The Second Round

"Lou Cheng Wins!"

The foreign words echoed in Ichiei Sakata's ears as he lay flatly on the ground, his mind blank, not remembering to even get back on his feet. He felt as if he just woke up at home in the afternoon, dazed and languid.

He had exhausted all his strength and made the breakthrough. Yet he had lost. Looking at Lou Cheng's undamaged shoes, it was as though he never exerted his full force and reserved his strength this whole time...

When Takechi-kun had overtook and surpassed him, he consoled himself by saying that those who run fast might not run fast later, and the second half of the lap was what mattered. When Takechi-kun had mastered the true "Ha" while he was running in circles, he comforted himself by saying that he was invincible, the most powerful in his league and it was only a matter of time before he could advance.

But now, facing a 20 years old opponent in the same league yet losing so miserably, what can I console myself with?