kscans

Chapter 38 -

Summer Has Arrived

Time seems to flow faster when you become an adult.
With everything that's been happening lately, I've hardly noticed it's already July.

"...There's an opening!"
"No, there isn't."

A strike interwoven with several feints.
Not bad, but still a bit lacking. I can't let myself get hit by that.

(He's so serious, even on a precious day off)

Today is Saturday, the most carefree and enjoyable holiday for kids.
Yet he still sent an invitation saying, "If you have time today, would you mind joining me for some training?"
I don't mind, really. I had taken the day off for some business in the normal world. After that, I was free.

(But these kids are spending their precious youth... Oh?)

As I easily dodge the series of attacks and get behind Hikaru-kun to hold him, I notice something.
Looking up, I see Rika-chan above me with both hands outstretched.

"Flyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy!"
"Huh!?"

Hikaru-kun is startled.
No wonder. The wind was released with such force that it threatened to sweep us both away.
I neutralize the wind with cigarette smoke and use the smoke to capture Rika-chan as she tries to distance herself.
After confirming that she's been slammed to the ground, I declare a break.
We need to hydrate soon, or we might get heatstroke.

"Make sure you drink plenty of water. 'I'm still fine' isn't actually fine, you know."
"Yes!"
"Okay~"
"Well then, let's evaluate your performance while we take a break."

...Man, I could really go for an ice-cold beer right now.
Feeling unsatisfied with the sports drink, I gulp it down and continue.

"First, Hikaru-kun. Your movements have improved. Definitely."
"Thank you very much."
"However, you're not quite making the right choices during combat."

Fighting by forcing your strengths. Fighting by covering your weaknesses. Or balancing both.
If we were to roughly categorize combat strategies, it would be these three.
After explaining this, I say,

"Given your temperament, the style that suits you best is fighting to cover your weaknesses."
"...Yes, I think so too."

Right. Earnest and steady.
That type tends to fight in a way that minimizes losses. That's exactly Hikaru-kun.

"Then you shouldn't do things that don't suit you."
"Things that don't suit me?"

He tilts his head, seemingly unable to think of anything. I tell him,

"I'm talking about feints."

Mixing truth and deception to land attacks. Isn't that the basics of fighting? Yes, that's true.
But poor feints can actually be a hindrance. Sometimes, it's better to attack straightforwardly if that has a higher chance of landing.
That's exactly Hikaru-kun's case. The real attacks are pretty good, but the feints are sloppy. They're at a level where I'd say go wash your face and try again.

"In that situation, it would have been better to attack straightforwardly rather than trying to be clever."
"Akatsuki-kun does seem like he'd be bad at lying. Like, he'd probably look super guilty after telling a lie."

Exactly.

"I-I'll be careful..."
"Hikaru-kun, your fundamentals are good, so keep improving on that while reconsidering your strengths and weaknesses."
"...Yes!"

I guess that covers it for Hikaru-kun.

"Now, let's move on to Rika-chan."
"Yay~"
"Rika-chan, on the contrary, your fundamentals aren't good. It might be boring and tedious, but you need to work on that properly."
"Ugh... okay."

She probably realized it herself. She nods with a guilty look.
But you know, they're parent and child, yet completely opposite in this regard.
In Chika-san's case, she was strong from the start, but she consistently and diligently trained her fundamentals.

"However, your combat approach was good."
"Really!?"
"Yeah. You're decisive above all else. In terms of the categories I mentioned earlier, you're able to fight by forcing your strengths."

Given her personality, a style that minimizes losses doesn't suit her.
She seems to understand this subconsciously. There wasn't a single instance of her fighting that way.
She kept pushing her strengths at me, going all out.

"The wind at the end was especially good. You knew I would protect Hikaru-kun when you did that, right?"
"Yeah. Because considering personality traits is part of fighting too, right?"
"Exactly."

Hikaru-kun probably couldn't do that.
If Hikaru-kun were in the opposite position, even if he knew for certain that I would block it, his inherent kindness would make him hesitate to attack with full force.
But that's not a flaw, it's a strength. I don't dislike that kind of kindness.
Conversely, it's not that Rika-chan is cold-hearted. Being able to take bold actions is also a strength.

"Just remember that strengths can become weaknesses if used incorrectly."

Rika-chan's decisiveness could lead to shallow thinking.
Hikaru-kun's kindness could lead to weakness in doing what needs to be done when it needs to be done.
Let's summarize for Rika-chan.

"Work hard on the basics. Your decisiveness is fine as it is. But if you consciously think a bit more, you'll improve even further."
"Think more... got it."
"Once we've rested enough, let's start again. Next time, try to keep in mind what I've just said."
"Yes!!"

What an energetic response.

"By the way, summer vacation starts in about two weeks. Do you two have any plans?"
"Nothing in particular. As usual, I'll do my homework, look after my sisters... and maybe increase my work here a bit."

Hearing Hikaru-kun say he wants to contribute money to his family really hits me hard.
Hikaru-kun puts whatever's left after deducting expenses for consumables like recovery items into his household...
I feel ashamed of my past self who only used money for playing around.

"I might hang out with friends. Mom seems to want to take me on a trip, but... you know?"
"Ah yeah, she's been looking busy lately."

When we drank the other day, she had this "hell is about to begin" kind of look.

"What about you, Uncle?"
"Hm? Well, I'm not exactly free, but I have some leeway."

I should be able to take paid leave if I want, and summer vacation shouldn't be a problem.
Well, that's assuming nothing comes up.
But there doesn't seem to be any sign of trouble or urgent matters, so I think I'll be able to relax this year.

"Then why don't you take us out to play, Uncle?"
"Me?"
"Is that not okay?"
"It's fine, but... would it be fun to go out with an old man like me?"
"It would be fun. Because even though you're an uncle, we can talk normally when we chat."

Probably because my sensibilities are still childish.

"Alright. I'll take three days of paid leave sometime in the latter half of July, so decide where you want to go."
"Yay, Akatsuki-kun!"
"Huh?"
"Oh, Akatsuki-kun is coming too, right? It's a good chance to take your sisters out to play."

The way she naturally includes Hikaru-kun and his sisters shows she's really an extrovert.
Hikaru-kun isn't exactly introverted, but he's serious, so he tends to hold back in situations like this.

"Well, um..."
"Kids shouldn't hold back."
"...Then, please."
"Sure."
"Hey hey, Akatsuki-kun, where should we ask to be taken? It's summer, so the sea? Ah, but the mountains might be good too..."
"I... either is fine. Ai and Midori would be happy with either too."

Hey, hey... are these kids serious?

"No, no good at all, Rika-chan. Your imagination is too poor."
"Huh? I'm suddenly being dissed?"
"It should be both. Play at the sea during the day, and camp in the mountains at night. That's the only way to go."

The second day will be all about the mountains. Enjoy the mountains to the fullest.
And on the final day, swim in the sea from the morning and head back in the evening... Perfect, right?

"Um, won't that be too much of a burden for Sato-san?"
"Huh, why? Even if I'm taking kids along, I'll be enjoying myself too, you know?"

Of course, I'll be keeping an eye out for any dangers.
But if I'm having fun too, it's not a burden at all.

"Uncle, your mentality is really youthful, isn't it~"
"It's because I never forget the heart of a boy that I can enjoy summer even as an adult. More importantly, let's think about what to do!"
"Yeah! Akatsuki-kun, is there anything you want to do!?"
"Um..."

And so, we got excited talking about our summer vacation plans.