Hotel Heian No Mori Kyoto
9:23, PM
Hikigaya walked through the hotel hallway, leaving his room.
He sighed tiredly. Enduring his classmates' banal conversations had overwhelmed him, what else could he do? Nothing, absolutely nothing. Just endure.
When he reached the reception, he went to the vending machine.
"There isn't any…" Hikigaya said to himself.
Hikigaya saw the sofa and sat down on it. He was really tired. His day had not been the best.
Carrying Yuigahama's suitcases, Tobe's request, that noisy group, and Matsuba.
Hopefully tomorrow would be better.
Hikigaya leaned back on the sofa, and out of the corner of his eye he saw Yukinoshita. So he straightened himself on the sofa to watch her at a souvenir stand.
Pan-san.
When Yukinoshita was about to take the stuffed animal, she turned around to find that Hikigaya was watching her.
Yukinoshita began walking away from the place…
"Good evening…" Hikigaya spoke to himself.
But Yukinoshita turned around and walked toward Hikigaya.
"Ara, what a coincidence…" Yukinoshita spoke with complete naturalness.
Hikigaya nodded weakly.
"You should have said that a moment ago."
Yukinoshita smiled.
"Well, what happened? Did things get awkward in the room and you left?"
Hikigaya took a sip of his drink.
"If I had to run away from something like that, I wouldn't have come", Hikigaya replied. "And you?"
"The attention of my entire class began to revolve around me", Yukinoshita spoke with slight melancholy. "Why do they enjoy talking about other people so much?"
"If they're talking about you, that doesn't mean they're interested in you", Hikigaya clarified. "You could get along better with them, don't you think?"
Yukinoshita slightly furrowed her brow.
"You speak as if you had nothing to do with it…" Yukinoshita took a breath. "Having the most hated and the most feared in Sōbu as clubmates isn't rewarding. Matsuba-kun only joined the club because you made Sagami-san cry. If you hadn't done that, everything would still be the same. What were you thinking?"
Matsuba…
"A-Ah…" Hikigaya complained mentally. "Ah! Me?" Hikigaya replied upon realizing. "Wait, that wasn't my fault, it's society's fault. Besides, who was the one who gave him the vice president position? I didn't even know the position existed…"
"It wasn't me, it was Hiratsuka-sensei", Yukinoshita replied. It took her a couple of seconds before asking again. "Were you able to talk to her?"
"No…" Hikigaya replied. "I couldn't. I was trying to save her from tripping at that place…"
Yukinoshita sighed and sat beside Hikigaya.
"And how is the request going?"
"Neither well nor badly", Hikigaya replied, moving aside so Yukinoshita could sit.
"Mmmh, and Yuigahama-san…?" Yukinoshita asked.
Hikigaya admitted it.
"She isn't doing badly. She's done more than I have, that's for sure."
"And Hasegawa-kun and Aisaka-san?" Yukinoshita asked about the other two members of the club.
"I haven't seen Hasegawa, and Aisaka was taking pictures of a cat."
Yukinoshita opened her blue eyes.
"What was it like?"
For a moment, Hikigaya was confused.
"What?"
"The cat…"
Hikigaya thought, he could not remember the cat's color.
"Ah-Ah, I think it was gray."
There was a moment of silence.
"And Matsuba-kun?" Yukinoshita asked quietly.
She would not admit it, but she was afraid of the answer Hikigaya might give.
"He helped…" Hikigaya had to admit.
Matsuba had helped Yuigahama with her plan to get Tobe and Ebina to spend time together.
Hikigaya could never do what Matsuba did.
And that bothered him, a little.
"Like that?" Yukinoshita sounded surprised. "How?"
"He helped Yuigahama put Tobe and Ebina in situations where they were alone", Hikigaya began.
Yukinoshita would think that this was not particularly difficult, but having someone like Hayama, who could control the atmosphere with a few words, made it almost impossible.
But Matsuba did it as if it were nothing.
"He even talked to Hayama", Hikigaya spoke again.
Yukinoshita opened her eyes wide.
"Seriously…?" Yukinoshita was curious. She had known Hayama since they were children and wanted to know how Hayama had reacted to Matsuba. "How was it…?"
"One of them wouldn't stop smiling, and the other was smiling awkwardly", Hikigaya replied jokingly.
