Source
https://kakuyomu.jp/works/1177354054897729140/episodes/16818093084322646724
I have been passionate about kendo since I was in junior high school.
I don’t have particularly good athletic ability; in fact, I think I fall into the category of those who are not very athletic.
Nevertheless, during my junior high school club activities, the only thing that piqued my interest was “kendo.”
The reason for my interest was nothing special. Since my family gets along well, we often watched period dramas and historical movies together, and I had a vague admiration for the idea that handling a sword was cool.
Among them, I was particularly drawn to the story of Nakazawa Kotona, a female swordswoman.
Her noble, strong, yet beautiful way of life deeply influenced me as a middle school student, and though it may sound simplistic, I wanted to experience the path of the sword that she had walked.
Of course, I fully understood that the sword used for survival and the sword used in competition are entirely different things.
Still, I wanted to seriously pursue kendo, even if it meant imitating others.
It was during my third year of middle school when I attended a boys’ individual match.
He was physically large for a middle schooler, with a well-trained physique. He exuded the same aura as a samurai from a period drama I had recently watched—Kusama Hanzo kun.
Though he was from another school, his name was well-known in the kendo community in Tokyo, so I had heard of him.
But this was the first time I had seen him in person.
As rumored, he had an incredible presence, yet his movements were delicate, and every action conveyed the daily training he had undergone.
Time passed, and I enrolled in the high school affiliated with Aozora Academy University, where my parents had graduated.
There, I ended up in the same class as Hanzo kun, and of course, we were both part of the kendo club.
I had known about Hanzou kun since middle school, as he had been part of the Seiran Academy Middle School kendo club, but practicing kendo alongside someone I had admired since middle school made me nervous.
He had a build that didn’t seem like that of a high school freshman, with a shaved head and glasses, which made him a bit intimidating.
However, when I spoke with him, he wasn’t like that at all.
“You must be Lady Tadokoro ! Let’s enjoy the way of the sword together for the next three years !”
I was momentarily taken aback by his unexpected use of the samurai speech pattern, but his kind smile and the way he treated everyone equally made me respect him as a person.
Of course, I think this feeling also stems from my admiration for him. For now, I just want to become friends with Hanzo kun.
A few months after joining the kendo club, the hierarchy of strength within the club became clear.
The strongest was, of course, Hanzo kun. Despite being a first-year student, he was already the ace. And in the women’s club, it’s another first-year student, Yoshizaki Ayame.
She’s not only skilled with the sword, but also beautiful, and apparently the daughter of a major telecommunications company.
Like Hanzo kun, Ayame san is someone who can talk to anyone without hesitation.
…But for some reason, I feel a bit uncomfortable around her.
It’s not that she’s done anything to me, nor am I jealous of her high-spec qualities.
It’s just that sometimes, when she smiles casually, it seems somehow lifeless to me.
Several months have passed since I became classmates with Hanzo kun, and I’ve started to get a sense of his social circle.
Nagamine Seiji. He often comes to school with Hanzo kun, and from what I can tell, they’re probably best friends.
During the team competition at the tournament, when they were at a disadvantage, Hanzo kun muttered something under his breath that stuck in my memory.
“If Lord Seiji were here…”
I’m sorry, but I couldn’t help but think that Hanzo kun might be into that sort of thing.
Well, his views on love are his own business, and as his friend, it’s not my place to say anything.
Still, I was simply curious why someone with his level of skill—among the top five in the city—placed such unwavering trust in Nagamine kun.
Then, in my second year of high school, I ended up in the same class as him—Nagamine kun.
Having only known him one-sidedly, I couldn’t approach him like Hanzo kun did. I’m naturally shy, and even if I wanted to talk to him, I didn’t know what topic to bring up.
If I asked, “What kind of relationship do you have with Hanzo kun !?” I might end up making him wary.
I just vaguely hoped that someday I would be able to talk to him.
However, during the group assignments for the forest school, we ended up in the same group.
Hanzo kun immediately approached the kendo club members in the class and smoothly invited Nagamine kun to join our group.
I wondered if Hanzo kun was into that sort of thing…but I also thought it might be a chance to talk to Nagamine kun, so I was secretly excited.
To build camaraderie for the camp, we went shopping in Shibuya and sang karaoke together.
From talking to Nagamine kun occasionally, I felt he was just an ordinary young man. We shared similar hobbies, so it was natural to talk, and there was no awkward tension—we seemed to get along easily.
However, there was one thing that bothered me.
Sometimes, he seemed to be lost in thought.
It was as if he was remembering someone who wasn’t there and feeling sad.
We had only just met, and we weren’t close enough for me to ask him what had happened.
Hanzo kun seemed to know something about Nagamine kun, but I couldn’t bring myself to pry into his personal life.
My first impression of him was that he was a mysterious person.
But I finally found out.
“…I just don’t want to keep worrying anymore…I want to move forward…”
Eavesdropping is certainly not something to be praised, but I happened to see Yoshizaki san and Nagamine kun talking in the refreshment area, and I couldn’t help but hide in the hallway.
While hiding, I could hear not only Nagamine kun and Yoshizaki san, but also the voice of Oishi san from the next class.
From what I heard, Nagamine kun had been dating Oishi san, found out she was cheating on him, and they’re now broken up….? It’s not clear, but Nagamine kun was clearly going through a tough time.
I realized that this was the reason he was so distracted, and even though I have no experience with love, my heart felt tight.
I saw Nagamine kun storming toward the hallway in anger, so I turned back the way I came.
I just wanted to buy some fruit milk in the refreshment room…
After playing a few games on my phone for a few minutes, I figured no one would be in the refreshment room anymore, so I decided to go back.
Then I saw Yoshizaki san talking on the phone with someone.
I don’t know who she was talking to.
But I was certain.
—that it was Yoshizaki san who had driven Nagamine kun and Oishi san to break up.
The situation was probably that Yoshizaki san liked Nagamine kun. However, I couldn’t forgive her actions.
That said, I don’t feel sorry for Oishi san, who was set up, even though I feel bad for her.
Of course, since I’ve never spoken to Oishi san, who is the most beautiful girl in our grade, and have no connection with her, that might be why I feel that way.
But from my perspective, it just makes me think that her sense of chastity is so low that she can be easily manipulated.
As for Yoshizaki san, I just think she’s a cowardly person.
If she’s pursuing the way of the sword, why doesn’t she face love or anything else head-on? I can’t help but think that.
Well, anyway, I’m just eavesdropping and getting angry on my own….should I tell Nagamine kun about this…..?
In the end, I couldn’t buy my favorite fruit milk, and I went to sleep with a knot in my stomach.
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