That night was a calm one as nothing else happened. Then the next day at 9 AM the competition began and I quickly rushed towards the arena as I overslept.
S***, s***, s***, and the female competition starts first as well. God damn it!
Just as I entered through the door and rushed to the tribunes, Alice called me as she looked from right outside the hallway that connected the arena to the changing rooms.
[Leon? Where are you? I don’t seem to find you anywhere?]
“What are you saying? I’m here, here! I’m, uhm… beside a pillar!”
[There are pillars everywhere, Leon…]
She dropped her shoulders at my ridiculous answer then she continued on looking around at the higher parts of the tribunes, still unable to see me. She then sighed and said,
[Alright, then please go to the seats right above the judges. Around that area it’s my dojo seated.]
“Ah, alright. I’m already here.”
Saying this, Alice was finally able to detect me as I took a seat at the nearest spot to the edge, looking around until I saw her.
“Ah, hey! There you are!”
[Ah, I see you now!]
She waved happily and I waved back after I’ve seen her, ready to encourage her. She then returned to her spot beside an arena and waited for her turn. At the moment there were three rings made out of tatamis that had more girls between the ages of 16 and 22, fighting against one another or on sides, waiting for their turns.
Hmm~? So her turn it’s yet to come. Good. Glad I didn’t miss any of her fights yet.
“It was about time for you to appear, Roil.”
I grinned satisfied but then a familiar voice resounded from behind me, making me turn with a forced grin.
“Mister Kurosaki… I had some troubles with finding the arena.”
“Alice said your motel is rather close. Did you oversleep?”
“… So when will your turn be?”
Having no comeback, I decided to just change the subject with a calm smile, Darius looking at me plainly then simply sighing and explaining calmly,
“Well, first are the juniors, the seniors, black belts, then the veterans. After that comes the males placed in the same order. Being a black belt of 10 dans myself, it will take a while.”
“… That sounds like it would take the whole day.”
“Today and tomorrow as well. That’s why after our girls are done, we decided to just go and eat something as we don’t have any senior females this year, most of them going either to university or to jobs outside this city.”
“… I see.”
University, eh…
Suddenly remembering about this made my head hurt for a bit. I completely forgot that there will be a day when Alice will simply go her way to a university of prestige and I’ll then also have to choose between going just like her or stay behind and focus on my work.
I won’t mind having a relationship at the distance… but I doubt she’ll like the idea.
I sighed troubled and closed my eyes, trying to just forget and stop thinking about it, not being a subject worth worrying over at the moment.
As I tried to clean my thoughts, I feel Darius’ large palm patting my back, making me turn to his bothered expression, wondering what was going on as he pointed behind,
“Hey, did you have a fight with Alice’s friends? I remember you kids being closer than this.”
Feeling the stares from his back go through him to the front, Darius couldn’t help but sigh troubled then attract my attention as I was the main target of those glares. When I looked behind him, I saw Mira stare intently at me, only to suddenly turn away from me in a hurry. Marina was beside her and couldn’t help smiling troubled by this, shrugging her shoulders at me as she had no idea how to explain this.
I raised an eyebrow then sighed with a smile, shaking my head at Darius,
“Nah, nothing like that. Don’t worry about it.”
“Ah, okay…”
He then felt her glares again, making for the back of his head to sweat for a bit.
But I do worry about it… even if I don’t want to…
In a bit, Alice was called on-stage together with her adversary. After bowing respectfully to one another, they took a battle-ready position, and just as the referee shouted the starting signal, Alice was the first to take the initiative, instantly grabbing her adversary and putting her down within less than 10 seconds, leaving her completely baffled on the ground.
“IPPON!”
The referee stopped the match and immediately pointed Alice a full point, making for the first bout a complete victory for her.
“Eh? Wait, she won already?!”
I looked baffled after seeing how they both left the arena the next moment, her adversary feeling like crying already. Darius then laughed heartily behind me and started explaining the rules of a Judo competition.
“In judo, everything it’s about either throwing your adversary or completely incapacitating them. If you do any of these two, you’re awarded an Ippon, and that is one full point, which means that you won the match. Of course, you can’t simply throw your adversary and win an Ippon. The throw has to be precise, controlled yet powerful, able to completely subdue your enemy. If the throw it’s just a normal one, then you’re awarded a waza-ari, which is half a point. You also get it if you incapacitate your enemy for 10 to 19 seconds. Two of them form an Ippon, which will win you the match. If the two are not taking any action for a prolonged period of time, they get a penalty named shido, if you fake your strikes, use defensive postures or disregard the referee’s commands to a mild sense, you’ll get another shido. Three shido will make a hansoku make which makes for a foul play and can lose your math. If you disregard the referee’s commands to a major degree, have metallic objects at you, or use any form of inappropriate behaviors, be it physically or verbally, you can gain a hansoku make instantly which could result in your expulsion from the tournament.”
“Alright, that sounds logical.”
