Chapter 49: Famous Words
It was a rainy afternoon. Unable to head out for lunch, Hikigaya Hachiman grabbed an umbrella, bought a bento, and headed back to the classroom to eat.
On the way, Hachiman was subjected to a constant barrage of stares—curiosity, confusion, anger, and even outright disdain. By the time he reached the classroom, the atmosphere had turned suffocating.
The moment he stepped inside, the entire room fell into a deathly silence; you could have heard a pin drop. Feeling incredibly awkward, he took his seat, opened his lunch box, and began to eat.
It was the first time since childhood he had experienced a situation quite like this.
Hachiman recalled what Akishin had said when the period ended earlier: "Hikigaya, from this moment on, many eyes will be watching you. You're about to lose the camouflage known as 'anonymity.' Are you ready?"
He hadn't answered then, so Akishin had continued: "Hikigaya, this is only the beginning. If you're going to learn Kendo from me, this won't be the only thing you'll have to endure. If you feel like you can't handle it, put down your sword. I'll settle everything for you and let you go back to your normal life."
Still, he hadn't given a direct answer. Instead, he had asked Akishin a question: "Sensei, since you said I don't have the qualifications to be your disciple yet... when will I have them?"
At that, Akishin had simply smirked. "Wait until I finish this Kendo tournament. It's not just you who needs qualifications; I need the qualifications to be your teacher, too. Otherwise... your parents won't exactly be on board."
That's true. If he really wants to take on a disciple, there's no way my parents would agree. The guy doesn't have a license, his teaching style is basically just brawling, he doesn't look like a teacher at all, and even guys like Hayama question him! If my parents found out, they'd definitely say no. So, by 'qualifications,' does he mean getting a high rank in a Kendo tournament? Is he seriously entering a competition just to get a title so he can officially take me as a student? Haha, no way. No way in hell. His primary goal is definitely just personal glory.
Thinking this, Hachiman shook his head with a small smile, brushing off the ridiculous thought as he dug into his food. Surprisingly, he realized his heart felt a lot lighter.
I guess I'm still being influenced... Whatever. I might as well pray that the arrogant Chishima-sensei gets a decent rank, if only so the story sounds better when people tell it.
In any environment, there are always "famous people." You just have to accept that. Being famous doesn't just apply to movie stars; it simply means people with a massive amount of notoriety.
Meijin (Famous Person): A prominent figure, or a celebrity. In Japanese context, Meijin refers to individuals in various fields who possess extraordinary skill and command great respect.
In a school setting, "famous people" are the types where if anything happens to them, the majority of the student body finds out instantly.
Hayama Hayato was undeniably a "famous person" at Sobu High—one of the most popular, in fact. He had female admirers ranging from first-years to third-years. He was enthusiastic, capable, and possessed immense charisma.
Naturally, the news of Hayama Hayato's duel with Hikigaya Hachiman and his subsequent defeat spread like wildfire. Even before the period had ended, rumors had reached almost every classroom. Less than ten minutes after the final bell, practically the entire school knew.
In this incident, the focal point wasn't just that Hayama had fought; it was the fact that Hayama Hayato had been defeated in a single strike by a "nobody" who had only been practicing Kendo for five days.
It was as if their very reality had been shattered.
This wasn't a good thing for Hikigaya Hachiman. He was thrust directly into the center of a storm. The girls who idolized Hayama were already bad-mouthing him, calling him a devious coward who won through a cheap surprise attack.
Some of the more radical ones even cursed him under their breath, and Chishima Akishin's name was dragged into it too.
Among the boys, Hachiman was similarly branded as a "schemer." Some even started digging up his "dark history" from middle school, adding more fuel to the fire.
It became the go-to topic for lunch conversations, punctuated by occasional, unpleasant laughter.
When humans aren't faced with absolute, undeniable facts, they always let their imaginations wander toward whatever narrative they prefer.
The raw, ugly face of Japanese school bullying was on full display in that moment.
Though it sounded serious, the issue hadn't actually escalated that far. The news reached the teachers, but once they realized it was just a minor spat between two students, they didn't pay it much mind, assuming it would blow over with time. (Note: It was considered far less serious than Hachiman's Cultural Festival incident).
Every year, something like this happened. It was routine for them; as long as there were no physical injuries, it wasn't a major problem.
And so, Hachiman was greeted by a sea of eyes as he went to buy his bento.
For whatever reason, Hayama Hayato didn't step up to clarify things, nor did he help explain the situation for Hachiman's sake. This led to a widespread misunderstanding among the students.
Maybe Hayama felt it wasn't a big deal since he wasn't the one feeling the heat; the people around him were perfectly fine, chatting and laughing as usual.
