The eighteenth episode of Deep of Muscle.
The following is a fan-translation of the Japanese content.
Summary
A short but enthusiastic drama of Terryman and his students, when he was stationed as an instructor at a chojin school in Texas (just before he began the Survivor Match for the Kinniku Throne.
Story
Chapter 1
Part 1
Prologue
The right for Kinnikuman to inherit the Kinniku throne was in dispute, as such they held a Survivor Match for the Kinniku Throne. In the ensuing battle, Kinnikuman teams up with five people to compete against five other teams that also contained five people. They would fight in a team-format. But, when the tournament started, it was hard to believe that there were only two members of Team Kinnikuman: Kinnikuman and Meat!
The Justice Chojin were renowned for their strong friendship, and Kinnikuman was in a pinch, as the central figure that tied all of them together; so how did this happen?
In reality, there were extenuating circumstances in play here. That is because his fellow Justice Chojin, whom he relied upon, were all in the unique position where they could not help him due to their individual and personal situations.
For example, Terryman – Kinnikuman’s best friend and tag-partner – couldn’t join Team Kinnikuman at first, even though he longed to join with all his heart. He simply couldn’t, and in return Kinnikuman couldn’t ask for his help either. This was because, just before the start of the Survivor Match for the Kinniku Throne, Terryman had been appointed to the important position: Staff Officer of the Justice Chojin Army”. It was his job to guide Justice Chojin across the entire universe.
To put it another way, he was a person that should always be impartial. He needed to endorse fair-play, and not support one chojin over another. He could not personally support Kinnikuman, as it would turn his competitors into his enemies. So then, while Terryman was a staff officer in the Justice Chojin army, what exactly was he doing while Kinnikuman was forced to struggle alone with Meat?
He was in his hometown in Texas, USA. This was where he became a teacher in the fighting department of a chojin school, and taught young chojin a vast array of techniques that made use of his practical experience and font of theoretical knowledge as a chojin.
Despite being forced to act as a teacher, Terryman could not forget Kinnikuman and how Kinnikuman fought alone . . . eventually, he decided to abandon his post as Staff Officer for the Justice Chojin Army, and joined Team Kinnikuman instead!
In this story, Terryman has been appointed as Staff Officer of the Justice Chojin Army, and was stationed as a teacher in a chojin school, until he decided to abandon his position. They say, for that short time, those who received education from Terryman in the fighting department, adored him from the very bottom of their hearts. We will now lay witness to the drama that unfolded . . .
Part 2
“To you, Terryman, the American chojin,” said Harabote. “I appoint you as Staff Officer of the Justice Chojin Army!”
It was the day when Kinnikuman was due to become the 58th King of Planet Kinniku. Terryman was the talented chojin who represented the United States of America, and he was given the heavy responsibility of becoming Staff Officer during the preceding promotion ceremony for Justice Chojin. The masses in the crowds watched on, as he replied in a resolute voice:
“It is an honour to accept this promotion.”
Terryman has become a public figure since that day, and – while it was a great honour – it also meant that he could not be the free-spirited Texas bronco that he was in the past. He sometimes felt a little lonely when he remembered the old times, but he also knew he had the knowledge and experience to face his new responsibilities head on, and teaching this to young chojin was an important part in improving the future for the Justice Chojin world. That was why Terryman accepted such a prestigious purpose . . .
* * *
A few days later, Terryman went back to his hometown in Texas, USA.
“Oh wow,” said Terryman. “I can’t believe it . . . they really did go an’ build such a prestigious establishment here in the remote countryside of the good ol’ U, S of A!”
Terryman stood in what was once an infinite expanse of wilderness, but now there was a great and large gate just before him, and – beyond that – many buildings, training facilities, and sparring rings. The purpose of the facilities was written above the gate on a sign that read: ‘The Chojin Association’s Certified Chojin Training School: Fighting Department’.
He looked up at the sign and back to the facilities, but – almost right away – a large group of powerful young people jumped out of the gates, as if they were waiting for him.
“Oh,” said one. “You’re finally here!”
“Welcome home, Mr Terryman!”
“We’ve been waiting for you,” said another. “Congratulations on being appointed as the staff officer for the Justice Chojin Army!”
It seemed that they had surrounded him in a blink of an eyes, and all greeted him warmly.
“Oh . . . ah . . . thank you,” said Terryman. “Are y’all students here?”
“Yes, that’s right! We’re from all over the United States, but we came here especially just so we could classes from the world-renowned Terryman!”
They came to him like he was a big-shot . . . Terryman was both excited and concerned, as he began to feel the heavy weight of his responsibilities on his shoulders. This Justice Chojin training school, with its fighting department, was newly established by the Chojin Association a few years back in Texas, and he couldn’t help but wonder why they chose to build it in the wilderness of the United States. It was possible it was all because of Terryman’s achievements. He was now a renowned top fighter in the chojin world, and especially famous and respected to those all over the United States.
Not only that, but Americans had a tendency to worship their heroes, even in the fictional world, such as Superman, Spider-Man or Batman . . . but Terryman was real-life, living hero in this world. He therefore commanded a hype and respect that was absent back in Japan. It was for that reason that this American wilderness was now celebrated as the birthplace of heroes, due to it being where Terryman was born and raised. It was a chojin training facility, yes, but also a sacred place in America.
That is the origin of the facilities.
