On the morning before the tournament was set to begin, the three juniors were down in the practice room as normal, prepping it for the day. There was a buzz of excitement between the three of them as they worked sweeping and stamping out the clay.
"Come on, how well do you think we're really going to do?" Huan was the first to speak.
Hiroshi looked up from the board he was stamping down into the clay to even it out and shrugged. "Well, we've all done well in our local areas, right? It's not like we're going against full rikishis. I think we'll do fine," he said with a confident nod before he went back to work.
"But these are the best from their local areas," Ansei piped as he hung his broom up in the room's corner.
"Yeah, but so are we. We've all been training hard and are learning from the greatest Oyakata of all time. I think we'll have a leg up," Hiroshi countered.
The two of them both nodded their heads. "Yeah, you're probably right."
Hiroshi looked over at the two and shook his head. "Besides, you're both old enough to get right into the lower divisions," he said this with a smirk. The other two boys frowned and nodded their heads.
"Next year," Huan said.
"We'll be in the fifth division," Ansei nodded, agreeing with Huan. "Unless we win. You'll still have another chance."
"Yeah, so make sure to go easy on us," Huan said jokingly, with a fight.
Hiroshi shook his head and went back to work stamping down the clay the other two had been spreading out. They had just gotten everything ready when Itaro came in, followed shortly by the rest of the senior wrestlers in the house. The last to enter was Botan, who walked towards Oyakata's spot and stood before he looked over everyone. They all stood at attention, waiting for words from their assistant coach before they started training.
"Tomorrow the tournament starts. The biggest tournament of the year. You all have done well in practice the last month leading up to this and I'm sure we will put forth another excelling showing. I have no doubt that one of you will bring home the Emperor's Cup." Botan paused and looked over the room for a moment before focusing on the three juniors.
"And I have no doubt one of you will become a Junior Yokozuna," he took a moment and looked at each of the three of them.
Hiroshi had the feeling he let his look linger on him a little longer than the other two, but he could have imagined it. He gave Botan a solid nod in understanding. Whether or not the man looked at him longer, it didn't really matter. Hiroshi was dead set on winning the title. His friends could join a professional sumo after this tournament either way. Hiroshi was dead set on joining them. He'd not only be able to join early with the special consideration he'd get from winning, but he'd also start at a higher rank than either of them. Not super high, he wouldn't become a sekitori or anything, but he'd be placed in the third division.
"Thank you, Master," the three of them said in unison and bowed their heads.
"So, we have a short practice day today. Just some practice bouts and then we'll send a few of you with Ezra to the store. Oyakata is doing his session today, so he didn't get punished by the Council for what happened with Oyakata Kaisho. He's told me to send a few to the market with Ezra to pick up some groceries and then we're going to have a barbeque outside," Botan continued.
The excitement went through the air with a buzz. Okami always cooked great food for them, but it would be fun for something different. Hiroshi had heard about the cookouts the stable has had in the past. Oyakata would cook on a grill and the rikishi would be able to relax and enjoy the outside and have a little party. The Okami still kept incredibly busy during these, making sure Oyakata knew what he was doing and she was still cooking rice and side dishes inside.
Botan held up his hands to silence the growing buzz from the group of large men. "Then, as is tradition, we will be going to a show before we turn in for the night. I'm told the theater has a very special presentation planned for the evening and we should look forward to it. Hiroshi, Huan, you start," he ordered giving no one time to really take in everything he said.
"The rest of you start stretching," he finished as they cleared out the circle and Hiroshi and Huan stepped in.
The next few hours were just as it started. Everyone rotated in and out, having practice matches. Hiroshi surprised himself and didn't drop a match. He had beaten both his fellow juniors, and even won his first match against Itaro. It wasn't until Yuto stepped in that Hiroshi lost and Ansei took over with his practice matches. Hiroshi worked on shikos and upper body workouts while everyone else did their practice. He had gotten called in a couple more times to wrestle against some of the more senior wrestlers so he could practice dealing with belt grips again. He was only slightly disappointed in himself when he wasn't able to recreate the throw he did against Nishikigi.
After Nishikigi had a few practice bouts where he won them as well, Botan finally broke up the shortened practice and sent them to the washroom. "Nishikigi, Itaro, and Hiroshi. You three wash first. Ezra is upstairs waiting for you to go to the market. He has the list from Okami-san of stuff to get," Botan commanded.
"Yes Master," they said and bowed their heads before they rushed off to hurry to clean.
