Extra 47: At that time in the modern era 2 (1/2)

Extra 47: At that time in the modern era 2

TLN: Hey guys, Reigokai here!

Whew, I somehow managed to finish all current extras of Tsuki. With this, I will be able to head to USA tomorrow worry free.

I will soon be updating the site to show the new story. Look forward to the first chapter of the new story :)!

With that said, enjoy the chapter!

Gyokuryuki.

A swordsmen festival that is done every year at summer.

It is divided in high school division and general division.

At a glance it has unreasonable rules, and in reality, it does have unreasonable rules, but this is a tradition that has continued till the modern era. It is that kind of kendo competition.

By the way, if you look back at the past, it was actually a swordsmanship competition, but for some reason, the details of those times are recorded in a vague manner, so no problems could be found and, since the time it was changed into a kendo competition, it was considered as the first Gyokuryuki competition.

This year, it was in its 150th competition.

It was created by Imperial idealists and has managed to bring out world competitors representing Japan, and it hasn’t failed to take place every year which attests to the fearsome dedication they have to their predecessors, or maybe because of their own passion.

Or maybe the existences called swordsmen actually possess quite the political power in this nation since the past until now, but it goes unseen within the bright front of these grandly opened event where swordsmen of the whole nation are gathered.

“…It is kendo, so there’s no doubt those kind of things would be best.”

The mutter of the man had a tone of resignation as well as slight sadness mixed.

There’s more than 2,000 teams and the schedule barely manages it.

The individual matches were finally scrapped last year.

The rule of girls being able to participate in the boy’s division has long since been gone.

For these man who had won first place twice in a row in a time when it could called be a chaotic competition where everything goes, there must be things he simply can’t agree with yet.

“Even though the roster of the old men doesn’t ever change… this might be my last time coming here to watch.”

This man, who still utilizes the katana in the modern era for its original purpose, is without doubt an abnormal existence.

Name is Ishido Genichi.

The man that won the Gyokuryuki in his second and third year of high school and then disappeared from the kendo world.

But well, it is not as if he had cut off all his connections to it. He still maintains a deep connection to the world of the sword.

“It is time, huh. In these few years, there hasn’t been anything interesting. Hm?” (Genichi)

“Sensei! Ibuki-san says he wants to greet you…”

“Ah, okay.” (Genichi)

“Also…”

“What is it?” (Genichi)

The disciple that Ishido brings around had come running to him at quite the speed and tells him what he had to, but then, he mumbled as if having difficulty to speak further.

“Right now the high school students are in their summer break, so uhm…I think it would be a good idea to go to Nakatsuhara to practice after you have finished your rounds of greeting.”

“Nakatsuhara? The city where Natsu and Makoto are, huh. And, training? Training who?” (Genichi)

Hearing the name of the city, he spoke the name of the two friends that immediately popped up in his mind.

But, how weird. From what he remembers, neither of those are even disciples of his.

He did try to recruit the boy called Makoto, but he has only taught him the way to swing.

There’s no doubt that he is interested in his growth, but there’s no urgent business that warrants him to hurry from Kyushu to there.

Seeing the state of his master, the disciple lets out a long long sigh.

“It is about Otonashi, Sensei. After last year’s Gokuryuki, Sahara-san and Yuki-san had introduced her to you.”

“Otonashi? At last year’s competition, you say…” (Genichi)

“Didn’t you make her your disciple under the introduction of the two? Since then, she has been pretty passionate in training in the places where she can go to, you know?”

“It was a request, huh. Those kind of things don’t remain in my memories for some reason. But even if I don’t meet her personally, you guys should be able to train her for the time being, right?” (Genichi)

“We were asked to have Ishido-sensei train her at least once personally. She is truly a zealous girl. It is rare to find those nowadays. I also ask of Sensei, please—”

“—-Ah, that girl, huh. She had consecutive victories as the vice-captain.” (Genichi)

It seems like Genichi finally remembered Otonashi, he spoke about the match she was in.

The disciple nods as if relieved.

“That’s right! The captain also had quite the ability, but I think that Otonashi was one head above everyone in the competition including the men. At that time, the Nakatsuhara high school was the eye of the typhoon.”

By the way, this year, Otonashi Hibiki didn’t participate.

Nakatsuhara high school ended up in fourth place.

They may not have gotten to the finals like in the last tournament, but it was quite the high result.

“Well, she did have talent.” (Genichi)

“…I am not saying this out of favoritism, but her potential was truly a head above the others. It is true that they got the better of her in the finals because of the exhaustion brought by the continuous matches, but her opponent was also quite strong. Even in the standards of women.”

Otonashi had been fascinated by the swordsmanship of Ishido. She became extremely diligent and took all the training that she could.

