Chapter 2

Yumi had never seen a kendo match on television before.

So she didn't know how to tell whether Rei-sama was winning or not. But Sachiko-sama filled her in on the rules as they were watching.

Firstly, this wasn't an individual match, but a team match.

Of course, there were matches which would have one overall victor as the champion, but today's match was a match between four schools, of which each school would pick a five people as their representitive team to fight with the other school teams. The five people, in order of skill, were called Captain, Undercaptain, Center Mark, Advance Guard, and Rear Guard. The Advance Guards would fight other Advance Guards, the Captains would fight other Captains, and so on. Rei-sama was the Lilian team's captain. (Me: The titles were a bit tough to put in English equivalents, but I did try. The Japanese names are, in the same order as appeared in the text: Taishou, Fukushou, Chuuken, Senpou, and Jipou.)

They teams together were called the ``Four Brave'', and no one position in each team had a specific age to it. The age of the members constantly switched, and the only thing that determined their position was their rang. Last year's champion was Takurazawa High School. Their Captain, Undercaptain, and Center Mark had already graduated, so the second years who had followed in their places did not show as much promise.

There were four schools, and two would go to the finals for the championship. The matchups were picked by lottery, and Oonaka Girls' School and Lililan were not chosen for this round.

The female swordsmen of the four schools entered, took in the sights of the match, and sat down.

Yumi took a quick glance at her watch.

It was two o'clock in the afternoon. Was everything with the operation going along smoothly?

Yoshino-san's surgery was scheduled to have started at nine o'clock this morning. Yoshino-san had purposefully asked the surgeon to make today the day of the surgery. Even though she had known from the beginning that the match was today, she had chosen this day as the day. Maybe Yoshino-san herself didn't understand why she made today the day of the surgery.

The teams gave their oats and the celebrated players gave their greetings and the match abruptly started. The starting two players went out and the referee blew his whitle.

``I'm trembling.''

Quickly gulping down her coffee milk, Yumi put it in the empty bag so that it wouldn't be an annoyance, and placed the bag underneath her seat. The ratio of the sandwhich eating had been split between Yumi and Sachiko-sama 4 to 2. (Me: I'm not quite sure what this meant. Did they share the sandwhich? Not sure.)

For Sachiko-sama, the juice of the olives had permeated the bread, so she did not enjoy it much. Also there was a choice of white or wheat bread, but the wheat bread's texture was created using caraway, so she didn't like that either. Since Yumi was the one who had made the fuss about the sandwhiches in the first place, she was the one who ended up eating most of it. Because a growing moneyed pricessed had many likes and dislikes, mothers would make cooked rice for them. Well, in the case of Sachiko-sama's household, it was a chef.

``Don't let your attention wander. You should focus on the match.''

Sachiko-sama suddenly held Yumi's jaw as if it were the lever of a shower, and turned her face towards the match.

(But -. If Sachiko-sama does these kind of things to me, I'll be able to concentrate even less.)

Then suddenly, it began. The match started as Oonaka and Takurazawa faced each other.

The Captains were brilliant. Even when looked viewed from a layperson's eyes, the four matches that had come before were beautiful, but this was different. She didn't understand how, but their very souls were different.

With a sudden whoosh, the Oonaka Captain struck from behind, and at the same time, the three referees raised the white flag.

``What was the point of them raising the flag right now?''

After having watched four matches, Yumi understood it somewhat. If the flag was decided to be raised, then something bad had happened.

``That was a great strike.''

Sachiko-sama sighed with wonder after her praise for the Oonaka Captain.

``You know Kendo well, Sachiko-sama.''

``That's because Suguru-san played Kendo.'' (Me: Suguru-san as in Kashiwagi Suguru, as you'll soon find out.)

Suguru-san's full name was Kashiwagi Suguru, Sachiko-sama's cousin. He was a third year from Lilian Jogakuen's neighboring school, Hanadera Academy, was part of the student council, and was a very handsome youth. Sachiko-sama's parents had decided that she was to get engaged to Kashiwagi-san, but he was a homosexual ....... Well, he was some person. (Me: Part of the plot of the last novel involved chasing down Sachiko and Kashiwagi and a confrontation on Kashiwagi's part.)

