Chapter 172: Seven Steps (Long Chapter)
[Hikigaya Hachiman.]
"...Wait, this isn't right."
The moment those three familiar characters were written, Hachiman couldn't help but cry out.
Ebina, who had sharp hearing, caught it and showed a confident expression. "This is a Hayama x Hachiman doujinshi. It's at a level where it's a must-buy... No, I mean a must-watch for fujoshi."
What is this crazy woman even talking about...
Hachiman felt embarrassed. Before he could speak, Ebina began describing her 'grand' imagination: "The pure and flawless Little Prince offering sweet words of comfort to the despondent Pilot. Isn't that the charm of this work..."
The original work isn't like that! Watch out, you'll make the French angry!!
Seeing the two class celebrities facing off, the other students trembled. Neither of these big shots was someone they dared to oppose!
Hachiman added calmly, "But... I'm on the Executive Committee for the School Anniversary. So there's no other choice; I can't take the role."
He flashed a confident smile.
"Right... right. Hikigaya is already on the Executive Committee, so it's not realistically possible for him to set aside time for rehearsals."
For whatever reason, Hayama helped Hachiman out.
Hachiman: Good job, Hayama. I'm giving you a thumbs up.
Ebina looked dejected. "I see... That's a shame. Forgive me, Hachiman-kun, since you can't perform..."
Hachiman wiped the cold sweat from his forehead. "Ah! Yeah! That... haha, don't take it to heart..." Why was there a weird sense of sadness?
However, a split second later, Ebina bounced back. She pondered, "Hmm, in that case, do we need to reconsider the cast list entirely? Like the Little Prince..."
So that was your goal all along?
Hachiman understood Ebina's original plan, which was the famous 'Opening a Window' strategy: if you don't let me open a window, I'll tear down the ceiling.
Ebina moved the chalk in her hand again.
The Little Prince: Totsuka Saika.
The Pilot: Hayama Hayato.
"Though it feels like something's missing, let's go with this for now. Sigh~"
Ebina shook her head with quite a bit of regret.
"So I still have to go on stage..."
"It's great! That look of despair is perfect~"
Hayama's shoulders slumped listlessly. Seeing this, Ebina gave him a thumbs up, her large eyes reflecting in her glasses, full of light.
Hayama Hayato: "..."
Setting Hayama aside, Totsuka Saika's image was very close to the Little Prince. Choosing him for this role was truly a wise decision—though Totsuka Saika himself likely never expected to be the lead. Right now, he was still in a state of confusion.
"It feels like the difficulty level is really high... Can I really do it?"
"No, it suits you perfectly."
Hachiman didn't dare look directly at the insecure expression of Totsuka Saika, who was pressing a finger to his cheek. He nodded in affirmation.
Hearing Hachiman's words, Totsuka Saika instantly became happier and gained confidence.
"Yeah, yeah! I'll do my best. Thanks, Hachiman."
"Don't push yourself too hard. Just do it at your own pace."
Even if Ebina had interests in 'that direction,' at least her eyes were sharp—even if her gaze was often filled with a fujoshi aura.
"I see... then I have to study diligently, otherwise, the script will be full of things I don't understand..."
"Actually, you don't need to study specifically. It's better if you just read the original novel because... that script has been turned into a mess."
Hachiman didn't dare let Totsuka Saika see that script. Being diligent was a good thing, but there were many things in this world better left unknown. If Totsuka accidentally awakened a bad attribute and went down that path...
"Hachiman, have you read the original novel?"
"...I read it a long time ago, when I was a kid."
Because he was always alone back then, he had developed a habit of reading books. Most of them were storybooks, ranging from Japanese works to foreign ones.
The story of "The Little Prince" itself wasn't annoying; it was actually quite good, otherwise, it wouldn't have spread so widely.
However, there were some parts Hachiman couldn't fully accept. He really couldn't bring himself to praise the book... overall, it was a work that was hard to comment on.
"If you want to read it, I can lend it to you." He remembered still having it tucked away in a corner of his bookshelf.
"Really? Thank you!"
Hearing me say that, Totsuka Saika's face immediately bloomed into a flower-like smile—for the first time since he was born, Hachiman felt that having a reading hobby was a truly great thing...
"Saika, come here. The meeting is starting."
At that moment, all the performers, including Totsuka Saika, were called to gather.
"Hachiman, I'm heading over there now."
"Alright."
