CHIHAYA
I was watching the Class C matches when Taichi knelt next to me. We held a whispered conversation.
"What are you doing here?" he asked.
"Watching Tsukuba-kun and Kana-chan."
He loosed an aggravated sigh. "I figured that much. You should be watching the Class A matches," he admonished. "Come on," he said, taking my wrist and starting to rise.
I yanked my arm from his grip. To his shocked look I responded resolutely, "No! I want to stay here and support them."
"Chihayaa…" He injected plenty of irritation into my name.
I crossed my arms and glared at him. I wasn't backing down on this. I wasn't going to be selfish right now. It was my way of expressing faith in what I'd experienced earlier.
Taichi continued to search my face. Ah, I see. He's worried.
"I'm okay," I assured him, giving his hand a squeeze. I watched the tense lines in his face ease. He gave me a nod and headed for the door.
The rest of the matches passed quickly. Kana-chan was doing well and held on until the semi-final round, long after the rest of our team had been eliminated, but the luck of the draw wasn't with her and she lost before the finals. The whole team was there to console her, and she took it bravely, as always. Soon we were changed and packing the hakamas back in their boxes.
-0-0-0-0-0-
TAICHI
I checked my watch again. The Class B finals would start in five minutes. We were all collecting our things from the borrowed room, preparing to leave. Chihaya was chattering away, reciting what was almost a play-by-play review of Kana-chan's last match. She was animated, seemingly unfazed by her own disappointing play today. I'd worry later about her early elimination; for now, I was relieved that she was taking it well.
"Taichi," Oe-san asked distractedly, "would you carry that box please?"
"Um, actually I'm planning to stay and watch the Class B final. I'm sorry. Nishida, can you get the hakamas?" I called to him.
"Aren't you sick of Class B finals by now?" he asked, moving to take the box anyway.
"I know someone who's in it," I explained. Chihaya's eyes snapped to mine. "It's Rion."
"Yama-chan?!" she said, taken aback. "She's here? And she's in the finals!" A panicked look crossed her face. "Let's go!" she cried, racing out the door ahead of me.
"Uh, I guess Chihaya is staying too," I addressed Oe-san. "I'll make sure she gets home safely."
Her pinched expression looked just like Kana-chan when she's giving us a scolding, but Oe-san said only, "Alright. Just don't let her wander off."
"Yes, ma'am," I said, offering her a quick bow before swiftly making my exit. Behind me I heard Hanano-san begging to stay as well.
I found Chihaya in the Class B room, wandering among the twenty or so remaining spectators and obviously looking for Rion. I'd almost reached her when she started suddenly, calling out, "Yama-chan!"
I turned to follow her gaze. Rion's face was expressionless but her eyes were alert, scanning the room, finally landing on the owner of the voice. "Chihaya-chan," she greeted, moving in our direction. A moment later her eyes found me standing behind Chihaya, and she broke into a smile. "You came," she said with some surprise.
My own smile unconsciously mirrored hers. "I promised, didn't I?" I assured her. "How are you feeling?"
"Stiff," she admitted, stretching her neck muscles by slowly rolling her head from side to side. Copper tresses fanned distractingly over the creamy skin of her cheeks. "But I'm excited. Just one more match."
Chihaya stepped behind her and began massaging Rion's shoulders. As her hands worked, Chihaya offered advice and encouragement. I missed most of it, though, because I was suddenly imagining myself in Chihaya's place. I watched her fingers close over Rion's slender shoulders, and something fluttered inside me. I shook off the weird daydream and tuned back in.
"…and then just trust yourself," Chihaya concluded.
I added, "Remember to take your time on multi-syllable cards."
"I just said that," Chihaya chided, looking at me strangely.
"Oh, uh…" I shut up before betraying anything else.
"Looks like they're ready for us," Rion said, glancing toward the podium.
"Good luck!" Chihaya thumped her on the back. Rion stumbled a little and I caught her hand.
Her surprised eyes leapt to mine. "You've got this," I assured her. I held her gaze, willing confidence into her. After a few moments she gave me a sharp nod and walked off.
Chihaya and I sat in the front row. I didn't recognize Rion's opponent. He was a well-proportioned man, probably in his mid-twenties. I was contemplating whether his age counted for or against him when Chihaya grabbed my arm.
Her eyes were pinned on Rion's challenger. "He's left-handed," she hissed. "I should have reminded her to check that. Oh, Taichi, is it too late? How can I tell her?"
Across Chihaya's distressed monologue, a new voice cut in. "Mashima-kun, right?"
