Chapter 197: The Virtue of the Vanguard #2
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 197: The Virtue of the Vanguard #2
Thwack—!
Another strike landed on his head.
This time, two of the referees raised their white flags.
“To your positions.”
Having scored two points in a row to claim victory in the first vanguard match, I followed the head referee’s command, walked to the boundary line, and bowed to my opponent.
Then, I exchanged a few words with Tetsuya, who was taking deep breaths on the sidelines.
“Congrats.”
“You better win, too.”
“I will.”
His voice was much lower now, his eyes serious.
It seemed watching my match had ignited his competitive spirit.
I gave his back a pat of encouragement and walked over to where the other club members were, taking off my men [helmet].
They were all staring at me with looks of admiration.
They probably hadn't expected me to be this good.
“Good work. You were great out there.”
I gave Yamazaki a thumbs-up in response to his praise and turned to watch Tetsuya’s match.
After finishing their bows, Tetsuya took a mid-level stance, the tip of his shinai [shinai] twitching ever so slightly.
Feeling my energy suddenly drain, I let out a small, dry laugh.
I just don’t get it. I can understand his opponent playing cautiously after his teammate was so helplessly defeated… but why is Tetsuya acting like that?
When the vanguard scores a fiery win, shouldn't you ride that momentum and go on the offensive?
His opponent is clearly intimidated. He should just charge in…
Yeah, I really can’t stand that bastard.
Clack—!
After a long period of sizing each other up, the two finally clashed lightly.
Objectively speaking, compared to the vanguard match, this one was so boring it could make you yawn.
Wishing the match would end quickly, I glanced up at the spectator seats where Miyuki was.
She was still clapping, watching Tetsuya’s match.
She seemed a little less excited, though. Did she also lose her enthusiasm watching his cowardly performance, just like me?
No, that couldn't be it. Miyuki is way too nice for that.
“Hey, wipe the sweat off your hands.”
Lost in thought, I looked down at my hands when a second-year senior handed me a towel.
They were covered in cold sweat.
I hadn't realized it, but I must have been tense.
Taking the towel, I wiped my hands and watched as Tetsuya and his opponent began to seriously exchange blows.
Clack—! Clack-clack—!
Tetsuya’s sticky, grinding playstyle was starting to show.
I could see him clinging to his opponent, not giving him any distance, landing light attacks the moment an opening appeared in a target area, slowly trying to drag him into a swamp.
Still, he has talent, so he’s managing well enough.
Just fall on your face already.
@@
Renka brushed away the hair stuck to the side of her face with sweat and handed the trophy to Chinami, who stood before her.
Then, holding the certificate, she faced forward and beamed.
Click—!
After taking a photo to commemorate their victory and sharing hugs with her teammates, Renka asked Chinami.
“You look happy.”
“Hehe… winning an award is always a joyous occasion. Are you not happy, my friend?”
“I’m happy, too. Shall we go watch the men’s division now?”
“Of course, we must. I’m eager to see our junior, Matsuda.”
It was hard to tell if she wanted to see Matsuda himself or his skills.
Both? Probably both.
Renka looked around at her teammates, who were all wearing proud expressions.
“Are you guys going to watch the men’s division?”
“Us? We’re gonna rest. We’re dead tired.”
Just as they said, the others looked completely exhausted.
They were drained from competing in back-to-back matches that were more intense than the usual regional tournaments.
If the men’s division was facing the same, their chances of winning probably weren't high.
Still, the fact that Goro, who was supposed to be looking after the men’s team, hadn't come to see them even after the women’s finals were over must mean they were somehow managing…
It seemed they were holding on because Yamazaki, the captain, was skilled, Matsuda had considerable talent, and Miura was decent in his own right.
“You’ll be on the bus?”
“That’s the plan.”
“Can you take the trophy and certificate with you, then?”
“Got it. See you later.”
“Yeah. See you.”
After carefully handing over the trophy, Renka gave a handkerchief to Chinami, who was sniffling from the cold.
Together, they headed for the gymnasium stands where the men’s division matches were being held.
The moment they opened the door, they were met with the sound of applause.
The atmosphere was electric, as if someone was putting on an exciting show.
