Ch.117Rise Up, The Finals (1)

I headed straight for the center of the arena.

“The long-awaited final match!!!! A battle between two historically promising talents!!!”

At the announcer’s shout, the crowd erupted in cheers.

“Woooooah!!!!”

“Waaaaaaaaah!!!!”

Look at that reaction. Well, it’s understandable.

Saito Kana, who always won the Toshin Cup, was already quite popular. Plus, she was incredibly beautiful. The enthusiastic response was only natural.

However, I definitely had my own fans too. Despite this being my first tournament, I had a certain aura as a major rookie who had made it to the finals.

Being the disciple of Kiryu Gonzaemon also carried significant weight. People had expectations based on that alone.

‘Well… there are also those unsavory rumors…’

The image of me as a man with demonic charm had solidified—not only was I surrounded by three stunning beauties, but I had even captivated Tina Burst.

Anyway, this wasn’t a fight where I was at a disadvantage in terms of recognition.

“Finally meeting you. Honestly, I expected it. I had a feeling you’d be the one standing in my way at the end.”

Saito Kana said with a smile.

“Yeah. To win, I ultimately need to defeat you. Our meeting was inevitable.”

I stretched lightly.

“Hehe. This feels like a fated encounter.”

Kana said with a smile. It was a bold joke, unlike her usual self. Even she seemed embarrassed by her own words, her face slightly flushed.

“But… I have another reason to fight you.”

I looked at Kana.

“A-Another reason to fight… don’t tell me like Tina…”

Kana stared at me intently. I could see a glimmer of expectation in her eyes. What? What exactly are you expecting?

“Thumbs-up Man… that guy was crying.”

I stated bluntly.

“…Ah.”

Instantly, Kana’s expression soured. She seemed disappointed.

“Why would he cry!!!! He just gave you a thumbs-up!!”

Kana suddenly became angry.

“Yes. You couldn’t see it… the sadness in that thumbs-up!!!”

I raised my sword high.

“Um… should we start the match…”

The announcer tried to interject.

“NOW!!!!!!!!!!”

I immediately scolded the announcer.

“Ah… yes… take your time.”

The announcer cowered and backed away.

“Thumbs-up Man’s thumb… was trembling!!!! With despair and grief!!! He trained hard!!! And you mocked him!!! You were clearly stronger than Thumbs-up Man!! But!!! You didn’t show even the minimum courtesy a swordsman should have!!!!!”

I shouted with tears of grief.

“Is Shota… always like this?”

Tina asked the harem trio.

“Yeah. Every day.”

Eri calmly replied while putting snacks in her mouth.

“Really… can’t go three minutes without acting up. Such a drama queen. Hehehe.”

Taiga said with a chuckle.

“But somehow you end up listening. It’s like a radio show or something.”

Umi nodded in agreement.

“He’s quite… eccentric.”

Tina muttered with a complicated expression. Oh, would that lower her affection for me? I had a slight hope for that. Honestly, three girlfriends were enough.

“To act so eccentrically without caring about others’ gazes… that’s true manliness. Really… such a gallant person.”

Tina said with heart-shaped eyes.

“………”

Shit. Now it seems her affection increases no matter what I do. It’s like the god of this world or something has rewritten her affection script.

“Hey!! What nonsense are you suddenly spouting!! Why is Thumbs-up Man even relevant here?!”

Kana’s shout brought me back to my senses.

“This… this is the match you’ve been waiting for with me!!! Don’t you have anything to say about me?!”

Kana shouted at me.

“My mind is filled only with Thumbs-up Man!! His resentment burns in my chest!!!!!”

I roared loudly to the entire world.

Thumbs-up Man… you who were all pride and concept… for the first time, you cried and asked me for help (in my imagination).

He must have been quite upset. The weight of that resentment… I felt it clearly.

“That damn Thumbs-up Man!!! Why does a loser dog like him even matter?!”

Kana raised her sword angrily.

“So… you dismiss everyone you defeat as a ‘loser dog’?”

I glared at Kana.

“You’re a swordsman too. Don’t be a hypocrite.”

Kana snorted.

“In the end, kendo divides people into winners and losers. I’m a winner, and he’s a loser. That’s all there is to it.”

Kana raised her sword.

“I see… I realize now that you’re beyond redemption.”

I also took my stance, holding my sword horizontally.

“You’ll understand once you become a loser. In that case… I’ll make you one!!!”

I immediately charged toward Kana.

“Ha!! All talk!!!”

Kana also rushed toward me, swinging her sword.

CLAAAAAANG-!!!!!!

Our full-power sword strikes collided in the center of the arena.

The final match had begun.

“Blazing Stance… Red Demon!!”

As our swords clashed, I charged my breathing.

TSSSSSS-!!!!

Immediately after, I concentrated my breathing solely in my arms. With all my breathing focused in my hands, steam erupted from my arms. My skin glowing red was just a bonus.

“HYAAAAAAAH!!!!!”

I swung my ham-smoked-like arms, delivering a series of consecutive strikes.

CLANG-! CLANG-! CLAAANG-! CLANG-! CLAAAANG-!!!

