Chapter-09 · EP-132

Episode 132: The Power of Posture

Thanks to Murasakimura's invitation, Hacchi, a.k.a. Heiji Hachinohe, had joined the Second Swordsmanship Club. A bolt from the blue.

When I went with Murasakimura and the others to observe the First Swordsmanship Club, my first impression of Hachinohe was that he was an unpleasant guy, but after leaving the First Club, I felt his attitude had changed.

"Hacchi, is this your true self? Back in the First Club, you were just acting as a member of that club?"

"…Could you not call me that?"

"Hmm? You don't like it? Fine, Hachinohe, then."

"Why are you dropping the honorific? …Never mind, call me whatever you like."

"Well then, Hacchi is fine, isn't it? Right, Murasakimura?"

"No, Ichinose-kun, that's disrespectful to Hachinohe-senpai…"

His name is 'Hachinohe,' so the nickname is 'Hacchi.' I thought it was a friendly and easy-to-remember name.

"Oh, I see! Maybe 'Hatch' is better?"

"Whether you shorten it or not isn't the issue…"

As we were chatting like that, Iori, who had run out of patience, called out.

"Hey, you guys, save the idle chatter for after club."

"Sorry!"

Murasakimura immediately apologized and took the stance he had been practicing earlier.

"Well, I guess we should get serious too."

I said to Hacchi and raised my wooden sword.

Hacchi also quickly took out his wooden sword and assumed a stance like the others.

"Hachinohe, this is your first time training with the Second Club, so we'll start with the basics. Take a stance like me."

Iori held her wooden sword with both hands and assumed a frontal stance.

Hacchi tried to copy her, taking the same stance.

"Do it properly! Don't just stand there, watch how I hold it and copy that."

"What? Is something wrong with my stance?"

"I'm not talking about your 'Some-Style-or-Other' stance. I'm telling you to take a normal, natural stance."

"No, this has nothing to do with the Hokuto Tengen style. I intended just a normal stance…"

Hacchi was confused, not understanding Iori's point. Even I couldn't see the difference.

Then Iori began to explain.

"You're holding it with just your arm muscles! That way, the strength escapes from your elbows and shoulders. Hold it more integrated with your whole body."

"S-sorry. I don't really understand what you're saying…"

"Like this!"

Iori showed him how to hold the sword, but Hacchi was bewildered.

"Sorry, I can't see the difference between you and me."

"Why can't you understand!"

Iori got angry, but sorry, I didn't understand that explanation either.

Finally, Hacchi talked back.

"Well… I think posture is important, but I've been studying the Hokuto Tengen style since I was eight. It's inefficient to try and correct my stance now. Surely real combat – sparring – is the best way to hone one's sword, isn't it?"

He'd finally said it. I'd been thinking the same thing but hadn't said it; Hacchi actually did.

Hearing that, Iori didn't get angry; she answered calmly.

"Well then, Sendo, come here a moment."

"Me?"

Prompted by Iori, Sendo stepped forward.

"Sendo has a pretty good stance. Try a little strength contest with him."

"Strength contest?"

Not understanding immediately, Hacchi looked puzzled.

Iori explained to him.

"There are times in a sword fight when you lock blades, right? Wooden swords don't have tsuba (hand guards), but anyway, just press your swords together and push."

"Even so, I'm level 4. He's just a first-year. And compared to my build, he's clearly smaller. Our weight is too different."

In short, Hacchi was saying there was no reason he'd lose a strength contest.

Sendo, on the other hand, looked uneasy.

"I'm explaining the use of strength. Come on, take your positions."

Iori urged them on without giving them a choice.

Reluctantly, the two did as Iori said and assumed a position to press their wooden swords together.

"Now, push against each other."

"Hmph!"

At Iori's command, Hacchi put strength into his arms. Sendo, in response, gritted his teeth and pushed back.

"Urgh!"

Hacchi was straining so hard his face turned bright red. His eyes were wide, teeth clenched – a fierce expression. If I were his opponent, I'd burst out laughing. Sendo managed to keep a straight face despite that funny expression right in front of him.

Wait, was the push actually balanced?

"Do you see, Hachinohe? Because you're pushing only with your arm strength, you can't break Sendo's posture. Sendo, push him back."

Prompted by Iori, Sendo pushed forward. Hacchi's upper body leaned back, and he was pushed backward.

"Impossible?!"

Hacchi seemed unable to comprehend what was happening.

Actually, Sendo, I thought you were slender, but you're pretty strong.

"That's enough!"

At Iori's command, the strength contest ended.

Hacchi was panting, while Sendo took a single deep breath to calm down.

"A complete defeat. What just happened?"

"I'm not sure either… I just pushed back with all my might."

Sendo also looked confused. He probably didn't understand why he had managed to push Hacchi back.

Then Iori began to explain.

"Hachinohe. Your sword is just swinging your arm strength. In contrast, Sendo puts his whole body weight into his sword. Do you understand the difference now?"

"…What?"

"I don't know about your Hokuto Tengen style or whatever, but you haven't mastered the basics, the fundamentals of stance. With that kind of stance, not only will you never beat me, but you'll be overtaken by all our club members."

For a moment, the air among the club members froze. Wasn't that going too far?

I watched nervously, but Hacchi's reaction was unexpected.

"…I'm shocked. It seems I've been resting on the laurels of my own style's reputation."

Hacchi slowly went down on his knees, sitting in seiza. He gently placed his wooden sword aside, put both hands on the ground, and bowed deeply.

"Takigawa… no, Takigawa-sensei. From this moment on, I abandon the Hokuto Tengen style. I humbly beg you to teach me."

Hacchi said, bowing his head deeply.

A sitting bow.

The arrogance he had shown in the First Swordsmanship Club was gone, and he was politely asking for instruction from Iori, who was younger than him.

Seeing this unexpected and sincere attitude, Murasakimura, standing next to me, stood frozen as if struck by something.

"What's wrong, Murasakimura?"

I asked, but he didn't answer.

He just stared intently at Hachinohe's back.