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DIVE!! (Light Novel) - Book 2 Chapter 4 - Final Result
Book 2 Chapter 4 - Final Result
This chapter is updated by NovelFree.ml
“Hey, let me give you a massage.”
That night, Ooshima carefully massaged Shibuki’s back, where burning sensations still lingered after the competition.
“Every time I see you doing something worrying so far, I had to resist the urge to do something for you. I was really worried that we were going to fight about your back, haha.”
“If you knew, why did you keep quiet about it?”
“Coach Asaki told us to keep quiet about until after today’s competition. She wouldn’t say why, but Coach Fujitani said that there must be a good reason for it. He’s pretty weak against that woman.”
“Because she’s the grandchild of the former Mizuki president?”
“No, because she is naturally gifted as a coach. At least several times more than me.”
While laughing drily, Ooshima pressed down on various places on his back with his thumb, asking things like “Does it hurt here?”, “Here?”. Each time, Shibuki cried out, “Eek!” and thrashed his body around.
“This is awful. When did this happen?”
“About one or two years after Gramps died. Now that I think about it, he was pretty cautious. He always made me, who wanted to jump from somewhere really high, wait a little more.”
“He was probably thinking about the burden on your body, and waiting for you to grow up.”
“Hey, do you think there’s a reason why Gramps only taught me the basic dives?”
“Maybe. The degree of danger increases with the level of diving technique, and naturally the rate of failure goes up as well. Failure is more or less the cause of the pain in your body. It’s probably the sign of the times that the saving technique wouldn’t be passed on, and as you said, Okitsu Shiraha was pretty careful. He was trying to train you in the long run.”
“What?”
“Weren’t you listening, you dummy. You didn’t understand your grandfather’s feelings in today’s contest, either?”
As Shibuki fell silent, Ooshima clapped his back as he raised it.
“Anyways, you should go see a doctor first. Then we’ll start taking steps for the future.”
“…if it’s decided.”
“What?”
“I’ll go if it’s decided that I will be going to the training camp. I feel restless now for some reason.”
In response to that voice that sounded like it was going to disappear, Ooshima, who was about to head for the door, stopped. Turning to look at Shibuki, an unusual sorrow dwelled in his eyes.
“Don’t expect it, Shibuki. The decision for the members of the training camp is waiting for after the results of tomorrow’s springboard, but you are only doing the high diving, and besides you don’t have a chance, since you’re in seventh place. Unless a miracle happens.”
Although he gave that advice, his voice didn’t have much power, because he knew that for active athletes, they all couldn’t help but to wish for that miracle, even if they placed at the bottom.
“I’m not expecting anything. I just feel restless. Anyways, I’m not anxious to go to Beijing.”
Ooshima quietly shut the door to the back of Shibuki’s bluff.
Ooshima himself prayed that a tremendous upset would happen at tomorrow’s springboard competition, but in the end, it never happened.
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“The Asia Joint Training Camp will be held in Beijing, China in August. The qualifying trials for the right to participate took place on the 29th and the 30th at the Tokyo Tatsumi International Swimming Center. Both the boys’ high diving and boys’ springboard competitions were dominated by the Sakuragi High School student Fujitani Youichi-kun (16) of the Mizuki Diving Club. Fujitani-kun, who had won by a large difference between him and second place, said with a calm smile, ‘I had bet on this tournament, abandoning the Inter-High and the Japanese Championship. Although, this wasn’t even a competition that I needed to bet on.’ In addition, the second-place winner in the boys’ high diving competition was Tsuji Toshihiko-kun, followed by Matsuno Kiyotaka-kun in third place. For the boys’ springboard diving competition, the second-place winner is Matsuno Kiyotaka-kun, followed by Tsuji Toshihiko-kun in third place. For the girls’ competitions…”
As conveyed by an article adorning a corner of one sports paper on the morning of the 31st, Youichi had swept the springboard diving competition with a satisfying performance. Showing off his abilities, he won the public expectations that he would be a leading Olympic candidate. Also, even though they switched positions for second and third place, it didn’t change that Matsuno and Tsuji still followed after him, and in the end, it was still the same faces that occupied the top three places for the high and springboard diving competitions. This was an unfavorable development for Shibuki and Tomoki, who only bet on the high dive.
