Kendo matches today have very strict scoring standards. The only valid scoring areas are the men (head), kote (right wrist), do (waist), and tsuki (throat).
Unlike fencing, kendo hits aren't simply registered by an electronic sensor. A point, or ippon, is only awarded when there's an attack with ki-ken-tai-itchi—spirit, sword, and body in unison. After striking the target, the swordsman must maintain distance and not relax their guard, demonstrating zanshin, or remaining awareness. All of these elements are essential, and a point is only given when at least two of the three referees raise a flag of the same color.
The "spirit, sword, and body" unison means that the "sword" must hit a valid area with a complete "body" movement. At the same time, the correct "spirit," or kiai, must be expressed. When you hit the men, you must shout "men!" When you hit the kote, you must shout "kote!" When you hit the do, you must shout "do!" And when you hit the tsuki, you must shout "tsuki!"
For those who practice ancient sword styles, these many rules of modern kendo limit their original strength. For example, Takamachi Kyouya is an expert at the thrusting attack. In a real fight, he could use a "one-for-one" tactic, but in a kendo match, points can only be earned by hitting the designated areas. A match is generally first to two points.
After the broadcast ends, Hirata Ichiro rises to his feet like a tiger let out of its cage, exuding a spirit that says, "I will go, even against a thousand men." He walks to the center of the arena, determined to win the first match. The two combatants face each other, their breaths steady and their bamboo swords raised. The battle is about to begin.
Wham!
The sound of a bamboo sword hitting a face guard echoes through the arena. "Men!" A referee raises a flag. "Point for the blue side!"
Takamachi Kyouya covers his eyes, unable to watch. He never expected that Hirata Ichiro, who had such an imposing aura, would be defeated so quickly. Predictably, Hirata loses the second round as well and is soon defeated.
Hiratsuka Ryosuke sees his teammate droop his head like a defeated rooster. As the vice-president, he pats Hirata Ichiro's shoulder and comforts him, "It's alright. A minute is a long time. You did great."
"Vice-President..." The boy from Iwate Prefecture lowers his head in guilt.
"Leave it to us. We are a team, Hirata," Takamachi Kyouya says, not blaming him. Back when he carried four teammates all the way to the top four of the Tokyo tournament, his teammates had been paralyzed by fear before even stepping into the arena. Hirata Ichiro has the courage to enter the match and swing his sword, which is a great start.
To the surprise of everyone from Soubu Middle School, Zaimokuza and Hayama went on to defeat five opponents between them. Hayama Hayato especially impresses Ryosuke by taking down four opponents in a row before he's defeated. Ryosuke realizes that Hayama's initial challenge to him wasn't just talk and that he must have been working hard at kendo.
Time passes, and the broadcast sounds again. "Next up, from the red side, Tokyo's Soubu Middle School will face off against Kyushu Academy!"
The coach from Kyushu Academy has been observing his opponents and notes that the first three players from Soubu Middle School are quite ordinary. He seems to have found a weakness. He tells his student, "With your skills, you don't need to worry about the others from Soubu Middle School. The only one to watch out for is Takamachi Kyouya. He was a seeded player in the National Tournament."
However, the coach isn't worried, as he has two national-level players on his side. Even if one of them was defeated by Takamachi Kyouya in the past, he's still a national-level player. "We absolutely cannot lose this match. If we win, we will advance from our bracket." He then looks at a student next to him, thinks for a moment, and a glint of shrewdness appears in his eyes.
"Yoyogi, you take down the first three opponents, then attack a part of Takamachi Kyouya's body that's not protected by a guard. Take him out and create an opportunity for Seta. As long as Takamachi Kyouya is gone, we'll win for sure."
Yoyogi, who had been looking forward to a chance to get revenge on his old rival, is shocked by his teacher's words and immediately refuses. "Teacher, isn't that against the rules? Even if it isn't, I can still beat him myself!"
The coach says in a low, furious voice, "Yoyogi, you're not fighting alone! As long as you do it discreetly, no one will know you did it on purpose, do you understand? Don't you need the prize money from the Gyokuryu Flag to pay for your mother's medical treatment?!" He's an outsourced kendo coach, and his contract expires this year. He hasn't had any notable achievements. This year's middle school Gyokuryu Flag tournament gives him hope. If he can win, he can renew his contract with Kyushu Academy and even ask for a higher salary. He doesn't care what happens to a student who breaks the rules. For the surest path to victory, this is a necessary sacrifice.
A team with one powerful player and four ordinary teammates is very common in the Gyokuryu Flag tournament. So, the coach thinks that as long as he takes care of Takamachi Kyouya, Soubu Middle School will only have one unknown player left. With Seta's skills, it wouldn't be hard to win the championship and maybe even get the "Fighting Spirit Award."
Yoyogi is stunned. The hand holding his sword trembles slightly. He's right. I'm not here for school honor or my own kendo beliefs. I'm only here for the prize money from the Gyokuryu Flag. He takes a deep breath and walks to the center of the arena. Yoyogi is also a practitioner of an ancient sword style, the Yagyu Shinkage-ryu, which is known for its mutodori or "no sword taking" technique. His fighting style is very unique. He uses a series of horizontal and vertical vibrations of his bamboo sword to quickly knock his opponent's sword out of their hand before defeating them.
