Nagi: Hello, everyone! How ya been?!

Hayate: Mistress, this is the chapter 4 of Always By Her Side. How do you feel, Mistress?

Nagi: The feeling is indescribable! You know what, this story will take a time skip on some episodes thus far! Do you know why, Hayate?

Hayate: Why?

Nagi: Because the producers said we will take a huge amount of screen play and we rely on too much humour. But in Always By Her Side, we, the main characters will resort to be side characters since the series focuses on the mysterious student, Izayoi and the Student Council President, Hinagiku! The interesting love story that is about to be explore between these two main characters, I just can't wait!

Hayate: That's right. I can understand the producers wanting the series to be like this and our dependant of unnecessary humour also. I hope this series will be able to blossom more with the right set of humour, action and romance.

Nagi: Those three are my favorite genres!

Chapter 4: Let's Kendo!

Kendo Club

"You look good in a dobog, Hinagiku-san." Hayate complimented as Hinagiku nodded in appreciation.

"Thank you. Then, why don't I introduce you to everyone and try practicing, Hayate?" Hinagiku asked of him before she looks around the dojo for a certain someone.

"Who are you looking for, Hinagiku-san?"

"Hm? Oh…I'm looking for Izayoi-kun." Hinagiku answered.

"Izayoi-san is in the Kendo Club, Hinagiku-san?" Hayate asked sharing eye contact with the surprised Nagi. The mistress and butler looked at Hinagiku who looked at them in slight confusion.

"Yes. Why?"

"—I never expected him to join a club as you, Hinagiku-san. It must be a coincidence when you know about him joining the Kendo Club, right?"

"…Not exactly." Both Nagi and Hayate watch Hinagiku glances sideways with a faint blush visible. She then shakes her head before she looks at the two and started explaining. "Sakamaki Izayoi-kun is one year older than me. You know that, right?"

"But you've said he's been in Hakuo Academy for as long as you, Hinagiku-san." Nagi explained.

"He transferred here when I was first started attending Hakuo Academy."

"Really? How did the two of you meet?" Nagi asked with a slight twinkle in her eyes as Hinagiku stared at her before shaking her head and waving her hand in dismissal.

"—I don't think it's relevant to relate to this topic, Nagi. Anyway, didn't I already tell you about it?"

"But I am curious as to how the two of you meet personally. I mean, you can't possibly know him after you became the Student Council President."

"Did you really know him after you became Student Council President?" Hayate added to his curiosity.

"…No." Both Nagi and Hayate looked to see Hinagiku sighed before proceeding to continue. "—We met for the very first time…while I was saving a girl on top of a tree. She was trying to get back her kite. At the same time, I was with my family."

"…" Hayate and Nagi looked at each other before turning to Hinagiku who continued.

"I discarded my fear of heights to save the kid but…I got stuck instead. My family tried to help but my fear kicks in and I started falling forward, dragging the girl with me." A frown appears on Hinagiku's face before a smile replaces it a second after. "But then Izayoi-kun came. He saved both of us before we hit the ground. He didn't introduce himself back then as he was in a rush?" Hinagiku look deep in thought, trying to recollect the past memories. "Yes, he said he was in a rush. After that, he left. That was the time before I became the Student Council President. Aside from that, I heard rumours about him mostly but I never got to see him. The second time I saw him was when he was in my office after he punched a student across the hallway."

"…So how did he joined the Kendo Club?"

"That time, he interrupted as to ask a question."

Flashback…

"What is your question, Izayoi-kun?" Hinagiku asked standing across from the blonde senior.

"Nothing, but what club are you in?"

"Club?" Hinagiku asked. "Have you never joined a club before?"

"Not my problem to sort in the first place but the teachers insisted nonetheless." The blonde shrugged his shoulders to wave off the topic. "So, what club does the Student Council President joined?" A smirk is ever present on the blonde's face as he looks at Hinagiku who frowns at him before proceeding to answer.

"I joined the Kendo Club."

