Uesugi Sakura touched the silver watch on his wrist, standing behind the referee, looking towards the center of the competition venue.
The watch was a gift from little Hanabi.
He believed that touching it regularly would bring good luck.
After all, it was a gift from little Hanabi; just looking at it would bring her smile to mind. Such a wonderful thing, who wouldn’t like it?
Coming here, Uesugi Sakura intended to spend this life freely, without any burdens.
After his parents were gone, he would travel the world or find a comfortable place to live his lonely life.
But this idea eventually faded away.
When the heart finds its belonging, people will fall into the warm embrace without hesitation.
Uesugi Sakura felt as though he was bound by Hanabi, looking at the sunlight pouring down the venue, thinking about what gifts to bring her for the fireworks festival tomorrow.
"Valid score! Aoki wins!"
The referee’s call announced the result, stopping the match time, raising the red flag.
The spectators around the gym paused their recordings on their phones, with some replaying the videos once more.
——This was not surprising, as Kendo match results are often quick.
Three seconds, two seconds, one second, even within a second, it’s possible.
Some spectators, enthusiasts, would film the match first and rewatch it carefully at home to understand how the point was scored.
The gym’s screen replayed the scoring clip just now.
Reporters began jotting down details from the match from their memories.
The TV cameras also turned towards the center of the square competition field.
The two were performing the post-match Kendo etiquette, slightly bowing to each other.
The player named Aoki is a detective at the Police Headquarters, appearing just in his 30s, but with a quite robust appearance,
Such an appearance, coupled with his identity as a detective, caused ordinary people to instinctively have a sense of distance from him.
It’s the kind of person you’d instinctively glance at in the street and then give way.
In contrast, Tsujimoto Kiro, with a more honest look, didn’t attract as much attention.
However, people have an aura of identity; he was the champion of the last tournament, so no one took him lightly.
Tsujimoto bowed to Aoki, and Aoki returned the gesture, both formally stepping off the field.
"Little junior, your senior lost." Kusunoki Kubomaru, kneeling beside Uesugi Sakura, said.
Higuchi Yoshiaki shook his head and said: "Can’t help it, the guy from the Police Headquarters is formidable, using the Police Style Wooden Sword in an exemplary manner."
With decisive actions and fierce techniques... Uesugi Sakura glanced occasionally earlier, summarizing these.
Well, very impressive anyway.
Tsujimoto against Aoki was the Deputy General match; the score for the next match was the General match.
Koshin Kagami reminded:
"Little junior, it’s your turn now, at 2 to 2. If you win the General match, we can advance as the first seed to the national stage. But even if not, just do your best."
Uesugi Sakura stood up, picked up the wooden sword, and entered the competition venue at the referee’s signal.
When the opponent also sent out their General, Uesugi Sakura realized that he knew him.
Ishibashi Kesuke, probably under 28, was a police officer working under his father-in-law.
In his professional group, he should have advanced to the Police Chief by now.
Ishibashi Kesuke also looked quite young, and he evidently recognized Uesugi Sakura too.
But since it was during a match, he did not greet him first, instead smiling as a substitute for greeting.
While performing the courtesy ritual, Uesugi Sakura also returned the gesture, recalling memories of this person — his father-in-law’s subordinate, now promoted, right? Not sure if he still is, but long ago, they appeared to have sparred once.
He seemed to be from the Tenshin Shoden Katori Shinto Style.
However, being a policeman, he couldn’t possibly not learn the Police Style.
——It’s a school evolved from the Jigen Style meant specifically for the police.
So, it’s possible that Ishibashi Kesuke’s technique style wasn’t unified.
"I hope to see you different from before." Ishibashi Kesuke smiled and said to him after the salutation.
"Of course." Uesugi Sakura replied confidently.
He held the wooden sword, walked to his position, and squatted slightly.
Started putting on the helmet, tied the knot, sat upright and waited for the referee’s signal to start.
The knot at the back of the helmet was also particular; Uesugi Sakura used the Kansai knot. The source of this content ɪs N0veI.Fiɾe.net
Of course, it’s not useful, just looks cool.
The referee’s command.
The two stood up simultaneously, raising their swords.
All the spectators’ gazes concentrated on them.
The General match was particularly captivating.
Ishibashi Kesuke slowly raised the bamboo sword in both hands, maintaining a slightly rightward direction at a 45-degree angle.
Uesugi Sakura’s eyes lit up.
Right Upper Hand Position.
Uesugi Sakura recognized this opening stance, very similar to the Dragonfly Eight Forms of the Jigen Style.
Previously, his father-in-law had beaten him severely with the Jigen Style, so he knew this stance.
Uesugi Sakura had a bit of understanding of the Police Style.
In the 19th year of the Meiji era, the Police Headquarters established the Police Style’s "standing Iaido" and "wooden sword" forms.
The standing Iaido form aside, the wooden sword form was extremely influential and practical.
In its formulation, ten styles were adopted as the foundational techniques for the Police Style’s wooden sword forms.
Eight Forms (Shinkage Style)
Transformation (Kurama Style)
Eight Heavens Cut (Tsutsumi Hozan Style)
Rolling Down (Rishin Style)
Lower Stage Charge (Hokushin One-Sword Style)
Ahong (Asayama Ichiden Style)
One-Two Sword (Jigen Style)
Strike Down (Shindo Munen Style)
Position Pressure (Kyoshin Meichi Style)
The Police Style wooden sword forms were divided into ten sets, each formed by borrowing from these ten schools.