With Sena accommodating Coach Ayu, I put my focus back on the lesson at hand.
As soon as I positioned myself back in front of them for the demonstration, I asked for volunteers who would help me among my students.
‘Volunteers’ because I wanted more engagement among the class.
Like I said, I could be considered anti-social with my focus only on my girls and my goals for us. However, that didn’t mean I wouldn’t be able to take on an active role.
This time, I am an instructor and to do well in this part-time job, I have to keep them all interested. That way, they will keep coming back and will spread the word to others which can lead the way for my Basic Boxing Program to be popular or at least well-known to those who will be interested.
That’s one of the reasons why I wanted more engagement in this class.
According to Hisa-jii and Coach Ayu, the maximum number of students I could take for this 1st cycle of the program was 60. Just enough to fill this area allocated for me. At the moment there were 9 more enrollees than yesterday totaling 40 students for today. There were still 20 slots that could be filled.
Although I wasn’t after the salary, it’s still not bad to have it all filled.
If all slots were filled and someone quit halfway, I could admit new students but under the agreement that those new enrollees would find a way to learn the first few lessons.
In response to that, I proposed that I would find a way to let them catch up. A little review to the side of the previous lessons was what I prepared for that. Just like what I did earlier.
Next week, if there were more enrollees then I would just do the same thing.
Back to the present, the help the volunteers would provide for me was for my demonstration of jabs wherein I would let them wear the mitts for me to punch on.
Before a reenactment of the right straight demonstration, I planned on imparting the basic stances and the most basic type of punch first.
As soon as I announced that, almost everyone raised their hands. Even the three idiots did raise their hands, albeit it was because they also wanted to show off... Going to the front would give them that exposure.
In any case, they’re still my students so it didn’t matter.
First, I picked someone from the middle school and grade school students.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtA 6th grader young boy named Reiji and a 2nd-year middle school young girl named Neneha.
Following that, I also picked one from my girls.
Although Elizabeth was the most eager, I was kind of worried that she would be too excessive again just like yesterday when she intentionally tripped to have me catch her.
Besides, I already told her about this earlier. Just that, even if I told her that I wouldn’t be picking her, her enthusiasm never waned as she raised her hand energetically.
Seeing my adorable chuunibyou like this, it naturally put a smile on my lips.
That’s why I promised her that later at home, I would answer to that enthusiasm of hers.
With Elizabeth out of the choices, I could only pick among Aika and Chii. Miyako, Yua, Eimi and Miho might be overwhelmed with my punches even if it was the most basic. I would feel bad if they got hurt because of me.
Moreover, I also didn’t pick Yukari because of how she would be too self-conscious of her body again. There’s another time for that. For now, I was letting her get used to the stares that everyone occasionally threw at her.
Although she’s already used to it in their school, she also needed some time getting used to it outside it.
Nonetheless, when we’re alone, the girl’s self-consciousness would vanish and in place of that was the full-blown showcase of her appeal to satisfy me. Just like last Wednesday.
In the end, Aika shook her head and let Chii become the volunteer. For sure, she’s thinking along the lines of ‘I monopolized Ruki, last night. And it’s enough for me.’ Or if it’s not that, she’s just satisfied by the attention I gave her and she’s trying to give the others a chance to also feel the same. Moreover, it would also be a simple way to help me.
After Chii walked to the front, I picked the leader of the three idiots and one of the five mothers.
Although I was tempted to pick Ichihara-san, she might find it suspicious that I was always somewhat favoring her so I picked another.
With the five of them lined up together, the demonstration began.
“There. Raise it high like that and watch me closely how I do it.” I instructed the young boy Reiji. His height only reached up to my chest so instead of holding the mitt in front of his chest, I had him raise it above his head.
“Yes, sensei!” With a voice full of enthusiasm, he followed my instructions perfectly.
And to return it, I made sure to let him see how to throw a proper punch. Even a jab didn’t necessarily need to only rely on one’s own strength.
The first thing to note to deliver a perfect one was to firmly plant one’s feet and achieve balance.
That’s why stances and footwork were higher than punches in terms of importance.