"Kendo, huh?" Izayoi thought about her statement. "If so, then you must be one hell of a swordsman, right?"

"—I-I wouldn't put it that far to call me that—" Hinagiku's face flushes at his compliment.

"If you're a swordsman, that also means you're strong even for a girl. Am I correct?"

"…What are you implying, Sakamaki Izayoi-kun?" Hinagiku raises her eyebrow, her blush disappearing as she looks at the blonde pointedly. "Are you implying I'm weak as any other woman?"

"No. I wouldn't put it past you, Kaichou. But in a way, I'd like to face off against you in a fight…What do you say? If I'm satisfied, then I'll join the Kendo Club. Though you can't expect me to be practicing. It takes too much work."

"I can't say I trust your word on that." An amused smile grows on Hinagiku's lips.

"The decision is not up to you right, Kaichou?" Izayoi smirked. "Anyway, it is only when I am satisfied that I'll be joining the Kendo Club. But If I'm not, then that means you're not as strong as some say you are. Since you're a girl."

"…I accept." Hinagiku answered as Izayoi smiles.

"This'll be interesting."

"It would be interesting for me too, Izayoi-kun. Have you ever managed a sword before?"

"Not much."

"…Alright. Then we'll meet in the dojo. Follow me."

"You know what, Kaichou?" Hinagiku stops in her track and turns to the blonde. "If I joined the Kendo Club, wouldn't you say I'm lucky?"

"Why is that?"

"Because I get to be with a beauty such as you, is it not?" The blonde smirks playfully as Hinagiku's heartbeat quickens and her cheeks darken resembling a cherry. "People say you're an idol amongst both girls and boys. They're not lying." He said shrugging his shoulders whilst standing across Hinagiku before he walked passed her. "Kaichou. What are you waiting for? Our battle is not one you should delay for, you know?"

Hinagiku snaps out of her trance before she looks over her shoulder to the awaiting blonde by the office doors. Turning around immediately, Hinagiku slaps her cheeks a few times before she shakes her head to get rid of the blush darkening her cheeks from earlier.

Once done, the pink haired looks over at the blonde awaiting for her.

"Can I say something? Do you really have a fear of heights? Is that why you can't get down from the tree before?"

At this, the pink haired stopped before she looks at the blonde raising his eyebrow in slight amusement.

"—Th-That's not one of your businesses to know!"

"I thought I should ask. Come on, Kaichou. I'll go on ahead, alright?" With that, the blonde left the office as Hinagiku murderously glares at his form.

"Izayoi-kun!"

Present

"Talk about harsh, Hinagiku-san." Nagi said frowning as Hinagiku looks at her.

"Why?"

"He was only asking." Nagi crosses her arms as Hinagiku sighed while Hayate awkwardly laughs.

"I don't think he should have said that…" Hayate thought before realisation came upon him and he turned to Hinagiku when the three of them arrives at the said dojo. "Hinagiku-san. Who won the fight between you and Izayoi-san?" He asked as Nagi realises this and nodded along, wanting to hear the answer.

"It's—"

"Katsura-san, there's no need for that guy to practice kendo here."

"Azumamiya-kun." Hinagiku looked at the guy standing across from them.

"Hey, butler. Fight me! If you lose, never come here again."

"We won't come again even if he wins." Nagi said as Hayate thought about her mistress of never trying any sport.

"I can't afford to lose." Hayate thought. "I accept your challenge." Just as he finishes, flower petals begin to appear in the dojo.

"Flower petals?"

"This is interesting. Become a sword for the sake of the master. Good mind set." Himuro appeared leaning against the entrance.

"You're Prince Necktie. Please give me back my neck tie." Hayate stretched out his hand.

"Thank you for the unique nickname. But I don't need one. And, I am not sure if Azumamiya will be good enough for the fight."

"What?"

"Take a look." Azumamiya looks at Hayate.

"…His fighting spirit is bursting the flower petals. But I see: looks like I don't have to hold back anything. Your name was Hayate was it?"