Yukinoshita laughed.
"I think I know which is which."
They both laughed in unison.
Peace…
"I'm sorry…" Yukinoshita spoke. "I would like to help, but I'm in another class."
"Don't worry", Hikigaya replied. "I'm in the same class, and I can't do anything either."
"Mmmh, you should do something…" Yukinoshita replied.
Silence fell again.
Hikigaya looked at the floor and then ahead.
"Does she really think I won't see her…?" Hikigaya spoke to the woman in a brown coat and sunglasses. "Hiratsuka-sensei."
The streets of Kyoto were dark, but the road from the taxi seemed brighter, even though it wasn't.
"That was really good!" Hiratsuka spoke.
Yukinoshita did not entirely agree.
"It certainly had an intense flavor", she said, still remembering the taste of the ramen. "Even so, why did we accompany her?"
Hikigaya continued.
"Would this be appropriate for a teacher?"
Hiratsuka shook her head, patting Hikigaya.
"Of course not. That's why I treated you to ramen, to shut you up", Hiratsuka turned to Hikigaya. "Besides, you hadn't wanted to talk to me for days."
"Y-Yes, but…" Hikigaya hesitated. "It could have been at the hotel."
"And then what do you want from me, Hikigaya?" Hiratsuka turned her eyes toward her student.
"Isn't it obvious?" Hikigaya replied, furrowing his brow. "Matsuba."
"Yukinoshita didn't tell you?" Hiratsuka avoided the topic by asking another question. "The school was going to close the club if there were no more members."
Hikigaya sighed.
"Of course, but making him vice president…"
"He wanted that position", Hiratsuka said, tilting her head back and resting it against the seat.
"So it was his idea…" Hikigaya said.
Hiratsuka nodded.
"And how is he behaving? I heard that a boy broke some classroom windows."
Yukinoshita did not have much to say about that situation. She thought she had controlled it at first, but if Matsuba had not reacted beforehand, the boy could have hurt her.
"First day, and he almost destroyed the classroom", Hikigaya spoke. "You tell me."
Hiratsuka smiled at Hikigaya's tone.
"It was an isolated accident. Or so I was told." Hikigaya scoffed at Hiratsuka's comment. "And you, Yukinoshita, how are you getting along with Matsuba?"
"Everything is fine so far." Yukinoshita omitted all the times he had called her by those nicknames and his attitudes. "It would only be his nicknames, which…"
Yukinoshita stopped when she felt heat in her cheeks.
"Nicknames?" Hiratsuka spoke, looking at Yukinoshita.
"M-Mhmm, nothing." Yukinoshita straightened herself in her seat. "It's nothing."
A small creak could be heard from the other side of the window.
Hiratsuka smiled slightly at the sight of her model student hiding her embarrassment.
"Anyway. Some teachers told me that two others joined the club, a boy named Hasegawa and a girl."
"Aisaka-san", Yukinoshita replied, calming her breathing.
Hiratsuka nodded.
"Hasegawa and Aisaka", she repeated their names. "I'll go introduce myself soon."
"Mmmh", Hikigaya murmured, still with an annoyed tone.
Hiratsuka noticed how he said it in an irritated manner.
"Are they a problem?"
"No, they aren't…" Hikigaya replied.
Hiratsuka understood Hikigaya's annoyance. The atmosphere had changed, someone had invaded his place.
"Don't worry, Hikigaya, he'll get bored." Hikigaya turned toward Hiratsuka. "And he'll leave the club. Ah, apparently that's the case with everything", Hiratsuka confessed. "That's what his counselor told me."
Yukinoshita spoke up.
"Matsuba-kun had been in a club before."
Hiratsuka shook her head negatively.
"Not according to his records, but perhaps he wanted to try something new here at Sōbu. It's his first year."
Hikigaya sighed.
He could not believe it, he could not think that he had deceived Hiratsuka.
"Are the rumors about him true?" Hikigaya asked while looking out the car window.
"What rumors?" Hiratsuka replied.
Hikigaya sighed; his teacher was making things difficult.
"Being a delinquent, leaving students from other schools incapacitated, and that's why he came to Sōbu", Hikigaya spoke quickly.
Hiratsuka sighed.
"I don't know…" She wasn't lying, she really didn't know. "There are many things said about him, Hikigaya. Just as students gossip. Teachers do too. Some are true and others aren't."
