Living in Tokyo, all I want to do is laze around.

Hirooka High School and Shingoku High School held a shooting practice at the same shooting range behind Shingoku High School.

"A clean shot."

On the left side of the audience, seeing the members of the Shingoshi Archery Club carrying their bows as they walked out of the dojo, Kazama Tei, whose features radiated elegance, uttered a soft remark.

"Heh heh, I never expected that Shen Yue, who has always been quiet in team competitions, would be the dark horse this time." The one who spoke was Yuuto Hanaoka, the burly mid-range shooter from Michi High School this time.

"Two perfect 8-for-8 shots, power forward and setter – looks like their ace." Atsushi Fuchigami, with his thin face and square glasses, twirled his pen. "Wasn't he supposed to be a rookie?"

"When you see his shinai, do you think it looks like him?" Shimokawa Akirou asked expressionlessly.

Advisor Ikemoto stood up from the audience and turned to face the crowd behind him: "Based on the shooting style he displayed... I believe everyone can understand the meaning behind it."

"..."

After a moment of silence, Advisor Ikemoto's tone became slow and deep: "Don't let your guard down too much."

------

In the preliminary rounds, they ranked second, only behind Yuzhi High School of No. 36 Middle School.

As Uesugi Kai walked out of the venue carrying his bamboo bow, he saw birds flying overhead.

"Thank you," said Eiji Kanai suddenly.

"What are you thanking me for?" Uesugi Kai asked.

"It was my first time participating in this kind of competition, and I was quite nervous under the watchful eyes of everyone. But your first arrow was beautiful."

"Nothing is important."

“It’s very important to me.” Hideyoshi Kanai paused for a moment. “I joined the archery club when I was a freshman in high school.”

"Back then, Michi maintained its reputation as a powerhouse in archery. Many of the seniors who had helped me suffered repeated defeats at their hands. I watched them return disappointed from competitions time and time again, never fulfilling their long-cherished wish until graduation..."

"Due to our weakness, I have never dared to pick up the longbow to fight them."

"How can I, who can't even compare to my seniors, possibly compete with them?"

"I'm in third grade this year, and my strength has declined a lot compared to before. I simply don't have the courage to fight against Yuzhi on my own."

Guan Jingying stopped and his gaze swept across everyone's faces.

"Next year, I will graduate, and my memories of the past three years in the archery club will come to an end. This is my first and last competition."

Thank you everyone.

Chapter 124: Days without daily routines are hard to bear.

Nighttime is the night after eating barbecue.

Thanks to their outstanding afternoon results, Sugita, the senior student from a wealthy family, treated everyone to barbecue.

If there was any highlight to this dinner party, it was that Chitose Mai actually dared to try the grilled meat in the firework bowl.

As she picked up the grilled meat with a touch of chili and a crispy, tender skin using her chopsticks, Uesugi Kai already anticipated the scene of her chugging down cola a minute later.

Those chili peppers weren't from the restaurant.

------

A gentle breeze blowing from the water brought the coolness of the night.

As dusk faded, the neon lights that illuminated Tokyo shone on the verdant cherry blossom trees lining both banks of the Kanda River.

Residents walking their dogs nearby would occasionally greet the two of them with smiles and tease them about the two children who had grown up together.

A nighttime stroll offers a relaxing and pleasant experience.

"Why won't Hanabi let me rub her face again lately?" Uesugi Kai said.

Hanabi Hanabi looked up, her violet eyes still shining brightly in the night, "I'll become ugly..."

"No," Uesugi Kai said, turning his head to look at her small face.

"It definitely will..."

The girl's soft voice struck a chord deep within, leaving no room for argument.

The cherry blossom path along the Kanda River has white stone railings, and the lush cherry blossom branches extend all the way to the river. Occasionally, you can see koi swimming leisurely on the illuminated river.

As he walked, Uesugi Kai secretly leaned towards her slender, warm hand on the hem of her skirt.

"Kai-kun..."

Hanabi Hanabi's right hand fingers were slowly spread apart by him.

Their fingers intertwined, and their smooth, delicate little hands pressed together.

At times like this, Uesugi Kai could feel her heart pounding, and he couldn't help but ask:

Is the fireworks display very intense?

