-The rift with Dr. Kurokawa remained a token reconciliation.
Nevertheless, Akira Shinoda, a senior, pushed through the pain in his leg and decided to participate in the inter-high qualifying round.
While the club advisor disappears under house arrest,
What kind of day will the wounded captain and his surfing club mates have?
With Shinoda-senpai, who "would take on the challenge even if it broke his leg,
I am no longer qualified to stop them, but I want to watch over them," said Dr. Shuji Kurokawa.
"The one who challenges and the one who watches over."--
What kind of view will they see at the end?
1. morning of the day of the tournament--enthusiasm and anxiety
The morning of the day of the inter-high school qualifying round.
Surfers gather one after another on the beach, which is a bit chilly than usual.
The beach was crowded with cheering students, families, and friends, and the beach was filled with a unique enthusiasm.
The surfing club group also gathered early in the morning, setting up tents, carrying luggage, and hurriedly making preparations.
Shinoda-senpai is firmly taping his ankle and taking painkillers.
His face is a mixture of impatience and determination, and he always looks grim.
I'll leave the cooling spray and icing bag here for you.
The manager, Hinata Tachibana, hurriedly arranges the tools.
The senior returned a short "Thank you" and headed to his car to change into his wetsuit.
His limping movements are painful, but he acts stoutly.
Kohei--I'm with my friend Tomoki Ohtani (大谷知樹),
I look around as I help set up the tent and manage the luggage.
Large numbers of surfers stretch out around the perimeter, entering and exiting the water in their suits.
And even though it's an inter-high school qualifier, it attracts a lot of high-level players,
There must be dozens of rivals who want to "win" as much as Shinoda-senpai does.
"Seniors, I wonder if I can really do it with those legs. ......"
Otani spills out in a whisper.
Kohei=My heart is tightening too.
I can't stop now," he said.
A teacher might have stopped him at the end, but he's not there because he's been suspended. ......
At the very least, we can only hope the injuries don't get worse."
Ohtani bites his lip and agrees with a bitter look on his face, "Yes, .......
We are both full of anxiety.
Still, the reality is that we have no choice but to support those seniors who have "made up their minds.
Dr. Kurokawa sneaking a glimpse
Just before the tournament began,
From the outskirts of the tent, Kohei spotted a man standing in plain clothes, neither a suit nor work clothes.
"...... sir."
No doubt. Mr. Shuji Kurokawa, a teacher who is under house arrest and should not be able to come to club activities, is staring at the beach from a distance.
His face is emaciated, and he wears his hat deeply so as not to be noticed by those around him,
His gaze fell on Shinoda-senpai, whose legs were taped together.
(I knew you were here. ...... Dr.)
Kohei muttered this in his mind and tried to approach the teacher,
The teacher shakes his head quietly, as if he has noticed,
I don't need to talk to him. I'm just here to watch over you.
Hinata also noticed the teacher from a distance,
I knew it." .......
You're rushing to support your seniors," he whispered.
Otani and Saki (Kawakubo Saki) senior also looked at him, but said nothing more.
Although the teacher said he was "unqualified," he came to "watch over" the students until the end.
3. senior Shinoda confirms heat order
The competition will be divided into several heats (pairs).
Shinoda Senpai entered the second half of the heat.
Saki senior seems to be a little early in the heat, and each of them is checking the timetable.
Okay, ...... my turn this afternoon?"
Until then, I'll try to preserve my leg as much as possible and keep the pain under control.
...... phew."
The seniors return to their tents and wipe their sweat with towels.
He has already taken the painkillers, and he looks bitter, saying that they may be starting to wear off too quickly.
Hinata worries, "Please don't take too much of the additional medicine," but senpai brushes her off, saying, "Shut up.
He seems to be getting frustrated.
Saki-senpai nonchalantly prepares herself,
If your legs don't work, you've got to have a plan. If your legs don't move, you have your own strategy.
The senior sniffs.
I can't do any tricks with my feet hurting so much," he said.
