Chapter 19: Watching the Tournament
Having safely finished my job with Tsuyoshi, I had an important plan after returning to Japan.
Riri’s badminton club was participating in the Tokyo Metropolitan Tournament. From the moment I heard she would be playing, I had decided to go and cheer her on.
I’m glad the job didn’t drag on. If it had, I wouldn’t have been able to come see her today. Thinking such thoughts, I headed towards the gymnasium where the tournament was being held.
When I arrived at the venue, it was already bustling with many spectators. Adults who looked like parents and high school students in uniform were entering one after another. I also joined the line and went inside.
In the center of the spacious gymnasium, multiple courts were set up, and intense matches were unfolding on each one. The spectator seats were about half full, and the venue was enveloped in a lively atmosphere with the cheers of players and spectators flying about.
As I scanned the venue, a single girl caught my eye. It was Riri, dressed in a blue and white uniform, her golden hair tied up in a ponytail. She was warming up by the side of the court, and the moment she happened to look up, her eyes met mine.
I saw her expression instantly light up.
Riri said a word to her teammate and then jogged over to me. A light of joy shone in her eyes.
“Hayato, you came, didn’t you?”
Her voice was filled with excitement.
“Of course. I promised, after all.”
I said with a smile, as if to encourage her.
“Do your best today.”
“Yes!”
Riri was brimming with motivation for the match.
“Hello, Hayato-san.”
While we were talking, a gentle voice was heard. Turning around, I saw a beautiful woman with the same golden hair and blue eyes as Riri standing there.
“Mom!”
It was Riri’s mother, Erena Takahashi. I was acquainted with her. I had met her a few times when I had walked Riri home late at night. Incidentally, I was also acquainted with Riri’s father.
“Hello, Erena-san.”
I bowed politely.
“Thank you for coming to support my daughter today.”
Erena-san also returned a polite nod. A gentle smile, much like her daughter’s, graced her face.
“This child was really looking forward to you coming to cheer for her at the tournament, Hayato-san.”
“Oh, Mom!”
Riri blushed and gave her mother a light glare. However, her expression held a cute shyness.
“Um… well then, I have to go prepare for my match.”
She said, as if to hide her embarrassment.
“You can win, Riri. Show them the results of your practice.”
I said powerfully as I watched her go.
“Do your best. Just be careful not to get injured.”
Erena-san also called out to her daughter. Her words were filled with the deep affection of a mother for her child.
After watching Riri return to her teammates, Erena-san and I were left alone. Looking around, various spectators—parents of players, elderly couples, and young students—were steadily taking their seats.
“Erena-san, may I watch with you too?”
I asked. A grown man watching a high school girls’ match alone might seem a bit suspicious. Considering that, it’s probably safer to watch with someone.
It seemed Erena-san was also alone, so I asked if I could watch the tournament with her.
“Of course, that’s fine.”
Erena-san replied with a smile.
“Let’s cheer her on together.”
The two of us headed to the spectator seats, found a good spot, and sat down. Before long, an announcement echoed through the venue, and the start of the matches was declared.
It seemed Riri’s match was a little later. While watching the ongoing matches, I began to grasp the flow of a badminton game. I see, so that’s how it is. I vaguely knew the rules, but this was the first time I had actually watched a match.
And then, finally, Riri stepped onto the court. Her opponent was a girl taller than Riri. From her expression, an extraordinary fighting spirit could be felt.
She looks strong, I thought.
Apparently, Riri’s opponent was the winner of the previous Tokyo Metropolitan Tournament. A battle against such a formidable enemy right from the start?
Once the match began, both players engaged in a back-and-forth offense and defense. Riri’s physical abilities were high, and her light movements around the court seemed a cut above the other players. However, her opponent didn’t concede points easily, returning the shuttlecock with skillful technique.
“Ugh.”
Watching the match, I let out an involuntary sound. It was because Riri had lost a point. She couldn’t react to her opponent’s technique of dropping the shuttlecock near the net. After that, she was outmaneuvered several more times and lost points. It’s frustrating.
Erena-san, watching beside me, also had a serious expression as she watched the outcome of the match.
“Oh!”
I instinctively leaned forward. Riri’s movements were gradually becoming more refined. It was as if she were reading her opponent’s action patterns and devising countermeasures in this short amount of time.
Come to think of it, she was always good at this sort of thing.
Lilia in the other world was the same. She had a talent for quickly discerning enemy magic patterns and devising the optimal counter-magic. Her talents from her past life were blossoming in a different form in the modern world.
Riri’s movements clearly changed, shifting from defense to offense. Her powerful smashes, aimed at the shuttlecock, landed as if piercing the opponent’s court. Her form was as beautiful as a dancing butterfly, yet as powerful as a sharp hawk.
The entire venue was enveloped in excitement. Cheers of “Go for it, Riri!” came from Riri’s teammates, while shouts of “Don’t lose!” flew from the opposing team. Applause and cheers also rose from the spectator seats. She was drawing the most attention in the venue.
Both players continued their close match. Riri took the first game, but the second was unfortunately taken by her opponent. In the final game, Riri led for a time, but her opponent tenaciously caught up.
“Go for it!”
I instinctively stood up and cheered. She can’t let her guard down here. Fight without letting up until the very end. Be greedy for victory. I shouted with such feelings.
Perhaps hearing my voice, Riri on the court glanced at me for a moment. Though sweat streamed down her forehead, she smiled brightly and then refocused on the match. Her next serve was powerful, delivered with precision as if to exploit her opponent’s opening.
“Match point!”
The umpire’s voice echoed. The following rally was enveloped in breathtaking tension. Riri moved quickly, back and forth, left and right, continuing to chase the shuttlecock. Then, the moment her opponent’s movement faltered slightly, she didn’t miss the opening and landed a sharp smash.
“Game set! Winner, Takahashi-senshu!”
Cheers resounded throughout the venue. Riri made a fist pump, her joy exploding. Then, she immediately shook hands with her opponent, praising each other’s efforts, a sight symbolic of sportsmanship.
“Riri looks so happy that you came to cheer for her, Hayato-san.”
Erena-san said with a gentle smile. Her expression seemed to hold a deep understanding and a sense of relief.
“I hope you’ll continue to watch over Riri’s progress, Hayato-san.”
“Yes, please do. It seems that for Riri, Hayato-san is someone special.”
I couldn’t say anything in response to Erena-san’s words. I myself strongly felt that Riri was a special existence to me. It was because of our bond as companions in the other world. I had no intention of revealing that fact, so I kept my mouth shut.