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The karuta clubroom was nestled in a secluded corner of the Cherryton campus, far away from the hustle and bustle of the general student populace. It was a peaceful old building, dutifully maintained by its inhabitants and perpetually filled with the sound of poetry. However, the locale’s serenity periodically faltered, pierced by the cascading thumps of bodies colliding with cards, mats, and each other.
As it grew later in the afternoon, most of the karuta club members finished their final match of the day. Some of the larger members had left to change out of their hakama, others just sought air conditioned relief from the stuffy room. However, a gaggle of rodents stayed behind to watch an unusually close match.
A gerbil and a rat stood ready behind their starting lines on opposite ends of the playing field, glaring at the board from under their helmets. A single karuta card as big as the players themselves sat on the tatami mat to each rodent’s right. The game was down to its final dregs, and tensions were high. An eerie stillness permeated the room, save for a large gray wolf wearing a beautiful kimono. He opened his maw, revealing sharp, deadly teeth, and let out a melodious verse:
獣はいさ
“Kemono wa isa”
The depths of the hearts
心も知らず
“Kokoro mo shirazu”
Of beastkind cannot be known.
ふるさとは
“Furusato wa”
But in my birthplace
Tense muscles fired like taut bowstrings, lurching both competitors forward. Their frenzied dash turned into a brisk jog, realizing the significance of the bellowed words. The two rivals returned to their starting positions and resumed their stances.
Another dead card...
Ichita closed his eyes and tried to relax. The rat had played fiercely all game, but the board was still in a dead tie. He took a mental stock of his situation:
Ninety-seven cards have been read. Only two cards on the field, “Arashi” and “Araza.” One dead card left, “Aria.” If “Aria” is next, this will boil down to a fifty-fifty luck of the draw. It may be best to charge Kumanni’s card down and force a fault before that — there’s a one in three chance he loses if I scare him into taking his card, and I think I could beat him back to my side of the board if I had to.
Seeing that all players were ready, Legosi proceeded to the next card. He began the second verse in his usual rhythmic tone. A long arm reached out of his colorful kimono and into a box, gently carrying one card to the outside world.
花ぞむかしの
“Hana zo mukashi no”
The plum blossoms smell the same
香に匂ひける
“Ka ni nioi keru”
As in the years gone by.
Legosi looked down at the card cupped in his palm. A sharper intake of breath and an over-held pause — these subtle tells rarely exist in his perfect, methodical readings. Yet from countless hours of hearing the wolf’s smooth, elegant voice ring out across the club room, this odd occurrence struck Ichita as significant.
Is there something significant about that card? Thinking about it, Legosi doesn’t organize cards by determinate syllables when he plays. That guy thinks of each poem in its entirety, and groups them by how they make him feel. He puts the love poems together, the scenery poems together, and even the…
Legosi’s reading began; Ichita charged towards Kumanni’s side of the board. The expected “ a ” sound didn’t phase his opponent, but something about it evoked an image in Ichita’s mind: a sad wolf, inconsolable after having just learned that his grandfather’s traditional clothing store was struggling. He remembered the heartbreak and turmoil in his friend’s voice, and that same emotion poured from his mouth once again.
My card, “Arashi,” is about the beauty of autumn. The dead card, “Aria” is about missing your lover — and Legosi has never had a girlfriend. That just leaves “Araza,” Kumanni’s card... Yeah, it’s definitely that one.
The rat’s legs pumped into the tatami mat with all their might, hurling himself towards his enemy’s card with reckless abandon. His gerbil counterpart rushed to the space between, preparing to stand his ground.
Kumanni has good game sense. He’ll definitely take his own card before I can get to it once “ra” is read instead of “ri.” Even at the “r” sound, he’ll still be hesitant — claiming it early is only a one in three chance. Heck, he may think it’s slimmer if he’s unsure how many dead cards are left. He’ll definitely wait for the fifty-fifty. There’s no way he acts before “ra,” I just have to beat him there.
Ichita’s feet left the ground as the beginnings of an “ r ” reverberated through the room. Arms outstretched, he dove towards his prize, committing to his intuition’s judgement.
あらざらむ
“Arazaran”
Soon my life will close.
この世の外の
“Kono yo no hoka no”
When I am beyond this world
思ひ出に
“Omoide ni”
And have forgotten it,
He fell short; another body pushed the card away only a moment before he could touch it. Frightened by the rat’s conviction, Kumanni had taken the gamble, diving onto his card before his opponent could reach it. The competitors performed a customary bow to Legosi before he finished the last verse:
今ひとたびの
“Ima hitotabi no”
Let me remember only this:
逢ふこともがな
“Au koto mo gana”
One final meeting with you.
Defeat was bitter, but the quivering hint of sorrow in the kind wolf’s voice was the toughest pill for Ichita to swallow.
-----
Streaks of orange unfurled across the spring sky, the sun slowly dragging them to the edge of the horizon. The rest of the members left, leaving Legosi and Ichita alone to clean up the club room.