But I'll just do it. Worst case scenario, I might end up falling, but I won't regret it."
At his words, the people around him fell silent again.
"I don't want to regret anything"-that seems to be what he says to his teachers.
It looks as if he has firmly vowed, "I will not be stopped.
4. senior Saki, riding as expected
The competition began and each heat started in turn.
The venue's announcement echoed loudly, and cheers and shouts of encouragement flew from the audience.
Saki senior's heat is in the middle of the day.
When he paddled lightly and caught a wave, his movements were truly spectacular and drew loud applause from those around him.
As one would expect from a talent aiming for the national level, he made a series of light turns,
The announcer says, "Nice ride, Kawakubo!" and you can hear them getting excited.
Hinata and Otani exclaimed, "Wow ......, you're really exceptional.
Kohei also trembles at the atmosphere of a stiff match he sees for the first time.
Shinoda-senpai, who is watching such a brilliant performance from the side, is silent as she hugs her board.
His gaze is swimming somewhere in the air, perhaps unable to concentrate due to the pain in his leg.
I'm a senior. ...... Are you okay?"
Shall we go to the break area?"
When Hinata calls out to him, the senior laughs shortly.
No, I'm good right here.
Saki, that's great. ...... He's that guy and he's aiming for the main competition.
I'll just do my own thing.
Frankly, I don't feel like moving, but ......"
Riding on that murmur, Saki senpai scored a series of high scores and seemed to have successfully qualified for the competition.
Meanwhile, Shinoda-senpai is increasingly nervous and in pain, and is growing impatient.Atmosphere.
5. the presence of a teacher -- a corner of one's vision
When Kohei looked around, he saw that the teacher who had been far away earlier had moved on,
You can catch a glimpse of them watching the competition from a little closer.
He is wearing a hat and standing with his face hidden.
It's far enough away that no one notices, but you can definitely see that they are aware of their seniors.
(I'm sure the teacher really desperately wants to stop him. ......
But I can't meddle after the theft already took place.
(It's too late for anything.)
Kohei is frustrated, but his priority now is to support Shinoda-senpai by helping to run the tournament as a club member.
That's what I'm trying to calm my mind.
6. senior Shinoda, just before the heat--his legs scream
In the afternoon, Shinoda senpai's heat finally approaches.
He wraps his leg in layers of taping, takes additional painkillers, and manages to get it to move.
Hinata and Kohei desperately suppress their desire to say, "Let's stop, it's too much.
The senior finishes changing into his wetsuit and walks quietly down the beach with his board under his arm.
With each step, his face contorts, but he holds his ground as if to say to himself, "I'm still moving.
Otani whispered, "Is this how you can ride ......?
Hinata is almost in tears.
Saki senior had just finished another heat and said, "Senpai, don't be too reckless.
The waves are that big, so if you feel pain, consider retiring immediately," he advises, but his seniors do not listen to him.
Retire?" Don't joke.
I'm going to ...... until the end."
(It's a great obsession. ...... Really risking my life.
(Maybe the thought that the doctor is somewhere watching makes me feel even worse.)
Kohei grits his teeth.
I don't know how to stop - no, I can't stop anymore.
No words other than "this is your only chance" will reach the senior's sight.
7. start of heat--pain free and go to the waves
The heat in which Shinoda-senpai was competing was called,
Meet at the waiting area.
The players around him were walking lightly toward the sea, but the senior player was clearly walking at a slower pace.
The manager, Hinata, said to her, "Good luck ......," and the senior nodded.
Sorry guys.
I don't know if I can compete in this condition and get the results I want, but ...... I don't want to regret it."
At that one word, the club members fall silent.
No one could speak with a mixture of wanting to stop them and wanting to support them.
The senior opens the seal of the painkiller and puts the last pill in his mouth.
Holding his board, he enters the wave.
Looking into the audience, I see the brim of Dr. Kurokawa's hat moving in the distance, and I know he is looking at something.
The doctor must be holding his breath.
