Tokyo girls have a big problem

Chapter 310 Don't worry about the outcome, just do your best in the present moment.
Elsa Amane is in the Kendo Club.

“We plan to perform a stage play called ‘Musashi no Seishin’ at the cultural festival,” said Kana Higashiura.

She is the new captain of the girls' kendo club. She left the club after the summer vacation when she was a third-year student.

The same goes for the men's kendo club, and the cultural festival performance seems to be an exhibition match, according to Aoyama Riki based on what Aizawa Jun told him.

"The Successor of Musashi?" Amakusa Sawa asked curiously.

"In order to inherit the legacy of the swordsman Miyamoto Musashi, the heroine encounters a series of assassinations, which corresponds to the 'Earth, Fire, Water, Wind, and Void' of the Book of Five Rings. In the end, she becomes the new swordsman—it's that simple a story, but we will go all out in the fight scenes."

"Oh~" Amakusa Sawa made a sound of great interest, though it was unclear whether she was genuinely interested.

"All done." In the distance, Aoyama Risa, who had been taking pictures of Tianyu Elsa, put away her phone.

"Let's go then." Amakusa Sawa walked over.

"Huh? I'm not here?" Kana Higashiura asked in surprise.

"Um..." Amakusa Sawa didn't know what to say.

"Just kidding, haha!" Higashiura Kana laughed.

After the two left, Kana Higashiura said to Elsa Amakusa, "Amakusa-san is one step ahead."

“The way of the sword requires perseverance,” Elsa Tenyu replied.

"What's so great about Aoyama Ryakushi?" the school beauty muttered.

"He's so handsome and doesn't cheat on his girlfriend, isn't that enough?" asked Kana Higashiura.

"I don't think he's good enough for Senior Tianyu." The school beauty looked up.

Who do you think is good enough for him?

"No one is good enough for him!"

"Since no one else is good enough for him, would choosing Aoyama-kun be appropriate?"

The school beauty was speechless.

After dealing with her junior, Higashiura Kana looked at Amamiya Elsa, who was practicing her sword again.

Such focus is both endearing and frustrating, just as parents worry when their child dislikes studying, but are also annoyed when their child loves studying too much.

"Elsa!" Kana Higashiura grabbed her hand as she brandished the bamboo sword. "Are you planning to invite Aoyama-kun to the cultural festival?"

“I will invite him to see the stage play,” Elsa Amamiya said.

"That's not enough! Not only do you have to go to the cultural festival with him, you also have to win first place in this beauty pageant!"

"Not interested." With that, Elsa Tenyu continued practicing her swordsmanship.

Higashiura Kana fell into deep thought. Given Amayu Elsa's personality, she would most likely be eliminated in the love battle.

For the sake of her best friend's happiness, she, Kana Higashiura, must act as a staff member!
First, you must win first place in the beauty pageant;
Second, stay together!
I heard that I saw Aoyama Ryo in the student dormitory, so he should be joining the training camp.

If Elsa Tenyu also participates in the training camp, their morning training times will definitely overlap.

"Everyone, keep practicing. I have to go out for a bit!" Higashiura Kana ran out of the kendo club.

When Aoyama was taking pictures of Ono Mizuki, she entered the student council.

When Aoyama Osamu took photos of Ono Mika, she had already filled out the 'training application form' and handed it to Miyayo Yaeko;

"Huh?" Amakusa Sawa looked at Higashiura Kana with a puzzled expression.

The two met on the fourth floor. She had just come out of the student council, and they were on their way to the student council.

"Hello~" Kana Higashiura greeted them lightly as she passed by the two.

After taking photos of Miyako Yaeko, the two went into the Athens Philosophy Research Department.

"This is my first time," Amakusa Sawa said, curiously examining the doorplate.

—Amakusa, you want to dance too?! (Making a lewd joke)

Aoyama Riki opened the door to the activity room without changing his expression.

To be honest, even the air conditioning in the Athens Philosophy Department was better, as it was more refreshing.

Is this what they mean by "there's no place like home"?
I absolutely love the Department of Philosophical Studies in Athens!

