As Akio and Shouko reached the entrance of the school building, Akio spoke, "Nishimiya, you should go on ahead."
Shouko turned towards him and showed a confused expression.
Akio thought that she'd be able to hear him as she had her hearing aids, however it seems she couldn't comprehend what he had said.
"Hm? it looks like she can only partially hear me with her hearing aids." Akio pondered. He simply restated what he said whilst using his hands to signal his meaning. That seemed to have worked as she lightly nodded and entered the school.
With his reputation currently, Shouko was better off not being seen with him. Akio was fine with not having friends. Of course, that only applies to elementry school. He didn't exactly want to hang around with kids: the only exceptions being people like Aomine and a few others, like his family.
If she interacts with him, others would probably avoid her too. Now... wouldn't that be quite depressing: such a kind and innocent girl having utterly no friends due to interacting with the wrong person.
As Akio waited for a few more seconds, he also walked to his classroom.
...
...
...
Within a classroom, Akio was currently in his guided reading. At this moment, one of the student's was reading a book whilst everyone else were following along.
"I didn't do anything wrong. So I will never apologise—" Ueno spoke, before suddenly being startled by the voice of the teacher.
"You call that reading, Ueno?" The teacher interrupted, displeased by her performance.
"Forget it, next. Nishimiya." He said.
Akio was currently sat quietly, absent minded as usual. One thing Akio had found out in this elementry school was that this teacher in front of him, wasn't a very good teacher. Not in the slightest. He does the job, but only the bare minimum: even berating his students without any constructive feedback which can be seen at the moment.
It was good Akio had more advanced knowledge which meant he could slack off in every lesson, but that gets old fast when you have no friends nor anything else to do but stare at the clouds.
"Tch, four eyes." Ueno mumbled, clearly annoyed by the teacher as she sat back down on her seat.
"I'm so bored!" Akio mumbled, his thoughts distracting him. Ever since he 'fused' with the World Hopping System, he found normal life too boring. He's seen many forms of fiction, and thinking about how he had a chance to go to any of them really makes his blood boil with excitement.
Akio was currently thinking of how to past time in his everyday life. Akio sighed, "It'd be really convenient if I had something like shadow clones. That would allow me to just ditch school and do other things... Hopefully I get something good from the lottery once I do everything in the demon slayer world."
"Hold on... I have an inventory! For the future, I can probably stea– borrow some of Rina's mangas and read them at school! I'm sure she wouldn't mind." Akio contemplated.
Akio knew that his younger sister was a complete closet otaku that liked to cosplay. It was a hobby she desperately tried to hide: mainly the cosplaying part.
As Akio was thinking, Shouko began her best attempt at reading.
"Qid beig sdubborn aready. Sai mom wid an egasberaded looc." She spoke before finishing her last line, "Bud I don indend do abologise." (Quit being stubborn already. Said mom with an exasperated look. But I don't intend to apologise)
"All right. Next, Ishida." The teacher stated.
For someone that was almost completely deaf, she read quite decently was Akio's thoughts.
However, apparently Ueno seemed quite bitter and thought otherwise, "You can't be serious!" She mumbled in indignation.
She definitely thought she had read much better than her, however Shouko hadn't been berated in the slightest by the teacher unlike her!
"What an unfair, cruel world!" Akio exaggerated.
To him, this was a really minor inconvenience. But, he was mentally older, so his viewpoint on the world was much more different. Small issues like this one, wouldn't affect him in the slightest. However, to kids, small things in their eyes was much more vast.
It was somewhat reasonable.
They still haven't grasped the concept that not everyone was born the 'same' so when someone gets special treatment, they feel bitterness.
As Ishida stood up and began reading, Akio was rather speechless and left in astonishment from his performance.
It wasn't because he was some deity reading profound words. No, no. It was because Ishida was speaking incoherently: he was mocking a deaf girl!
"Is this guy serious?" Akio contemplated. "I know some kids are pretty stupid, but still..."
Akio glanced at the clueless girl who didn't even know that someone was mocking her just behind — the class bursting into laughter.
"Take this seriously, Ishida" The teacher spoke indifferently, not caring in the slightest about what the boy did.
"Huh? Set an example or something! Who hired this guy?" Akio thought internally.
