ARATA
I was waiting in the lobby for Coach Kuriyama and Murao when my phone buzzed in my pocket. My first thought was of Chihaya and Taichi. All day, I'd been wondering how their matches were going.
I flipped it open and found a message from Chihaya. A picture popped up…a certificate covered most of the screen, with just half of her beaming face visible behind it.
A certificate? Surely that meant…could it be possible?
I enlarged the photo until I could confirm what I'd guessed the document said: she'd won. She'd actually won the eastern Queen qualifier. My heart warmed and then a giddy rush went to my head. I laughed aloud. Punching the air, I said, "Yessss!"
A couple heads turned from their conversations, but I barely noticed, still grinning like a fool. Well done, Chihaya. You didn't give up. I was just bursting with pride.
I pressed the button to call her as I headed outside for some privacy.
"H-hello? Arata?" She sounded breathless, excited as usual.
"Chihaya!" I exclaimed. "You won. You really won! Congratulations!"
Her answering squeal shook my eardrum. "I know! Isn't it great?" I couldn't help but laugh with her.
"What about you, Arata? Will I see you at the playoffs?"
"Oh," I said, crashing back down to earth. "My senpai, Murao-san won here."
"Oh." She sounded deflated.
"That's okay," I rushed to console her. "That just means I'll definitely be free to come watch you in the Queen match." I didn't like losing, but losing to Murao was something that happened fairly often.
"All right." She still seemed disappointed. "Do you know who won the girls' match? At your tournament, I mean."
Back inside the well-lit lobby I could see Murao and Coach Kuriyama looking around. "She's from a different society, but I know a little about her. I'll have to tell you later, though. Coach is looking for me right now so we can head home."
"Oh, okay." Her voice held regret. My heart squeezed.
"Sorry. I'll call you again, okay?"
"Mm."
As we hung up, one of the poems sang in my mind: Just because you said 'I'm coming soon' I've hung around waiting through the longest night to the daybreak moon.
"Chihaya. I'm coming soon. Wait for me."
-0-0-0-0-
CHIHAYA
"Chihaya!" The teacher's voice cracked down like a whip from just over my shoulder. My arm swung reflexively, knocking a pile of karuta cards to the floor. My classmates laughed.
"This is not Classical Literature," he snapped, "It's Geometry."
"I'm sorry, Teacher," I said quickly.
He stooped to collect the scattered cards. "I'll just hold onto these for now."
I jumped from my seat, stopping just short of snatching the cards from him. He rose slowly, allowing the menace in his face to register with me. Further down the aisle, Desktomu was watching with concern. "I'm in a very important match soon," I explained hastily, "and I need them to prepare. Please!" I bowed abruptly.
I stared at his shoes for a minute. "Then pay attention in class and I might be inclined to return them to you afterwards."
I nodded my head rapidly. "Yes! I will!" I collapsed into my chair. Desktomu shot me one last, scolding look before turning back to the front.
I tried to pay attention for the rest of the period, but I could feel the pull of the remaining cards stashed inside my desk begging me to review them. In keeping with my new lease on life, I started each morning with prayer and forced myself to put aside the cards at lunchtime and actually spend time with my classmates. Other than that, though, I'd been eating, sleeping, and dreaming nothing but karuta for the past two weeks. When our club finished practice I went to the Shiranami society for more practice. At home, I re-watched the recordings of last year's Queen match and of the match between her and Arata, laying out my cards to mirror theirs and practicing along with them. My parents quietly placed a tray within reach, but didn't try to interrupt. Homework was something I hurried to complete on the train ride to school. I never had enough time to finish it, but homework just didn't seem important right now.
Arata was good as his word and called me with the little bit of information he had on my opponent from the West region. Desktomu did his best to analyze his most recent data on my play and help me be aware of my habits and weaknesses. The other club members continued to work hard at improving their own games.
With one week left before the Finals, Taichi and I were riding the train after club when he interrupted my flashcard drill with a random pronouncement. "I think we should make a bet."
"What do you mean, a bet?"
"A little extra motivation for you. You might be thinking since it's your first time at the Finals that it'd okay if you don't win."
I sputtered. "I am not!"
"I don't know," he demurred smugly, "You might be."
Ooooo, that Taichi. He burns me up sometimes. "Have you not noticed how hard I've been working…"
He cut in just as I was getting warmed up. "So you'll take my bet then?"
