Kagitarou

They're too old for the trials, one trainee whispered to another. "Moves like a tired old bear." In the prestigious dojos of The Great Panda City, where acrobatic speed was prized, Kagitarou was an afterthought. While others perfected explosive forms under the purple sky, they would simply stand in the freezing rain that swept down from the mountain, eyes closed, just listening. The final test for their grey bandana was against a champion half their age, a whirlwind of strikes. The crowd expected a quick defeat. But Kagitarou did not try to match the champion's speed. They moved like the drizzle itself—unhurried, persistent, finding every gap. Each parry was a soft patter, each strike a single drop landing with perfect purpose. The champion tired, flailing at a presence that yielded but never broke.