Life As Hikigaya Hachiman

A/N:

Here's a progression of kendo rank titles from lower to higher levels:

1. Novice Kendoka:

(is a beginner-level practitioner in the martial art of kendo, just starting to learn its basics.)

2. Intermediate Kendoka:

(is a practitioner who has progressed beyond the beginner stage in practicing kendo, showing a grasp of fundamental techniques and principles while still developing their skills further.)

3. Advanced Kendoka:

( is a practitioner who has moved beyond the intermediate level in kendo, demonstrating a deeper understanding of techniques and principles and showcasing a higher level of skill and proficiency.)

4. Expert Kendoka:

( is a practitioner who has reached a highly skilled level in kendo, demonstrating a mastery of techniques, principles, and strategies. They have accumulated significant experience and are capable of performing at an advanced level in various situations.)

5. Master Kendoka:

( is the highest level of proficiency in kendo. These practitioners possess exceptional skill, deep knowledge of techniques and strategies, and a profound understanding of the art's philosophy. They often contribute to the kendo community and are regarded as exemplars of the martial art.)

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At precisely 3:30 in the afternoon, the dismissal bell rang.

Hachiman, who was originally part of the "Returning Home Club,"opted not to head home immediately; he chose to stay. Unlike the Hikigaya Hachiman from the original story, he remained quite curious about Japanese high school clubs.

After all, he planned to join Yukino's service club during his second year of high school, so why not take this time to enjoy being part of a club for fun?

He found himself uninterested in clubs related to light music, tea ceremonies, calligraphy, painting, and etc. After some inquiries and navigating, he eventually reached his destination.

The Kendo Club.

Truth be told, Hachiman remained quite intrigued by the Kendo Club. On one hand, it stemmed from men's innate fascination with swords, and on the other, Hachiman had a certain inclination due to his system.

With the aid of the system, his future accomplishments in kendo were bound to be commendable, likely reaching the rank of an Expert Kendoka or perhaps even that of a Master Kendoka.

How impressive!

He had come across information online that revealed the prestigious title of Master Kendoka was held by just five individuals. Among them, three hailed from the Three Great Kendo Clans. Interestingly, the Zenin Clan was one of those, which brought him relief in knowing that curse spirits didn't exist in this world.

Upon arriving at the Kendo Club, Hachiman noted that a considerable number of people had already gathered there. Naturally, these individuals were predominantly male.

"Excuse me," a rather tall boy approached at that moment.

"I'm Fujita Shuji, the vice president of the Kendo Club. What can I help you with?"

"Hello, Fujita-senpai. I'm Hikiya Hachiman, a first-year freshman, and I'm interested in checking out the Kendo Club," Hachiman responded with a friendly smile.

Upon hearing this, Fujita Shuji's face brightened with a genuine smile. "No problem, Hikigaya-san. As luck would have it, our president is currently putting on a kendo demonstration for other freshmen who are considering joining the club. You're welcome to come and watch as well."

"Sure thing, Fujita-senpai."

Following Fujita-senpai, Hachiman arrived at a spot where a crowd had gathered. The majority of the individuals here were boys, and their faces seemed to display a mix of excitement.

This left Hachiman somewhat puzzled.

Isn't it just a kendo demonstration? There's no need to be this excited.

A boy closest to Hachiman noticed his arrival, sharing a knowing look and even making room for him, offering a friendly smile in the process.

As Hachiman reached the space the boy had created, he followed the collective gaze of the boys and suddenly grasped what was happening.

He laid his eyes on a beautiful woman.

Indeed, she was a stunning beauty. Tall and graceful, her chest endowed with an ample figure. Perhaps due to her continuous kendo practice, her physique appeared quite toned. Especially those long, slender thighs—almost as if they could be easily encircled by one's hands.

Not only did she possess a captivating figure, but her appearance was also exquisitely refined. A pair of narrow, elongated eyes adorned her classically beautiful face, lending it a touch of allure. Her long, flowing purple hair gently swayed in sync with her kendo maneuvers.

This kendo practitioner was as irresistible as a poppy flower.