"Ha! Well, make it something good, then, because I'm going to win it."
"All right," he said. His golden eyes were flashing with mischief and …something else. "If you win the Finals, I'll buy you anything in the Daddy Bear store."
My eyebrows shot up. Taichi's family had money, and he had access to plenty of it. Would I feel bad taking advantage of him? Well, he started it.
"A-anything?" I sputtered, my thoughts flitting through a mental catalog of items I'd coveted. "Awesome."
As I turned back to my flashcards, he said, "Hey, not so fast. We didn't decide what I get if you lose."
My insides wilted. I couldn't afford to make the kind of offer Taichi had. Maybe I could make him a bento? Nah, my cooking was more of a punishment than a reward.
"If you don't win, you have to take me out on Christmas Eve."
"I don't have any money," I protested.
"You don't have to spend money, you just have to make plans with me."
"But Christmas Eve…that's for couples, isn't it?"
A tinge of pink rose on his cheeks before he looked away. "Well, you're not dating anyone, are you? I just need an excuse to get out of my class party."
"Why? I had fun at mine last year."
He turned back and I saw his mouth quirked in irritation. "Never mind why, I just don't want to go. So is it a bet?"
I felt the flames of competition ignite inside me. With a firm smile I nodded. "You're on."
-0-0-0-0-
CHIHAYA
There was a bite in the air and clouds loomed low as Kana-chan and I walked the last block toward an unassuming two-story, brick building. Dead leaves skittered past my feet. As I approached the threshold, I looked up at the sign above the door: Tokyo Otsuka Memorial Hall.
I'd been here before, when Tsuboguchi was representing our society. Today I would be the one representing us…no, not just that, but representing Eastern Japan. I stumbled a little.
Kana-chan caught my wrist to steady me. "Are you all right, Chihaya-chan?"
"Mm." As my eyes adjusted to the interior, I scanned the lobby for familiar faces. It was still early, so I didn't find any among the scattered men and women who each seemed to be attending to assigned tasks.
"Should we wait for Dr. Harada?" I asked Kana-chan.
"He won't be able to help you with this hakama," she replied, gently caressing the garment bag draped over one of my arms.
"Oh. Right." I scanned the room again, finally deciding on a young woman who seemed to be giving out directions to various people. "Excuse me," I said and waited politely.
"Yes?"
"Is there a room where I can change and leave my things?"
Irritation clouded her face for a moment before it was replaced by surprise. "Are you one of the Finalists?" she asked, failing to hide her disbelief.
I confirmed that I was, giving her my name.
"Pardon me," she said, making a half-bow. "You look much younger than I expected."
Great. Remind me of how inexperienced I am. Butterflies danced in my stomach.
I released a nervous laugh. "Haha…yes, I'm still in high school." Was that squeaky voice mine?
"She's the same year as the Queen," Kana-chan piped in. Her tone was modulated to convey information with all due politeness, but her little face looked peeved.
That's right. Shinobu-chan was even younger when she first came here. She must have been…what? A freshman? Or still in middle school? Wow. I wonder if she was scared? I saw her proud face again in my mind. It was hard to imagine her being intimidated by anything. In my mind, she's always the Queen.
"Well, what a coincidence," the woman was saying. "If you'll come with me, we just need to be sure your paperwork is in order and then I'll show you to a room."
Before long, we were sliding the luxurious material over my shoulders. I'd wanted to wear the hakama Mom had purchased from Oe-san, but both she and her daughter insisted I save it for the Queen match. I smiled, bolstered by their belief in me.
Kana-chan fluttered about me, tucking and tying and adjusting, and, of course, reminding me of proper hakama etiquette while doing so. A knock came at the door.
"Come in," I bellowed without thinking. Kana-chan was scolding me for such unladylike behavior when a craggy face appeared.
"Harada-sensei!" I cried, reaching for my coach with both arms. He accepted my hug with a couple hearty pats on the back. Seeing him somehow released the lock on my emotions, and I felt tears threaten.
"Well, Chihaya-chan, today's the day, eh?"
I nodded and listened to his pep talk. Every moment in his presence helped ground me more.
"Your friends are probably getting restless by now. Should I send them back?" he said, opening the door partway.
I felt my spirits lift. "Yes!"
