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6.9% Life As Hikigaya Hachiman / Chapter 38: [38] Duel!

Chapter 38: [38] Duel!

When the two arrived at the practice field, they noticed a sizable crowd had already assembled.

This wasn't surprising; Saeko possessed a striking beauty, a graceful figure, and a personality akin to a Yamato Nadeshiko.

Combine these traits with her exceptional kendo skills, and her popularity within the kendo club was unquestionable.

In contrast, Hachiman was a newcomer, a relative unknown in the Kendo Club.

As he set foot on the training ground, it was only natural that the gathered members below began buzzing with chatter.

"Who's this guy? I've never seen him before."

"I'm not sure, maybe he's a new member who recently joined the Kendo Club."

"Come on, are you joking? A newcomer challenging the president right after joining?"

"True, it's highly unlikely. Even us older members who haven't faced the president's tough training would think twice before challenging."

"You make a good point."

"So, who could he be then?"

"Perhaps he's one of those hidden talents the president recruited from elsewhere."

As the vice president, Shuji Fujita furrowed his brow while listening to the discussions among the members nearby.

Seeing Hachiman's familiar face, Fujita Shuji vividly recalled personally welcoming him on the day he had joined the club.

This confirmed that Hachiman was indeed a genuine newcomer.

Fujita couldn't help but be surprised that a newcomer would have the audacity to challenge President Busujima in kendo.

It was unclear whether this newcomer was simply fearless or if he possessed some hidden skill in the art of kendo.

Before long, Saeko, now dressed in her kendo attire, made her appearance on the training ground.

"I apologize for keeping you waiting, Hikigaya-kun," Saeko Busujima stated with a nod, standing across from Hachiman.

Hachiman waved off the delay, replying, "No worries. Since I agreed to this competition with Busujima senpai, I'll gladly wait until you're ready."

Saeko couldn't help but narrow her eyes at Hachiman's response. "It seems like Hikigaya-kun is quite confident."

Hachiman shrugged, saying, "I wouldn't say I'm overly confident, but I do want to test myself and see where I stand compared to Busujima-senpai."

"Since I joined the kendo club, I've often heard senior members praise Busujima-senpai's exceptional kendo skills.

Today presents a rare opportunity for me to witness it firsthand, and I hope you'll go easy on me, senpai," Hachiman spoke earnestly.

His words ignited a flurry of discussions among those gathered below.

"What? This guy is a new member who just joined this year, and he dares to challenge the president?"

"Yeah, he seems completely oblivious. Even Vice President Fujita wouldn't stand a chance against the president, let alone him."

"Exactly, I'd be surprised if he lasts more than fifty moves."

"Fifty moves? I think the president will wrap it up in thirty."

Listening to the discussions around them, Kotonoha frowned, clearly displeased with how they were underestimating Hachiman.

As a sparring partner, she had a good sense of Hachiman's kendo skills.

Although it was challenging to determine whether he was stronger than Vice President Fujita Shuji, he was certainly not as inexperienced as they were suggesting.

"Alright, Hikigaya-kun, let's not waste any more time. We should start," Saeko declared, handing him a new wooden sword.

"This is the wooden sword I usually use for practice. I believe Hikigaya-kun will find it suitable."

Hachiman accepted the wooden sword and noticed it was crafted from white oak, considerably heavier than the compressed bamboo he was accustomed to in practice.

"No problem, it feels good. Let's begin, Busujima-senpai," Hachiman said, making a few practice swings and then nodding in satisfaction.

He held the wooden sword with both hands, indicating that she could initiate the attack.

Seeing that Hachiman wasn't taking the initiative to attack, Saeko decided not to hold back.

She took a confident stride forward, swiftly raising her wooden sword and launching a powerful strike towards Hachiman.

Observing Saeko's sudden attack, Hachiman raised his eyebrows, swiftly raising his own wooden sword with his right hand to parry the blow.

*Snapped!*

The two wooden swords collided with a heavier sound than before.

Saeko, undeterred, quickly shook her wrist and unleashed a flurry of continuous strikes with the wooden sword.

*Bang bang bang bang—*

Hachiman skillfully blocked each successive attack, but his brow furrowed in contemplation.

Something wasn't quite right.

While Saeko's attacks were sharp and swift, they lacked the power he had anticipated.

Saeko had indeed clinched the championship of the Inter-High Kendo Championship in the women's division, establishing herself as one of the top kendo practitioners among all high school students in Japan.