Even though Hikigaya felt that it was true, he still found it hard to believe. Yukinoshita simply opened her eyes wide.
"Then… if they are true, why Sōbu? Why hasn't it expelled him?"
Hiratsuka sighed again.
"Think of it this way, life in nature", the teacher began. "What happens when a pest invades a protected area?" Hiratsuka looked at Hikigaya. "You bring in a predator."
Yukinoshita placed a finger on her chin.
"What are you getting at, Hiratsuka-sensei?"
Hiratsuka leaned back in her seat.
"You'll figure it out…" she replied.
Ah, it took Yukinoshita a couple of seconds.
"Then does that mean Matsuba-kun controls the school environment at Sōbu?"
Hiratsuka nodded quickly.
"That's right, Matsuba is a necessary evil. The higher-ups at the institution keep him protected. No one can touch him", Hiratsuka spoke. "They use him to prevent bullying and the formation of small gangs at Sōbu. Since he arrived, we've been ranked third in the country for having the lowest rate of school bullying." Hiratsuka let out a sigh. "Do you know how difficult that is to achieve…?"
"Why does Sōbu High School do that?" Hikigaya looked out the window. He tried to understand the school's actions. "I don't see a reason…"
"Of course there is, you just don't have all the information, Hikigaya."
Hikigaya furrowed his brow and turned toward his teacher.
"What information?"
Hiratsuka inhaled deeply.
"You probably don't know this, but a few months ago, South Korea created a new organization that protects student rights. The E.R.P.B." [7]
Hikigaya was confused. It was clear that he had no knowledge about the subject.
"E… R, P, B? What does it mean?"
"Educational Rights Protection Bureau", Hiratsuka replied, turning her neck.
"Educational Rights Protection Bureau…" Yukinoshita murmured, following along. "Is it something like a program to help students?"
Hiratsuka laughed slightly at the innocence of her student.
"Not exactly, Yukinoshita."
"Then what do they do?" Hikigaya straightened his posture.
Hiratsuka stared at a fixed point.
She wanted to put it in the best way possible.
"They are responsible for providing student institutions with total control", Hiratsuka tilted her head. "They have a very special authority. There are no limits to the methods that can be applied to the students. Simply put. If a student obeys, fine, if they don't… well. If they want, they can hit a student—"
"Wait, wait", Hikigaya interrupted. "Isn't that what you do to me? Do they really need an agency for that—"
Hiratsuka's fist came down on Hikigaya's head.
"What we have is different, Hikigaya, it's special", Hiratsuka deepened her voice. "Do you understand?"
Hikigaya nodded with steam coming from his head.
"I understand…"
Yukinoshita ignored what had just happened and asked about the institution in question.
"Wait, there are no limits to what they can do? That's illegal in many respects, Hiratsuka-sensei."
"Well, not there", she simply replied. "So our lovely government is trying to create a variant, or a Frankenstein of that institution, thanks to what's happening in Tokyo. Boys and girls consuming all kinds of drugs. Becoming addicted. Girls prostituting themselves, or being abused without knowing it. Gambling. Oh, criminal groups recruiting children and forcing them to commit their crimes. Bullying has increased in the capital of the country, and what about the suicide rate. There was a very high-profile case recently at Seishun Gakuen High School [8]. It's something concerning, honestly. Even more so when there are more immigrants who take advantage of this."
Their teacher's words made both of them reflect.
Yukinoshita did not know all of this in depth. She knew there were many boys and girls who were not interested in school.
She did not understand it.
Why would you disgrace your family?
Drug use, abuse, and crime…
As for Hikigaya, he could understand the creation of such an institution.
He had already heard all kinds of things about Tokyo.
But what he did not understand was where Matsuba appeared in all of this.
Why Sōbu kept him protected.
"I understand, but what does Matsuba have to do with this?"
Hiratsuka closed her eyes.
"Principal Shimizugawa-sensei, being the first woman to serve as principal at Sōbu, is trying to have the best year. To stand out. Her internal campaign among the teachers is: Zero bullying. She wants to make a good impression on the Chiba Board of Education", Hiratsuka put her hands into the pockets of her coat. "She told all of us that if any boy or girl bullied, harassed, assaulted, or did anything else, whether inside or outside the school, we had to tell Matsuba."
