Chapter 6 – Sakamachi Kinjiro
9th January, Sunday. The day of the test. Subaru greeted him at the entrance wearing a female uniform of their academy. Throughout the past week at school, Subaru’s fans as promised didn’t make a ruckus. However there’s quite a few men that tried to attack Jiro, including his friend Kurosaki.
Nagare’s waiting in the courtyard. Their fight is at noon, Jiro arrived at 11:45. Kureha is already here waiting, and Jiro was wondering where she went since he couldn’t find her that morning. He noted he’s been in plenty of practices with her throughout the past week. Usami is here as well, so Jiro have four girls in the audience for him, Kureha, Kanade, Subaru and Usami. Subaru is worried and asks if Jiro will be fine. Jiro says there’s no problem, he’ll definitely win. He’s been training, and even though Nagare is on the same level as his mother he can’t lose, not with what’s at stake. Subaru hugged him before he stepped through the door, and called him a idiot – how can she not be worried?
Jiro misunderstood and reassured Subaru that he will definitely win and uphold her dream, hugging her back. Subaru hugged harder like she tried to break his backbone. After exclaiming what is she trying to do, Subaru slowly looked up from burying her head in his chest. With big, watery eyes and a huge effort to not let tears flow, Subaru called Jiro a idiot again - she’s not worried about that. She knows how strong Nagare is, and he won’t hold back today, both as a butler and as a father. She just wants him to come back safely, everything else doesn’t matter.
Jiro called Subaru’s name, and she looked at Jiro. Putting all his feelings into one sentence, he asked her to trust him. He promised he will be back safely, and he will beat Nagare and become a butler. He will take on Subaru’s dream for her. And, in the future, he will definitely be by her side, be someone to protect her. Jiro thought his father was surprisingly romantic, making his name having that meaning – saying that in current-day is really embarrassing.
Subaru replied she understood, and after smiling at each other they made their way out into the courtyard.
Suzutsuki’s garden is as big as a park. Nagare was already waiting for them, along with the other girls. Kureha asked if Jiro wants to hand her his coat, and he did so. She also asked if he wants her to give him some encouragement, and Jiro declined. Kureha said it’s a shame, since if Jiro takes one of her hits that’ll reach his soul then he’ll definitely be energised. Jiro said if she did that he won’t even be able to fight. Kureha said Jiro will be fine, and if he thought otherwise all he has to do is remember the training they had in the last few days. Jiro didn’t want to recall the last few days, the only thing he learned from it is that his sister is no longer human with her capability. The two of them bantered a bit more, Kureha wishing him luck and said if he dies she’ll handle recovering his corpse, which Jiro replied that won’t happen. After that they gave each other a fist-bump.
Usami passed on encouragement from Shure and Nakuru’s encouragement (with the usual yaoi tendencies from Nakuru). She herself said she’ll never forgive Jiro if he loses here. Jiro commented that’s kinda harsh. Usami then said she’ll take it back, and say ‘if he loses, he’s dead’. Jiro snarked that’s even worse. Jiro thought Usami might be scarier than Nagare.
“There’s no problem – win and everything will be fine.”
“Well, I didn’t plan on losing here.”
“Besides, you didn’t choose me or Suzutsuki Kanade, but Subaru-sama. Since that’s the case, then please make Subaru-sama happy.”
“… Mm. Thank you, Masamune.”
“Wha… I don’t need anything like thanks!? I didn’t especially want you to say things like that…!”
“I know, Usamin.”
“… … …Uu! Even you call me Usamin you damned baka-chikin?!”
Usami then kicked Jiro in the back. Jiro thinks Usami is just caring for him in her own way.
Kanade then approached him. Jiro thought by this point even Kanade would be saying something kind.
He was wrong. Kanade said in a whisper if he loses she’ll tell Subaru what happened that night when she snuck onto the same bed as him. Jiro takes back anything kind he said about her, and denied he shared a bed with her. Kanade replied he was mesmerized by her body that time. Jiro denied that, but when Kanade said he’ll be seeing her naked every
day night if he became her butler Jiro involuntarily asked “really?!” and fell for it.
After some more banter, Jiro finally came face to face against Nagare. Nagare says he’ll be serious about today’s match, and Jiro replies he understand. Nagare added his motivation is also rising, and it’s the fault of all the girls rooting for him. Jiro exclaimed that’s just Nagare being jealous.
Fight about to start, but Subaru called out to Jiro. He turned around, and Subaru kissed him on the lips. Jiro was surprised, but thanks to that he lost all his nervousness. Subaru says this is a tactic to make Nagare lose his cool, and Jiro can take advantage of that. Jiro thought that is a good plan, but it backfired; Nagare is on the verge of exploding, and his attack power is skyrocketing.
Slightly blushing, Subaru added she loves Jiro the most – and Jiro felt strength coursing through himself. So what if Nagare had more power added, he just has to weather through them. After all, how can he lose when the girl he loves say that to him? Jiro replied he loves her too.
