Quiet Chat 1
The third son of the Juumonji Family of the Ten Master Clans, Tatsuki, did not enter the First High School that stands in his hometown, instead enrolling at Third High School in Kanazawa. There was no sort of scheme going on in the background. The reason was rising complications in the relationship with his family members. Specifically, he doesn’t agree with bringing in his father’s illegitimate daughter as a member of the family.
Seen by an outsider, it was a childish fixation. Tatsuki himself also sometimes thinks ‘What am I doing?’. But there’s nothing he can do about it either. There are times where even adults are swayed by childish feelings, let alone 15-year-olds who are not adults yet.
Besides, Tatsuki is walking forward. Whether it is in the right direction, nobody knows. That is something only the future can tell. At the very least, as a Third High School student, Tatsuki is living a high school life that can’t be admonished as indolent nor profligate.
Like usual, he is earnestly carrying out his patrols around the school as a Public Morals Committee member today. It is a custom in Third High that the best of that year’s new students is appointed to the Public Morals Committee. Tatsuki was the second best. While it is a fact that he was a replacement for the top student, Ichijou Akane, who was unable to perform the Committee’s activities, that didn’t discourage him from carrying out the duties of the Public Morals Committee.
Though, despite saying ‘earnestly’, he still takes breaks during his patrols. Just as he is doing now.
Tatsuki stood at the martial arts gallery (a corridor-shaped aisle for spectating installed at the height of a second floor) where he stopped his patrol and observed the practice being conducted.
The club activities happening are by the Judo Club and the Martial Magic Arts Club. Third High is fully equipped with facilities for martial arts and other combat sports, as expected from a school with a ‘warlike’ spirit. This martial arts area is also large enough to be used by two clubs at the same time. It is clearly larger than the small gymnasium used by First High’s martial arts and other combat sports clubs.
The Judo Club is the club his classmate and neighbor, Ikura Samon, belongs to. For some time, Tatsuki studied his practice spars.
It wasn’t the first time Tatsuki watched him practice, but once again he felt Samon was ‘strong’.
His randori[4] opponent is an upperclassman, maybe in his third year. Setting aside the width, the opponent is taller than him. Moreover, he can even see that they are well trained from the surface of the judo uniform. Thinking about it normally, they should be stronger and have more stamina than Samon, who was a middle schooler just two months ago. Even in technique, one would ordinarily think that upperclassmen with more experience would be superior.
But from what Tatsuki could see, Samon had the advantage. To begin with, the upperclassman was clearly being shoved around by pure strength. There are still people who are convinced that strength is not necessary in judo, misunderstanding the idea of ‘flexibility over strength’, but once you catch the opponent and perform a technique, strength is absolutely necessary. Not just strength of arms, but legs, abdomen and back as well.
Skill and flexibility are indispensable, but the stronger the better. As far as judo is concerned, rather than saying ‘flexibility over strength’, the expression ‘small over large’ might be more appropriate.
Samon was exactly an example of this at that moment. He was shoving around a senior student whose physique trumps his own. And he wasn’t using his full strength, just breaking their stance by shaking them up in all directions.
The moment the upperclassman was conclusively out of position, Samon quickly got closer to his opponent.
The moment right after, his opponent’s body danced through the air, like magic.
“Well done.”
Tatsuki unconsciously muttered.
Of course, though said to be like magic, there was no actual magic. The technique to control your own body and your opponent’s body is called ‘skill’. Once again, this is not the first time Tatsuki has seen Samon practicing. But it appears that Samon’s ability is somehow considerably higher than Tatsuki thought. Either that, or he might be improving very fast in a short period of time.
Samon helped the opponent he hurled get back on his feet. They bowed at each other and began walking to the wall. Apparently they’re going to take a break. On the way, Samon raised his face and his eyes met Tatsuki’s.
Samon smiled and raised his hand. Afterwards he walked to the spot right under Tatsuki and stopped.
“Are you on patrol?”
