Chapter 5: The Stinky and Dirty Sport
Hidetaka Kitahara nodded in understanding, recognizing that competing for funding is a responsibility of the club president, and that employing some minor tactics is not necessarily wrong. He continued to ask, "Is it necessary to recruit so many people? Are there very few participants in the kendo club?"
Hidetaka Kitahara nodded with a smile, as he did not mind helping with such a small favor that only required a few steps. After all, it wouldn't take much time and would not affect his plan to study diligently. Upon learning that there was a special tutoring class at the school, his desire to study intensified and became more urgent.
Uchida Yuma, unconcerned about the direct members of the kendo club, chuckled and said, "Of course not!" However, he soon became curious, asking, "Did your school's kendo club have many members in the past?"
Shidao Lvy defended his sister by saying: "The additional funding she seeks is merely to ensure that the club members can maintain a better condition during competitions and to allow for more training sessions in regular times"
Kitahara Hidetoshi flatly refused, stating that one should not be too courteous to Uchida Yuma, as this fellow has a thick skin; if you give him a stick, he will climb right up. He glanced at the somewhat "swaying and graceful" Shikishima Ritsu walking beside him and curiously asked, "Why is Shikishima-kun helping the Kendo Club recruit members?"
He took two steps following Shikishima and noticed that Uchida Yuma was also following him. He asked with some curiosity, "Did Shikishima-kun ask you as well? Aren't you supposed to be going to the baseball club?"
The university entrance examination system in Japan is essentially similar to the independent enrollment model of Chinese universities. Although there is a national academic ability qualification test, it merely serves as an entry qualification certificate. Students still need to take entrance exams for each university sequentially, and the examination papers are prepared by professors from various universities, which are not standardized. The focus and depth of certain subjects vary significantly, and some even require a foundational knowledge in specific fields
Is that so! I didn't know that Ritsu Shikishima had an older sister. He glanced at the somewhat effeminate yet still handsome Ritsu Shikishima and speculated that his sister must be a great beauty, but that was none of his business. He continued to ask: "Does this school have a requirement for the number of club members?"
Yes, Kitahara, just think about it! In summer, wearing a kendo uniform and a hakama—made of pure cotton! Then wrapping a headscarf—made of cotton fleece! And then putting on the men, do, kote, and tare—made of resin plates and leather! After that, the senpai shouts 'suzuri' a hundred times, and by the time you finish swinging the bamboo sword, the smell... I feel like throwing up just from my own smell, and adding others' makes it simply hell! Moreover, the bamboo sword and protective gear are all prone to moisture and mold; during the rainy season, you can't go a day without cleaning them. If you're a first-year student, it's even worse; after cleaning your own, you have to clean the senpai's as well. The sight of green mold flying everywhere guarantees you won't be able to eat for three days! And then there's cleaning the dojo; it's scorching hot in summer and freezing cold in winter—it's all torture, just thinking about it makes one uncomfortable.
Uchida Yuma asserted: "It will only be less! Who would want to participate in such a foul and dirty sport? It's just that Aru's sister is too domineering, and Aru has no choice but to always go and headbutt people."
The classroom was already bustling, while Kitahara Hirotsugu was still biting the tip of his pen, pondering a mathematics problem. Japanese universities are also divided into liberal arts and sciences, primarily focusing on the depth of the subjects studied. For instance, science students are required to study Mathematics 1, Mathematics 1A, Mathematics 2, Mathematics 2A, Mathematics 2B, and advanced science students may even study Mathematics 3, whereas liberal arts students typically only need to study up to Mathematics 2.
Uchida Yuma casually swung his backpack with his other hand, putting on an air of a charming drifter, his gaze lingering on the girls in the corridor. He remarked, "There’s no rule saying you can only join one club; it’s just about filling a spot anyway... After we’re done, how about we go to karaoke? Aritsu is treating!"
Uchida Yuma kept rambling on, filled with resentment towards the kendo club. In the end, he said: "That kind of sport is not something normal people should like. We are just going there to have our names on the list, and as soon as we fill out the forms, we should leave quickly. I was foolish in middle school, forcing Alu's sister to practice for a year, and she only found relief after graduating. I cannot make the same mistake again this time"
Three people chatted as they passed through the side courtyard of Daifu Academy, following the shaded path to the kendo dojo. As they approached, they could hear the dense sound of bamboo swords clashing inside, creating a rhythmic "bang bang" that almost formed a continuous sound.
"Smelly and dirty?" Others' family members, including Kitahara Shuji, found it inconvenient to express their opinions and quickly adjusted the topic of conversation
Thank you, but I still need to go back to studying
However, it does not matter much to him; he feels that being able to live again is already a great gain, and any additional benefits are inconsequential. He is not afraid of hardship and plans to study the high school curriculum again—do not assume that university students can definitely get into prestigious universities like the University of Tokyo through the college entrance examination. The pressure in university is not significant, and the sense of tension has long dissipated. If he were to take the college entrance examination directly, he might very well fail miserably, perhaps even performing worse than the current graduates. He is not afraid of hardship and plans to study the high school curriculum again—do not assume that university students can definitely get into prestigious universities like the University of Tokyo through the college entrance examination. The pressure in university is not significant, and the sense of tension has long dissipated. If he were to take the college entrance examination directly, he might very well fail miserably, perhaps even performing worse than the current graduates.
Shida Ritsu cast a sideways glance at Uchida Yuma, unexpectedly displaying a hint of flirtation, forcefully pushing him away and exclaiming: "I understand!"
