Tokyo Sick Girlfriend

Chapter 209 Monster!

"Kiyo, I want a hug!"

As the first match ended, Saori, without even taking off her helmet, skipped and hopped off the field, rushing straight into Shiratori Seiya's arms.

However, she was clearly uncomfortable wearing the mask, so she took it off, squinted her eyes, and nuzzled her face against Shiratori Seiya's chest, looking like a little bird seeking shelter.

"..."

Afraid she would fall, Shiratori Seiya quickly reached out and caught her, gently patting her back and saying:
"Would you like some water?"

Saori Hasegawa nestled in his arms, took a deep breath, then raised her little face and nodded.

"Ah."

She took a couple of small sips of water, then her gaze suddenly fell on the live stream camera on the field. As if remembering something, she looked at Shiratori Seiya and said:
"Kiyoshi, could you lend Saori your phone for a moment?"

"Huh? What's wrong?"

When Shiratori Seiya heard her suddenly ask for her phone while she was resting, he asked her in confusion.

To avoid disturbing participating members, kendo clubs usually confiscate cell phones.

Saori wasn't someone who liked playing on her phone or was addicted to the internet, so he was somewhat surprised.

Saori pursed her lips, her clear eyes flickering slightly as she said:

"Hmm... call Mom."

Upon hearing this, Shiratori Seiya immediately understood, but was still somewhat puzzled. He took out his phone and asked:
"Saori, didn't you tell Mom last night?"

"I did mention it before, but not last night... I spent the whole last night with Kiyoya."

As she spoke, her pretty face flushed slightly.
"When Saori is with Seiya, she can't think about anything else."

"..."

Shiratori Seiya was speechless for a moment.

Sometimes, Saori's words are as simple, direct, and deadly as her swordsmanship.

She handed the phone to Saori, who carefully entered the number and dialed it. After waiting for about ten seconds, the call was connected.

"Ah, Mom, it's not an insurance salesman, it's Saori..."

"Yes, Saori is participating in a competition today, Mom, are you watching?"

"Saori was afraid you'd forget..."

"The phone wasn't lost. Saori's phone was put away. It's Kiyozai's phone number."

"Yes, Mom, you can write it down. It's my boyfriend... We've never broken up..."

“He’s right here with me right now. Yeah, the phone was bought for me by Kiyoya last time, I already told you that.”

"Visiting home? Saori will ask Seiya if he has time..."

"Don't worry, Saori will win the championship."

"..."

After making the call for over a minute, Shiratori Seiya took the phone back from Saori's hand, looked at Saori's face, and hesitated to speak.

He wasn't sure if it was just his imagination, but he felt like Saori was deliberately using her phone to call her mother.
However, after thinking about it carefully, she felt it wasn't necessary. Saori could have just told her mother directly that there was no need to continue like this.

Putting his thoughts aside, he spent some more time cuddling with Saori before it was time for the second match.

Saori continued her unstoppable momentum on the field, securing victory in the first two matches with overwhelming force.

As the match progressed, Shiratori Seiya could clearly sense that the atmosphere on the field had changed.

Before we knew it, everyone’s attention seemed to have been drawn to the yarn weaving competition area.

The first three matches went well, until the fourth match, when Saori won with a clean and decisive strike to the face once again.

The cheers from the audience behind Shiratori Seiya were noticeably louder than before, and the discussions were also significantly more enthusiastic.

Who is this?!

"That's incredible speed! What kind of speed is that? Lightning?"

“I told you before, there’s a monster in the qualifying rounds, and that’s her.”

"Is this a speed a woman can achieve? Is she a professional? Is she here to fry fish? This is clearly unfair!"

"What grade is she in? First grade? You're not kidding me, are you?!"

"I feel that their speed, strength, and competition experience are in no way inferior to the men's team, right?"

"Not losing to the men's team is too exaggerated, isn't it? Although she's amazing, she's still just a girl. There's still a big gap between men and women..."

"Really? I don't think so. Fukuoka, do you think you can beat her?"

"I……"

"Stop 'I'm not sure,' you know you can't beat them, right? It feels like you've already won!"

"Some people have already won the championship by reaching the quarterfinals, but they insist on playing three more matches..."

"In the quarterfinals, I encountered a dark horse from the first year of high school. He was as strong as a monster, and I couldn't defeat him no matter how hard I tried."

"Don't open the champagne so early, okay? I remember that Kurosawa Katsuichi also participated in this year's competition. She's a third-year student, there's no way she could lose to her, right? Kurosawa-senpai has been the champion for two consecutive years."

"It's hard to say."

"I definitely can't beat Kurosawa-senpai."

"..."

On the other side of the arena, a short-haired girl sitting in the rest area, holding a bamboo sword, squinted her eyes and looked at the girl in the arena with a serious expression.

The girl sitting next to her asked:

"Kurosawa-senpai, what do you think of her?"

Kurosawa Katsuichi pursed his lips, and after a long pause, uttered two words: "Very strong."