"I took a picture and met up with my classmates," said Aoyama Risa.

Seeing Shang Ai sigh, she gently pinched the beautifully curved bridge of her nose: "Arranging music requires concentration. Why should we play this boring game with you guys at this time?"

"She didn't say the cultural festival was boring, but rather that the beauty pageant was boring," Aoyama Riki explained to Amakusa Sawa.

When you fall in love, the least important thing is appearance.

As for why she's interested in him, it's too early to say. Right now, she just gets a racing heart occasionally.

It should be—as for why she chose Aoyama Ryo, who is handsome, it's purely coincidental.

"Should we pose?" Aoyama asked.

"That could lead to bacterial infection."

“She doesn’t dislike the photography culture, but she feels that deliberately posing for photos to win votes and improve her chances of winning in beauty pageants would infect her with ‘appearance-isms,’” Aoyama explained to Amakusa Sawa again.

After explaining, he asked Mikami Ai, "It's okay to lose to Miyako Yaeko?"

Seeing that Shang Ai was in a contemplative pose, he maintained the pose and said, "You can take the picture now."

"Is this the move you think you can use to defeat Miyako Yaeko?" Aoyama Risa filmed this scene.

"Remember this, it will be on the exam."

"Even if you're number one, you can't insult my intelligence like this!"

Until she left the Department of Philosophy Studies in Athens, Amakusa Sawa didn't say a word except for greetings.

She felt frustrated.

Witnessing the bond between Mikami Ai and Aoyama Osamu, she felt like a chrysanthemum leaf facing a firebird.

She even felt disheartened and couldn't help but think: even if she successfully started dating Aoyama-kun, her family would not easily agree to the marriage.

Although they haven't started dating yet, she's already thinking about marriage.

"Aoyama-kun, are club activities fun?" she asked.

“It has nothing to do with club activities; I’m perfectly content just being in that club room,” said Aoyama Risa.

That's it.

"Aoyama-kun, send me the photos. Leave the rest of the work to me. You go back to the club."

Aoyama Osamu looked at her: "Are you alright?"

"It's okay, the tennis club doesn't have anything to do during the school festival anyway, they just plan to sell tennis photo books."

"A tennis photo book? I feel like it would sell very well."

"It's really just a tennis photoshoot."

"."

Seeing Aoyama Risa unable to speak, Amakusa Sawa was overjoyed and couldn't bear to give him up!

“But I’ve changed my mind, Aoyama-kun. You should come back to class with me, otherwise everyone will think you skipped out halfway through,” she said.

“If we leave now, it would be abandoning the project halfway through, and we can’t leave the work to you alone.”

The two continued walking side by side.

Amakusa Sawa felt she couldn't win, but she couldn't bear to give up.

Back in Class 4 of Grade 11, there were far fewer people, only some students from sports clubs or those who weren't very busy with club activities.

After submitting the photos, Aoyama Rika left, while Amakusa Sawa stayed behind to help.

Soon after, Inoue Misato noticed that her friend was in a bad mood.

"Sawa, shall we go to the cafeteria for dinner together?" she asked.

"Okay, but I have to go to my tutoring class after I eat, so I can't stay and help you anymore." "It's okay, there's not much work. I just wanted to stay and have some fun, to see what the other clubs are up to."

The two went to the cafeteria together.

After choosing your meal, sit down in a corner.

Although it wasn't dark yet and the cafeteria was crowded, it still gave the two of them an incredible sense of quietude in the dead of night.

This is the cafeteria at dinner time.

"Sawa, what happened?" Inoue Misato asked.

"Miss, should I give up?"

"what happened?"

"Aoyama-kun and Kenkami are very close," Amakusa Sawa recounted what she had seen and heard that afternoon.

After listening, Inoue Misato laughed: "Sawa, I remember you told me that when you play tennis, you never care about the champion or who your opponent is, you only look at the ball coming towards you."

"One ball after another, we hit them back."

"As long as we do this, we can keep moving forward."

"The same goes for romantic relationships."

"Can love be like this?" Amakusa Sato wondered.

