In the Dojo During the Luncheon [V1 Extra-Yujiro-Kun]
Chapter 47
[T/N- There are Many Japan Specific mentions here so I provided Wikipedia links for few of them , if you are curious check them out.]
At Teito Gakushukan Academy's elementary school, club activities are optional for the upper grades. This is because the school wants to avoid putting excessive strain on children who are still developing. However, the school isn't so strict as to prevent voluntary practice.
I found Yujiro-kun because I saw him sitting in seiza (kneeling position) in the dojo during lunch break. Having seen him, I couldn't help but want to talk to him.
"Hello. What are you doing?"
"Keika-in-san, as you can see, I was meditating in the seiza position."
I called out to him from the entrance. Yujiro-kun didn't turn around, but he nonetheless answered.
I peered inside, my hand still on the door. Yujiro-kun was alone.
"Am I interrupting?"
"It's fine. If you're coming in, I'd appreciate it if you could take off your indoor shoes."
"Well then, excuse me."
I took off my indoor shoes and went inside. The dojo had a different atmosphere from the gymnasium. Maybe because there were only the two of us in the wide space, it felt colder inside than outside. Above all, the strong smell of tatami hit my nose. I decided to sit in seiza a little distance away from him.
"Meditation, huh? It's where you close your eyes and concentrate, right?"
"Something like that. It's quite useful once you get into the habit. So, I do it whenever I can."
"Hmm. So, what do you think about while meditating?"
Yujiro-kun smiled wryly at my question. Even so, he spoke with his eyes still closed.
"I don't think about anything significant. Things like today's lunch, my studies, and the fact that my legs are starting to go numb."
"Haha. You do have to be careful when you stand up."
Just the two of us in the dojo. It was quiet, and the sounds of the students' chatter outside felt incredibly distant. The air was chilly, and it felt a bit refreshing.
"This isn't so bad."
"I thought the same when I started. That's why I do it whenever I get the chance."
As we talked, a tingle ran through my legs. Great, they're going numb. As if noticing my state, Yujiro-kun chimed in.
"You can relax. I figured your legs would start to go numb soon."
"Thanks. I'll take you up on that. Alright then."
I stood up and brushed off my skirt. It didn't seem to have any dust on it. Yujiro-kun was still sitting in seiza.
"Aren't your legs numb?"
"They were at first. But as you get used to sitting, it happens less and less."
As he talked about getting used to sitting, I had a thought while looking at him. With my hands on my hips, I stretched and voiced my thought.
"Could it be that you practice some kind of martial art, Yujiro-kun?"
"Exactly. I practice kendo. My family comes from a samurai lineage, so we have a dojo at home. Although I'm still too young to train seriously."
Apparently, his ancestor, although being a samurai, returned to farming during the Sengoku period and later became village leader. Because of this, their house is old and can be traced back to the Kamakura period. Unlike the samurai who fell during the Meiji Restoration, the Izumikawa family survived as local notables, becoming well-known as a family of politicians in the Taisho and Showa eras. However, due to the house's age, the Izumikawa family still retains a sense of their samurai heritage.
"If this were the olden days, you'd be a samurai..."
"And you, Keika-in-san, are still a princess, being the daughter of a duke."
Yujiro-kun laughed, and I gave a wry smile in response. Touching my hair, I explained the reason for my wry smile.
"That's true, but this hair doesn't suit a junihitoe, does it?"
"If this were the olden days, I would be wearing a dress and be considered a princess. In this world, however, the peerage system has endured, allowing me to officially claim the title of a duke's daughter. With the rising prominence of the Keika-in Group, my identity as a princess of the Romanov family is also coming into the spotlight. Despite my low position in the line of succession, the enormous wealth and ongoing turmoil in Russia are generating a movement calling for my ascension.
"When it comes to you, Keika-in-san, dressed in a junihitoe, I imagine you as Princess Kaguya."
"Haha. Then I should demand treasures from everyone. What should I ask from you, Yujiro-kun?"
"I'd rather not. Those things are all out of reach."
Yujiro-kun paused. After thinking for a bit, he continued.
"Still, if I had to choose a difficult task, it would be the jeweled branch from Mount Penglai."
"Why?"
"Because it was almost completed. If the craftsmen hadn't complained about their wages, it would have succeeded."
Prince Kuramochi's failure lies there. My lesson from this story is that you can't skimp on money when trying to accomplish something.
"You really aim high when you go for something, don't you, Yujiro-kun?"
"In a political family, the difference between winning and losing is huge. I was taught that winning is everything. That part feels very samurai-like."
"Hmm? Doesn't that feel different from the samurai I know from historical dramas?" Sensing my doubt, Yujiro-kun explained the difference.
"A samurai from the Sengoku period, Sotek Asakura, said, 'A warrior is like a beast; winning is what matters.' Since our family is old, we believe in these older values rather than the bushido that was developed in times of peace."
The bell signaling the end of lunch break rang. And so, we started to head back to the classroom.
"Can you stand?"
"I'd appreciate it if you could lend me a hand."
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Glossary
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【Dojo】
Some middle and high schools incorporate judo and kendo into their curriculum. Such schools often have a dojo separate from the gymnasium, with tatami mats limiting its use.
【Prince Kuramochi】
An imaginary royal who courted Princess Kaguya. Some say he might be modeled after Fujiwara no Fuhito.
【Sotek Asakura】
A renowned general who supported the Asakura clan during the Sengoku period. His death and the emergence of Oda Nobunaga led to the fall of the Asakura clan.