The Countless Moments We Shared (Continued)
To put it simply and bluntly, it means using everything in your body, including fists, legs, and knees, as weapons to knock your opponent to the ground.
That's why Kitagawa Ryo chose Ryuen Kakeru to play at this time.
"I know."
Just as Ken Sudō responded, Ryuen Kakeru seized the opportunity and threw a heavy punch. The move was fast, accurate and ruthless, and Ken Sudō could only raise his arm to defend.
However, Ryuen Kakeru's change of tactics was extremely fast. Having gained the upper hand, he transformed into a madman without any sense of reason in that instant, attacking Ken Sudō with every part of his body except for explicitly prohibited areas such as his teeth, elbows, headbutts, and shoulders.
In terms of physical ability alone, Ryuen Kakeru is naturally no match for Ken Sudō, who was rated [A] by the school. However, no matter how good Ken Sudō is, he has already participated in multiple events today, and it is inevitable that his physical strength will decline. At this moment, Ryuen Kakeru took the initiative and was forced to the edge of the ring, where he could only defend with difficulty.
"Hey, Karuizawa, you should be able to hear me, right?"
He locked Ken Sudō's arms with both hands and slammed his knee into the man's stomach, causing Ken Sudō to instantly bend over like a shrimp. Taking advantage of the moment, Ryuen Kakeru Sho whispered in his ear:
"Although Liang may have tacitly approved of your actions, it doesn't mean I can accept them."
Ryuen Kakeru firmly suppressed Ken Sudō, who was struggling desperately. Seeing that the other party was still not obedient, he punched Ken Sudō in the eye socket again.
He grabbed Ken Sudō by the hair, completely ignoring the fact that the other man had also punched him in the face, and retaliated with another punch without hesitation.
Ken Sudō's angry counterattack caused Ryuen Kakeru's left cheek to swell up, but he didn't seem to care at all as he spat out a mouthful of blood.
"I will never forgive you."
Just as Ryuen Kakeru was about to call out to Karuizawa Kei, the referee had already ruled that Ken Sudō, who was lying on the ground, was unable to get up. He forcibly separated the two and raised Ryuen Kakeru's right hand to indicate that he had won.
Class 1-B defeated Class 1-D in the Freestyle Fighting event, and Class 1-D now leads 2-1.
Before leaving the ring, Ryuen Kakeru glanced deeply at the camera one last time. Despite his bruised and swollen face, his momentum showed no signs of weakening.
He spat a mouthful of bloody foam onto the ground.
Despite trailing by two rounds, Ryuen Kakeru finally managed to score a point for Class 1-B in the [Freestyle Fighting] event.
[The fourth individual item will now be selected.]
[Draw complete]
[The fourth individual event was Kyudo, submitted by Class 1-D]
[Both Commander please confirm the participating players]
[Please have the Commander of Class 1-D confirm the participating students as soon as possible.]
"Karuizawa!"
Hirata Yosuke's shout came through the earpiece, and Karuizawa Kei, who had just come to her senses, hurriedly checked the box next to Miyake Akito that she had prepared. In a few seconds, Class 1-D would be in the embarrassing situation of having its participants randomly selected by the school because of her distraction.
Are you alright?
"... fine."
Karuizawa Kei pursed her lips and pressed her right index finger against her brow.
The sentence that Ryuen Kakeru just said to her--
I will never forgive you.
I feel like I've heard this before...
All sorts of memories and thoughts surged through her mind like waves crashing against the sea during a downpour, repeatedly striking Karuizawa Kei's heart.
When exactly was it?
I had previously stayed in the hospital for a long time, and apart from my parents and doctors, I hardly saw anyone else.
Karuizawa Kei herself was confined to that white hospital room and could not leave.
But one day at noon, a boy about his age ran to his hospital room. He didn't have the key and couldn't get in, so he just looked through the window.
She initially thought someone from outside wanted to visit her, and excitedly got off the hospital bed and walked to the glass window.
He spat on the glass window.
"I will never forgive you."
The boy mouthed those words one by one.
The face in her memory gradually overlapped with Ryuen Kakeru's features. Karuizawa Kei clutched her head in anguish. At this time of year, her parents used to forbid her from thinking about these things, but now...
The sweat-soaked shirt clung tightly to my back, sending a chill down my spine.
This sticky, damp feeling made my internal organs churn violently, and a strong sense of nausea welled up from my throat.
"No, that's not it..."
No matter how much Karuizawa Kei denied it, the images that appeared in her mind stubbornly refused to disappear, like a persistent affliction.
With his back to himself, he held a blood-dripping knife.
That was Kitagawa Ryo's figure.
"It seems like there aren't any students in our class who are good at Kyudo."
"It seems that only Komiya said he practiced with his father a few times when he was in elementary school, but he didn't seem to be very good at it."