However, anyone desiring to approach the girl would first need to inquire about the wooden sword she held in her hand.

"Shh~~"

With an almost effortless grace, she sliced her seemingly weightless wooden sword through the air.

In Hachiman's perspective, this purple-haired girl was unquestionably the rightful president of the kendo club. Despite his kendo skills reaching level 3, he was undoubtedly no match for her. It was likely that her kendo had advanced to at least level 4, if not even 5th class.

Yet, this judgment was partially due to Hachiman's modesty. It was important to note that his kendo prowess had only taken a month to progress to the third level, demonstrating his quick proficiency. On the other hand, the girl appeared to come from a kendo background, possibly having practiced since childhood.

"Huh~"

Sheathing her wooden sword, the purple-haired girl released a relieved sigh. "That's the essence of kendo. I'm Saeko Busujima, the president of the Kendo Club. If you're interested, feel free to apply and join our club."

Her words brought joy to all the boys present. They had gathered here for precisely this reason.

However, just as their happiness began to blossom, the girl shifted the conversation. "Yet, kendo training can be perilous, so we'll only be accepting students who possess a foundation in kendo. My apologies to those who don't meet the requirement."

When the purple-haired girl concluded her speech, a chorus of sighs indeed resonated through the crowd. Many of them lacked a foundation in kendo, while others had joined the club with the specific intent of engaging with this captivating president.

"Fujita-senpai, I'm counting on you," Saeko addressed Shuji Fujita, who had been guiding Hachiman earlier.

"Absolutely, President. You can trust me with the rest!" Shuji Fujita offered a slight bow and nodded respectfully.

Having ensured everything was in order, Saeko turned and departed.

"Clap—Clap"

Shuji Fujita clapped his hands together and fixed a serious gaze on the remaining freshmen.

"Everyone, I'm Shuji Fujita, the vice president of the Kendo Club. I realize many of you are here because of our president, but it's futile. The president isn't interested in boys weaker than herself. If you aim to capture her attention, you'll need to surpass her skill with the sword."

"By the way, the president hails from the Busujima Clan, one of the Three Great Kendo Clans. Despite being just a second-year student, her kendo expertise surpasses that of every member in our club. She even emerged victorious in the Kendo Inter-High School Championship last year, when she was merely a freshman. She clinched the women's division championship. However, I doubt even the men's division champion could not defeat her. Hence, I recommend you relinquish such aspirations!"

"Of course, we warmly welcome any students who truly wish to join the Kendo Club."

Upon his words, a wave of discussion rippled through the gathering of freshmen.

"This... is quite formidable."

"The Busujima Clan, isn't that the same as the Busujima style that's renowned overseas?"

"Champion of women's kendo."

Unlike the sighs of amazement from others, Hachiman's facial expression seemed somewhat unique.

"Saeko Busujima?"

The name jogged his memory of a certain series, "High School of the Dead."

The story predominantly revolved around the protagonist and his team struggling to survive the aftermath of a zombie virus outbreak. This Busujima girl was one of the heroines, standing at a height of 174cm, weighing 56kg, and boasting measurements of 83-56-86—a seemingly perfect figure. Little did he know that the Busujima clan was one of the Three Great Kendo Clans. After all, he had only researched the Zenin Clan.

One of the most striking aspects of the show was its depiction of the heroines as open-minded characters, often featuring scenes that accentuated certain physical attributes. For instance, with Saeko Busujima, the most memorable scene involved her animated maneuver of dodging bullets with a noticeable breast shake.

However, amidst all the fan service, Hachiman's current preoccupation lay elsewhere.

"Is there going to be a zombie apocalypse in this world?" As he pondered this, he couldn't help but swallow nervously. After all, unlike those curse spirits, a zombie apocalypse seemed more realistic.

No, no.

Hachiman quickly reassured himself.

No matter how he looked at it, it was implausible here. After all, curse spirits didn't even exist. But hypothetically, if a sudden zombie apocalypse were to occur, his thoughts shifted. If he honed his sword skills, he'd at least have the means to defend himself in such an event.