Chapter 70: Carp Day
After a restful Sunday, Monday signaled the return to work. As per his routine, Akishin arrived at school half an hour early to read in the faculty office.
At 8:30 AM sharp, Hiratsuka Shizuka walked in, yawning. Her long black hair was loose, and she wore her usual white lab coat over a professional suit.
He gave his usual greeting. "Shizuka-chan, good morning."
"Chishima-kun, morning," Shizuka replied, pulling out her chair and sitting down. She patted her cheeks to wake herself up before pulling textbooks from her drawer.
"Would you like some cake?"
As if he'd been waiting for this moment, Akishin produced a beautiful wooden box from his desk and slid it toward her.
"Cake?" Shizuka stared at the polished mahogany box. Through the crystal-clear lid, she could see a tricolor cake—red, white, and black—that looked exquisite. "Did you make this?"
"I did. I've been experimenting for a while, and I finally managed a version I'm satisfied with. You were the first person who came to mind, Shizuka-chan."
Truthfully, he had perfected the recipe a while ago, but only Yuika and Kaiko had tasted it. Naturally, he wasn't going to say that in front of Shizuka. Sweet words didn't cost a thing.
"Specially for... me." Shizuka's face flushed slightly. She glanced around the office to see if anyone was watching, then after a moment of hesitation, she quickly stashed the box away. "Thank you... thank you very much."
Akishin smiled and gave a small wave. "No need for thanks. It's just something I made. If you like it, I can bring it for you more often."
Later that afternoon, in the Service Club after school.
Hachiman and Yukino sat at opposite ends of the long table, the distance between them acting as a physical barrier. In the corner near the back window, three shinai leaned against one another.
Hachiman held a textbook, glanced at Yukino, and spoke. "Yukinoshita, do you know anything about the tennis club?"
Yukino looked up. "The tennis club?"
"Yeah. Totsuka Saika from my class approached me..."
Since there were no active requests, Hachiman explained Saika's situation and the invitation he'd received. "If you were in this situation, how would you handle it?"
"Hmm~" Yukino rested her chin on her hand, thinking it over. "The core issue is that they are simply too weak. If it were me, I'd make the members run until they collapse, swing their rackets until they drop, and train until they die... something like that."
Hachiman's expression turned a bit strained. That certainly sounded like her style.
Whoosh!
The door to the Service Club swung open. A familiar, cheerful, and slightly ditzy voice rang out. "Hello! Yukinon, Hikky! I brought a client today!"
Yui appeared in the doorway, and following behind her was none other than Totsuka Saika.
Hachiman instinctively recalled a proverb Akishin often used: Speak of Cao Cao, and Cao Cao appears.
"Hikigaya-kun."
"Hey, Totsuka-kun."
Totsuka, dressed in a light green track suit, stepped into the room. "So Hikigaya-kun's club is here."
"Why did you come here?" Hachiman asked. He glanced at the bag on Totsuka's back; it was definitely a tennis racket. This was going to be exhausting.
Yui chimed in. "Hikky, think about it! I'm a member of the Service Club too! So I wanted to do some work. When I saw Saika looking all troubled, I brought him here. Since Hikky couldn't join the tennis club, we can just change our thinking—we can help Saika as part of our club activities!"
"Yuigahama-san."
"Yukinon, no need to thank me! I'm just doing what a club member should do."
"Yuigahama-san," Yukino said, her eyes fixed on Yui. "You are not a member of this club."
Yui froze, her mouth forming a perfect 'O' shape. "I'm not?!"
Hachiman thought to himself, 'I'm not?!' Did she really not realize? Was this not the trope where someone just becomes a member by hanging around?
"That's right," Yukino continued. "I have not received an application, nor have I gotten approval from the advisor. You are not a member."
"But Chishima-sensei said I was a member of the Service Club!"
"Chishima-sensei is not the advisor, and he is not fully aware of the details."
"I'll write it right now! An application or whatever, I'll write as many pages as you want! Please let me join, ahahaha~" Yui scrambled to pull a pen and paper from her bag.
Yukino turned her attention to the guest. "Oh right, you must be Totsuka Saika-kun."
"...Yes."
"In short, please have a seat first."
"Okay, thank you." Totsuka set down his bag and sat obediently next to Yui.
At that moment, Yui finished her application and slapped it onto the table with gusto.
[Club Application: I want to join the Service Club! Class 2-F, Yuigahama Yui.]
Yukinoshita set her book down. "Totsuka-kun, the gist of it is simply that you want to improve your tennis skills, correct?"
"Yes. I feel like if I get stronger, the others will want to try harder too."
"Very well. I accept this request."
Hachiman, sitting to the side, asked, "So, what are we actually doing?"
Yukino flashed a small smile. "Didn't I just say it? Did you forget already?"
"...You weren't joking about the 'train until they die' thing, were you?"
"You can figure that out for yourself."
Yuigahama and Totsuka shared a confused look.
And so, the three "members" of the Service Club and Totsuka Saika began their tennis training. Every lunch break, they could be seen running across the tennis courts. Eventually, Zaimokuza Yoshiteru—who had nothing better to do—joined in as well.
In Hachiman's eyes, what was the Service Club exactly?
—A gathering of the weak, allowing them to live leisurely in a greenhouse; a place that recruited the useless and gave them a warm, comfortable spot to exist.
Both he and Yui fit that description. But was there more to it? Perhaps Hiratsuka-sensei saw this place as a rehabilitation center to fix his issues. But why was Chishima-sensei involved?
Even Yukino... Hachiman didn't know what "sickness" she suffered from—maybe it related to the bullying Akishin had mentioned—but regardless, he felt this place would never be able to "cure" her.
Time marched on, and soon it was May 5th.
In Japan, this was Boy's Day, also known as Children's Day. It was a national holiday, and schools were closed. Traditionally, there were three major celebrations for children: Hinamatsuri (Doll Festival) on March 3, Boy's Day on May 5, and Shichi-Go-San on November 15. Among them, Shichi-Go-San was considered the most significant.
Every year on Boy's Day, to pray for the health of the boys in the family, households would make colorful streamers out of paper or cloth in the shape of carp. These were arranged on bamboo poles with a windmill at the top and mounted on roofs. It was a classic scene, much like those found in old Doraemon episodes.
The carp, waving in the wind against the sky, looked as though they were swimming through a vast blue ocean. Legend had it that carp were brave enough to leap over the "Dragon Gate," a metaphor for boys growing up with the spirit to achieve great things. Thus, it was also called "Carp Day."
Akishin woke up that morning. After cleaning up, he stepped out of his shop and looked down Konishi Street. Dozens of houses had already put up their koinobori flags, their vibrant colors fluttering in the morning breeze. It was a sign of how many young boys lived in the neighborhood.
"Good morning, Chishima-sensei."
"Good morning, Mrs. Miyako."
Greeting his neighbors, Akishin walked toward Uncle Daiki's fried cake stall.
"Morning, Chishima-sensei!"
"Morning, Daiki-san. I'll take three fried cakes."
"You got it!"
Every now and then, Akishin didn't feel like cooking and opted for a simple meal out. It was a peaceful start to the holiday.
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