He left the door ajar, and I could hear him exchanging hearty greetings with someone down the hall. Moments later, a light knock preceded the appearance of another middle-aged man. He was mostly balding, with gray hair still clinging to the bottom half of his head, but his face was kindly. I had the feeling I'd seen him before.
"Ayase-san?" he asked for confirmation.
"Yes?"
"I'm Kuriyama-san from the Nagumo Society in Fukui."
Fukui!
He smiled warmly at my reaction. "Arata-kun asked me to give you this." He offered me a medium-sized box wrapped in a bow.
I carefully took it with both hands, holding it like something precious.
Arata.
Arata.
"Work hard today," Director Kuriyama said with an indulgent smile. He was out the door before I remembered to call, "Thank you!"
I looked back at the gift in my hands. "Aren't you going to open it?" Kana-chan asked. Her voice sounded tight.
"Oh." I carefully untied the bow, letting it fall to the ground as I balanced the box on one hand and wrestled with its lid. I sank to my knees, finally able to get a good grip and open the thing.
I pulled out a white teddy bear. "Ohhh, it's so cute!" I cried, holding it in both hands while I admired it.
There was a red star on one of its paws with a sticker labeled 'Press Me.' I did, and was stunned to hear a muffled recording of Arata's voice. "Chihaya, congratulations. I wish I could be there supporting you today." He paused. "I'll be praying for your success. Make sure you win so I can come see you in the Queen match."
I stared dumbly at the little bear while my emotions swirled. Happiness and affection twisted round and round like leaves in a tempest. But they were tinged bittersweet with longing.
His youthful voice replayed in my head. "Chihaya, I think you have what it takes to become Queen!"
"Arata." I stared off into nothing.
Ebullient voices intruded on my melancholy, bringing me back to the present. Just before my teammates burst through the door, I caught sight of Kana-chan's thoughtful expression.
"I'm telling you, it's the same actor that was in Street Battle," Hanano was saying to Porky as they burst through the door.
"No," Porky rebutted, "definitely not him."
"Yes, and he's just released a song…ah, what was the name…" She pulled out her phone and began searching.
"Here," Tsukuba-kun thrust a paper-wrapped bouquet in my face. "We got you some flowers."
Hanano looked up in annoyance. "Wow. What a touching presentation, Tsukuba-kun."
I laughed and accepted the flowers. As I started to rise, Taichi offered his hand. Maneuvering in the hakama was awkward, so I allowed him to help pull me up.
"How are you feeling? Good?" he asked when we were face to face. His expression was open.
"Mm," I nodded. "A little nervous."
Porky chimed in. "Aw, that's normal. Did you eat a good breakfast?"
"Breakfast?" I tried to remember.
"Chihaya!" Several voices cried out in dismay.
"Oh, right. Yes, I did. I had orange juice and rice with…"
"Okay, okay. Geesh, at least you remembered to eat," Taichi said. He ran a hand through his thick hair. For some reason he looked more frazzled than when he'd first arrived.
"What's that?" Hanano asked. She was looking at my feet.
"What's what?" I checked the hem of my garment.
"That stuffed animal-looking thing."
With a start, I realized I'd left Arata's gift on the floor where I'd been seated. "Oh!" I shifted the flowers from arm to arm and stooped to pick up the little bear. "It's a gift." My mouth stopped suddenly. For some reason I felt weird about saying who sent it. "From a friend. For luck."
Taichi's brow furrowed. Kana-chan inserted herself. "Uh, um, have you double-checked that you packed everything? Water? Chocolate? A towel?"
I laid the flowers on the table by my bookbag and set the little bear next to it while I rummaged around, pulling out the items she'd listed. Desktomu appeared by my side. "Do you want to review any of the strategies we discussed?" he asked.
"Sure." I pulled out a chair and took a seat. He set several notebooks on the table and did the same.
Over the noise of Hanano and Porky resuming their earlier argument, I heard Taichi instructing the group to head out and find seats in the main room. They filed out the door as Desktomu flipped a couple pages to one he'd flagged.
I felt the weight of a hand on my shoulder and looked up to find Taichi's golden eyes. "Good luck," he said. His lips curved in a gentle smile.
Excitement fluttered in my stomach. This is really happening! "Thanks."
As he moved off, he called over his shoulder, "Don't forget our bet!"
Our bet. Oof! The Daddy Bear! Any Daddy Bear item at all!
When my gaze returned to Desktomu, fire lit my eyes.
