Chapter 37: Hikigaya Komachi
"Hello, Chishima-sensei! I'm Hikigaya Komachi. Um~ does Sensei already know about Komachi?" She beamed at me, flashing a cute little snaggletooth.
"I am Hikigaya's teacher, after all," I replied. "I've seen the records. You two really do look alike!"
"I knew it!" Komachi nodded vigorously, looking pleased. She then turned her gaze toward Kondo Yuika and Sakurai Kaiko. "Hello! Nice to meet you, I'm Hikigaya Komachi!"
"Nice to meet you. I'm Kondo Yuika (Sakurai Kaiko)."
"Komachi, come over here and take a seat," I said, waving her over with a welcoming gesture. Then, I turned my attention to Hachiman. "Hikigaya, go brew five cups of tea. You'll find the tea leaves in the second level of the kitchen cabinet. Also, bring out the red bean cakes that are in there."
Hachiman's eyes widened in disbelief. "Sensei... um, isn't this only the second time I've actually been here!?"
"And? Is there a point you're trying to make? Either get moving on that tea, or go back to training at the Dojo for another five hours."
I leveled a gaze at him—one that carried a subtle, sharp edge of danger.
Hachiman instantly corrected his posture, snapping to attention. "Right. Please wait just a moment, everyone." He practically scrambled toward the kitchen. He wasn't playing around; if he had to go through that training again, he'd probably actually die.
Komachi hopped over cheerfully and sat down beside me, a curious smile on her face. "Onii-chan told me that Chishima-sensei was a terrifying person. But Komachi doesn't think Sensei looks scary at all?"
I studied the young girl for a moment, then let out a small smile. "Whether I'm terrifying or not... well, that depends entirely on your own perspective."
"...Komachi thinks Chishima-sensei is a good person. Onii-chan even said himself that Sensei has been very kind to him."
"He actually said that?"
"Yup, he really did! Onii-chan said it."
I glanced over at Hachiman, who was currently busy fumbling around in the kitchen, and huffed a smile. "Your brother certainly knows how to be honest when he wants to be."
"Of course! Let me tell you, Onii-chan is actually pretty amazing." Komachi wagged a finger mischievously. Then, her expression turned serious as she looked at me. "So, Sensei... did you really take Onii-chan on as your disciple?"
"Not yet." I picked up my teacup again, staring at my own reflection dancing on the surface of the water. "Your brother doesn't quite have the qualifications to be my disciple yet. His abilities are still lacking. For now, I'm just teaching him the basics of Kendo. Besides, I need to achieve a few things myself first."
Komachi looked puzzled. "He doesn't have the qualifications?"
I didn't elaborate. I finished my tea in one gulp and pushed the plate of red bean cakes toward her. "Komachi, try some of these. I made them myself."
"Thank you, Chishima-sensei!"
Komachi didn't press the issue further. Having satisfied herself that I didn't harbor any ill will toward her brother, she took a bite of the cake. Her eyes instantly went wide, practically sparkling.
"Delicious! Chishima-sensei, your cooking skills are amazing! Onii-chan was right about that, too."
"If you like them, eat as much as you want. I made plenty."
Kondo Yuika and Sakurai Kaiko watched the scene unfold in silence, clutching their teacups.
So Hikigaya-senpai is Chishima-sensei's student!
But what did he mean by 'not having the qualifications'? Is it one of those legendary talent issues?
Neither of them spoke, choosing instead to quietly sip their tea and snack on the cakes.
A short while later, Hachiman returned with the tea, and the five of us sat together, enjoying the break.
"Hikigaya," I asked casually, "what brings you by today? Weren't you supposed to be resting?"
Hachiman glared at me. You're the one who told me I needed to rest!
But out loud, he mumbled, "Ah, well... you see, Sensei's cooking is so good that I figured I'd bring Komachi along so she could try it too."
"Oh? Well, you've arrived at the perfect time, then." I smiled. "The food I sell here is just standard fare because it's quick to prepare. If you want to eat a meal that's truly worth the effort, you have to time it with my own dinner."
Komachi let out a little cheer. "Wow! Komachi is so lucky!"
Seeing that the clock was already hitting five, I stood up and headed for the kitchen.
"Kondo, Kaiko, help me look after Komachi."
"Understood, Chishima-sensei."
Sakurai Kaiko began chatting away with the Hikigaya siblings, while Kondo Yuika listened with a polite smile, chiming in every now and then.