“Of course!” Inoue Misato smiled and took a bite of salmon. “The purpose of exercise, besides fitness, is to ‘apply the spirit of sports to life,’ isn’t it?”

“Return the ball one by one,” Amakusa Sawa pondered.

"You're the ace of the tennis club, the national champion, who can replicate the signature moves from 'The Prince of Tennis'!"

Amakusa Sae suddenly understood.

"Yes, I understand!" she nodded solemnly.

We might not win, but should we give up just because we can't win? Are we sure we won't regret it?

Regardless of winning or losing, just keep moving towards your goal!
After confirming that her friend had truly cheered up, Inoue Misato smiled and said, "Actually, I wouldn't really recommend pursuing Aoyama Osamu."

"Why say such things when someone has finally mustered up the energy?" Amakusa Sawa scolded with a laugh.

After saying that, she couldn't help but ask, "Meisheng, why don't you suggest it?"

Her tone revealed an uncontrollable seriousness.

Inoue Misato seems to understand men very well.

"Think about it, if you pursue Aoyama Rina, you'd be competing with a beautiful girl like Amakusa Sawa. How could you possibly win!"

"Beautiful Saint!!"

"Hahaha!"

In high school, besides the joyful yet worrisome, and somewhat immature, romantic relationships, there are also friendships that may not be so mature, but can truly last a lifetime.

High school students are not all emotionally immature.

{Hello? Can you hear me?}
The sudden noise silenced the cafeteria.

{Hello everyone, this is the late-night radio show.}
The cafeteria is bustling again.

"The broadcasting department is working really hard too," Inoue Misato said with a smile.

Having resolved their worries, the two ate their meal while leisurely listening to the radio.

{With the Broadcasting Department's request and the Student Council President's permission, starting tomorrow, the Broadcasting Department will begin promoting the Cultural Festival!}
{Today was just a sound check, but even so, we invited a random guest—the first person you see when you open the door.}
"Who could it be?" Inoue Misato wondered.

{Aoyama Risa, from Class 2-4!}
The two looked at each other and laughed.

{Aoyama Osamu: It was agreed that I would only be a guest if I was allowed to promote the show.}
"Aoyama-kun's voice is so nice~" Inoue Misato leaned forward slightly, as if telling a secret, her tone like she was praising Amakusa Sawa's husband.

"I want him to whisper in my ear!" Amakusa Sawa slightly exhibited her exhibitionist tendencies.

{Host: Of course, of course, we will never go back on our word. In fact, having our guests introduce the activities of their classes and clubs is the main content of this program.}
Host: Okay, let's begin!
"Not bad." Inoue Misato had almost forgotten to eat and wanted to listen carefully to how Aoyama Risa promoted the 'Enlightened Beauty and Handsome Man Election'.

{Host: Aoyama-kun, have the class activities and club activities already started?}
{Aoyama Osamu: It has begun.}
{Host: During this process, was there anyone you cared about?}
{Aoyama Osamu: Hmm?}
The noise from the cafeteria went down again, then immediately became louder.

Many people took out their phones, chatting and laughing with those around them while sending messages to their friends.

{Host: You see, you're always focused on studying, but during the cultural festival, you suddenly show a completely different side. There are people like that in the world—Aoyama-kun, who have you been paying the most attention to lately?}
{Aoyama Osamu: Are you sure there's a logical connection between your explanation and your question?}
"Hahahaha!" Amakusa Sawa laughed so hard she almost fell onto the table.

Inoue Misato was also laughing, but not as fiercely as her.

Looking at Amakusa Sawa, she came to a conclusion: the one who is smiling happily at this moment is most likely to like Aoyama Rin; the happier she smiles, the more she likes him.

Because what Aoyama Rika said wasn't actually funny.

You're hopeless, Sawa-chan.

The broadcast continued.

{Host: Answering questions with questions means—there's only one truth! Aoyama-kun, you have someone you care about!}
{Aoyama Rika: Deduct.}
{Host: Huh? What? What?}
{Aoyama Osamu: No, but there's still a month until the school festival, so maybe some interesting people will appear.}
In the Department of Philosophy Studies in Athens, Shang Ai was slumped over the table as if taking a midday nap, her shoulders trembling slightly.

