Chapter 219: Ichigo As Noah enjoyed the picturesque view rolling past the bus windows, he became aware of someone approaching his seating area. The footsteps were light but deliberate, suggesting another passenger moving through the vehicle. Noah didn’t pay particular attention to the movement, keeping his focus on the beautiful scenery transitioning from suburban development to rural farmland. His headphones provided a perfect soundtrack to the changing landscape. Then he felt ajk presence settle into the seat directly beside him. The bus had plenty of empty seats available, making the choice to sit next to him somewhat unusual, but Noah continued concentrating on the forests and rolling hills visible through the window. That peaceful focus lasted until he felt a gentle but persistent nudge against his arm. Noah turned from the window to find a person with an impossibly wide smile staring directly at him while waving enthusiastically, as if they were long-lost friends meeting after years of separation. The young man appeared to be roughly Noah’s age, with short blonde hair and bright green eyes that sparkled with genuine warmth and excitement. His mixed heritage was evident in his features. He was a mix that suggested both asian and American ancestry. Noah pulled his AirPods from his ears, curious about what this energetic stranger wanted to discuss. "Hey man. I’m Ichigo. Niced to meet you, may I know your name?" His laugh was genuine and contagious, immediately breaking down the formal barriers that typically existed between strangers on public transportation. "I couldn’t help but notice you seemed pretty relaxed back here," Ichigo continued with his hand gestures as he spoke. "Are you heading to the tournament too? Of course you are, why else would you be on this bus, right? Haha." Noah found himself smiling despite his initial preference for solitude. "Yeah, I’m participating. I’m Noah." "Noah! Great name!" Ichigo’s enthusiasm didn’t diminish even slightly. "This is my absolute first tournament ever, and I’m so pumped I can barely sit still. I’ve been training since young, but competing against real opponents from different schools in such a large tournament? That’s completely new territory for me!" His excitement was genuinely infectious, transforming what Noah had expected to be a brief introduction into an engaging conversation. "My sensei says tournaments teach you things about yourself that regular training never can," Ichigo continued, his hands moving expressively as he spoke. "Something about the pressure, the adrenaline, facing opponents whose techniques you’ve never seen before." "Your sensei sounds wise," Noah replied, finding himself drawn into the young man’s positive energy. "Oh, he is! Master Kobayashi has been doing this for like forty years. He says I talk too much during training, but hey talking helps me process my nervousness, you know?" Ichigo grinned sheepishly. For the next thirty minutes, Ichigo regaled Noah with stories from his training, questions about different martial arts philosophies, and genuine curiosity about Noah’s background and preparation methods. "What style do you practice?" Ichigo asked with obvious interest. "I do traditional kendo with some modern adaptations. My American side wants to innovate while my Japanese side respects the classical forms. it’s like having an internal debate every time I pick up a sword!" Noah found himself somewhat enjoying the conversation, despite his usual preference for silence during travels. Ichiro’s enthusiasm was refreshing compared to the intense, serious atmosphere that surrounded most martial arts discussions. "I hope we both do really well today," Ichigo said as their conversation began winding down. "And if we end up facing each other, let’s give everyone a match worth remembering! May the best swordsman win, but let’s have fun doing it!" His competitive spirit was tempered by genuine good nature. Someone who understood that tournaments were about personal growth as much as victory. "Likewise," Noah replied warmly. "Good luck out there." "Thanks! You seem really cool, Noah. I’m glad we got to chat," Ichigo beamed before returning to his original seat, just a few seats away. Noah put his AirPods back in his ears, but not before using the excuse of wanting to rest before the competition. "I think I’m going to try to get some sleep before we arrive," he told Ichigo with a polite smile. "Smart thinking! Rest up, warrior!" Ichigo gave an enthusiastic thumbs up before settling back into his own seat. Noah closed his eyes. Soon they arrived at their destination, and Noah found himself genuinely surprised by what he saw through the bus windows. The location was a mountainous range featuring what appeared to be a private resort tucked away from civilisation. Noah had never expected such a place to exist in America—the facility seemed like something transported directly from Japan. The centrepiece was a magnificent traditional Japanese-style building that dominated the landscape. The structure rose six stories into the mountain air, its distinctive red exterior creating a striking contrast against the natural greens and browns of the surrounding forest. Curved rooflines and traditional architectural elements gave the building an authentic appearance that suggested serious investment in creating an appropriate atmosphere for martial arts competitions. The setting felt almost mystical, with morning mist clinging to the mountain peaks and ancient-looking pine trees framing the approach to the resort. Noah could understand why this location had been chosen for a tournament—it provided the kind of isolated, reverent environment that honoured the traditions behind their martial arts. Yamamoto stood up from his front seat and addressed the bus passengers with authoritative clarity. "We’ve arrived," he announced, his voice carrying easily through the vehicle. "Everyone disembark and prepare for registration." The announcement prompted immediate activity as passengers began gathering their belongings and moving toward the bus exit. The atmosphere shifted from travel relaxation to focused preparation as the reality of the upcoming competition settled over everyone. Noah joined the exodus, following the other practitioners as they filed off the bus onto the mountain resort grounds. The crisp mountain air filled his lungs, carrying scents of pine and something distinctly clean that urban environments never provided. Beside him, Ichigo wore a genuine smile of excitement as he took in their surroundings. "This place is incredible," Ichigo commented with obvious enthusiasm. Noah nodded in agreement, sharing the sentiment as he adjusted his bag and prepared to enter what promised to be a new experience.