"Yes."

"I consider you to be the second person I must defeat for my, Azumamiya Koutarou's, future."

"W-Wait, why second?" Nagi asked.

"Because that first person…has already stolen Katsura-san's heart!" At the declaration, Hinagiku gaped in surprise.

"He must mean…" The other kendo members gossip amongst their own about Koutarou's statement before nodding along. "Yeah, he must be the one he's talking about."

"He's already stolen Katsura-san's heart. Even that Hayate wouldn't even be a match for him now…"

"Me?!" Hayate thought in genuine shock. "Why am I involved?"

"But I am not the one you will fight. Come here, Nonohara." Koutarou said which surprise Hayate.

"Nonohara?" Hayate asked.

"Your opponent is this combat butler, Nonohara Kaede."

"So hello, I'm Nonohara Kaede." Koutarou's butler introduced himself as he steps inside the dojo and stood next to Koutarou. "I'm a butler of the Azumamiya Family."

"That's him, Nonohara. Knock him out now!"

"As you order. But before that…" Koutarou looks at his butler who smiles wide before he kicks Koutarou.

"Wo, down, diagonal left down, left, kick," Nagi stated for every action Nonohara intiatied.

"It's not a Hurricane Kick!" Hinagiku scolded her.

"Nonohara, why…" Koutarou asked with a dumbfounded look.

"Sir, did I not teach you? If you are a man, put up a fight even if you know you would lose. Yet, you rely on others without fighting, and you don't do anything. I don't recall…raising you to be a weakling!"

Nonohara immediately beats Koutarou before pushing him back against the doorway of the dojo. "I will amend your rotten mind…"

"No!"

"Here you are, Sakamaki." Himuro takes a shinai and throws it forward towards the entrance of the dojo where it is caught by a hand.

Just before Nonohara could strike down his shinai upon Koutarou, he watches as two shinai appeared and blocked against his own.

"Izayoi-kun?" Hinagiku looked at the blonde standing next to her wielding a shinai.

"Yes, Hinagiku-Kaichou? Did you miss me?" A small smirk settled upon Izayoi's face as Hinagiku frowns.

"Why would I…Anyway, you're late as always."

"It all depends that I came, right? It doesn't benefit me if I stayed from the beginning. There's no one to fight but you." At this, Hinagiku's cheeks blossom pink. "Anyway, you're up to your usual strict streak, huh Kaede?" Izayoi looks at Nonohara who smiles at him.

"This is all part for my master. He needs to be a man for his own sake."

"True enough."

"Then, would you please not interfere?"

"I think interfering from this point is a must. Cause' she's the Student Council President and she can't stop herself from helping a student in need." Izayoi gestured to Hinagiku who looked at the blonde in surprise. "Even if that student is weak and—"

"A pathetic crybaby, I have to help him." Hinagiku finishes with a nod as Koutarou kneels down on all four with a shocked look.

"Wonderful, President." Himuro said. "Way to strike directly at the opponent's vital point."

"I didn't hit his vital point!" Hinagiku retorted.

"You really did, Hinagiku-Kaichou." Hinagiku glares at Izayoi who stifle a laugh.

"T-That's him…It's Sakamaki Izayoi-senpai!" The other kendo members exclaimed as Hayate and Nagi looked at the other kendo members before the two looked at Izayoi.

"—I get it now, Nonohara." Nonohara directs his attention towards Koutarou who stands up. "I can't be weak anymore! A man must fight and open his own path!"

"Sir! So you do understand!"

"Therefore! Fight me, Sanzenin!"

"Ehh?!" Nagi adopt a shocked look.

"Um, Azumamiya-kun. May I ask the reason? I promise I won't get angry." Hinagiku sweatdrop.

"I understand what my mistake was. It's weird for the master and the butler to fight. Or rather, there's no chance. Then the correct answer is for master to fight master and butler to fight butler!"

"Is he right in the head?" The other kendo members sweatdropped.

"No I don't think so."

