Chapter 6

After school, Hizume Tsuki finished his homework in the classroom and headed downstairs, planning to take a stroll around the campus.

Rikkaidai lived up to its reputation as a school with a long history; both the academic buildings and the surrounding facilities possessed a sense of gravitas. Behind the shaded trees stood buildings draped in Boston ivy, bathed in sunlight and steeped in the cheerful laughter of students.

"Swish—"
"Thud."

The first sound was the release of an arrow from its string; the second was the dull impact of the arrowhead burying itself into the target.

Hizume followed the sound and found Sawada Jugo, dressed in a white top and black *hakama*. It was he who had just fired that arrow, landing it dead center in the bullseye.

As the captain of the Kyudo (archery) club, Sawada was busy explaining technique to his members when he caught a glimpse of the new student beyond the wire fence.

"Alright, take a moment to feel it for yourselves."
"Yes!"

He stepped aside and beckoned for Hizume to come to the entrance. Hizume had only intended to take a quick, secret peek, but since he had been spotted, he went along with the gesture.

"Is Hizume-kun interested in Kyudo?" Sawada reverted to his usual reliable persona.

Hizume hesitated for a moment before nodding. "I've learned it before."

Hearing this, Sawada’s eyes lit up. "Would you like to give it a try?"
"Wouldn't I be interrupting your practice?"
"Not at all. I’ll just go let them know."

Sawada explained the situation to the supervising teacher, and after receiving permission, he led Hizume to a shooting station at the far end. He selected a suitable bow and arrow for him, saying, "These are the club's daily spares. We maintain them regularly, so it should be fine to try them out."

Kyudo arrows must be customized to each individual's height, based on their arm span.

"My arrows are too long; they won't suit you," Sawada noted.
Hizume: "..."
*Class rep, are you doing this on purpose? Is being 180cm tall something to brag about?*

Hizume put on his *yugake* (archery glove) with an expressionless face, his heart cold and detached. Although he had never joined a Kyudo club, his family ran a shrine, so he had been immersed in the traditions and etiquette since childhood.

As for his technique, it went without saying. Due to his own specialized abilities, Hizume was a master of the bow and arrow. Never mind the incredibly light bow in his hand—even if the equipment were completely unsuitable, he would still be perfectly fine!

He nocked the arrow, drew the bow, aimed, and released!

A beautiful hum vibrated from the string as the arrow spun forward, striking the center of the target with absolute precision. Under the force of the shot, the bow naturally formed a *yugaeri* (bow turn).

Sawada Jugo: "!!!"
The supervising teacher: "!!!"
The Kyudo club members: "!!!"

"Swish, swish, swish—"
Three consecutive arrows hit the center circle.

Hizume lowered the longbow, feeling satisfied with his performance. Before he knew it, his hands were being gripped firmly.

Sawada said with genuine sincerity, "Hizume-kun, you must join the Kyudo club!"

***

The Rikkaidai Kyudo club was a powerhouse in the prefecture, consistently making it to the nationals every year, though they were still a distance away from the championship. With the third-year seniors graduating this year and the new recruits being novices, they had lost hope—only to have an archery genius appear out of nowhere. Who wouldn't be tempted?

Hizume pulled his hands back without a hint of hesitation and firmly refused. "I'm sorry, I have no intention of joining the Kyudo club."

The training volume for sports clubs was generally quite high, which would inevitably consume a lot of time—and he needed to earn money. He had already planned to ask Renji later and join a "go-home club" just to fulfill the requirement.

However, they clearly weren't going to give up so easily.

The supervising teacher said kindly, "Hizume-kun, don't be so quick to refuse. Our club is quite excellent, and with your skills, there’s no doubt you’d secure a spot as a starter. Think about it; no need to rush your decision."
"That’s right, Hizume-kun/Hizume-senpai!"

It made it very difficult for Hizume to turn them down. He could only be honest: "Due to some family reasons, I don't have that much time, so I don't intend to join any sports clubs."

He managed to look appropriately troubled, and the supervising teacher finally stopped insisting.
"I see. That’s a real shame."

Sawada was also very regretful, but since it had come to this, he couldn't say much more. He walked Hizume to the gate, saying reluctantly, "Hizume-kun, come by whenever you're free. You're always welcome."

In his view, someone with the skills Hizume displayed must have been practicing since childhood. To have stuck with it for so long, he couldn't possibly dislike it. It would be a waste to give up because of practical reasons; coming to practice at the club occasionally would benefit them both.

Hizume ignored Sawada’s "come home often" tone and said stiffly, "I understand." He then hurried away. *Too enthusiastic, I can't handle it.*

He patted his chest slightly and decided to head to the tennis club instead.

When Hizume arrived, the tennis club was in the middle of practice matches. He wasn't a member, so he didn't want to intrude. He found a perfect viewing spot on the gentle slope outside the wire fence and sat down.