Part 3
The young people crowded around Terryman. There was a young man in specific that stood out, and he kept a few steps ahead of the growing congregation, as he bowed deep and said:
“It’s been about a year since they built these facilities! Everyone here has been desperate to see your triumphant return, Mr Terryman, and hoping you’d be able to coach us. You can practically hear their hearts beating in excitement! Everyone was on tenterhooks waiting for such a big star . . . please feel at home here; if you would, we’d love to learn from you all about fighting styles and tactics, and learn from your experiences, so please teach us all you can. We look forward to working with you!”
The group had grown to nearly a hundred people, who all bowed and said:
“We look forward to working with you!”
Terryman forced a smile toward these eager young men, as he turned and stepped a step closer to their apparent leader. The young man was clearly bright, but also stiff under immense mental stress, as Terryman called out to him: “By the way, are ya the student council president or summat?”
“Oh, you got it in one! I should have expected as much from a teacher!”
“Hahaha! Well, it was obvious. You were the only one brave enough to step out o’ the crowd, and that’s not an easy thing t’ do. Plus, from how ya talk and act, you ain’t just a shallow guy tryin’ to stand out. Hmm, plus those eyes . . . you have good eyes! What’s your name?”
“Ah, my name is Dickieman. I’m from Texas, just like you, Sir!”
Terryman liked his confident tone of voice, as he said: “I see. Well, then, Dickieman. I’m going to appoint you as both my personal student and assistant, starting from today.”
“Really? Well, I never expected someone so awe-inspiring to pick me; it’s such a huge honour to be picked as the personal assistant of Mr Terryman, but I really don’t think that I’m good enough . . .”
Terryman was spoke to the group for the first time, although his words were directed primarily towards Dickieman, and he kept his voice loud enough to be heard by everyone, as he said: “Hahaha, it’s all good, guys! I wanted to say this from the very start, because once the sparring starts then it’ll be too late: ‘go for broke’!”
“Go for broke! Like, nothing ventured, nothing gained?”
“That’s right! No matter how great the obstacle, don’t be afraid. If you let yourself get overwhelmed at any point during a challenge, then you’ve basically lost the match then and there. If you get a chance, observe your opponent and look out for their weak-spot. All your focus should be on the win. This is the most valuable I can give to you!”
Dickieman grew silent, as his expression turned anxious, but soon he realised the true meaning behind Terryman’s words and finally grew determined, as he said to Terryman: “Okay, then I think I’ll be okay with being your assistant. I’d like to do it . . .”
“Great, it seems like ya not only understood mah words, but ya put them into practise, too! That makes me so happy; thank you, Dickieman!”
“Y-Yes, Sir! Thank you, too!”
“Then again . . . if you’re too clever, it’ll be embarrassing for me, as I won’t have much left to teach ya. Plus, yer all sensible and mature young men, so I don’t think there’s any need for me t’ get too strict and teach you all in a military style. After all, this is America! It’s a country of freedom! Take it easy! Chill out! But just don’t forget to be serious in practise, as that’s when ya need to be serious!”
“Yes, sir!”
“Then I guess it’s time fer me t’ put my bags down, and get ready for life here. Say, Dickieman, can ya show me to my rooms?”
“Yes, sir!”
Dickieman led Terryman through the facilities, while Terryman said a small prayer to a man special in his heart: “I finally understand, Mr Kamehame. I know how you must have felt giving me the Great mask during the previous tournament . . . I’ll now do for other what you did for me, I hope. Please watch over me from heaven!”
At that moment, a ray of sunlight shone through the clouds. Terryman knew that it was Kamehame smiling at him from the skies above.
── To be continued
Chapter 2
Part 1
The next day, Terryman started to teach.
He began with a lecture. In other words, there were no practical exercises or physical examinations, but instead the students sat down together in a classroom and listened to Terryman speak about fighting. The purpose of the class was to learn about chojin martial arts in depth, as well as how to get into the right frame of mind for a fight.
The door to the packed classroom was open, and his class had finally calmed down their nerves. In a rare turn of events, Terryman was dressed just like a teacher should dress. The hundred students, including Dickieman, watched as he walked through the classroom to the central podium, where he put his materials down on his desk. He cleared his throat, as he finally spoke the long-awaited words to his class full of heroes:
“Okay, for our first lesson today, I will - . . . No, I want to discuss the one important “key word” that all fighting chojin should remember when going into a battle!”
“There’s one important keyword . . .?”
“That’s right,” said Terryman. “This important keyword is something that I’ve learned from years of experience as a chojin fighter, and all my growth and achievements in the chojin world can be summed up by this one word. This is the biggest component to being a chojin, and – with this one word in mind – you can perform any technique, no matter how mysterious or difficult.”
The classroom was abuzz at once with speculation. The students were elated at this unexpected turn of events, as they awaited the announcement of learning how to master any mysterious technique. However, Terryman had his own way of doing things; he was always a rather roundabout person.
He was also a frank and honest person, and tended to reveal too much of his true feelings, as such he was now about to spill everything in front of everyone. There were times when he could get straight to the point, but sometimes this backfired in arguments with other people, which was why – when making a point – he knew the best way to express an idea was to do it in his roundabout method.
Even with his best friend Kinnikuman, they would constantly butt heads, but his method only helped to intensify and deepen their friendship . . .! With the confidence of his convictions, Terryman finally went forward with his lesson to the class: “Well, it’s time to tell you! The most important key word is . . . COURAGE!”
“Courage . . .!”
“You should never be afraid of anything . . . that’s courage! It’s like I told everyone yesterday: go for broke! I guess courage is just an extension of that!”