Hachiman watched Saika leave, then turned to look at various corners of the classroom. Almost everyone had their own task.
Currently, besides the cast and costume groups discussing their respective details, the publicity group had also begun drafting plans.
Additionally, there was a group of people 'comforting' their unfortunate friends who had been caught for roles...
Hachiman gave them one last glance, then turned to leave the classroom for the Service Club.
He had only walked a few steps when the sound of hurried footsteps came from behind. He didn't even need to think to know it was Yui.
After all, it had been like that lately.
No matter how happily Yui was chatting with Miura Yumiko and the others, as soon as she saw Hachiman leaving alone after school, she knew he was going to the Service Club and would definitely chase after him.
Miura Yumiko and the others also seemed very supportive of it.
"Hachiman, are you going to the club?"
"Ah, yeah. But I'm going there to study. Let's go together."
"Yeah, yeah! Okay. Hachiman, you have to help me with Japanese, okay?"
"Of course."
"Hooray! It's a shame Yukinon still has to lead the School Anniversary at school."
After Yukinoshita Yukino took on the role of Chairperson, her workload had increased significantly. Combined with her concerns about her own academic grades, almost all her club time was now occupied.
In fact, during this period, the club president had unilaterally suspended club activities.
Though both of them were Vice Chairpersons helping to split half the workload, they still had more free time than Yukino—at least they had their own time in the afternoons.
As for today...
Yukino had to help with program rehearsals in her own class, apparently providing ideas and suggestions.
...
In the empty Kendo practice room, only two people were sparring.
Tak tak tak tak...
Two bamboo swords continued to clash against each other. Hachiman stepped forward, the shinai in his hand instantly sweeping the opponent's blade aside as he lunged forward.
The already battered shinai immediately spat out white splinters from the friction.
Akishin pressed his shinai down, using the handguard (Tsuba) to easily block the powerful attack.
Hiss!
The bamboo swords ground together before Akishin delivered a side strike. The two swords clashed again with a booming sound before instantly separating.
Both shinai gave off the illusion they were about to shatter.
Iai: Tsubame Geki!
Without a moment's hesitation, as Hachiman pulled his sword back and retreated, he had already prepared the initial Iai stance.
Akishin noticed but didn't stop him. He spun his shinai lightly and took a defensive stance. A second later, two flashes of light passed by.
Ting! Ting! Bang!
Accompanied by a sound resembling clashing metal, the tips of both bamboo swords exploded in mid-air. Along with the scattering bamboo fragments, time seemed to freeze. Akishin's front was wide open...
At this moment, Hachiman was less than thirty centimeters away from Akishin. The remaining half of Akishin's shinai was nearly touching Hachiman's face.
Thrust!
Hachiman's gaze, which had been fixed on the floor, suddenly sharpened, as if he could see the minute veins on a leaf. In the moment Akishin wasn't fully alert, Hachiman lunged forward. Avoiding the bamboo sword, he slammed his body into Akishin...
Bang!
Akishin was pushed back several consecutive steps. A flash of surprise appeared in his eyes. On the wooden floor, clear sweat marks appeared from the heavy footwork.
"That attack was executed very well!"
Akishin wiped the corner of his lip, praising him with a smile. Looking at the marks on the floor, this was likely the first time Hachiman had pushed him back that far.
Don't underestimate that collision.
It was proof of Hachiman's accumulated technique and physical training. First, he had exerted all his strength to fight intensely.
Once the opponent was used to the rhythm, he created an opportunity to destroy the shinai, making a opening, finding the right timing, and then using a full-power Thrust...
In Hachiman's training, it was never said that one could only use the sword. Close-quarters combat was never ignored.
Every time they fought, they used hands and feet—though it was usually Hachiman being beaten one-sidedly. Hachiman had never successfully hit Akishin with a fist before.
Akishin had indeed been careless just now.
Though he hadn't yet reached master-level training, since his fight with Yagyu Jubei ended, he had begun to consciously relax his spirit...
"..."
Hachiman didn't reply. He gritted his teeth, his back aching incredibly, and his wrists had almost lost all sensation of pain.
That collision felt like hitting a steel wall. Even though he had successfully pushed the opponent back, his own body felt as if it were falling apart.
Was that really a body a human should have?
It's a monster!!!
Hachiman knew that he and Kitahara Shuji were dubbed monsters by the media, but compared to his own teacher, Hachiman understood that from beginning to end, he was nothing more than a chick.
