Juvenile Period: The actor looking for a script

A middle-aged man dressed in a montsuki* with a white hat and a white fan, giving the impression of being a judge.

-!Begin!

~OZU~

Facing me was a boy in a defensive stance, raising an arm to the middle of his body, twice as high as me, with more muscle and a better-defined face.

While I wore my Karategi with a blue belt, the boy in front of me had his Karategi with a black belt. I held my breath before stretching my leg and raising my arm to the middle of my body.

-Take this...

As I began to speak, the boy bent his knees to advance, kneeling to pass my other foot to reach his knees, throwing off his balance.

Catching the torso of his body, almost reaching the ground, I spun with my arm aiming a fist at the boy's chest, releasing my breath.

-The winner, Kirijima Kaito-san.

As I dropped my opponent to the ground, I regained my composure to stretch my body.

Extending my hand, my mouth curved, and I started to get nervous.

-Sorry, I didn't mean to let you fall... I... almost lost my balance... and... and... and...

-Hahaha, here we have a true gentleman.

Taking my hand, he began to smile as the boy started to get up, shaking his own Karategi.

-I didn't hurt you?

-As always, Kai-dono is very formal with everyone. I'm fine; it's normal for me to lose against you.

-I always have to strive to be better. If I let my guard down, I could lose.

-You're so humble, Kai-dono. You seem more mature than our instructor.

Feeling someone's hand on my shoulder, I noticed more students starting to surround us in a circle.

-Instructor, could you give him his black belt already? He's the strongest in the elementary class, and the high school boys can barely compete against him.

With a sleepy face and a tired voice, the instructor got up from a bench where she had been sleeping.

-That would be impossible. He's too young for that belt; he hasn't even turned 9 yet.

-It's still a long way to my birthday and also to that level.

-Come on, you could sweep the floor with everyone here. You shouldn't be so modest.-

-Jejejeje.

Scratching my head, I watched my classmates smile at me and pat me on the back.

-Besides, if you already have that belt, it'll be easier to win more tournaments by your side.

-I don't want... to take... such a high place... I think Yuuta-senpai deserves it more."

-*Sigh* You're such a little vegetarian, did you know?

The brown-haired slightly chubby boy stepped out of the circle to put his arm around my neck.

I lifted my head slightly to see his face.

-I'll remain small for now; sorry...

-Kai-dono, you really should be more aggressive in these cases.

....

Walking down the street, I looked up at the sky, which had an orange hue, painting the urban landscape with more color, reflecting the leaves forming on the trees.

Wearing my elementary school uniform with the jacket open, I held my backpack on my shoulder and a white bag in my hand, greeting the people passing by.

-Have a nice afternoon.

~Thank you.~

-"I love this peace."

Looking ahead, I saw a familiar figure walking.

-Kizuna, wait.

Wearing a large straw hat, a long light blue shirt, and a white skirt, my older sister turned towards me.

-Kai-chan.

Approaching her side, she was holding her hat with her usual expressionless face, looking directly at me as she stopped in front of me.

-Your violin classes are over. Are we going home?

-Hmmm... We'll have some free time this week.

Walking alongside my sister, she let go of the white bag to shake my hand, nodding her head.

-I see. Is it because of the school festival?

-Hmmm... Sensei said we should participate in something. Have you chosen something, Kai-chan?

-I'll be in the relay race with Saeko and also in the 50-meter race.

-Hmmm... Kai-chan, you always give your best.

Feeling my sister's fingers intertwining with mine, I turned to look at her.

-Don't you know what you'll participate in?

-...

-That's unusual, Kizuna.

-Hmmm... I'll be in the three-legged races.

-"That's really unusual." Who will you be paired with?

-...It's...a...boy.

-Ehh...so he's a friend you get along with?

Lowering her head, my sister silently denied my question.

-Were you assigned?

With her head still down, she repeated the same gesture.

-How did it happen?

