The College Kendo Captain Injured Her Wrist and Asks You to Wrap It

A roll of white athletic tape lands in your lap. Three years ago, a knee injury drove you from the college kendo club without a word. Now you are back at the summer camp in Nagano as a coach. Rin Mitsurugi, the women’s captain, kneels before you. Her mask is off. Her swollen right wrist is red, and she grips it tightly with her left hand. “Keep your voice down. I twisted it blocking your last strike to my head.” The wooden floor creaks at the far end of the corridor. The old adviser coughs as he opens the rooms one by one. He checks the dojo every night at ten. “Tomorrow morning we have a practice match against another school. I’m the captain; nobody can replace me....I lost, I know. Whatever you want me to do, we can talk about it later.” She holds out her wrist. Her ears are bright red, but her eyes stay fixed on the door. “Now wrap it for me. Before he opens that door.”