[32] "Hachiman Kendo Sparring with Katsura"
"No problem, I'll ensure that I deliver the manuscript on time before its release," the confident voice on the phone assured.
"Um... are you available this Saturday? I'd like to discuss some matters about the illustrations in person."
Feeling a bit awkward, Hachiman scratched his head. He still wanted to have a face-to-face conversation about the character illustrations.
"This Saturday... well, could we go over the specifics of the time and location?" The person on the other end hesitated momentarily before eventually agreeing.
"How about this Saturday at ten o'clock in the morning? Let's meet at the coffee shop near Kadokawa. Does that work for you?"
"Sure, no problem."
"Great. I'll be looking forward to your arrival then. I won't take up more of your time. Goodbye."
"Goodbye."
After ending the call, Hachiman released a relieved sigh. The illustration issue had finally been resolved, and the next steps would hinge on the upcoming discussion with the illustrator this Saturday.
After pondering over it, he made the decision to press on with his writing. Only one final point remained in the third volume. By completing it ahead of time, he could send it over to the editor and illustrator sooner.
Last night, I managed to write a solid 20,000 words. It's safe to say that my writing prowess, which had been dormant for so long, has been fully reignited. The remaining portion only requires wrapping up and some revisions, which I'll tackle tomorrow.
"Ha~!"
With a yawn, Hachiman settled into bed and drifted into a deep slumber.
The following morning, he rose early as usual and embarked on his customary run.
At the intersection, Hachiman unexpectedly crossed paths with Yui, who was out walking her dog.
"Hey there, good morning, Yui." Spying Yui, Hachiman's face lit up with a cheerful greeting as he jogged toward her.
"Good morning, Hikki..." As Hachiman approached, Yui's cheeks turned rosy, her mind clearly retracing the moment he touched her face a few days prior.
Even though their online chats hadn't triggered these feelings, encountering each other in person still made her a tad bashful.
"What's wrong, Yui?" Concern etched across his features, Hachiman rushed to Yui's side, noting the blush on her cheeks and fearing she might not be feeling well.
"I... I'm okay, Hikki." Yui shook her head, feeling her heart race as Hachiman approached.
Stupid Hikki, do you have any idea why I'm feeling like this?
Despite her initial irritation, Yui pondered her mother's advice, took a deep breath, and found the courage to speak up.
"Hikki, are you available this Saturday?"
"On Saturday, I might have some morning commitments, but the afternoon should be free. Why do you ask?"
"So, Hikki, would you be willing to spend some time with me on Saturday afternoon?" As she said this, Yui's blush deepened.
"Sure, no problem, Yui..." Hachiman readily agreed to Yui's invitation without hesitation. If a girl takes the initiative to invite you, it's only natural to accept, right?
Before he could say anything else, Yui cut in, "Alright, it's a plan then, Hikki. Let's meet at the station gate at two o'clock this Saturday afternoon."
With that, she swiftly pulled Sable along, leaving Hachiman little room to respond.
Sable, poor thing, was forcefully pulled along by Yui. The dog leash around his neck had become so tight that his tongue hung out. To ensure his own safety, he had to hurriedly move his short legs, trying to keep up with his owner's pace.
"Hmm..." Hachiman scratched his head, watching Yui and Sable disappear in the distance.
Could this be considered a date?
Most likely.
However, with a morning meeting scheduled with the illustrator and an afternoon rendezvous with Yui, my schedule is undeniably tight. It appears I'll need to make some adjustments
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In a quiet corner of the kendo club room, Hachiman continues to practice diligently. After receiving professional guidance, he has successfully integrated his skills to achieve a solid level three in kendo. Now, he's brimming with confidence, believing he can outmatch all kendo club members except for Busujima Saeko.
Even against Shuji Fujita, the club's vice president, Hachiman holds a firm belief in his ability not to lose. While Fujita's kendo level has seemingly edged into the fourth tier, Hachiman's enhanced strength, speed, and responsiveness from his third-tier training will undoubtedly make the match far from an easy victory for his opponent.
At that moment, a figure approached Hachiman.
"Hikigaya-san, good afternoon," a gentle voice chimed in his ears. Hachiman turned his head to see a familiar face.
"Katsura-san, good afternoon!"
The newcomer was Kotonoha, the person he had rescued just the yesterday afternoon.
"Hikigaya-san, thank you so much for yesterday," Kotonoha expressed her gratitude with a slight bow towards Hachiman.
