Kimono Code (9 page)

It was Friday, the day of the karate competition. It wasn't a proper competition, more of a display to show the parents what they had been learning, but everyone was still keen to do their best. Eve was away from school and had been since the last practice. Ms Tenga reassured the girls she would be back soon.

‘What a pity she's missing the competition,' said Emma, who was sitting with Elle, Isi and Hannah.

‘But the rest of the team is here,' said Isi. ‘Isn't it great that we're all part of
SHINE
?'

‘We'd make such a good mission team,' said Elle. ‘Just think of it!'

‘I still need to do my training,' Hannah reminded her. ‘A1 said I might be going on a
SHINE
camp. I can't wait to work with all the animals!'

‘I would love to do that!' said Isi. ‘That would be so cool!' Then Isi looked serious for a moment. ‘Hey, Emma, when I got back, Nema was asking where we'd been. She was talking to Ms Black. You don't think she…'

‘Girls!' cried Ms Black. ‘Are you in this competition today?'

‘Yes!' they cried, jumping up.

‘Good luck, girls,' called out Ms Sipes. ‘Try hard and you might earn your orange belts.'

‘Orange! That's my favourite colour!' said Isi.

‘Is, I don't think that's the point,' said Hannah.

‘Your skills are really blossoming, girls,' continued Ms Sipes. ‘You could really shine out there today.'

‘Guys,' said Emma. ‘Did you hear what she just said? And has anyone noticed Ms Sipes's name? What it spells if you swap the “i” and the “p”?'

‘Come on, girls,' cried Ms Sipes. ‘I expect you to concentrate and do well this afternoon.'

The girls did do well. They did really well, Emma in particular, and at the end of the girls' round robin round, Emma and Nema had collected the most points. They would contest the final.

The other mats were stored away, and everyone, including parents, teachers and the other girls and boys, moved over to the centre mat to watch the match. Emma's friends gave her a big group hug and sat down to watch. Emma could see her mum and dad and her grandparents in the audience and even her brother Bob, although he was busy doing something on his phone. Emma also saw Nema's mum and dad in the audience, but she noticed that they weren't sitting together and that neither of them was smiling. Quite the opposite—they looked almost cross as they stared, tight-lipped, out to the mat. Nema looked across to them with a hopeful smile, but Emma watched her smile melt away and her jaw clench as her mother mouthed the word ‘win' at Nema.
Poor Nema,
thought Emma.

The contest began.

Nema moved first, coming out strongly with a kick to Emma's side, but Emma saw it coming and blocked. Nema frowned as she moved in for a strike to Emma's shoulder. This time, Emma didn't move quickly enough. Points to Nema. Emma now countered with her own strike and found Nema's side. Points to Emma. Nema moved again towards Emma, but this time Emma could sense what Nema was planning. As Nema moved her leg behind Emma's leg, Emma blocked it with her leg. Nema put her hand on Emma's shoulder and pushed hard. Emma winced; Nema was strong.

Ju yoko go oseisu
, gentleness controls hardness, remembered Emma.

Emma put her hand on Nema's shoulder, and as Nema pushed on her, Emma stepped back, stretching Nema's arm out. She then put her arm on the back of Nema's arm and pushed it down. Nema had no choice but to move to the ground. The stronger Nema pushed, the lower she sank to the ground. Emma knew she had Nema and that she could win the competition.

Emma looked out into the audience, first to her beaming parents and grandparents and then to Nema's parents. They looked almost angry now. Emma looked back at Nema. She saw that her eyes were blinking back tears, but she knew they weren't from Emma's grip. Maybe Nema
was
mean because she was sad.
Did it have something to do with her parents?
Emma took a deep breath, and then, slowly, she released her grip on Nema's arm.

Nema looked up, confused, but then lifted her arm, putting it across Emma's front and pinning her to the ground. Emma stayed down on the mat. She could have got up, but she didn't. And Nema knew it.

‘Points to Nema,' cried Ms Sipes. ‘Match to Nema! Nema is our competition winner!'

There was applause. Nema looked a little confused for a moment, and then gave a nervous and small smile as she bowed deeply to Emma.

‘Thank you,' she whispered.

Emma bowed back—a long, deep bow—and came up smiling and calm.

‘No problem,' whispered Emma.

‘A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step,' Akari had told her. Emma knew her journey had started, and perhaps so had Nema's.

Her grandma winked at Emma. ‘Nice move,' she mouthed.

Em smiled, twisting her wooden bracelet. She knew she had won something too—with a little help from EJ12.