"Um, president, how far do you think she can go?"

Kurosawa Katsuichi glanced at his teammates, remained silent for a moment, and unconsciously tightened his grip on the bamboo sword in his hand, saying:
"Below me."

Upon hearing this, the boy standing next to her breathed a sigh of relief.

If Kurosawa says there's no problem, then there definitely won't be a problem.

To be honest, the girl on the field was winning one victory after another, and the momentum she was building up made him doubt whether Kurosawa Katsuichi could beat her.

But thinking about it carefully, how could he possibly beat Kurosawa?

Katsuichi Kurosawa started practicing kendo from a young age and won numerous kendo championships. He never lost a game in college. How could an unknown first-year student suddenly appear and beat Kurosawa?

If he actually wins, he'll have to question whether it's even real.

…………

"He's a natural-born swordsman, absolutely brilliant."

"Oda, is this the child you've chosen?"

On the judges' panel, Tokugawa Shoki, dressed in a traditional kendo uniform, shifted his gaze from the victorious girl and turned to the man beside him, asking a question.

Oda Yoshihide nodded slowly.

"Ah."

"Shouldn't you try to get this talent?"

Upon hearing this, Oda Yoshihide gave a wry smile and shook his head, saying:
"I tried, but there's nothing I can do if she doesn't agree."

"Hmph, you think your eighth dan isn't good enough, huh?"

Hearing Tokugawa Shoki say this, Oda Yoshihide glanced at him calmly and said:

"Even if you're a 10th dan, that kid won't agree to it. Besides, you didn't beat me in the last open tournament."

"I was just going along with you. Besides, how do you know she won't agree to me?"

"Then give it a try."

Oda Yoshihide was too lazy to refute, but after a pause, he still tried to justify himself:
“I asked her privately, and she said she already has a teacher.”

"Oh? Who is it?"

Upon hearing this, Tokugawa Shoki's face showed a curious expression. He racked his brains but couldn't recall anyone having such an outstanding disciple.

Oh, except for his own disciple, Kurosawa Katsuichi.

Oda Yoshihide pointed to the man that Hasegawa Saori was holding and said:

"That's the one."

"Ok?"

Tokugawa Shoki narrowed his eyes, following the direction Oda Yoshihide pointed. When he saw Shiratori Seiya's unfamiliar face, which appeared to be no more than twenty years old, he frowned and glanced sideways at Oda, saying:

"Did you grind rust into your brain while sharpening your knife?"

"Hmph, if you don't believe me, go ask around and you'll find out."

"..."

…………

Off the field, the television cameras broadcasting the live coverage were pointed at the competition venue.

This live broadcast started in recent years in order to increase the popularity of kendo competitions.

A middle-aged woman stood in front of the camera holding a microphone and introduced herself:
"Hello everyone... This is the Tokyo Budokan, the venue for the National Kendo Championship finals. The women's individual competition has now progressed to the round of 16, with the top 8 advancing."

"As we all know, Kokugakuin University won the national championship in the past two years. Kokugakuin's Katsuichi Kurosawa has won the championship for two consecutive years, making them a perennial champion. They have formed a multi-strong competition with Waseda University, Aoyama Gakuin University, and Sports University."

"The contestants who have advanced to the top 16 are from these universities, namely... According to the on-site statistics of the small-game points, the female player, Kurosawa Katsuichi, who has won the championship for two consecutive years, has maintained the same record of not losing a single game as in previous years... I guess she will be the champion again this year."

"However, besides Kurosawa Katsuichi, there is another player who has also maintained a perfect record this year, named Hasegawa Saori, who comes from C University..."

"Wait, C University?"

The reporter stared blankly at the list in his hand.

Her assistant quickly handed her a form, and she suppressed her surprise, lowering her head to read it aloud:
"According to the data I have here, C University hasn't achieved any outstanding results in recent years. The best result in the women's individual competition over the past three years is third place... As for the men's individual competition, uh, none..."

Will Saori Hasegawa be this year's dark horse?

"The competition has reached the quarterfinals. Will she be able to win as easily as she did in the previous matches?"

"As we follow the camera, we can see that the contestant with the red headband behind her is Saori Hasegawa."

"Will she change her strategy this time and choose to play defensively first to probe the opponent's strengths?"

"Wait, is it still an attack?!"

The camera moved to the playing field, and the reporter's tone was full of shock, then his speech became rapid:
"Wow, that was fast! But it's obvious that Kitagawa is experienced and adjusted his strategy in time. Kitagawa executed a beautiful low cross block!"

"Kitagawa has fought back!"

"Hasegawa adjusted quickly too. Is she going to defend? Or is she still going to attack?!"

"A horizontal beating?!"

"Am I seeing things?! Did Kitagawa's sword slip from his hand?!"

"She's so fast we can't even see her with the naked eye, let's check the referee..."

"As expected, three red flags, a brilliant strike! Hasegawa has won!"

"Monster! Monster from C University!"

……
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(End of this chapter)