As a former national-level competitor, Yoyogi's skills are strong, and he quickly takes down Soubu Middle School's first three players. Finally, it's Takamachi Kyouya's turn to enter as the vice-general.
The moment Takamachi Kyouya steps into the arena, the spectators start buzzing. "Is that Takamachi Kyouya? The final apprentice of the contemporary kendo master, Master Saito?" "Yeah, he's the dark horse that once made it to the National Kendo Tournament. And I heard he has a deep connection with the police." "And that Yoyogi on the other side is also a national-level player." "Unbelievable! This is only the bracket stage, and we're already seeing two national-level players go against each other?" Master Saito himself is in the stands. He's not here as an official but as a regular spectator. He doesn't want to put too much pressure on his student.
"President, do your best!" "Takamachi-senpai, take him down!" "You guys don't know how strong our president is? I think he has a great chance of winning the Fighting Spirit Award this time." As a third-year student, Takamachi Kyouya has always been a gentle older brother to his teammates, so he has a lot of respect and authority.
The two stand opposite each other, and the atmosphere isn't tense at all. Instead, they start chatting like old friends. "It's been a while, Yoyogi," Takamachi Kyouya says calmly.
"Yeah, Takamachi, it has," Yoyogi replies. Although Kyouya has beaten Yoyogi before, he knows his rival's strength. He isn't surprised that Yoyogi took down his three teammates so easily.
The two grip their bamboo swords, their breaths steady. When they raise their swords and take their initial stance, the massive arena becomes deathly quiet. It's not every day you get to watch a match between two national-level players. At the referee's command, neither of them attacks immediately. Instead, they use their feet to constantly move around the arena, trying to find an opening. Yoyogi's mind is still preoccupied with his teacher's words, making him uneasy.
Takamachi Kyouya finds a flaw and executes a thrust. "Tsuki!" He lands the hit and immediately pulls away to complete his zanshin. With perfect ki-ken-tai-itchi, Takamachi Kyouya delivers a flawless throat attack. The throat attack is the hardest to land because the target area is so small, so no one usually tries for it. But Takamachi Kyouya has been practicing his thrusting technique for years, and his throat attack often catches his opponents by surprise.
"Point for the red side!" With the referee's words, Soubu Middle School takes the lead in the first round. Losing the first point puts a lot of pressure on Yoyogi.
Should I do it?
If he doesn't take out Takamachi Kyouya now, and Seta loses, the prize money will be gone. His mother's sickness needs that money. Yoyogi's ragged breathing becomes steady again, and the hesitation in his eyes vanishes.
Takamachi Kyouya is a bit confused. What's going on? Why is Yoyogi's speed so much slower? With his skill, it shouldn't be this easy for me to land a hit.
The second round begins. Takamachi Kyouya launches a fierce attack. Yoyogi's eyes narrow, and he changes his defensive style, choosing to charge in instead. Hiratsuka Ryosuke, who is watching from the sidelines, immediately feels that something is wrong. Based on his previous matches, he knows that Yoyogi is a defensive player. Why would he use his weakness to go against my president's strength?
He soon gets his answer. Yoyogi, pretending to stumble and fall, launches a powerful thrust. The target is Kyouya's right armpit, the part of his body not protected by a guard. If he lands the hit, his opponent will be unable to continue. A flicker of guilt flashes in Yoyogi's eyes. I'm sorry, Takamachi. If I had the choice, I would have preferred to fight you honorably.
Thud!
Takamachi Kyouya's bamboo sword lands a hit on his opponent's men, but he can't complete the "men!" shout. The sharp pain in his armpit makes his breathing ragged, and he can't even speak. His body sways and then gives way. Takamachi Kyouya, the national-level seeded player that everyone had their hopes on, collapses without having defeated a single opponent.
"President!" "Takamachi-senpai!" "Referee, that was a foul!" The team from Soubu Middle School shouts anxiously.
The match is suspended. The referee checks on the player's condition, and a doctor from outside rushes into the arena. The unexpected turn of events causes a commotion in the stands. The coach from Kyushu Academy smiles faintly. Takamachi Kyouya has fallen. Soubu Middle School has lost its key player, while his side still has Seta. The opponent's last remaining player is an unknown, a nobody. He can almost see the prize money beckoning him and the principal begging him to sign a new contract.
Takamachi Kyouya is on a stretcher, his face pale and his lips trembling. Cold sweat pours from his body. He never expected his old rival, Yoyogi, would use such a dishonorable tactic.
Takamachi Kyouya weakly calls out, "Hir... Hiratsuka."
Hiratsuka Ryosuke steps forward and takes his president's hand. He knows what his president wants to say and cuts him off. "President, don't speak. Let's get you to the hospital." He then looks up at Yoyogi in the arena, his eyes filled with cold indifference. He says in a low, chilling voice, a tone like the biting wind of winter, "Leave the rest... to me."