Three boys and three girls could participate at the Asia Joint Training Camp. If it went as expected, it was obvious that Youichi, Matsuno and Tsuji, who left stable results at the high and springboard diving competitions, were the three chosen.
In fact, on the 31st, when everyone expected the people to be chosen, the selection committee members of the JASF unofficially selected the participants of the training camp after discussions. That was what was supposed to happen, but it appeared that some sort of unexpected incident had occurred there.
Because, on that day at the JASF, they shelved the decision announcement for some reason, and the next day the selection committee convened again, because of the appearance of a mysterious development.
As a result of the second meeting, a new formal decision was made on the afternoon of August 1st. Of course, the athletes had not been told what had happened from the 31st to the 1st. Meanwhile at the MDC, Shibuki and the others gave sidelong glances to the strangely restless coaches as they silently devoted themselves to practice. They could not stay still.
And then finally, it was the night of the 1st. Coach Fujitani had received a notice from the JASF, and gathered Shibuki, Tomoki, Youichi, Reiji and Ryou together.
They had already finished dryland training that day, and about to go home when they were called to the AV room, where they were met with the unusually strict faces of Coach Fujitani and Kayoko.
Last night, Ooshima had returned home after drinking heavily, which was rare for him. He spoke to Shibuki.
“Listen, Shibuki. In the States, there was an athlete who started diving in university and got an Olympic gold medal. You’re still a second-year high schooler. Even if you go back to zero briefly, if you just have that potential of yours, you can do it over again as many times as you want.”
Remembering the strange encouragements like that that he had received, he felt a disturbing uneasiness.
“Some time ago, the final announcement for the participants of the training camp came out from the JASF.” When the five were seated, Coach Fujitani abruptly began.
It was seven in the afternoon. Past the window where a warm wind blew through, the sun had already sunk beneath the dim night. Though it was still the peak of summer, the sun had started to set earlier and earlier, which made those of the MDC think that there would be a long winter coming around. As long as they weren’t chosen for the joint training camp, their summer would go up to there. The fruits of their labour, which were gained from dutifully practicing over fall, winter and spring, would scatter into foam in an instant of one summer. Their destinies shifted in only 1.4 seconds.
Youichi, who everyone was sure would be one of the participants, pressed his father with eyes that wanted to know as soon as possible.
Shibuki was staring intensely at the floor with his tightened fists on his thighs.
Tomoki was watching Coach Fujitani with eyes that were slightly moist.
Reiji was just sitting there, as though he simply wanted to quietly see the results with his own eyes.
Ryou was the most restless of them. He was kicking the floor with his heels, only talked to let loose a sarcastic comment (1), and could not stay still for even a moment, and stood up from his seat as though he couldn’t put up with waiting for Coach Fujitani’s announcement any longer.
“I’m going home.”
“What?”
“I was definitely not chosen. I know that much at least.” He said curtly, then headed for the door.
Kayoko called out to his back. “Wait. You’ve been practicing together with your teammates until now. Don’t you want to know who was chosen?”
“If I knew, I’d be mortified, and I can’t quit again.”
“Quit what?”
“Diving.”
Everyone turned to Ryou at once.
“Ryou!” “You want to quit diving?” Ryou didn’t respond to Tomoki’s and Reiji’s calls, and quickly left down the hallway.
This summer, at the qualifying trials that he had bet everything on, Ryou had awkward, crushing defeats at both the high diving and springboard diving competitions. If it wasn’t for this important situation, someone might have chased after that retreating figure that had his pride destroyed. Or possibly, no one might have chased after him either way. When you participated in this harsh competition for many years, whether you quit or continue diving, you don’t know which choice would hurt your friends.
“He’s that sort of kid. We’ll leave him alone for a little while.” Coach Fujitani, who had watched over Ryou since he was little, said. “Let’s return to the topic at hand. The announcement for the representative athletes.”
Tension returned to the room.