I nodded my head interested and continued to observe the matches, being rather absorbed as I observed the techniques used by the combatants to throw or incapacitate their adversaries, especially the footsteps to get into position. To my surprise I observed how Sylvia also easily won her math by throwing her adversary once for a waza-ari, then holding her into a strangulation position for 20 seconds getting an Ippon, winning overwhelmingly with one point and a half.
Not gonna lie, she is strong.
As if feeling my gaze, Sylvia turned my way then she sneered victoriously at me as if saying: How’s that?! Leaving me baffled for a moment.
She’s just way too competitive, this girl…
I sighed then returned to look at other matches, seeing some great matches after as there were many other girls that finished with an Ippon from the very beginning like Alice, or with a waza-ari and an ippon like Sylvia. It seems that no matter of the belt’s color or how tough they appeared, skill and talent were the only thing that mattered, and to my surprise, there were many who easily rivaled both Sylvia and Alice.
Either that or I’m too noob in this to tell who is better… Either way, pretty sure they all are better than me at this, that’s for sure.
I smiled rigidly as I saw another person get thrown in the air then slammed and pinned to the floor for 20 seconds, losing after her adversary got an Ippon. What Darius omitted to say, they are not permitted to do any forms of leg-swipes like kawazu gake or kani basami, nor to dive head-first, a mistake normally done by the newcomers and immediately penalized with a shido.
Shortly after, Alice then reappears in the arena and her adversary seems rather challenging as she won her last match by pinning down for 20 seconds. Her physique was about two times that of Alice, looking almost as sturdy as me.
She’s manlier than most dudes I know, that’s for sure. What can I say, my respect for her.
I smirked with a nod then waited for the match to start. Just like before, they bowed before entering the arena, then to each other, and took a battle-ready position, waiting for the referee’s signal.
After the signal had been given, both of them went for a grip then remained in a stalling position, searching for an opening. To my surprise, the big girl was the first to find one as she quickly tried to grab at her belt and throw her to the ground.
Oh damn, she got her.
I was completely sure that she’d get thrown, only to observe that Alice was unmoving, baffling both the girl and myself. Right after, Alice then walks forward and by using her own force against her, she goes on top of her by pushing her down, quickly goes behind her, then locks her arm at the back and holds onto her neck, falling backward. immobilizing the big girl the next moment, this appeared as a sure-win for Alice. 5 seconds passed, then 10, then 15, only for her to quickly release herself, Alice scoring only half a point. The fact that she was able to get out from a back neck-lock showed just how strong her arms were, freeing herself in less than 20 seconds.
Alice then quickly got up with a composed air about her while the big girl was sweating bullets, almost being defeated. I was also looking baffled at Alice, seeing a new face of hers.
She’s… deadly. In more senses than one.
I covered my mouth with one hand surprised while thinking, starting to believe that maybe I seriously had no reason to worry for her.
The referee shouted to start once again and this time the big girl was the one to make the first move, taking a low position then reaching for Alice’s collar.
Uh, oh. She’s panicking and is no good.
Even I could tell that was a suicidal move as she exposed her arms from the get-go. This move would normally easily work on a beginner or anyone who has no experience with grappling, but in front of an experienced judo fighter like Alice, this only spelled doom. As expected, she easily dodged her grip and simply grabbed her arms, using her forward momentum to pull her then easily threw her over the shoulder for an Ippon, winning with a point and half.
After that they bowed to one another and everyone from her dojo exclaimed loudly at her victory.
I wasn’t the kind to cheer, so after she looked this way I just applauded with a proud smile on my face, feeling truly happy for her.
That’s my girl.
The next match, surprisingly enough, was Sylvia’s turn. Her adversary was another pretty woman that seemed older than her, around 20 of age. Just like with Alice’s adversary, one could tell that she had quite a bit of experience behind her back, her calm expression showing composure and confidence. Sylvia on the other hand seemed fired up and ready to fight, the moment the referee gave out the signal, rushing in without much thought. The moment she reached closer, she faked a grab at her belt, only to go for the arms, taking the woman by surprise and easily pulling her down for half a point. Although fakes aren’t permitted, hers was more like a redirection, not being penalized in any way.
Is she really a beginner? That’s some skill right there.
I was impressed by her craftiness, but the composed expression of her adversary made me understand that the same move won’t work twice.
Oh, she got used to her already…
Sylvia also felt like something wasn’t right as she didn’t rush in the second time anymore. They stood in stalemate for a moment, then before they could get a penalty for inactivity, the woman quickly grabbed her and tried to pull Sylvia to the ground. Sylvia easily held her ground but then she got pushed and after being shaken for a bit, the woman placed her foot behind Sylvia’s and pulled her to a side, gently placing her on the mat and winning half a point with ease.
Now what will you do…
I looked with an interested smile as I knew that Sylvia was now feeling rather shaken while her adversary continued to remain calm and collected.