Terryman noticed Dickieman in the front row; he seemed depressed on hearing those words.
“What’s wrong?” Terryman asked. “If ya have any questions, Dickieman, don't hesitate to raise yer hand.”
After being called on in class, Dickieman looked somewhat terrified. He seemed to doubt Terryman, and when he spoke did so as if calling him out on some great lie: “Well, with all due respect, Sir . . . I’m sure you have double the courage of most people, including anyone in America; no, including the whole of Earth, or even the whole universe. But that doesn’t add up to what you say, does it?”
“Hmm, I don’t follow . . . what’re you tryin’ to say?”
“Okay, I’ll make it clear! It’s easy enough to say that courage is the most important thing, but how can an average student like me have the courage of someone like you, Sir? . . . I think you should be teaching us specific training methods, not just abstract ideals; isn’t that what’s most important?”
Terryman smiled, as he heard the direct opinion of his student. It was just what he would expect from his appointed personal assistant . . . he replied honestly out of respect to the student that directly confronted him, and said with a grin: “I think there are ways to forge and train courage in your heart, and it’s this that I hope t’ teach you over time. It’s less about being born brave, and more about ridding yourself of fear through extensive training over time.”
“No . . . you’re just being modest, as you’ve never been afraid! You’re not like us!”
Terryman pre-empted more of Dickieman counter-arguments, with a startling confession: “I think y’all are misunderstanding what I’m saying . . . but that just means this is a great opportunity for us. I’m going to tell you frankly; I also had to learn to overcome mah fears, too. If ya want, I’ll tell you all about my ‘courage’ and overcoming my fears, and have you decide whether it’s a good lesson or not!”
Part 2
The students continued to look suspicious, even as Terryman continued:
“I’m not lying. If ya want an example, I actually have a pretty average body for a chojin. I’m not overly muscular like Kinnikuman or Buffaloman, and I don’t have six arms like Ashuraman. I also ain’t three metres tall, like Sunshine. In other words, there ain’t nothing special about my features. Each time I’ve got to go against a chojin blessed with something a little extra, I get pretty damned scared. Oh, I remember one time I had to go against a Devil Chojin called the Mountain . . . I was honestly scared to death before that match . . .”
“No way?!” The class was again abuzz with this astonishing confession. “The stories of that match will surely be passed on for future generations. They say it’s a famous match that became a symbol of your (teacher’s) courage and fighting spirit, right?!”
Terryman continued with a self-deprecating laugh: “Hehehe; it’s easy to say that after the fact. Sure, I won the match in the end, but – before the match – I had no clue how to win against that giant . . . I couldn’t even imagine what I was up against. Because, think about it, how would you fight a guy like that if you were set on defeating him? What about you, Dickieman?”
“Well, I guess . . . I . . .”
“Can you think of something? I know that ah couldn’t think of anything. When it comes to a guy that boasts such a huge body like the Mountain, trying to throw him is a real pain. I couldn’t even punch him with his body so rock-hard, as it was like breaking my fist. Honestly, when I think about how I won -?”
“But the fact is that you did win, Sir! The enemy was supposed to be impossible to beat, but you somehow defeated him brilliantly! Can you really say that was just down to a miracle?”
To the passionate Dickieman, Terryman had an answer ready to hand: “No, no, no. I wouldn’t say that victory was a miracle or a fluke, but a result of fate; I did what I did only because I was able to rise above my fears!”
The students showed no signs of better understanding his point, as such something inside Terryman snapped, and he delivered an impassioned speech: “Okay, I want y’all to memorise this: a coward is simply a man that fear his own death. So if ya don’t want to be a coward, what do y’ do with that fear? After all, to avoid life-risking situations, and obsess yerself with tryin’ to save his life at all costs . . . that ain’t exactly a bad thing. Ain’t it normal for living things t’ want and survive no matter what the cost? Well, in the middle of match, I felt that fear way deep in my soul and it all almost overwhelmed me.”
“You felt it in your soul? . . . I see; I guess you are like us, after all.”
“Yeah, in fact, I just couldn’t find a single way to beat him, and for a while I was just resigned to give up the match and die, but that shameful feelin’ in me was there . . . I didn’t want t’ die. I realised in that moment that that dying would be the same as giving up, and what can be more shameful than quitting? Nah, dying weren’t no good to me.”
“Sure, that wouldn’t have been the right thing to do.”
“Yeah, ‘cause of that I wanted nothing but to live. I kept struggling to find a way out, until I finally out it. I found his weakness! The biggest weakness was the fact he weighed one ton, which was also his biggest weapon, and he used his weight for his move: the Mountain Drop. It was his special technique, and both his greatest weapon and greatest weakness . . .”
The students were fascinated by the experiences of this brave man, who many called a ‘living textbook’ , and they drank in all that he told them and listened expectantly to him. He continued:
“By that point, every part of my body was severely injured, right down to bones and muscle, and I could barely even stand up. At the same time, I realised something underneath his body-press. That move o’ his was a double-edged sword that placed a huge strain on his body. He’d received a lot of impacts and blows from tryin’ t’ crush me, and that meant his body was damaged, too. I soon realised that this was a special technique not designed for repeated use, so he was putting in his all each time.”
“But Sir, surely you couldn’t take another deadly blow?”