Luckily, no one else was around, otherwise she wouldn't have been able to act like a lady.

{Host: Your answer suddenly sounds so official, it's like you've switched personalities!}
{Aoyama Osamu: I shot and killed my past self.}
{Host: Don't die, Aoyama-kun! Let's get right to the promotional time!}
{Host: Qingshan, what activities has your class prepared?}
{Aoyama Rika: This is a beauty pageant, simply put, a contest for beautiful women and handsome men. Everyone is welcome to vote.}
{Host: Aoyama-kun, who would you vote for?}
{Aoyama Rika: Myself.}
{Aoyama Osamu: Everyone is welcome to vote for me; I heard the reward is a Ferrari.}
{Host: Ferrari?!}
No way!!!

Amakusa Sawa and Inoue Misato straightened up and looked at him. It was the male class representative of Class 2-4. He seemed to be shouting out his soul as if he were hitting a high note.

The two quickly lowered their heads, afraid of being discovered.

"Is it a Ferrari?" Amakusa Sawa asked with a soft laugh.

"Just take a model car and make a name for yourself," Inoue Misato said nonchalantly.

After saying that, she laughed and scolded, "That guy Aoyama-kun! It seems he's not an honest man after all. Sawa, you'd better keep a close eye on him from now on."

"We're not dating yet." Amakusa Sawa shyly took a sip of water.

{Aoyama Osamu: Also, I'm a student in the Athens Philosophy Department, which you've probably all heard of.}
{Host: You're a member of the Athenian Philosophical Research Department?!}
{Aoyama Osamu: You didn't know?}
{Aoyama Osamu: Hey! Wait! Don't kneel! What are you doing? Get up!}
A burst of laughter erupted in the cafeteria.

After a moment of panic.

{Host: You really won't blame the broadcasting department?}
{Aoyama Osamu: You've misunderstood the Athens Philosophy Research Department; it's a great club.}
{Host: Really?!}
{Aoyama Osamu: Do you have someone you like?}
{Host: W-what?}
{Aoyama Risa: 3.2}
{Host: Wait, wait! Aoyama-kun, I was wrong!}
{Aoyama Osamu: Just kidding.}
{Aoyama Rina: The Athens Philosophy Research Club's activity is producing a single CD, sung and performed by myself, the student council president, and Mikami Ai. Everyone is welcome to purchase it.}
{Aoyama Osamu: Furthermore, while some may be dissatisfied with the usual practices of the Athens Philosophy Research Department, I can assure you that Kenjiro is impartial and incorruptible, and will not be swayed by emotions.}
{Aoyama Osamu: Thank you.}
Host: Thank you, Aoyama-san. That concludes our pre-festival sound check for the cultural festival. Bye-bye!
Without the radio, the world seemed much quieter.

“Seeing Love,” Inoue Misato said, resting her chin on her fists, “is indeed a formidable rival.”

“But I’m not afraid anymore,” Amakusa Sawa said with a smile as she ate.

"Really?"

"Aoyama-kun seems quite interested in my tennis outfit. Tomorrow I'll have him retake my 'beauty pageant' photos, secretly, just the two of us."

This is the biggest misunderstanding today!

"Oh~~~" Inoue Misato clapped her hands, her face full of admiration.

Amakusa Sawa is looking forward to tomorrow.

"Are you wearing safety shorts?" Inoue Misato suddenly asked.

"Wh-what?" Amakusa Sawa heard it clearly, but the content was so shocking that she subconsciously asked back.

"I asked you, when you're shooting alone tomorrow, will you wear safety shorts under your tennis skirt?"

"Of course."

"Why don't you not wear it?" Inoue Misato coaxed with a smile.

"Not...wearing?"

"Hmm, I won't wear it."

"..." Amakusa Sawa subconsciously bit her lower lip.

While eating, Inoue Misato watched her friend blush.

That's really a bargain for Aoyama Ryo.

(End of this chapter)