Kazunari Miyoshi/Dance of Prayer

It’s Getting Heated! A Chanbara? Tournament

Backstage Stories

Part 1Part 2

Kazunari	…And hup!
Kumon	Oh, it’s you, Kazu-san! Whatcha doing?
Kazunari	I’m practicing my dance! The people from the shrine commissioned us to perform ritual sword dances.
	BTW, the prayer dance I’m in charge of is a prayer for Physical Protection.
Kumon	“Physical Protection?” You mean something like praying for good luck in health??
Kazunari	Not just that. You can ask for it at times you’re adjusting to a new environment, or maybe when you’re doing sports and stuff…
	Or even if you’re involved in dangerous jobs, you can pray that you’ll be guarded from harm’s way. Or so they say!
Kumon	Ohhhh!! But, y’know, it’s still so cool seeing sword dancing no matter what the prayer is for!
Kazunari	Ahaha, I knew you’d say something like that!
Kumon	Is the sword you’ll be using for the dance at the shrine?
Kazunari	Yep yep! If we wanted to practice, we have to borrow our swords from the park where we’ll be doing the real thing.
Kumon	You can’t take the sword with you to the dorms then?
Kazunari	Can’t do. And since I can’t take it for my own individual practices, I’m doing image training while I’m at the dorms. Get a feel of how I’d look with a sword.
Kumon	EH, wouldn’t that be kinda hard? Why don’t you make your own handmade sword?!
Kazunari	Wait, you’re SO right! I SHOULD make my own sword then!
Kumon	Oh oh, can I make one with you!?
Kazunari	But of course!! Let’s make them together!!
Citron	Oh you all seem so excited! What are you two talking about?
Kumon	We were just talking about making our own handmade swords!
Kazunari	So like, you know how we got this request from the shrine to do a sword dance, right…
Citron	That does sound fun! I also want to make my sword as well!
Kazunari	Let’s do it then!
Kumon	Oh Kazu-san, I know that choreography in sword dances is important n’ all, but wouldn’t it be a good idea to get used to handling a sword too?
Citron	If you are dancing for this sort of prayer, then you must discipline yourself so that you will be absolutely prepared for anything and everything…!
Kazunari	…In that case, how’s about we hit two birds with one stone by practicing through a chanbara tournament!?
Kumon	That sounds super fun! I want in!!
Citron	Then I’ll be rallying to get more people in for this! The more the merrier!
Kumon	I’ll come with!
Kazunari	Then I’ll go ask everyone who can jump in too!
Citron	I’ve brought some people over!
Itaru	…..Uhm, Citron said we’ll be doing some sort of game?
Taichi	I heard from Kazu-kun that we’ll be doing a chanbara tournament!
Banri	And exactly what part of a chanbara tournament is supposed to help with sword dancing?
Kazunari	Now now, let’s not sweat the deets. This is just the first step of my role studying!
Tsumugi	Kumon-kun told me that we’d be helping out with someone’s role study. So it’s for Kazu-kun’s role then.
Homare	Hoho, it does sound interesting. I took a break from my tea time for this, so I plan to give this my utmost effort!
Kumon	That’s what I like to hear!
Itaru	Sources say that there’s clearly some sort of mistake in the roster here. Sources: Me.
Citron	There’s no such thing. I believe Itaru has a clear specialty when it comes to making a handmade sword!
Tsumugi	Actually, have you decided on the rules for this?
Kazunari	Oh right… Hmm, since it looks like we’ve got two people from each troupe here, why don’t we make this a paired tournament against each troupe?
	Of course, you’d have to make your own sword too. And don’t forget the motto of safety first! Make sure you don’t get hurt and make sure you don’t hurt the others as well!
Homare	Understood. Simple is best, after all.
Kumon	Alriiiight, I’m definitely making myself a really cool sword!
Kazunari	You’re all free to make your sword however you like! You can also put on any ornaments as long as it’s not anything too dangerous!
Citron	…Has everyone gathered?
Tsumugi	Here.
Banri	Ready when you are.
Kazunari	The first battle will be between Autumn Troupe and Winter Troupe, and the next will be between Spring and Summer Troupes. Whoever wins in either matches will face off in the deciding battle!
	Are you all set for the Troupe chanbara Tournament? Ready… Start!

