Chapter 85 – Arrival at Chiba Village: A Sudden Premonition
With Yuigahama Yui's arrival, there was only one member left unaccounted for.
The last and most unpredictable piece of the Service Club—Hikigaya Hachiman.
Finally, as the clock struck 9:45 a.m., the so-called Great Sage of Sobu High appeared, dragging his younger sister Hikigaya Komachi along behind him.
"Oi, Hikigaya. What time did I say we were meeting?"
"Uh… eight-thirty~"
"And what time is it now?"
"Nine… forty-five~"
"Then these will be your final words?"
"I regret—"
Before he could finish, a sharp blow struck his stomach.
Hachiman's body bent like a shrimp as Hiratsuka Shizuka's fist dug deep into his gut.
Her punch wasn't an ordinary one anymore—after all, she'd begun training in Breathing Techniques. Even at the beginner stage, her strength had multiplied severalfold.
Fortunately, that strike wasn't serious. If it had been, Hikigaya might've spent the rest of the trip lying flat in a ditch.
"Halo, everyone! I'm Hikigaya Komachi. Please take care of my hopeless brother!"
Komachi waved cheerfully, her radiant smile completely ignoring her brother, who was crouched over and groaning in pain beside her.
"Ahaha, nice to meet you! I'm Yuigahama Yui, one of the Service Club members~"
"I'm Yukinoshita Yukino. The club president. Hikigaya-kun is… one of our members."
"And I'm Yukinoshita Akira. It's nice to meet you, Komachi."
Polite greetings followed one after another.
Komachi returned each one with a smile, though her gaze lingered a little longer on the two beautiful girls—Yukino and Yui—who clearly cared deeply for her brother.
Then her eyes drifted toward Akira, and her expression grew oddly thoughtful.
As a younger sister, Komachi couldn't help but wonder... Would her gloomy, socially bankrupt brother ever manage to find a wonderful onee-san like one of them as his girlfriend someday?
Meanwhile, Hachiman, still nursing his stomach, had no idea his sister was already planning his romantic future in her head.
"Hachiman!"
A familiar voice rang out, filled with warmth.
When Hachiman turned toward the sound, a figure with silver hair came running toward him.
And in that instant—every trace of irritation about his stolen summer vacation vanished.
"I just saw an angel descend from heaven…" he whispered dramatically.
Even his usually lifeless, fish-like eyes regained a flicker of light. It was miraculous.
Totsuka Saika.
Akira, Yukino, and Yui exchanged knowing smiles. They had seen this exact reaction countless times.
But for Komachi—seeing a beautiful, gentle silver-haired "girl" run up to her brother with a beaming smile—was nothing short of divine revelation.
Her pathetic, gloomy brother… actually knew someone like that?!
"Good morning, Hachiman."
"Saika… what are you doing here?"
"Hiratsuka-sensei told me you'd be part of this volunteer trip. So, I signed up too."
"Thank you…"
The two of them smiled at each other—radiant, soft, and nauseatingly pure.
Akira couldn't help but chuckle quietly. Komachi smiled as well, her heart swelling at the rare sight of her brother being so… human.
But Hiratsuka Shizuka, standing nearby, frowned deeply.
That atmosphere—those looks—could it be that these two…?
No. Absolutely not. Not on my watch.
Japan might have been modern, but she wasn't about to let that kind of "relationship development" unfold right under her supervision. Especially not with a weirdo like Hikigaya involved.
"Alright, that's enough. Everyone in the car! You're already ten minutes late."
Her commanding tone snapped everyone back to reality.
The group piled into the van—Hiratsuka behind the wheel, Akira in the passenger seat, Yukino, Yui, and Komachi taking the middle row, while Hachiman and Saika ended up sitting together in the back.
It was… oddly fitting.
"By the way, sensei," Akira asked as the van started moving, "what exactly is this trip about?"
"Eh? Did I not tell you?"
"No."
"Oh. Well, we're volunteering in a rural area. There's a summer camp for elementary school kids, and we're helping out as assistants."
"'We'? Don't group us into your schemes, Sensei. This sounds suspiciously like something you were roped into—and now you're dragging us along with false promises."
"Ugh, you little brat. It's called proper use of authority!"
"Heh~"
"You're seriously not cute at all."
Hiratsuka muttered through gritted teeth, but she didn't push it further—she still had to focus on driving.
The van buzzed with chatter during the trip. Yui and Komachi bonded instantly, their conversation bright and bubbly. In the back, Hachiman and Saika talked softly, creating an atmosphere that could almost be described as… shoujo-manga-esque.
After a long drive along the highway and through winding country roads, they finally arrived at their destination.
A secluded countryside area—Chiba Village.
Despite its name, it wasn't really a village. It was a training camp facility often used for youth programs, surrounded by mountains and thick forests. Every year, kids came here to experience nature and learn independence.
"Alright, we're here," Hiratsuka announced, shutting off the engine. "Everyone out."
Akira stepped out first, his boots crunching lightly against the gravel.
But the moment his foot touched the ground—he froze.
A strange chill ran through his body, sharp and instinctive. His senses screamed.
"...What's wrong?"
Yukino's voice came softly from beside him. She had noticed the sudden change in his expression.
"Something feels… off," Akira murmured, scanning the forest line. "This camp isn't going to be peaceful."
"Don't tell me… demons?"
"I can't confirm it yet. But… most likely, yes."
"I see…"
Without hesitation, Yukino's hand went to the strap of her sword bag, gripping it tightly. She had trained diligently in Water Breathing and had reached the beginner stage. The possibility of a real battle both frightened and thrilled her.
But Akira didn't tell her everything.
The danger he sensed—it wasn't from an ordinary demon.
What lurked here felt far darker, far heavier.
It carried the same suffocating pressure he had once felt in the presence of the Upper Moons.
Currently, of the Twelve Kizuki, Upper Six—Daki and Gyutaro— had already been slain by his hand.
That left Upper Two: Doma, Upper Three: Akaza, Upper Four: Hantengu, and Upper Five: Gyokko.
Any one of them could appear… or perhaps, more than one.
Even so, Akira's eyes remained calm.
Now that he had mastered the Transparent World, his confidence was unshakable.
Even if all four appeared before him at once—he was ready to win.
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