Chizuru hadn’t told anyone. She was more scared than shocked by the question. “You shouldn’t sleep with the window open. It’s not that warm anymore.”
“You did go, didn’t you?”
“Akane-san.” When Chizuru turned around, she looked into Akane’s eyes. It must have been an illusion that, for a split second, they looked as if they were burning.
But then, Akane was back to her usual self and smiled. “I heard from Father… that Daigo-san refused. But you have to press him harder, dear sister. Don’t be shy. You have to keep at him.”
“Akane-san…”
Akane turned her pale face away. “Go away. I’m tired. I’m going to Kôdôkan after a nap.”
“Are you okay?”
“I’m fine. Besides, there’s someone wonderful waiting for me.”
“Saigô-san?” Chizuru felt her heart grow heavy. Had Akane found someone new?
“That’s right—the judo prodigy. Do you know yama arashi?”
“Why, no.”
“It’s a throw move that only he can perform. He can send a sumo wrestler flying in the air. There’s no one in the dojo who can beat that move.”
“My!”
“You and he are a good match, sister.”
“What?” Chizuru didn’t know how to respond.
Looking sideways, Akane said again, “You and Daigo-san. You really are a good match. Don’t give up.”
The heaviness in her heart was now accompanied by darkness.
Akane called him “Daigo.” Since Akane was thirteen, she had clung to Daigo and begged him to teach her kendo.
Chizuru knew that Akane had nothing more to say.
The situation with Daigo, the approaching match between her father and enemy, and now her sister’s broken heart. In spite of it all, Chizuru stood straighter and left the room. In the distance, she could hear the sound of a carriage. The world would go on. She had no time to stop and feel sad.
Her father was in the dojo. A woeful feeling came over her. He might be able to hold his own against the Shitennô. But against that man from yesterday…
She hadn’t told him about seeing Daigo. He might have already sensed it through the heightened instincts of a martial artist, but, even if he had, he was not the type to let on.
Chizuru felt heavy with inexpressible worry, but then something else happened to darken her mood further.
“Hello.”
A student, who had gone out to see who was at the gate, came stumbling back with a bewildered look.
“This is big news! The Kôdôkan head Kanô Jigorô and the Minister of Foreign Affairs Lord Inoue Kaoru are at the gate and wish to sit in on our training session!”
Amid the restless voices of the students, Isanosuke said calmly, “That’s enough. I have met the minister several times. Kanô-kun must have told him something to strike the minister’s fancy and brought him here. Conduct your training as you normally would. Compose yourselves.”
With that, he went out to receive them at the entrance.
Minister Inoue wore a frock coat. He was from the Chôshu clan. After he had joined the movement to overthrow the shogunate, he became a central figure in the new government and took several posts. Presently, as the minister of foreign affairs, he was working on amending the one-sided treaties that had been signed with America and Europe. He was an enthusiast of all disciplines of the martial arts; and, in fact, everyone knew that he had been instrumental in reviving interest in them after the fall of the shogunate.
Isanosuke greeted them politely and tried to show them into the private room. But the minister dismissed such proprieties with a simple wave of his hand.
“Don’t mind us. We worried about intruding, but Kanô and I just finished a meeting planning a martial arts competition. On the way back, Kanô-kun here suddenly remembered this dojo, and we couldn’t resist. Really, don’t trouble yourself over us. It is well known that Kamiizumi Isenokami’s old-style Shinkage-ryû is still practiced here. We simply wish to observe the training of the magnificent Renbei-jyuku, and then we will be on our way.”
Jigorô, who stood beside him, added, “As his lordship said, we should have called on you in a proper manner. Please forgive us for intruding.”
He bowed deeply, which made Isanosuke shrink back.
Jigorô had made his own improvements on the ancient art of jujitsu, giving birth to judo, a new martial art that was dedicated to spiritual enrichment. Everyone knew and respected his achievements. His political power, too, was evident in the way he now talked face-to-face with Minister Inoue. His humble demeanor, in spite of all that, was more than enough to earn Isanosuke’s admiration.
“As you wish. You’re welcome to observe from over there. Oh, and this scholar—?”
“This is my apprentice, Saigô Shirô,” Jigorô said a bit proudly, and he was instantly rewarded by Isanosuke’s pleasant reaction.
“Oh, so this is him!” Even three-year-olds knew the name of the judo prodigy who, in the police department’s martial arts competition, brought victory to Kôdôkan with his throw move called yama arashi. In the minds of the children, the name synonymous with Kôdôkan and judo was not Kanô Jigorô but rather Saigô Shirô.
“I’d like to watch from somewhere I am not in the way.”
Shirô flashed a carefree smile as they were led into the dojo. After being welcomed by the students, the three visitors took their seats.
Under ordinary circumstances, this would have been an enormous honor for the students of Renbei-jyuku. However, this visit could not have come at a worse time.
The enemy would soon arrive.
And, if by chance, Isanosuke were defeated, his and the Renbei-jyuku name would be dragged in the mud.
The injured Shitennô were no match for this enemy.
Only Chizuru knew her father’s anguish.
Just as Isanosuke was about to call on his students to resume training, there was a sound of another visitor at the entrance.
One student ordered, “Let him in.” The same student returned to the dojo with a man shrouded in a cloak that looked like an enormous raven perched on his shoulders.
While the students, who had witnessed the scene yesterday, shot fearful and murderous looks at the arrival of a second enemy, Minister Inoue seemed to sense something and looked on in fascination. Kanô Jigorô’s eyes gleamed, and Saigô Shirô trembled with excitement.
Those with martial arts training had sensed the arrival of a very suspicious man.