An ordinary profession creates the world's strongest

To Shizuku, all of her students are like family. However, now that she's learned about the Yaegashi family's hidden side, her opinion of them might change. Thinking of this, Shizuku's eyes turned blank again.

Regardless of Shizuku's feelings, the Yaegashi family and their students provided assistance in many areas through well-connected people like the Director, such as school officials, neighbors, and distant relatives of classmates, all of which were areas where Hajime couldn't intervene. It was an indisputable fact that they helped a lot in these areas.

There were also those unscrupulous paparazzi, unscrupulous people who came to harass out of curiosity or malice, etc., most of whom were blocked by the Yaegashi family in an inconspicuous way.

Therefore, during the turbulent period since his return, Hajime had been working closely with the Yaegashi family. Hajime's visit today was to formally report that the unrest had temporarily ended, to express his gratitude, and to discuss future policies.

"Although the opportunity came from something unavoidable, it's a good thing for you. After all, you learned the family secret."

"...That's right. Although I'll definitely find a chance to ask them later why they kept it a secret...and I'm really annoyed that they didn't tell me everything all at once."

At this point, it's better to tell it all. Why do you only show it through your actions, but keep covering it up with words? It's so obvious. Shizuku narrowed her eyes helplessly at the dissatisfaction in her heart.

Looking at Shizuku like this, Hajime enjoyed the rare treat of tea and yokan while thinking in his heart—

Is it possible that Shizuku was completely unaware of the hidden side of her family and the mechanisms of her hometown before entering high school?

Shizuku wasn't that dull. On the contrary, she was exceptionally sharp.

If that's the case, it's likely that Washizo and the others have been doing their utmost to conceal her. This is the more natural way to think.

Moreover, they kept it a secret from Shizuku even after she entered high school. Maybe they never intended to let Shizuku know about this for the rest of her life.

She is an only child, but why is such an important matter hidden from her?

(Family expectations, and the resulting repression, huh...)

Thinking of this, Hajime naturally recalled the previous encounter in the ice cave. During the battle against the illusion, Shizuku confessed her true feelings, and Hajime listened to her explanation of the details afterwards.

Her family was very happy about Shizuku's talent, and people around her placed high hopes on her.

As a result, Shizuku's true feelings have been suppressed.

When Hajime first visited this house, he had the opportunity to talk with Washizo and the others without Shizuku being present. At that time, they asked Hajime about what happened in the ice cave.

Although they had already heard Shizuku's explanation, they still wanted to know Hajime's opinion. He was the only witness at the scene and the man their daughter trusted wholeheartedly. They said everything they could to confirm their daughter's true feelings.

After what happened in the ice cave, Shizuku had a new state of mind, and she explained it to them. They wanted to confirm whether it was her true feelings.

And Hajime assured them that Shizuku was absolutely sincere. So──

──I see. Looks like Shizuku is fine now.

──Thank you for allowing Shizuku to be a normal girl.

──Hajime, thank you for being her spiritual support.

The three adults all looked relieved, and almost knelt down and cried, not caring about their age.

Shizuku was able to love herself from the bottom of her heart. This fact and this growth were the most joyful things for Washizo and the others.

I didn't ask much at the time, but I could guess it to some extent.

(They must be regretting letting Shizuku embark on the path of kendo.)

It would be unreasonable not to be happy about her only daughter's sufficient qualifications in her own style. It was also natural for parents to have high expectations for their children.

Because of this, it was inevitable that I would be overly demanding in my upbringing. By the time I realized something was wrong, my daughter had already become extremely self-suppressing, unwilling to show weakness even to her family.

This must be why Washizo and the others kept it a secret. To prevent Shizuku from suppressing herself even more, they completely concealed the unknown side of the Yaegashi family.

But now they are still worried about Shizuku, so they are unwilling to tell her everything at once. Instead, they reveal the truth about the "Yaegashi family" to her bit by bit, as if to confirm it step by step.

Although this was just speculation, Shi was convinced that this was the right approach.

Shizuku roughly stuffed the yokan into her mouth and began chewing it vigorously. Hajime looked at her with a gentle look in his eyes.

"Even though your family is troublesome, they really value you, don't they?"

“…I don’t deny that.”

Perhaps Shizuku also vaguely sensed something.

Hajime used his fingers to pick up the yokan crumbs on the corner of Shizuku's mouth and put them into his mouth. He continued:

"Never mind. Although one of my wives will become a kunoichi in the future, I'll put this aside for now."

