"Oh? From the way you talk, Hayama-kun, does that an you've practiced Kendo before?" Akishin looked at Hayato, idly twirling the shinai in his hand.
Hayato answered with a look of utter seriousness. "During middle school, I studied Kendo for several months under Master Matsunari Masafumi. What exactly are you getting at, Sensei?"
The surrounding students began to whisper among themselves. They were murmuring about how Akishin's actions were clearly wrong, but none of them dared to say it to his face; the pressure Akishin radiated was simply too heavy. Only Hayama Hayato, the resident "good guy," had the backbone to stand up.
Matsunari Masafumi? Akishin recalled hearing that na just yesterday. Among the mountain of business cards he'd received, that man was part of the group wearing blue gofuku alongside Suzuki Tsuyoshi.
The man was a thin, elderly fellow—the only one in the group wearing glasses—which was why Akishin had a fairly strong impression of him.
He didn't know much else, but considering the man associated with soone like Suzuki Tsuyoshi, his Kendo achievents were undoubtedly top-tier.
"Hayato, I had no idea you practiced Kendo!"
Miura Yumiko, standing right beside him, let out a gasp of surprise mixed with admiration. She had never heard Hayato ntion this before!
"Yumiko."
Ebina Hina gave a light tug on Miura's sleeve. Even Ebina could sense the tension thick in the air, yet Yumiko was suddenly acting like a girl in the throes of a crush.
Akishin didn't bother answering Hayato's question. Instead, he raised his shinai and rested it on Hachiman's shoulder before asking: "Hikigaya, am I beating you up?"
Yes, you absolutely are, and it hurts like hell. That was what Hikigaya Hachiman wanted to say, but what actually ca out of his mouth was: "No, Hayama-kun. I'm just practicing with Chishima-sensei."
"Hear that, Hayama-kun? Sensei's thods might cause so misunderstandings among you all. My apologies, but I'll have to ask for your understanding."
Hayato was a good person; Akishin could admit that much. Even though he hadn't been teaching this class for long, he could see that during every PE period, Hayato was the sun everyone orbited around. He never got angry, never bullied anyone, always wore a friendly smile, and was constantly helping others.
If he were still a regular student, Akishin would have loved to have a friend like that. But on second thought, given his personality back then, being friends with Hayato would have been an impossibility.
Hayato was the type who wished for everyone to be okay, and for the sake of that ideal, he was willing to sacrifice a bit of his own personal interest. Akishin, however, didn't subscribe to that philosophy.
In Akishin's eyes, the world consisted of himself and the people he cared about. The rest... wasn't his business. He didn't ask for others' pity, and others shouldn't expect his charity.
You could call it blunt or even selfish—but as soone once said, you can't force soone who has never felt the world's tenderness to be tender toward the world.
Hayato's actions were kind, and his intentions were pure, but he never considered whether his "kindness" might actually bring greater trouble to others.
Two lifetis ago, Akishin had read a story—for a stray cat that had spent its life eating trash, what was the definition of cruelty?
It started as a question, followed by a sea of comnts. So said being tortured, others said being bitten by dogs... but one comnt had the highest support, and no one refuted it.
The comnt read: The cruelest thing is when you feel sorry for that stray cat, so you give it sausages and milk, and then you just leave and never feed it again...
It was a taphor. As long as soone had a functional brain, they would understand the point.
Hayama Hayato's actions weren't quite that bad, but he was also selfish. Wishing for everyone to be happy was his own personal desire, despite the fact that so people don't like being happy in a crowd. So people just want to stay in their own little corner and lick their wounds in peace.
Yet, Hayato insisted on dragging those people out, exposing them to the sunlight, letting everyone see the wounds they desperately wanted to hide.
Hayama Hayato's mouth spoke of good intentions, and his heart ant well, but in the places Hayama couldn't see, people would laugh at that person together, creating even deeper scars.
In this world, there is only one Hayama. The rest are mostly ordinary people controlled by the Seven Deadly Sins. They aren't necessarily evil, but they aren't exactly "good" either.
Hayama was kind, yet selfish. He selfishly forced his own worldview onto others, hoping for a universal happiness.
But it is impossible for everyone in this world to be happy.
One person's happiness is essentially built upon the suffering of another. It's a paradox without an answer, and reality is the only response.
That was why it was impossible for Akishin to be friends with Hayama; their philosophies were worlds apart. It was also why Hikigaya Hachiman could never be friends with him, because Hikigaya was the one being made into the laughingstock.
