai Ryuichi.”

The boy laughed in his face. “Your real name.”

Heat scalded his cheeks as that all-too-familiar shame rose up inside him and began to shake his confidence.

I’m no one. Nothing.

Yesterday that would have sent him fleeing. But as he looked around at the faces of his newfound family, he refused to cower.

“I am Mahōtsukai Ryuichi.” He took a step forward and boldly met the boy’s gaze. “And I will not be embarrassed by you.”

Laughter rang out from the other Black Tortoises. “Teach him some manners, Toshi.”

Before Ryuichi knew it, all the other students had formed a circle around the two of them.

That familiar dread welled up inside him; he knew exactly what was coming.

Ryuichi gripped his practice spear and prepared himself for a duel to the laughter of the small Black Tortoise group and the other students.

Toshi sneered. “Everyone, look! The reject thinks he’s a samurai.”

Another round of laughter rang in his ears, filling him with the pain that had become a second part of him.

Two more Black Tortoise students stepped out from the crowd and joined Toshi.