-...

Letting go of my hand, Kizuna began to walk faster, moving away from me.

-Kizuna, what's wrong?

Standing in front of my sister, I saw that she still kept her head down, hiding her face with the hat on her head.

-We should go home; it's late.

-Nee-chan, what's wrong?

-...I told you...

Raising her head, Kizuna's face seemed to have an unnatural color, and her pupils seemed to unfocus slightly.

-...It's nothing...

-But...

-I want to go home, Kai-chan.

-Okay.

Starting to walk a little more reserved, she moved away from my side, holding her fist with her other hand.

"It's impossible that it's nothing. But now my question is, who's making my sister feel like this?"

......

-*yawn* So, as a final recommendation, rest early and focus on your school now.

~OZU~

Stretching her arms, the instructor walked in the opposite direction of our group, sitting in a circle.

As I stood up and stretched, I walked over to an older boy.

-Hey, Senpai.

-Kai-dono, ozu.

Standing in front of the chubby boy, I greeted him, bowing my head slightly and extending my arms to my sides.

-Osu, I wanted to talk to you.

-Of course, Kai-dono, what do you want to talk about?

-Um, I was wondering if I could ask you for the names of the opponents from other schools? After the school event, I plan to enroll in the advanced category, but I'd like to know my opponents.

Scratching my head a bit, my smile with a hint of embarrassment made me blush as I looked at Yuuta in front of me.

-*Sigh* That's impossible for me. I know I asked you to participate in my place, but I'm not very good at gathering information.

-That's a problem. I think senpai is a very reliable person in that aspect.

Touching my chin with my hand, I looked at the ceiling for a moment.

-I know, what do you think about some practice in that case?

-Practice?

-Sure.

Joining my hands, I looked into Yuuta's eyes, slightly lifting my smile.

-We're in the same school, but your class is 5-4.

-That's right.

-So why don't you find out who will participate in class 5-1?

-Oh, that class is your sister's, right?

-That's right.

Joining my hands, I continued to look into senpai's eyes.

-Yuuta-senpai, knowledge is power, and if we don't find out a competitor's name in the arena, it's a serious problem for us. I believe you can find out a bit about my sister's class; you might know someone who can help you, and then you'll know the context of that class.

-Mmm, that makes sense.

-I know you can find out a bit about my sister's class. You might know someone who can help you, and then you'll know the context of that class.

-I don't know; I might be bad at finding names."

-Mmm, and what if you just find out what competition my sister is in?

-And why?

-We all have strengths, Yuuta-senpai. If we both go to a competition, I want you to know a bit more about who our opponents might be or at least know their names. That makes a big difference in a fight. You'll see the result, and besides, I'm sure you can do it.

-You're right. Last time, I underestimated my opponent and ended up with a hurt arm because I didn't know which technique was better.

-So?

-Sure, you can count on me. But as always, you're so polite, Kai-dono.

Giving me light taps on my shoulder, Yuuta got excited with his strength, moving my body with his pats as he closed his eyes a bit.

-Besides, this benefits me more, hahaha.

-Come on, senpai, you're too harsh on me.

-In the last practice, I'll show you my skills for gathering information, Kai-dono, just wait.

-Thank you, senpai.

As we started walking towards the locker rooms, Yuuta put his arm around my shoulders.

-"Sorry for doing this, Yuuta-senpai, but I still don't want to owe favors to anyone. It's easy to plant ideas in people's heads here in the dojo."

-"It's easy to carry on this conversation; I just don't overwhelm or pressure them in a tiresome way because then not only will they not like it, but they'll also resent it more. I have to do it subtly and progressively."

-"I feel a little bad, but if I manage to convince them to do what I need, I don't care how it looks. I need to help my sister; I don't mind using my past memories."

-"When you attend to a patient, trust is always important. I always remember that, but there's a thin line between helping them find the answers they need and leading ideas to everyone."