"Sister, it's time for dinner." Shin greeted Kanae who came back home, but she carried her sword bag and shook her head slightly, said "I won't eat now" and went directly upstairs.
Mrs. Shimazaki is a housewife. She looked at her daughter's back and asked Shin: "Shin, your sister hasn't retired yet? Why does she come back so late? Is she still practicing every day?"
"She's not quitting yet, mom."
Mrs. Shimazaki shook her head, "She's already going to study abroad. It's time to focus on her entrance exam. What can the name of a club captain help her?"
Shin said nothing and sat silently at the dining table. Since his sister's defeat in the regional competition, she had even spoken less and was very depressed. She had not recovered for four or five days, which made him more and more worried. She almost fulfilled her wish, so this defeat was even more devastating for her.
Shin's father is a high-level cadre of Hope Peak Industrial Group and his income is very considerable. Their family situation is quite good, so the dinner was naturally very rich. However, Shin had no appetite. After taking a few bites, he went upstairs and stood in a daze at his sister's door, engaged in a fierce ideological struggle.
After thinking for a long time, he knocked lightly on the door, and Kanae waited for a while before calling: "Come in."
Shin pushed the door open and asked softly: "Sister, have you found your team members?" He knew that his sister had been running around in the past few days for the members to participate in the Gyokuryuukou Competition, but he didn't know whether it was going well or not.
Kanae was sitting at her desk writing something. She was silent for a while and said, "No."
The failure of the regional competition had proved that the strength of the Hope's Peak Academy Kendo Club was not top-notch in the county, and the Gyokuryuukou is also a national competition. The third-year members basically had no interest in going to Kyushu in northern Japan to receive another defeat. They officially retired one after another, saying goodbye to their high school club activities. Therefore, it was not smooth for Kanae to form a team recently. Originally, there were not many regular players in the kendo club of Hope Peak Academy because many people were deceived in taking part in it like Kazuya.
"What about Horii Senpai?"
Kanae replied tiredly: "He also gave up. His family arranged an academic improvement class for him during the summer vacation. He is prepared to listen to his family's arrangements..."
Shin sighed and didn't know what to say. He stood there and looked at his sister's room, which was not girly. There were posters of professional kendo competition stars on the wall, and most of books on the bookshelf are about swordsmanship. Her sword bag was thrown on the bed. There is another one lying on the corner of the room. A shelf was filled with practice tools such as bamboo swords and gears.
His sister really likes the sport of kendo and had loved it since she was a child. She even forced him to practice it so that she could have a partner to practice with at home. He had also lost his temper before and was even disgusted with this sport, but now he felt uncomfortable when looking at his sister like this. No matter how you say it, blood is thicker than water and they were siblings.
Shin asked softly: "Sister, do you really want to get an honor?" He was a participation-oriented person and couldn't understand his sister's obsession.
Kanae turned her back to him, making him not see the expression on her face, but her tone was very solid, "I want! I have spent almost three years in the kendo club, and I am not willing to leave like this with nothing, not even a piece of my own. I can't even leave my mark... even if I can't get honors for the club, I at least hope that someone can get them when I am a minister."
"But the school kendo club was founded by you. Everyone will remember you in the future."
"The founder of the club can't enter the honor room. Maybe the club will be abolished if there are no any reward in two years. It took me almost three years to start from scratch, from just working with Horii and the others to the ten people we have now. Several main candidates spent a lot of time practicing and training everyone, but in the end we still failed to take home any major awards. It may become my lifelong regret!"
After she finished speaking, she shook her head again, "If I can't find enough members for the men's team, then only the women's team will sign up for the competition and try again. If it fails again..."
If she fail again, she could only accept it. After all, this is a competition in which tens of thousands of people participate but there are only a few grand prizes, so there are many people who regret it. But she couldn't bear to accept it. After she left the club that she worked so hard to build, there was nothing left. The wall of the school's kendo hall was completely blank, with only a few comforting messages that had no motivational effect.
Seeing his sister's slightly sad look, Shin finally made his mind, "Sister, if you can't find members of the men's team, let me form it!"
Kanae looked back at him in surprise, "I have found two people, Nakano and Kojima, who are willing to go. Counting you, there are only three people. If people you find don't have the strength, you don't need to bring them. That's a nationwide competition and there is no point in trying your luck in multiple rounds of elimination."
Originally, the deputy director of the men's team, Ippei Horii, had been practicing for a long time and was considered to have some strength. The others went to the Gyokuryuukou (玉竜旗) Arena to buy the captain a little more rest time. But now, there is no place to look for a player like him, so it was really useless to just go to a group of noobs. They can only help others create their records.
However, she received her brother's concern. She became gentle and added softly: "Don't worry, Shin. Sakura has agreed to participate. She and I still have hope to achieve results in the Gyokuryuukou competition..."
Shin heared his sister's lack of confidence from her words. He said seriously: "Sister, let me try! I'll find someone to help you!"
If I can help her bring the rewards of the Gyokuryuukou back, my sister will be able to end her high school career without any regrets!
Even if they can't bring back that winner banner, they can still bring back a Combativity Award!
...…
"The sauced pig's knuckles will become darker if left alone for a while, which affects its favor and is not easy to sell, so we have to color the pig's knuckles. You mix the red gardenia powder, sugar and light soy sauce in a ratio of 2:1:5. Then pour it in when the sauce is ready for about half an hour, so that the pork knuckles will have a beautiful golden color and improve the taste. "Kazuya patiently guided Akiho to cook while spraying peanuts with a small spray can.
Akiho cherishes this opportunity. When there were more guests later, Kazuya would be busy and it would be inconvenient to answer her questions, let alone give step-by-step guidance. She kept the recipe in her mind and practiced it carefully with her hands. Then she looked at the small watering can curiously and asked softly: "Chef, what's in it?"
Kazuya put the watering can in front of her nose and let her smell it, "It's just ordinary soju. Spray a little on the freshly fried peanuts, and then sprinkle some salt on it later. It will ensure a good taste and stay crispy for two days, which is a practical tip. "
Make this kind of side dish for drinking in advance to avoid wasting time by frying it when someone order it.
He turned over the peanuts and started spraying again, letting the wine mist fall evenly on the surface of the peanuts, and added: "You can add some dried tofu and sell them together later. It tastes meaty."
He quite liked this kind of life now, busy and fulfilling. Going to school, working and taking care of his family filled him up every minute. Others might find it tiring, but he didn't feel that way. He was content with his tired life.
It was indeed good to have a warm home and a stable source of income. Maybe he should be content, but as long as he wanted to stand higher, see further and climb to the top of the mountain, then he should give himself a slap in the face and climb more steps.
People can't stay in the comfort zone for a long time, as that will completely kill the spirit of advancement.