Sakyo Furuichi/Spartan Instruction X

An Encounter with a Kungfu Master

Backstage Stories

Part 1Part 2

Izumi	Eh? Everyone, what are you looking at?
Azuma	It’s a Kungfu movie. It’s currently being broadcasted in the TV, Sakyo-kun was watching it and I just joined in.
Guy	Same with me.
Izumi	I see.
Sakyo	It seems to be good reference for the upcoming performance.
Azuma	By the way, I heard that the actor who’s playing the lead in this movie did all the action scenes without a stuntman.
Izumi	Ah, I’ve heard of that too!
Guy	There are pretty intense action scenes in this movie…
	He must have trained a lot to be able to do all those scenes by himself.
Sakyo	Yeah, he was able to open his own dojo, he seemed to be pretty knowledgeable and well trained in martial arts.
Izumi	This person, he also appeared in a lot of other action movies right.
	I’ll try to search it in my smartphone…
	Ah, there it is.
	Yep, as I thought, he act on a lot of famous titles.
	Hee… It seemed that he wrote a book called “Kungfu for Those who Seek Strength” too.
Sakyo	So he wrote a book.
	I think it can make another good reference.
Sakyo	…It’s not available in this store too.
	(I went to several bookstores, but I can’t seem to find it anywhere…)
	…Hmm?
	This place is a bookstore too huh.
Grandfather	Welcome.
Sakyo	(That old man seems to be the bookstore owner. It’s an old bookshop, but it might actually be left in a bookstore like this.)
	The martial arts shelf is–
Izumi	Eh, Sakyo-san?
Sakyo	Director-san.
Izumi	What a coincidence.
	…Sakyo-san, are you perhaps looking for the Kungfu book from yesterday too?
Sakyo	Yeah.
	So Director-san is looking for it too.
Izumi	Yeah. I tried to find it in several places, but somehow I still cannot find it.
	I wonder if it’s sold out because of the movie he’s starring in recently.
Sakyo	Maybe. I also cannot find it.
Izumi	It will be great if this store has it…
Izumi	Ah! Alright, there it is!
Sakyo	“Kungfu for Those who Seek Strength”…
	This is the book indeed.
Izumi	Hee, it comes with the DVD.
Sakyo	It will be very helpful, it’s easier to understand when you have the actual movement from the video.
	–!
Izumi	?
	Sakyo-san, just now, what happened…
	…!
	Sakyo-san, your glasses are gone!
Sakyo	Wai… How does this happen…
Grandfather	…Hohoho.
Izumi	Eh? The old man who was on the cash register…
	Huh!? Isn’t that Sakyo-san’s glasses that he’s holding!?
Sakyo	What…!

Grandfather	Sir… Do you want to become strong?
Sakyo	…For now, return my glasses–
Grandfather	Didn’t you hear, I asked you if you want to become strong!!
Izumi	Sa, Sakyo-san…
	I think it’s better for you to answer here…!
Sakyo	Haa…
	I do want to be strong.
Grandfather	Hoho, you said well.
	Then, let me teach you directly.
Grandfather	Haa-…
	Hai! Haiya!
Izumi	A, amazing…
	Those are Kungfu right!
Sakyo	…Old man, who the hell are you?
Grandfather	Nothing, just an old man who loves Kungfu.
	Sometimes, there are gathering of those who loves Kungfu in the park and I teach them a bit.
Izumi	That means, you’re an instructor?
Grandfather	Hoho, it’s not such a big deal.
	The shop’s closed for today!
	Come with me, and I’ll teach you Kungfu.
Izumi	Eh, is it alright to leave your shop just like that!?
Grandfather	I open this shop when I want to and I close this shop when I want to.
Sakyo	It’s strange, I think I just got pulled along…
	But it seemed to be real Kungfu…
	I guess let’s try following him for now.
Grandfather	Kungfu lovers gathered here several times a month.
	Let’s start from your footsteps.
	Your left foot goes like this–
Sakyo	Like this.
Izumi	(Since I’m here already, I guess I’ll also try it for a bit.)
Grandfather	Next will be your arm.
	Like this, hold it—
	Ha!!
Sakyo	Ha!
Izumi	Uh… The movement is too hard…
	I have to use everything just to keep up… ugh.
Sakyo	Oi, you don’t need to force yourself.
Grandfather	Right. Don’t force it.
Izumi	Sorry…
	I think I’ll stop right here…
	(I’ll just get in the way if I continue more than this, let’s just watch quietly from the side)
Grandfather	Alright, let’s take a short break.
Izumi	The two of you, good work.
	I bought some drinks, please help yourself.
Sakyo	Yeah, thank you.
CHOICE 1: “Sakyo-san, it suits you" [+] Izumi Sakyo-san, Kungfu fits you well. You’re getting used to the movements too. Sakyo Well, I also practice the basic of Kungfu for the performance after all. Izumi You look like the movie’s protagonist when you were doing the form earlier too, it’s very cool. Sakyo …Sigh, nothing will happen even if you praise me that much. Izumi Ahaha, it’s my honest impression though.
CHOICE 2: “Somehow, I feel like I’m in a real movie" [+] Izumi Somehow, I feel like I’m in a real movie. Sakyo ? How is it so. Izumi You were seeking for strength, met an old instructor and got taught the art of Kungfu. Sakyo It’s more like, we were looking for a book, got my glasses taken by an old man and were brought to the park. But, the old man taught well, his movement’s easy to understand as a reference. He also told us about this place where Kungfu lovers gather, next time it might be a good idea to bring the whole Autumn Troupe along. Izumi That sounds great! Seems like it’s going to be a good practice, I’m looking forward to it!
Sakyo	Fyuh…
Grandfather	Hohoho, you managed to grasp the movement well!
Sakyo	Old man, your movement and your stamina are pretty good too.
Grandfather	I just mastered what I like doing.
	I didn’t start Kungfu until I was 60 you know.
Izumi	Eh!? Really?
	(He moved so skillfully and taught well, I thought he must had learned it since he was young…)
Grandfather	I happened to see a Kungfu movie when I was around the age of 60.
	I was taken into it since then.
	It’s never too late to start something.
Sakyo	…I understand that too.
	Recently, I’ve finally come to understand it.
Grandfather	Hoho, don’t get cheeky even if you get it.
Sakyo	Well, I didn’t notice it alone.
	The one who taught me that was this person, and everyone from the company.
Izumi	Sakyo-san…
Grandfather	This is a good encounter.
Izumi	…Alright, I’m going to follow your example and start something too!
Sakyo	What are you thinking about?
Izumi	Let’s see… first of all, I’ll try more combination of curry spices!
	After all, it’s never too late to start something right?
Sakyo	Geez… I know this would happen.
	…Do whatever you want.

Chiaki