Since they didn't have long, they had to skip actually soaking in the tub like he and Nishikigi had done the previous day. Just washed themselves quickly in the group shower area before toweling off. It took the three about thirty minutes to be cleaned and in kimonos in the main room where they looked for Ezra.
Hiroshi wore his usual drab rough cloth brown robes. Itaro, as a rikishi in the fourth division, was in deep green robes. They were a finer material than Hiroshi's, softer to the touch and didn't seem like something that once held potatoes. It still paled compared to Nishikigi, though. The Yokozuna wore a kimono that had to be silk and was a brilliant sky blue color. The design on the kimono was a beautiful snow-topped mountain with a cherry blossom tree in front of it in the foreground on the bottom of the robe.
"Alright, you three ready? Hopefully, the market still has some of this crap Yi wants. We're going so late. Who knows what we'll find?" Ezra grumped from behind them. He was in his usual spot on the couch, leaned back and his legs spread out. He looked like he was half asleep.
The three whirled around and nodded their heads. "Yes, sir," Nishikigi said, and spoke for the group.
Ezra just gave a grunt of acknowledgement and then walked past them towards the front door and then out. The three followed, with Hiroshi taking the rear. The boy kept having to reach and scratch some parts of the robes that were itching him.
When they stepped outside, the early afternoon sun hit them and Hiroshi had to shield his eyes as they walked. Beads of sweat formed on his brow as they went towards the carriage that was waiting at the end of the long walkway. It was ready for them with two horses that stood there and chewed on some cud.
"Here's the list Auntie Yi wants you to get," Ezra said and held out some paper for Nishikigi. "She said try to get everything but make adjustments as you need to. Use your judgment. You know what everyone likes to eat and how much we usually go through."
Nishikigi nodded his head and took the slip of paper before he looked over it. "Do you have money?" he asked.
"Nah, everyone knows us, and I'm sure they'll know you. We have credit with all the vendors at the market. They know they'll get their money, so they'll give you whatever you need," Ezra explained.
Nishikigi nodded his head. "You know, as long as I've lived in the stable, I've never been sent on grocery errands before."
Ezra smirked and held the door open for the Yokozuna. "Well, depending on how everything works timing wise, it could be this your stable someday. Depending on when you want to retire from wrestling and when the Oyakata finally wants to retire, or is forced to retire. Gotta learn this stuff," Ezra said with a grin.
Hiroshi and Itaro just stood there and looked between the two men. Nishikigi gaped and then blinked before he looked at Ezra.
Ezra just laughed and clapped the man on the shoulder. "No worries. That's a long way off yet. You're still young yet. Long career still ahead of you, I'm sure," he said, trying to calm the yokozuna.
Nishikigi eyed Ezra, but after a moment he climbed into the carriage mumbling something about how he wasn't that young. Hiroshi eyed him as he himself stepped in after Itaro and wondered how old the man was. It was hard to tell with sumo wrestlers sometimes. They were heavy, which seemed to age the wrestlers beyond their years, but then they were also professional athletes who worked on their bodies nonstop. Some wrestlers Hiroshi had seen looked no more than really large playful babies.
It only took a few moments until Hiroshi felt the carriage tilt as Ezra made his way up to the driver's bench and a shout was given. An order to the horses who started clopping their way down the stone roadways. The soft clip clop of the hooves forming a rhythmic sound that lulled the three athletes into a short early afternoon nap.
"Jesus, you three, come on!" Ezra shouted and woke them from their slumber.
Hiroshi blinked several times and found he was sleeping on Itaro's shoulder and wiped a little drool from his mouth. Itaro frowned at Hiroshi and Hiroshi just blushed a little as he tried to look away. "Sorry, Elder," he said.
"Well, it was a busy morning," Nishikigi said to Ezra with a grin.
"Plus the heat," Itaro offered and rubbed his eyes after he made sure there wasn't a drool spot on his kimono.
Hiroshi stayed quiet and just got out of the carriage mulishly. The other two followed, and they all stretched and blinked as they woke up. Hiroshi glared up at the sun and wiped his brow once more.
"It is pretty hot for spring," he mumbled and shook his head before he headed into the large tented area of the downtown market.
The markets were a collection of a few vast tents where the vendors set up tables and small areas to sell their wares. Everything was set up in a way, so there was a small walkway for customers to walk around and find what they were looking for. There were people bustling everywhere, pushing and shoving their way through the throng of busy people who looked for whatever it was they needed.