The rat paused his duties for a moment. “Hey, Legosi?” He turned away from the massive canine and timidly squeaked out his question. “Could you stick around and help me practice one more time?”
Legosi scratched at his muzzle, pondering the ramifications of the plan. “Uh, well, it’ll be dark by the time we’re done. I don’t want to get Karuta Club in trouble…”
“I’m just... nervous about tomorrow’s tournament. It’s my last chance to move to class A before Omi Jingu, and…” He didn’t need to finish. Everyone in the club knew why he trained tirelessly, why he struggled to improve — even the socially inept wolf. Well, everyone except the reason herself — a red-furred jerboa named Hayachi.
“I understand,” Legosi said with a soft smile. “You want to face her as a rival so she’ll see you seriously for the first time, don’t you?” The rat’s blushing face was the only reply.
“Well, you’ll be safe going back at night as long as I’m with you, so... I guess we can stay late. But let’s not make a habit of it, okay?” The wolf tucked his kimono under his knees as he gracefully descended into the seiza position. “You won’t be facing off against any wolves in the tournament. Are you sure this kind of practice will help?”
Ichita looked at him with conviction. “If I back away from challenges just because they’re faster than me or have better hearing, how will I ever hope to face her?”
Legosi chuckled. “Well, I guess I am the only one in the club that can jump as high as she can.”
“Yeah — ‘cause you cheat!” The rat retorted playfully.
The wolf slapped his hands against his cheeks and gave a deadpan reply: “Is it really that obvious? And here I was thinking I’d be able to compete in the rodent league this year!” The pair of friends shared a hearty laugh.
Legosi took a stack of karuta cards and spread them out facedown. They each selected twenty-five cards and arranged them in the space between them. Ichita fetched two tasuki from Legosi’s bag and brought them to the wolf. He took the long strips of cloth and tied them around his shoulders to restrain his kimono’s sleeves. Finally, after they spent several minutes memorizing the board, Legosi opened a karuta app on his phone and hit “Play,” filling the room with an introductory poem:
難波津に
“Naniwa zu ni”
In Naniwa Bay,
咲くやこの花
“Sakuya kono hana”
Now the flowers are blossoming
冬ごもり
“Fuyu gomori”
After lying dormant all winter.
Legosi discarded all of his previous poise and grace, pressing his body against the tatami mat. Now that he was eye level with the rodent, he placed the extended tips of his index and middle finger behind his row of cards, bending their joints to mirror his opponent’s readied stance.
-----
Legosi made his way through the darkened campus with Ichita on his shoulder. The duo took the long way to their dorms, careful to avoid the building involved in the incident two days ago — surely the school would have guards posted there. The low susurration of the fountain greeted them as they neared the auditorium, signaling that they were halfway to safety.
It was there that an intoxicating scent hit Legosi’s nose; his head leaned in towards the source, desperately attempting to savor it. Legosi wanted — no, he needed — to find where it was coming from. Enraptured by its fragrant allure and sickened by his loss of control, Legosi found himself stunned. The smell enveloped all of his senses and permeated the contours of his mind.
“Uh… Legosi?” the rat responded, concerned at his ride’s abrupt stop.
“There’s someone here,” Legosi muttered with great difficulty. “It’s… It’s an herbivore.”
His heart fluttered with every beat; his skin quivered in trepidation.
Why can’t I control myself?
Clouds of doubt muddled his vision; puffs of joy danced on his breath.
What is this torrent of excitement?
He bounced on his heels ever so slightly; he broke out in a cold sweat, sending shivers down his spine.
Who is making me feel this way?
“Hey, Legosi?” the soft words from a diminutive creature showed their might, prying Legosi back into reality. The wolf scrambled to stash his frenzied thoughts and haggard will to the back of his mind, scrubbing his face of their influence. Ichita looked at him with concern, sheepishly fidgeting with his hands as he spoke. “Maybe we should help them back to their dorm? It’s dangerous for herbivores to be out so late — especially alone.”
Legosi smiled. The levity of such normal concerns broke him from his stupor momentarily, and a soft laugh escaped his lips. “You just want to stockpile some good karma for tomorrow, don’t you?” The rat was well-known for rotten tournament luck.
“Guilty as charged.” Ichita let out a nervous chuckle. “I need every drop I can get.”
Legosi moved forward once again into the calm, foggy night, emotions roiling beneath a veneer of lucidity. He was acutely aware of every hair on his body, each one standing tall, screaming for him to run while he still could. Yet his body moved of its own accord, as if his very soul was dragging him forward and he was its helpless victim. The most confusing sensation of all was the poem looping in his mind — an auspicious portent which only compounded the enigma. Its ominous cadence rose and fell with his every breath, ingraining its foreboding rhythm into his heart.
みかの原
Mika no Hara
Over Mika’s plain,
わきてながるる
Wakite nagaruru
Gushing forth and flowing free,
泉川
Izumi-gawa
Is Izumi’s stream.
いつ見きとてか
Itsu mi kitote ka
I do not know if we have met:
恋しかるらむ
Koishi karuran
Why, then, do I long for her?