Tokyo Sick Girlfriend

Chapter 211 I haven't planned to get married yet (Part 2)

The quarterfinals of the National Kendo Championship were scheduled for the afternoon.

Originally, the event was scheduled to take place simultaneously in several venues in the morning, which distracted the audience.

But now, only sixteen contestants remain in the individual competition, and the focus of thousands upon thousands of people in the stadium is on the central field.

Japan is a country with a strong sense of oppression, and this atmosphere is caused by factors ranging from its geographical structure to its entire social system.

Some people compare Japan to a piece of fine amber because it is very small. The limited space leads to numerous houses with thin walls. Due to frequent natural disasters such as earthquakes, houses are generally made of wood. As a result, people speak very softly, and most of the time, the volume of conversations is only loud enough for two people to hear each other.

In addition, from a young age, everyone has to learn to observe the atmosphere in school, where various small groups form among each other. When they enter society, everyone becomes a cog in the machine, performing activities according to rules every day...

Everyone was bound by invisible shackles, locked inside tiny pieces of amber, making it especially suffocating.

But as human beings, after being suppressed for a long time, they all yearn for release deep down. In occasions like this where they can cheer loudly, their cheers are especially enthusiastic, and they cherish such situations very much.

Therefore, starting from the quarterfinals, every time a player scores a point in a match, there is an overwhelming roar of cheers. Except for the final match, the cheers are basically the same.

However, the situation in this year's final was clearly different.

Saori Hasegawa undoubtedly became the most dazzling dark horse in this competition.

While the match was underway in the morning, posts about her started circulating online.

"Not losing a single point since the start of the qualifying rounds, a monster in the National Kendo Championships!"

"Shocking! To knock the opponent's bamboo sword out of his hand during the match—that's terrifying!"

"Single-handedly overpowering Tsukuba University and Aoyama Gakuin University... Just who is she?!"

"A stunningly beautiful swordswoman, can she defeat Katsuichi Kurosawa?"

"..."

The discussion surrounding this type of post has been gaining momentum online. Initially, it was only university students discussing it, but as the discussion grew, graduates who had studied kendo began to join in...

Some people have even started betting odds online, predicting whether Saori Hasegawa can make it to the semi-finals, the finals, and defeat Katsuichi Kurosawa to win the championship.

Shiratori Seiya naturally noticed this, and while he was in the restroom, he called Iguchi Kazue and asked her to contact online trolls to generate buzz about Saori.

One doesn't get many opportunities in life like Saori, who is as strong as a villain. She was previously unknown, but suddenly broke through the discussion and impact brought by the competition. She must seize this opportunity.

Shiratori Seiya had no doubt about Saori's ability to win the championship.

Judging from Saori's performance this morning, although her kendo level did not reach the master level as indicated on the assessment form, it was definitely close.

Moreover, even if Saori loses, the hype will still be high. If she capitalizes on it, she can at least become a star online, and monetization won't be a problem.

Just as he expected, when it came to the quarterfinals, Saori, just like in the morning's match, gave her opponent no chance and easily advanced to the semifinals.

When the referee raised the red flag, a deafening roar of cheers and applause erupted from the crowd.

The sound was significantly louder than in previous matches.

Eight to four, four to two...

It seemed as if the organizers did it on purpose, as Saori and Katsuichi did not meet until the semifinals.

When Saori was announced as having advanced to the finals, some people in the audience couldn't help but stand up and cheer...

"Saori, are you nervous?"

Shiratori Seiya wiped non-existent sweat from the girl's forehead with a towel and asked softly.

Saori blinked, raised her hand, grasped the towel in his hand, and tilted her head, saying:
"Why are you so nervous about something like this?"

Upon hearing this, Shiratori Seiya opened his mouth and glanced back at the crowd behind him who were all looking at Saori.

If I were Saori's age, in such a situation, even if I didn't show any fear on the surface, my heart would be pounding wildly.

Sensing Shiratori Seiya's concern, Hasegawa Saori reached out and touched his forehead, whispering:

"The person who should be nervous isn't Saori, it should be her."

After a pause, she said again:
"No matter who the opponent is, how others see Saori, or how much expectation they have for her, Saori doesn't care. She just wants to win, and she will win."

As she spoke, the corners of her lips turned up, revealing a clear smile:
"Saori won't let Kiyozai down."

"..."

…………

"Kurosawa, do your best."

"There is no need to say such things."

On the other side of the rest area, just before his turn to play, Kurosawa Katsuichi tied his headband, glanced at the boy next to him, then turned to Hasegawa Saori across from him and said:
"She is indeed very strong, but I have no reason to lose."