“Luckily for me, I only needed to perform one more technique, and I had just enough power left to do that. The ring-canvas was soft from being used in so many offensive and defensive moves, and I realised – somewhere in my unconscious mind – that I was about to use what was left o’ my power. I stood up and lifted him with me! I was at my limit, but the Mountain was at his limit, too. If this last technique worked, I’d win, and if it didn’t, I’d lose . . .”
“So that was when you put your heart and soul into the brain-buster?”
“Like you all know, I was able to win, but it was a close call. I’d nearly given up multiple times until that final blow, but never once did I lose my faith; it weren’t because I was born with some innate sense of courage, but just because I was afraid t’ die.”
“M-Mr Terryman . . .”
“That’s what I want y’all to remember; if you know your weaknesses, you can turn them into positives. If you refuse to acknowledge your weaknesses, though, then they’ll always stay weaknesses. Be aware, and know you can apply this to the enemy, too! Equally, don’t get cocky with your strengths. The Mountain’s greatest strength was his weight, and this is what led to his downfall.”
“So strength and weakness are just two sides of the same coin?”
“Yeah, so that’s why you should never ignore your fear! In my case, I was able to take my fear and turn it into a courageous fighting spirit, all because I never gave up and turned it into a positive. It might have looked like pure courage to anyone else, but courage is just the flipside to cowardice. The courage to stand up and fight, no matter what the circumstance -? That’s the most important thing for any fighting chojin to learn, I think.” Terryman finished with: “Well, I guess that’s all for today’s lecture!”
The second Terryman finished speaking, a loud applause roared out among all the students. They all shed a tear of pride, even those not present during the battle itself, and were basking in the afterglow of such an intense lecture delivered by a chojin that had fought in so many intense battles. There was only one person that did not clap . . . that person waited in the corridor after class, where he wore an unconvinced expression, as he asked:
“Mr Terryman! May I ask another question, please . . . ?”
── To be continued
Chapter 3
“Hahaha! You’re really eager to learn, Dickieman. Do you have any more questions? It doesn’t matter what they are; you can ask me just about anything.”
He spoke with a cheerful tone, as it was clear his student was very nervous, and he wanted to help him to relax as much as possible. It didn’t seem to work, however, as Dickieman’s expression remained fixed, and his steely gaze was one fixed with a serious nature.
“Yes, Sir,” said Dickieman. “I thought I should be thorough with my questions, especially as you said that the best way to gain courage is to understand your weaknesses and limitations.”
“Oh, I did say that, didn’t I?”
“But I do have a lingering question . . . I’m all too aware that I’m easily frightened! In fact, I’ve been that way since I was a child. I know it’s important to start small, but I can’t even take that first step. In elementary school, I’d always feel sorry for the kid bullied by the neighbourhood gangs, but I could never bring myself to help. In junior-high, I knew my friends were shoplifting, but - even though I knew it was wrong – I couldn’t stop them. No matter how much I knew what I should do, it was like I was powerless to do anything. I know I’ve always been a coward, and I’ve always hated that about myself.”
“Hmm, those bad memories are in the past. . .”
“That’s just it! I’ve not made any progress since then. I know it’s no good, and the thoughts just keep going around and around in my head, but still I can’t seem to take any concrete steps. I know I’m a coward and I can’t do anything right, and maybe I’m just a useless chojin beyond help. It’s been that way for a while, and with all those negative thoughts, I just feel sorry for myself . . .”
Terryman listened to Dickieman’s anguished confession, which was enough to wash away his cheerful demeanour and wide smile, and blurted out in a somewhat cold-hearted tone: “Huh, seriously? Do you want me to go: ‘no way, kid, everyone feels that way!’ . . . what? Do you want empty platitudes to reassure you?”
“Of course not! I . . . I don’t want that!”
“Maybe not, but you’re a spoiled brat. If I’m honest, what yer saying is just a symptom of a sickness, and ya ain’t taking a good enough look at what’s inside yer heart.”
“A . . . symptom of sickness?”
“Let me be frank; you say you’re a coward, but you don’t honestly think that I’d think that of you, do you?”
Dickieman did a brief double-take at the unexpected words that popped out of Terryman’s mouth. A few seconds later, he regained his composure and instinctively argued back in an angry tone: “What do you know! You don’t know anything about me; you only met me yesterday!”
“No, I know,” Terryman answered back. He was filled with confidence, as he took out a piece of paper from the paperwork that he carried on his person, and continued: “You’re Dickieman. Eighteen, from Texas. In your entrance exams to get into this school, you passed with flying colours both the written tests and the martial arts practical test. You got top grades. In other words, it’s clear to me that you have the perfect physical strength needed as a chojin. It also says you’re a negative Nelly and think too much; I bet it’s because of that why you’re so withdrawn and think so much.”
“Hey, that’s my -!”
“Oh, this? Yeah, it’s yer record. It’s not just you; before I took on the job as a teacher here, I asked the Chojin Association to make a record of all 100 young chojin that’d be mah students here. I read the all the night before I came here, and drilled each and every one o’ them into my head.”
“M-Mr Terryman,” said Dickieman. “You did all that in such a short time-span?”
“Yeah, but this is just a piece o’ paper; you can’t really know about the students until you interact with them on a personal level. I didn’t come here without doing my research, as if I only cared about a wage; you can understand that much, can’t you?”
“Y-Yes, Sir. I’m sorry that I spoke so out of turn.”
Dickieman had no choice but to bow his head in apology.
── To be continued
Chapter 4
Terryman returned to a smile, as he switched back to the topic at hand.