Yet, Hachiman's exceptional strength was no mere illusion. His current physique far exceeded that of the average person, making it a challenge for anyone to contend with the strength he wielded so effortlessly.

"Is that so?"

As Saeko's every move met a swift blockade, she couldn't help but reflect silently.

A contented smile graced her lips, while a glint of fanaticism shone in her eyes as she continued to study Hachiman with fascination.

Indeed, Saeko had been holding back her true strength.

Even with her current speed and power, no one in the Kendo Club could match her. It had been a while since she had unleashed her full potential.

"Come on, Hikigaya-kun, indulge me," she playfully remarked.

Hearing her intriguing words, Hachiman couldn't help but quip, "Don't worry, senpai, I'm quite resilient."

As their exchange continued, with each attack blocked, Saeko's expression grew increasingly exhilarated.

She leaned in and whispered, "Hikigaya-kun, be prepared. I won't hold back this time."

As soon as Saeko finished speaking, Hachiman noticed a sudden increase in the speed at which she drew her wooden sword, accompanied by a surge in the force behind her strikes.

Even her seemingly straightforward movements had transformed into tricky maneuvers.

Hachiman silently pondered, "Is this what they mean by the 'Busujima flow'?"

Despite the challenging nature of her kendo techniques, Hachiman believed he could still keep up, thanks to his enhanced vision and reflexes.

Hachiman continued to display his skills, while Saeko's expression grew increasingly exhilarated, and her attacks intensified, resembling a relentless storm.

In less than ten minutes, they had already exchanged dozens of moves.

Observing this fierce battle between the two, the spectators below were in awe and couldn't contain their excitement.

"Ah, this..."

"It's so impressive..."

"I didn't anticipate a newcomer could hold their own against the president with such skill."

"Could this kendo level be on par with Vice President Fujita?"

Meanwhile, Vice President Fujita Shuji observed the intense battle between the two with a solemn expression.


Chapter 39: [39] "The Madness of Busujima Saeko"

As the member in the club whose kendo skills came closest to Saeko's, Vice President Fujita naturally held a deep admiration for his graceful president.

He had often daydreamed about confessing his feelings to her if he could surpass her in kendo.

However, after a year of dedicated effort, he realized that Saeko's kendo prowess seemed to have no limits.

While he was making progress, she continued to improve as well.

Now in his third year of high school, Fujita felt that his own advancement in swordsmanship had plateaued, while the one he held in high regard continued to push her boundaries.

Initially, Fujita believed that the gap between himself and the president hadn't widened too significantly.

However, his perspective shifted after witnessing Saeko and Hachiman's competition today.

It became apparent that she had been concealing her true strength all along.

In a brief span, the two of them exchanged hundreds of moves.

Considering Saeko's current formidable abilities, Fujita doubted he could endure even fifty moves against her.

These realizations brought a wry smile to Fujita Shuji's face.

At Hachiman side.

When observing Hachiman closely, it became apparent that despite their appearance of being evenly matched, he was actually at a disadvantage.

As Saeko's attacks grew increasingly ferocious, it became progressively challenging for him to parry them.

This situation underscored the advantages of specific kendo styles.

With the guidance of a kendo style, one's strength could be amplified, essentially turning one point of strength into three.

Unfortunately, individuals like Hachiman, who had not learned any specific style, were limited to simple slashing, feinting, and blocking maneuvers.

"Excellent, Hikigaya-kun, you're truly impressive. Next, I'll unveil the secret technique of our Busujima style, so be prepared!" Saeko's voice quivered slightly as she spoke.

Ever since she achieved a level of proficiency in kendo, there had been no one, except her father, who could engage in a spar that extended to hundreds of moves without being defeated.

Oh no!

Hachiman's heart trembled upon hearing her declaration.

Hachiman was already finding it challenging to barely block Saeko's ferocious attacks.

If she were to employ any secret techniques, he feared he would be defeated instantly.

"Busujima-senpai..."

Before he could utter any words to dissuade her, Saeko on the opposite side initiated her move.

"Busujima-ryu - Tora Kiba Giri"

With a slight tremor in her wrist, it appeared as though two wooden swords materialized simultaneously, attacking Hachiman with a ferocity reminiscent of a wolf baring its fangs.

"This is... the technique President Busujima used to secure the women's championship."

The veteran members of the Kendo club, observing the duel below, couldn't contain their astonishment upon witnessing this move.