The senior who had so desperately tried to stop him was limping into the sea.
I wonder what they are feeling - it makes my heart ache to think about it.
8. riding--Captain fighting pain
When the starting signal was given, the competitors in the heats paddled offshore in unison.
Shinoda-senpai is also moving his arms frantically while managing to use his legs, which he cannot step on.
Although he is slower than the other players around him, his desperation is painfully apparent.
From the audience and the beach, cheers of "Shinoda, go for it! from the audience and the beach.
The club members shouted their names loudly, and Hinata clutched her towel and had tears in her eyes.
The first set comes.
The senior stands up to catch the wave, but his legs don't move as fast as they should and he misses the take-off.
While everyone around him was discouraged, "Oh ......," the senior managed to persist in his paddle to the next wave.
Takeoff on the next wave--
He staggered to his feet, but stood up on his board, and even from a distance you could see that his legs were in a lot of pain, but he desperately tried to balance and ride.
Go ......!"
Kohei and Otani clench their fists and pray.
However, as soon as he made the turn, he lost his balance and slammed into the surface of the sea.
A white splash goes up and the senior is out of sight.
Hinata said, "Kya......!" and a voice close to a scream.
Everyone's heart freezes and they all look at each other.
A few seconds later, I saw the senior floating on the surface of the water and grabbing his board.
His face is contorted in pain, but he waves his hand to signal that he is okay.
(I can't watch ...... but I can't stop)
Sympathy spread to the audience, "Your leg is hurt, isn't it?" "You're pushing yourself too hard, aren't you?" and "Are you pushing yourself too hard?
I wonder what Dr. Kurokawa thinks - the figure with the hat in the distance seems to be frozen in place, not moving.
9. the continuing challenge--pushing through the pain
Seniors begin paddling again.
He holds his mouth and his face is pale with pain, but still he does not give up.
Looking at the clock, there is not much time left in the heat.
At best, they would be able to catch three or four waves.
Second take-off.
He struggles to get up and slides slightly but does not make the turn.
It fails to take advantage of the power of the wave and quickly stalls and falls off.
Still, the crowd applauded. "Well done!" And.
The senior goes for a third more, enduring the pain as he cowering on the sea.
With little time left, he paddled boldly and tried again and again - but his legs wouldn't move and he kept failing.
It is obvious that the limit is near.
Still, some audience members were moved to tears by his refusal to stop.
"Seniors, that's enough ......"
Hinata unexpectedly speaks up, but it doesn't reach him.
Kohei and Otani also covered their eyes and looked pained, saying, "No more .......
10. time remaining--the last big wave
Only a few heats left.
Larger sets started coming in, and players around the area went for them.
The seniors are also in take-off position without learning.
The risk of falling is high because of the lack of power in the legs, but if you miss this last chance, you will not score.
Go, seniors ......!"
Otani and Kohei clench their fists.
Hinata puts her palms together as if in prayer, while Saki-senpai grits her teeth and watches.
Eventually, a senior caught the wave.
The start is unstable, but the team manages to stand its ground and move forward here.
As the board begins to slide down the slope of the wave, the crowd collectively erupts with "oohs and aahs".
I'm on ......!"
He tries to get into a little turn, but his legs are screaming or moving too slowly.
Still, he desperately shifted his center of gravity and just barely maintained his balance.
Could it possibly go on?
A moment of heightened anticipation for the crowd.
But as he adjusted to the power zone of the wave, the senior staggered, perhaps in extreme pain again.
"Boom!"--
It falls over unceremoniously and heavily, and white water splashes up.
The senior figure is swallowed up again, and a scream-like voice rises from the beach.
Oh, ......!"
Hinata almost runs out screaming.
Kohei and the others look on in rapt attention.
11. retirement or--limit of foot
After a while, the senior surfaced.
His face contorted in pain, he grabbed the board and coughed.
The lifesavers are about to approach, but the senior can be seen shaking his head and signaling that he is fine.
But the figure is marginal by anyone's standards.