As soon as she finished speaking, she put on her helmet, her eyes filled with fervent fighting spirit.

Sensing the change in her aura, Horikawa Yasuto opened his mouth, naturally understanding the weight of Kurosawa Katsuichi's words as someone who had grown up with her since childhood.

Born into a family of kendo practitioners, Kurosawa Katsuichi was hailed as a genius from a young age. Although she was a girl, she trained even more than the boys, and the wooden and bamboo swords she used until they were worn out could be piled up into a small mountain in the yard.

From a young age, her family raised her to be a sword saint. Her daily life consisted of nothing but practicing kendo. Others only saw her skillful sword swings and easy victories on the kendo field, but behind the scenes, her palms were worn raw and bloody, with almost no visible lines.

On my days off, I meditate for the entire day.

She has lost only a handful of times since she was a child, and on the few times she did lose, the head of the family would punish her by not allowing her to eat.

Her life in kendo, just like her name, allows no failure; she must win.

Kurosawa, you have to win!

Horikawa Yasuto silently recited a phrase in his mind as he watched her walk step by step toward the kendo dojo.

…………

"Please, Kokugakuin University and C University, Katsuichi Kurosawa (white) and Saori Hasegawa (red), please enter."

"..."

As the two figures appeared in the center of the arena, the noisy discussion among the audience immediately subsided. After the two bowed to each other, some people even held their breath, and the discussion completely disappeared.

"The National Kendo Championship, Individual Finals, begins!"

As the referee gave the signal, the two men holding bamboo swords slowly approached.

When the two were within ten steps of each other, Kurosawa Katsuichi made the first move.

'Shuh! '

The bamboo sword was swung, and a loud bang echoed in the air.

'Snapped! '

"what!"

The sound of the air colliding with the bamboo sword exploded simultaneously in the air.

Saori's face was expressionless, but her clear eyes shone with a calm and sharp light as she blocked the attack with her bamboo sword.

As Kurosawa Katsuichi gripped his bamboo sword, preparing to strike a second time, Saori suddenly kicked off with her right foot, seizing the moment the sword was raised. She followed suit with the sword and pushed it forcefully.

Kurosawa Katsuichi's sword-wielding motion was momentarily halted by her knife-stick push, and in that instant, Saori raised her bamboo sword and unleashed a series of fierce blows.

'Clap clap clap! '

Saori's sword-wielding speed was almost inhuman; in less than half a second, she unleashed four consecutive strikes.

Once she realized her opponent was in a slump, she swung her bamboo sword down and then struck horizontally.

'Snapped! '

However, the knife did not hit Kurosawa's left rib; she narrowly caught Saori's knife.

Kurosawa, pressing down on Saori's sword, turned around and raised it, intending to slash at her small hand with the bamboo sword in his hand.

However, just as she tried to lift the sword, she found that she couldn't move it at all; Saori was pressing it down firmly.

Kurosawa Katsuichi's pupils suddenly contracted.

How could this be?! With that kind of strength, is she a monster?
However, in the next instant, Saori raised her hand again, and slammed the bamboo sword in her hand against the opponent's sword, then thrust it straight at her throat.

Oh no! Ignoring the intense numbness and pain in her arm, Kurosawa Katsuichi tried to parry, but the sword had already pierced her throat, and her attempt to block was ultimately a moment too late.

"prick!"

As soon as Saori finished speaking, she quickly jumped back.

The three referees holding flags on the scene watched Saori jump away, paused for a moment, hesitated for a second, and then raised the red flag.

Both players moved so fast that one of the referees first raised the white flag and then the red flag.

‘Crash! ’

When the referee raised the red flag, the crowd erupted in cheers.

"real or fake!?"

"So fast! I couldn't even see it! Kurosawa lost?! Really?!"

"Saori! Amazing!"

"That's incredible! Is she even human at that speed?"

"She's definitely evolved, hasn't she?!"

"Don't rush, there's still another point. Maybe Kurosawa will win it..."

In the second round, Kurosawa Katsuichi was noticeably more vigilant. After experiencing Hasegawa Saori's terrifying strength and speed, she took the initiative to defend, hoping to find a weakness in Saori.

When the two bamboo swords clashed, the entire audience, including the judges and referees, held their breath.

At that moment, everyone in the Tokyo Budokan who was watching the match unconsciously tensed up.

'Clap clap clap! '

A series of sounds of bamboo swords striking each other exploded in the air, countless sword shadows streaked through the air, and the sound of their combined energy rang out at the same time.

At this moment, Kurosawa Katsuichi finally realized how terrifying Hasegawa Saori was. She had thought that her opponent was only strong in strength and speed, but she did not expect that her experience was also so rich.