Nishikigi took point and led his three juniors through the crowd. The people seemed to part around the large yokozuna. Some would stop and stare and point them out to the people they were with. Nishikigi was, after all, quite famous. Even if you didn't really follow or have much interest in sumo wrestling, a man of Nishikigi's stature was something that stood out in the mass of people who were thin and petite.
Some people approached the trio and asked for autographs. The only one allowed to do this was Nishikigi, which he did to every person who asked. They'd all offer him a slip of paper and pen and he'd sign his shikona. Some people reached out and touched him or shook his hand and introduced themselves. Itaro got little attention since he was still lower ranked, and Hiroshi even less.
If they asked, Nishikigi would proudly point out who and what they are. He introduced them as his little brothers and said Hiroshi was the new gem of the stable. This made Hiroshi flush and shake his head and try to argue. The people would all laugh and clap Hiroshi on the shoulder, though.
"Can't wait to watch you tomorrow," they'd say before they walked off. "Good luck!" they'd give all three of them.
Some would lament they couldn't get tickets because of price or availability on the days they could go. They all seemed to have some notion that they'd be able to get them tickets. Nishikigi would wave it away and, full of sorrow, explain that he didn't have the pull they thought he did.
"I'm just another rikishi," he'd tell them before they'd laugh.
"Yeah, right!" they'd say before walking away with a chuckle.
When they finally had a few moments and the crowd of people seemed satisfied with meeting the sumotori, Nishikigi could finally take the list out once more.
"Here, we'll split this up. I don't wanna stay here too long. Big crowds like this…." Nishikigi looked around and grimaced. "Let's try to hurry," he said and ripped the list in half, handing one half to Itaro.
"You guys go together and go that way," he motioned in one direction. "And I'll go to the other. Try not to get lost, alright?"
Itaro took half the list and looked it over before he nodded his head. "Sure, no problem, senior. I've been here a few times. My parents used to run a stall here. Say we'll meet back here in half an hour?"
Nishikigi nodded his head. "Yes," he said before he went off in the direction he indicated he'd go.
Hiroshi followed Itaro and stuck as close as he could, not want to get lost. "Kind of amazing that the Yokozuna doesn't like big crowds like this. Thought he wouldn't fear anything." Hiroshi started an idle conversation as they walked and looked once they were far enough away that he was sure Nishikigi wouldn't have heard him.
It was kind of amazing to him that such a warrior in such a high standing and position would be scared of anything.
"Eh, he's a big guy, and he is just another person," Itaro explained as he grabbed some things from a nearest vendor.
The seller nodded his head and put the items in a bag before he handed it over to Itaro. He took a book out of his pocket and made some notes confirming the stable they came from. "I'll bill your master, no worries. Good luck in the tournament," he said to them before they bowed and walked off with their new items.
"He may be powerful, but we all have some kind of weakness," Itaro continued to explain when they walked away.
Hiroshi nodded his head in understanding. "I guess. It's just surprising," he said.
It didn't take them long to find everything they needed. Just some basic dry food stuff for the sides Auntie Yi planned on making to go with the food. All the interactions with the vendors went about the same as it had with the first. They'd just give Itaro what he wanted or as close to it as they had and they'd make a note in a booklet and promise they'd follow up with Oyakata Kenjiro.
They didn't run into any issues until they got to the last stall, which was run by a young girl, maybe around the same age as Hiroshi.
"How do I know where you're from?" she challenged before she handed over the sack of rice.
"Well, look at us," Itaro said and gestured towards their robes.
The girl eyed them with bright green eyes, and Hiroshi couldn't help but stare at her. He was bogged down by bags and held a sack of potatoes over one shoulder while Itaro talked to the different vendors.
"Yeah, anyone can buy some special robes from a costume shop or something and then go about the market, claiming they're from such-and-such stable," she replied in defiance.
Itaro frowned. Hiroshi looked from between him and the girl with a cocked brow. He grunted a little under the weight of the bags and everything he was carrying.
"Come now, my little brother wouldn't lie." Nishikigi's voice rang from behind Itaro. "We're from the Hajima stable, and that sack of rice is the last thing we need."
The girl looked up at the large man and gaped. "You're Nishikigi!" she exclaimed excitedly.
"I am." Nishikigi smiled broadly and nodded his head. "And we're on a special trip from our Okami and Oyakata to grab the things we need for our big dinner before the tournament starts. How about we make you deal so you stop giving my juniors a hard time?"
The girl eyed the yokozuna. "What sort of deal?" she said and crossed her arms together.
Nishikigi set his bags down and Hiroshi saw they were full of meat and fish. The proteins for the dinner they planned on having.
