Once Betty understood Isamu’s instructions, he would reassign Mimi, then the two girls would practice the maneuvers. As they practiced Isamu would circle them scrutinizing their movement. If he saw something wrong, he would stop them and make corrections to their hand or body positions, then tell them to continue. Once Betty demonstrated proficiency with any given technique, they advanced to the next.
Betty wanted to absorb everything Isamu had to offer. The three of them would rehearse moves over and over again. Betty was flexible and that helped, but she was not used to the type of exertion or the concentration poses Isamu put her in. Betty was determined to excel.
One night she pushed herself, overheated and fainted. The room went black, and she fell but never hit the floor. Isamu's speed allowed him to catch her before impact. She wasn't out long, but was disoriented as he revived her. As she regained clarity, she worried that she failed or that this error would cause a setback in her training. She was embarrassed and apologized to Isamu fearing he would be angry or disappointed, but the opposite was true.
Mimi translated as Isamu spoke. "I would never be mad at you for fainting. It demonstrates your devotion. It proves your commitment. You take this very seriously. You don't waste my time, and I am proud to have a student like you. Do not be ashamed for working so hard."
Later he suggested that if she ever felt light headed again, she should sit down before she fell down.
Even though Isamu always seemed angry, Mimi knew he enjoyed teaching. It felt important. Since they installed the new washers, it seemed like a weight had been lifted from him. He had more free time, and so did the rest of his family. Sometimes the younger children tried to join in on Betty's class. They acted out miniaturized combat maneuvers. They got silly. Mimi even caught Isamu laughing, which hadn't happened in a very long time.
They became a happy family and wanted to make Betty feel like a member. The Katana's often invited her to stay for dinner or to participate in family activities. She appreciated the offers, but always politely declined. She felt like an invader.
She was a bit of a mystery to Mimi. She was a serious girl with a singular focus. She seemed to prefer a business relationship over a personal connection, and kept her private life at a distance. When Betty started her first class Isamu asked her name. The word Pandora escaped from her lips.
Betty dwelt in several worlds at once. By day she was a nursing student still struggling through school. In the evening, she trained with the Katana's. Overnight she was a nursing intern working the third shift at the hospital. She tried to stagger the days and obligations, but it was exhausting. Her free time was supposed to be spent sleeping, but it wasn’t easy. She worried about money and it kept her awake. She watched nervously as the number in her bank account decreased. She had no way to replenish it at that point in time.
Betty’s weekly routine was barely manageable. One night while training with the Katana’s, she was very tired. Her form was sloppy. She overestimated the distance between her and Mimi, and surprised Mimi with a kick to the face. The contact sent Isamu’s daughter to the ground. He was furious and yelled at Betty. Mimi didn't take the time to translate, but she made it clear that she was more surprised than hurt. The blow drew blood from her lip and Betty felt horrible. She assured Betty there were no hard feelings. Isamu cut it short and called it a night.
Betty went upstairs to take a shower and change into her nursing uniform.
After training, Mimi sat at a wooden slab tabletop over crates. Betty passed her on the way out. "The soup smells good."
"Would you like some?" Mimi asked
"Sure." Betty acquiesced out of guilt.
Mimi served Betty a bowl of soup, and then stacked two crates together to make a second seat for her guest. They both sat down and begin sipping the hot broth.
"This is very good soup." Said Betty.
Mimi smiled and bowed. "Thank you.”
Betty sipped again then asked, “What did your father say to me downstairs?”
Mimi replied. “He said, you cannot be sloppy when you fight. When you are here, you are here to fight. You must concentrate. And you must get enough sleep. Then he said something about defining yourself by your actions. Don't be hurt by my father’s words.”
Betty said, “I’m sorry that I hurt you.”
Mimi accepted the apology gracefully.
Betty sipped again and then asked, "Will your father still teach me?"
Mimi said with a grin. “Of course he will. He knows it was just an accident. Actually, when he was training me I gave him a black eye. Oh, but don’t ever tell him I told you. My fathers name, Isamu, means bravery and courage. It would not be good if everyone found out courageous brave Isamu got a black eye from his tiny daughter.”