“Let’s get back to the point, Dickieman,” said Terryman. “I basically just told ya that I don’t think yer a coward, so why is it that ya think you are? You’ve got this huge potential inside you; I can feel it in my bones.”
“I’ve . . . a huge potential inside of me?”
“Yeah, that’s unusual with young folks that ain’t even fought yet, and it’s bad as you ain’t got no way to channel that potential. Let me ask you a question: you’ve felt this fear deep in your heart, which is the same fear that people feel when they face death head on, but what have you done to deal with that feeling?”
“Well, I’ve done nothing, but –”
“Exactly. But the thing is that we Justice Chojin have to protect Earth, and one day the time will come when you’ll have to jump into the fray; that’ll be your time to shine. If you see something bad happen, you won’t be able to help unless you actually act . . . when that time comes, you won’t have time to stop and think. For me, that time came when I faced the Devil Chojin, like ah said earlier.”
Terryman spoke so passionately, and from the heart, that he reminded Dickieman of a retired soldier. It was almost like looking into the eyes of his grandfather, as his grandfather discussed the war. Terryman continued:
“Even if there’s a 99% chance you’ll lose, so long as there’s that 1% chance of victory, you have to keep fighting until the very end in a chojin battle. Each time a chojin fights for the first time, there is always fear, but they can turn that into bravery. How they behave in the face of fear is what defines them, and they can be roughly divided into three different types.”
“ Three types?”
“Yeah, the first are the really recklessly brave type. They are the sort who accept they’re going to die, but will still go for broke to make it an honourable death. It’s like they say: ‘a cornered rat will bite the cat’. You can’t underestimate the power of people with nothing left to lose. It’ll sometimes result in a miraculous victory, but the reality isn’t usually so sweet. More often than not, they’ll just achieve an honourable death.”
“So if you’re just brave alone . . . you still could die?”
“That’s right; it’s the most likely outcome. I mean, it ain’t like being afraid is much better, as there are two types of cowards: the trained coward and the untrained coward. They’re the last two types of the three types that I mentioned just now.”
“And it all comes down to training?”
“Yup! Let’s look at the untrained coward, first. This is yer typical coward that springs t’ mind; they ain’t got the courage to fight anyone, even a little, as they don’t wanna get hurt. It’s like they’re paralysed with fear, but it’s a way of life that don’t do them no good. They basically just die while sitting on their thumbs.”
“That’s awful”.
“Ah, yeah, they’re the worst type of coward, but the trained coward is different. They desperately wanna live, but they formulate a plan, and – if there’s even the smallest chance of survival – they’ll think of a way to increase their odds as much as possible. They don’t always look at their best, but – even though they look in a bad state – they’ll endure the humiliation and push forward. If they keep going forward, they’ll find a way out! That was how I felt during my battle against the Mountain.”
Dickieman finally softened his expression, as he said to Terryman: “Okay, I finally get the point. I’m just the worst kind of coward, as I’m totally untrained, and I feel fear without acting on it . . .”
“Sure, that’s the case now, but are you happy with that? Wouldn’t you like to train yourself to be better than you are now?”
“Well, yeah, I’d love to be like you, but . . . that’s impossible!”
The second Terryman hear those words, his hand formed a fist and pulled back. He punched . . . POW! He aimed a left-straight directly onto Dickieman’s cheek. Dickieman stumbled backwards. Terryman was usually so gentle, but here he was acting barbarically violent in the busy corridor during breaktime, and the eyes of many students were focused upon them. Even with all eyes on them, Terryman angrily yelled out at Dickieman:
“So yer just gonna do nothing but whine and moan and bitch? Well, fine, you just keep on refusing to face head-on any o’ the problems that come yer way. If you can’t even deal with a conflict in ya head, how are you ever gonna deal with a violent conflict in the ring?!”
“What do you know?! A hero like you could never understand the feelings of a weakling like me . . .”
“I get it! I get it, because I was the same way at your age! I also couldn’t save kids when they were being bullied, and I also couldn’t stop my friends from doing what was wrong!”
“. . . you too?”
It seemed impossible; there was no way that a man like Terryman could have faced the same troubles when he was just as young . . . Dickieman still felt upset, but Terryman continued:
“It took a lot o’ self-reflection, but I felt somethin’ stir deep inside me that I couldn’t ignore, and that compelled me to always go to a human in need. Even if other people do bad, I need to be able to know that I did right! I don’t know if you’ll reach that same self-awareness in an hour or even ten years, but there’ll come a time when you face you fears. If you haven’t been trained, you’ll succumb to any problems without ever knowing what to do, but if you’re trained -?! Even if others are frantic and frightened, you’ll be able to use ya fear to plan ahead and take actions. That’s why I came here: to train everyone to turn that fear into bravery.”
“So that’s what you meant when you said ‘courage’ is most important to a chojin . . .”
“Yes. It’s pretty easy to understand, Dickieman. And let me tell ya summat else; do you know why I chose you to be my personal assistant?”
“No, not really . . .”
“It’s because I saw a little o’ myself in you, when I was your age. I guess ‘cause I was raised here on Texan soil, that’s why I got nostalgic and told you all about my childhood days, but . . . I’m gonna make sure I train you hard in future, so be prepared. Hahaha!”
“Sure! Thank you so much for your help!”
It was due to this encounter, that Dickieman grew to admire and respect the frank, honest, and sincere personality that was Terryman. Still, an almost prophetic feeling bubbled in his chest that something was about to change . . .
