~ICHIKA POV~
A little under 150 minutes, and yet it felt like forever for me, no matter how, I’m still ordinary junior high student.
The room was white, or rather; the only thing I could see clearly is white all over the brown color of the wooden material. My breathing is erratic, and I could feel my lungs burning working beyond its usual limit. In a split second, my hand raised to intercept an attack, and deliver a counter hit in response.
Full contact sparring lasting for another one and half minute. We’re exchanging blow, none filled with fierce intent, but neither are done half-heartedly.
This is a battle of survival, especially, my own survival.
The opponent has been changed again, this time, it wasn’t another kid, but more experienced adult. Even though our height is not much different, my body had yet to be matured, and overshadowed in experience.
Each time I fought an opponent like this, I had to press myself to deliver extra effort.
As my body had given up long ago, it’s running in pure adrenaline of now. I can’t even hear the sound, except for the occasional whisper and my own heartbeat. My vision looks like something out of a dream, everything is blurry, and moving slowly.
After a series of attrition battle, my fist made a contact at the last.
And my opponents straighten their kata, before delivering a gesture of honor.
My vision has slowly returned to normal, so are my hearing, it was silent, but at the very least.
I managed to do it somehow.
“OSSHU!” the congratulating, passionate shout echoing all over the dojo room.
With that, after customary courtesy with the seniors and fellow fighters, I retreated to the dojo’s bathroom and clean myself. The sensation of lukewarm water is priceless, that I almost forgot about stuff. I decided not to take too long and wash myself clean
“Congratulation, Orimura-kun, you’re now recognized as youngest person in the world that completed 100-man Kumite challenge at the age of 15, how do you feel about it?“
“I think I’m happy, I have been pessimistic about it ever since, however, to keep my honor as a warrior, and respecting the wish and expectation, I went ahead and take the challenge”
Blah-blah-blah, I forgot what exactly I talked, but I’m sure nothing harmful.
I waved my hand as I left, people from mass media sure act fast, even though I never wanted THIS much acknowledgment in the first place. Even though it’s dead afternoon, the flash of camera made me feel disoriented, or maybe it’s the fatigue… I don’t know.
My guy friend already waiting for me, slowly clapping after thrown me a bottle of sport drink.
“Kicking some wise ass here, my friend” he laughed as he untied his red hair, I can still trace some hint of sweat from him, though it’s nothing compared to what I have before.
“Don’t tell me you jumping around on your way here” I frowned, he just shrugged in reply “The traffic is insane, I can’t help it. So I left Chifuyu-san and went my way here with GPS as only guide”
“But if that’s the case-”
“In my belief, I think our next destination shouldn’t have that problem” he interrupted me quickly, in the front of us, Chifuyu-nee already waiting with her hand resting in the steering wheel with a bored face.
As for how she got a car for today’s purpose, I don’t know, maybe she’s borrowing it.
“Hang on there; did you even have a license?”
“What are you moron? Of course I am” she said without raising her voice in the slightest.
As expected from her.
With my driving force gave up, I lost my consciousness. I swear the last thing I can see is a faint bit of smile on my sister’s relaxed expression.