With all my power and speed concentrated in my arms, a flurry of incredibly fast sword strikes followed.

“Ngh…!”

Temporarily, Kana’s body was pushed back.

WHOOOOSH-!!!!

The sword wind whirling in all directions caused damage to the surroundings.

“WOOOAH!!! Wind blasting from the sword… WIIIIND!!!”

The announcer was sent flying far away in the middle of his commentary.

“Hahaha! This is fun!!! Did you learn a new technique?!!”

Kana laughed while blocking my sword strikes.

The Tennenshinshin style that Kana used was strong when taking the initiative. Its basic principle was to overwhelm the opponent with tremendous speed, not giving them time to think.

If that was the case, I could somewhat counter it by taking the initiative first. That’s why I was desperately trying to seize the first move.

It seemed to be working, as Kana’s body was being pushed back.

However, Kana’s expression remained completely relaxed.

TAAAANG-!!!

Right after that, Kana completely deflected my sword strike. She was able to deflect it perfectly because she had completely read the timing of my attacks.

STAGGER-!!

With that, my stance immediately crumbled.

“Opening!!!”

Kana immediately launched a sword strike at me. She was aiming for my waist. Her intention to cleanly take a point by striking my waist was clear.

“Hngh!!!!”

But I had no intention of going down easily.

“Smoked Ham’s Hind Leg!!!”

I immediately shifted my breathing to my legs.

TSSSSS-!!

Using the power concentrated in my legs, I immediately created distance behind me.

WHOOSH-!!

I moved away from Kana almost like teleporting. Kana’s sword strike barely cut through empty air.

“Tch. You’re fast. What an annoying ability.”

Kana clicked her tongue.

“……….”

Tina was right. Kana’s learning ability was terrifying. She had already figured out my combo and immediately countered it.

“So using the same technique repeatedly will get me caught.”

I acknowledged that with a click of my tongue.

“This is disappointing. Show me more.”

Kana displayed the composure of a champion as she held her sword.

“Prepare to be amazed.”

I immediately put on a mindless show of bravado.

But… in reality, the situation was dire.

TSSSSS-!!

The steam surrounding my body was gradually disappearing.

That’s right. The time limit was approaching. Kiryu Second wasn’t a technique that could be used indefinitely.

‘What to do…’

Just once. I needed to seize the advantage with just one move.

No choice. I have to do it. I took a deep breath and assumed a stance to charge.

“Smoked Ham’s Hind Leg… Maximum Firepower Deployment…!!”

I concentrated all my power in my legs and took a deep breath.

“I see… you’ve made your resolve.”

Kana raised her sword.

“I’ll send you to join Thumbs-up Man.”

Kana smiled as she took her stance.

“Then… here I come!!!”

I immediately kicked off the ground and charged straight at Kana.

WHOOOOSH-!!!!!!

The tremendous speed created a whirlwind around me.

“Nngh!! Such powerful wind…!!”

“Kyaa! My skirt!”

People cried out as the wind whipped around in all directions.

“KANAAAAA!!!!!!”

I immediately swung my sword. As I swung, I activated Issem. I had already circulated my breathing throughout my body with Kiryu Second. Applying Issem from there wasn’t difficult.

“I can see it…!!”

I could feel the breathing of Kana’s shinai. Breaking her shinai and finishing this—that was my aim.

“Ha!!!!! Trying to use Issem?!! That’s useless if it doesn’t connect!!!! Your sword won’t reach me!!!!”

Kana laughed as she swung her sword.

WHOOOOSH-!!

It was a vertical slash with overwhelming power. She seemed intent on destroying my sword before I could even use Issem.

But… Kana, did you think I wouldn’t anticipate that?

WHOOSH-!

I picked up something that had fallen to the ground. This was my objective from the beginning.

The microphone that the announcer had dropped when he was blown away by the wind. Grabbing it was my goal all along.

CLAAAANG-!!

I used the microphone to block Kana’s sword strike.

“What…?!”

Kana looked at me in surprise.

CRACK-!!!

The microphone, of course, shattered into pieces. I hadn’t expected much from the microphone’s durability to begin with.

However… Kana had used her turn to destroy the microphone.

That meant there was no turn left for her to block the shinai in my hand.

“You son of…!!”

Harsh words escaped Kana’s lips.

“ISSEM!!!!!”

I swung my sword with all my might toward Kana’s shinai. I could clearly see exactly how to strike to shatter it. All I needed to do was bring my sword to bear.

CRAAAAAACK-!!!!!!

My sword cleanly broke through Kana’s shinai.

“POINT!!!!!!!”

Immediately after, I delivered consecutive strikes, hitting Kana squarely on the head protector.

THWACK-!!!!!

The clean sound of the shinai striking the head protector echoed throughout the arena.

“…………”

The unexpected turn of events brought a moment of silence all around.

After about three seconds of silence, the referee hastily raised his flag.

“Arigiri Shota!! Point!!!!!!!”

“WOOOOOOOAH!!!!!!!”

“WAAAAAAAAAH!!!!!!!!”

The crowd erupted in tremendous cheers at the unexpected first point.

It was now 1-0 in my favor.