Samon called out to him, to which Tatsuki replied with “Yeah”.
“It’s looking good for you.”
Tatsuki added right after.
“Yeah man, I’m in perfect form.”
Samon gave him a thumbs up and a wide smile.
“You still have some time, right?”
“Yeah, just a bit more.”
“Then go look over that way too. It’s a sight to behold.”
Tatsuki, who thought for sure he would tell him to stay watching his own activities, was surprised. He turned his sight to the direction Samon pointed.
There, the women’s division of the Martial Magic Arts Club was having a spar in the form of a bout. Instead of having many fights at the same time, they had one pair face off at a time.
“Ah, nice timing.”
Samon raised his voice. He spoke in a way that made it seem he was more talking to himself than addressing Tatsuki.
Two girls stepped forward to the center of the mat, facing each other. Tatsuki hasn’t memorized the faces of all 200 first year students yet, but these two he knew.
(Ichijou Akane and Liú Lìlěi...)
In the school register, their names are Ichijou Akane and Ichijou Reira. However, it is rumored that Ichijou Reira’s true identity is the Great Asian Union’s Nationally Recognized Strategic-Class Magician Liú Lìlěi. By indirectly observing her during this past month, Tatsuki is almost convinced that the rumor is true.
Just to add some words to his credit, he is neither a peeper nor a stalker. What is the purpose for the Great Asian Union’s Liú Lìlěi attending a Japanese magic high school, with what kind of intent is the Ichijou Family making their eldest daughter move with Liú Lìlěi, that’s what he, as a member of the Juumonji Family, is trying to find out... And so far, he has no results at all.
Ichijou Akane and Liú Lìlěi — though Tatsuki is convinced, her real identity is still conjecture — assumed their stances. As if reflected in a mirror, their stances were completely identical. Akane had a left front stance, while Liú Lìlěi had a right front stance, giving it an even stronger impression of a mirror.
(That isn’t karate... Are the two of them using wushu as base?)
Wushu is a martial art developed in the East Asian continent that has been turned into a modern sport. There have been enthusiasts in Japan for over a hundred years. So it isn’t all that surprising that Ichijou Akane is learning wushu.
But Tatsuki had a thought that Akane learned her technique from Liú Lìlěi. — No, he assumed that was the case.
At the signal to begin the practice bout, Akane and Liú Lìlěi began a fierce exchange of blows.
Instead of aiming for a valid blow by reading the distance between them and the opponent, they repeatedly attacked to create openings. This is a tactic common in modern boxing, which gives importance to the number of punches when scoring.
Amazingly, as far as Tatsuki could tell, neither of them scored a clean hit. They looked to be completely on the offensive, but they were defending properly too.
Akane avoided valid blows with astonishing speed.
Liú Lìlěi deflected attacks with outstanding skill.
(Liú Lìlěi’s technique is superior... but it’s Ichijou Akane who is putting on the pressure.)
Tatsuki thought that as he watched their offense and defense. And while thinking why he felt that way, he murmured “Magic, huh?”.
“You think so too?”
Tatsuki barely hid his agitation when he heard a voice coming from right beside him.
Samon was in front of him when he turned around. Tatsuki didn’t realize Samon had moved from the floor to the gallery. He was paying that much attention to the spar between Akane and Liú Lìlěi.
Samon didn’t appear to notice Tatsuki’s unrest. Maybe he was just pretending not to notice. Contrary to what his unrefined appearance suggests, Samon is the type that notices these things.
“Ichijou Reira hasn’t used magic for a while, right?”
“...It’s not that she’s not using magic at all.”
He needed a short period of time to get over the agitation. Now basically back to his usual state of mind, Tatsuki shook his head lightly to what Samon said.
“Ichijou Akane is launching weak electric attacks, and Ichijou Reira is using magic to block electromagnetic fields to protect herself.”
“Eeh, you really know this stuff. That’s the Ten Master Clans for you... Sorry, you don’t like being told that, right?”