── To be continued
Chapter 5
Part 1
It was almost a week since Terryman was stationed at the Justice Chojin Training School’s fighting department. He had always been on the front lines of the Justice Chojin world, and had a good reputation borne from his countless experiences, and it wasn’t just Dickieman enamoured by his personality, but most of the students in school were captivated by his charm.
But that all changed one day . . .
Just before Dickieman went on his morning jog, he picked up a sports magazine and saw a headline emblazoned across the front page, which read: “The Survivor Match for the Kinniku Throne finally begins!”
It was written in big font. It was strange, as everyone already knew the news. The appearance of the other candidates to the throne occurred on the same say as the awards ceremony, where Terryman was given the position of Staff Officer of the Justice Chojin Army. The news story contained a lot of information on the politics of the chojin world, as well as the troubles within the Kinniku Clan, but – with their clan living in a whole other planet – he failed to see much relevance.
He continued to read the article, where he learned that Kinnikuman was supposed to form a team of five people and challenge other teams also each with five people, but what he read next seemed beyond the bounds of reality. That was because if Kinnikuman had to gather five of his friends and family, the very first person he’d choose would be -! . . . No, if that was the case, Terryman wouldn’t be teaching in the faraway land of Texas as if nothing bad had happened.
If it was true . . . why was Mr Terryman here?
By the time he reached school that morning, the rumours were rife. A few people said that Terryman had a falling out with Kinnikuman again, or that Kinnikuman had secretly recruited a super powerful companion, purposely overlooking Terryman. They told the rumours as if they were truth. The morning classes were filled with gossip and chatter, as people shared various theories. When the person centre of all the gossip appeared, the class finally fell silent and stared with tense expressions.
“Good morning, guys,” chirped Terryman. “It’s time to take attendance.”
Terryman acted as he usually did as the teacher, but a dreadful atmosphere filled the classroom. They would normally take attendance without any issue, but today that would be impossible. Dickieman couldn’t stand it any longer, and – as Terryman’s assistant – he raised his hand to shout:
“M-Mr Terryman!”
“Is something wrong? I know I said I was taking attendance, but yer getting’ a bit carried away; I haven’t even gotten to your name yet.”
“That’s not it at all! Don’t play dumb, Sir!”
“Huh? What? What’re you on about?”
“I’ll just come out and say it, then: shouldn’t you be going to Japan?”
“What do ya mean?”
“Isn’t it obvious? You need to go fight with Kinnikuman!”
Part 2
There followed a moment of silence, until – finally – Terryman’s expression softened.
“Hahahaha,” laughed Terryman. “You’re pretty funny!”
“You think I’m joking?!”
“Alright, alright! I guess you’ve all heard about this morning’s newspaper by now. Well, you see . . . the fact is that I’m a Staff Officer in the Justice Chojin Army; it means that I have to be fair and impartial to all chojin, and that means I can’t support Kinnikuman, as it’d make me biased against the other. Think of it this way; how would you guys feel if it was a student fighting against Kinnikuman? Or your fathers? That’s why it’d be bad for me to join the match.”
“Well . . . I guess . . .”
“That sort of situation feels awful. That’s why I decided to stay here. So don’t you guy worry; my top priority right now is to help all of you grow up and teach you well. I’m not just going to leave you guys without saying a word; rest assured.”
“But . . . is that really what makes you happy?”
“Oh, Kinnikuman understood from the start, which is why he never asked me. He’s just that kind o’ guy. He’s got many other friends that’d be a lot better than me. It’s why ah’m not gonna worry, but just watch the match this afternoon instead. I wonder what kind of team he made without me? I’m really excited to find out!”
Terryman spoke with an optimistic tone, but Dickieman couldn’t help but feel there was a loneliness and longing in his eyes. Dickieman said: “I – I understand. If you think it’s okay, I’m sure it’ll be fine. It’d be lonely here without you, Sir, so I won’t look a gift horse in the mouth . . .”
“Oh, no, it’s fine. If that’s all, I’ll continue with attendance.”
After attendance was taken, Terryman said to everyone as if it were an afterthought:
“Oh, yeah, that’s right! The lesson this afternoon will be a real-life study. You already sure in the newspaper that today is the first round of the ‘Survivor Match for the Kinniku Throne’, and – like Dickieman said – that match will start this afternoon. This match is between top-notch chojin with a vast amount of power and experience, and it’s a great teaching material, which is why we’ll be taking the opportunity to watch it live on television.
“I want you to observe the performance of these older chojin, and hope you’ll learn something new from each and every one of them. I’ll also be providing an easy-to-understand commentary that will only be heard by you guys here in this classroom.”
The students were delighted by this suggestion.
“Oh, wow,” one said. “Can you believe we’ll get live commentary from our legendary teacher? Incredible!”
“I can’t wait,” said another. “Our teacher’s commentary is famous for being easy-to-understand!”
“Hahaha,” laughed Terryman. “Then it’s all set! Is everyone okay with this?”
“Yes. Thank you, Sir!”
── To be continued
Chapter 6
Part 1
Terryman had cheerfully offered his suggestion, and everyone was looking forward to that afternoon, but – the moment the television was turned on – the moment the screen showed Kinnikuman forced to struggle alone. He was Terryman’s greatest ally, and at once they heard Terryman shout:
“Come on, Kinnikuman! Stand up!”
Terryman couldn’t believe his eyes, as stared at the improbable state of affairs. The only person on Team Kinnikuman was his second, Meat, and Meat was still just a child. In other words, Meat and Kinnikuman would be competing alone against a team of five other people, while the right to sit on the Kinniku throne was on the line.