The score was now equal and the next who scored won. Sylvia’s face was grave and she slowly got up from her place, taking her stance, waiting for the referee to give the signal as her eyes shone with determination unbefitting a simple competition.
“I have to win… I need to win…!”
She whispered softly while her grave face appeared in a daze. Seeing her like this, just as the referee wanted to signal to start, the woman raised her arm, and with a smile, she declared that she forfeits this round.
“… Do you have a clear reason for that?”
“Yes. I think my kimono will come undone soon. I wish to take the responsibility in forfeiting this match due to my negligence.”
At the referee’s puzzled expression, she smiled calmly as she held onto her kimono. Hearing this, the referee sighed as he also knew she would have won this, but still announced Sylvia’s victory, leaving her baffled for a moment. The woman then bowed with a smile to Sylvia and returned to her spot, waiting for her next match as she still had a chance, there being the losers’ matches in parallel.
Why did she do that…?
I frowned as I was able to tell that she gave up for a fake reason. I looked at Alice and she was also a bit confused, and even curious. Observing Sylvia following the woman, eager to talk with her for a bit, Alice followed suit, sneaking slowly towards the same hallway.
What the heck are y’all doing…
After the two disappeared through the hallway, I couldn’t help feeling curious as well, but like Hell would I just wind up and go to the female’s changing room just because I’m curious.
Nope, not gonna risk anything. I’m good…
.
“W- please wait a bit!”
Sylvia rushed towards the woman and stopped her right before she could enter the changing room. The woman halted her steps and looked back a bit surprised,
“Yes? Can I help?”
“U-Uhm… why… did you forfeit?”
Sylvia asked with a complicated expression on her face, feeling a bit hurt as her adversary had no reason to let her win.
Seeing that her lie has been seen through, the woman smiled calmly then said directly,
“I suppose you’re already aware that you can’t win against me, yes?”
“Wha-?!“
Sylvia was baffled for a moment and wanted to rebuke her, but no words came out as she couldn’t negate it, only closing her lips again a bit irritated. The woman then smiled again and said,
“However, your eyes told me that you had to win no matter what. In a way, I was both impressed and terrified by your strong spirit, knowing that you would do anything to win, even if it was outside the rules or if it endangered yourself. I felt like it wasn’t worth it to risk myself for a competition that limited my chances of winning in front of an adversary that was ready to sacrifice anything for that.”
“I-I see…”
“I’m not sure why you have to go that far, but I wish you luck. Also, beware that if I meet you again in the ring, I won’t show the same benevolence for the second time.”
“Y-yes! Thank you for your guidance!”
Sylvia then bowed and left to her own changing room to prepare for her next match, feeling a bit better after having chatted for a bit.
“…As for you? Why would the last champion of the junior female competition come to me as well?”
After Sylvia left, a door from a nearby room opened and Alice walked out with a helpless smile on her face.
“How do you do, Ana? I didn’t expect for you to go easy on someone, even if they’re just beginners.”
“Rather, it’s on the contrary. Beginners are the most dangerous as they barely have any control over themselves.”
“Agreed…”
Alice nodded once then looked again at her, confusion still visible on her face,
“Still, I’m rather confused as to why you did so. Knowing you, I can’t take the explanation from just now as nothing but a big lie… Do you have a more specific reason behind everything that you don’t want to tell?”
Alice asked curiously then Ana chuckled amused and asked back with a knowing smile on her face,
“Do you have some kind of relation with that girl?”
“She’s… someone I made a bet with…”
“Is it about a boy?”
“Eh? Wait…”
Alice looked stunned at Ana while she simply chuckled more amused by everything, explaining from where she found out,
“Before the female competition could start, you kept on looking around in the tribunes, as if searching for someone. Then, after you finished your matches, you would look and wave at your dojo’s seats, or more exactly, at one guy who was wearing casual clothes and was seated right in front of your dojo’s group. Hmm~ tanned skin, blonde-dark hair, a rather large frame… should I continue?”
“Alright, alright… but what does that have anything to do with Sylvia? I could have come here to see you even if I didn’t know her as the two of us are good friends, right?”
“The problem was, the girl named Sylvia was also throwing glances at him. It was even more interesting when they were meeting gazes, her smiling brightly while him throwing back a troubled smile. This triangle it’s rather unstable as I can tell he favors you more, doesn’t he?”
She smiled interested while glancing at Alice, making her blush for a moment as she evaded eye contact. After telling her that she and that boy are together, she then held Alice’s hands with a wide smile as she congratulated her enthusiastically,
“You finally got a boyfriend! I can’t believe it, I should tell everyone! Ooh~! Mike will be so~ shocked when he hears this! He had a crush on you since the first competition he saw you!”
Ana seemed already ecstatic about the news as she started thinking about the first persons she should tell, while Alice’s face turned bright red from embarrassment as her eyes shone with worry and slight desperation, shaking her friend by the shoulders as if crying already,
“W-wait! No need to tell everyone! Ana~!”
