Chapter 55: The Journey
After finishing breakfast as the clock struck eight, Akishin placed his neatly stacked plate and chopsticks into the sink. He then signaled for Hachiman to help him with the dishes.
Nearby, Shizuka and Haruno sat together, engaged in a quiet conversation over tea.
The thing was, why hadn't Haruno left yet? Shouldn't she have headed out after offering her apology and finishing her meal?
Akishin nudged Hachiman's arm—careful to keep the dish soap from splashing onto his clothes—and whispered, "What's the deal with Haruno-san?"
Hachiman glanced at Akishin, immediately clocking exactly what he was thinking. After a brief moment of deliberation, he replied, "Haruno-san wants to come with us to watch the Kendo competition. Initially, she only came to apologize to you, but she overheard Hiratsuka-sensei talking about the match and insisted on tagging along. She'll probably tell you herself in a minute."
"I figured as much."
"Do you... dislike her, Chishima-sensei?" Hachiman peered at Akishin, something unreadable hidden deep within his dead-fish eyes.
"It's not that." Akishin shook his head slightly, handing a washed plate over to Hachiman for rinsing. "It's not that I dislike her, nor is it that I like her. I just find her troublesome. This 'Sensei' of yours happens to despise troublesome things. Besides, she's a severe Sister Complex; just because of what I said to Yukinoshita-kun, she went as far as hiring a detective to keep tabs on me. Well, I suppose it's understandable. Adults are far more cunning and dangerous than students, after all."
"She hired a detective to investigate you?!"
Hachiman looked genuinely stunned, so much so that he forgot to take the plate being handed to him. That was the kind of plot point he usually only encountered in the light novels or manga he read.
"Why the shock? They're the 'Nobility'—the elite who stand above us commoners. As long as it's not illegal, something like that is child's play for them. Listen, Hikigaya, novels and manga are born from life, but they strive to be higher than life. In reality, the world is much more ridiculous than any fiction."
Hachiman stared at Akishin, feeling a sense of empathy for those words even as a lingering confusion remained. Akishin offered a faint smile and pressed the final plate into Hachiman's hands.
"Ever heard of Lawrence?"
"Who's that? A car brand?"
"A general from Scotland. He once fought thousands of troops in the desert, charging into battle on the back of a camel, and managed to return home safely. But after returning to his hometown, while riding his motorcycle and trying to avoid two small children on bicycles, he swerved into a ditch and died. Can you believe something like that? But you have to, because it actually happened. What novelist would dare write a story like that? The readers would tear them apart. That's why I say reality is more ridiculous than fiction. Novels have to follow logic, but reality is full of things that make no sense at all."
Hachiman was silent for a moment before nodding. "I see." He rinsed the last plate clean and tidied the sink. Both of them dried their hands and walked back into the living room.
"We're heading out soon."
Akishin picked up his sword bag from the corner of the room, checking his Kendo Passport and the two Shinai inside. His Kendo gear was provided by the Chiba Prefecture Kendo Federation; he wasn't sure if everyone else got the same treatment, but he clearly held a certain level of privilege.
"Um, Chishima-sensei, would it be alright if I joined you? I happen to have no plans, and I'd love to see the Kendo competition," Haruno asked, raising a small, polite hand.
"Of course you may. You can purchase a ticket at the entrance."
"Then I'll be coming along with everyone."
Haruno set down her teacup, staring at her own reflection in the surface of the tea. Because the water was rippling, her image appeared wavy and distorted; she couldn't even see herself clearly.
Shizuka lit another cigarette. Meeting Akishin's gaze, she looked away with a flash of guilt, but a second later, she caught herself and glared back at him defiantly.
This time, Akishin didn't stop her. He ushered everyone out of the house, bringing along some fruit to eat during the trip.
Initially, he had thought about bringing some cookies, but since Haruno had already brought some, wouldn't bringing out "better" cookies feel like a slap in the face? Akishin wasn't the type to do something that petty.
