"Those organization and research things… I don't really understand,"
Reiko sat on the edge of the bed, clutching her skirt tightly, eyes slightly red.
"But almost dying in a landslide? Onii-chan, you shouldn't have kept that from me."
She looked up, big watery eyes fixed on Hayashi Shuichi.
"I can help you stay away from home, but you can't lie to me."
Her voice grew smaller, thick with grievance.
"From now on, no matter what happens, I won't hide anything from you," Hayashi Shuichi promised quickly.
"You literally said that exact line a few days ago," Reiko huffed, arms crossed, turning her head away. "Words are cheap. You have to prove it."
Hayashi Shuichi gave an awkward laugh. At least she'd stopped talking about moving out—he could finally breathe.
"It's almost noon. What do you want to eat?"
"Hmph, good food won't make me forgive you that fast," Reiko declared, but still tilted her head in thought. "Apple pie!"
"Coming right up. I'll make it in the izakaya kitchen." Hayashi Shuichi ruffled her hair and left the room.
The moment the door closed, Reiko threw herself face-first into the pillow.
"Stupid Onii-chan!"
Her muffled shout came out angry and red-faced.
"He explained everything else—why not the kiss with that Sharon woman?!"
She grabbed a stuffed toy and pummeled it twice.
"There are a million ways to distract someone—why did it have to be a kiss?!"
After venting, she flopped onto her back and stared at the ceiling.
Sharon and Onii-chan had already fallen out; dwelling on it now felt pointless. She couldn't actually move home.
Rolling over, she buried her face in the blanket.
"If I leave, Eri-nee and Yukiko-nee will definitely move in… I can't give them the chance!"
4 p.m.—perfect sunshine outside Mikan Stadium.
Orikasa Midori waited early at the entrance, standing on tiptoe and scanning the crowd.
When Hayashi Shuichi appeared, her eyes lit up. She waved wildly.
"Senpai!"
"Sorry, did you wait long?" Hayashi Shuichi jogged over. "The match doesn't start for another half hour."
"I couldn't sit still at home, so I came early," Midori answered, slipping a ticket into his hand. "Let's go in, senpai."
Inside, the stands were already lively. Fresh tatami covered the floor.
Both Osaka University and Tokyo University teams were warming up.
"Ikenami-san! You got this!"
Midori cupped her hands and yelled.
Ikenami Shizuka turned—her black ponytail whipping sharply—and gave a gentle smile and a nod before returning to warm-ups.
"I wish I could compete in something like this," Midori said, eyes full of envy.
"You definitely will someday," Hayashi Shuichi smiled.
"I know my own limits, senpai," Midori laughed self-deprecatingly. "I'm terrible at studying. I might not even get into high school next year, let alone university."
"You'll never know unless you try," Hayashi Shuichi said, patting her shoulder. "And even if university doesn't happen, there's still the national high school kendo tournament."
"But my grades…" Midori scratched her head, blushing. "Even the worst high school in Mikan might reject me."
"You come to the izakaya in the afternoons anyway," Hayashi Shuichi thought aloud. "Bring your textbooks. I'll tutor you while you're there."
"Really?!" Midori's eyes sparkled. "Thank you so much, senpai!"
As they talked, someone interrupted.
"Thanks again for last time, Hayashi-san."
It was Shigematsu Akio, dressed neatly, beaming with happiness. Beside him stood Kazami-san, elegant as ever in a pale blue dress.
"Akio told me everything," Kazami bowed slightly, gratitude all over her face. "If not for you and the cashier girl encouraging him, he might never have confessed."
"I was pretty harsh with Eri that day—sorry about that," Hayashi Shuichi apologized.
"Haha, why would I mind?" Akio laughed heartily. "Without you two pushing me, I'd never have found the courage."
"I was fully prepared to be rejected and laughed at… but Kazami actually liked me back."
"I dropped you hints a million times," Kazami huffed, pretending to be mad. "You blockhead."
"I always thought you liked Gankyou—better skills, better family…" Akio scratched his head sheepishly.
"…Gankyou is a good person," Kazami issued the classic good-guy card, then sighed. "He really is excellent, but feelings don't work that way."
She glanced at Akio. "If you hadn't confessed that day, I probably would've accepted Gankyou's proposal."
"Morizono-san was going to propose?!" Midori gasped.
"Yeah," Akio rubbed his nose awkwardly. "I even helped him pick the ring. I feel worst about Gankyou."
"He seems fine," Kazami said uncertainly. "His matches the past few days have been great."
Midori opened her mouth as if to speak, then closed it.
