Tokyo: The Player Behind the Scenes.

Chapter 24: Sixty Plus One
Inside the classroom.

The teacher went off-topic during the lecture, but the students listened even more attentively.

"At that time, the Hoei eruption also occurred. When you look at Mount Fuji, you can see that there is a parasitic volcano on the southeast slope called Mount Hoei."

Ding-dong—clang-clang.

"Uh, that's all for today. get out of class dismissed." The teacher glanced at his watch.

"stand up."

"Thank you for your guidance."

"Thank you all for your hard work."

The balding Japanese teacher, with his receding hairline, finished class on time, picked up his lesson plan, and left the classroom.

The day's classes have come to an end.

The classroom became lively.

"The cherry blossoms must be in bloom by now. Did you go cherry blossom viewing during spring break?"

"No, look, my electronic bonsai is not as pretty as the cherry blossoms that are everywhere."

"Hey, is this a potted plant? It looks like an octopus."

"Just look at the photos. Besides, there are cherry blossoms inside the school. Why go out of your way to see them? We're not cherry blossom chasers."

Some people relaxed in the classroom, while others chatted.

The students on duty started their work, and those with club activities waved goodbye to their friends.

"Are you going to the literature club to read?" Higashiyama Shin asked, packing his things and looking at Chiba Shion, who was still sitting in her seat.

In the past, Chiba would usually read books in the literary club, and after he finished practicing his archery, the two of them would go back to the apartment together.

“I went there yesterday, and there was a musty smell that wouldn’t go away. I’d like to go check out the archery club.”

Chiba Shion picked up her bag and stood up. The afternoon sun bathed her features in golden light. She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and met Higashiyama Shin's gaze.

"That's good. If you go, they'll practice more diligently," Higashiyama Shin said with a smile.

Chiba lowered his head and pondered for a few seconds before asking, "How many arrows do you usually shoot in the archery club?"

"Me? Usually fifteen rounds, sixty shots."

Because in archery competitions, four arrows are released from the quiver each round, corresponding to the four sufferings and eight sufferings in Buddhism, this setting is generally followed during training, unless it is an archery contest, such as a competition to see how many arrows hit the target out of a hundred, or as he and his senior Imagawa determined the number of arrows to win yesterday.

However, most people don't need as many arrows as Dongshan Shen, firstly because they don't have that many quotas, and secondly because they don't have that much money.

Ultimately, it all boils down to money.

After all, the attrition rate of arrows is not low.

Chiba nodded and followed Higashiyama out of the classroom.

Higashiyama picked up the umbrella and headed towards the archery club.

"Higashiyama-kun—Eh!! Chiba-kun!"

Haruko Minamikawa's hand, which habitually reached out to grab Shin Higashiyama's arm, was frozen halfway by Shion Chiba's seemingly absolute zero gaze!

Oh no! Freeze Ray!

Where is my little Charmander?!

"Minister, stop playing the ice sculpture. Chiba wants to see the heroic posture of our archery club. Do you have a good spot?" Higashiyama Shin helplessly stretched out his hand and waved it in front of Minamikawa.

"Higashiyama-kun! Use Water Splash!"

"I am not Magikarp, I am Rayquaza."

"I've never actually caught Rayquaza, so what skills does it have?"

"Fly! Which legendary Pokémon can't fly, except Groudon?"

"Honestly, you're not cooperating at all, cough cough cough! Chiba-kun, come here, I'll pick you a good spot, I guarantee you'll see Higashiyama-kun's profile when he shoots an arrow, usually so many people fight over it."

Haruko Minamikawa finally finished acting and took Chiba to find seats.

"Where is Imagawa-senpai?" Higashiyama looked around but couldn't find Imagawa, the silent, handsome man who was only slightly inferior to him.

"School's starting soon, so we'll definitely need to prepare recruitment materials. You can't back out at the last minute," Nanchuan said, turning back before she'd gone far.

The minister, a man of great stature, has actually become a hands-off manager.

Dongshan shook his head. Today he could only train alone; no one else could match him.

call out!
shhhhh!

After Dongshan Shen finished practicing and lost focus, he turned around and was shocked to find a huge group of people standing behind him, looking at him as if he were God.

"What are you doing?"

Higashiyama Shin smirked, knowing full well what was going on. In his excitement, he had inadvertently used half his strength, filling the bullseye with arrows, but leaving none outside the bullseye.