"Looks like it's hard for butlers to lead their masters down the correct course." Hayate claimed with a sweatdrop.

"Master, that's wonderful!" Nonohara agreed with enthusiasm. "So you finally understand that."

"So they say, Nagi. What are you going to do?" Hinagiku turns to Nagi.

"Don't ask me."

"Oh fine." Hinagiku sighed. "Then I'll fight against Azumamiya-kun."

"Hey, Hinagiku!" Nagi expressed.

"If you start swinging swords all of a sudden, your body's going to break, since you haven't practiced at all. And even though Azumamiya-kun is the weakest on the team because he's the least professional, his strikes are all random and dangerous. It'd be terrible if two people who don't know how to use a sword fought and got injured." Hinagiku explained before she looks at Koutarou who kneels down on all four. "Huh? Azumamiya-kun?"

"It's fine…Looks like a match with you is an unavoidable fate." Koutarou muttered.

"You really are harsh, Hinagiku." Nagi stated nodding.

"Then all I have to do is to prove I'm stronger than you with this sword! Let's go Nonohara!" Koutarou stood up and looked at Hinagiku with a determined look.

"You two won't do anything." Both Nonohara and Koutarou look behind them before a single slicing motion appears.

"What…?" Koutarou mutters gaping before falling backwards with a thud alongside Nonohara.

"I'll be your opponent. If you don't mind." A smiling Izayoi stood over their bodies as he stood across Hinagiku and Hayate. "Two against little ole' me, this is not problematic for you, right?"

"—I hate to admit it, but it's quite fair." Hinagiku expressed her belief as Hayate looks at her.

"But two against one, isn't that a bit unfair for Izayoi-san?"

"Two is not a problem for him at all, Hayate." Hinagiku explained as her eyes turns serious. "He fought against every kendo member all at the same time, including me." She added as Hayate looks at Izayoi who strips his uniform to reveal a yellow shirt with a belt secured around the bottom shirt. "Ultimately, we lost. We even had coordinated our attacks precisely to attack him all at once while I land the strike to win."

"So did you?"

"No. We didn't get a hit on him throughout the fight. Hayate, you've said who would won between Izayoi-kun and I, correct?"

"Yes."

"—There's no debate to it. Izayoi-kun would always win." Hinagiku said with a slight annoyance to her serious tone.

"Is he really that strong?" Hayate stared at Izayoi.

"Don't be so modest, Hinagiku-Kaichou."

"You were messing with me, Izayoi-kun. I don't like it one bit."

"But you liked the tension is it not?"

"I hate to admit it but you're really one heck of a swordsman yourself, Izayoi-kun." A small smile crosses Hinagiku's lips. "And I hate to jinx but I'm gonna win this." She declared much to Izayoi's amusement. "Hayate, can I count on you?"

"Y-Yes!"

"This will be an interesting match." Himuro said as Nagi looked at him. "But I wonder if President will stay true to her words if she has your butler's help?" He looks at Nagi who turns to Hayate.

"Hayate! S-Show him what you've got!"

"Mistress? Yes, I'll do my best!" Both Hayate and Hinagiku readied their fighting stance while Izayoi shifted his stance.

"Come at me, Sanzenin butler. I heard you're strong but how strong are you exactly?" Izayoi asked smirking as Hayate charges towards him and strikes sideways.

But Hayate's strike was blocked by Izayoi's shinai.

Then, Hinagiku jumps in front of Izayoi to strike above his head. She gritted her teeth as she grounds her shinai downwards but she watches her shinai fazes through thin air as the blonde swiftly evade his body to the left.

"You got to be a bit faster than that, Hinagiku-Kaichou." A teasing smile crosses Izayoi's face as Hinagiku glares at him before she tries swinging her shinai towards the side of his head. But Izayoi blocked it with his shinai.

"Hayate, now!" Hinagiku shouted as Hayate quickly intercept to hit the blonde's head.

But the Sanzenin butler looked towards the shinai that defended against his own.