Hanabi Hanabi grasped his hand tightly with her own small one, and said, looking down, "Hanabi isn't nervous... Hanabi just really likes this feeling..."

“In the past, Kai-kun would never hold Hanabi’s hand like this, and later on, Kai-kun will never hold Hanabi’s hand again.”

It was a perfectly normal sound, but Uesugi Kai could hear a deep sense of loss in it.

And to his surprise, she held his hand tightly instead.

Long ago, she used this same force to hide behind herself in fear, calling out for her brother.

For a long time, the relationship between the brother and sister was unclear.

"When did Hanabi realize she liked me?" Uesugi Kai asked, looking at her.

In an instant, Hanabi Hanabi recalled many memories, but she could only blush and shake her head, saying, "Hanabi doesn't know..."

She didn't know, and she couldn't figure it out, so she simply stopped thinking about it.

"Did you eat your fill earlier?" Uesugi Kai changed the subject.

"Does Kai-kun still want to eat?" Hanabi Hanamaru was more concerned about his thoughts than about herself.

Kai Uesugi glanced at the watch face.

21:37:21

More than an hour passed after we finished eating the barbecue.

"Let's buy some snacks and sit over there," Uesugi Kai smiled at her.

Hanabi Hanabi knew where he was referring to and whispered a reminder, "But... the park is closed now..."

"Didn't we often go in there even later in the past?" Uesugi Kai pulled her along, making her walk faster.

"Are we really going?" Hanabi Hanamaru seemed a little worried.

"Why not?" Uesugi Kai replied with a smile.

After walking across a stone-paved slope lined with trees and shady trees, you arrive at a Lawson convenience store.

After buying two bottles of milk, a few packs of biscuits, and some chocolates, Uesugi Kai led Hanabi along a mossy path.

As you descend the path, the faint moonlight casts a soft glow, revealing the Chinese characters written on the wheat-colored wooden planks: "Higo Hosokawa Garden".

"Are we really going in?" Hanabi asked, looking at the tightly closed door with a hint of worry.

"Have you been there less often before?" Uesugi Kai said with a smile, pulling her around the main entrance and into a secluded grove of trees on the side.

The trees cast scattered shadows, creating a very tranquil atmosphere.

Uesugi Kai kept pushing aside the branches, stepping on the crackling dry leaves underfoot, and walked to a low banyan tree.

The banyan tree's soft, large branches stretch inwards, and its trunk, neither too tall nor too short, is just right for a person to stand on.

However, this place is still much higher than before.

Kai Uesugi looked at the girl beside him, her delicate face silhouetted against the night shadows. "Should I help you up, or should I pull you up?"

“Tuo…”

Hanabi Hanabi initially wanted him to help her up, but after looking at her little tuxedo, she said, "Kai-kun... just pull Hanabi up instead..."

In the quiet woods, moonlight filtered through the trees, illuminating the girl's upturned face.

Uesugi Kai, crouching on the tree trunk, held onto the tree with his left hand and grasped Hanabi Hanabi's slender arm with his right.

When their eyes met, he pulled her up.

"Be careful."

Kai Uesugi supported the girl's waist with his right hand, helping her maintain her balance on the tree.

Hanabi Hanabi leaned her entire weight into his arms, resting her head on his shoulder. Her face immediately flushed as she smelled his scent.

"Thank you, Kai-kun..."

Kai Uesugi smiled and said, "I'm not as steady as I used to be."

Climbing up a tree is easy, but getting down is hard. Kai Uesugi could jump down directly, but Hanabi Hanamaru hesitated, just like when she was a child.

It's not actually that tall; it's only about three heads taller off the ground than him.

"Jump! I can catch you!" Uesugi Kai shouted, looking up.

Hanabi Hanabi shook her head vigorously with her eyes closed, "You're lying, Kai-kun has never received one before."

"..."

Kai Uesugi remained silent.

There was one time when Xiaohuahuo's head fell into the ground, scratching her head and making her cry loudly.

Fortunately, he didn't suffer any serious injury.

From then on, she never dared to come in from here again.

He himself got a good scolding from Hanamaru Yuuki.

"That was a mistake, a slip of the hand. You're catching it right now," Uesugi Kai continued to shout.

Hanabi Hanamaru was still frightened, shaking her head repeatedly, "No..."

"Really? Didn't I look amazing in the match this afternoon?"