Chapter 27: Yuigahama Yui
"Clear your mind. Inhale slowly through your nose, let your abdomen expand, and hold that breath for ten to fifteen seconds. Then, exhale slowly. Aim for about four breaths per minute..."
Hikigaya Hachiman looked up, his expression a mask of pure confusion. "Sensei, what are you even talking about?"
"A breathing method," Akishin replied, leveling his wooden sword toward Hachiman. "It's a core part of my school's [Meditation Method]. I'm teaching it specifically to you."
Akishin then turned his gaze back to Yukinoshita Yukino. "Yukinoshita-kun, I'll be staying here for a bit to walk Hikigaya through this. We won't be making much noise."
Yukino gave a stiff nod. "As long as it remains quiet, I don't mind."
"Here. This is for you."
Akishin suddenly stepped forward, holding his shinai out horizontally toward Yukino.
"Chishima-sensei, I have no intention of learning kendo from you, nor do I have any desire to take up the sport," Yukino stated, eyeing the bamboo sword before looking up at him with a questioning brow.
"Who said holding a shinai means you're a student?" Akishin let out a small smile. "I've already told you—my kendo is about tempering the heart. Besides, I wouldn't teach you kendo anyway; you aren't suited for it right now. This is a peace offering. Kendo is about the spirit of 'moving forward without retreat.' Whenever you face an obstacle, strike through it with a single blow. You're bound to have moments of doubt; when that happens, try holding this sword and cut through your own hesitation."
"Cutting through... hesitation?"
After a moment's pause, Yukino reached out and accepted the shinai. The weight of it felt substantial in her hands. If she used this to strike at her own confusion, perhaps...
"Thank you, Chishima-sensei."
Akishin nodded and returned to Hachiman's side. He took the shinai from Hachiman's lap and motioned for him to grab a large sheet of paper to sit on.
"Pull in your stomach, puff out your chest, sit straight. Make sure your spine is a perfect line..."
"Inhale slow and steady, then hold it for at least ten seconds..."
"Don't panic. Empty your thoughts. Focus only on the breath. Control it."
"Feel that relaxation? Don't answer, I can already see it..."
"Careful now, don't actually fall asleep."
"..."
Yukino watched the scene with quiet curiosity. Every time Hachiman's posture slipped or he lost focus, Akishin would give him a sharp tap with his own shinai. She watched as Hachiman's face transitioned from stiff and awkward to a state of eerie calm. He looked so comfortable he actually started to doze off, only to be jolted awake by another tap from Akishin.
Without realizing it, Yukino began to memorize the steps of the [Breathing Method]. It was surprisingly simple—just a few precise movements of air.
Knock, knock.
The sound of rapping on the door broke the silence.
Hachiman's eyes snapped open. Akishin and Yukino traded glances. Akishin smiled. "Your club activities take priority."
"Thank you for your understanding," Yukino said, before raising her voice toward the door. "Please, come in."
At the same time, Akishin signaled Hachiman to stand.
"That's enough for today, Hikigaya-kun. It seems the student Hiratsuka-sensei mentioned has arrived."
"Wait, didn't Hiratsuka-sensei say she was going home?"
Akishin only smiled mysteriously, offering no answer.
Slide—!
"Excuse me... sorry for the intrusion!"
The door slid open to reveal a girl with pinkish hair styled in a "dango" bun. She looked incredibly timid as she stepped inside.
"Hiratsuka-sensei told me to come here..."
The dango-haired girl surveyed the room tentatively. Her eyes landed on Hachiman, and her expression immediately shifted to one of shock. She took a step back, pointing a finger at him. "Why... why is the loner here?"
"Ah! I'm a member here!"
Hachiman sat back down in his chair, glancing at Akishin. The man's prediction had been spot on. Wait, am I 'the loner'? Who even is this person?
"You're Yuigahama Yui-kun from Class 2-F, correct? Please, have a seat," Yukino said, already preparing a chair before Hachiman could even finish his thought.
Yuigahama Yui sat down, looking pleasantly surprised. "You know who I am?"
Hachiman chimed in dryly, "She probably has every student in this school memorized."
"Hardly. For instance, I didn't know you existed," Yukino countered.
"Is that so?" Hachiman sighed.
"Don't take it to heart. Blame my own cowardice for not being able to look directly at someone as... unique as you."
"Was that supposed to be an insult or a compliment?"
"A blatant insult."
"..."
Yuigahama Yui looked back and forth between them before suddenly perking up. "Wow, this club seems... actually kind of fun! And the loner is surprisingly talkative!"
"Huh?" Hachiman shot her his best dead-fish-eye stare.
"No, wait!" Realizing she'd put her foot in it, Yui waved her hands frantically. "How do I put it... um... the loner is totally different than he is in class. Usually, his... well, his vibe is pretty gross."
Hachiman turned away, annoyed. "This bitch..."
"Who are you calling a bitch!?" Yui stood up, clearly offended. "I'm still a vir—"
"Hikigaya, Yukinoshita-kun, Yuigahama-kun..."
Akishin, who had been watching the trio's dynamic with amusement, finally spoke up.
"Chi... Chishima-sensei! Since when were you here?" Yui pointed at him, looking even more shocked than when she saw Hachiman.
"I've been here the whole time," Akishin said with a smile—the kind of smile that reminded one of a certain calm, glasses-wearing antagonist from a soul-reaper anime. "Yuigahama-kun."
Yui shivered and took a step back. For some reason, Chishima-sensei felt terrifying. Even Hachiman and Yukino looked a bit awkward, realizing they had actually forgotten he was in the room.
"I'm heading out. I have a shop to open," Akishin said, handing a shinai to Hachiman. "Lesson's over for today. Hikigaya, practice that breathing before you go to bed. I'll check your progress tomorrow."
"See you tomorrow, Yukinoshita-kun, Yuigahama-kun." Akishin waved to the girls and casually strolled out of the Service Club.
Slide— Thud!
As the door closed, the three of them finally exhaled. Being near Chishima-sensei always felt like walking on a tightrope.
"What... what was Chishima-sensei doing here?"
"Teaching Hikigaya-kun kendo," Yukino replied.
"Kendo???"
Yui looked at the shinai in Hachiman's hand, then noticed the one leaning against Yukino's chair. "...Chishima-sensei knows kendo too?"
What trouble was Yuigahama Yui facing, and what would the three of them do next? Akishin didn't know, nor did he care to find out. That was someone else's life.
Yuigahama Yui seemed like a decent person; she might actually make a good friend for Yukino. Their personalities complemented each other well, though her grades were likely...
Ugh. A side effect of being a teacher—automatically worrying about a student's GPA.
Akishin shook his head with a smile and hopped on the bus home.
The evening sun burned at the horizon, slicing through the crisscrossing triangular roofs and casting a fiery crimson glow over the city.
When Akishin arrived at his shop, he saw a girl around seventeen or eighteen standing in front of the door to Chishimaya. She was glancing around as if waiting for someone.
Ah, probably an applicant for the waitress position.
Recalling the 'Help Wanted' sign he'd posted the night before, Akishin approached her. "Hello. Can I help you with something?"
Seeing a strange man approach, the girl instinctively retreated a few steps. "Hello. Are you... the owner of Chishimaya?"
"That's right. I'm Chishima Akishin."
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