"What?" Hayate looked towards Izayoi before seeing him passing in between him and Hinagiku, pushing both of them aside as the result. "He managed to pass through us by just force?" His eyes widen as he felt a strike hitting on the top of his head.

"—Hayate lost?" Nagi asked in disbelief before her sights turned towards Hinagiku. She along with the rest of the occupants inside the dojo watched as Hinagiku turns around exactly in time to block Izayoi's strike over her head. "But Hinagiku's still in!"

"I'm not gonna lose, Izayoi-kun!" Hinagiku stated with a look of determination as she looks directly at the smirk plastering on Izayoi's face.

"Neither I am. So how do we want to finish this? I'll let you pick."

"No! I don't want to play games. I want to fight seriously against you, Izayoi-kun. You never took any of our battles seriously."

"So you want me to fight seriously now? That is a hard bargain, Hinagiku-Kaichou." The blonde explained as Hinagiku frowned and pushes her sword against his. Unfortunately, he did not budge one bit.

"Then I will make you fight me seriously one way or another, Izayoi-kun!" Hinagiku declared jumping back to put some distance between them. Before long, she charges and collided her sword against him before following up with a series of strikes against her opponent's sword. Hinagiku strikes from all sides but each were blocked by the blonde with ease.

"Is this what he's capable of?" Hayate asked kneeling down while Nagi stood next to him.

"Are you okay, Hayate?" Nagi asked him.

"Yes, Mistress. I am sorry that I lost."

"Don't worry, I wanted for you to win but it's alright." Nagi smiled at Hayate. "Don't apologise alright, Hayate?"

"Y-Yes, Mistress…" Hayate smiles and nods back before he looks at both Izayoi and Hinagiku. "To tell you the truth, Mistress, I didn't feel anything as to why I lost."

"What do you mean?"

"When he outright passes me, I can't keep up with his speed. It was a split second that he gotten behind my back and landed the strike. And despite that, I don't feel like it was unfair in a way. He had beaten me fair and square. He deserved the victory is what I'm trying to say."

"You do admit Sakamaki is strong, right, Sanzenin butler?" Himuro looks at Hayate.

"Yes." Nodding to him, Hayate watches Hinagiku tried her best landing a strike to Izayoi but throughout their battle she cannot land any.

"It is always like this. Why?" Hinagiku thought through gritted teeth as she kept landing strike after strike but all of them were indecisively blocked by Izayoi. "—Is that it? Am I not strong enough?" She asked herself before she focused her attention on her fight, unaware of a figure standing up behind her.

"Ultimate Move: Safety Shutter!"

"Huh?" Hinagiku glances behind and eyed wide to see fire blazing forward forming a dragon approaching her.

"You'd think that's an ultimate move? Pathetic." Izayoi appears in front of Hinagiku and strikes down his sword, splitting apart the flaming dragon before it dissipates, surprising the onlookers including Hinagiku. "I thought you were stronger than that, Kaede." The blonde raised an eyebrow before dashing forward and strikes downwards on Nonohara's head.

Raising up his shinai, Nonohara blocked it before watching the shinai broke apart.

"What?" He asked just before Izayoi's shinai landed on his head.

"Wouldn't you say that'll be the end of your commotion, Kaede?"

"You're exactly as the rumours say you are, Sakamaki Izayoi-san: strong." Nonohara smiled amidst nursing his head as Izayoi stared at him before turning to Hinagiku and walking towards her.

"It looks like I win, Hinagiku-Kaichou." Izayoi claimed smiling when he stops to stand across from her.

"Huh? When—?" Hinagiku watches Izayoi's shinai lightly touches the top of her head.

"—I win." Izayoi tilted his head whilst smiling as Hinagiku stared in surprise before she glares at him.

"Izayoi-kun! That's not fair!"

"You were not paying attention. You're the one at fault here." At this, Hinagiku tried to retort back but found she cannot. But then, she watches in surprise as a hand pats her head and she looks up at Izayoi.