“Mr Terryman . . . this – this is . . .”
“What’s wrong with Kinnikuman?! He said he’ d be okay, so . . . why couldn’t he get a group of friends together?!”
Kinnikuman was busy defending himself against the brutal onslaught from the Hawkman, who was first up in the “Flying Team” led by Mariposa. It was a dire situation, as he was already in a desperate pinch despite it being the first match in a long series of battles.
“Ah, he’s down again!”
The loud screams of commentary made sure to inform them of Kinnikuman’s predicament. Terryman had stared at the screen ever since the television was turned on, and his shoulders were suddenly trembling as he watched the unfolding tragedy before him.
“It looks like Terryman is really focused on what he sees . . .”
It was apparent that they would no longer hear the commentary that they had been looking forward to hearing, and everyone watched the screen silently alongside him, until the considerate Dickieman approached the still trembling Terryman who gazed intently at the screen.
“Sir,” said Dickieman. “That’s enough television; please teach me how to do the Spinning Toe Hold instead.”
Terryman was so overcome by emotion that he continued to stare at the screen. It was impossible to read his expression, and so it could have been either anger or sadness, but – in either case – he visibly trembled and strove to hold back as much emotion as possible from his class.
“M-Mr Terryman?”
Terryman finally noticed that his student spoke, and simply shook his head and choked out: “Dickieman, I’m a little tired right now. Maybe you can take over class for a bit instead . . .”
After saying that, he disappeared outside into the backyard. Terryman screamed over and over, while he pounded away hard on the punching bag beside the unmanned door in the practise area. The sandbag could not withstand the repeated hits of his strong punches, and soon a gash was formed in the torn material, and sand poured out over onto the ground. Terryman dropped down. He gazed at the medals on his chest and shouted out in pain:
“I’m so sorry, Kinnikuman! If I could, I’d be right at your side in an instant! But I’m the Staff Officer in the Justice Chojin Army and I’m suppose to look over all these young chojin. If only I didn’t have all these medals as a staff officer . . .” He made to tear the medals from his chest, but stopped and said: “What am I doing?!”He stood up, holding onto the sandbag in the process. “It’s true that my friendship with Kinnikuman is important, but if I head straight to Japan then who will look after these kids?!”
He took a deep breath and looked to the building, as he thought twice and said aloud:
“It’s okay; Kinnikuman can do this alone. He’s the great champion, and he’s the strongest guy in the entire universe. Haha . . . he can do this easily! What good am I?”
“No,” cried out a voice. “You should still go to Japan! Isn’t this exactly the moment for the ‘courage’ that you taught me to always have, Sir?!”
It was Dickieman. He appeared at the corner of the school building.
Part 2
“What’re ya doing, Dickieman?” Terryman asked. “I thought I asked ya to take over class . . . what the heck are ya doin’ out here?”
He delivered his warning to his student, who had ventured outside despite how clearly Terryman had earlier expressed his wishes, and he had clearly followed his teacher into the backyard. On hearing Terryman’s admonition, the previous self-confidence fled from Dickieman, who muttered:
“Sorry I didn’t do what you said. I just couldn’t do it, not when you weren’t acting like yourself.”
“Uh . . . well . . .”
“Haha.” Dickieman scratched his head and nervously confessed: “But it’s thanks to you that I’m able to come out here and say what I’ve got to say.”
“Thanks . . . to me?”
“Yeah. If I thought like my old self, I would have carried on with the lesson like you said, as I would have been too afraid about making my teacher angry, no matter even if I thought it was wrong. But I knew that I had to leave class and come tell you what I thought . . . no matter how much trouble I’d get into. Excuse me, Sir, but the fact I was able to do this at all is because of you. You taught me the true meaning of ‘courage’!”
“Courage . . .”
“You said that a coward is a man that is afraid, but a brave man is a man that refuses to give up despite the fear in his heart. So why is that you’re now turning a blind eye to what needs to be done, Mr Terryman? Are you afraid? Are you running away from your problems? You had a choice to help Kinnikuman, but you turned your back on him by using the excuse of being a staff officer . . . look calmly and see how bad Kinnikuman is suffering. There’s no way he can take on five opponents alone!”
“Ugh . . . Grrrrr . . . I guess . . .”
Dickieman spoke only the truth. Terryman was so lost to guilt that his hands trembled, and he stared down at his sweating palms. Dickieman had always a knack for words, and so he used that skill now to turn to his teacher and appeal to him in a strong yet fair tone:
“Sir, Earth is going through a crisis. If Kinnikuman loses, the world will be in a bad place, and there’s nothing any of us can do to help. I know I can’t help Kinnikuman. I don’t think I’d stand a chance, even if I had more experience in battle. I knew that this was all I could do, and it scared me deep down to come and talk to you, but . . . I’m not ashamed to say that I faced my fears! You are the greatest American hero, Mr Terryman! So – on behalf of all Americans – I beg you to help!”
Terryman looked up in surprise. Behind Dickieman, the other students rushed behind him. They were supposed to be in the classroom, but instead they all rushed out in unison:
“Please help!!”
“What?! . . . you guys . . .!”
“Sir, everyone that you’ve taught all agree with Dickieman. We’re completely against the school administrators that want to force you to stay here, that’s why we –“
Suddenly, two men with heavy armour and weapons appeared:
“Hold on, Terryman,” they said. “We’ve been stationed here by the Chojin Committee to keep an eye on you!”