Hayama Hayato glanced at Hikigaya Hachiman, but he stood his ground. "Chishima-sensei, your guidance thod is wrong. It will only hurt Hikigaya-kun."
"Exactly! Chishima-sensei, your training thod is terrifying. We don't an to oppose you, but who trains like that? Can't you be a little gentler?"
Tobe Kakeru voiced his support for Hayama, and soon, the other students began to chi in.
"Yeah! Chishima-sensei, Hayato is right..."
"Seriously, Sensei needs to change how he does things..."
"Right, Sensei..."
They spoke up because of Hayama Hayato, not out of any genuine sympathy for Hachiman. In fact, their words didn't even ntion Hikigaya Hachiman by na.
Akishin noticed it. Hachiman noticed it too. But Hayama remained oblivious. Behind his face guard, Hikigaya Hachiman watched them all with a smile that was equal parts mocking and bitter.
Akishin felt a headache coming on. He had expected things to develop this way, and he was using this as a teaching mont for Hikigaya, but being ganged up on by so many students still annoyed him.
"Guys, stop. Don't say anything else."
Hayama Hayato raised a hand to quiet the others, then looked at Akishin. "What are you thinking, Chishima-sensei?"
Akishin's smile vanished. "Hayama-kun, you feel my training thod is wrong. Is that a rejection?"
Hayama admitted it without hesitation. "Yes. I disagree with your thod of guidance, Sensei."
"Then let's do this!" Akishin tossed the shinai in his hand toward Hayama Hayato.
"Hikigaya is my student. He's been training under for five days. Since you've also practiced Kendo, why don't you two have a match? A single strike to determine the winner. If you win, I'll guide Hikigaya using traditional thods. Conversely, if you lose, don't interfere with and Hikigaya anymore. After all, I am your teacher. Furthermore, Hikigaya is my student; if he doesn't mind, why are you sticking your nose in?"
Hayama scrambled to catch the shinai. After hearing those words, he didn't get angry; he just gave Akishin a complicated look before turning to Hachiman.
He noticed Hachiman was also staring at Akishin. Despite the face guard, the look of shock underneath was palpable.
Akishin crossed his arms. "Hikigaya, the rest is up to you. Winning or losing will determine how I guide you from here on out."
Most of the students from Class 2-F laughed. They thought Akishin was providing an easy way out for both sides. Who would actually enjoy being trained like that?
Hachiman would probably just give up as soon as the match started.
Hachiman ought to be grateful that they had stood up for justice.
eting Akishin's flat, unreadable gaze, Hachiman hesitated for a mont, then nodded. He turned to Hayama Hayato, raised his sword, and said: "Hayama-kun, please guide !"
Hayama stepped out from the crowd, raising the shinai in his hand and pointing it at Hachiman. From his grip and his stance, it was clear he had indeed undergone specific training.
anwhile, Hikigaya Hachiman's way of holding the sword looked significantly more formal and disciplined than before.
"Hikigaya-kun..."
"Quiet. Beat first, then talk."
Hachiman cut Hayama Hayato off imdiately. Just as Akishin said, Hayama was just an outsider ddling in things.
Hachiman didn't feel like he was being treated unfairly.
It hurt, sure, but Akishin was incredibly precise. There were rarely even red marks left behind. The full-body aches from two days ago had vanished after a good night's sleep.
How many people actually knew that he, too, craved care, attention, and understanding from others?
Hachiman's words left the gathered students stunned. What do you an? Do you like being hit? Are you a masochist?
"In that case, excuse . Please guide ."
The two exchanged bows—one in a full Kendo uniform, the other in gym clothes.
They both raised their swords and touched the tips together. After every training session, Akishin had also drilled the rules of Kendo matches into Hikigaya, even if they had never practiced them.
The corner of Akishin's mouth curled slightly. He raised his hand and announced the start of the match.
Hayama Hayato stepped forward, swinging his shinai downward.
Tak!
Hayama's vision blurred for a split second. The shinai in his hand vanished, and almost simultaneously, a wooden blade appeared right in front of his throat.
Clack!
The students watched in disbelief as Hayama's shinai flew through the air and clattered to the floor at Miura Yumiko's feet.
Hachiman lowered his center of gravity, the tip of his shinai held perfectly steady against Hayama's throat. He spoke softly:
"Hayama-kun, you lose."
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