Chapter 17: Side Hustle at School
Akishin returned to the faculty office. Hiratsuka Shizuka had already made it back and was currently buried under a mountain of assignments at her desk. Seeing him enter, she paused her pen and asked casually, "Where have you been?"
"Just borrowing a few books."
Akishin set four volumes down on his desk. He showed her Zhao Hua Xi Shi (Dawn Blossoms Plucked at Dusk), followed by Ye Cao (Wild Grass) and Na Han (Call to Arms).
"And the last one is World History..." Akishin lifted a particularly thick tome.
He spoke in Japanese, and while Shizuka understood his words, the titles on the covers were a different story. Much like Hikigaya Hachiman, she could only recognize that they were Chinese characters.
Shizuka asked with a look of genuine surprise, "Chishima-sensei, why did you borrow so many Chinese books? Do you actually understand Hanzi?"
"I do." Akishin nodded with a small smile. He flicked open Zhao Hua Xi Shi, his eyes scanning the familiar prose. The elegant yet biting sentences brought a satisfied curve to his lips. "This is the work of the author I respect and admire most—one of the ten greatest literary figures in the world. Every time I read his work, I gain a new perspective." Of course, to truly appreciate it, one had to understand the social landscape of the era in which it was written.
Shizuka picked up Ye Cao and tried to skim through it, but the characters remained a mystery to her. After a few pages, she carefully handed it back to Akishin. "Just how proficient are you in Chinese, Chishima-sensei?"
Akishin had used the language for over twenty years since birth, graduated from a top-tier university, and worked in professional society. He was fluent in two dialects and possessed a vast vocabulary.
Compared to his Japanese, which he had only been using for a little over a year, his Chinese was at an expert level.
Naturally, he didn't share that part. Instead, he flashed a grin at Shizuka. "Not to sound arrogant, Hiratsuka-sensei, but I can read and grasp the deep nuances of these texts without any help. If you don't believe me, should I read a passage for you?"
"Would you?" Shizuka didn't decline; if anything, she seemed intrigued. As a child, she had once toyed with the idea of studying Chinese culture but gave up because it was notoriously difficult.
Akishin read a few famous quotes in standard Mandarin (Putonghua), provided a translation, and then meticulously explained the underlying philosophy to her.
The other teachers in the office began to take notice. Akishin hadn't lowered his voice, so every word reached their ears.
Their perception of him shifted instantly. Japanese society held those with specialized expertise in high regard, and mastering Chinese was globally recognized as a monumental feat.
Shizuka fell into a pensive silence after hearing his explanation, seemingly inspired by the words. Eventually, she asked, "Are there Japanese translations for these books?" She found herself wanting to read them.
"I believe so, given how famous they are." Akishin straightened his stack of books. "But even if there aren't, I could translate them for you."
"No, that would be far too much trouble," Shizuka quickly declined, knowing that translating an entire book was no small task.
Akishin didn't push the matter. He sat up straight and began to dive into the World History book. Even though this was a peaceful world, he wanted to confirm if there were any historical discrepancies compared to his previous life.
A few minutes later, Shizuka spoke up again. "Chishima-sensei, since you're so skilled in Chinese, how would you feel about applying as a Chinese language teacher at our school?"
Akishin was taken aback. "Does our school even offer Chinese classes?" He hadn't seen it on any schedule.
"Not in the regular track. It's intended for the International Education class. The plan has been in place for a while, but we haven't found a teacher yet."
Shizuka went into detail. Sobu High wanted to bolster its prestige and literary atmosphere by offering elective courses like music, painting, and Chinese for the international track.
That specific track was vital to Sobu High's standing, but the administration hadn't found the right candidate and didn't want to spend a fortune hiring outside experts. After all, the school was a private institution driven by private capital.
Shizuka offered to recommend him to the principal. If he passed the school's evaluation, Akishin could teach Chinese to the international class while remaining a P.E. teacher.
He would draw a double salary, yet his teaching load would only be a maximum of three sessions a week.
Akishin agreed to the proposal. He genuinely liked the idea of officially spreading Chinese culture in Japan.
Shizuka moved fast. By noon, Akishin received a notice from the principal and the board of directors to undergo an evaluation in the conference room.
The panel consisted of the principal, two key board members (representing the school's investors), various department heads, and the homeroom teacher for the International Education class.
The homeroom teacher was a middle-aged woman wearing gold-rimmed glasses, looking incredibly stiff and serious. Shizuka was also there, tucked away in the very back row.
In the end, Akishin passed with flying colors. The exam questions were pulled from standard Chinese proficiency tests in Japan, followed by specific grammar inquiries and various linguistic traps. While difficult for a foreigner, it was child's play for Akishin.
The board members, the principal, and the school officials all shook his hand warmly. Finally, Akishin was introduced to the International track's homeroom teacher.
As they walked out of the room, Shizuka still looked a bit dazed. Akishin's eloquence at the podium had almost made her doubt if he was actually a native-born Chinese man.
Akishin thanked her, and Shizuka told him he could settle the debt by treating her to a home-cooked meal. Akishin agreed, though he scheduled it for a couple of days later since she was still feeling under the weather from last night's binge.
News of Akishin becoming a Chinese teacher spread through the faculty lounge within ten minutes. He was bombarded with congratulations. A few teachers invited him out for a meal, but Akishin politely declined on the grounds of his health. He didn't want a crowd of teachers celebrating at his izakaya while he was the one stuck in the kitchen cooking for them.
During P.E. that afternoon, the students also started asking about it. Many looked on in awe. The rumor had reached almost every corner of the school. The International Education class, in particular, began to pay more attention.
During the free activity period, Akishin spotted Hachiman sitting alone at the edge of the flower garden.
"Hikigaya-kun, how's the arm?"
"Still stings a bit, but it's fine."
Hachiman looked up at Akishin as he sat down beside him. His arms had been screaming in pain yesterday, but after Akishin's massage and a night's rest, the condition had improved. He realized Akishin was a professional.
"Congratulations on becoming the Chinese teacher, Sensei."
Hachiman wasn't overly shocked; he'd already glimpsed Akishin's linguistic depth from the translation on the Dojo wall the other day.
"Thanks."
"So, when are you going to treat us to a meal, Sensei?" Hachiman let out a sly little smirk.
Akishin replied with a short, dry, "Hehe."
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