Chapter 5: Before Transmigration

It's been 2 years and 6 months since I accepted Shizuku's request.

Well, it was my first time accepting a student, and I didn't have any prior experience in teaching people. So, I did what I felt like.

Well on the first day of our training, I notice some flaws in Shizuku's stance. So, I helped her fix it.

After fixing that she became more flexible in her movements, she kept thanking me after that, I told her it was no big deal.

She also invited me to her family dojo and introduced me to her father. As I expected her father was very strong, and we had a sparring match, at the end of the sparring match I won, but I can say for sure if my body wasn't superhuman I would have lost, and he also saw through that my primary weapon is not a katana but an odachi, I was seriously shocked to hear that. Seeing my shocked face, he laughed and told me not to worry about it, I wouldn't tell anyone, and kid you have my approval. Damn, the people who are old are scary and what with the approval part, approval for what? I didn't understand.

Oh, the dumb ass and the muscle head also wanted to fight me. So, in a fight, I acted like I had hit them in the wrong place by mistake, nothing too drastic just the little poke on his crotch. No one blamed me, they know something like this happens sometimes except Shizuku, she may have caught on to me, and I did it purposely, she didn't say anything just gave a deadpan look. 

Sometime after I introduced Shizuku to my dad. I told her my father was the one who taught me swordsmanship. So she wanted to meet with my father. On, one Sunday, I invited her, but for some reason, Dad looked at me amusingly and then told me to go outside to get some groceries, so I just shrugged my shoulders and bought it. When I came back Shizuku was sitting on the Sofa sipping some tea, but when she noticed me coming into the room, she turned red, I was confused, "Did Dad tell you something weird about me" I asked Shizuku, she stammered to her speech "n no nothing like that it's getting late, I should go home," saying that she left, seeing this I just shrugged my shoulders.

...

I kept training Shizuku, and while we sparred, I kept attacking at her openings. So, she learns to block and dodge those, when she gets used to my speed, I sometimes increase or decrease it just to make it tough for her. Whenever I do that, she gets annoyed, I laugh when she does that, but she still improves her skills and has won many competitions. Honestly, I feel proud seeing her win those.

On a side note, I hear there is a cult in our school they call themself 'The Soul Sisters' quite a creepy name if you ask me. For some reason, they are after me, from the beginning of school up to now faced over 40 attempts of attack, nothing harmful just trying to sabotage me in some way. Some come directly at me and say it's your fault, it's because of you, she is corrupted now, you vile creature. I was very confused, I corrupted who, I don't remember bullying any girls, and what with that vile creature Mombo Jambo if I was evil this world would have been doomed.

Oh, by bullying I remembered Hajime had been getting bullied, it started about 2 months after school started. It was Daisuke Hiyama and his 3 goons.

When I heard about this for the first time, I was almost about to beat the crap out of them, but Shizuku and Hajime stopped me, but just because they stopped me, doesn't mean I will not help my friend, so once I caught them in the act, I dealt with them, but after that Hajime asked me not to help him because if I do his plummeting down reputation will plummet even more, I ask him is he serious, he just looked at me determinedly. He is so stupid sometimes, I just agreed with him on the surface.

From that day on, whenever Hiyama and his 3 goons bully Hajime the next day, I bully them instead. Once, I was caught by Shizuku. So, I asked will you tell him, she just shook her head and said I know they deserved it, I will say nothing about this to him. So, I gave her a cheeky smile and thanked her, and she blushed for some reason, in a situation like this my otaku sense tingles sometimes, but I didn't understand why, so I just ignored them and walked toward my class, Shizuku joining beside me. 'Stupid' while, she muttered something.

In these 2 years and 6 months, I became quite tall. I am currently 5'9 and it's 176 cm, the same as in my previous life. From what I know I am taller than the original Rihito.

Maybe because he was malnutrition, he was born at a tough time in his world. Hope I am not jinxing myself.

And, just like that "THE DAY," finally came.

...

2 months later

"Hajime pov"

Monday

The worst day of the weak just started. Most people, if not all will just sigh in defeat and start working because if they don't work, they can't support their family. So, they just grit their teeth and go with their day.

And for Nagumo Hajime, it wasn't any different. However, in Hajime's case, it was not just a simple bother, the school was associated with a very bad feeling, probably because he was depressed. As always, when the last bell chimed at school, he opened the door to the classroom with his tired body from pulling an all-nighter.

At that moment, Hajime received many glares and tongue-clicking from the majority of the male students in the classroom. The girls also did not have a friendly expression either. It was fine if the people were indifferent, but some had an expression of contempt directed at him.

Hajime tried to play it off as he headed to his seat, but there were always people who would mess with him every time.

"Hey Otaku! Did you play games all night again? Was it a porn game I wonder?"

"Uwa, gross. Staying up all night to play porn games is super disgusting."

I don't know do they find this funny? The laughter came from Hiyama Daisuke. He is the leader of the students who bully on Hajime sometimes. The three next to him with the stupid laughing were Saito Yoshiki, Kondo Reiichi, and Nakano Shinji, these four were the ones that picked on Hajime the most frequently.