Speaking of which, what had happened with Kashiwagi-san? Had the engagement been cancelled?

Oonaka had scored a 4-to-1 victory ratio in the preliminary rounds. Next, the Lilian students stood for their matches.

It was Rei-sama's turn.

The Advance Guard match came first, and it felt like their souls lighted on fire. They stood up with proclaiming with their posture that they would definitely win.

Maybe because of the style of the Kendo matches, today Rei-sama's tormented face seemed a little different from her usual self.

The match was against Tsukimigaoka school, a coed private school. Whether they were winning or not, hoarse voices shouted and mixed with each other in cheer for their school. The people wearing yellow were only cheering Lilian. (Me: Tsukimigaoka means approximately, ``A face watching the moon''.)

The Advance Guard and the Rear Guards of Tsukimigaoka both lost, but the Center Mark and the Undercaptain both won against Lillian. The next match was the the Captain match, the one with Rei-sama.

``The pressure is intense- ......''

``It's alright. If Rei-sama loses here, she won't be able to face Yoshino-chan, so she will win.''

Yumi thought that Sachiko-sama's words were probably right.

Thrusting her wooden sword in front and to the side, and thrusting out at the other person's back, Rei-sama was truly beautiful. She wished Yoshino-san could watch Rei-sama now.

(Oh yeah. It's a good thing I brought my camera.)

For noticing this late in the match, she was an idiot. While she was in the process of self-loathing, she saw a flash from the guest seating.

``Tsutako-san ......!''

``Ara, Yumi-san. Gokigenyou.''

Tsutako-san, hearing her name once, turned around, but then quickly went back to the match. The Photo Club's ace was incredible. She was take good pictures, and never let a good opportunity run free. Yumi looked very closely and found the Newspaper Club president next to her. Was this her enthusiasm about gathering data for the newspaper?

(I'll ask her to make copies of the photos after the match.)

Yumi was truly glad that Tsutako-san was her friend. Later, she heard that the Rosas didn't expect that she would bring her camera. Rather than leaving her camera at home like a beginner, she brought her multifunction camera as a mark of her being a semi-pro, so that she could be able to take many different good pictures. She left the responsibility of picture taking to Tsutako-san and once more concentrated on the match.

Just as Sachiko-sama had said, the Captain's match was dominated by Rei-sama. She saw the main piece of the flag being launched into the air. Rei-sama had forced the Tsukimigaoka captain to play the defensive, but they were after all captains. Using her technique, the Tsumigaoka captain skillfully returned all of Rei-sama's attacks.

``Incredible.''

Next to her, Sachiko-sama clapped, and at the same time, three red flags were raised. Happening so quickly Yumi did not quite understand what was going on but, Rei-sama's forearm was thrust up into the air in victory.

``Sachiko-sama can make out moving things very well.''

Yumi said that, and Sachiko-sama replied with a bitter smile.

But, this was Lilian's win in the preliminaries, right? Rei-sama had won.

``Huh ......?''

Didn't Lilian win? Didn't Rei-sama win all of her matches? Or - -.

``I don't think it'll turn out like Yoshino-chan said it would.''

Yumi wondered just how it would turn out and inclined her head as the final match began. It obviously wasn't break time.

The standings so far were, the Advance Guard match had gone to Oonaka, the Rear Guard match had gone to Lilian, the Center Mark match had been a draw, and the Undercaptain match had gone to Lilian. It seemed as if they would win.

``If Rei-sama wins, then we win!''

Yumi was excited, but Sachiko-sama drew herself back with an unhappy look on her face. Yumi quickly pulled her hands out of the air.

``That's not how it is. Rei-sama is very skilled but, that won't help.''

``Huh?''

``It's bad.''