I looked up to find Rion's brother approaching. He stopped in front of me and his eyes dropped from my face to my arm. I'd forgotten that Chihaya was clinging to it. "And who is this?" Arai asked. "Another friend of Rion's? Or is she a friend of yours?" His genial tone contrasted with the sharpness in his gaze.
Chihaya dragged her eyes away from the left-handed challenger to look up at the man addressing me. "Huh?"
Arai's amber eyes went wide and he actually took a step back.
Ahh. I forget sometimes how beautiful she is, especially when she gives you that innocent look.
"Both," I answered, raising my eyebrows at him. "This is my teammate, Ayase Chihaya. She and I met Rion this summer at the Fujisaki training camp."
Arai had regained his balance during my introduction. With a charming smile, he purred, "Well, it's certainly a pleasure to meet you, Ayase-san. I'm Rion's brother, Yamashiro Arai." As he spoke, he smoothly folded his frame into a sitting position. Next to Chihaya, of course.
Clueless as usual, her expression was bright as she asked, "Oh! Do you play too?"
He chuckled. "Not often anymore." He leaned close to Chihaya, as if to let her in on a secret. "It's too humiliating to lose to your baby sister."
She responded to his easy manner with a smile. Grrrrr.
"Chihaya's game sense is very similar to Rion's," I blurted.
"Is it, now?" Arai leaned away again, playfully scrutinizing Chihaya with mock chagrin. "Well, I'll have to avoid playing you in the future, won't I?"
Chihaya's face fell, and she turned back to the match that was almost starting. I had to chuckle at how quickly Arai lost her interest.
Rion's eyes traced back to us as the memorization time began. Chihaya waved her left hand, stabbing at it with her right. Rion looked puzzled. I joined in the foolishness, pointing at her opponent and then at my left arm. "Lefty," I mouthed, "Lefty!"
She looked at him and back at us, where we were desperately flapping our left hands. That dimple appeared in her cheek and she nodded understanding before leaning over her cards. I wiped my palms on my pant legs. For some reason, I felt really nervous.
"Naniwa Bay, now the flower blooms, but for winter…"
The match was tense. Chihaya twitched at the same one-syllable cards that Rion snatched away after only a breath, and I had to admire their game sense anew. In the back of my mind, the specter of Master Suo loomed, but I tried not to think of him.
Crap. A fault. Rion looked angry with herself. Watch your timing. There are still too many multi-syllable cards left.
The momentum shifted back and forth, carrying the audience along on pins and needles. Rion dabbed at her glistening brow with a small towel. As the field thinned, she was able to pick up more and more cards. Good girl, you've been working on your memorization.
Rion was down to one card at last and, from the way she was acting, I figured it must be one of those multi-syllable nuisances.
Chihaya's urgent whisper broke into my concentration. "Taichi!"
"I see it," I answered. Rion's cover was positioned to protect against right-handed opponents.
Lefty! Lefty! Lefty! Chihaya and I shouted in our minds. Rion's gaze was trained on the mat. Her posture was sagging, and I could see her breathing heavily. A fire burned inside me as I remembered my own experiences trying to capture that last, vitally important card.
Chihaya twitched as the reader began. Rion moved to cover her card, but her opponent swung around the side. At the last moment, Rion angled her hand to protect against the left-side attack, cutting off the opening he'd been aiming for. His hand skimmed over hers as she pressed down firmly. She'd claimed the card the instant its unique syllable was read.
Rion froze. The desperation on her opponent's face melted into disappointment. I exhaled a breath I hadn't realized I was holding. The finalists exchanged obligatory courtesies as the reader finished the verse.
After a moment of hushed anticipation, everyone in the room seemed to breathe again. I felt a broad grin pull at my face and was on my feet in a moment. Chihaya was at my side. We waited impatiently, watching as Rion solemnly accepted congratulations from several of the officials. She caught sight of us and excused herself. Slowly and deliberately, she strode toward us, her wide eyes holding mine. A shy smile crept over her face.
Everything seemed to fade into the background as I watched her approach. The air hummed with the thrill of victory. We shared the elation, the sweet moment of her triumph.
The moment was broken when Chihaya stepped in front of me, arms outstretched. "You did it!" she cried as the two fell into an exuberant hug. As Chihaya released her, I swept in and followed suit. In an instant she was in my embrace, her arms flung round my waist and her head pressed to my heart. Words fled as I was suddenly too aware of the unfamiliar form cradled against me. All my senses snapped to focus on her—how her frame felt small and fragile compared to mine; how her hair smelled flowery and tickled my chin; the way she was gripping fistfuls of the back of my t-shirt.