"Sigh, whatever. it's not my problem." Akio decided. He wasn't some hero that'll save everyone on a whim.
He just gave shouko a glance, his eyes not revealing any of his inner thoughts.
Ishida once again began speaking nonsensically, "Bleh, ble–"
However, he was shortly interrupted when an object came flying at his face producing a *smack* sound.
The class immediately fell silent.
"I changed my mind." Akio let out a sigh.
"I swear I'm gonna get transfered to another new school soon." Akio pondered helplessly.
Akio had thrown a book at the boy's head with top tier precision!
Why did Akio do this? Well, it's as simple as he just wanted to. Akio had a good impression on Shouko, and seeing how utterly clueless she is to being bullied — he defended her out of pity.
"Komiy–" The teacher tried to scold Akio.
Akio quickly interrupted him, "Sorry! my hand slipped..." He said sheepishly.
Akio didn't care in the slightest if he were to get in trouble.
Truthfully, he was already close to being able to conquer the world right now. Even if someone were to send a nuke at him, he can just go to another world — get stronger and come back for vengeance!
However, unexpectedly, the teacher just gave Akio a look like: "I don't get paid enough for this" and completely dismissed Akio's act of violence.
Ishida was currently rubbing his forehead — clearly in some kind of pain.
"Sigh. Just go get your book. Don't let it happen again." The teacher replied.
"Huh, would you look at that. I didn't even get in trouble!" Akio thought, before giving a nod.
"I guess that's one merit of a bad teacher." Akio chuckled.
...
School quickly ended.
At this moment, Akio was thinking about what his training will be in the demon slayer world. Different breathing instructors had different training to hone the specific skills required to learn a breathing technique.
All breathing techniques are very hard to learn and master if you were a regular human. Akio would have preferred to learn sun breathing, however he wouldn't complain about flame. Afterall, he only needs the combat skills. Furthermore, breathing techniques are used for a human to release their full potential.
So, they all generally served the same purpose — just that sun breathing had more profound sword techniques. However, if Akio raised his stats, he could achieve the same results.
Akio definitely wouldn't underestimate the training as well. Although he wasn't a lazy person, he was sure it would push his body to it's limits.
So, Akio was looking forward to it!
As Akio left the school building, he noticed Shouko with her friends, or — more like — the people she's hanging out with.
She seemed somewhat isolated and not a part of the group. Her presence was like thin air. After a short moment, he noticed Ueno leave with her friends.
As Akio continued walking, Shouko had spotted him from the corner of her eye — giving him a smile.
Akio just gave an awkward wave of his hand in response.
After a short while, they once again walked together.
Akio was use to walking alone after a few months in this school. In his previous one, he usually walked with his sisters so he didn't mind Shouko's company. It was pleasantly peaceful.
They soon reached a spot where they would have to take separate paths.
"Nishimiya, my house is that way." Akio spoke and pointed,indicating that they had to split up.
Shouko gave a look and nodded.
Before Akio could leave however, she tried communicating via sign language.
"This..." Akio rubbed his nose, somewhat confused. He felt a little embarrassed that he couldn't understand her intentions, and simply thought she was thanking him or something.
Akio just gave a cursory nod, before turning around and leaving.
Shouko pouted slightly. It seems she realised Akio didn't have a clue as to what she was trying tell him. But, she wasn't annoyed or anything — this was a common occurence to her.
Suddenly, Akio felt a light tug on his shirt before turning around to see Shouko in front of him. He was a little caught off guard and confused before asking her what she needed.
"Yes?" Akio asked.
"Frens..." Nishimiya spoke gently — dispelling Akio's little misunderstanding he had a few seconds ago.
Akio's mouth formed an 'O' shape as he realised what she was trying to tell him in sign language previously.
Akio was somewhat hesitant, however as he looked at her hopeful face — it was a little hard to say no.
Akio gave a small nod and replied, "Sure, we can be friends."
Seeing Akio's nod of approval, it looked as if Shouko's eyes were twinkling like brilliant stars as her lips curled into a smile.
Akio found her expression quite endearing — finding her reaction to making a friend quite sweet and amusing.
Shortly after, Akio arrived at his house, pleasantly surprised that he randomly made a friend.