Nishikigi went further into the girl's stall trying to duck from the pressure the crowd seemed to put on him. "Where are your parents?" He asked her with a raised brow.
"My dad is out in the field picking rice," she said and dared him to question her.
Nishikigi just nodded his head and didn't bring up the fact she said nothing about her mother. Hiroshi looked at the girl. She had a small nose and sharp eyes. Straight black hair that hung freely down to her shoulders. The clothes she wore were plain, just some plain brown robes. Hiroshi couldn't stop staring at her, though.
"Do you have any ink?" Nishikigi asked with a smile.
"Of course," she said and handed him a small bottle of ink. "Gotta refill my pens somehow. Make sure I can bill those of you who come here and expect credit all the time."
Nishikigi laughed and nodded his head. "Yeah, sorry about that. Our Oyakata wasn't there when we left so we didn't receive any money for our shopping. What about paper?"
Without a word, she handed over her notebook. She looked back at Hiroshi here and there. No doubt she felt him staring at her. He'd try to look away before she caught him, but he knew she did every time.
Without a word, Nishikigi opened the notebook to the last page and set it on the table she had. Her booth was a little more plain than some of the surrounding others. Just a small table that kept a box for the money and her notebook and pen. A simple red blanket was on the floor under their spot and then sacks and large clay pots full of different rice.
He opened up his palm and then poured some ink out on it. Itaro watched with eyes full of surprise and Hiroshi just watched, curious what was happening. With a finger, Nishikigi spread the ink on his hand until it was covered with the black liquid. He then pressed his palm onto the open page, pushing it hard until his handprint was fully on the page.
Hiroshi gasped when he finally realized what was happening. He watched Nishikigi wash his hand off the best he could on some towels the girl offered him. She knew what he was doing as well. With his clean hand, he reached into a pocket in his kimono and pulled a small stamp pad and stamp. The ink on the stamp pad was red, and the marker was an official symbol from the Sasuke Sumo Association. It was the same symbol that was on that investigator's robes.
Nishikigi pushed his stamp onto the pad and then, on an upper corner of the page, over his handprint. He then found her pen on the table and signed his name.
"There, now you can bill our master, and you also a tegata," he said before he smiled down at the girl.
She stared up at him in shock. "Thank you," she bowed at Nishikigi lightly. "You really didn't need…" she started, but Nishikigi cut her off.
"No, but my junior here seems taken with you," he motioned towards Hiroshi. "So why not? Just make sure you let the page dry before you close the book. It won't be worth as much as when we have them on the fancy paper or scrolls, but with that mark, its official." Nishikigi explained.
Hiroshi just stood there and felt his entire face turn red when the girl looked over at him and narrowed her eyes. She stared at him for a moment before she smiled and looked back up at Nishikigi. "Thank you," she said and bowed her head at Nishikigi. "It will mean a lot to my father. He's a big fan of sumo," she said.
"No problem, thank you," Nishikigi said before he went over and grabbed up the sack of rice Itaro was after. He slung it over one of his broad shoulders before he picked up his bags and headed off through the thinning crowds towards where Ezra left them.
Itaro and Hiroshi followed, and Hiroshi was once more surprised by Nishikigi. The yokozuna gave the girl a tegata. It was like a signature, but more. Tegatas were usually hung in homes as prized artwork, and they were rare. His father always dreamed of getting one, but even with his connections, he never could lay his hands on one.
When the trio once reached the carriage, Ezra grumped about them taking so long but helped load the bags into it. The sacks went on the roof and were tied down. Everything else went on the bench next to Nishikgi as they all piled in.
They didn't sleep for the ride home, they spoke about their hopes for the upcoming tournament.
"I just hope I can pay Zoichi back for beating me in our little exhibition match," Nishikigi said. They would probably have a match against each other. They usually did.
"If I can have a winning record and get my kachi-koshi, I'm happy," Itaro offered.
"I want to win," Hiroshi said when it was his turn.
Nishikigi and Itaro nodded. "I think you have an excellent shot. All the extra practice you've gotten from Botan and Oyakata. You have an excellent chance," Nishikigi told him.
From there, the trio rode in silence. Hiroshi watched out the window as the carriage left the sprawling downtown area for the outskirts of the city where the house was they called home. The streets got less and less busy as they left the inner city, so much so that when they approached the stable, Hiroshi was able to make out two figures standing just outside the gate to the house. Right at the end of the walkaway there was a short, petite woman and a young girl. Hiroshi squinted.