Chapter 36: Hikigaya Hachiman Doesn't Get It
Inside a modest house in Chiba Prefecture.
"I'm home."
Hikigaya Hachiman pushed the door open and saw Komachi sprawled on the sofa. She was wearing an oversized shirt that didn't do much to hide the fact that she was in her loungewear.
Hachiman's gaze didn't even flicker. He was too drained to care.
Little sisters are truly a bizarre phenomenon. No matter how 'cute' they might be to the world, you feel absolutely nothing. Seeing their underwear is about as exciting as looking at a stray rag. That is the reality of having a sister.
"Ah! Welcome back, Onii-chan. You're late today," Komachi chirped, completely unbothered by her state of dress.
Hachiman dropped his bag. Without even changing out of his uniform, he collapsed onto the sofa and let out a long, weary groan. "Ahhh..."
Komachi peered over the back of the sofa, looking confused. "That's a new one. Onii-chan, you sound like a man who's been through a war!"
Hachiman closed his eyes, his mind replaying the image of Chishima Akishin in full kendo armor, launching a relentless offensive. He sighed. "Komachi... your brother has officially taken on a teacher. No, a Sensei."
"A teacher? For what?"
"Kendo. But I'm not allowed to call him a 'teacher' yet. Just Sensei." Hachiman rolled over, burying his face in the sofa cushions.
"Wait, really?" Komachi hopped off the sofa and scurried over to him, shaking his arm. "Onii-chan is actually learning Kendo from someone?"
"I told you, he's a Sensei. I haven't reached 'disciple' status yet."
"So there's a chance! Who is this guy? Who actually managed to take an interest in my brother?"
Hachiman remembered Akishin's words: 'Hikigaya Hachiman, you don't have the qualifications yet.' The memory stung. He involuntarily clenched his fist. It was weird—wasn't he supposed to be used to rejection by now?
"He's Chishima-sensei, a new teacher at my school. The man is terrifying."
And he meant it. Terrifying was the only word. Just standing in front of the man required every ounce of courage Hachiman possessed. It felt like being caught in a storm of a thousand blades.
Komachi's eyes went wide, and she covered her mouth. "For Onii-chan to give someone a review like that... just how amazing is this Chishima-sensei?"
She knew her brother. He might look like a dead-eyed fish, but he had a sharp, cynical pride when it came to reading people. He never gave out praise this high.
"I don't really know. All I know is he's a new teacher at Sobu High." Hachiman sat up and looked at his sister. "We've got time. I'll take you to meet him. Besides, the man's a genius in the kitchen. He runs an Izakaya not far from here."
"Really? That sounds great!"
"Go change your clothes, then."
"On it! Komachi will be ready in a flash!"
As Komachi dashed to her room, Hachiman went to the bathroom to splash some cold water on his face. He looked at his reflection. His eyes... they seemed different somehow.
'Hikigaya, my Kendo is the way of the true sword. Do you understand?'
Akishin had said that to him while he was sprawled on the ground, gasping for air. Hachiman didn't understand. He'd been chewing on those words all afternoon, and he still didn't get it.
The true sword? What the hell does that even mean?
Earlier today, after eating Yui's cookies, he'd received that ominous text. He'd gone back to the clubroom, grabbed the box, and found the brand-new Kendo gear.
When he'd met Akishin under that tree, fully geared up, Akishin had just narrowed his eyes and smiled. "Since you've got protection now, I won't hold back as much. Get ready, Hikigaya."
Hachiman didn't want to remember the rest.
His body still ached. Akishin's strikes had been surgical—he only hit the spots that hurt like hell but wouldn't leave a permanent mark.
"Onii-chan, you done yet? I'm ready!" Komachi called out.
"Coming."
Hachiman grabbed some tissues, wiped his face, and headed out. Komachi was already perched on the back of his bicycle.
"Let's go!" she cheered.
This kid... Hachiman climbed onto the bike with a resigned sigh.
Komachi hugged him from behind. "Don't go getting into an accident today, okay? Komachi is precious cargo."
Hachiman glanced back. "As if I'd crash if I were by myself."
"Onii-chan, sometimes you space out like a dead fish! I worry!" Komachi teased. "But right now, Onii-chan's points in Komachi's heart are actually pretty high!"
"Just sit still."
Hachiman pushed through the fatigue, pedaling toward Chishimaya.
"Onii-chan," Komachi asked as they rode, "Is Chishima-sensei really nice to you?"
"...Yeah, I guess." Hachiman hesitated before nodding. "He's also the one who basically forced me into this Kendo thing."
"And do you hate it? The Kendo?"
"...With him? I don't hate it."
The evening sky was turning a heavy, bruised purple. It looked like rain was coming. Akishin sat in his shop, nursing a cup of tea and watching the clouds through the window.
It was 4:30 PM.
After he'd finished putting Hachiman through the wringer, he'd come straight back to Chishimaya. The shop opened at six, and prep started at five. He had thirty minutes of peace left.
Ting-ling-ling!
The wind chime he'd hung up barely an hour ago let out a clear, melodic ring. Kondo Yuika and Sakurai Kaiko stepped inside.
"Chishima-sensei."
"Chishima-sensei, halogen! (Hello!)"
Yuika led the way, with Kaiko trailing behind.
"You're both early," Akishin noted, taking a slow sip of tea.
"It was boring at home," Yuika said. "We figured since our shift was coming up anyway, we'd just head over. Are we interrupting, Sensei?"
"Not at all." Akishin shook his head. "I'm just relaxing. Tea's in the cupboard, hot water's ready. Help yourselves."
"Thank you, Sensei!"
Yuika was the picture of politeness, while Kaiko was already darting toward the kitchen. "Yuika, hurry up! Sensei's tea is the expensive stuff!"
"Kaiko, shush! Don't be rude!"
"Chishima-sensei doesn't mind!"
"Kaiko, shut it!"
Akishin just laughed. Kaiko knew him well enough; she was the energetic, sweet type, while Yuika was the responsible, refined one. He liked them both—in a purely appreciative, mentor-like way, of course.
The three of them sat together, Akishin bringing out a plate of red bean cakes to go with the tea. They chatted about school life, the atmosphere peaceful and warm.
Until the wind chime rang again.
"Is Chishima-sensei here?"
Hachiman's voice. Akishin set his cup down. "Come in!"
Hachiman pushed the door open, his signature cowlick swaying. Behind him was a middle school girl with the exact same cowlick, her eyes wide as she took in the shop. Akishin recognized her local middle school uniform.
"You aren't open yet..." Hachiman started, trailing off as he noticed Yuika and Kaiko in their Sobu High uniforms.
"Not yet. Six o'clock. It's barely five," Akishin said. He gestured toward his employees. "Hikigaya, meet Kondo Yuika and Sakurai Kaiko. Your underclassmen, and Chishimaya's staff."
He then turned to the girls. "This is Hikigaya Hachiman, Class 2-F at Sobu. My student."
Yuika and Kaiko stood up and bowed. "Hello, Hikigaya-senpai. I am Kondo Yuika (Sakurai Kaiko). Nice to meet you."
"Ah! Uh, yeah. Nice to meet you too." Hachiman awkwardly returned the greeting.
Akishin's gaze shifted to the young girl watching him. He smiled. "And this... must be the legendary little sister, right?"
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