Burning Fighting Spirit! Flame's Serious Match/Story 3

**Ashu Yuta**
**Finally my first practice matches...! Uuuuhhh, I'm so thrilledー!!**

**Fudo Akane**
**You're not nervous, but thrilled... that's so like you, Yuuta! How confident are you?**

**Ashu Yuta**
**About that...**

**Fudo Akane**
**Mn? Don't tell me... you're not?**

**Ashu Yuta**
**I- I am! A competitive spirit is important!!**

**Fudo Akane**
**Yep, yep! You know it well!**

**Ashu Yuta**
**Eheheh.**

**Ashu Yuta**
**But honestly, I still can't imagine it, you know? My strength's nothing compared to yours, Tono-chan, Akanechin.**

**Ashu Yuta**
**I'm seriously trying, but... I can't grasp what it feels like to knock someone down.**

**Shingari Miroku**
**I think the problem will be solved with these practice matches. How it feels working with another, the strategies...**

**Shingari Miroku**
**I think the image training will be easier in the future if you actually experience it.**

**Fudo Akane**
**Right. There's still a week of training, but the basics are no longer a problem. All you have to do is gaining experience!**

**Shingari Miroku**
**Today we have 3 people of the same ultra-lightweight class as you, Ashu-kun. Since each of them has different habits, get to know them and accumulate data.**

**Ashu Yuta**
**Accumulate... W- Will I even have the luxury to do that?**

**Fudo Akane**
**Even if you don't think with your head, I'm sure your body will remember, so you'll be fine. Ah... keep your wits about you so that you won't get injured!**

**Ashu Yuta**
**Osu!**

**Ashu Yuta**
**I'll go change, then! Laterー!**

**Ashu Yuta**
**Haaah...**

**Shingari Miroku**
**... The difference between this and your hype in the morning is amazing.**

**Fudo Akane**
**I suppose it can't be helped. It was a complete defeat, after all...**

**Ashu Yuta**
**I’ve never heard of someone who can’t even knock someone else down! During practice I did it, though!**

**Ashu Yuta**
**Eh? Maybe I didn't? The truth is I couldn't do it all this time!?**

**Shingari Miroku**
**Please calm down. You were able to pull it off during practice.**

**Ashu Yuta**
**Really? ... But, if I can't do it during a match, it's meaningless, right?**

**Ashu Yuta**
**I thought I was on the right track, but with a thing like this... maybe, I have no sense?**

**Fudo Akane**
**Hm...**

**Fudo Akane**
**I do think you have it. Your body is flexible and you have a spring in you for Judo, and you learn the technique and movements fast.**

**Fudo Akane**
**It's just that, I could see hesitation durning today's practice matches... or something.**

**Ashu Yuta**
**Hesitation...?**

**Shingari Miroku**
**I felt that, too. What was particularly risky was the moment just before knocking them down, the moment you were getting on the defense.**

**Shingari Miroku**
**Somewhere around there you seemed to lack concentration.**

**Ashu Yuta**
**Ughh...**

**Fudo Akane**
**It seems you realized it. What were you thinking in the middle of the match, Yuuta?**

**Ashu Yuta**
**Uhm... At that time, it was difficult to ascertain the offense and defense. I was wondering if I should take the step.**

**Ashu Yuta**
**I thought I'd go for the win, but I didn't see my partner's weak spot​ and so...**

**Fudo Akane**
**I see. Your hesitation became your weak point. In other words, your mind, body and spirit didn't become one.**

**Ashu Yuta**
**That might be the case. And now I'm quite all over the place...?**

**Fudo Akane**
**All over the place, huh? ... If you feel like that, then it might be difficult now.**

**Ashu Yuta**
**Eh...!**

**Fudo Akane**
**As I said before, you can't win with just technique in Judo. I'm sure it's the same for other sports and martial arts, too.**

**Fudo Akane**
**Have you ever seen the players at the Olympics? Even before the finals, you can see through the TV that no one gets close to them because of their murderous intent.**

**Fudo Akane**
**What I mean is that if you don't feel that, you can lose no matter how strong you are.**

**Fudo Akane**
**That's why... I think you were completely dragging your first defeat from the second match and so on. I couldn't feel your will to win at all, Yuuta.**

**Ashu Yuta**
**...**

**Fudo Akane**
**That perseverance that allows you to see the other's weak spot is also connected to that feeling.**

**Fudo Akane**
**Your defeat today wasn't because you lack of sense or technique. It's the result of your heart betraying your efforts.**

**Ashu Yuta**
**...!**

**Shingari Miroku**
**Akane...**

**Fudo Akane**
**Mh...?**

**Fudo Akane**
**...! Sorry, Yuuta! When it comes to Judo, I get all serious and just...**

**Ashu Yuta**
**It's fine, what you said is true, anyway. Thank you for saying all this for my sake. Your earnest words really hit me, Akanechin.**

**Shingari Miroku**
**... Which means it's already in the past, huh.**

**Ashu Yuta**
**Hah...**

**Shingari Miroku**
**... Anyway, today was your first match. I'm somehow happy that you didn't win.**

**Fudo Akane**
**Miroku's right. Knowing your weakness is the first step to victory. So let's do our best again starting tomorrow. I will also review your practice menu.**

**Ashu Yuta**
**Okay... Thank you both.**

**Fudo Akane**
**...**