Chapter 290: Start of School
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 290: Start of School
“Ippon!”
The flag swished up with a snap.
Having finished the final vanguard match with a 2-1 victory, I clenched one fist, feeling like I’d done my part.
I didn’t screw up.
There were some close calls, as my opponents who’d made it to the finals were skilled and experienced. But I was so focused on the match that I didn’t even notice my head starting to ache. It was manageable, and thanks to that focus, I was able to win all of my vanguard matches.
Aside from the one point I gave up at the start of the first match and the one point that tied this match, I was undefeated.
I could say I’d done an excellent job as the vanguard. Now, all I had to do was entrust our fate to my teammates.
Tetsuya was putting up a surprisingly good fight. Maybe I could get my hopes up?
With that thought, I switched out with Tetsuya and headed back to my spot, glancing up at the spectator seats.
I could see Chinami and Renka.
The women's division must have finished first, just like the last tournament.
No doubt they won.
Chinami was waving both hands and even swaying her upper body from side to side, overjoyed.
Renka, on the other hand, was watching me with her arms crossed and an indifferent expression.
She’s probably happy on the inside, right?
After Goro helped me take off my helmet and head towel, I wiped the sweat drenching my face with a towel.
Just then, the sharp crack of a shinai echoed from the center of the arena, and the referee raised a flag.
“Ippon!”
The opposing team had scored.
Until now, he’d been dragging his opponent into a swamp, drawing out the match. But now, just like me in my first match, he’d given up the first point in an instant.
The future looked bleak. I didn’t want to cheer for that guy, but for the sake of the remaining three, I figured I’d have to do something cringey.
Seeing the other team’s supporters cheering and shouting, I timed it just right, cupped my hands around my mouth, and yelled.
“Miura! You have to win!”
My voice was loud enough to echo through the entire venue.
For a moment, the other team’s momentum came to a halt.
And following my shout, the rest of our team, starting with Mori, began to cheer for Miura.
Hmm… a heartwarming picture.
The idea of encouraging a guy like Tetsuya was unpleasant, but to defeat the enemy of my enemy, extending a hand first was a good strategy.
The guy had some talent, so if he had any competitive spirit, he’d find a way to bring the match back to square one.
Or so I thought…
Clack—!
“Ippon!”
In the following exchange, Tetsuya gave up another point.
He’d managed to drag it out for a while this time, but perhaps due to the difference in experience, he failed to see through a feint and took a clean hit to the head, losing 2-0. The second match ended just like that.
“...I’m sorry.”
As Tetsuya returned, dejected, the remaining team members, except for Mori who was up next, comforted him, saying it was okay.
“My bad.”
He had a conscience, at least. This time, he apologized to me, too.
It was true that I really, really disliked the guy, but as long as we were part of a team, only a petty person would start pointing fingers.
Besides, it wasn’t like Tetsuya hadn’t tried his best. So instead of replying, I just gave the guy a pat on the back in encouragement.
After that, I cheered my heart out for Mori.
* * *
“The winner is Shimizu Dashi Academy.”
Hearing the announcer on the podium, I clapped with a sullen expression.
Just like the last tournament, we ended up as the runner-up.
It was a day that reminded me of a line from a manga: In the end, this photo was never used for the cover…
What was important was showing Renka and Chinami how hard I was trying…
I tried to rationalize it as a mental victory, but losing the championship when it was right in front of us was a real shame.
“Next is the tournament MVP. Matsuda Ken, please come up to the podium.”
I ended up getting the MVP award.
The center from the opposing team in the finals was incredibly strong; I never expected I’d be the one to receive it.
I guess my undefeated record in the vanguard matches, having given up only two points, was enough to earn it. But what good was a trophy?
I felt bad that I couldn’t give the graduating Yamazaki a championship trophy.
We weren’t close, but he was still a teammate and a senior…
If it had been an individual competition, I wouldn’t have cared, but as a team, finishing as the runner-up was undeniably disappointing.
As I walked down from the podium with the trophy, applauded by the other teams, the first thing I did was ask Yamazaki how he was feeling.
His response was something else.
“Me? I’m fine.”
He was surprisingly cool about it.
“...Really? You’re not disappointed?”
“Of course I’m disappointed. But I got to show off my skills to my heart’s content in the captain’s match… and it’s not like you guys did poorly. I wanted the trophy, sure, but I won an individual tournament recently, so it’s fine. Besides, three universities have already offered me a scholarship.”
“.....”
I was dumbfounded. Goes to show you really need to know a person.
Because I didn’t know what Yamazaki was like, I’d misunderstood and blamed myself for no reason.
Thinking about it, this tournament wasn’t that big of a deal anyway.
If it had been important, they would have stacked the team with second and third-years, leaving me and Tetsuya out.
It was an official tournament, yes, but not one worth putting our lives on the line for.
In any case, that whole picture of sweaty male friendship and competitive spirit really only belongs in sports manga.
Feeling my earlier regret completely vanish, I said.
“Congratulations.”
“Thanks. But you… don’t tell me you were worried about it?”
“Of course not.”
“Your face says otherwise. You little…”
Yamazaki grinned and tried to sling an arm around my shoulder.
