Chapter 33: Preparing to Solidify Social Standing
Time ticked away, and the next period was nearly upon them. Akishin woke Hikigaya Hachiman and tossed a bottle of sports drink his way.
Hachiman's stamina had recovered, and strangely, he felt better than he had before the exertion. Because the power he'd used was explosive in nature, his stamina had drained rapidly, but it seemed to return just as fast.
He twisted the cap, took a long swig, and looked around. Only a gentle breeze brushed through the area. "Where are Yukinoshita and the others?" he asked.
"I sent them back ahead of us," Akishin replied. "Class is starting soon. You'd better head back too, or Hiratsuka-sensei will come looking for me. Do your best in your club activities this afternoon. Those two girls are good people."
Leaving Hachiman with a confused expression, Akishin turned and walked away.
The school bell chimed, and students out on the field began sprinting back to their classrooms, brushing past Akishin as they went. It felt as though they were people from two different worlds, walking entirely different paths.
Back in the faculty office, only a few teachers remained. Hiratsuka Shizuka had already headed out to teach. Akishin returned to his seat and pulled out his copy of Na Han (Call to Arms) to continue his reading.
In the afternoon, he held a PE class for Class C. This time, he pushed them a bit harder, making the students jog for twenty minutes—an act that triggered a wave of complaints.
Finally, the time came for the school day to end. He tried to invite Shizuka to eat at his shop again, but failed.
Facing the setting sun, Akishin walked out of the school gates alone. He had been working here for five days now, yet aside from Hiratsuka Shizuka, he hadn't really made any friends. It wasn't because people didn't approach him, but rather because he didn't seek them out.
The world of adults was a bit more complicated than that of students. Even if people disliked each other, they usually maintained a smiling facade. Several male teachers had invited him out for drinks after work, but he had declined, citing he had business to attend to.
And it was the truth—he had a shop to open.
Just before passing through the gates, Akishin glanced toward the building adjacent to the main school block. Hachiman was likely helping Yui bake cookies right about now; he'd heard about their plans from Yui herself.
Still... that's someone else's life, he thought. Though that Hikigaya boy certainly has the potential of a protagonist.
Taking the bus home, Akishin watched the familiar scenery roll by. Through the window, he spotted Kondo Yuika and Sakurai Kaiko pedaling their bikes toward Chishimaya. His bus overtook them, but he didn't call out.
Today was Friday. This Sunday, school would be out, and he planned to close the shop for a day as well.
Now that he had mastered Kendo, he needed to achieve a certain level of prestige to solidify his social standing. Once he had that, many things would become easier; it wasn't just about showing off his technique. For instance, it would allow him to take Hachiman Hikigaya as a disciple openly and honestly.
The All Japan Kendo Championship.
Akishin's sights were set on the highest level of Kendo competition in the country, organized by the All Japan Kendo Federation. He intended to see if he could claim the title of champion while witnessing the techniques of the era's masters firsthand.
In videos, the true prowess of Kendo masters was never quite clear. Too many factors influenced the art, and tournament rules often restricted one's true capabilities. But facing them eye-to-eye would be a different story.
On Sunday, while the shop was closed, Akishin planned to head to the Chiba Prefecture Kendo Federation to inquire about the requirements for participation. As a foreigner, he wasn't entirely clear on the logistics.
Back at the shop, he opened the doors, changed his clothes, and got busy in the kitchen. He pulled ingredients from the fridge and began simmering the bone broth.
Five minutes later, the shop bell chimed. Kondo Yuika and Sakurai Kaiko had arrived.
"Chishima-sensei, hello!"
"Hello, Chishima-sensei!"
The two greeted him. Akishin looked up and smiled. "You're here."
"Chishima-sensei, Yuika and I dashed out as soon as the bell rang. Why didn't we see you?" Kaiko asked curiously, eyeing the bubbling broth. "Does Sensei drive a sedan?"
