Under the moon’s illumination, a boy stood looking up at the night sky, his stubborn, sharp eyes reflecting the starlight.
A woman walked over from the distance of the road and stopped beside Hikigaya Hachiman.
“If I had managed to arrive a little earlier, things wouldn’t have ended up like this.”
Hiratsuka Shizuka, a woman nearing thirty who would drink and cry over failed matchmaking meetings, had appeared here—appeared on the battlefield where he had just fought a monster.
“Is Hiratsuka-sensei out for a walk as well?” Hikigaya Hachiman wiped the tears from the corners of his eyes and looked at her.
Although he had many thoughts and questions, the words changed meaning as they reached his lips.
“Not exactly.
Let’s walk and talk.”
The two walked forward side by side.
They hadn’t gone far before Shizuka stopped, distractedly taking a cigarette out of her pocket and putting it between her lips.
She shielded it with one hand while pulling out a lighter with the other.
Perhaps because the wind was too strong, she had to click it three times before the cigarette ignited.
After exhaling a long plume of smoke mixed with a sigh, she looked deeply at Hikigaya Hachiman’s profile.
“Honestly, children these days are truly troublesome.
When you have problems, you should just talk to a teacher, instead of choosing to suffer in silence.
Besides, a teacher’s age isn’t just for show; I have a lot more life experience…
Come to think of it, I was shocked when I saw that kouhai running out all by herself…”
She took another long drag of her cigarette, followed by a long silence.
“Well, compared to your age, Sensei, it’s true that I’m immature.
But Yotsuya Miko-san is the type of person who doesn’t want to trouble others.
Even so, no matter how terrifying the sight she saw was, she didn’t cry out.
If it weren’t for my own impulsive decision…
anyway, she is quite strong, so Sensei doesn’t need to worry too much.” Feeling the warmth beneath Shizuka’s words, Hikigaya Hachiman intentionally steered the conversation toward Yotsuya Miko.
At that moment, Shizuka flexed her knuckles and threw a punch toward Hikigaya Hachiman’s abdomen.
However, just as it neared his stomach, she withdrew all her strength, instead raising her arm to gently rest it on his shoulder, turning his body toward her.
“Don’t change the subject.
I’m talking about you.
If…
if you had died just like that, what would your family do?”
Facing her gaze, which was filled with concern, Hikigaya Hachiman shamefully turned his head away.
“In that kind of moment, how could I think about myself?
I at least gave it some proper consideration; it was the optimal solution.”
“An optimal solution?
Is the optimal solution for you to go throw your life away?” Shizuka’s emotions grew agitated, and her voice rose.
“Uh…
well, isn’t protecting a kouhai an obligation for a senpai?
Besides, Sensei, you came, didn’t you…” Realizing the care spilling over in Shizuka’s words, Hikigaya Hachiman noticed he was making excuses and sullenly shut his mouth.
“Don’t!
Sobu High never taught such a thing.
As for why I came, firstly, it’s because you are my most promising student.
Secondly, as a jujutsu sorcerer, I have the ability to deal with this kind of curse.
I’m not like you, rushing in without regard for the consequences.” Shizuka lectured him sternly, waving her fist in triumph when mentioning her status as a jujutsu sorcerer.
“Acting out of justice really does require measuring one’s own strength, but…
I can’t just stand by and watch someone die,” Hikigaya Hachiman turned his head back, unexpectedly stopping his excuses and replying earnestly.
Although he was very curious about the curses and jujutsu sorcerers Shizuka had mentioned, he didn’t ask.
Sometimes, knowing too much isn’t a good thing.
“You really are like a male lead in an anime, kid.”
“No, no.
Compared to those who take it upon themselves to protect world peace and uphold justice, I’m just doing it for my own pathetic self-satisfaction.”
Helping Yotsuya Miko wasn’t for the sake of a reward, nor was it out of any high-minded virtue; it was merely a form of self-satisfaction unique to Hikigaya Hachiman—it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to call it selfish.
Pursuing a reward like selling goods was not his goal.
What Hikigaya Hachiman sought was definitely not aid when facing adversity, nor was it huddling together for warmth in the cold.
The reason he helped was to seek inner peace.
Just as one’s heart surges when looking at the ocean, seeing someone in a desperate situation naturally makes one agitated.
To settle his own heart, he had to save them.
However, just like Hikigaya Hachiman himself, not everyone wishes to be helped.
This kind of uninvited action is more like a mandatory purchase at a tourist spot; it is a very self-righteous, arbitrary, and arrogant act.
Therefore, he didn’t need praise, gratitude, or admiration.
He was no hero.
Hiratsuka-sensei neither agreed nor disagreed.
She exhaled another long cloud of smoke before putting on a spirited expression.
“Is that so?
In that case, for the sake of this ‘self-satisfaction’ of yours, I will teach you how to fight against curses.”
“I…
we?”
“Yes.
Did you think your rash behavior wouldn’t involve the people around you?
The moment you took action, the ‘shining path’ you were on came to an end.”
‘What is a ‘shining path’?’
Before Hikigaya Hachiman could retort, Sensei added with a serious face: “However, as long as you follow my lesson plan, there won’t be any mistakes.”
She looked up at the moon’s position and rolled up her sleeve to check the time.
“It’s about time to head back.
You should go home, too.
I’ll come find you all tomorrow.”
“Understood.
Then, I’ll be going.”
Hikigaya Hachiman turned to leave, but Shizuka called him to a stop.
She seemed to have something else to say, and this time, her voice was even deeper: “Hikigaya…”
Hikigaya Hachiman turned back to see Sensei wearing a slightly troubled smile.
“What should I say…
whether it was the decision to let your kouhai run away, or your choice to fight a powerful monster alone, from the result, you did a great job.”
“But, I really don’t want to praise you.”
Sensei gently reached out toward Hikigaya Hachiman’s cheek, stroking it softly.
“No, there’s nothing worth praising…”
“Hikigaya, helping others should never become a reason for you to think that hurting yourself doesn’t matter.” The faint scent of tobacco and her incongruously soft fingertips radiated warmth.
“The lecture is over.
Go on.”
“Yes…”
With a response that hardly qualified as a greeting, Hikigaya Hachiman walked toward home under the moonlight.
Yet, even as he disappeared into the end of the road, he could still feel a pair of gentle eyes watching him.