"I'm reading the Buddhist scriptures." Someone replied blankly.

Taira no Kyotsune was a Japanese military commander renowned for his exceptional archery skills.

"If Dongsan-kun wanted to, could he shoot through Jesus' palm?"

"We need to find a story behind this." "Your palm?"

"Disperse, disperse! Go practice! You can't learn just by watching; you have to feel your bows and the arrows you shoot!"

Minister Nanchuan emerged just in time and began to use his power to disperse his subordinates.

The members returned to their positions with envious glances.

Chiba appeared out of nowhere and handed over a handkerchief: "How many arrows did you shoot?"

“Exactly fifteen rounds.” Higashiyama Shin took the handkerchief, wiped away non-existent sweat, and answered with a smile.

Chiba nodded slightly, then inexplicably pulled out an arrow from behind him, as if he had prepared it beforehand: "I just picked up an arrow, can you shoot it for me?"

Higashiyama Shin opened his mouth, glanced at Minamikawa Haruko who was constantly sneaking glances beside him, nodded and took the arrow: "Watch carefully."

He immediately drew his bow, nocked an arrow, aimed, and fired.

Hey!
The bullseye.

"Oh! Higashiyama-kun, you've really hit the nail on the head with every arrow." Nanchuan's tone was strange.

"I'm leaving now, Minister. Let me know in advance when recruitment starts."

"Sigh, fine, go ahead, go ahead. It's okay if I'm all alone here. It's good to be busy."

Nanchuan waved to them helplessly, like a lonely old woman; she might suffocate if she didn't act for a moment.

Higashiyama Shin was used to this and was not fooled by her feigned pitifulness. After explaining and maintaining the bow, he put it back in the locker and went home with Chiba.

"How's Uncle doing lately?" On the way back, Shinichi Higashiyama casually started a conversation.

"I heard they're having some cash flow problems and are looking for a bank loan."

"Is it difficult?"

"It must be. He specifically told me not to tell my mother."

"Still so concerned about saving face."

"Ah."

"Let's go to the supermarket and see what we want to eat tomorrow."

"it is good!"

Chiba Shion's parents divorced early on, and she was awarded to her mother's custody. She even changed her surname to her mother's surname, which shows how dissatisfied Chiba's mother was with Chiba's father.

However, every year during spring break and summer vacation, she would take some time to stay at her father's place, and Chiba's mother tacitly agreed.

The two chatted as they walked into the supermarket, selecting ingredients for tonight and lunchboxes for tomorrow.

"Wait, that's just a turkey, don't take it down!"

"I know, I've just never tried it before, and I'd like to give it a try."

"Cough cough, it's not easy to do. I'll make it when I have a day off."

"it is good."

"Huh? Where's the broccoli, cucumber, and potato I just grabbed?"

"...Maybe he ran away on his own."

After buying groceries, including both meat and vegetables, the two returned to their tower apartment.

Apartment manager Natsuki Otsuka was not in the lobby.

"Ms. Otsuka took the afternoon off this year. She always uses her vacation days around this time of year, and it's always half a day in the afternoon. I don't know what she's doing. It's a pity for my old bones."

Uncle Sakamoto said casually, complaining verbally but without any real resentment in his expression.

Shinya Higashiyama recalled that it seemed to be true; every year from late March to mid-April, he often couldn't see her in the afternoons.

But this is someone else's private matter, and there's no need to be overly inquisitive.

"Is Aunt Chiba home tonight?" The elevator stopped at the floor where Higashiyama lived. Chiba helped carry some groceries and followed Higashiyama Shin into the house.

"exist."

Shinichi Higashiyama sorted the ingredients and put them in the refrigerator. Chiba stood next to Shinichi Higashiyama and handed him the ingredients on the table.

"Oh, then I won't invite you to dinner tonight," said Shin Higashiyama, as he removed a few more mushrooms.

"Hmm, are you free after dinner? Let's play badminton."

Chiba Shion suddenly asked.

"After dinner."

Dongshan shook his head regretfully. Today the game refreshed, and he had to be there without fail at eight o'clock sharp to see what new game had been added.

Chiba was slightly surprised, because she had expected that Shinji Higashiyama wouldn't have anything to do tonight.

She nodded thoughtfully: "Okay, see you tomorrow."

"See you tomorrow."

After seeing Chiba out, Shin Higashiyama began preparing dinner.

(End of this chapter)