kscans

Chapter 168 - What Can Be Done, Should Be Done, So Do It

Alright, this is no time to be thinking about how my teacher is a Sword Saint and cute and it's killing me.

The main Four Pillar War event is at the end of this month. The selection matches were held in the middle of the month… so five days have passed since then, meaning there are only about ten days left.

I need to hurry up and correct this weird habit of mine and keep asking for more lessons—my mind is racing, but.

"I don't get it…!!"

I have no idea how to break free from my complete reliance on the 'Outer' output. I've been wracking my brain while continuing the 'tag' game, thinking that building up my stamina is always going to be useful no matter how much I do it, but…

"Does it seem difficult?"

As I sat down, practically clutching my head, Ui-san, who continued her winning streak, approached me. She sat down next to her exhausted student and asked about my troubles.

"Let's see… I think I've grasped the 'Outer' sensation to some extent. I mean, I've been doing it unconsciously for so long, so that part is fine."

The sensation that Ui-san had said she could put into words but couldn't convey. Now that I had a bit of a handle on it, I understood why she had described it that way.

First of all, my image and hers are completely different.

She described it as "'Inner' is to pour in, 'Outer' is to grasp," but for me, it's more like "'Inner' is to wield, 'Outer' is to pull."

If you were to ask me what that means in detail, unfortunately, I couldn't tell you.

It's like being asked to describe the 'sensation' of waving your hand in minute detail; there's no better explanation than "it's the sensation of waving your hand." It's that kind of problem.

In my case, I used the example of a marionette, and that's pretty much it. It's close to the image of controlling a puppet called an avatar with strings called thought.

"The very fact that you've grasped that sensation makes you quite special, Haru-kun. Unfortunately, the vast majority of people never even come to recognize the two forces as separate things."

I'm sure that's true, and in reality, even if they did, it probably wouldn't make much of a 'difference.' Now that I've had a glimpse of the world the [Sword Saint] sees, I understand just how frighteningly advanced her skills are.

Controlling 'Inner' and 'Outer' simultaneously with perfect precision?

—There's no way I can do that!!

Even for multitasking, it's on a level that makes something like "writing with both hands at the same time" seem like a joke. I can't help but think it would be easier to be told to write the Heart Sutra and an English essay simultaneously; it's that level of impossible.

This is probably not about difficulty, but about 'aptitude'… thankfully, it seems I have a decent amount, but I'm no match for Ui-san.

I can say with certainty that it's impossible for me to master 'Shukuchi.'

However, if I could just learn to control them separately and consciously… then I could maintain the high-speed maneuvers that have made everyone around me call me 'abnormal,' while suppressing unnecessary stamina consumption and achieving greater sustained performance than ever before.

Looking ahead to the Four Pillar War, which will likely be a long haul, that should definitely be a plus.

So, first things first—

"A switch… that's what I need."

"A switch?"

Next to me, Teacher Ui tilted her head, and I nodded as I opened and closed my hand in front of me—also, Teacher, that hiragana-like pronunciation of English words is super effective on me, so could you please refrain?

"Like Ui-san, freely and simultaneously… I probably can't do that. But at the very least, I need to be able to switch my main output at will."

Now that I'm clearly aware of it, I can tell. I'm really only using the 'Outer' output for everything. Not just high-speed maneuvers, but even a simple hand movement like this.

At this rate, my 'Inner'—my STR stat that I've invested 300 points into—must be crying. I'm sure I'm using it unconsciously to some extent… but I can't say I'm using it to its full potential.

"But the problem is how to flip this reversed output…"

I can't figure it out.

If the problem is that I'm relying on thought control to move my body, then the solution should be to just move my body without thinking… but I'm already unconsciously thinking and moving, so in a sense, I'm in a state of "not thinking" right now.

It's a complete background process. If I could just open my Task Manager, I'd end the process with a flurry of clicks.

"You've lost the sensation of moving your body naturally… 'Outer' has taken over… In other words, you need to pull out the 'Inner' sensation once more, is that right?"

"Yes, that's right. This has become my natural state… so if I can just consciously pull it out once, I feel like I can keep it there."

"Then, let's just pull it out."

"Yes, that's what I… wait, um, that's what I want to do, but—whoa, hey?"

I'm struggling because I can't do that—before I could reply to Ui-san's casual remark, she stood up and pulled me to my feet.

"Um…"

"If the problem is that you think even unconsciously, then the solution is to make it so that you can't even think unconsciously, right?"

"……………………Y-Yes, that's right…"

—By now, I understand.

Ui-san is the type of person who willとりあえず do what can be done.

"Well then—let's do it."

"Haha… —Yes, then let's do it, thoroughly, please."

I'm not going to complain anymore either.

I want to be a 'student' worthy of my 'teacher.'

◇◆◇◆◇

But I hope you'll forgive my inner thoughts—three hundred consecutive rounds of tag is brutal.

As planned, I collapsed, barely breathing, and was well and truly dead.

"Haru-kun?"

"Yes…"

"It seems to be working well."

Her words are demonic, but her smile is that of an angel.

My teacher is beautiful and cute and a Sword Saint and truly Ui-san today as well…

—Hm…?

"Huh…?"

"No, no. Now that you've managed to empty your head, just stay like that and sleep without thinking."

My exhausted head, filled with a strange fizzing sensation, was lifted up, and as I tried to open my eyes, something covered them.

The slightly cool something was soft, and its comfort drew my consciousness in, easily unraveling my thoughts.

With my eyes still covered, my right hand lifted on its own. It was also taken by something cool—a hand, maybe? It was taken by Ui-san's hand and was being lifted and lowered repeatedly.

"Just a little bit is fine. Put some strength into it and follow me."

Follow—follow.

Following her hand as it moved mine up and down, I put a little bit of strength into my arm.

Up, down, up, down—in the end, what is this? What was I even doing in the first place…

Up, down, up, down—and then, the hand that had been placed over my eyes was removed.

"………………?"

As I groggily lifted my eyelids, I saw my right hand, which must have been released at some point, moving up and down on its own.

It's moving—it's moving.

It feels… —heavy. Heavy? No, this is, in a sense, powerful.

It was a sensation I had lost without even realizing it. Like a missing piece clicking into place, the sensation that returned to me was—

"How is it, Haru-kun?"

"……………………Haha… —Thanks to you, I think I've got it back."

—the unmistakable foundation of 'Inner,' which should have been moving my avatar all along…

"—…,…?……………???"

Beyond Ui-san's face, there is the sky.

"I'm so glad. Shall we call lesson one complete?"

Thank you. The smiling Sword Saint is beautiful even when looking up from below—no, that's not it.

Um… excuse me?

What is this 'pillow'?

Beyond the feel of thin fabric, this pillow that conveys a soft warmth to my head and neck, may I ask what on earth this is…!!

"A-a lap pil—…"

"Ah… fufu—a special treat for a student who worked hard."

And as if to say "it's a secret,"

her smile, with her index finger placed on her lips, struck me, with my dumbfounded face, directly—

"—, ——————————"

I see.

So today was the day I died.