In the middle of his remark, Samon saw Tatsuki put on a slight frown.
“No, it’s not like that. I just don’t think I should be praised when I don’t understand what Ichijou Akane is trying to do.”
“Isn’t she just trying to give her an electric shock? Wait, about that, I don’t think shocks are allowed in Magic Arts?”
“Electric shocks from an out-of-contact position are a foul. The reverse, from a contact position, doesn’t break the rules.”
While answering Samon’s question, Tatsuki was thinking about something different.
It is understandable that Samon didn’t recognize Akane’s magic. The magic she used in the spar was very weak. When hit by that electric current, you’d feel a little tingle. Thinking about it normally, it won’t cause any damage.
Maybe it’s blocking their next move to some extent. Maybe Liú Lìlěi disliked that? But if the expense of resources in the conscious for use of magic is considered, it doesn’t feel like Akane’s electric shock magic is strong enough to deliberately protect yourself against...
While Tatsuki was going through that line of thought, the practice bout was nearing its conclusion.
At the same time as Liú Lìlěi, who swung both her arms like a windmill, scored a hit, Akane pushed both hands out. She didn’t do it with her fists closed — they were open-hand strikes.
Liú Lìlěi’s right hand connected with Akane’s left shoulder.
But before the power was fully transmitted, Akane’s hands thrust into Liú Lìlěi.
Liú Lìlěi fell onto the mat on her back.
Akane did not pursue. She walked up to where Liú Lìlěi had just fallen and held out her right hand.
Liú Lìlěi took her hand and stood up. There was no signal, but it appears the spar is over. Tatsuki stopped looking at Akane and Liú Lìlěi and walked to the stairs leading to the floor. Samon followed behind him.
Tatsuki didn’t return to his patrol immediately, instead stopping at the drinks corner in the lobby of the martial arts area. He wasn’t that thirsty himself, but he was invited by Samon.
Tatsuki bought carbonated water from a vending machine. Samon got water. There isn’t just a vending machine but also a simple water server that provides water for free.
“What did you think of those two, a sight to behold, wasn’t it?”
Samon elatedly asked while holding his second paper cup filled with water. That boastful look on his face was slightly irritating, but it really had been a marvel to spectate.
“Yeah. Honestly, I was surprised. Definitely exceeded my expectations.”
“Oh, it is an honor.”
A voice from behind them suddenly interrupted the conversation.
Tatsuki wasn’t as surprised as when Samon called out to him before. Having sensed that someone was approaching them, he composed himself and turned around.
“Didn’t expect to get such high praise from someone of the Juumonji Family.”
Ichijou Akane was the one who spoke to Tatsuki. Right behind, waiting for her, stood Liú Lìlěi.
“Was it high praise? I think your technique is worthy of it.”
“Oh, so I’m being acknowledged. I thought you were joking.”
Tatsuki nodded with a serious expression on his face, to which Akane, looking like she didn’t expect this at all, turned towards him.
“Juumonji-kun, you’re a very serious person, aren’t you?”
“It looks like you know who I am, so I probably don’t need to introduce myself, but I’m Juumonji Tatsuki. I believe this is the first time we’ve talked like this.”
Tatsuki stubbornly kept his overly serious composure.
Feeling at a loss, Akane let out a bitter smile.
“You’re right, this is the first time. I’m Ichijou Akane. I heard about you from my brother. Sorry for not being there the other day.”
“No, it is I who should say sorry, it was rude of me to not make prior arrangements.”
As a matter of fact, on the Sunday two weeks after coming to Kanazawa, Tatsuki went to the Ichijou Family’s house to give his greetings. But on that day, Akane was away from home.
“That isn’t right. You gave my father advance notice that you were coming, didn’t you? It’s our father’s fault for failing to tell the rest of the family.”
“I was the one who asked him to not treat it with great importance. Your father is not to blame.”
“Okay, I got it. So it was something you decided in advance.”
As Tatsuki nodded, he shifted his attention to just behind Akane.