“The selection committee of the JASF had, as announced, decided to send three boys and three girls to Beijing. The first of the boys is…”
Coach Fujitani’s gaze indicated the owner of the name.
“The first person is Fujitani Youichi.”
Youichi stopped breathing.
“Congratulations. The selection committee had unanimously decided that you will be the first participant. You are the overall champion in both high and springboard.”
Youichi, who had stopped breathing for a long time, took in a deep breath just before asphyxiating, then stopped again as though to savor the taste of the air. His flushed cheeks returned to their natural color as he repeatedly took deep breaths several times.
“The second person has been decided to be Matsuno Kiyotaka, who was third place in high and second place in springboard. His steady and stable performance and career seemed to have been acknowledged.” Coach Fujitani continued, and Tomoki’s head, which had not moved even the slightest until then, wobbled.
Shibuki rubbed his thigh unconsciously with his right hand.
There was only one ticket left for Beijing.
A chilly silence dominated the room.
“And the third person is Tsuji Toshihiko, who was second in high and third in springboard…or at least, it was supposed to be him. However,” Coach Fujitani said. “Coach Sun from China opposed it.”
“Coach Sun?”
“You probably heard from Coach Asaki that the JASF was seeking advice from Coach Sun. I thought you would get too nervous if I told you, so I kept silence, but Coach Sun was also at the qualifying trials. No, it would be more natural to think that the JASF put together the competition schedule to coincide with Coach Sun’s arrival in Japan.”
“Coach Sun was at the competition…”
All their faces trembled, with neither excitement nor fear.
Coach Sun was a famous coach who was touted as the best in Asia. That person, who seemed to exist above the clouds—no, at the end of space, had watched them dive on that day.
“After considering the events of the competition on that day, Coach Sun strongly opposed the selection of Tsuji. It’s not world-class, he said. Even though it’s a strategy, athletes who only move between the five and seven-meter cannot be in international competitions. Tsuji does not have the power to compete on a world-level stage. Then, Coach Sun advocated that we should bet on unknown possibilities rather than results.”
Unknown possibilities.
With those words, Shibuki, Tomoki and Reiji all held onto a ray of hope.
“The JASF’s selection committee followed that opinion. It can be said that the third training camp participant was virtually decided by what Coach Sun said. As a matter of course, he has a keen eye that has discovered many strong athletes so far…”
“Okay, so tell us who’s the third person.” Shibuki spoke up with an irritated tone of voice.
Tomoki and Reiji turned their attention to Shibuki with wide eyes, since he usually showed an indifferent face to everything. Shibuki himself seemed to be puzzled about the voice that escaped him.
Coach Fujitani, the only person whose expression did not change, turned to Shibuki with tired eyes.
“It’s you.”
“Huh?”
“Coach Sun recommended that you be the third training camp participant.”
As though a pistol had been accidentally fired before his eyes, Shibuki twitched his face upwards.
But, Coach Fujitani wasn’t done talking yet.
“However,” he continued sadly, “we turned down that decision.”
“What?”
“It was decided before the JASF contacted us about the informal decision. I have discussed it with Coach Ooshima and Coach Asaki many times, that in the unlikely event that Okitsu is selected to be a participant of the training camp, we made the conclusion that it would be unreasonable as you are now. When the JASF was told to that effect, they instantly decided on the third representative. The next person that Coach Sun recommended was you.”
Now the gunpowder burst before Tomoki’s eyes.
“Sakai Tomoki. You have been chosen as the third representative athlete.”
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Pitter-patter. A drop of water travelled along the window that reflected Shibuki’s unsteady, glass-like profile. Though the sound of the rain that had suddenly appeared strengthened in a flash, no one cared about the raindrops that blew in through the open window.
“What…do you mean?”
The first one to speak was Tomoki.
“Didn’t Coach Sun choose Okitsu-kun? And yet I’m the one…”
“He did choose Okitsu. He felt that Okitsu’s exceptional scale was a sign of something new. I don’t think he’s off in that regard. But, however…”
“Coach Sun couldn’t have found out about Okitsu-kun’s problem, since he had only seen that day’s competition.”
