Chapter 112: The Difference in Power
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 112: The Difference in Power
“Hmm? Junior. You have dark circles under your eyes.”
That was the first thing Chinami said to me the next morning when I came to the cafeteria for breakfast.
I pressed down firmly on the area around my eyes, massaging them as I answered.
“I didn’t sleep well.”
“Why not?”
Why? Because that bastard Tetsuya was snoring his head off, that’s why.
He said he didn’t snore, but he ended up causing an earthquake in the room. It was my fault for believing him.
I was lucky I managed to get out midway through the night and get some uncomfortable sleep in the lounge...
If I had stayed up all night, I would be in a very foul mood right now.
“I guess I couldn’t get used to a new place.”
“You have a surprisingly sensitive side, Junior.”
“Maybe so. Did you sleep well, Master?”
“I didn’t wake up once until my alarm went off. I think the massage made me feel all relaxed and drowsy.”
“That’s a relief. Shall we eat?”
“Yes. Today’s side dishes are rolled omelet and grilled mackerel. Make sure to ask the lady for more so you can eat your fill. We need to prepare for the self-directed training after lunch.”
Chinami glanced around before lowering her posture and bringing a hand to her mouth.
Then, she continued in a small voice.
“I heard from Renka before bed... I think she’s going to spar with you directly, Junior.”
I thought she’d put another senior up against me, but she’s doing it herself?
Looks like I don’t even need to lift a finger.
Then again, considering how confident she is in her own skills and how much she wanted to punish me herself, this was the natural course of action.
“Is that so?”
“Yes. You may be talented, Junior, but you don’t know the rules very well, do you? She said there’s a need to teach you by clashing bodies directly.”
Clashing bodies directly... that sounds so lewd.
“Well, I don’t mind either way... but how will the training proceed?”
“I’m not sure about that. Renka didn’t tell me that much.”
“I see. I was supposed to have a match with Miura. Will there be time for that?”
“A match with Miura? Was this arranged beforehand?”
“The two of us agreed... but the captain doesn’t know.”
“Oh, my...! Beginners who are still clumsy with putting on their armor shouldn’t just decide to have a match on their own...! Emotions could run high, and you wouldn’t even be able to properly judge if there was a clear winner...!”
Chinami chided me, puffing out her mochi-like cheeks.
I scratched the side of my head, looking embarrassed.
“I just thought the captain or you, Master, would supervise...”
“You should have asked us about something this important first... You’re so reckless, Junior.”
“Thinking about it now, you’re absolutely right, Master. I’m sorry.”
“Hmph... Still, it’s good to see you admit your mistake so quickly. As for the match... I’ll try to discuss it with Renka.”
“Understood.”
Seemingly satisfied with my compliant answer, Chinami nodded and went to get her tray.
We got our rice and side dishes together, exchanged morning greetings with the other club members, and were heading to a table when we ran into Renka, who was walking in with Tetsuya.
“Ah! Friend, welcome. It seems you’ve been hanging out with Miura a lot lately?”
At Chinami’s bright greeting, Renka glanced at Tetsuya, who was grinning beside her.
“We just happened to run into each other on the way to the cafeteria.”
“Is that so? But you have dark circles under your eyes too, Friend Renka.”
“I didn’t sleep well.”
“Come to think of it, you also have trouble sleeping in new places, don’t you, Friend?”
“Yeah...”
Renka looked at Chinami as if she was helpless.
From the looks of it, Chinami must have been talking in her sleep or something...
She probably clung to Renka’s arm or threw a leg over her in her sleep.
Chinami always does that whenever she sleeps with Renka.
“You have that in common with Matsuda. He said he couldn’t get used to it either.”
“Really...?”
Renka’s gaze turned toward me.
She had a look of surprise. I just shrugged at her, sat down at the table, and started shoveling food into my mouth.
I need to eat a lot to prepare for training.
* * *
Inside the training room set up at the mountain lodge.
The club members, having gone through a more intense training session than yesterday, had smiles all over their faces despite their exhaustion.
This was because it was the start of their free time, which was merely disguised as self-directed training.
After all the members, minds filled with thoughts of going to the valley, had left, only four people remained in the training room.
Me, Tetsuya, Renka, and Chinami.
After a quick tidy-up of the room, we gathered in one spot as if by unspoken agreement.
With Renka and Chinami nearby, the scents of blueberry and peach wafted into my nose.
The problem was Tetsuya’s musty smell mixed in with them.
Seeing this guy shitting in a flower garden made my temper flare.
“From now on, I’m going to teach you each a training style that suits you.”
Renka in serious mode was quite sexy.
Her long neck, glistening with sweat, was especially enticing. A strong urge to lick it washed over me.
“From now on, Miura will...”
Just as Renka was about to begin the private lesson,
“Um... Friend.”
Chinami cautiously called out to Renka.
“Yes?”
“There’s something I need to talk to you about for a moment.”
“Go ahead.”
“Could you come over here for a second?”
Chinami led Renka to a corner of the training room and began to say something with a serious face.
It was probably about my match with Tetsuya.
And as Chinami continued to speak, Renka’s expression gradually hardened.
A short while later, after finishing her brief conversation with Chinami, Renka let out a long sigh.
She then walked over to Tetsuya and me and crossed her arms.
“You two, don’t ever decide to have a match on your own without a senior present again. What do you think you’re doing, a pair of beginners?”
At Renka’s angry reprimand, Tetsuya flinched and lowered his head.
“I’m sorry.”
“Do you really have to do this? It doesn’t seem like there’s much to gain.”
“I... really want to do it.”
“Matsuda, what about you?”
Renka looked at me with an untrusting gaze.
I clicked my tongue with a ‘tsk’ before answering.
“Well... if Miura is okay with it, I’d like to do it too.”
