Transcendence Volume 2: Awakening

Chapter 40: Black Stream

[September 2, 2023, Tuesday]

[Second Day of the Tsukiyama-Aomori Sports Festival]

"Pull you fuckers!" Haruka shouted as he and nine other Tsukiyama students were in a Tug of war against ten Aomori students. While he did leave the Kendo Club, as a third-year he was obligated to participate regardless. He was fine with this, all things considered, as long he would not get into all things Kendo related.

However, their efforts were in vain as they were all sent crashing into the ground on a single pile losing to the Aomori students.

"Fuck, now I'm convinced we should have taken Koga-kun's Octopus Competition Tactic for the Tug of war," Haruka said in a low voice as he helped the other Tsukiyama students up while the Aomori students cheered.

"It's alright at least we're still leading in other sports." Another said offering a hand to Haruka, he shook his head and stood up on his own.

"Yeah, I guess," He stood up and looked to the side and saw Hanako standing from afar, their eye met for a moment but then they both quickly looked away on cue as Haruka walked away wiping his sweat meanwhile Hanako stood there holding a dry towel likely prepared that for him.

This caught the attention of a handful of other seniors who managed to catch a glimpse of it.

"Did they have a fight or something?" One asked out loud.

"He looked a bit off since the opening match so maybe it had something to do with that." Another asked.

"It's free real estate!" Another exclaimed excitedly.

Haruka wandered around the hallways while drinking a pair of water bottles hoping he can rest on the rooftop. But to his surprise he found Hanako sitting near the staircase on her phone.

Amamiya. Haruka thought as he walked past her. Well, as long as I don't talk to her I'll be—

"They locked that room to prevent students from slacking off," She said with a small smile.

"Dammit." Dammit! Haruka responded with a sigh as he finished the water bottle and crushed it in his grip in mild frustration. "Is that why you're here also?"

"More or less." She shrugged with a smile as she stood up. "I wasn't needed for the Volleyball Match earlier so I thought of slacking off. Though I admit I've been meaning to talk to you."

"If it's about what happened yesterday I prefer not to." He said walking past her once more. "I'm not interested in anything pertaining to him."

"Then why not listen to me talk to myself." She answered forcing him to stop in his tracks with a sigh.

"Go on."

"To begin with, I had no idea how badly his past." Hanako began in a low walking towards him. "And truth be told I wanted to let him from day one—"

Why didn't you? Haruka thought crossing his arms but stayed silent. All things considered if Hanako could have talked him into it if she chose to. But that would mean becoming closer with her, something that he was not yet ready to go through.

"—But I was scared, I saw how returning to Kendo had begun to leave a positive influence on you. Turning from a reclusive loner, a little redundant I know, into a rough-looking and popular Kendo Prince." Hanako continued, Haruka couldn't help but raise a curious eyebrow at her at the last part.

"And if you ever found out you'll turn into that disliked loner with a borderline self-destructive mindset. So I had no other choice other than to keep it a secret from you until now. But now I regret doing just that because I'm convinced that I more or less broke his trust," Hanako finished, it was a unique sight truth be told. The usually confident Amamiya Hanako was hardly present and in its place was a shy girl who just didn't someone important to her return into a dark place.