Hotaka: Through My Eyes by John Heffernan

Author:John Heffernan [John Heffernan]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Allen & Unwin
Published: 2017-01-12T00:00:00+00:00

‘You should’ve seen him, Sakura. He was awesome.’

Hotaka doesn’t feel awesome as he hobbles home with his two friends. His feet, his ankles and both upper arms are all bruised where Tarou struck hard with his shinai. One elbow is throbbing and his back and ribs are sore from some nasty jabs delivered on the sly.

‘Tarou committed one foul after another,’ Osamu says. ‘He would’ve been disqualified ten times in a proper match. Hardly a legal hit the whole time.’

‘He knew he could get away with it,’ Hotaka explains. ‘Coach was on the other side of the gym, his back to us all the time. We were only meant to be practising together. But Tarou went ape. It only took a few minutes, four at the most, but it had nothing to do with kendo. He was out to hurt me; and he did it while the coach’s back was turned. All I could do was fend him off as best I could.’

‘You did more than that, bud. You deflected heaps of his strikes but you also scored a few top hits. He wouldn’t have expected that.’

‘He didn’t; I saw the surprise in his eyes when I scored that first whack on his helmet. He’d let his anger over-rule his mind, and he knew it. But that only made him wilder.’

‘Sure did. He got really brutal near the end. I’m amazed you put up with it.’

Hotaka could have pulled out or protested. But he’d made up his mind at the start to see it through, whatever. It was all about personal honour. Do it properly, kendo style – ‘the way of the sword’.

He could have played dirty, too. But he refused to, and that actually injured Tarou more than any blows Hotaka might have achieved by cheating.

When the session was over, Hotaka was very relieved indeed. He couldn’t have hung on much longer, and he left the floor incredibly sore. But he also felt he was the real winner.

‘You’re a hero in my eyes,’ Osamu says as he hops on his bike. ‘See you later,’ he shouts, and pedals off.

Hotaka and Sakura walk on in silence. He senses a coolness in her, and wonders about it. Only when they’re almost at the harbourfront does he eventually speak.

‘You’re quiet, Sakura. You haven’t said a thing since we left school.’

‘Haven’t had a chance. Osamu’s been singing your praises nonstop. He worships you. How come? Did you save his life or something?’

Hotaka laughs. ‘Don’t be silly.’ He blushes. ‘But yeah, he does go on a bit. I wish he wouldn’t.’

‘Liar. You love it. You’d be feeling very pleased with yourself right now.’

‘I don’t know what you mean.’

‘Come on, admit it. Wounded warrior, honourable to the end in true kendo spirit. Hotaka good guy, Tarou bad dude. Am I right?’

Hotaka bristles. ‘Well, I didn’t cheat, if that’s what you mean.’

‘Of course you didn’t. Honourable Hotaka cheat? Unthinkable! You couldn’t cheat to save your life.’

‘Hang on, am I supposed to feel bad about not cheating?’

‘No. But nor should you think yourself better.

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