Chinami and I looked at the tournament bracket and saw that Yebonie Academy was in the semifinals, which were about to begin.
They had already earned their spot in the next tournament.
“Oh…! My friend…! The men’s team made it to the semifinals…!” Chinami exclaimed, her voice flushed with excitement as she scanned the bracket just as I had.
Feeling a sense of pride at the men’s team’s performance, Renka calmed Chinami down and checked the Yebonie Academy scoreboard in the corner of the venue.
Yamazaki, the captain, had won all three of his matches 2:1.
Meaning, he gave up one point but scored two to win each time.
Just like the skilled Yamazaki.
Ikeda, the vice-captain, had lost one match 0:2 but won the other two.
Mori, the center, had one win and two losses.
Miura, the second in line, had…
‘He did incredibly well…?’
Like the center, he had one win and two losses.
But all his scores were 2:1. That meant he scored a point in every match, win or lose.
Furthermore, his first match hadn't been decided within the standard five-minute time limit, going into overtime before he narrowly lost.
An amazing leap forward for someone with so little experience.
Just looking at the record, I could see how hard Miura had worked.
How admirable. I’ll have to praise him generously when this is over.
Finally, the vanguard match, led by Matsuda.
Renka narrowed her eyes to check his record and flinched.
“…It’s a perfect winning streak?”
He had won every single match 2:0. And except for one match that lasted 2 minutes and 12 seconds, the rest were all over within two minutes.
Considering the importance of the vanguard position, the opposing teams must have sent out their own strong fighters…
And he cut them all down in around two minutes?
I knew he was talented since I’d faced him myself, but for him to do this well… honestly, it was unexpected.
“A perfect winning streak? Who?” asked Chinami, who hadn't seen the scoreboard yet.
Renka forced a smile and was about to answer.
Just then, Chinami pointed to one side of the stands.
“Oh!? Hanazawa-senpai is over there…! Shall we watch with her?”
As Chinami said, Hanazawa was indeed watching the match with people who looked like her classmates.
She must have come separately to cheer on Matsuda and Miura, since she was friends with them.
“Ah! The semifinals are starting now. Let’s just watch our junior Matsuda’s match before we go.”
With that, Chinami plopped down in an empty seat.
Renka let out a short, amused huff.
“We could just stay and watch all the matches, you know.”
“That works, too. Now, please be quiet.”
It was funny seeing Chinami so focused on the match of the student she had taken under her wing.
With a small chuckle, Renka sat down next to her.
She watched Matsuda as he exchanged bows with his opponent and stepped inside the line.
After performing the sonkyo, he rose and immediately lifted his arms high.
He quickly got into his stance, about to charge straight at his opponent, but hesitated because of the other’s extended shinai.
The standard way to counter a high stance is to check them by thrusting your shinai toward their throat like that.
Matsuda had faced that same check from me and the other club members.
He used to have trouble breaking through it… what will he do now?
Since this is the semifinals, where the truly skilled compete, he’ll probably take some time to feel his opponent out.
As Renka was thinking that,
Clack—!
“Haat!”
Matsuda quickly struck down the shinai aimed at his throat. Using the opening as his opponent’s sword dropped, he flicked his wrist, rotating his own shinai sideways, and—
Thwaaack—!
—her eyes widened as he struck the opponent’s wrist holding the hilt and simultaneously stomped his foot to quickly create distance.
That was a clean strike. It wasn't a perfect motion, but his spirit, sword, and body were one (ki-ken-tai-itchi), and he even maintained his awareness (zanshin). It was definitely an ippon [a point].
Flutter—!
As expected, two referees raised their white flags, awarding the point to Matsuda.
The third must have been looking at the opponent’s back and didn't get a clear view, so he remained still.
Good, he got the point.
Thinking this, Renka clenched one fist and smirked as she watched Matsuda return to the boundary line.
‘He looks like he’s having fun.’
That was a good thing.
If the talented Matsuda was also enjoying kendo, he would only work harder.
It was a good thing I told him to enter the tournament.
Although, technically, he listened to Chinami, not me.
“Oh my…! Oh my…! Did you see that…? This is what they mean when they say the student surpasses the master…! I have nothing left to teach our junior, Matsuda…!”
“Yes, yes. He did well.”
