Best newbie

The crisp morning air filled Haruki's lungs as he jogged along his usual route. The rhythmic pounding of his feet on the pavement matched the steady beat of his heart. He had been running for a while, pushing himself harder than usual to prepare for the upcoming tournament.

As he rounded a corner, Haruki's keen eyes caught sight of a commotion up ahead. A group of upperclassmen was surrounding a boy who looked to be about his age. The boy was being pushed around and looked visibly distressed. Haruki's instincts kicked in.

"Hey!" he shouted, his voice echoing off the walls. Without hesitation, he sprinted toward the scene.

The upperclassmen turned to face him, their expressions a mix of surprise and annoyance. "What's it to you?" one of them sneered.

"Hold on a second," Haruki said, taking a deep breath as he grabbed his water bottle. He took a swig, pretending to be calm while he assessed the situation. "Let me just drink some water before I deal with you bozos."

Before he could finish, one of the upperclassmen grabbed him by the shirt and lifted him off the ground. Haruki was momentarily stunned but managed to look at the boy being bullied. "I'll give you what you want," Haruki said, trying to remain composed. "Let him go. It's not his place."

The upperclassman, seemingly unimpressed but somewhat disarmed by Haruki's confidence, dropped him roughly. Haruki stumbled but quickly regained his footing. The bullied boy, who Haruki now saw was named Satori, handed over a bundle of papers to the upperclassmen—test sheets for an exam.

As the bullies left, Satori approached Haruki. "Thanks for that," he said, rubbing his arms where he'd been shoved. "I'm Satori, by the way."

"Haruki. Nice to meet you," Haruki said, offering a friendly smile. "What are you doing out here getting picked on?"

"It's fine," Satori shrugged. "I'm used to it. They're in my club, but they're upperclassmen. They want test sheets for their exams. If they fail, they can't stay in the club or go to nationals."

"Nationals?" Haruki's interest piqued. "That's my dream."

Satori looked at him with a mix of confusion and indifference. "Why do you care about some stupid tournament?"

"Wait, you don't want to go to nationals?" Haruki asked, perplexed.

"Nope," Satori said with a grin. "I just want to stay home and play video games for the rest of my life. It's more interesting than some tournament."

"Then why are you in the club?" Haruki asked.

"Doesn't matter," Satori replied. "I joined because my friend asked me to. Anyway, I've got to go. Bye."

Haruki watched as Satori walked away. "That was quick. Didn't even find out what sport he plays. Oh well," he said to himself before starting his run again.

★★★★

Days passed, and the tournament day finally arrived. The air was filled with excitement and anticipation as competitors gathered for the individual archery tournament. The atmosphere was charged with nervous energy and determination.

Haruki, Aiko, Mei, Riku, and the rest of the club members were all present, ready to showcase their skills. Haruki felt a buzz of excitement as he entered the tournament headquarters. As he looked around, his gaze landed on Satori, who was talking with a friend.

"Wow, I didn't expect to see you here!" Haruki exclaimed as he approached Satori.

"Yeah, same here," Satori replied, surprised but pleased to see a familiar face. "I didn't know you were into archery."

"I am," Haruki said, grinning. "I didn't know you were into archery too. That's awesome!"

Satori shrugged. "Yeah, I play, but I don't enjoy it as much as you guys do."

His friend then called out, "Come on, Sato, we need to get ready."

"Sorry, gotta go," Satori said. "Good luck to you."

"Good luck to you too!" Haruki called out as Satori walked away. Riku, who had been lurking behind Haruki, raised an eyebrow.

"Saved, huh?" Riku teased. "Aren't you the prince now?"

★★★★

Haruki and his team members, including Aiko, Mei, and Riku, changed into their uniforms and prepared for their respective matches. Haruki spotted Satori again and waved, but Satori was already deep in concentration with his friends.

"Good luck out there," Haruki called to him.

"Thanks," Satori replied, giving Haruki a nod.

As Haruki and the others prepared, they couldn't help but exchange some light-hearted banter.

★★★★

The tournament began with the preliminary rounds. Each competitor had to prove their skill in a series of three matches. The detailed description of each match was vital for capturing the intensity and excitement.