They hadn't anticipated that this newcomer possessed such formidable skills to compel the president to employ this technique.

In response to their expressions of awe, Hachiman maintained his composure and skillfully drew a defensive circle in the air with the wooden sword in his right hand.

The result was a resounding block as Saeko's attack was once again thwarted.

Hachiman successfully blocked Saeko's attack, and he intended to interject, but Saeko had already initiated her next move.

"Busujima-ryu - Suiryu Hassha"

Her frenzied assault surged like rushing water, momentarily overwhelming Hachiman.

Yet, what concerned him even more was Saeko's current condition.

Her once serene Yamato Nadeshiko-like visage now bore a subtle distortion, with a hint of bloodlust and madness glinting in her eyes.

No, I'll definitely lose if this continues.

Seizing an opportunity, Hachiman skillfully opened his wooden sword and retreated a few meters, harnessing the force of the previous clash.

He intended to capitalize on this advantage to conclude the battle, but Saeko remained relentless.

She pressed forward, raising her wooden sword with both hands and delivering a powerful overhead slash aimed at his head.

With little choice, Hachiman swiftly raised his wooden sword horizontally to effectively block the strike.

*Snapped—*

The wooden swords clashed, producing a resounding sound even louder than before, a testament to Saeko's formidable strength.

In the midst of this standoff, Hachiman cried out, "Calm down, Busujima-senpai!"

Hearing his voice, Saeko on the opposite side was momentarily stunned.

The bloodlust and madness in her eyes gradually dissipated, replaced by a hint of powerlessness and fear.

She took a few steps back, her face paling, and then she suddenly bowed deeply towards Hachiman.

"I'm truly sorry, Hikigaya-kun. It's been so long since I've faced an opponent who could match me. I lost control of myself; please forgive me."

After the intense sparring, her kendo uniform's originally loose neckline had shifted slightly, and her ample curves hung naturally in a way that brought a satisfied smile to Hachiman's face.

From his vantage point, he even noticed two bright red spots.

As a girl, Saeko was particularly sensitive to this matter, and she blushed while hastily adjusting her open collar upon sensing Hachiman's gaze.

Caught in the act, Hachiman awkwardly touched his nose and averted his eyes.

"It's alright. After all, it's been a while since you faced a worthy opponent, Busujima-senpai. It's natural for your emotions to get a bit out of control. Besides, I'm not injured, am I?"

Hachiman, ever the observant one, recognized the true nature of Saeko's personality as soon as she spoke.

But as he pointed out, a kendo enthusiast like Saeko, who had been holding back for so long, could understandably lose control when finally confronted with an evenly matched opponent.

Indeed, he had also received an apology just moments ago, hadn't he?

"Well, thank you, Hikigaya-kun, for being understanding. If we have the opportunity in the future, we can practice together more." Saeko straightened herself up, extending an inviting smile that clearly expressed her delight.

It was like experiencing a long-awaited rain after a drought.

"Of course, no problem. If you have the time in the future, Busujima-senpai is always welcome to spar with me," Hachiman replied with a smile, nodding in agreement.

Despite Saeko's earlier unusual state, Hachiman had genuinely enjoyed their recent bout, feeling a profound sense of exhilaration.

It was this genuine enjoyment that led him to accept Saeko's invitation without hesitation.

As the spectators watching the duel below erupted in applause, clearly deeming it a splendid contest, Katsura promptly approached Hachiman's side.

"Hikigaya-san, you're incredible! You managed to hold your own against the president!" The girl by Hachiman's side beamed with admiration, her eyes sparkling.

Hachiman, however, shook his head. "I'm not evenly matched with Busujima-senpai. If it had been a real fight just now, I would have lost."

It was true that in terms of physical strength and endurance, the current Hachiman surpassed Saeko, but when it came to kendo skills, he was clearly outmatched.

"That's quite impressive. I've heard from the senior members in the club that it's been quite some time since anyone has been able to spar with President Busujima like this."

"Indeed, Hikigaya-kun, ever since the president won the Inter-High Kendo championship, no one has been able to match her. In terms of kendo, you're already stronger than anyone else in the club."

At that moment, a voice chimed in, reaching the ears of the two.

It was none other than Shuji Fujita, the vice president of the Kendo Club!

------------------------------------------------

Chapter 40: Busy Saturday

Chapter 41: Aiming for Ten Million


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