── To be continued
Chapter 7
Part 1
The two men turned around and said in a very cold tone:
“You are a neutral staff officer. You can't just support Kinnikuman.”
“Uh . . .”
The students nearest to Dickieman instantly acted. Together, they grabbed at the members of the Chojin Committee and stopped them in their attempts to reach Terryman! They cried out:
“Mr Terryman! Please, go now!”
“Whoa, what’re you guys doing?!”
“Do you want us to let them go? Are you just a villain pretending to be a champion of justice? If someone like Phoenix or Mariposa lays claim to the throne, what do you think will happen to this world or their world?”
Despite being restrained by the students, the members of the Chojin Committee glared at Terryman and his students with a hard eye, as they spat out: “Shut up! You kids have no clue what you’re doing! The adults here don’t have to explain everything to you! If you don’t release us now, you’ll be in breach of interfering with a public official’s duties! Do you brats really want to risk prison?!”
That was the wrong thing to say to students who now knew the true meaning of courage.
“Don’t be an idiot,” they shouted. “It’s thanks to the pathetic pride of adults, and your trivial prohibitions, that the world is growing worse and worse! Hey, Mr Terryman; go now, as fast as you can! We’ve got this!”
“G-Guys!”
“No way!” The committee members shouted: “We still have one more ace up our sleeve! Team Leader, we need you here!”
Terryman saw their determination and realised it was time to leave, but – when the Chojin Committee member shouted – the earth began to shake and tremble like an earthquake . . . a mountain-shaped chojin appeared almost from the earth itself, as he blocked Terryman’s path.
“Gogogogo,” the chojin laughed. “I am a rock chojin from Hawaii called Magnitude I Man! At the request of the Chojin Committee members, it’s my job to bring you in, Terryman . . .”
“Like hell you will!”
“Gugogogo!”
. . . much to everyone’s surprise, it wasn’t Terryman who started the fight. No sooner had this chojin introduced himself, Dickieman jumped into the fray at a lightning speed, and took charge as the student president!!
“Who do you think you are?!” Dickieman screamed. “Are you the head of the mountaineering club or something? I know every member of every club in this school, and you’re not in any of them! I don’t know you, you bastard, so I’m sure as hell not going to let you get in Mr Terryman’s way!”
Dickieman continued to shout! He rained down a series of punches with his fists, without any hesitation, and continued his barrage of assaults on this new chojin. He even used Terryman’s special move: the Knuckle Part! This chojin was a huge rock-like chojin just like the Mountain, and – inspired by that same fight – Dickieman put all of his Texan spirit into his fists and pummelled with all his strength. He beat over and over at the rocky chojin before him, as he cried out:
“Sir! Mr Terryman! I finally understand! This must be what you felt; this is the moment when a usually pacifist person turned into a rages like a warrior on the ring. This is . . . the Texas spirit!”
Part 2
Terryman was initially stunned. It was unusual to see his student appear in such a situation, but . . . eventually he was reduced to tears, as he saw how Dickieman raged and resisted against the adults.
“Oh, Dickieman,” said Terryman. “Yes, just like that! This is exactly what I saw when I first looked into your eyes; I saw a little of myself inside o’ ya!”
“Yes, Sir!”
“You might be calm and timid outside o’ the ring, but in a pinch you soon do whatever it takes t’ survive . . . you might have claimed to be a coward, but yer a real daredevil on the ring! This is exactly what it means to ‘go for broke’! To push on no matter what . . . this is the kind of “courage” I wanted ya to have!”
Dickieman basked in the praise that Terryman gave him for not holding back, and continued with his barrage of attacks in order to please the teacher to whom he owed a debt of gratitude.
“Sir, we can hold them back by fighting them here,” shouted Dickieman. “So long as we believe in ourselves, we can do this! Everyone here will fight until there’s nothing left to give . . . you should go while you have the chance! Only you can help Kinnikuman, so you must go to Japan! Please don’t leave it any longer! Go now!”
It wasn’t just Dickieman, but the combined spirit of all those students involved in the continuing brawl in the backyard of the school building . . . it was as if they had no only absorbed the essence of his teachings, but were now finally putting it into practise, too. When it came down to it, there was nothing left for him here now. On the other hand, there was somewhere he needed to be, which he now set his sights on!
“Thank you so much, guys! From the bottom of my heart, I appreciate your kindness! I’m really grateful!”
“It’s okay, Sir!”
“Wait,” cried one officer.
“Let us go,” cried another.
“. . .”
Terryman left the premises with an astonishing speed, while he left the chaos behind him. That night an important piece of news reached the Texas Justice Chojin Training School: ‘A saviour appears to help Team Kinnikuman, as they completely defeat Team Mariposa in Kumamoto Castle!’ It was needless to say that the Texan wilderness echoed with the cheers of 100 young people that same night.
“Sir, we’ll never forget the secret of ‘courage’ that you taught us,” said Dickieman. “When all this is over, please come back to Texas and resume our classes. Please, show us more. Show us the same ‘courage’ that you exuded today in your very battle.”
He looked to the roaring campfire, as he thought back to the short – but life-changing – events of the previous week. The night sky was filled with bright stars, but two in particular stood out among the inky blackness, and they almost resembled the two star emblems on Terryman’s shoulders. It seemed to Dickieman that even the sky itself was showing its respect to Terryman’s personal philosophy . . .
── The End
References
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