(100 Power Stone Bonus)
Chapter 107: Choices
Human life is a continuous process of making choices. When those choices are woven together, that is what becomes a life.
Choices begin at the very dawn of existence.
Different choices create different paths; different paths shape different characters; and character is deeply intertwined with the choices one makes.
Therefore, no two leaves in this world are truly identical. Every single error at a turning point will manifest a different result.
It is a numerical value so vast it borders on the infinite...
Even if many choices are not born of personal desire, their root causes still stem from a previous choice... If you trace it back to the very beginning, it was you yourself who chose to be born into this world.
The common denominator of all choices is this: they cannot be regretted, time will not turn back, and even if reparations are made, that is merely a new choice in itself.
That is why one must think with absolute clarity...
Hachiman returned to the classroom and cast a glance toward Yui. That small group of hers was as noisy as ever, and Yui was participating with a forced smile plastered on her face.
Perhaps sensing someone's gaze, Yui looked over with a flicker of hope in her pale pink eyes. However, all she saw was that person sitting in his seat without so much as a turn of his head, wearing earphones to drown the world out with music.
The light in her eyes grew dim.
"Yui, what's up? Are we going out to play this weekend? How about mountain climbing?"
"Hey, Yui, are you even listening to me?"
"Ah, yeah, mountain climbing? I think that sounds great. I don't mind at all. Which mountain...?"
As Yui drifted back into the collective conversation, Hachiman remained slumped over his desk, listening to his tracks.
Even though Akishin had only given him three days, Hachiman still hadn't a clue what to do. Or rather, he placed his bets on his future self three days from now.
As long as he let everything revert to its original form, he was confident he could rediscover his 'Sword Heart' within that timeframe. By then, he wouldn't feel this hesitation anymore.
Without things weighing on his mind, there would naturally be no weaknesses.
The afternoon hours trickled by; the fifth and sixth periods passed. The day's lessons ended, and school let out without a hitch. The majority of students headed off to club activities, while a small minority made a beeline for home.
Hayama's little clique was preparing to go bowling. Miura, Tobe, and Ebina all stood up in agreement. As the group rose to leave their seats and head for the door, Yumiko finally noticed that Yui wasn't following.
"Yui, let's go. What are you doing?"
"...Ah, no, it's nothing! I'm coming right now, just wait a second."
Stealing a glance at Hachiman—who gave absolutely no reaction—Yui, who always played the role of the passive listener, quickly grabbed her school bag and hurried after Yumiko and the others.
Truly too kind for her own good. Yuigahama was probably debating whether to go to the Service Club or not...
Hachiman caught the scene from the corner of his eye. He closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and by the time he opened them again, he had regained his composure.
He stood up, took his bag, straightened the hem of his shirt, and walked toward the Service Club.
Opening the sliding door of the Service Club, he found Yukino's silhouette still there, holding a cat-themed storybook whose contents remained a mystery.
"Good afternoon."
"...Good afternoon."
A flat, emotionless greeting. This was essentially the daily routine for the two of them. When Yui wasn't around, it was difficult for either of them to squeeze out even a single sentence.
Hachiman pulled out his books and old exam papers, cross-referencing past mistakes to fix them so he wouldn't trip over the same stones next time.
"...Yuigahama sent a message today saying she wasn't coming."
After a while, Yukino's voice drifted over.
"Oh. She seemed to be going bowling with Miura and the others."
"Is that so?"
"..."
Communication between them severed once again.
At five o'clock, club activities came to an end. Hachiman packed up his books and exams, bid Yukino a brief farewell, and headed straight home.
That Night
At the Hikigaya residence.
After finishing his bath and changing into blue pajamas, Hachiman sat cross-legged on his bed, gripping the wooden sword that Akishin had first given him.
"If you are confused, swing it. Slash and destroy that hesitation..."
Hachiman still remembered Akishin's words from back then. He raised the wooden sword, swinging it through the air. Once, twice, three times... before he could even reach five, he lowered it.
"It's no use. I can't concentrate at all. I can't find that feeling..."
Hachiman stared at the wooden sword in his hands, muttering to himself with a rare flicker of doubt in his eyes. That uncertainty had been surfacing constantly over the past two days. As for finding his 'Sword Heart' again within three days... suddenly, he didn't feel so sure.
The Second Day
Stepping out of the house, the sky looked gloomy, draped in a fine drizzle. The rain had been falling all night, making the air feel thick and cling to the skin uncomfortably.
He rode his bicycle to school.
In the lobby where students changed their shoes, just as he finished swapping into his indoor pair, he turned around to find Yui standing right behind him.
Both froze. Their gazes met, then darted away, and they exchanged brief greetings.
"Morning."
"...Yeah, morning."
Then they parted ways, entering the classroom with a wide berth between them.
Good. It's cold, but it's a fresh start. By resetting the relationship on both sides, letting my heart settle, and allowing Yuigahama to escape her guilt and return to her busy normal life... this should be the right choice.
No, this IS the right choice. So, this matter ends here. Once reset, we each go back to our respective daily lives. While life itself doesn't have a reset button, human relationships do.
The proof is myself. I have zero contact with anyone from middle school... though I guess that's not a reset, it's more of a total deletion.
Fine. Two more days and I'll definitely find that 'Sword Heart' again!
The first period of the afternoon was Akishin's P.E. class.
Today, Akishin didn't pull Hachiman aside, nor did he instruct the five members of the Mizukawa group. He simply conducted a normal physical education class with the students.
The other students were looking at Hachiman with strange eyes. Why isn't he practicing Kendo today? Speculation ran wild; all sorts of things were being whispered. Some even assumed Chishima-sensei had lost interest in Hachiman and stopped teaching him.
Then, on the second day, one of the five Kendo club members let the truth slip—Hikigaya had lost his 'Sword Heart,' and Chishima-sensei had given him three days to recover it.
'Sword Heart' was a high-sounding term, but simply put, it meant he was in a bad mood or confused—basically, he wasn't in the right headspace for the blade.
Everyone realized it, but curiosity took over. Why did Hachiman lose his 'Sword Heart'?
As Akishin's only disciple, Hachiman was a popular figure at Sobu High. Even if his actual social life remained the same, the public perception of him had shifted.
Moreover, members of the Kendo club had admitted Hachiman was strong—stronger than them.
Videos of Hachiman's practice had even been uploaded to the school website, and everyone had seen them. Wearing his Kendo gear, even when he was struck down to the floor, no one mocked him. Instead, they saw it as the true spirit of Kendo.
Watching Hachiman get knocked back repeatedly only to launch another strike was inspiring. He had even gained a small group of female fans, though Hachiman himself was blissfully unaware...
But this was exactly what made people curious. Why would Hachiman lose his 'Sword Heart'?
Perhaps Yuigahama Yui knew something...
The Third Day
Hachiman arrived at school again, feeling a barrage of stares directed his way. The same thing happened when he reached the classroom.
He ignored it and continued studying his workbooks.
At noon, most people went off to eat. Not many were left in the class. Yui walked up to Hachiman, who had just returned with his lunch box, and said in a low voice: "Hikki... everyone says you lost your 'Sword Heart.' Is it... because of me?"
Yui lowered her head, not daring to look at him. Her face was flushed with guilt, and her fingers fidgeted restlessly with the hem of her shirt.
…
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