“Why not just give him a match?” Lia suggested from behind me. “He’ll have to back down if you beat him at his own game.”
“Yeah. I wouldn’t mind seeing you in a judo uniform, either,” Rose added.
“Huh…?” I said, taken aback.
Before I knew it, the match had been set, and I was in the men’s locker room of the Judo Hall putting my arms through the sleeves of a judo uniform.
Haah… Why’d it have to turn out like this?
I gave a deep sigh and checked my appearance. I’d put on the uniform by trying to imitate the people around me, and I was surprised to see I’d done it right.
“Okay… I should get going.”
I found Lia and Rose waiting outside the locker room.
“Heh-heh, you look super cool,” Lia said.
“Wow, it really compliments you,” said Rose.
The girls’ compliments raised my spirits, but just then, I heard a loud, sharp sound from one corner of the Judo Hall. I looked in that direction to see Maul slapping his cheeks.
…Is he trying to fire himself up? He was hitting himself really hard.
I need to get in the mood, too. I sat down on the tatami mat floor and started to stretch. As I did, I heard an impassioned conversation from across the hall.
“Maul, I’m sure you already know this, but Allen’s strength is abnormal. Don’t think your weight gives you an advantage. You’ll lose immediately if you try to grapple him. The only way to win is with your technique!” Tessa advised him.
“Got it! I ain’t gonna lose!” Maul responded, burning with fighting spirit.
Meanwhile…
“Hey, Allen. I’m getting ice cream with Rose once we’re done patrolling for the Student Council. You wanna come?” Lia asked.
“The ice cream shop’s putting out new spring flavors today. They’ve got strawberry, orange, and cherry. Sounds yummy,” Rose said.
My friends were so sure I was going to win, they were discussing plans for later in the day.
“S-sure… I’ll join you if I’m not too tired,” I replied. The difference in energy between the two sides of the hall was unbelievable.
Once Maul and I were ready, we both stood in the middle of the Judo Hall.
“This match will be between Allen Rodol, the Student Council Vice President, and Maul Bison, the Judo Club President! The time limit is four minutes. There will be no overtime. Weapons and Soul Attires are prohibited. Please fight fairly and in accordance with international judo rules!”
I didn’t know anything about international judo rules, but I figured you just had to grapple and throw your opponent. That wasn’t too complicated.
“Are you both ready? Begin!” the official said, signaling the start of the match.
“Raaaaaah!” Maul roared, immediately charging at me.
He’s seriously fired up. But I can handle this…!
I stuck out my right hand and tried to grab his collar, when—
“You fool!”
—Maul suddenly stepped back, grabbed my extended right arm, and used his momentum to turn around for a shoulder throw.
“I’ve got you now…!”
But his exaltation was short-lived.
“What the…?!” he cried out in shock, letting go of me and retreating with nimble steps.
Maul’s thoughts raced. I-impossible… I executed that move perfectly, but I couldn’t budge him at all. Just how strong is this Allen Rodol…?!
I felt excitement well up within me as Maul stared, speechless.
This…is interesting.
Maul’s footwork was different from any opponent I’d fought. He ran toward me at full speed and then, when he got within range, concentrated spirit power into his right foot alone and quickly stepped back. Next, he concentrated spirit power into only his left foot alone and quickly spun his back into me, attempting to transition into a shoulder throw.
He was incredibly skilled at switching his spirit power on and off and shifting his weight. His spirit power control and footwork, honed through judo, could never be learned by practicing the sword alone.
…I wonder if I could apply these techniques to swordcraft.
Now that I thought about it, going toe-to-toe with the president of the Judo Club was a rare opportunity.
This is getting kinda fun.
I wanted to see what other moves Maul had.
…Ah… On closer inspection, his center of gravity is pretty low—lower than my middle stance. That makes it hard to knock him down.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the mat…
Allen Rodol is a formidable guy. His judo stance is clearly amateurish, but something about him is really intimidating… He’s definitely a worthy opponent!
Our eyes met.
“It’s my turn to attack now,” I said.
“Come at me!” Maul responded.
I rushed directly at him and tried to grab his collar.
“Take this!”
“You’ll have to do better than that!” he yelled, deflecting my arm with a knifehand strike.
“I’m not done yet!” I told him.
I reached out again and again, stubbornly trying to grab him, but…
“It’s no use!”
…Maul skillfully used his hands to block all my attempts.
He’s fending me off with defensive techniques reminiscent of swordcraft and footwork unique to judo… I want to grab him, but he’s not giving me a chance. Judo really is amazing! I thought, impressed.
I see now what Tessa meant, thought Maul. I definitely can’t try to grapple him. His strength is too monstrous… But judo is the “gentle way”! The weak can overcome the strong!
I lost track of time as we fought. Maul tried a great variety of techniques, and just as the fatigue was starting to show on his face…
“Raaaaaah!”
…he roared loudly and rushed directly at me.
What’s his next move going to be? …Huh?
I felt a sense of déjà vu. The beginning of this technique and the position of his center of gravity both looked familiar.
Is this…?
I reached my right arm toward him as bait, and Maul responded by abruptly stopping his charge to take a big step back.
“I’ve already seen that move,” I told him.
A full-speed approach, then a half-step back and an arm grab. He’d shown me that exact sequence of moves at the beginning of the match.
“Wha?!”
Maul immediately tried to stop himself, but it was too late. I took one large step forward and grabbed his collar.
“I’ve got you this time!”
“Crap…!” Maul cursed.
Now that I had him in a grapple, the rest of the match would be a simple contest of strength. I filled both my arms with spirit power and tried to push Maul to the mat.
“Down you go.”
“Ngh… Hnnnnnngh…!” Maul strained.
Surprisingly, he held out. He’d concentrated all his spirit power into his legs and spine, giving him just enough strength to remain on his feet.
He’s stronger than I expected.
I slowly increased my strength, holding back to avoid breaking his spine.
“You…monster…,” Maul said through gritted teeth. He’s too strong… At this rate, he’s gonna force me down to the mat… Crap! I’ve worked so hard on my judo skills, but they aren’t good enough to beat Allen Rodol…!