Jiro thought he doesn’t have enough skill, only good at dealing blows. The problem is getting within striking distance. However, Nagare solved that by walking right up to him, wanting a head on match. He lost it after seeing that scene. (pic link here:
http://i991.photobucket.com/albums/a...okool/P205.png )
Fight starts. Jiro got the first hit in, but a flurry of blows impacted onto his own face. After several dozen blows at each other, apart from blood dripping down his lips Nagare is pretty much unharmed. Jiro on the other hand felt like his bones were crushed, all he can taste is iron, and felt on the verge of collapsing.
(Flere821 note: frak this, I can’t bear to summarize/shorten the following due to pure, undiluted AWESOME, so here’s a translation instead)
[translation starts]
“You can’t fight back anymore? However, I won’t just stand here and wait for you.”
“…!?”
Even as he rained down his fists the old man continued to speak.
“What’s wrong, you damn brat? Haven’t you been trained by your family?”
“…”
“Haven’t you decided you won’t lose because of those people that are cheering for you?”
“…”
“Aren’t you going to become a butler of the Suzutsuki family?”
“…”
“You… you…”
Didn’t you say you’ll make my daughter happy!?
“---”
Aah, yeah.
It’s like what the old man is saying.
Because, I had already made my resolve.
The proposal at the opening ceremony.
I’ve made up my mind then to become a butler for the Suzutsuki family.
But – that’s just a weak resolve.
In the end I am still only a 2nd year high school student. Any resolve by a brat like that will be weak. In life, not everything will be as you wish it to be. There will definitely be hardship on the way. I know exactly how much worth an inexperienced brat’s resolve would have.
However,
“Even if that’s the case… so what!”
I hoarsely said, and poured strength into my collapsing knees.
That’s right.
No matter how weak my resolve is, I had made up my mind.
I will become a butler for the Suzutsuki family.
Then, stay by Konoe’s side.
Always be by her side.
I have decided.
All I need to do is turn this weak resolve into something real.
And, to make this real…
“… Urk!?”
Instantly – a sound like something dried up and crumbled. As I heard that sound the old man’s expression painfully twisted.
The image that was reflected by his eyes – is his right fist that was pounding me just then.
“… Haha.”
The cracked lips from fighting showed a provocative smile.
Yes – it’s easy to just say it.
Konoe Nagare’s fist that was aimed at me just then.
Faced with that blow, I somehow intercepted it with my forehead.
Either way, I counter-attacked.
“… Yeah, it’s like you have said…”
And then, I replied.
The reason why I am standing here right now.
“As you’ve said, my body is good at taking hits. Because, after ten years of training by my mother and my younger sister…”
“…”
“Also, I won’t lose. Because Kureha, Masamune, and Suzutsuki… they’re all here to support me…”
“…”
“There’s another reason why I won’t lose. I made my resolve to become a butler of the Suzutsuki family. And then… and then…
“I’ve made my resolve to make Konoe happy…”
That’s right.
To make a brat’s weak resolve into something real – the way for that is to win.
I must beat the old man here.
To obtain victory, prove here and now my resolve is something that can be held…
“Gu… Ah…!”
I poured strength into my trembling legs, and clenched my fist once more.
Maybe – this is the last attack.
A body that’s wounded all over.
Maybe, I can only land this final blow.
So – this fist would be everything I have.
Even if I will get a counterattack like I had just made in response, and shatter my fist – that doesn’t matter.
If I am afraid of something that minor, I won’t be able to win.
Because, I’m a gutless coward.
Or rather – a lamb.
Nowhere to go, an unfortunate lamb that is cornered by the wolf.
Sakamachi Jiro and Konoe Nagare.
That’s the state of our respective positions.
But – even so.
“Uwooooooooooh!!”
I loudly let out a yell to stimulate my willpower, and widely swung my fist.
Standing in front of me is Konoe Nagare.
His appearance – like me, is crippled.
Maybe it was that I didn’t notice it before, but the old man is hurt from this fight as well.
Cracked lips, a face splattered with bruises, and a butler’s uniform stained by blood. Even so, the old man didn’t even attempt to block the fist from me, who is equally messed up.
“---”
In that instant,
The words this man said earlier floated into my head.
“If there is something you want, then try and grasp it with your own two hands.”
The old man said it to me then, in a park under the winter sky.
With that –
“Uwooooooooooh!!”
As that sentence had suggested, I will try and take victory with this fist!
“---”
And then.
I delivered a strike against Konoe Nagare with everything I had put into it.
As soon as I struck, my body collapsed.
The body that was pushed past the limits long ago fell towards the ground, pulled by gravity.
“… Ah.”
In that instant,
What showed up in my eyes was the people who have been watching over our battle all this time.
Sakamachi Kureha.
Usami Masamune.
Suzutsuki Kanade.
And –
“—Jiro!”
This alto that sounded out the instant I fell to the ground.
Yes, the final person that showed up in my eyes was – Konoe Subaru.
The silhouette of the girl that would entrust her dreams to someone like me…
[/translation]