Yumi did not understand what was bad. Up till now, Lilian had amassed two wins, one loss, and one draw, and next was the Captain match with Rei-sama, who seemed determined to win.

``The Oonaka Captain is strong.''

``Strong?''

``Because we hadn't gotten in a third win up when we hit the Undercaptain match, this won't go very well.''

``It won't go very well ......?!''

Sachiko-sama's tone of voice sounded as if Rei-sama would lose. But, hadn't they gotten two wins and two losses when facing off against Tsukimigaoka? How can Tsukimigaoka be stronger than Oonaka? How cruel to get defeated by the Tsukimigaoka captain when Rei-sama had easily won against the Oonaka captain.

``It's not that simple.''

Lilian also seemed more prepared than Tsukimigaoka. It was only because the Lilian first years, in their first Kendo match, hadn't been able to perform as well as they should have.

``Oonaka's Captain is a black belt.''

``Black belt?''

``Yup. Third rank.''

``What is Rei-sama then?''

``Second rank.''

``Well, which one is stronger?''

``......You really don't understand anything about this, do you?''

Sachiko-sama whispered from the depths of her heart. She learned from Sachiko-sama that black belt started at first rank, and continued to second rank, third rank, and so forth. So, unlike professional sumo, the more ranks the better - - Of course, Yumi did not say this out loud.

``What would happen if Rei-sama loses?''

Then, Lilian would have totally two wins, two losses, and one draw.

``The person with the most wins wins the tournament.''

As of now, Lilian had one more win than loss. But if Rei-sama loses this match, then the wins and losses become the same. Then what.

``This is a one-on-one match between two schools now.''

``But if Rei-sama wins, then shouldn't both captains win?''

``You would think so.''

``Then, she would lose ?!?!''

There was small chance that Rei-sama, who had already lost one bout, would win the second.

``But she may win.''

``I see.''

But, Sachiko-sama had said. This won't go very well, she said. Oonaka's captain is stronger because she is third rank, she said.

But then, what would happen.

What about Yoshino-san who would rejoice at Rei-sama's winning?

What would happen to their relationship?

The truth was, the results of the match were not as important as the effect they had on Rei-sama once again offering her rosary to Yoshino-san.

``It's starting.''

Sachiko-sama had motioned for her to be quiet.

That's right. Yumi was required to watch Rei-sama's fight on Yoshino-san's behalf.

(Will Rei-sama be able to pull off another victory, like she had with the Tsukimigaoka captain?)

Yumi looked at her watch, and found that it was passing four o'clock. She wondered how Yoshino-san's operation was going.

Good luck Rei-sama.

A layperson couldn't tell just how much effort was needed to win. Then suddenly, Oonaka's captain won, with force. In spite of everything, she had won. The voices in the room got louder.

So.

So, after all that effort, she had to think about what could happen next.

In the fierce competition of the meeting wooden swords, Rei-sama had withdrawn, and at that moment, the body of people far away had shown their decision.

Every person wearing a black one-piece sighed and drooped their shoulders. Of course, Yumi was part of that group.

So, the Captain match had been decided. The captains of the two schools, with sweat dripping down their faces, got up and once again stood at the ends of the exhibition area.

Meeting Rei-sama's face head on, Yumi realized that even though Rei-sama had lost, she did not hide her face. She held it with power. Yumi did not understand why.

Her quiet eyes were like a water's surface undisturbed by waves. But it wasn't as if Rei-sama sad with her eyes dazed. Her eyes weren't just quiet, the core of them quaked with a sense of having been wronged. Not quite being wrong, but as if she the middle of her heart was a sword that now needed more sharpening. Anyways, it was over.

(Why did it happen this way?)

While initially being in the lead, the tides had turned against Lilian, and they had lost because of the immense pressure. Steeling their shoulders with the two victories they gained, the other four of the team congratulated each other for their hard work and resolved themselves that, because they had lost this time, they would win the next. It was all part of the mental game.

There was no more to the match.

Even still, Rei-sama left looking as if she had won.