Holy Mother - Chapter 7

“Why are you late today? Makoto, you should also help me train the juniors. I can’t do it alone. Moreover, all the seniors from grade 12 are retired.”

“Yes. I understand. My part-time job finished late.”

Seniors from grade 12 already retired after competing in the inter-high⁶, even though they lost in the preliminary round. So, Watanuki, who was in grade 11, became the new team leader and Makoto became his vice-chairman. Honestly, Makoto didn’t consider herself to have the qualities to be a vice-chairman. She thought that the position she got was because this kendo club didn’t have many members. Also, there was no one else in the team members that can fill that position. She never even dreamed of being recognized as one of the best three in the club. Makoto only considered kendo as a fun sport because it can be team play but it can also be individual play. She continued to practice kendo because she felt that the kendo fighting style required her to unite all of her soul to concentrate and to attack the opponent that was suitable for her.

“When you have finished warming up, help me to train the others. ”

“Ok.”

Then Watanuki walked away.

After Makoto finished swinging her sword a hundred times, she wore a chest protector and tied a type of handkerchief called a Menshita in her head. Then she wore a face and head shield along with a hand protector. She wore all the protective gear because her opponent was a junior who was training that still could not control the aim of their sword. Their aim often missed and hit on Makoto’s unprotected arms or shoulders. Because of that, her body was always full of bruises.

“Come on! Don’t be lazy! Keep on hitting! ” Makoto shouted at the junior who was her training opponent. The junior was immediately filled with passion and hit Makoto’s face shield.

“Too low! Improve your fumikomi ⁷!”

If this was kakari⁸ training, the coach can also strike back. But unfortunately, this time it was uchikomi⁹  training, so Makoto had to continue to receive sword swings without being able to do anything. But thanks to that, she could calmly see her opponent’s weaknesses. After Makoto gave direction, the junior’s next aim got a little better. When she gave direction one more time, the aim got even better. It felt quite fun training the juniors like this and seeing their progress. That was why Makoto quite liked the coach’s position.

Finally, everyone sat in the formal sitting position, with legs folded back and sitting on the calf, to do a moment of silence and then ended the exercise. After the exercise was completed, each grade level will take turns to clean the dojo with a rag. Today it was the grade 11’s turn. Makoto told her juniors to go home, while she took out the bucket and rag from the warehouse to start cleaning the dojo.