Hikaru followed behind him to the weapons, eyeing them with interest, not only because she'd need to determine which one she'd use, but also because some of them were really cool looking. Although the katanas caught her eye instantly, she still gave the others a quick run through before meandering over to the blue handled one, giving it a few test swings to try and feel how different it was from her practice sword. It would take some getting used to, that was for sure, but her practice sword did try to at least get some of the same feelings down so it still felt comfortable enough in her hand despite being her first time using this weapon. She almost felt like a samurai as she swung it playfully around, but she didn't want to waste her opponent's time too much so held back her smirk and turned to face him.

"Despite being blunt, please allow me a moment to form a protective layer around myself for both practice in keeping it active during combat and so that you can go all out against me and not worry about causing too much harm due to my unarmored state. It also disperses the energy from any serious blow so that I would only be knocked unconscious instead," she explained.

Closing her eyes and standing still, she focused on the energy in her core and expanded it outwards in all directions, coating her body in her shimmering white energy that became invisible once the process was completed, only showing up again in spots where it would deflect attacks. Fast or powerful enough attacks would easily get through, but against a blunt sword and this opponent, her defenses should not be able to be overwhelmed.

With her defense completely ready, she entered a typical kendo battle stance, holding the sword with both hands in front of her, the tip pointed towards her opponent's throat, her left foot slightly behind the right with the heel raised, ready to pounce forward if an opening presented itself, but for now she was in a solid defensive posture that provided little openings.

"We may begin," she said calmly.