This was the real monster—a monster that might never be surpassed in a lifetime.
Akishin saw Hachiman's pale face. He set down his sword hilt and picked up the cleaning tools in the corner to sweep up the fragments on the floor.
"Even the ones this broken have to be taken home today?"
"...Yeah, they have to go home."
Hachiman could finally move. He looked at the broken shinai in his hand with its uneven tip, then picked up Akishin's sword, looked at it for a moment, and held them together.
"Which sword is this now?"
"...The 48th and 49th. It's rare for both bamboo swords to break on the same day."
"Oh~"
Akishin let out an "oh" with an unclear meaning, then used a plastic bag to gather the bamboo splinters in the trash.
Since the first time Hachiman fought him and a shinai broke, it had been 49 blades.
The broken bamboo fragments were never thrown away; instead, Hachiman took them home to slowly piece them back together.
A shinai like that was useless. Aside from being a display piece, it wasn't even good for firewood.
Why did Hachiman put them back together?
Hachiman's answer was: "It accompanied me in battle from its best condition, through intense fights until it was full of scars and finally broke. It has become my comrade. Destruction is the best end for it, but its remains shouldn't rot in a trash can..."
That was Hachiman's answer. Akishin didn't comment, only that every time this happened, he would ask which sword it was.
Occasionally, he also helped collect the pieces.
In Hachiman's house, there was a special rack for the swords, filled with bamboo swords that had been reconstructed after breaking. Glue and tape became their new tendons and membranes.
"Right, Sensei. You said if I could force you back more than three steps this time, you'd let me move on to the next stage of training! That was at least seven steps, right? Does it count?"
"Of course it counts. I never lie..."
Akishin handed the plastic bag of splinters to Hachiman. Hachiman took it and tucked it away along with the two broken swords.
"Take a good rest for a week. During this week, don't practice the sword at all. A week from now, Shizuka will be returning home. At that time, come to the Chishima residence."
"A week! Does it really need to be that long? I'll be recovered by tomorrow. What exactly is the next stage of training?"
"You'll find out when the time comes."
"...Fine."
The following afternoon, Hachiman and Yui were studying in the Service Club. Yukino had been there initially, but was called away shortly after.
She had gone willingly, appearing to be in a good mood—Yukino only looked cold on the outside; she was very happy to realize her own worth according to her thoughts in the right place, as if achieving a victory in this field.
She wouldn't be too tired either. She delegated everyone's work very well, and only needed to handle coordination and checking. At the last meeting, many people's work was rejected, but no one complained; on the contrary, they admired her even more.
Because she provided accurate advice.
In reality, many people aren't incapable of working; they just don't know how to do it. As long as the direction is shown, they will keep moving forward...
Somehow, Hachiman and Yui's conversation turned to Sagami Minami. Yui said that in their first year, she and Sagami Minami were good friends. They were both among the fairly active people in class...
The idea of Yui being at the center of the class in her first year was hard to imagine, yet easy to believe...
Yui didn't just have an attractive appearance; she was also good at socializing and adapting to others. Fitting into a group wasn't difficult for her.
As for Sagami Minami, judging by her usual talkative nature, as long as she found the right friends, she also had enough ability to be a 'conspicuous' individual.
But...
After entering the second year, Yui and Sagami Minami's positions diverged.
What was the cause that widened the gap between them?
Pride?
A difference in environment?
No, that wasn't it. The biggest factor was Miura Yumiko.
After entering Class 2-F, Miura Yumiko sat firmly at the top of the class hierarchy... no, the school hierarchy.
After entering the 'group formation' phase, she used her own standards to determine which friends she wanted to be with...
That woman really isn't simple. She even ignores the usual relationships between girls and decides who she wants to be with based on her own whims...
Hachiman held his pen, thinking as he chatted with Yui: regardless of whether one agreed with Miura's methods, that person was still a true queen.
At the very least, within the class, Miura Yumiko was the leader of the largest clique of girls. With Hayama having no desire to compete and always going along with her, she stood at the pinnacle of the class social hierarchy.
This meant that in this aspect, Miura Yumiko was always suppressing Sagami Minami.
The proof was that previously, after lessons were over, the group she paid the most attention to was Miura's, followed by the others, like Kawasaki Saki and her group...
Furthermore, when he first met Sagami and her friends at the fireworks festival, she hadn't even known if they were in the same class—though before he became famous, many people in the class didn't know him either.
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