Wearing a kendo uniform, she bowed slightly, catching Hachiman's attention. In a quick glance, he noticed a small white piece and a deep neckline on her chest.
Girls are usually quite sensitive about such matters. Sensing his gaze, Kotonoha promptly straightened up.
Blushing with embarrassment, Hachiman quickly looked away and cleared his throat. "Ahem, it's alright, Katsura-san. What happened yesterday was just a matter of teamwork. After all, we're fellow club members. Helping each other is only natural."
Kotonoha relaxed her grip on her kendo suit's collar, relieved that his gaze had shifted.
Guess Hikigaya-san isn't that type of person, thank goodness!
"Hikigaya-san, why don't you join the group practice?" Gathering her courage, Kotonoha inquired, observing Hachiman practicing alone in the corner.
"Well, you see, I'm not really at ease in crowded places, so I tend to..." Hachiman's hand absentmindedly scratched his head as he explained, revealing that it's not that he disliked such environments, but rather he struggled to concentrate amidst all the noise.
Kotonoha's eyes lit up upon hearing this. "In that case, if Hikigaya-san doesn't mind, maybe I could practice with you."
Naturally, Hachiman was more than willing.Practicing alone could be quite monotonous, much like playing a game solo. Engaging with a charming girl would undoubtedly bring about a distinct and enjoyable experience.
"Then I appreciate your help, Katsura-san."
"No problem." Seeing Hachiman agree, Kotonoha swiftly positioned herself opposite him.
With both sides saluting, the duel commenced.
"Ready?"
As he observed the girl's stance, Hachiman's eyes gleamed.
The technique she was about to employ was known as the "Iaido," often referred to as a sword-drawing technique.
He focused on swift movements and aiming for a single decisive strike. As long as he blocked the initial attack, the subsequent rounds would become much more manageable.
However, it almost seemed as if time slowed down several times over due to his heightened eyesight.
In an instant, Kotonoha's lightning-fast slash, accompanied by the jingling of bells, came hurtling towards Hachiman.
But everything seemed to slow down, magnified several times over by his enhanced eyesight.
**Snapped--**
In an instant, a crisp sound resonated as his blade intercepted the girl's strike.
"Huh?"
Surprisingly, her sword-drawing technique was effortlessly deflected, leaving Kotonoha somewhat taken aback.
After all, girls like her had been taught flower arrangement, tea art, kendo, dance, and piano from a young age, thanks to the guidance of their mothers.
Using Kotonoha as an example, she retained a fair amount of self-assurance. Yet today, she hadn't anticipated Hachiman blocking her attack with such ease.
Stepping back slightly, Kotonoha swiftly readjusted her posture, poised for the next attack.
Observing this, Hachiman refrained from rushing into an attack. Instead, he assumed a defensive stance, ready to counter her forthcoming wave of defensive maneuvers.
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Additional scene before school starts
"Yukino, please, let's go out. Your Onee-san is free today, and I want you to enjoy some time together before school starts," Yukino's sister pleaded with a grin.
Yukino squinted her eyes, contemplating her sister's intentions, but in the end, she agreed with a nod. "Sure."
Haruno was happy when she heard from Yukino that she could go.
----------------------------------------------------
In the Zenin Clan, after Maki had met Hachiman,
"Maki, where have you been? Do you know that our father, the clan head, is looking for us?" Mai said to her twin sister.
"Tsk... They're so persistent. I told them I didn't want that," Maki replied with annoyance.
"It's not just you. They're forcing me too, all for the sake of the clan. Annoying," Mai grumbled, equally annoyed.
"I hope that's not the reason they're calling us now," Mai said.
"I hope so too," Maki replied.
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Seated at her desk, Utaha couldn't help but notice the remarkable beauty of her legs. However, her current appearance was far from stress-free.
Utaha felt restless; her mind was a complete blank, and she recalled the words of her editor, Machida. But her pride held her back from accepting any suggestions.
As Utaha browsed through her blog, a particular comment caught her eye, a question about her relationship with Hachiman. This puzzled her, so she visited Hachiman's blog, only to be surprised by his post promoting her light novel. Utaha couldn't contain her gratitude to him.
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In the Yuigahama household,
"Yui, what's the status of your relationship with that young man now?" Mrs. Yuigahama asked, a teasing expression on her face.
"Mom we are just friends, please don't tease me," Yui blushed and replied.
"Yui, I'll teach you how to capture a man's heart," Mrs. Yuigahama said.