"And why?" Hikigaya asked.
"Mmmh, she just told us that he would take care of it", Hiratsuka murmured with some annoyance. "Shimizugawa-sensei doesn't talk much. It's difficult to know what she wants."
"Accusing those who harass a student, so that another student can deal with them, seems very negligent on the part of Principal Shimizugawa-sensei", Yukinoshita commented.
"Perhaps, Yukinoshita. But you know that a teacher can be accused by a student. A student can make a teacher lose their career with a few words if they are falsely accused."
Hikigaya saw his opportunity.
"Then I—"
Another blow landed on Hikigaya's head.
"Seriously, do you want to have this conversation, Hikigaya?"
The smoke from Hikigaya's head moved from side to side.
Yukinoshita once again ignored the scene of violence.
"I understand, I understand. So the teachers use Matsuba-kun to prevent bullying problems. But if Principal Shimizugawa-sensei wants to put an end to bullying, why use Matsuba-kun? Wouldn't it be better to wait for Congress to create the institution South Korea created?"
Hiratsuka nodded.
"Yes, but that's the thing. Shimizugawa-sensei doesn't want the government sticking its nose into Sōbu."
"Would that be a problem?" Hikigaya asked, not understanding, while keeping his hand on his head. "I don't really see the problem."
"I don't know, Hikigaya. Bad publicity? Maybe she knows that Sōbu has a great deal of bullying, and some students' parents would think twice before enrolling them. If parents don't enroll their children at Sōbu, that means less money for the programs, the teachers' salaries would decrease, fewer bonuses. And more. The money the parents provide is very important for maintaining the school", Hiratsuka counted on her fingers. "Right, Yukinoshita? Your parents have given the institution a great deal of support. Tell me, why did your parents choose Sōbu instead of Makuhari or Funabashi? Or some school in Tokyo?"
Yukinoshita lowered her head, thinking about it.
Hiratsuka was right. Her parents could have sent her to a boarding school, or a school in Tokyo, or abroad like they had when she was younger.
"Well, actually, they didn't give me a choice, Nee-san was at Sōbu. So I was supposed to be here too, just like her…"
Yukinoshita kept looking out the window.
Hikigaya could only remain silent.
Hiratsuka nodded in understanding, looked at her student's face, and gently caressed her head.
"It's alright, it's alright", she moved her hand slightly without taking it away. "That's why, if the government creates that institution like South Korea, they would uncover a cesspool of corruption. Perhaps it could be the end of many private schools in the prefecture. Maybe that's why Principal Shimizugawa-sensei doesn't want to take the risk, so she uses Matsuba to keep the cameras from looking this way."
"Sounds awful", Hikigaya commented.
"That's right, one monster has to control another monster", Hiratsuka affirmed with a smile. "It's a win-win for everyone. Sōbu stays out of the spotlight when it comes to school bullying and student safety."
"Win-win", Yukinoshita repeated, turning toward Hiratsuka and taking her eyes off the window. "And exactly what does Matsuba gain?"
Both students looked at Hiratsuka.
"Who knows…" Hiratsuka paused. "Besides, he asked me to join the club after my incident. So I couldn't refuse."
Hikigaya furrowed his brows.
"Incident?"
"My car", Hiratsuka replied quickly. "It doesn't matter."
The taxi stopped at a small establishment.
Hikigaya was the first to get out, followed by Hiratsuka, with Yukinoshita following behind.
When Hiratsuka turned her eyes toward her two students, she spoke.
"Alright, everything we talked about stays between us", Hiratsuka commented. "I'll continue the party. You two go back to the hotel."
Hikigaya walked behind Yukinoshita.
"A necessary evil, a necessary evil? What the hell does that mean?" Hikigaya said to himself. "The school protects him. Those rumors were true. That's why the teachers ignore what he does."
Hikigaya himself could not believe it, how was it possible for a student to have such power in the school? This surpassed any delinquent. Matsuba had a blank check to do whatever he wanted. How did he reach the point of formalizing an agreement with the school?
"This is going to be more difficult than I thought" Hikigaya thought as he walked without paying attention.
He was not the typical delinquent he had expected.
"This is going to be more annoying than I thought…" Hikigaya said to himself.
It was not fear he felt.