“Is that so...?”
Renka’s eyes darted back and forth between me and Tetsuya.
She seemed to be gauging the difference in our skills.
Noticing this, Tetsuya looked at Renka with a pleading expression.
“Please, Captain. You saw me during the practice match under the coach’s guidance just now. I’m not the same person I was before.”
“Of course, I acknowledge that you’re improving quickly, but... if two beginners fight...”
“You and Nanase-senpai will be refereeing for us, won’t you?”
“Were you always this stubborn?”
“Ah, no, I’m not. I’m sorry.”
“I’m not scolding you, I’m just surprised. It’s good to see you have a competitive spirit... I need a moment to think, so wait.”
“Yes, Captain.”
Was she unable to say anything more in the face of Tetsuya’s perfectly disciplined reply?
Renka glared at us before going over to Chinami and starting to whisper something to her.
Tetsuya, who had been watching Renka, quietly asked me.
“Did you tell them we were having a match?”
“Of course I did. You didn’t think we were just going to go at it by ourselves, did you? Without a referee?”
“That’s not it, but... it would’ve been nice if you’d said something when I was with you. It caught me off guard...”
“I was caught off guard, too.”
“Why?”
“I thought you told the captain. You came to the cafeteria together today, so I assumed she already knew. Aren’t you two in that kind of relationship?”
“Th-that kind of relationship...?”
Tetsuya stuttered, flustered.
I chuckled quietly enough for Renka not to hear and said,
“It’s a joke, you bastard.”
“What kind of joke is that...”
“But the captain is pretty, isn’t she?”
“Hey...!”
“It’s just between us, what’s the big deal?”
“No... I mean, she is pretty, but...”
Look at this. A little sweet-talking and his true womanizing nature is showing.
She’s way out of your league, so you can just look.
I patted his back and nodded as if to say, ‘I get it.’
“Go for it. I’m rooting for you.”
“G-go for what... And be quiet. What if the captain hears you...”
While we were whispering, Renka finished her conversation with Chinami and walked back over to us. With a still-displeased look on her face, she pointed to the temporary rack where the armor was placed.
“Gear up.”
At those words, Tetsuya’s face lit up.
He bowed his upper body deeply and expressed his gratitude.
“Thank you, Captain.”
“Best two out of three. Just this one match. No more than that.”
“Understood!”
She’s softer than she looks.
Showing concern for Tetsuya, who’s scheduled to get his ass kicked.
Or does she think he can actually hold his own against me, even for a bit?
If so, that’s a little disappointing.
* * *
“Looks like our stubborn junior got what he wanted.”
It was an affectionate scolding from Chinami as she helped me put on my armor.
I waited until she had tied the strings of my helmet tightly before apologizing.
“I’m sorry.”
“It’s alright. What’s done is done. I actually see this as a good opportunity. I’m going to give you a tip, and I hope you’ll listen carefully.”
“Of course. I’m listening.”
“For the first round, attack the moment Renka gives the signal to start. It’s good if you succeed, but even if you fail, Miura will be flustered. After that, it’ll be easier to find an opening. Got it?”
“I’ll keep that in mind.”
“Your kiai should be short and loud, and focus on the ‘spirit’ part of the unity of spirit, sword, and body. That way, you can appeal to Renka, who’s refereeing.”
“Yes, Master.”
“Alright, now stand up.”
I obediently followed Chinami’s words and straightened my knees, and she patted my back.
“Fighting! Since it’s come to this, you have to win, no matter what. If by some chance you lose even a single point, I’ll put you through special training all night long.”
My master is a little too passionate.
That’s what I like about her.
I’ll end the first round in an instant, just as Chinami said.
After that, I’ll slowly toy with him, and Tetsuya, feeling the wall between our skills, will surely react.
“If you strike anywhere but a valid striking area, it will be considered a foul. Keep that in mind.”
Renka’s warning was directed at both me and Tetsuya, now fully prepared.
It was funny how she was cautioning me specifically.
If I had my way, I’d trip him with a wasabari and beat the crap out of him while he was down.
But that’s a technique only allowed in police tournaments.
It’s forbidden in regular matches.
So I won’t use it. I’ll win fair and square.
So that Tetsuya can’t make any excuses.
“Understood.”
“Get ready.”
Listening to Renka’s voice, which sounded vaguely anxious, I faced Tetsuya, sat down, and we bowed to each other.
Then we stood up again and waited for the signal to start.
Part of my mind has checked out from lack of sleep.
I can’t focus properly, but I guess it has to be at least this difficult to be called a trial.
Adversity is bound to come for the main character. I’ll just think of it as a handicap.
“.....”
Through the grill of his helmet, Tetsuya’s eyes seemed to be burning.
He’s been radiating inferiority for a while now. It’s utterly pathetic.
I squeezed my eyes shut once, then opened them, gathering my wavering concentration and waiting for Renka to open her mouth.
“Then... begin!”
The moment Renka, who was between us, shouted and stepped back,
“Hup!”
I stomped my foot hard and thrust my shinai forward.
Thwack—!
“Keuk!”
Tetsuya, who had been about to charge at me at the same time, let out a short scream.
A throat thrust, one of the weaknesses of a high stance.
I had executed it first.
Seeing his head snap back and then forward, it seemed to have landed perfectly.
“.... Ippon.”
Renka declared, placing a hand on her forehead.
Just as Chinami had advised me, Renka must have told Tetsuya to be careful of the first strike... He seemed dejected to have fallen for it so easily.
Having scored a point in an instant, I squatted down at the line drawn on the floor and waited for Tetsuya to come to his senses.
Grinning and provoking him is something an amateur would do.
Just by acting nonchalant like this, as if it were nothing, Tetsuya’s emotions will be in turmoil.