"I know Gankyou," Akio sighed. "He never shows what he's feeling."
Warming up on the floor, Morizono Gankyou noticed his friends and gave his usual greeting.
Akio and Kazami waved back. From the outside, the trio looked exactly the same as before.
Time flew chatting. At 4 p.m., the semifinals began.
Morizono Gankyou, Osaka's vanguard, stepped up first.
The referee started the match—Gankyou immediately attacked aggressively.
The past few days he'd won fast with sharp offense.
Today's opponent, however, was much tougher. Every strike was dodged effortlessly.
Growing impatient, brows furrowed, Gankyou raised his shinai again—only for the opponent to lunge and score a clean men strike.
Even through the men, the impact rattled him.
Shaking it off during the point call, he glanced at the sidelines for support.
Instead he saw Kazami whispering sweetly with Akio.
The sight hit harder than the bamboo blade.
A flash of hurt crossed his eyes; his already agitated heart grew more frantic.
When the match resumed, he couldn't calm down.
He attacked wildly like before, but his form had turned sloppy.
"He's done," Midori sighed, shaking her head.
"Huh?" Hayashi Shuichi didn't know much about kendo. To him, Gankyou was pushing the opponent around.
"Kendo is extremely mental," Midori whispered, glancing at the couple. "True masters stay ice-cold on the floor."
"I haven't seen Morizono-san compete before, but the last two days he's been visibly restless."
"Love really does affect him," Hayashi Shuichi said, looking at the glued-together pair. "Women really do slow down the draw of a sword."
"Where did you even get that nonsense, senpai?!" Midori laughed, stomping lightly and giving him a cute glare.
While they talked, the match ended—Gankyou lost two straight points.
Tokyo University erupted in cheers and hugs.
Osaka's side deflated.
Gankyou sat alone on the bench, face dark, lips bitten, gripping his shinai tightly.
Akio and Kazami tried talking to him—he barely responded, only shaking his head.
The next three bouts: Osaka won two, lost one—score tied 2-2.
The final taisho match would decide everything.
"Ikenami-san is the anchor again, as expected," Midori said excitedly.
Hayashi Shuichi was about to reply when he spotted Hattori Heizo watching alone a few rows away.
After excusing himself to Midori, he walked over.
"By yourself? Where's the rest of Kyoto University?"
"They ditched me and went home," Heizo shrugged gloomily. "I'm now the traitor of the kendo club."
Kyoto's first match had been against Osaka.
Their ace, Hattori Heizo, had vanished—causing the loss. Of course his teammates blamed him.
"To Nagashima Ruko, you're no traitor," Hayashi Shuichi consoled, patting his shoulder. "Without you she might be dead."
"Lose one match, save one life," Heizo said firmly, lifting his head. "Even given another chance, I'd choose the same."
"You heading back soon?"
"Tomorrow after the finals," Heizo said regretfully. "Ikenami Shizuka is amazing. Shame I never got to face her."
"Want to drop by the izakaya later?" Hayashi Shuichi offered. "Osaka team eats there after matches. You might get your chance with Ikenami-san."
Tempting—but Heizo thought for a moment and shook his head.
"Nah. Don't want to mess with her focus before tomorrow."
"If the club doesn't kick me out, there's always next year."
The final match began.
Compared to Gankyou's impatience, anchor Ikenami Shizuka was perfectly calm—ignoring all provocation, seizing openings, and scoring two clean points for victory.
The gym exploded with Osaka cheers.
"Gotta run," Hayashi Shuichi stood. "Need to prep their celebration dinner."
"This trip to Tokyo was worth it—I saved a girl and met you," Heizo said, leaving his number. "Come to Kyoto sometime. Don't be a stranger."
"Count on it," Hayashi Shuichi grinned and headed back to Midori.
…
Outside the stadium, Hayashi Shuichi, Midori, and the Osaka kendo team walked toward the izakaya.
Morizono Gankyou forced smiles and jokes, but anyone close could see the strain.
Since it was personal, neither teammates nor coach knew what to say.
Akio and Kazami stuck close to him; the trio's atmosphere was visibly awkward—conversation stilted.
Midori, meanwhile, chatted animatedly with Ikenami Shizuka about the match. In just a few days, the two kendo-loving girls had become fast friends.
Somehow the topic turned to Hayashi Shuichi.
"Senpai is amazing," Midori said shyly. "The day we met, some punks were harassing me. I knocked them down at first, but they tried sneaking up on me again—if not for senpai, I would've been in big trouble."
(End of chapter)
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