It was… annoyance.
His steps were steady, not fast.
When he raised his head, he saw Yukinoshita stop.
And he saw her looking from left to right.
"It's to the right…" Hikigaya said, taking the lead as he walked.
Yukinoshita looked at him, so she followed him.
"Y-Yes."
The path was long. The silence was comfortable. Their footsteps could barely be heard, and the sounds of the surroundings were silent.
"If you walk too far away, you'll lose sight of me."
Yukinoshita hesitated.
"It doesn't matter, if you go ahead first."
"Rather, I have no reason to go first", Hikigaya said, pointing out the obvious. "Besides, we're already close."
Yukinoshita tensed.
"Maybe it's fine for you, but it isn't for me."
"What?"
It took Hikigaya a couple of seconds to understand what she was trying to say.
"It's already late… and…" Yukinoshita began. "And if they see us together… they'll think things."
Hikigaya understood.
"A-Ah, I see."
Hikigaya continued walking, perhaps five steps ahead of Yukinoshita.
He did not want the darkness of the night to make him lose sight of her.
Both teenagers arrived at the hotel.
"Alright, see you tomorrow", Hikigaya replied.
"Yes, get some rest…" Yukinoshita took a breath, trying to find her words. "Thank you for accompanying me."
Yukinoshita began walking toward the entrance of the hotel, leaving Hikigaya outside.
He would have to wait a few minutes.
When he saw that her silhouette could no longer be seen, he entered.
"I'm tired… and I need a bath…"
Hikigaya spoke to himself.
OMAKE:
Ninja?
Matsuba was waiting for Tobe and Ebina at the end of the attraction he had made them go on.
His smile was not fully pronounced.
It was one of boredom and annoyance.
Having Tobe talking to him from behind, out of pity or embarrassment at having Ebina beside him, was irritating him more than he had expected. So, to endure a few more minutes, he decided to push them toward the beginning of what seemed to be an attraction at the temple.
He watched as boys and girls drank water from a hishaku. [9]
They seemed grateful, or relieved.
He did not understand it.
Ceremonies, customs, traditions, bowing, just because.
His family had them too.
It annoyed him.
It made him feel weak.
Small.
"Nasakehen… (How pathetic)" he murmured. [10]
His head fell back against the stone behind him.
He inhaled, exhaled.
And widened his smile.
She lowered her eyes, feeling an overwhelming boredom without letting her smile fade. However, her features, cheeks, eyes, corners of her mouth, and the slight wrinkles on her forehead were very expressive.
So she made her way through the crowd, when—
"Mmph!"
Matsuba felt a slight bump against his left shoulder.
Without much haste, he turned his head toward the source.
The culprit was a girl.
He tilted his head in confusion, and the girl began to tremble excessively. Matsuba was not annoyed, much less irritated. So he did not understand the girl's nervousness. Essentially, it was normal for others to tremble when he showed his smile, but on this occasion, he did not even have his long smile.
"Is something wrong, pretty?"
Matsuba leaned toward her, looking at her features.
The girl began trembling again, showing her embarrassment at having him so close.
She seemed to vibrate.
When Matsuba turned his eyes toward her, he could see a slight dark violet color in the girl's eyes. She was taller than average for a girl. Long black hair. Her face was somewhat oval-shaped, but with a fine, triangular chin, which gave her a clean appearance.
And something cute.
Her uniform consisted of a muted blue, a dark red bow, matching the color of her skirt with a vertical striped design.
"Th-th-th-th… Y-y-y-y… I-I-I-I… T-t-t-t…"
This time, Matsuba tilted his head even further.
The girl seemed to be trying to communicate.
"Do you feel it?" Matsuba managed to understand the word.
Oh, that's what he thought.
"Mmph, mmph!"
The girl immediately nodded.
"You don't have to apologize, pretty", Matsuba straightened himself, trying not to scare the girl. He found her nervousness cute, but did not find where it came from entertaining. "It was my fault, I didn't see you…"
The girl already seemed a little calmer.
She brought her hand to what seemed to be a souvenir bag, taking out a notebook and beginning to write. She took her time. She turned the notebook toward Matsuba so he could see what she had written.
"古見硝子と申します." (My name is Komi Shouko)
Matsuba was now even more confused.
The girl did not seem to be able to communicate normally.