"The boy sent from Class 1-D is from the Archery Club; I've seen him before."
In the Class 1-B camp, the students looked at the situation on the field with some concern.
Although I'm not very clear on the rules of Kyudo, judging by accuracy alone, Komiya from my class is no match for that Miyake Akito.
As expected, after several rounds, the referee ruled that Miyake Akito from Class 1-D was the winner.
Class 1-D defeated Class 1-B in Kyudo, and Class 1-D currently leads 3 to 1.
Class 1-D truly grasped the key to victory.
"I believe in Kitagawa-sensei, Class 1-B won't lose!"
Ishizaki Daichi sensed the low morale of his squad and raised his arm.
Shiina Hiyori nearby, added with a clear mind:
"The challenged party has the right to designate a project, and Liang has not yet intervened."
The two of them, through their back-and-forth banter, managed to revive the morale of their class. After all, for Class 1-B, the name Kitagawa Ryo was a symbol of victory.
And reality did not disappoint them.
[The fifth individual event designated by the Commander of Class 1-B, is the high jump.]
[Both Commander please confirm the participating players]
Kitagawa Ryo was unaware of Karuizawa Kei's current situation in the other multi-purpose classroom, and he chose Kitagawa Hotaru to fight without hesitation.
"They'll probably use the cat this time too; we just need to go through the motions."
For some reason, Hirata Yosuke hadn't received any instructions from Karuizawa Kei since the last project ended, so he had to take the initiative to make the suggestion.
"I... I understand."
Karuizawa Kei reluctantly selected a boy from her class, her gaze then drifting to the white cat on the screen.
[Kitagawa Hotaru, a contestant from Class 1-B, has entered the venue.]
Kitagawa... Hotaru.
Firefly.
I want to name it Firefly.
"Isn't it nice?"
Is it because its pupils are fluorescent?
"Perhaps there is one reason for this."
Fragments of memory flashed back, Karuizawa Kei abruptly ripped off her headphones and rushed into the restroom on the other side of the corridor.
A violent vomiting fit that nearly brought up my entire stomach.
A burning sensation came from my stomach and throat, like a fire.
Wiping away the tears welling up in her eyes with her sleeve, Karuizawa Kei stumbled out and stared blankly at the mirror in front of the sink.
His body was still trembling.
"Yes, I'm the one who gave it that name."
"Isn't it nice?"
As summer vacation was drawing to a close, Kitagawa Ryo said this in a coffee shop.
The cat then familiarly jumped into his arms.
Karuizawa Kei wiped the residue from the corner of her mouth with a tissue and walked back into the multi-purpose classroom.
She leaned closer, as if she wanted to see every single hair on the cat in the most minute detail.
Have you ever heard of the phrase "rotten grass turns into fireflies"?
"Huh? No."
"It's an ancient China story. People used to think that fireflies were transformed from rotten grass roots, but in fact, they just lay their eggs there."
"Although it's a wrong way of saying it, I still think it's a beautiful mistake."
The white cat, much older than it was then, leaped nimbly over the fence.
Even decaying weeds can serve as fireflies, illuminating summer nights throughout the year.
"I hope the little one... no, I mean, Hotaru, can survive this summer."
Karuizawa Kei reached out, as if trying to touch it through the screen.
Hotaru, she really did live through that summer.
Moreover, it is very healthy.
Very cute.
Class 1-B defeated Class 1-D in the high jump event, and Class 1-D currently leads 3 to 2.
Hotaru, who secured a crucial point for Class 1-B, was surrounded by all the students of Class 1-B at the very center.
Hotaru jumped into Shiina Hiyori's arms, nuzzling her neck with her paws as if seeking praise, and making affectionate purring sounds.
And still, she is very... likable.
Karuizawa Kei lowered her eyes.
[The sixth group activity will now be selected.]
However, the game did not stop because of this.
[Draw complete]
[The sixth team event is the men's 4x400m relay, submitted by Class 1-D]
[Both Commander please confirm the participating players]
"Karuizawa? Karuizawa?"
Hirata Yosuke's urgent shouts came from the earphones that had been tossed aside.
Karuizawa Kei bit her right arm; the instant pain stopped her tears.
Humans cry when they feel pain, but Karuizawa Kei learned something from being bullied in the past: bullies love to enjoy watching their victims cry.
So as long as she feels pain, she will stop crying.
"I am here..."
She almost bit her wrist until it bled; the bright red teeth marks stood out starkly against her pale wrist.
"Proceed according to the previous plan."
"Class 1-A, will provide assistance."
Karuizawa Kei moved the mouse, intending to select the contestants from her class, but the blurry vision made it almost impossible for her to do so.
Tears streamed down her face, landing on the keyboard in front of her.