She also gained quite the high evaluation from the best pupil of Ishido.

‘There’s no complains in regards to her attitude’, is what his disciple was trying to say in his expression.

“Your eye for people is bad.” (Genichi)

“Eh?!”

“That’s a by-the-rule sword. You should have been able to clearly see that in the preliminaries and the finals.” (Genichi)

“…Even if you tell me that…”

“Those kind of people that swing their sword with that kind of attitude are boring. Specially the finals. If it were a person that pushed their all in those circumstances, no matter if they had been a man or a woman, I personally would have gone there to recruit them.” (Genichi)

(That girl seems to be adept at surviving in the world. Probably from the same cut as the old man Ibuki. Ugh, nope nope. At that time…it was nice until the point when she properly fought back even when she knew that her opponent was half a head better than her, but the moment she saw that it was a difference that could be filled up in a few months, she seemed to have lost all interest and purposely lost. Maybe she doesn’t like to stand out too much, or it might be because something happened within the club; whichever it is, that cold attitude, she is not interested in victory through the sword. Leaving aside her talent, she is boring as a swordsman.) (Genichi)

“No way… Even if she is cold or not, her talent is the real deal.”

“I get it, geez! I just have ta go to that Nakatsuhara place and train that Oto…Oto-chan, right?” (Genichi)

This could be said to be Genichi’s way of favoritism.

What he is talking about are the types that would learn the way of the sword while having a gun in their pocket for emergencies. They would also be attentive to bullets themselves, and they would actively try to avoid swinging their weapons.

‘They are simply polishing their sword style as a mean’.

That’s why they won’t be interested in winning or losing.

And in reality, at the finals of last year, when she lost at the finals, her opponents raised a shout of victory and were happy about their win, but Hibiki simply smiled at her comrades as if feeling sorry and apologized to them.

She didn’t feel frustrated a single bit, and showed some tears when their second place was decided simply to match her surroundings. She only looked like a fake.

“Sensei… In my opinion, the one I don’t understand is that Makoto guy though. That guy doesn’t even do kendo.”

For some reason, his disciple gave his personal opinion about the boy that his master was interested in.

It is true that, in terms of sword talent, he is a commoner compared to Otonashi Hibiki. No surprise in that.

“You can’t get how interesting that guy is? Hmm, it is to be expected. Now then, if we are going to Nakatsuhara, let’s finish the greetings quickly.” (Genichi)

“…Please do. Ibuki-san and a few others are waiting at Waiting Room B while having a chat.”

“Ibuki… Ibuki, huh. That Youkai old man is also from Nakatsuhara, right. Why do we have to go to that den of thieves?” (Genichi)

“Because they are sponsors that are contributing greatly in the kendo society! Let me say this, I don’t know why Ishido-sensei tries to bite the hand of people that are practically the very representation of filial piety! There’s a limit to being rebellious!”

“…True. You are a good person.” (Genichi)

“??”

“This may be a good opportunity. How about it? I can talk it out with the Old Man, I mean, with Ibuki so, how about trying your hand at opening your own dojo? Well, in this era, it will mainly be a kendo class though.” (Genichi)

“?! Really?!”

He doesn’t have any dissatisfaction in his current position of being the disciple of Ishido.

But as he accumulated training, he did begin thinking about his destination as a swordsman.

There were some within his seniors that would work as mercenaries, and some that would work as instructors that teach soldiers close-combat.

Both are jobs that require to be overseas.

On the other hand, the majority would make dojos at their homelands or cities.

There’s difference in balance between kendo and swordsmanship depending on the land, but being a bit over his thirties already, he has been thinking lately about wanting to settle in a position of being the owner of a kendo dojo.

He knows that he is not fit to move around battlefields like his master.

Ishido doesn’t force his disciples to take a predetermined path in their sword.

He lets his disciples decide their position on their sword and themselves, and their position towards others.

If they were to ask for advice, he will respond but, for example, in the case of this man, Ishido wouldn’t go preaching to him about the exaltation of the battlefield and cutting down people, and also the happiness of overcoming death.

(In terms of sword ability, this guy would be within the top five of the most talented disciples I have had, but…rather than cutting down people, he is overwhelmingly more fit to raise the next generations of swordsmen. He is not suited to be in the world of deceive or be deceived where the Ibuki old man stands in.) (Genichi)

“I will soon be getting work overseas. I wouldn’t be able to apologize enough to your parents if you were to get hit by a stray bullet by making you tag along with me. You are plenty strong to shoulder the Ishido name. Moreover, we will be passing by Osaka on our way to Nakatsuhara.” (Genichi)

“Osaka? Yeah.”

It is true that they will be passing Osaka on the way.