But at least she had pretty handwriting and it was quite formal.
"A cute name, for someone cute, ojō-han (miss) [11]", he straightened himself. "I'm Matsuba Haruto, from Sōbu High School", he introduced himself with a small bow, stretching the corners of his mouth a little more. Without wanting to scare her. Suddenly, an idea came to him. "Which school do you come from? Hmm? Maybe I know someone."
Komi immediately wrote, then showed it to him.
"私立伊旦高校" (Shiritsu Itan High School).
Matsuba went blank.
His eyes stopped at two simple yellow points, trying to remember something.
He had no idea about that school.
Which was strange to him, such a colorful uniform and someone as peculiar as the girl in front of him. It was strange that he did not know it. Which made him want to know her more. Because if there were more oddities like her at Itan High School, it would be very easy to take control of that school.
"Sounds charming. Tell me, where is it located?"
The girl immediately wrote.
"東京" (Tokio)
A slight grimace could be seen beneath Matsuba's smile.
It was no secret that Matsuba despised the current captain of his beloved country.
The hatred had been born thanks to his paternal grandfather. Having been born in Kyoto, he despised Tokyo. He found it insulting. It was mocking, using his culture for foreign mass consumption, filled with tourists with a desperate need for attention.
His golden eyes passed through the crowd.
It was horrible to see his beloved country going to ruin.
But among them, he saw Tobe and Ebina's heads.
So it was time to end this useless conversation, if it had been one at all.
"Of course it is…" disgust seeped through. He was already somewhat eager to take control of another school. "I bet it's a charming place, pretty." Matsuba put his hand into his pocket as he took a step forward. "However, I have to leave. It was a pleasure meeting you, Komi Shouko-san." He took the back of Komi's hand, raising it slightly higher, until—
"Mmph!"
Komi jumped in fright.
"Looks like someone has a death wish…"
Matsuba straightened his neck.
He had dodged what seemed to be a compass now embedded in the wall in front of him.
Matsuba took his time straightening himself and reaching for the compass.
And without warning, he grabbed the compass and, in a simple motion, planted it into the wall just inches above the boy's head.
He was a boy wearing the same uniform as Komi, but this one wore a jacket and trousers. The same pattern, blue and red. But the strangest thing was that he was dressed as… a ninja? However, the ridiculousness only made Matsuba angrier. He widened the corners of his mouth.
"Tell me, have you ever screamed without air in your lungs?"
The boy fell to the ground. His legs trembled.
"A-Ah… a-ah"
He tried to speak.
But there was no air in his lungs.
Matsuba's footsteps became more pronounced.
Komi, somewhat embarrassed and desperate, tried to stop him with both hands, pulling at Matsuba's sleeves, but this did not seem to slow him down.
"What is it, Komi-san? I won't do anything to him, I just want to talk to the Ninja."
Komi immediately understood, so she quickly shook her head. Her cheeks were pink with embarrassment.
So she immediately wrote in her notebook.
"「彼は君を傷つけたかったわけじゃないんだよ,松葉さん.ただ,君に傷つけられるんじゃないかって思ってただけ.彼はそういう人なの.なんていうか…僕を守ってくれる人たちがいるクラブにいる,みたいな感じで….僕もよく分からないんだけど…」" (He didn't want to hurt you, Matsuba-san, he just thought you were going to hurt me. He's just like that. It's like being in a club where some people protect me, or something like that, I don't really understand it…)
Matsuba stopped his steps.
He nodded understandingly.
"I understand", he cleared his throat. Bringing his hand up to adjust his cufflink. "Keeping your subjects under control is complicated, isn't it?"
Komi breathed again and once more began to write.
"「ありがとう,分かってくれて,松葉さん.」" (Thank you for understanding, Matsuba-san.)
"However, I have a reputation to maintain, dear. Your little companion will be left WITHOUT EYES."
That day, a certain incredibly insignificant side character miraculously survived, thanks to the goddess Komi.
Chapter 3 Note: The Demon Brings More Demons.
I hope you enjoy the antagonist of the first part of the fanfic, Yuta.
Yūtarō Yuta, leader of Kurokiba, the Black Fang.
It is written with the kanji 黒牙.