But for Hachiman, the one in the crosshairs, this was anything but good. He was on the receiving end of pure, unadulterated animosity.
But...
Heh. He didn't care. He had beaten Hayama. In one strike. That alone was enough to give him a small sense of pride.
Compared to his middle school days, Hachiman now had teachers who actually looked out for him (Chishima Akishin, Hiratsuka Shizuka), friends who valued him (Yuigahama Yui, Totsuka Saika, Zaimokuza Yoshiteru, and maybe Yukinoshita Yukino—that one was still pending), and a single shinai.
So what if people whispered or stared?
You bunch of idiots, are any of you tougher than Chishima-sensei's shinai?
If anyone actually tried to get physical... well, he didn't know how a fight would go. But he was certain Akishin would step in to defend him.
For no logical reason, Hachiman believed that. He believed it with every fiber of his being.
In Hachiman's eyes, Chishima Akishin was a true monster. That mountain-heavy aura, that killing intent that felt like it could actually end a life—he felt a chill every time he faced it.
After dealing with Chishima Akishin, the petty hatred of these students felt like child's play.
...Still, he couldn't deny there was a lingering trace of unpleasantness.
Back in the faculty office, Akishin returned after a quick lunch. He sat at his desk, enjoying a book while most of the other teachers were still out.
'Hmm, this line is spot on—making a limited life more effective is essentially the same as lengthening it. Oh, and this one—if a mask is worn for too long, it grows into the face. To remove it requires tearing through bone and skin. This one's good too—desiring peace means forgoing freedom. If you want freedom, you must walk through danger. There are only these two paths.'
Just then, Shizuka returned. She marched straight up to Akishin and threw a punch his way.
"Chishima Akishin! I take my eyes off you for one second and you go and cause this mess!"
"What's up, Shizuka-chan? What 'big mess' happened now?"
Akishin caught her fist and blinked innocently.
"Don't give me that! Just listen to the talk outside. Half the students are dragging Hikigaya's name through the mud. I trusted you with him, and this is how you treat him? Holding a duel between students during PE class—are you even a teacher? Dammit, everything is just one giant pain."
Shizuka sat at her desk in a huff, crossing her arms and glaring at Akishin.
Akishin glanced at her, speaking with practiced indifference. "Oh, that? It's fine. Hikigaya won't get hurt. Didn't I tell you? Hikigaya isn't the type who can be bullied. There's a great saying: as long as I don't feel like I'm being bullied, no one can bully me."
"What kind of garbage logic is that? Who even said that?"
"I did."
"You...!"
Shizuka balled her fist to swing again, but Akishin caught it mid-air.
"Calm down, Shizuka-chan. While this is a bit unexpected, it's still within the realm of expectations. With both of us here, who's actually going to bully Hikigaya?"
Akishin comforted her while explaining the full sequence of events. The rumors outside had already spiraled out of control.
Shizuka looked at him seriously. "Chishima Akishin, you're a teacher. Even if the incident itself wasn't your fault, you're still in the wrong! If this keeps up, how is Hikigaya supposed to fit in with his classmates..."
"Did he ever fit in before?" Akishin asked with a smirk.
"That's..." Shizuka trailed off.
Akishin continued, "Shizuka-chan, it's already second year. For the past year, Hikigaya hasn't made a single friend and has always been alone. Is the situation really going to get worse than that? I know you care about him, and so do I. He's a smart kid, but the old methods didn't work. Now, Hikigaya has friends in the Service Club. And those two in the club—Shizuka-chan, do you really think they'll abandon him over this? No, they won't. Yuigahama Yui saw the whole match; she's a kind soul. And Yukinoshita-kun... well, she's the same breed as Hikigaya. She'll understand him."
"You're completely impossible!"
After hearing his explanation, the fire in Shizuka's eyes dimmed slightly, though she still ground her teeth.
Chishima Akishin, do you even understand? This is just another scar for Hikigaya. The words, the isolation, the stares—all of it is enough to break a student. That boy is far too kind; please, just don't let him get hurt again...
Catching yet another half-hearted strike from Shizuka, Akishin set his book down. He looked into her eyes as if he could see right through her, offering a faint, genuine smile.
"Relax," he said seriously. "Shizuka-chan, Hikigaya is my student. I won't lead him astray. This temporary pain is for the sake of his growth. Can't you trust me a little?"
It was true.
Ever since the class period, from the moment Hikigaya took the initiative to put on that Kendo armor, Akishin had acknowledged him as a disciple.
There was no specific test. All Hachiman had to do was show his resolve. Rather than teaching him the sword, it was more accurate to say he was forging his heart.
Where the heart goes, the sword follows.
A blade rises from the ocean of the heart, striking others while simultaneously striking oneself.
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