Chapter 10 — The Truth Behind The Match
472 Words
Mia
I almost didn’t go.
Part of me was scared.
Because once Kai told me the truth…
I couldn’t pretend anymore.
The mystery would disappear.
And sometimes…
not knowing hurts less than knowing.
But I went.
Because I was tired of living inside someone else’s version of my life.
───
Kai was waiting outside the old training hall.
Not the main dojo.
A smaller one.
Older.
Almost forgotten.
“You came.”
I looked at him.
“You sound surprised.”
“I am.”
I raised an eyebrow.
“Why?”
His eyes moved away.
“Because most people don’t want answers that can hurt them.”
I stepped closer.
“Then tell me anyway.”
───
For a long moment, he said nothing.
Then:
“Your father wasn’t disqualified because he was weak.”
My breath caught.
I already knew that.
But hearing it from him felt different.
“He was accused of cheating.”
My stomach twisted.
“What?”
Kai looked at the floor.
“The judges believed the match was manipulated.”
I stared.
“My father cheated?”
“No.”
The answer came immediately.
Too quickly.
“You’re sure?”
Kai looked at me.
“I was there.”
My heart stopped.
“You were?”
He nodded.
“I was younger.”
A pause.
“My father was the coach of the Nakamura team.”
───
The silence between us grew.
“My father’s team beat yours.”
I swallowed.
“Then why are you defending him?”
Kai looked almost angry.
Not at me.
At the memory.
“Because I saw what happened.”
His voice became quieter.
“Your father lost because he protected someone.”
I frowned.
“Who?”
Kai looked away.
“I don’t know.”
That surprised me.
“You don’t know?”
“No.”
He clenched his hand.
“Someone changed the evidence.”
───
My heart raced.
“So someone framed him?”
Kai nodded.
“Yes.”
“Who?”
His eyes met mine.
And for the first time…
I saw fear.
“I’m still trying to find out.”
───
The idea that Kai had spent years searching for the truth shocked me.
“You cared?”
He looked confused.
“About what?”
“My father.”
A pause.
“No.”
Then quieter:
“About what was right.”
But I knew he was lying.
Because Kai Nakamura cared more than he admitted.
───
When I left, he stopped me.
“Mia.”
I turned.
“Be careful.”
“Of what?”
His expression darkened.
“Some people don’t want the truth found.”
A chill ran through me.
Because suddenly…
this wasn’t just about Kendo.
It was about someone trying to bury the past.
End of Chapter 10
───
- Writer