Every time he launched a surprise attack with his bamboo sword, she blocked it at an extremely tricky angle.

She had almost anticipated all of her attacks.

Each defensive counterattack only lasts for a fleeting moment.

Kurosawa's arm was numb and painful from the countless sword strikes his opponent had unleashed. He knew that if he didn't retaliate, his opponent could wear him down with sheer strength.

As the thought crossed his mind, Kurosawa's eyes sharpened, and he gathered his breath, making a sound of breath control.

"what!"

She tried her best to knock the bamboo sword out of Saori Hasegawa's hand and thrust it towards the other person's throat.

However, just as she was halfway through her thrust, Saori blocked the incoming sword with the back of her hand. As Kurosawa Katsuichi raised his hand to step back, she suddenly pushed off the ground with her right foot, forcefully slapped Kurosawa's bamboo sword away, and chopped it down towards her forehead.

'when! ’

"noodle!"

………………

"We can see that the second round is about to begin. Will Kurosawa be able to tie the score, or will Hasegawa win the championship?"

"Kurosawa has actually chosen to play defensively? It seems he changed his strategy because of the last match..."

"Hasegawa maintained the same style as before, and she took the initiative..."

The reporter's mouth was like a borrowed Gatling gun, speaking at an astonishing speed, almost inaudible.

"So fast! Her sword swings are almost invisible, and it's impossible to count how many strikes she's made. Kurosawa Katsuichi is being pushed back step by step!"

"Will Kurosawa Katsuichi be unable to hold on like this? Oh! Kurosawa has chosen to launch a counterattack!"

"She unleashed an extremely tricky sword strike!"

"Will Hasegawa have time to react?!"

"Hasegawa blocked that sword! And she seems to be preparing to counterattack!"

"Kurosawa's bamboo sword has been deflected, and Hasegawa has successfully struck the face!"

"An astonishing sword strike! A true genius!"

"By a single point, Hasegawa from C University won the championship! She's the real dark horse!"

Whoosh!!!

When the audience saw the sword strike that had struck Saori Hasegawa squarely in the face, they gasped in shock, and almost everyone in the stands stood up.

The referee immediately declared Saori the winner, and cheers instantly resounded throughout the entire stadium.

All eyes are on you.

However, compared to the boiling cheers at the scene, Saori Hasegawa's reaction was quite calm. After bowing to Katsuichi Kurosawa and confirming with the referee that the awards ceremony would be held after the team competition the next day, she skipped and hopped toward Seiya Shiratori.

However, before she could even reach Shiratori Seiya, she was surrounded by her teammates from the kendo club, who then lifted her up and tossed her into the air in celebration.

Saori hadn't expected this, and her expression froze.

But when she came down, thinking that she was in front of Kiyoya, another group of reporters swarmed up to her.

"Hello, Saori Hasegawa, may I interview you?"

"Uh……"

Looking at the microphones piled up in front of her, Saori Hasegawa opened her mouth, a blank look on her face. She opened her mouth again and looked at Seiya Shiratori not far away.

Seeing that Kiyoya smiled at her and gave her a thumbs up, she felt relieved and hesitantly nodded to the reporter in front of her.

"Ms. Hasegawa, what are your thoughts on winning the national tournament?"

"Uh……"

Saori froze for a moment, then uttered two words:
"happy."

She paused, her expression somewhat complicated, and said:

"Could you please hurry? I have something else to do."

Upon seeing referees maintaining order at the scene walking this way, the reporter quickly nodded and said:

"Okay, may I ask you three questions? It won't take long..."

"Ah."

"Excuse me, I heard that you declined the invitation from Oda Yoshihide, the 8th dan kendo master's close disciple, during the qualifying rounds. May I ask why?"

Upon hearing this, Saori blinked and said:

"Because Saori already has a teacher."

The reporter's eyes lit up, and he quickly asked:

"May I ask which teacher this is?"

Saori opened her mouth, then stammered:

"Yes... he is my fiancé. I started practicing kendo because of him. We started dating in junior high school."

"what?"

The reporter was stunned and couldn't help but ask, "Fiancé? Are you classmates?"

"Ah."

Saori Hasegawa nodded. The reporter noticed the organizers approaching out of the corner of her eye, so she didn't dwell on the question and continued:
What are your plans for the future?

Upon hearing this, Saori Hasegawa was taken aback, then a blush appeared on her pretty face, her dark eyes glistening with tears. Avoiding the reporter's gaze, she said shyly:

"We...we're not planning on getting married yet..."

……
-
(End of this chapter)