"No, and don't put it aside."

Hajime looked around. Shizuku had a stern face, but her cheeks were flushed with embarrassment. Seeing Hajime's reaction, her expression suddenly became fierce, just like her friend's Prajna.

Because she also noticed that the presence of many people was gradually enveloping her. Since they were all the scents of people she was familiar with, it was inevitable that she would be a step behind in noticing them in her own home.

“Hate it… I’ve given you so many instructions, and you still come…!”

"Alright, alright, calm down. I think it's because... they've already known that the turmoil in the world has ended, and now they're officially testing whether I'm qualified to be their daughter's partner. That's what they mean."

"Definitely not. They were just acting on impulse because none of their moves just now could hurt you. Not even a single one succeeded."

This is also very possible. After all, Jiu San and Toramasa are both thorough warriors.

However, even if they are such people──

"But, Ms. Kirino also joined the battle. So, it must really be a test."

"Huh? Mom's scent... is still in the kitchen. And she hasn't done anything to you, right?"

"This tea and yokan are laced with drugs. But the poison doesn't work on me... I think it's a paralysis drug or something."

"Mom—!? What good have you done!? Grandpa and you too! If you don't stop, I'm going to chop you up!"

Shizuku finally lost her patience, and her roar echoed throughout the Yaegashi household in broad daylight. She rushed out of the room, black knife in one hand.

Left alone in the room, Hajime ate the last piece of yokan, savoring it carefully while muttering to himself.

"Compared to Kaori's father, it's much easier to just use brute force to deal with him."

"Everyone, kneel right there!" Shizuku's furious roar echoed from the other side of the courtyard. "Huh? Shizuku, you've improved a lot!" "Very good, let's see the strength of the swordsman who returned from another world!" Washi San and the others said this with great urgency.

Then the sound of flying objects and screams were heard, and the disciples kept shouting, "The young lady has gone crazy! Requesting support!", "Don't think you can easily stop the young lady now! Organize the formation! Four-sided Thousand Punishment Formation, get ready!", "The young lady left that brat! White Tiger Team, go kill him now!" and so on. It was very lively.

Listening to the noise and feeling the multiple breaths that surrounded him, Hajime leisurely sipped the tea mixed with the paralyzing drug.

"Life on Earth is no different from that in another world..."

Hajime muttered to himself, with an indescribable complex expression on his face.

Two days later, Shizuku went on a long trip with her family. I heard that it was to attend a relative's party.

"Hajime, right now, there's a group of people in front of me claiming to be from the Iga clan and the Koga clan. They're dressed like ninjas, but they insist it's just a costume and won't admit it. What should I do now?"

Shizuku said this to Hajime over the phone, sounding like she was about to cry.

Volume 14, Chapter 6: Teacher Aiko's Troubles

About a month had passed since returning from the other world.

It is November now, and the temperature is a little cooler around three or four in the afternoon, making people feel that autumn is gradually fading away.

"It really hasn't changed at all~"

Aiko spoke leisurely, her voice drawn out. She sat on the porch, her dark blue sweatshirt a well-worn sight. Her legs dangled carelessly, her mouth half open.

The words "Hatayama" were embroidered on the chest of her sports jacket. Actually, it was her middle school PE uniform. This fact was sad in many ways.

This sloppy look is something that cannot be seen by anyone, not only your sweetheart, but even all the students.

However, to be honest, there is nothing we can do about it.

"The only thing that's changed is this bicycle that's been running around with Mom for twenty years."

All I saw were scattered weeds, old stone walls, clotheslines, and rusty gasoline drums of unknown purpose.

A scene so familiar yet so nostalgic—the Hatakeyama family yard. The bicycle my mother used to ride was covered in rust, its sprockets falling off, its tires punctured, and unable to even stand on its own, forced to lean against the stone wall. Just looking at it filled me with sorrow.

That's right. Aiko is now back in her hometown.

Not long ago, Aiko had been struggling mightily through a period that was, in every way, horrific. Hajime had then forced the situation to a close, and preparations had been completed for her return to work and her resumption of studies at the school. The situation was currently under review by the higher-ups at the relevant departments.

So, now that Aiko finally has some free time, she can relax back home in the countryside. However, after such a busy life, the sudden overabundance of freedom can make people feel overwhelmed.

“Hajime…what are you doing now…?”