Seeing that Akishin didn't stop her from smoking, Shizuka felt a wave of relief. Curiously, however, her heart felt a bit uneasy.
Various thoughts swirled in her mind: Is he disappointed in me? Does he hate me? Things like that.
Eventually, she laughed at herself, brushed those thoughts aside, and extinguished the cigarette despite only having taken a few puffs.
Haruno looked puzzled. "Shizuka-chan?"
"It's nothing. I just felt that smoking right after tea didn't taste right. There's a bitter aftertaste."
...
The five of them stepped out of Chishimaya. Akishin locked the door. The wooden nameplate he had cleaned now showed its original grain; though the characters were beginning to fade, it only added to the deep sense of history the place carried.
Akishin took the initiative to sit in the driver's seat, with Shizuka in the front passenger seat. Hachiman was forced into the back row alongside Yukinoshita Haruno.
Haruno greeted him warmly, while Hachiman shifted awkwardly toward the edge of the seat. Seeing this, Haruno's gaze toward Hachiman shifted slightly.
Hachiman, with his exceptional observation skills, naturally noticed this and once again felt a chill at how formidable the two sisters were.
The car moved at a steady speed. Shizuka snacked on the fruit in her hand—there were apples, oranges, and kiwis. The two in the back also helped themselves to an apple and an orange each.
The Chiba Kendo Tournament qualifiers were held in a different gymnasium located not far from the Kendo Federation building. The facility was specifically built for Kendo, and most local Chiba competitions took place there.
The venue had plenty of seating, almost resembling a standard sports stadium. Spectators were allowed in, provided they bought a ticket.
Upon arriving at the gates of the Kendo Federation building, Akishin found Suzuki Tsuyoshi already waiting with a group of people to welcome him. The middle-aged men wearing Gofuku from the other day were all present as well.
"Haha, Chishima-san, you're finally here. We have to have one more match today; I won't lose to you this time."
Perhaps due to the spirit of Japanese Kendo, practitioners didn't worry too much about winning or losing.
While victory was a matter of honor, they preferred challenging stronger opponents; the stronger a person was, the more they tended to think that way.
Every year, a major tournament like this was a gathering point for them. If someone could defend their title consecutively, like Miyazaki Masahiro, they were worthy of being called a 'Sword Saint' and became a role model for all Kendo practitioners. That was the highest honor in Kendo, a feat that would be etched into history.
"I am also looking forward to another practice match with Suzuki-kun."
The two exchanged greetings, as did the other middle-aged men in Gofuku. They were the main stars today.
"Chishima-san, won't you introduce your companions? This person is... Miss Yukinoshita?"
Suzuki Tsuyoshi looked toward Hikigaya and Yukinoshita Haruno with a smile. It seemed he recognized Haruno.
Haruno clasped her hands in front of her and bowed gracefully. "Mr. Suzuki, I'm surprised you still remember me. It has been a long time."
"It really is you. It has been quite a while. Miss Yukinoshita is here today to..."
It was confirmed; the two of them indeed knew each other.
"Just to watch the matches. Chishima-sensei and I are... well, you could say we're friends." Haruno hesitated slightly.
"I see, haha. I recall you coming here with your father a few years ago. Please give him my regards," Suzuki Tsuyoshi said, seemingly sensing something and quickly changing the subject.
"Thank you for your concern. My father misses you as well."
Setting aside their pleasantries, this was the first time Hachiman had seen such a prominent figure—someone who often appeared on TV and in newspapers—in person.
His first impression was that Suzuki was a very friendly uncle. Although his words to Haruno sounded like typical social niceties, he delivered them with a sincerity that didn't feel hypocritical.
Nothing else seemed particularly special; there was no terrifying presence when looking at him, no glint of a blade in his eyes, and no aura as if his whole body was a sword like the newspapers described...
If you met someone like this on the street, you wouldn't give them a second glance. On the contrary, when Chishima-sensei gave him a sharp look, Hachiman genuinely felt like he was about to be killed.
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