15th day in the Month of Kenatsu in the year 203 of the Age of Sasuke.

First Day of the Summer Sumo Tournament.

The next morning, Hiroshi piled into a carriage after Ansei and Huan. The three of them sat there staring at each other wide-eyed. Excitement and nervousness filled the cool morning air. Hiroshi took a minute to look at Huan. He blinked and then looked at Ansei.

“I couldn’t poop this morning,” he said and grabbed his stomach.

“Well, my insides are like water, so I think we can trade problems,” Ansei replied.

Huan just stared at the two and shook his head. “I threw up, but I think I’m fine?”

This was said just as Ezra opened the door and check in on the three. He stared at the three boys with a blank expression.

“Nerves, huh?” He grinned, “and you boys are still in the juniors. Just think about what Nishikigi is going through right now. There are expectations of him. None on you three. Go out, do your best and Oyakata Kenjiro will be happy.

“He’s been doing this forever, though!” Huan griped.

Ezra just shrugged and closed the door on them before peeking in the window. “So? He still has the Sumo Association breathing down his neck. Then Oyakata Kenjiro. Not that the Oyakata would fault Nishikigi for anything, I don’t think, but donations from having a successful Yokozuna help the stable. Anyway, I’m sure you lot will be fine.”

Then Ezra was gone, and the three boys were left sitting there. “I still wish I could have pooped this morning,” Hiroshi moaned as the carriage took off down the rocky path.

Huan and Ansei just responded by giving him a nervous chuckle.

Hiroshi just closed his eyes and put his head back against the cushion in the carriage. They kept the shades drawn as they traveled through the city. They couldn’t deal with people peering in at them and trying to talk to them on their big day. Not that they thought they would, because, well, they were just junior wrestlers. Still, the people might pester them to try to find the Sanyaku carriages or something. They just didn’t want to deal with anyone as they tried to work up their courage.

The ride seemed like it took forever and Hiroshi could have sworn he fell asleep for part of it. The gentle clip-clop of the hooves of the horses and the rocking of the stone path. Ezra had scared them when he opened the door to the carriage.

“Look alive, you three. I know you’ve been in here all cozy, but it’s time to put your game faces on. Now, it’s not like they’re here to see you. The fans probably don’t even know who you are but you’re representing the Hajima stable, and you’re representing Oyakata Kenjiro,” Ezra told them with a stone expression on his face.

“I’m sure you three will be good, but you know what’s expected of rikishi. The same goes for you,” he said as he pointed a long bony finger at the carriage. With finality, he gave them a nod and then moved out of the way so they could climb out of the carriage and make their way inside.

Stepping from the carriage, Hiroshi couldn’t help but look up. He had always felt the arena back home was big. This was on another level. The arena was massive and when he said as much, Ezra just snorted and laughed with a nod.

“Yeah, the emperor’s father knew how much his son loved the sport before he died, so he had it started. Last year was the first year they had the event in the new arena. He smoothed it over with the various people in charge by simply saying why not give the Kami who saved us from Kenichi’s wrath a glorious place to call home, and any doubt about spending so much kind of died,” he said with a shrug.

Ezra patted one of the horses on the side before he gave a nod to another man, who walked up to the group. The man was well dressed in a uniform of pants and a shirt of dark blue with red trim. He climbed on the carriage and gave a command. It took the horses a moment before they pulled away and made room for the next carriage in the line from the Hajima stable.

Hiroshi nodded his head in understanding. They walked up the large cement walkway to the entrance of the arena. On either side, there was beautifully manicured grass and shrubs with large trees that provided more than enough shade for the few die-hard fans who came out and watch so early.

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There were only about a dozen people on either side of the walkway all preening and peering, trying to get a glimpse of the rikishi making their way inside the arena. No one paid the three juniors much attention, or the old man, Ezra, who walked with them. They still smiled and waved, and the three boys responded kindly. It wasn’t until the end and the group of four was almost into the wrestler entrance way that Hiroshi saw the girl from the rice stall from the markets the previous day.

She waved at him and bowed her head softly. “Good luck today. Me and my father are rooting for all of you,” she said and motioned to the man she was standing next to.

He was an older man who looked like he fathered well into his life. He grinned a wide toothless grin and reached out his hand. “Are you one of the ones who gifted my daughter the regatta from Nishikigi? It’s so nice to meet you. I took today off from the fields so I could come give my thanks.”