"Cheer up, Hinagiku-Kaichou. If you must know, you're the one I always take seriously." Hinagiku's eyes widen. "If I didn't take you seriously, I wouldn't be in this Kendo Club nor would I have fun exchanging swords with you. You're not weak, Hinagiku-Kaichou. You're the opposite of it, really." He explained before letting down his hand from Hinagiku's head. "You're not getting weaker, you're getting stronger. I can differentiate it no problem." Izayoi smirks playfully as Hinagiku looks at him with redden cheeks while appearing to be speechless at his compliment.

XOXOXO

Hakuo Academy's Gates

Hinagiku, Izayoi and Hayate stood in front of the academy gates while Nagi stood a couple distance away, waiting for her butler.

"I don't know about ultimate moves you butlers have to have, but it appears to be useless." Izayoi said plainly looking at Hayate,

"Haha…" Hayate sweatdrop whilst laughing awkwardly. "I can't debate about that…"

"Oh well. If you have an ultimate move at ready, I suggest you found someone to test proof it. You know what I mean?"

"Yes. I'll seek you when I have an ultimate move, Izayoi-san!" Hayate nodded enthusiastically. "I wished it will impress you."

"You wish, Sanzenin butler. There's not many people who impresses me except a select few. One of them is Hinagiku-Kaichou." Izayoi glances at the pink haired who seemed surprised at the comment.

"Why is that?" Hayate asked in curiosity.

"Because she's special." Izayoi simple answered as Hinagiku stared eyed wide at him while Hayate nodded in understanding.

"I understand. Anyway, I must be going. Mistress is waiting for me." Hayate excuses himself before leaving Izayoi and Hinagiku alone in front of the academy gates.

"See you tomorrow, Hinagiku-Kaichou. If we ever meet that is or there's a student who likes to mess with me, I'll meet you at the top of the tower." Izayoi smiles showing his teeth before he walks pass her.

"Wait!"

"Hm?" The blonde in question stops and turns his head around to see Hinagiku facing him. Her cheeks a blazing red as she tried to compose the words she wanted to speak out.

"—At the clubroom earlier—did you mean what you said?"

"Yes, why would I lie now?" Izayoi raised his eyebrow as Hinagiku glances sideways embarrassingly.

"Um…T-Thank you, Izayoi-kun…I-I appreciate your words…"

"You're welcome, Hinagiku-Kaichou."

"…Another thing, —why do you say I'm special? Is there…anything special to me?" Hinagiku glances up at Izayoi who held a teasing smile.

"You've just have to figure out yourself with that one."

"Huh?" Hinagiku look up at the blonde.

"Good night, Hinagiku-Kaichou." Izayoi bid with his raised hand while walking away from Hinagiku who watches him leaves.

When the blonde disappeared, Hinagiku looks down before she held a look of realisation and she put her hands over her cheeks, feeling the warmth it generated before noting her raging heartbeat. Shaking her head to compose herself, she took a deep breath.

"Why am I feeling this? –I must be under the weather lately." Hinagiku nodded to herself before she turns to the road she intends to walk towards her home. But before she takes a step, she steals a glance at the way Izayoi left before she leaves.

To Be Continued…

XOXO

Nagi: T-This is one heck of a story! The flashback between the hero and heroine, the present which details the hero versus against the heroine plus the drama—It is fantastic! The ending leaves the heroine confused with her feelings, what will happen next I wonder?

Hayate: Next up, we will be having a time skip, folks. I hope you are all prepared for that one.

Nagi: Will there be Izayoi and Hinagiku moments like in this episode?

Hayate: I don't know, Mistress.

Nagi: *pout* Anyway, don't forget to favorite and follow this story. Please whoever you are, there must be more Izayoi and Hinagiku moments! I beg of you!

Hayate: Mistress! You'll beg to read this?!

Nagi: It's now one of my favorite things to do in my pass time! Do you have some kind of grudge against me reading this, Hayate? If you are...

Hayate: No! I would never, Mistress! So please calm down...