While the riders around him continue riding, the seniors appear to be stuck on the water.
When the announcer said over the microphone, "Shinoda, are you okay? ......," a voice of concern came over the microphone,
Senpai drifts between the waves and slowly heads for the shore.
The club members waiting on the beach run to pick up towels and first aid supplies.
"Seniors ......! We are running out of time. Shall we go up?
Don't push it!"
When Hinata called out to him in tears, Senpai nodded with a bitter look on his face.
"...... my feet ain't moving...... honestly, I don't think I can keep going.
Damn ...... me, I still can't do anything ......"
Oozing with unspoken frustration, the senior sits down to collapse on the board.
12. the teacher's appearance - only "watching over".
As the crowd around them buzzed, Kohei and Otani supported both sides of the seniors and carried them to the tent.
The ankle is no longer feeling much, and the senior is biting his lip almost to the point of cutting it from the pain.
Hinata and the other club members frantically set the icing, but the seniors only groan in pain.
He is in no condition to walk properly, and this is effectively a retirement.
(I can't take it anymore ...... seniors, my legs are at their limits. (Couldn't beat the waves, huh?)
Everyone is acutely aware of this.
The cheering fans voiced a mixture of disappointment and sympathy, and the competition continued.
At that moment, in the distant audience, there was a sign that Dr. Kurokawa had moved.
Is it a feeling of "I can't watch anymore?"
I see him turn on his heel and leave, wearing his hat deeply.
(Dr. ...... I wonder what he thought about it, even if he wasn't qualified to stop until the end.
(Witnessing a senior suffer through a condition like that)
It rises in Kohei's chest.
I tried to stop it and failed, and here we are today.
As a result, Shinoda-senpai was crushed by the pain - and
How much anguish must have been felt by the teacher who could do nothing but "watch over" the students?
13. a word from Shinoda Senpai--no regrets.
Inside the tent, the senior is about to fall down with a towel wrapped around his legs.
Several members of the club are concerned and call out to him, but the senior laughs and mutters, "Sorry ...... guys .......
My legs hurt so bad I can't stand up.
I knew it was no good.
But I have no regrets. I did what I could. ......"
Hinata's tears would not stop at those words.
I'm sure it hurts, doesn't it? The truth is, your legs are already at their limit.
Let's go to the first aid room, the medical tent!"
The senior exhales a small breath as he leans his body against it as if he were running out of strength.
The medical tent...... is right, let's go.
......Sorry, guys. I'm such a wreck."
The words "I have no regrets" echoed heavily.
The "safety" that Dr. Kurokawa wanted is not here.
The senior forced his way through on his injured leg and scattered without even a moment's flourish.
Still, he is satisfied with it - it is a bitter ending, but that is the path Shinoda-senpai has chosen.
14. beyond pain
Thus, Shinoda senpai barely made it through the inter-high qualifying rounds.
His leg hurts badly and he is taken to the medical tent.
Advisor Kurokawa-sensei watched secretly from a corner of the bleachers, his chest tightening at the sight of his seniors falling over...
Eventually, I left the venue without speaking to him.
"This is the end result of the teacher's desperate attempts to stop .......
Shinoda-senpai ended up not being satisfied with a single wave.
But can you really tell me you won't have regrets?"
Everyone in the club accompanies their seniors with doubts and sadness.
Saki's seniors made it through the preliminary round and grabbed a ticket to the main competition, but they were not happy with their feelings.
Hinata and Kohei also suffer from a sense of helplessness that they could not stop.
When I glimpsed the teacher leaving the hall, there was no way to follow.
"The one who challenges and the one who watches over."--
Looking only at the results, the senior collapsed in pain and the teacher had no choice but to watch him.
But the story does not end here.
The future of a senior with a leg injury, the departure of a teacher under house arrest, and the future of the surfing club: ......
Everything is still on the way.
He said, "I haven't given up on life yet.
Teachers don't really abandon their students, either--"
In a corner of his mind, Kohei wants to believe in such hope.
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