Realizing what she had said without realizing it, Aiko's face flushed red with shock. She covered her face with her hands and rolled over in shame.

In addition, today is the third day since she returned to her hometown. She has done this frequently in the past three days, no less than five times.

why?

(Wow… I’m the teacher, and Hajime is my student… Although it’s too late to worry about that now…)

It was indeed too late. Not only Hajime, but the other students would surely grumble in unison. Between the end of the Mythology Final Battle and her return, she had already spent several passionate nights with Hajime.

(I wasn't just being carried away by the atmosphere. It's just...)

Aiko's feelings for Hajime were genuine. They weren't just some kind of suspension bridge effect. Aiko was certain of that.

However, Aiko has been busy these days accepting investigations, dealing with the media, and contacting and discussing with relevant departments in order to allow students to return to school.

Handling so many practical matters personally, and having to treat Hajime as a student many times, Aiko inevitably became deeply aware of the fact that she was the teacher and Hajime was her student.

(Alas, how could I have done such a thing… I actually attacked my own student… Why couldn’t I at least hold back until he graduated?)

No, that's impossible—that's what Mini Aiko complained about deep down. Mini Aiko's design looks a bit like a demon. If the human heart truly has angels and demons at war, then Mini Aiko's angelic form would surely represent rationality and common sense.

(He invited me to go on a first date with Yue and the others, but I declined because I felt embarrassed...)

After that, Aiko was invited to the Nanyun family for a meal, and she never saw Hajime again. Although they kept in touch, they never met.

"...He's being affectionate with them right now, right?"

Aiko rolled over on her thighs, sighing deeply.

It was clearly Aiko herself who felt guilty and deliberately avoided Hajime, but now that she imagined it this way, she felt sad.

Honestly, if ten people saw Aiko's current state, all ten of them would conclude that she was a "very troublesome person."

(So ​​lonely...)

This is the true feeling of loving my son, without any falsehood.

(But, we are teacher and student... The turmoil in the world has finally subsided, and if the teacher-student relationship is discovered...)

Aiko's overly serious nature inevitably led her to have such concerns, and this was also her true feeling.

(Wow…and there’s quite a big age gap…)

Once troubles start, they never cease. Would you dare bring up the age gap in front of a certain vampire princess? If asked that question, she'd surely turn pale and shake her head. But now, she was so troubled that she'd completely forgotten about it.

"Aiko, why are you rolling around here? It would be so embarrassing if the neighbors saw us. Come on."

“Hmm…”

Stopped by the helpless voice, Aiko rolled over, looking at the person who spoke to her from an upside-down perspective in a failed back bridge position...

The woman with a round face and short hair wore a floral apron that Aiko had made when she was in elementary school and still wears regularly. She was Aiko's mother, Akiko Hatayama.

Akiko, one hand on her hip, the other holding a wooden basket filled with a mountain of oranges. They were grown in her hometown. The Hatayama family were farmers, primarily cultivating fruit trees.

"Do you want to eat?"

"want."

Akiko asked, sitting down next to Aiko. Aiko nodded frankly, but continued to lie on the ground with her mouth wide open, like a young bird waiting to be fed by its mother.

"You're so rude!" As expected, his mother scolded him. Helpless, Aiko reluctantly stood up. This laziness—no, it should be more like acting like a spoiled child—was also something he couldn't let the students see.

Akiko carefully peeled the orange and handed the juicy tangerine to Aiko. Aiko took a bite, and the sweet and sour taste, like the scenery of her hometown, was as familiar and nostalgic as it was in her heart, permeating her body and soul.

Aiko was moved and smiled in ecstasy.

She looked completely like a child, and with her baby face, she didn't look like a 26-year-old woman at all. Perhaps due to the influence of magic, her skin was unusually good, making her look even younger.

"...You don't look like the guy who was widely publicized on TV and the internet a while ago and was attacked by the whole society. You were so smart and handsome back then."

"I can't embarrass myself in front of Hajime—I can't embarrass myself in front of the students. That's for sure."

Aiko shrugged nonchalantly. However, Akiko's mother didn't miss the name she almost blurted out, and her eyes narrowed slightly.

"I say, Aiko."

"Ah...what is it?"

"When exactly are you going to let us see Nagumo Hajime?"

“Ahem!?”

The yellow juice and fruit pulp spilled onto the ground in the Hatayama family's yard. "You're so dirty!" Akiko's mother grumbled.