In place of Coach Fujitani, who seemed like he wanted to make the end of his sentence ambiguous, Kayoko took over.
“Okitsu-kun, your back…you know it yourself, don’t you? It’s too dangerous for you to participate in the joint training camp like this. There are always dropouts one after the other from Coach Sun’s special training each year, since it’s said to be that intense. We thought that you should concentrate on treatment in Japan now rather than making your back worsen in a place like that.”
“Back?” Youichi turned to Shibuki as though he was flicked. “Your back hurts?”
Shibuki looked at the floor without answering.
The sound of the rain grew even stronger. Or maybe it was the silence in the room that was making it look that way. Everyone, including Kayoko, Coach Fujitani, and Youichi, held their breaths awaiting Shibuki’s reaction. It was as though they were not moving because they were afraid that he would act violent, but surprisingly, Tomoki was the one who lashed out.
“No. I absolutely cannot replace Okitsu-kun.” As soon as he took in the situation that he was put in, Tomoki fiercely objected to it.
“After the last competition, everyone praised me by saying that getting fourth place was awesome, but for me, it was awfully frustrating. I didn’t know it was so frustrating to lose a competition. I was so frustrated that I couldn’t sleep. Because Youichi-kun had such a huge lead on first place, I couldn’t compete with him, and all the spectators were watching Okitsu-kun. Even the people in the main pool suddenly became his spectators. Youichi-kun and Okitsu-kun were too amazing. But, it’s thanks to them that I understand now. Even though I tried my best, it still wasn’t enough. So now, rather than replacing Okitsu-kun to go to Beijing, I will practice even harder, and from getting stronger, to the world…”
“How soft.” Kayoko flatly shot him down. “It’s true that you’re lacking in many things. Isn’t it good go to Beijing to make up for them even a little bit faster? It has been decided that going to the training camp is better than staying in Japan. If you’re frustrated about losing to Fujitani-kun and Okitsu-kun, please learn a little more over there.”
“But…”
“Don’t forget. You have the Diamond Eyes. You have only started polishing those gemstones now, so of course you might be lagging behind Fujitani-kun and Okitsu-kun. But, who knows what will happen after half a year?”
“But…”
“Go to Beijing.”
Tomoki’s head understood the meaning of Kayoko’s words. But, his heart would never agree, no matter what.
“But…I still don’t want to go in Okitsu-kun’s place.” Tomoki muttered, then stood up as though he was going to run away from Kayoko, who still looked like she wanted to say something. “Anyways, I don’t want to!”
After leaving those words for no one in particular, he half-ran out of the AV room. It was different from Ryou left, since Youichi immediately chased after him.
Only Coach Fujitani, Kayoko, Shibuki and Reiji were left in the room when the sound of footsteps disappeared.
“He’s not able to use his friends as stepping stones, huh. I hope that it doesn’t prove fatal to that child, but…” Coach Fujitani murmured gruffly.
“Sakai Tomoki will go to Beijing. He must.” Kayoko retorted strongly. “By the way…” she said as her eyes turned to Shibuki. “May I talk to Okitsu-kun alone?”
“Oh, please do so. It’s fine.”
Coach Fujitani left for the hallway without any energy, and became aware of Reiji’s presence quietly following behind him. He walked for several steps before turning back and placing his hand on his shoulder.
“You’ve worked hard. It was a painful result for you.”
“It’s a competitive world, after all.” Reiji’s response was brief, but something gloomy was sinking into his eyes. “But, sometimes I think about it. You need six people to play volleyball, nine to play baseball, and so on…a sport where everyone can compete and win together is wonderful. That’s what I thought.”
“Everyone competes together and win together, huh.” The same thing was sinking into Coach Fujitani’s eyes. “I see. That is nice…”
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Translation Notes
1. Not really a translation note but more like a fun fact. The word used here is 聞こえよがし (kikoeyogashi) which means “ bad-mouthing someone so as to be deliberately overheard; intentionally letting someone hear insults or sarcasm regarding them “ (from jisho) and it just amuses me that there’s a word for that in Japanese