"I haven't bought a car. I take the bus home."
"Oh, I see!"
The two girls went to change. By the time they emerged, Akishin had finished cooking dinner.
"Kondo, Kaiko. Come get your rice and eat."
On the table sat a plate of fish and two home-cooked side dishes. One of them was Shredded Pork with Green Peppers (Qingjiao Rousi), a personal favorite of Akishin's.
"Wow, this is so fancy!" Kaiko ran over enthusiastically, rice bowl in hand. Last night's bento had been so good she'd been looking forward to eating Chishima-sensei's cooking again all day.
"Kaiko, Kaiko! Manners! Mind your manners!" Yuika chased after her, looking helpless. "I'm so sorry, Chishima-sensei. Kaiko is just..."
"It's fine, really. I've never been a fan of stiff rules anyway. It actually makes me feel more at ease when you're relaxed." Because if other people are formal with you, you have to be formal back!
Akishin really wanted to complain about that aspect of the culture. Luckily, he wasn't working in a corporate office.
"Itadakimasu," the three of them said in unison.
Even if he didn't care for rigid etiquette, he still followed the local customs. Basic social graces, like expressing gratitude for the meal, were worth observing.
As soon as the words were out, Kaiko wasted no time reaching for the fish.
Perhaps because they found Akishin so approachable, in just a single day, Yuika and Kaiko had become much more open. A lot of it was thanks to Sakurai Kaiko; a cheerful person always makes it easy to create a relaxed atmosphere.
After dinner, the two girls—now quite full—sat at the table drinking tea to aid their digestion. Akishin, as the owner, busied himself in the kitchen.
Yuika and Kaiko felt a bit guilty; the boss was working while the employees were sipping tea! But they had little choice—they needed to digest so they could work better once the rush started.
At six o'clock, Chishimaya opened right on time. Customers flooded in, and the shop was instantly bustling. Yuika and Kaiko moved nimbly through the dining area while Akishin handled the stove, beginning another busy night.
"Boss, we're out of beer over here!"
"Got it, coming right up."
...
At ten o'clock, Chishimaya closed its doors. After seeing off the last group of customers, Yuika and Kaiko slumped onto the tables, exhausted.
"Thanks for the hard work today."
Akishin handed each of them 7,500 yen. The girls accepted the money happily.
"Thank you, Chishima-sensei!"
"It's late, so be careful on your way home. By the way, I'm closing the shop this Sunday. You don't need to come in, so feel free to go out and have some fun." Akishin took the opportunity to mention his plans.
Japanese high schools typically follow a 5.5-day week; school on Saturday mornings and Sunday off.
Yuika and Kaiko glanced at each other, then nodded. "Understood."
"Does Sensei have something to do on Sunday?" Kaiko asked. One less workday meant one less day of pay. As much as they wanted to play, they valued the 7,500 yen wage.
"I'm planning to visit the Chiba Prefecture Kendo Federation to look into a few things."
"The Kendo Federation? Sensei knows Kendo too?" Yuika was genuinely surprised, while Kaiko just looked confused.
"Yu, what's a Kendo Federation? Does Kendo have its own government?"
"It exists, but I don't know much about it either. I've heard that if you want to enter a tournament, you need qualifications granted by the Federation."
"Oh, I see! Yuika, you're so knowledgeable!"
"That's only because you never watch the news and only care about video games, Kaiko."
After bickering with Kaiko for a moment, Yuika turned to Akishin. "Is Chishima-sensei going to enter a Kendo competition?"
"Yes, that's the plan." Akishin nodded.
As expected, a local understood the implications immediately; he'd had to research it himself. As for Sakurai Kaiko... she seemed to be the exception to the rule.
After a few more words of caution about their safety, Akishin saw them out. He watched them disappear into the crowd, wheeling their bikes, before pulling out a cigarette and lighting it. He turned back to clean the shop.
Going to the Kendo Federation on Sunday... should I ask someone to come along?
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