Hiroshi took the man’s hand and bowed his head softly. “That was all my senior, sir, but thank you.”

Ezra looked at Hiroshi with a sideways glance, but shrugged as he and the other two juniors walked inside. “Take your time Hiroshi, but not like too long. You and these others are expected to be ready soon since you’ll be the first few up,” Ezra said before the three left.

It didn’t take long until the rest of the stable was past Hiroshi and inside and Nishikigi walked up, with Kenjiro and Botan right behind. It took them a few extra moments and created a small gap in the line of rikishi, making their way in. Everyone wanted to stop Nishikigi and wish him well and touch his shoulders and arms. Hiroshi was never sure why, but fans loved to touch the sumotori. Just pat them on the back and give their well wishes.

As soon as Nishikigi walked up, he smiled at the young girl and gave her a wave. When she introduced her father to him, he gave the man a deep bow. “Thank you for the rice. Our Okami cooked it for dinner and it was some of the best rice we’ve had, I think,” he said to the older man.

The old man went wide-eyed and bowed deeply in return to Nishikigi. “Thank you so much Yokozuna! It means so much to me that you thought so highly!” He went serious then and gave Nishikigi another deep bow. “Really, I wanted to come today to say thank you for the tegata you gave my daughter yesterday. We hung it above the fireplace and it shall be a cherished treasure for my family.”

Nishikigi waved it away. “It is my pleasure, senior, and it looks like you put the right person in charge of your stall when you’re not able to go. Your daughter made for a shrewd businessperson.”

The old man once more gave a large toothless grin and laughed. “Yes, she learned from her mother. Thank you. Unfortunately, we must part ways here. Me and my daughter have to get back to work, and I didn’t have enough money to get in to watch for the day. It means a lot coming and getting to say hello and give my thanks though,” the man said once more with a bow.

Nishikigi looked down at Hiroshi. “I think I see someone else waiting to say hello to you. You go speak to them and I’ll see about getting Uncle here and your new friend some tickets inside,” he said before he turned back to speak with Kenjiro.

Hiroshi spun and saw his mother and sister. They waited for him patiently to finish speaking with the small family. Once he turned, he heard Asami’s voice call out.

“Oh look, he’s done with his girlfriend mama,” she said with a grin before she ran over to him and tried to wrap her arms around his midsection. Not that she could, of course. She was too small, and the gerbil was too round. He still embraced her in a tight hug though, as his face flushed red.

“Now, now Asami, it’s hard to get time with such a famous sumotori. We should be lucky he found the time to greet us before he goes and gets ready,” Hikari said with a light smile and a wink at her son.

Once Asami let go of him, he wrapped himself around Hikari. “Thank you, mama,” he said softly.

She held her son and patted him softly on the back before she rubbed his back softly. “No need to thank me, my son. Now go and fight well, and remember Papa is looking from the Heavens with love and admiration for you,” she said as she broke away and kneeled so she could look Hiroshi in the eyes.

“No matter what happens in your bouts, you’ve done amazing. We’re rooting for you,” she said with a nod.

It was just then that he felt a presence walk up on them. “Yes, come Hiroshi. We need to get you ready. I believe you’re even the first match of the day.” Kenjiro’s voice boomed out over the family's intimate moment. “And Hikari, you and Asami should hurry and find your seats. I think you should be close enough to see everything.”

Hiroshi felt Kenjiro’s hand move to his shoulder and turned. Nishikigi was already gone, as well as Botan. He also noticed the girl and her father were gone now as well and he wondered if Nishikigi indeed could get them some seats in the arena. It’d be nice if he had. She, while straightforward, seemed nice enough, and her father seemed excited to even be on the outside of the arena, let alone being able to go to the event. The life of a rice farmer must be hard, though, Hiroshi supposed. Any day off must be nice for the pair of them.

The three of them looked up at the large Oyakata and nodded their heads. Hikari stood and gave a small bow to Kenjiro. “Thank you so much, Oyakata, for the attention you’ve given me and my family. I know Hiroshi has been more than proud to learn under your instruction and thank you for bringing me and Asami so we could watch the tournament.”

Kenjiro smiled and nodded his head. “It was no problem at all,” he said before he put a hand on Hiroshi’s shoulder and led him inside. The boy gave his family one last look and waved and he heard Asami scream ‘good luck’ just before the noise of the inside of the wrestler’s area took over.