[Manabu scoffs a little. he likes praise, sure, but he's never been keen to believe a possible conflating of special gifts!]

I don't think so. I'm just a guy, remember? No special powers. Swords have been outdated for at least a century where I'm from, you know.

[he wipes sweat off his forehead with the back of his sleeve, smearing his bangs on his face.]

Whatever's happening here can only happen if I work hard enough.