The ratio of 2:1 may not seem too difficult, but when placed among the world's top-ranked prestigious universities, it suddenly transforms into ratios like 500:1 or 1700:1, which means one must still strive to compete.
Shidao Lu lowered his head and sighed, speaking ambiguously: "There are some personal reasons... I apologize for causing trouble to Kitahara-kun."
"Hey, Kitahara-kun, it's time to go," Shikishima Ritsu called softly to Kitahara Shuji, while Kitahara Shuji reluctantly glanced at the unfinished problems and began to pack his exercise book into his bag
I see. Kitahara Shuji finally understood why so many clubs were sweating profusely under the scorching sun every day at the bulletin board and in the front yard, desperately trying to recruit members; it turned out to be related to the allocation of funds
The Japanese university entrance examination is diverse, but ultimately it boils down to competing for scores. However, the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (equivalent to China's Ministry of Education) has imposed various unrelated courses that are not part of the entrance examination onto schools. In response, schools have developed strategies to address this, completing these courses such as folk arts, home economics, and moral education while simultaneously conducting foundational cultural courses. By the end of the first year of high school, students who excel in foundational cultural courses, demonstrate outstanding academic ability, and possess high deviation values are selected to form special advanced classes, after which they can focus entirely on striving for admission to prestigious universities. This process involves completing these unrelated courses alongside the foundational cultural curriculum.
Similarly, subjects such as national language and national history have been reversed by students of both liberal arts and sciences
Hidetaka Kitahara packed his bag and left the classroom, pretending not to notice the slightly resentful and embarrassed gaze of Mako Takasaki. He was unsure whether this rebirth was influenced by the attribute points in the game or if the original owner was simply too handsome, but his unexpected romantic fortune was overwhelming, almost turning into a calamity of love, which troubled him greatly
Starting from February each year, college entrance examination candidates begin to participate in university admissions tests, taking them repeatedly until they have completed the exams for their desired schools. The admission rate for Japanese universities, excluding junior colleges and vocational schools, is approximately 50 percent.
Uchida Yuma wrapped his arm around his neck and chuckled, "Alright, I mean no harm. We are friends, after all. Helping out is only natural, no need to say sorry! Right, Kitahara?"
Shida Lyu remained silent, while Yuma Uchida candidly stated: "The more people there are, the more funding we can obtain from the student council. For instance, the amount approved for 10 members going out to compete will definitely be different from that for 5 members"
After understanding all of this, Kitahara Shuji felt somewhat anxious. In his previous life, he was already in his second year of university, having long been free from academic pressure. To be honest, some knowledge had already been returned to the teachers. Now, suddenly returning to high school, especially in Japan, he found it somewhat difficult to adapt. He was very worried that he would not pass the academic ability test and would not be able to enter that so-called special advanced class to enjoy the school's specialized tutoring. The so-called "cheat" that came with it was also unreliable; it was a fantasy-style idle mobile game. He held a Japanese dictionary, thinking of this "cheat" as a language skill book, probably similar to the "Demon Language" or "Minotaur Language" in games, which directly allowed him to learn the "Japanese" skill. However, when it came to subjects like mathematics, chemistry, and physics, this "cheat" left him confused, and he was slow to react.
He harbored a deep resentment towards Shidao Lu's sister in his words, yet Shidao Lu turned away, pretending not to hear, and did not defend his sister's name, showing a complete lack of brotherly awareness
Shida Lvy's face revealed a slight expression of emotion, but unexpectedly, she heard Uchida Yuma add, "When the time comes, I will treat you. What to eat, I will decide, no, we will specify!"
Shidao is well-mannered and polite, which is quite good. Uchida Yuma... is average. Together, the two of them can be considered above average and worth getting to know.
He stepped out, and Shima Ritsu immediately bowed in gratitude. At noon in the cafeteria, Shima Ritsu asked him to register at the Kendo Club to help meet the membership requirement. Kitahara Hidetaka considered it for a moment, thinking it wouldn't be a hindrance to himself and could serve as a favor, so he agreed. At this moment, Shima Ritsu was very eager to take him to join the Kendo Club.
Shidao Lu was afraid that Kitahara Hidetaka would run away, so he hurriedly said: "It's just a nominal arrangement, just to deal with my sister... After we handle that, we will leave immediately." After saying this, he bowed deeply again, "I apologize for the trouble caused to you!"
Hidetaka Kitahara did not quite hear or understand, and involuntarily looked towards the "information broker" Yuma Uchida, who indeed lived up to his expectations and immediately revealed the truth, "Alyu's sister is the captain of the kendo club; it should be her sister who is pressuring him to find a certain number of people, otherwise, he will face consequences.
Kitahara Hidetoshi hurriedly replied ambiguously: "I didn't pay attention, it shouldn't be too many... I think Nagoya is a big city, so it might be a bit more, right?"
Time has swiftly reached 3:40 PM, and the regular classes at school have concluded for today. Students are free to do as they please for the remaining time; they may participate in club activities, take on part-time jobs, attend tutoring sessions outside of school, or even sneak home without anyone caring. After all, there is no evening study session—time is now yours to manage. If you waste it, you bear the responsibility. The school is a place for education and nurturing, not a babysitting service
Five. Shima Ritsu sighed again, estimating that he was worried about where to find the remaining three.
Hidetaka Kitahara watched the two people playfully tussling and thought to himself that they were... well, not bad. Although they were both typical adolescents, they were quite interesting.