As Hiyama stated, Hajime was an otaku. Hajime's appearance and behaviour were not that bad to be called "Kimoota" (otaku and socially awkward) or to be ridiculed. His hair was trimmed short and he did not have bedhead hair. He did not have an assertive personality but that did not mean he was anti-social; besides he could talk to people. He was quiet, but he did not give off a feeling of creepiness. Hajime simply liked things like manga, light novels, games, and movies.

The criticism that otakus receive from society is certainly strong, generally speaking, the degree of ridicule varies but it never reaches open hostility. Yet, why do all the male students show unrestrained contempt and hostility?

The answer was a girl.

"Nagumo-kun, Good Morning! Almost late, as usual, you should come earlier."

"..."

The girl walks up to Hajime as she is smiling. In this class, no wait this whole school, she is one of the few exceptions that treated Hajime friendly.

Her name was Shirasaki Kaori. She is known as one of the two goddesses of the school, popular among both male and female students and known for her very beautiful looks. Kaori had long glossy black hair that reached her waist, and large slightly weeping brown colour eyes that conveyed a sense of gentleness. She had a small straight bridge nose, and thin lips of Sakura colours arranged to perfection.

Always the girl with the endless smile, is very caring and has a strong sense of responsibility that often people, regardless of school year, rely on her help. She is always seen with a sincere expression without any unpleasantness, which is why it is hard to believe she was just a high school student.

So, why does someone like Kaori treat Hajime so well? This has caused many sleepless nights for Hajime and the student body (He got average grades as a result), it was thought that it was because of Kaori's good nature that warranted the treatment.

Now, people thought Hajime's class attitude should improve, if Kaori was dealing with an Ikemen then it would have been acceptable, unfortunately, Hajime was very ordinary, and his reputation for "a life for hobbies" did not see an improvement in his attitude. That a person like Kaori could be so friendly with Hajime, the ordinary male students could not stand it. Often, they think "Why is it only him?" The female students simply, because they believe Hajime is taking advantage of Kaori's kind nature, seem to be uncomfortable with them.

"Ah, Good Morning Shirasaki-san."

Hajime face stiffened up as he felt the bloodthirst from his classmates. So, he awkwardly returned the greeting.

Hearing his greeting Kaori happily smiled. Seeing this Hajime screamed in his head. "Why do you look at me like that," Hajime dispaired because the bloodthirst just increased.

Honestly, Hajime didn't know why Kaori one of the most beautiful girls in the whole school would care for him. There had to be something more, but Hajime knew there was nothing interesting about him. There is no way a girl like Kaori could ever fall in love with him.

Hajime was tired of all this shit, he wanted to scream out, "It's all your fault" but he can't, he knew if he did that then he is doomed, all the harassment he received will be nothing compared to what will come after.

Then suddenly three new people walked up to them. They waited until they finished their talk.

Then a girl spoke, "Good morning, Hajime". This girl was none other than Shizuku Yaegashi, Kaori's best friend. She was one of the few people who treated Hajime kindly. Her disposition looks like a samurai and also her family runs a dojo, that teaches Yaegashi-style swordsmanship. She has appeared in many magazines; she also has a rabid fan base. She has never lost to anyone in an official battle, except that one time but that was not an official battle.

Then there was another voice "Looking after him again, Kaori you are really too nice for your own good" This was from Amanagawa Kouki one of the childhood friends of Kaori. He is what you call an 'ikemen', he is athletic, has a good face, has a high score in the class, has a sense of justice, and has a cool name I mean it literally means 'heavenly light'.

(a/n: I saw this in Wiki so I made this up.)

The last guy was Sakagami Ryutaro, who stayed silent and stared at Hajime, he was a big-statured guy who liked hotblooded things and had a moto of hard work, he disliked Hajime because he lazed around in class.

Hajime sighed in his head and greeted all three of them.

But maybe all the boys in the class did not like that, they glared at him. The look on their face told him "What gives you the right to talk to Yaegashi like that".

Hajime sighed again. He did not know how many times he sighed in one day.

Then suddenly a new guy entered the classroom. "Oh, having fun without me, let me in on your talk too." Hearing that voice the whole class went silent because that voice came from Sakai Rihito, who is said to be a delinquent, there are many bad rumours about him in the whole school, and he doesn't do to clear any of them. So many people believed them to be true, except people like Hajime, Shizuku and Kaori. Other than them everyone thinks he is not a good guy, so they avoid him.

Hajime heard the familiar voice sigh in relief and looked at him resentfully, he thought, [Why did he come late?] Hajime grumbled, He won't say this, but he really appreciates his friend because of him all the death stairs just vanished. Once Hiyama had heard, Rihito was friends with me so he also tried to bully him, but it backfired on him, Rihito beat the crap out of Hiyama and his three goons without even getting a scratch. So, everyone knew not to pull anything in front of Rihito.

Rihito Greeted "Good Morning" Shizuku, Hajime, and Kaori saying that he went behind Hajime and sat down in his seat, watching everything play out with an amusing look on his face.

...

"Chapter end"

 (a/n: Hello everyone, I will be releasing new chapters every three days. I'm taking my time to plan the story intricately. I apologize for any inconvenience.)