It is a close draw

In the archery range of Gohanyama High, Eothai's team and Kobe High's team taking their respective sides as all took their stations, dressed in traditional Kyudo [1] attire and wielding longbows. To the side, several nearby students were watching, the news of an unofficial match between the two archery clubs spreading like wildfire.

"I realise we haven't introduced ourselves, but I'm Moriya Kazu, President of Kobe High's Archery Club," Said the sharp-looking student to Eothai's clubmates, "Pleased to make your acquaintance."

"Likewise," Said Youko with a bow, "May the best archer win."

The duel would comprise three rounds, each archer given ten arrows for each round. The side who scored the most points in total was the winner. By coin toss, it was decided Kazu's team would go first.

Moriya Kazu was the subject of attention among countless girls, who swooned over his handsome and sharp appearance while the boys seethed in jealousy. His stance was flawless, his eyes focused, and the first arrow he released flew straight into the bullseye. Many onlookers gasped in wonderment.

"Look at that! A bullseye on the first try!"

"No way! And he made it look so easy!"

"So dreamy..."

Eothai and Youko sighed at the swooning girls, paying them no heed.

By the end of Kazu's round, he scored as many as five bullseyes, his teammates each scoring four, the rest of their arrows hitting dangerously close to the centre. While Gohanyama's students whispered positively about Kobe High's archery club, they had become exceptionally skeptical about their own archery club. Many believed it was better for a disgraced club to forfeit before the match truly began, to save themselves the embarrassment.

"Misao, you're up," Said Eothai.

"Wait, me? Not you or Youko-san?" Asked Misao.

"Yes, now go," Eothai firmly ordered, "We'll be cheering you on."

"Alright then..." Misao muttered, knowing he could not disagree.

He took up his position, yet as he nocked an arrow on his bowstring, he felt his stomach churn from the overwhelming pressure, both from the stares of a huge audience and the worry of performing on equal level with Moriya Kazu's team.

He looked at Eothai, desperately hoping for some word of assurance. In return, Eothai's eyes merely said: "Trust yourself, and your bow."

For some reason, Misao felt his stomach churning subside, replaced by a burning confidence that returned his focus to the archery target. He drew the bowstring, took a deep breath, and felt time slow to a crawl as he focused his aim. Once corrected, he let loose his first arrow.

It struck the target dead centre.

Countless onlookers gasped at this and began to look at Misao in a new light. Misao would not relent, and by the end of his round, six of his arrows hit the bullseye, and countless whispered in disbelief.

"No way, him too!?"

"Seems Gohanyama's archery club has got some real talent."

"What about the others though? If he's the only good archer, they're still doomed."

As Misao stepped back from the stage, Eothai and Youko patted him on the shoulder.

"Good work, Misao, I knew you could do it," Eothai smiled.

"Keep up the good work, Misao-kun," Youko beamed brightly, flashing a thumbs up.

Misao smiled back with beaming confidence.

Then it was Youko's turn, nocking arrows and firing her shots.

Everyone else gaped at her results with wide eyes and dropping jaws.

"No way..."

Eight out of ten arrows hit the bullseye, the other two dangerously close.

Then it was Eothai's turn, and he scored ten bullseyes with flawless ease.

Not even Kobe High's team could maintain their composure after seeing such monstrous talent, and their eyes had turned white in reaction.

Kazu was the first to recover, encouraging his team with words fitting a team leader.

"Come on, guys! We're one of the best archery teams out there! It's not the first time we've faced teams stronger than us, and it won't be the last! We just need to shape up and treat this as one of those matches!"

His team quickly regained their composure, and for the rest of the duel, the match turned into one of the tensest and most exciting archery duels Gohanyama had ever seen on its grounds. By the end, Gohanyama had won by a small margin. All the audience cheered and gave a round of applause for both teams, uncaring of who was the winner or loser as both teams shook hands with smiles and laughter - a show of good sportsmanship.

"I have to admit, I never expected your club to be so good," Kazu said.

"I take it you were going easy on us the first round?" Asked Eothai.

"You could say that," Kazu shrugged, "I knew your talent, but not your clubmates'."

"Fair enough," Eothai nodded.

"You guys weren't half bad yourselves, Kazu-san," Youko said, "But don't think for one second we're ever going to go easy on you."

"I don't doubt it, Youko-san," Kazu smirked, "I expect you all to face our team in the coming Nationals, you hear me?"

"Challenge accepted," Misao enthusiastically answered, "In any case, you mind if we visit your school one day and challenge you?"

Eothai flashed Misao an incredulous gaze and a half-smile, "You're awfully eager to challenge them on their home ground."

"What can I say? After challenging them, I really feel like wanting to do it," Misao shrugged and poked Eothai in the ribs with his elbow, "And besides, don't tell me you don't wanna do it either?"

Eothai merely smirked in response.

"I appreciate your enthusiasm, but we already have Nationals for that," Kazu smiled, "If you beat us there, I will allow you to challenge us as many times as you want. Within reason, of course."

"Then we shall take you up on your offer," Eothai replied.

The archery duel would quickly become a legendary story spread throughout Gohanyama High, of how a formerly disgraced archery club displayed exemplary skill against a highly skilled and renowned archery club from a prestigious prefectural school who, by all accounts, seemed to initially take it easy before displaying the utmost pinnacle of their talents. Gohanyama's new crop of talent defeated them by a small margin, and from then on Gohanyama's archery club would see a wave of applicants interested in the sport.

Eothai would thoroughly screen each and every one of them, challenging them to archery duels with him and his fellow clubmates, and while the huge list was mercilessly whittled down to just three, they managed to meet the quota and avoid permanent disbandment.

And for Eothai, to meet one whose archery talent was on par with a master Elf archer's, he could not help but regard Kazu as a true friendly rival.

I will defeat him at the Nationals, on my pride and honour as President of Gohanyama's Archery Club.