Although he almost toppled over from the force I used when the gloves hit the mitts he was raising, the boy's eyes became filled with something like a starfield for how much brilliance shone in it when he put his arms down.
After him, I did the same thing for the middle school girl, Neneha. She’s the tallest among those girls so I had her put the mitts before her chest. Due to that, she successfully maintained her balance after showing her how to do it.
When it was one of the idiots’ turn next, I only slightly held back.
True to his name, he was grinning like an idiot when it was his turn. Totally confident of his ability to resist it.
In the end, because of his carelessness, he tumbled back with his ass loudly hitting the ground due to losing his balance.
Nonetheless, I lent my arms to pull him up and as a consolation, the students watching the events who managed to restrain their laughs clapped their hands for him.
And as expected, it inflated his ego as if what he showed was the best.
Before Chii’s turn, I called for the mother who volunteered first. Although she’s quite slender, her stamina and form were poor. The set exercises already exhausted her. However, she was still eager to volunteer for this demonstration.
“Madam, I’m sorry if this will come off as rude but... I will hold back with my punch, is it fine? You appear exhausted now and I’m afraid that I might hurt you if I fail to hold back with my punches.” I said it in an apologetic tone and with a volume loud enough for everyone to hear.
Fortunately, the mother satisfyingly smiled and nodded. “I like sensei’s honesty. It’s not rude at all. Just do what you must. I will watch closely.”
With her answer, I noticed the students who were watching even the mothers at the back all silently clapping or nodding their heads.
They approved of what I did and they’re glad that she didn’t find fault with my words.
On the side, Sena had finally managed to calm Coach Ayu down. The two of them were now watching the lesson, with the former clapping her hands and cheering quite loudly. Moreover, from afar even Hisa-jii returned to his seat and was carefully watching the lesson.
With that kind of encouragement and silent pressure, I calmed my nerves and continued.
Throwing a few jabs to both mitts raised by the mother, I repeated it thrice for her to clearly see how I did it.
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏmSoon after that, I had her stand to the side just like the other three.
That’s because the lesson wouldn’t end with just this. All of them would also have the chance to throw a jab at me after I’m done with the last volunteer.
“Onoda-chi, don’t hold back.” Chii confidently declared.
Compared to the first four, she already had a proper stance that was holding her balance perfectly.
Well, that’s because she was watching and learning while I was demonstrating to the other four.
Due to that, this last demonstration with her produced a more visible result that the students and every spectator liked to see and hear.
The speed of the punch and the crisp sound of gloves hitting on mitts. Chii was confidently receiving all of my jabs with a very satisfied smile on her lips, enjoying this moment with me.
By the time we finished, Chii relaxed her shoulders and stepped forward to whisper in my ears, “Kii, I’ll expect aftercare from you... It totally stings my palm. But before you put on a worried expression... it’s not that painful. And I love closely watching you work seriously like this. You’re giving off more manly charms.”
After whispering that, Chii didn’t wait for my answer as she obediently lined up next to the other four volunteers.
When I realized that, I could only helplessly shake my head as I moved towards them to check on them one by one before facing the seated students to continue.
“What do you guys think? Have you watched properly?”
Even before I could finish my question, all of them yelled out in concert. “Yes, sensei.”
Seeing their smiles and their continued eagerness, it definitely filled me with the same enthusiasm they were feeling.
This was just the 2nd day and I already somehow determined that... if I put my mind into it, although I was favoring some of them, my teaching skills were effective and quite engaging.
In any case, this was just one of the paths I would be trying. Being good at this could be considered great already. However, how will this bring me closer to my goal? That’s the question I want to answer as I continue to dive into this part-time job as a boxing instructor.
As much as I want to bond with my girls, this was something I needed or had to do. Not just for the future but also for me to have something under my belt.
“Great. Let’s move on.”
After declaring that, I called for Sena to ask her for help on removing my gloves. In which she responded by happily hopping towards me which produced another lighthearted laugh from my students.
Before I knew it, they’re already used to Sena’s silly antics when it comes to me.
The lesson continues... but with things already in place, I’m now seeing the clear path to the end of this second session.