Volume 2 Prologue (1/2)

Since I have a one-week break right now, I thought that I should take the time to translate the prologue since it’s pretty short anyways. Maybe I’ll even have time to do the first half of chapter one (probably not)

In this chapter, we go back to when Shuu and Minato were in fifth grade and still Saionji-sensei’s pupils. There’s also a special appearance by a certain someone…

Glossary

Full list of translations

Having told his mother that he would be late coming back from cram school from talking with his friends, the place where he stopped by was the city gymnasium. Minato paid the child’s fee at the reception desk and walked on without looking anywhere but forward. Inconspicuous enough that it made one wonder if there really was that kind of thing in this kind of place, it was a facility in a place that couldn’t be reached unless one had the intention to go there–a kyudojo.

What he heard was a beautiful tsurune. It was the sound the bowstring made when an arrow was shot.

The tsurune played by an advanced archer was a single note that resounded with a pure sound that did not become dull and muddled. The bow in his hands easily surpa.s.sed his height and was made of bamboo, its amber l.u.s.ter telling of the length of the relations.h.i.+p between the bow and the person.

He greeted the elderly archer and stood in front of the targets once he finished his regular preparations. Beyond the targets, faraway, the round moon was suspended in the evening sky.

Behind Minato was another boy. He had finely chiseled features and pale eyelashes tinged with sorrow. (1) People superimposed over that figure who was in contrast with the purely j.a.panese-looking Minato with a foreigner who was chasing an impossible dream.

Narumiya Minato and Fujiwara Shuu were fifth-graders, and Saionji Kazuyos.h.i.+’s sole favorite pupils. It was just recently that the two were able to release their arrows at the target after many practices.

Minato slowly lifted up his bow and arrow. He drew his bow to its limit and brought the tip of his arrow to the center of the target. However, the arrows that he had readied and released did not even reach the azuchi, making a dull sound before the target. The arrows that Shuu shot continuously also landed beneath the target. Because they were still in elementary school, they used bows that were shorter than the standard and very weak. The flight of an arrow was bad with a weak bow, and they were difficult for even skilled archers to handle.

In kyudo, it was taught that one must not show one’s emotions on one’s face, but as the boys were young, they could not hide them and their mouths turned down at the corners. Seeing that, Saionji’s cheeks slackened.

“Both of you are squeezing yourselves in. Let’s try making a yagoe today. Recently, I scolded you for making sounds in front of the targets, but in the past, it was something that was often done during practice.”

Minato tilted his head.

“What’s a yagoe?”

”It is a shout the archer makes when they shoot an arrow. You know how ping-pong players and tennis players make a roar as they do a smash at the critical moment? It is the same as that.”

“I saw it in a video. They shout when they are facing the makiwara.”

“That was probably a makiwara sharei (ceremonial shooting on makiwara). Lately, it seems that university students are calling the cheering for when the target is. .h.i.t, ‘yagoe.’ Words change according to the time and place. It truly is interesting.”

Having said that, Saionji then went towards a target with his own bow and arrows in hand.

Even though he drew his bow the exact same way as the boys, it was evidently another thing. The bow that was lifted up at the speed of a skyrocketing firework on a midsummer night grandly and n.o.bly spread its petals. Where did that soul that was old yet unwithered come from? It was the collaboration between a body and wisdom that were born out of daily training. He did not know what it is to exhaust an overflowing pa.s.sion.

The released sound crawled on the ground and coiled around their feet, taking Minato and Shuu away.

“Now then, try doing it.”

Minato and Shuu released their arrows and shouted at the tops of their voices.

Yaaaah—–!

Try making a better sound than me.

Shoot through me.

When a yagoe and tsurune played in perfect harmony, the thump of a matooto resounded.

Even after practice ended, the two’s excitement did not cool down. Their blood was boiling, and they did not know how to calm it down.

Minato repeatedly tapped on Shuu’s arm.

“Saionji-sensei is really awesome! Even though he usually looks quiet, I wonder where did that kind of voice come from?”

“Well, he is the famous archer who my dad searched for, after all.”

“I went to a lot of different kyudojo, but I was always told that there is no one who can teach an elementary schooler. I could only wait until I’m in middle school and gave up, so I’m really happy. Aah, I want to get better soon. I’ll get better and show my mom my shooting. Of course, my opponent at that time will be you, Shuu.”