I took a subtle step back, dodging his hand.
“That hurts, you know?”
Yamazaki said, looking at his hand that had just cut through empty air.
I shrugged and replied cynically.
“Not really.”
After the award ceremony ended, I left the venue and met up with Chinami.
“Junior! That was so close. But you were really, really cool.”
I felt both disappointed and relieved.
Bittersweet. That seemed like the right word for it.
But hadn’t I felt something similar during the last tournament?
Whatever the case, I’d finished on a high note.
Still, it felt like it had drained too much of my mental energy.
This kind of concentration should be used on women… I should try to avoid kendo tournaments as much as possible from now on.
“Thank you. Where did the captain go?”
“Renka went to put away the championship and MVP trophies.”
So she got them. Just like Renka.
Judging by Chinami’s expression, she must have played a huge part, too.
What do you call it, true to their reputation? The Yebonie Academy women’s kendo team really was a powerhouse among powerhouses.
“By the way, as punishment for not winning, we’ll have to do some hell training.”
Chinami suddenly put on a stern face and said that.
Was she really planning on training me?
My dear Chinami… trying to treat your disciple so harshly. It breaks my heart.
I shook my head, looking displeased.
“I don’t want to.”
“Wha…? But you promised.”
“I still don’t want to.”
“Huh…? How could you…?”
She looked completely shocked.
She must not have expected me to refuse so firmly.
Taking the slumping Chinami by the hand, I led her to the back of the venue. As she followed limply, I swept her up in my arms.
Then, like a grandfather showing his granddaughter the sights, I supported her bottom with my arm and held her.
“Hya!?”
Letting out her unique exclamation, Chinami quickly wrapped her arms around my shoulders.
I gently stroked her back. She flinched and said in a tiny voice…
“Junior… I… I’m really sweaty…”
“It’s fine. So am I.”
“Still…”
“But you smell nice.”
“Sm-Smell…! How can you say something so shameless…”
“What do you think, Master? Do I smell bad?”
“...No… it’s nice… Ah…! Not there…”
It was cute how she trembled and fidgeted when my hand touched her waist.
Why did touching this soft flesh give me more and more strength?
It was the same with Renka and Miyuki, but there was something especially nice about the feel of Chinami’s skin.
“Haa… hu…”
Chinami buried her face in my shoulder.
Hot breath escaped from her plump lips below, tickling my neck.
An unconscious sensuality.
When it surfaced like this, the effect was more intoxicating than anything else, and right now, that was Chinami, unknowingly caressing my neck.
“Heek…”
As I deliberately and slowly caressed her waist and buttocks, a breathless moan escaped her lips.
Listening to her erotic breathing right next to my ear, I was about to raise the intensity a little when—
“W-What are you two doing…!”
I froze upon hearing the bewildered and embarrassed voice of Renka, who had followed us to the back of the venue.
Chinami, for her part, looked like she was about to faint from shock, turning her head while still in my arms.
“Myah… I-I’m sorry…! What happened was… ahem…! J-Junior. Perhaps you could put me down for now…?”
Chinami’s speech was quite slow.
It already felt leisurely, but now that she was flustered, her tongue was tied, making it even slower.
Compared to her frantic movements, her mouth was moving at a turtle’s pace.
So much so that Renka was squirming while she spoke.
“Junior…! Stop…!”
Her tone was firm. I guess I had to put her down.
Suppressing my disappointment, I set Chinami down. She stumbled over to Renka.
“Oh, you’re here…? When does the bus leave…?”
“Well… a lot of people went to the bathroom… But are you okay…?”
“Ye-es…? Yes…! I’m fine… Are you okay, my friend…?”
“M-Me? I… I don’t think… I’m okay…”
Seeing Chinami’s bright red face, Renka seemed to be feeling something strange herself, her eyes darting all over the place.
Seeing that, Chinami grew even more embarrassed and raised her hands to cover her small face.
“I-I’m sorry…!”
“No… I don’t think… this is something you need to be sorry for… Should I… leave you two alone?”
“No…! You can stay…! Please stay…!”
“.....”
Renka glanced back and forth between me and Chinami, awkwardly scratching the side of her head.
Having witnessed such an intimate moment firsthand must have left her feeling bewildered.
And by bewildered, I mean less jealousy and more something a little… erotic.
That was good enough.
“Congratulations on the win and the MVP.”
At my perfectly calm words, Renka snapped back to her senses and replied.
“Huh…? Th-Thanks…”
“When are we heading back?”
“...In five minutes…”
“Really? Guess we should get going. Want some candy before we go?”
“Wh-What are you talking about…!! Why candy…!? Did I ask you to hold some for me…?”
She was pretending not to know way too hard.
With a reaction like that, anyone would think she had a suspicious secret.
Anyone except the innocent Chinami, perhaps.
“Let’s go, Chinami…! Don’t hang around a weirdo like him.”
“Hyeh…?”
Renka snapped, grabbing Chinami’s hand and pulling her away. I smirked as I watched them go, then followed behind them.
Was that a good way to wrap up the tournament? I should probably skip the after-party.