Kazunari	For the first match, we have Settsuar and Taicchan from Autumn Troupe VERSUS Tsumu-Tsumu and Aririn from Winter Troupe!
Banri	My sword’s mainly made out of plastic bottles reinforced with vinyl tape.
Taichi	I made my sword with a cardboard base, all decorated with drawings of Akapuyo!
Kazunari	How about you, Team Winter Troupe…?
Tsumugi	We’ll give it our all!
Kumon	H-Hang on!? Tsumugi-san is only holding a rolled-up newspaper, isn’t he!?
Homare	Fufu, I shall be fighting the match with this!
Banri	Isn’t that just a harisen!?
Taichi	It’s made out of washi paper, but that’s clearly just a regular old harisen!!
Itaru	I know those two aren’t exactly using swords, but I guess it still counts anyway…
Kazunari	Now, let the match begin!
Tsumugi	Take that!
Banri	——...
	There!
	*swings*
Tsumugi	Uuu….
Homare	Now is about time I show you how to give an ever elegant, ever magnificent battle—
Taichi	There! You’re wide open!
Kazunari	…That was over in a flash~! Autumn Troupe wins this one!
Banri	Naturally.
Kazunari	Up next, we have Itarun and Ron-Ron repping Spring Troupe VERSUS Me and Kumopi from Summer~!!
Itaru	Since Winter Troupe also had their own liberties, I made my sword in the image of the magic stick that Ruby of JewelPuri used.
Banri	Your favorite anime?? I thought you didn't want to do this.
Itaru	Well, when it comes to the actual battle then I’ve got no care for that. So I may as well make a weapon that I want to fight with.
Homare	Citron-kun, you made your own unique sword as well, no?
Citron	You’re right on the nose, Homare! I’ve slotted in this sword with a monster figure to raise its Attack, and this sweet shrimp sticker will raise its Defense.
Kumon	As for me, I have here a chipped-blade-type sword, and I’ve also got a feather sword! After all, there’s no rule that says I couldn’t make more than one sword!
Taichi	That’s true! Kyu-chan, you’re so smart!
Kazunari	My sword has a base made of paper-mache, but I made sure to properly paint it over too!
Banri	Kazunari’s amazing as always. It almost looks like a real longsword.
Tsumugi	I’ll give the signal then. The match between Spring Troupe vs Summer Troupe starts… Now!
Kazunari	Prepare yourself, Itarun!
Itaru	(grunts) Guh, this is where it ends huh……… I’m glad to have fought by your side, Ruby…
Citron	I’ll take revenge on Itaru’s foe!
Kumon	I won’t let you! Secret Arts: Sweet Monster Shrimp Catch, activate!
Homare	Oh my, he stopped the sword with both of his blades!
Kazunari	GJ, Kumopi!
	It’s over now, Ron-Ron–!!
Citron	Uwaaa, I’ve been haaaad—!!
Kazunari	I say that was a fight well fought!
Kumon	What should we go with for our new equipment? Citron-san suggested that we could have the option to change our weapons for the deciding championship match…
	But Banri’s so crafty that he’s probably going to make something with projectiles, y’know!? And Taichi-san could make some really amazing stuff if he’s dead serious about it… mumble mumble…
Kazunari	Don’t you worry Kumopi, I’ve got it covered! I just came up with something good.
Homare	And now, it is time for the Summer Troupe VS Autumn Troupe Match!
Banri	Got myself some new gear just like you asked. This one’s got unlimited rubber band ammo.
Kumon	See! I just knew Banri would make a projectile weapon!
	But I’ve come prepared with my own new gear too! Get ready for these specially-made shurikens of almighty power!
Taichi	I took inspiration from seeing Kazu-kun’s longsword and made a long spear as my weapon! This will bring us a win for sure!!
Kazunari	Tsk, tsk, tsk. You’re taking it too easy, Taicchan.
	My new equipment… is this—!!
Citron	Ohh–! I wasn’t expecting a shield!
Itaru	I get it. They’re doing a role distribution plan by cooperating together and have Kazunari play as defense together with Kumon’s offense role.
Tsumugi	Now then, it’s time for the deciding match. 3, 2, 1… Begin!
Kazunari & Kumon	Hyaaa—!!
Kazunari & Kumon	(panting)
Banri & Taichi	(panting)
Homare	It’s become quite a fierce battle, hasn’t it.
Tsumugi	All thanks to the efforts from Kazu-kun’s shield.
Citron	Ohh, Banri’s ready to attack again!
Banri	Let’s end this here and now. Take that!!
Sakyo	Oi, you lot, what’s with all the noise you guys have been making since earlier—
Kazunari	AAH! FURUUCHE-SAN, LOOK OUT!!
	*shields Sakyo*
Kumon	Nice cover, Kazu-san! Way too cool–!!
Taichi	Ban-chan, your finger! Take it off the trigger!
Banri	Ah.
	*flick*
Sakyo	……….
Itaru	Critical hit right on Sakyo-san’s forehead. Game over.
Sakyo	WHAT THE HELL HAVE YOU IDIOTS BEEN DOING TO MAKE SUCH A RUCKUS, HUH!?
Citron	It’s just a Chanbara battle with a safety-first rule!
Kazunari	Erm, uhm, this is all for my sword dancing so everyone’s just giving their all!
Sakyo	And what part of this makes a Chanbara battle? Not a single one of you is holding a sword at all.
Kumon	Th-that’s because we changed weapons…!
Sakyo	And you say safety first when clearly it’s already dangerous!
	The fact that I’ve been hit with a rubber band gun of all things, grumble grumble… It’s a good thing I’m the one who got hit or else, mumble mumble…
Banri	Oop. He’s already started, Kazunari.
Kazunari	UWEEENG, I’M SORRRRRY—!!!

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