He belongs to Kyoto Municipal Okazaki High School. His appearance is as follows: Ash-colored hair, as are his eyes. He wears a simple black uniform. His complexion is pale, he is 1.78 meters tall, and he is slender. His blood type is O-, and he is originally from Kyoto.
He is a self-confident boy. He never lets others speak for him. Since he reached the top of his territory two years ago, many respect him for the way he fights. Since he was six years old, he has trained in multiple martial arts, judo, jujutsu, and Shorinji Kempo. And he created his own martial art, Kokuga-ryū. His tastes include mochi, dragons, and his girlfriend Sakura. He hates other schools trying to enter his territory and the person who was once his best friend, Matsuba Haruto.
His history with him goes back to elementary school, during their third year. They were friends from third through fifth grade. His hatred began at the start of sixth grade. They were always compared. If Yuta was strong, Matsuba was stronger. If Yuta was fast, Matsuba was faster. He had accepted it, but his friends, teachers, and families always reminded him. There was not a single day when they didn't. Until a new classmate arrived at their school, Nanase. Yuta met her first, and he was fascinated by her. But his love was not reciprocated; his best friend had beaten him again. Yuta had accepted it at his young age of twelve. However, halfway through sixth grade, Matsuba moved to Chiba, to finish elementary school and begin middle school.
Another OC who does not appear, but is mentioned, is the principal of Sōbu.
Shimizugawa-sensei, or her full name, Shimizugawa Reiko.
She will be extremely important as the chapters progress; she will answer some questions.
IMPORTANT:
Now, regarding the OCs from Class C, they will not be relevant to the story. They were only added to give the chapter some shape. They will make small appearances in other chapters, but that's all. This chapter was also where Hayato and Haruto saw each other face-to-face. They had never done so before; they only knew each other by reputation. The good thing about all of this is that the blond did not get hurt, only his ego, but nothing more.
Another point: since our first crossover is with the anime Komi Can't Communicate, don't expect it to have many more appearances. Maybe it will, but I feel that would be filler, and there will be some, but across the season, there will be 1 or 2 chapters. It's only to establish that they coexist in the same universe. The next crossover will be in the next chapter.
And that's all, I hope you enjoyed the chapter.
TRIVIA
[1] – Shogi: A Japanese strategy game, similar to chess.
[2] – Reference to the character Ai Hinatsuru from the anime Ryuuou no Oshigoto! Here, Yuta complains about having lost to the girl at some point. No character from the anime will make an appearance. It is only a comedic addition to the narration.
[3] – Meaning: "Very," "terribly," "impressive," "great," or "difficult," depending on the context. In Kyōto-ben/Kansai-ben, えらい (erai) has different uses than in standard Japanese. It can express intensity, admiration, or that something is particularly important or difficult.
[4] – Fun fact: Haruto hates being touched without warning. Only a few people can touch him without the Smiling One exploding in anger. Two women, and infants. He doesn't mind because children's hands are small.
[5] – It is a characteristic form of speech from Kansai, including Kyoto. It comes from あんた (anta) with the さん (san) honorific, and can sound softer, more respectful, or affectionate.
[6] – Reference to a fanfic where Yui's character is explored in a way where she is obsessive and somewhat possessive. This concept will also be shown here.
[7] – E.R.P.B. (Educational Rights Protection Bureau). Reference to the Netflix series Teach You a Lesson. I don't actually plan to add a crossover involving the series' characters to the work. However, I plan to create something similar in Season 3 of the fanfic.
[8] – Reference to the manga Maria no Danzai. Hiratsuka-sensei's dialogue refers to the death of the protagonist of the manga, Maria Akeboshi's son. The characters from this manga may make a brief appearance in the story. Only for Haruto's enjoyment. He loves seeing the bullies' faces in despair.
[9] – Hishaku (柄杓): A bamboo or wooden ladle used to scoop water.
[10] – Meaning: "How pitiful…", "How pathetic…", "How shameful…", or "You're hopeless…", depending on the context. Short context: It is an expression of disapproval, disappointment, or pity. The 〜へん (-hen) is a characteristic negative form of Kansai, including Kyoto.
[11] – お嬢はん (Ojō-han) It is a traditional Kyoto/Kansai way of addressing a young girl, especially with a certain degree of courtesy or respect. はん (han) is a regional variant of さん (san) and gives it a distinctly Kansai nuance.