My pulse hammered, and I felt heat rise in my cheeks. Abruptly, I dropped my hold and took a step back. Her eyes were shining with victory but when she saw the shaken look on my face, a blush rose to her cheeks. My brain still fuzzy, I could only echo Chihaya's words. "You did it," I said numbly, using all my strength to try and summon a normal-looking smile. "You made Class A. Congratulations."
My fake smile seemed to placate her, and her happy expression returned. "It's because you believed in me," she said, turning belatedly to include Chihaya. "I could feel you supporting me, and I just knew I would be able to win this time." Rion's eyes flicked back to me, gratitude lighting their amber depths. My heart swelled at her admission.
Movement behind her caught my attention; Arai was watching the scene intently. He wore a smug look, and for some reason, I didn't think it had anything to do with Rion's karuta win.
0-0-0-0-0
CHIHAYA
The weeks ahead followed a regular rhythm, practicing with the club and then with the Shiranami society on weekends. Thanks to our new exercise regimen I'd quickly regained my stamina. I also made sure I took time for friends at lunch and plopped down on my sister's bed for a while each night.
"Be patient and keep practicing" became my new credo. Somehow, whenever I said it to myself I felt like Arata was right behind me, encouraging me to keep on.
It was the last club practice before the Kawaguchi tournament. The clubroom windows were open to the refreshing fall air. Taichi played opposite me, and sat back with a sigh as I took his last card. "Thank you for the match," we chorused.
Desktomu paused the CD player. I looked at him curiously, but he and Taichi were having some sort of silent conversation. "Do you want to tell her, or should I?" he asked.
Taichi made a "go-ahead" gesture and mopped at his brow with a towel. The other club members watched, transfixed by their odd behavior.
"Chihaya," Desktomu began somberly. "Do you realize that for the past week no one has been able to beat you?"
Porky snorted his irritation. "No one's even come close."
Huh? What were they trying to say? I searched from one face to the next. They all seemed pleased. If they lost, why would they be happy about it?
Taichi was watching me closely. "How are you feeling these days?" he asked.
"Great!" I responded automatically.
His mouth twitched in a quick smile. "I can tell…we all can. We just want to be sure you realize—before you go to the tournament tomorrow, we want you to realize that your game is back on track. "
Huh?
"You're doing as well as-or maybe even better than—before your surgery."
"I am?"
My teammates all smiled and nodded or voiced their agreement. Kana-chan was fighting tears.
I felt my own eyes begin to fill and hastily offered a deep bow. "Thank you!" I cried. "Thanks, all of you…" My voice choked off. Their friendship and support meant more than I could find words to express.
"We should go celebrate," Hanano suggested. "I could really go for a cake buffet."
"Or there's that new ramen shop that just opened over by the movie theater," Porky interjected.
I crossed my legs and smiled as I watched my friends squabbling over what we should do next. How could anyone not believe in teams? If I could, I would start a team for Arata. And for Shinobu-chan. So they could have all this joy. So they wouldn't be alone.
A bell chimed in my mind. I caught a glimpse of myself in the future, coaching a ragtag bunch of high schoolers who had only karuta in common. It felt right.
But could I really make it happen?
-0-0-0-0-
TAICHI
My thumb moved quickly over the pad of my mobile phone….
Arata,
Chihaya came in second at Kawaguchi today. She came very close to winning it. We won't be at Yoshino, so good luck. Let's meet at the Master Challenger playoff.
-0-0-0-0-
After the Kawaguchi tournament Chihaya was steadier than I'd ever seen her. She'd always been determined, but the slightly frantic edge that used to characterize her was gone.
I didn't like to admit it, but she reminded me of Arata.
Even her grades had improved, and when exams wrapped up a few days before the challenger tournament Ms. Miyauchi congratulated her on her best scores yet. That weekend Nishida, Chihaya and I competed in the eastern Master and Queen qualifiers. Nishida and I fell out in the first two rounds, but Chihaya made it straight through to the finals.
She faced off against Yumin again, but this time she was immoveable. When Yumin made a fuss, contesting a card with her signature protest style, Chihaya remained eerily calm. "No," she said resolutely. "You're mistaken. Judge?" The referee rarely had a certain view of what had happened, but Chihaya's unaffected conviction usually convinced him to side with her, until finally Yumin had to give up that strategy.
Chihaya won by four cards. She would go to the east-west playoffs in November. And if she won there, she would face the Queen.