The players were Sanada and Kirihara Akaya. Kirihara, full of confidence, let out a sinister laugh and issued a challenge: "Vice-Captain, I’m not the same person I was before! Watch me defeat you today!"

"Then let me see your progress!" Sanada remained unmoved by the provocation, displaying the poise and temperament of a true expert and senior.

The result was as expected: the steady, composed Sanada won a sweeping victory, leaving the arrogant boy with the "seaweed" hair in the dust. Rather than a practice match, it looked more like a coaching session from Sanada to Kirihara. Even to an outsider like Hizume, it was clear that while Kirihara’s skills were decent, Sanada’s fundamentals were clearly a cut above. The rhythm of the entire match remained firmly in Sanada’s control.

Kirihara knew this, of course, but he wasn't discouraged. "Hmph, Vice-Captain Sanada, I won't give up!"

Sanada, though serious-faced, was inwardly satisfied. "I'll be waiting for your challenge."

What a heartwarming (or not?) scene of father-son-like bonding.

But wait, was tennis actually this kind of sport? The swings were far beyond normal speed; without using cursed energy to enhance his vision, he couldn't even see the backswing. And there were even returns accompanied by flame effects—it was quite fantastical.

However, as someone half-involved in the jujutsu world, Hizume accepted it well. But after Kirihara got injured, his eyes turned red, his skin flushed, and his overall strength mysteriously increased—though he looked like his brain had been eaten by a zombie...

Was this "demonization" state actually just a medical condition? It didn't look very healthy for him.

The next pair on court were Marui Bunta and Jackal Kuwahara. One specialized in net volleys, the other in baseline counters. They were completely different types, and Hizume wondered who was stronger...

***

If you were wondering how Hizume knew so much without understanding tennis, it was because someone was providing commentary. Whenever a regular player had a match, someone nearby would risk punishment to provide loud, play-by-play explanations. Hizume couldn't help but hear them.

"Marui-kun, go for it!" The orange-haired boy clinging to the fence looked like a fan seeing his idol, his eyes—matching his hair color—shining even brighter.

Hizume’s gaze fell on his uniform: a white shirt with a light brown blazer, striped dark brown trousers, and small black leather shoes. *What a nice uniform!*

Hizume thought enviously, *I wonder what school that is? He seems to know Marui-kun. Should I find a chance to ask...*
*Forget it. What would asking do? Could I transfer there anyway? Besides, Rikkaidai’s uniform isn't bad either.*

Hizume’s gaze swept casually over the bushes nearby. Two boys suddenly pulled their heads back in fright. They were wearing the same school uniform as the "sheep" boy; it looked like they had been following him. Although they were acting sneaky, they didn't look like bad people, so Hizume just pretended not to notice.

Over there, the two were still terrified by that look they weren't even sure had been directed at them.
The boy with the red bob whispered, "He didn't see us, did he?"
The boy with dark blue hair and glasses was calmer. He pushed up his glasses and said, "Probably not. Otherwise, we’re so suspicious that he would have had us caught already."
"Is that so? That’s great..."

Halfway through, the red-haired boy realized something was wrong. "What do you mean we’re suspicious?!"
The bespectacled boy replied eerily, "Aren't we?"
The red-haired boy hiding in the bushes: "..." He had no rebuttal.

On the court, Marui and Kuwahara were playing intensely but holding back. Hizume had no idea how the tennis club members could tell; he certainly hadn't noticed. He guessed it was because they hadn't used any of their signature special moves yet—no proof, but he was certain of it.

In the end, Marui won, and the "sheep" boy cheered loudly once more.

At six o'clock, tennis club practice ended, and Hizume headed home with Yanagi Renji. On the bus, Hizume asked for Yanagi's advice regarding clubs.

"Join the tennis club."
"Huh?" Hizume was a bit stunned.

Yanagi explained, "You can come to the tennis club as a manager. I’m currently responsible for most of that work, so you wouldn't need to do much, and you wouldn't have to keep the same hours as the regular members."

Hizume was shocked, and Yanagi looked at him with a question mark.
Hizume: "Renji, you’ve been working way too hard!"

Having to complete heavy training while also handling manager duties—no wonder he was still working on training menus late at night! It was all because he was so busy!

Yanagi: "Actually, it’s fine..." Everyone shares the workload.

Hizume wasn't listening anymore. He slapped his leg and said, "Alright, I'll join the tennis club! Don't worry, Renji, I'll do my best to help you!"
Yanagi: *Well, that works too.*

Perhaps feeling he had promised too much, Hizume added, "Though, except when I have 'tasks.' You know, I still need to save up to repair the shrine."
"But any other time, feel free to put me to work!"

Yanagi was speechless. "There’s really no need for that."