"Um, Hikigaya-senpai, is Chishima-sensei really that great at Kendo?" Kaiko asked with a grin.
Hachiman's mind flashed back to the afternoon's training session. A visible shudder ran through him. "He's... terrifyingly good."
...
I busied myself at the kitchen counter, occasionally glancing over at the four of them. Sakurai Kaiko and Komachi were both so lively that the atmosphere felt surprisingly harmonious.
Half an hour later...
"Hikigaya, come here and help me carry the food," I called out. "We're eating in the activity room."
"Coming!"
I had prepared a massive spread of delicacies. There was natto soup, steamed beef with rice flour (Fen Zheng Niurou), sweet and sour fish, clear-broth poached chicken, tempura, and several cold side dishes. I'd even prepared a serving of sashimi.
Just as we finished setting everything down on the low table, a knock echoed from the front door.
Kondo Yuika looked toward the entrance. "Boss, is that a customer?"
"I'll go check."
Signaling for them to stay seated, I walked out and pulled the door open. "Apologies, customer, but we don't open until six—...Yukinoshita-kun?"
I blinked in surprise. Why was she here?
Yukino offered a polite greeting. "Chishima-sensei, I apologize for the intrusion."
"Is something the matter, Yukinoshita-kun?" I stepped aside to let her in. "In any case, come inside for now. I just finished making dinner."
"That... won't be necessary. I only came to discuss something with you, Chishima-sensei." At the mention of my cooking, however, she seemed to hesitate.
"Nonsense. Hikigaya is here too. I've cooked way too much, so show your Sensei some respect and join us."
"Hikigaya is here as well...? Very well, then."
In the end, Yukino relented—mostly because the memory of how good my food tasted was impossible to ignore.
I led Yukino back to the activity room. Hachiman looked like he'd just seen a ghost.
"Yukinoshita? What are you doing here?"
Yukino's expression remained characteristically cool. "I am here to see Chishima-sensei on business."
After a round of introductions with Kondo Yuika and the others, she took a seat at the end of the table.
Finally, I took my place and gave the signal. "Let's eat!"
"Itadakimasu!" (x5)
The five of them pressed their hands together, closed their eyes for the brief pre-meal ritual, and dove in.
Komachi carefully picked up a piece of crispy, glistening fish and popped it into her mouth. Her "antenna" hair practically stood on end.
I looked over at Yukino. "So, Yukinoshita-kun, what was this business you mentioned?"
"My apologies, Chishima-sensei." Yukino set her chopsticks down, straightened her posture, and gave me a slight bow. "It concerns my older sister... Yukinoshita Haruno."
The story was simple enough. Yukino had mentioned my guidance to Haruno. Knowing Haruno as well as she did, Yukino was terrified that her sister would start causing trouble for me.
It wasn't that she thought her sister would physically harm me—Haruno wasn't that bad in her sister's eyes—but considering her sister's... rather prickly personality, she couldn't help but worry.
Yukino didn't know exactly what Haruno was planning, but she was certain her sister would take action. So, she had come specifically to warn me and offer an apology. She had wanted to say something since the afternoon but had been wavering...
"Is that all? Don't worry about it. I haven't even run into Haruno-san these past few days," I said dismissively. "I'm a teacher; educating students is my primary duty. Haruno-san is likely just worried about you, Yukinoshita-kun. There's no need to be anxious."
It was the truth. Nothing had happened over the last few days. Based on my past life experience, when dealing with an unknown variable, the opposition usually prefers to investigate before making a move.
She was likely digging into me, but it wouldn't do her much good. I was Chishima Akishin, and Chishima Akishin was me. What was there to find?
Unless the original Chishima Akishin had some skeletons in his closet, but... that seemed unlikely... right?
Wait.
A sudden doubt crept into my mind. I didn't actually know that much about the original Chishima Akishin either; I only knew the basic data the system had provided. As for what the original owner of this body had actually done during his life, I was completely in the dark.
If—and this was a big if—the original Akishin had committed some sort of crime, that would be my responsibility now.
This won't do. To prevent any nasty surprises, I'd have to do some investigating of my own. I made up my mind then and there.
"I'm glad to hear that."
Hearing that I hadn't encountered her sister, Yukino looked visibly relieved. She picked her chopsticks back up and began a stealthy battle for the dishes on the table against Komachi and the others.
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