In response, Liú Lìlěi voluntarily stepped forward towards Tatsuki.
“Nice to meet you, Juumonji-san. I’m Ichijou Reira, from class 1-A. I am Akane-san’s cousin-in-law.”
“It’s good to meet you too. I’m Juumonji from class B.”
Tatsuki didn’t pry into ‘Ichijou Reira’s’ identity. It would be a lie to say it isn’t worrying him, but the equation ‘Ichijou Reira = Liú Lìlěi’ has already become a fact in his mind. He had decided that as long as he wasn’t negligent with that conviction, no problems would arise, even if it was actually a misunderstanding.
“And this is Ikura, he’s in B class like me.”
Tatsuki led Akane’s and Liú Lìlěi’s gaze towards Samon by glancing towards him and giving a simple introduction. Then he signaled Samon, urging him to introduce himself as if saying ‘do the rest yourself’.
Samon didn’t misinterpret his intention.
“Pleased to meet you two, Ichijou-san, Ichijou-san.”
Samon said that and then laughed a bit, feeling awkward. When he said that sentence out loud, though it wasn’t wrong, he felt it was pretty idiotic.
Akane and Liú Lìlěi also laughed. There was a difference between them, in that Liú Lìlěi simply snickered while Akane’s laugh was strained.
“Please call me Reira. Juumonji-san, you as well.”
“You can call me Akane too.”
“Thank you. Well then, once again, Akane-san, Reira-san. I am Ikura Samon, from class 1-B, member of the Judo Club.”
Today, the clubs having their activities in the martial arts area are the Magic Arts Club and the Judo Club, and since he’s wearing a judo uniform, it is obvious at a glance that Samon is a member of the Judo Club. Nevertheless, he explicitly stated it, which probably means him being a judoka has become part of his identity.
But that’s not what Akane took notice of.
“Ikura, Salmon?”[5]
Akane stared in amazement and asked back, as if saying ‘You’re joking, right?’ with her tone of voice.
“It’s not salmon!”
Samon immediately replied to the question with a retort, not an exaggeration if said it was a conditioned response. Perhaps this mistake has happened many times before.
It is certain that Akane’s misunderstanding was awful. Samon’s name is ‘Ikura Samon’, but he would never pronounce it ‘Ikura Salmon’. There really wasn’t any room for misunderstanding the intonation, so it appears reasonable that Samon would adopt a violent tone.
“I-I’m sorry.”
Akane hurriedly apologized. Even she probably thought it was a terrible misunderstanding.
“You’re right, it’s not salmon.”
After saying that quickly, Akane asked “How do you write it in kanji?”
Samon immediately wrote his own name in big characters in the air.
“Got it. So you’re ‘Ikura(伊倉) Samon(左門)’. Understood.”
“Don’t get it wrong next time, Akane-san.”
Even if he didn’t emphasize it like that, this is not a mistake you make twice unless it is done intentionally. He really must have some bitter memories of this weird mistake.
“Okay okay, I won’t get it wrong again.”
After speaking, Akane walked to the water server. Apparently, the two girls also came here to drink water.
She filled two paper cups with water until they were 70% full, and while holding them in her hands she looked back at Tatsuki.
“Juumonji-kun, if you have any message for Onii-san, I can take care of it for you.”
It was a blatant change of topic, but neither Tatsuki nor Samon questioned it.
“I am going to have practice with the Magic Arts Club at the Magic University soon.”
But it seemed her objective was not just to completely escape the topic.
“I see... In that case, could you tell him ‘I’m doing well thanks to you’?”
“Hmm, okay. I’ll tell him that.”
“Thank you.”
“Don’t mention it... Hey, Juumonji-kun, you’re as formal as you are honest. I don’t hate people like that.”
“I guess I should say thank you?”
Tatsuki so said, and left that area without waiting for a reply.
As he left the martial arts area behind, Samon watched him disappear from his sight with a grin on his face.
No Comments Yet
Post a new comment
Register or Login