★★★★

Match 1: Haruki stepped up to the shooting line, his bow drawn and his focus unwavering. The target, 70 meters away, seemed almost inviting. With a smooth draw and a calculated release, his arrow flew true, hitting the bullseye with a satisfying thud. The crowd murmured in appreciation.

"Nice start!" Riku cheered from the sidelines.

Match 2: Haruki's next opponent was equally skilled. Haruki's first shot was slightly off-center, but he quickly corrected his stance and released another arrow. This one found the bullseye with pinpoint accuracy. The crowd's applause grew louder.

"Good recovery!" Aiko called out.

★★★★

Match 1: Aiko took the stage with confidence. Her first arrow soared through the air, hitting the bullseye effortlessly. The crowd responded with cheers.

"Way to go, Aiko!" Mei shouted.

Match 2: Aiko faced a more challenging opponent this time. Her technique was flawless, and her second shot also struck the bullseye. Her opponent struggled to keep up, and Aiko advanced to the next round.

Mei's matches

Match 1: Mei was determined and focused. Her first shot was perfect, landing right in the center of the target. The judges made a note of her excellent performance.

"Great job, Mei!" Haruki encouraged.

Match 2: Mei's second match was a bit more challenging. She faced a tough opponent but managed to hold her ground. Her arrow hit the bullseye, securing her victory.

"Nicely done!" Aiko praised.

Riku's Matches

Match 1: Riku's relaxed attitude didn't affect his performance. His arrows flew true, and he won his first match with ease.

"Riku, you're on fire!" Mei said.

Match 2: Riku continued his winning streak with another solid performance. His arrows were precise, and his technique was smooth, allowing him to advance to the next round.

Final Round

The final round was upon them. Haruki, Aiko, Mei, and Riku were all in high spirits, but the atmosphere was tense. Each of them was set to face their final opponent, and the competition was fierce.

Haruki took a deep breath as he prepared for his final match. To his surprise, his opponent was Satori. The two locked eyes, and Haruki felt a surge of both excitement and anxiety.

Final Match: Haruki vs. Satori

Haruki's First Shot: Haruki took his position, focusing on the target. His first shot was strong but slightly off. He shook his head, adjusting his stance.

Satori's First Shot: Satori drew back his bow with a calm, measured approach. His arrow flew with perfect accuracy, hitting the bullseye. The crowd watched in awe.

Haruki's Second Shot: Haruki adjusted his technique, aiming carefully. His arrow hit the target but was still not enough to match Satori's precision.

Satori's Second Shot: Satori's second arrow was flawless, landing perfectly in the center of the bullseye. His technique was impeccable, and his calm demeanor made it look effortless.

Haruki's Final Shot: Haruki gave it his all, focusing intensely. His arrow flew through the air but landed just outside the bullseye. He sighed, knowing it wasn't enough.

Satori's Final Shot: Satori's final shot was a masterpiece of archery. His arrow struck the bullseye with absolute precision, securing his victory with a perfect score.

★★★★

As the match concluded, Haruki approached Satori, extending a hand. " Congrats on the win."

Satori shook Haruki's hand with a smile. "Thank you I guess it was nothing."

Haruki walked away mumbling to himself. " For someone that doesn't care about archery he's so good and I thought I was good enough." 

It was like Haruki's whole world was falling on top of his head, the young boy who dreamed about being the best, was defeated by someone who didn't care about the sport.

★★★★

Back at the club headquarters, Haruki and his friends gathered to discuss their performance. The mood was a mix of camaraderie and determination.

"Great job today, everyone," Haruki said. "We all put in a lot of effort."

"Yeah," Aiko agreed. "Are you Okey Haruki u seem off."

"I'm fine," Said haruki"

"he's not fine, he lost today, to someone that started playing 3 month's ago," said Riku

Aiko in shock." is that true?"

"It's true." said Haruki.

"How is that possible?" Aiko said in disbelief.

"he's a prodigy one of the best youngster's, he's called the best newbie" said Riku.

"He was perfect, in everyway he was perfect, I couldn't keep up" said haruki.