Renka soothed the overly dramatic Chinami and continued to watch the match, her brow furrowing.
The opponent, trying to close the distance and engage in a tsuba-zeriai [clash of handguards], had flicked his shinai with a snap of his wrist, tapping Matsuda’s helmet and face guard.
It was something that happened often in matches.
But the frequency was too high. It was intentional.
It wasn't a foul, but it wasn't good sportsmanship either.
It seemed like he knew Matsuda was aggressive and was trying to provoke him…
That must be pretty annoying. He can’t let it get to him.
Trying to calm her own anxiety, Renka kept watching, her frown deepening.
‘That little bastard…’
The opponent, who had been subtly getting on Matsuda’s nerves, now slyly extended his foot and hooked it around Matsuda’s outer ankle.
If that happened, Matsuda would trip when he tried to change direction, momentarily losing his balance.
Obstructing a path with one’s leg was a clear foul.
If intent was proven, it could result in a forfeit.
But the opponent had been so subtle about it that even if Matsuda tripped, it would likely be ruled unintentional and end with a warning.
“That… that person performing such a horrid act, who is he…!” Chinami hissed, seething with anger as she caught sight of the opponent’s move.
She was furious that someone would play like that against her precious student. I understood.
But honestly, doesn't it feel a bit like he’s getting what he deserves…?
Not anymore, but Matsuda himself used to pull some unsportsmanlike moves during friendly matches.
Of course, that didn't make what the opponent was doing right, and since I was on Matsuda’s side for now, my own blood was boiling, but…
Keeping the thought to herself, Renka silently watched Matsuda.
Just as she had feared, Matsuda stumbled as he tried to push sideways to get away from his opponent, his foot getting caught.
And the opponent, not missing the opening created as Matsuda’s arms dropped while he lost his balance, charged in.
He was aiming for Matsuda’s wrist, which had lowered slightly as he lost his balance.
There was a way to prevent him from scoring a point even if he landed a strike.
‘He has to fall backward.’
If he did, the referees who noticed the leg interference would likely declare the strike invalid.
Hoping Matsuda would just fall, Renka watched their every move, when—
Thwack—! Clack!
—her eyes went wide. Matsuda, despite stumbling, blocked the opponent’s attack with incredible reflexes, regained his center of gravity, and took up his high stance again.
‘Wh-what…? Is he a manga character…?’
What kind of move was that? Is he some kind of beast?
Did he just enter some kind of awakened state?
With a dumbfounded expression, Renka refocused as Matsuda charged at his opponent.
Was the opponent intimidated by Matsuda’s animalistic senses?
He stumbled backward in a panic, and his foot slipped.
In that instant,
Crack—!
“Men-iiiiii!!”
Matsuda slammed his shinai into the helmet of his opponent, who was in the middle of falling on his ass.
A strike that couldn't be an ippon, just a swing thrown with pure force.
He was returning the unsportsmanlike play he’d received, right within the limits of the rules.
Not only that, but he also walked up to his fallen opponent, leaned his upper body over him, and just stood there.
Like a dog butcher checking on the dog he’d just beaten to death.
‘Is he glaring at him?’
His expression wasn't clear from this distance, but knowing Matsuda, he had surely realized his opponent had fouled him and was sending a warning with his eyes.
Seeing Matsuda’s actions, the corner of Renka’s mouth curled up.
A character whose mental game doesn't waver; instead of being intimidated, he comes alive.
It wasn't her preferred style of play, but having a character like that on the team was a boon, never a burden.
To be honest, Yebonie Academy was a weak team.
They had aimed for the semifinals, but even Goro probably hadn't expected them to actually make it.
The fact that all five of them had achieved such excellent results was due to many reasons, but Matsuda’s incredible performance as the vanguard had surely played a huge part.
And that performance included that kind of tenacious grit.
I knew he was talented from facing him myself, but he was exceeding my expectations.
It was also clear he had been practicing consistently. His rate of improvement was incredibly fast.
Of course, he was still clumsy in many ways, but he was amazing.
‘He’s a perfect fit for the vanguard.’
Renka thought it would be interesting to send him to the national tournament if he kept improving his skills through steady training. She calmed Chinami, who was completely engrossed and raising both arms in the air, and continued to watch the match.