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

The feet, spine, and back form a vertical line that intersects perpendicularly with the horizontal lines of the shoulders and elbows. This is a necessary foundation for learning to extend and close.

There are even more difficult levels above that.

"Sigh~ Let's try harder." Hirata Masanobu was overwhelmed by all this.

“Let me teach you a little trick,” Sugita Sohei said, raising the bow again and placing his left hand on the bow grip. “With your left hand, your thumb and middle finger should loop around the bow, while keeping your middle finger perpendicular to the bow.”

"Don't use your palms forcefully; hold the bow shape firmly."

He raised both hands above his head, pulled the bowstring with his right hand, and gently pushed the bamboo bow.

"Use your arms and shoulders simultaneously to pull downwards."

After completing this set of movements, he put down the bow.

"The goal is to make the archer focus on pushing the bow rather than holding the bow with his left hand when shooting."

"Holding the bow, pushing the bow, drawing the string, extending and closing the bow, breathing, rhythm, teammate rhythm... these are all points to pay attention to when shooting arrows. At the same time, you also need to adjust your position and try to maintain the trembling of your hands to ensure that your arrow hits the target."

"There are too many things to pay attention to at the same time. This little trick can save a lot of effort and ensure that you don't get too tired when you draw the bow for a long time."

"understood."

After that, everyone started training again, except for Uesugi Kai, who was taking a break and slacking off.

Chitose Mai walked in from the entrance of the dojo carrying many drinks, and many glistening water droplets could be seen on her jet-black hair.

"This rain is so annoying, it just keeps falling."

"Why did you go wearing your archery uniform? Aren't you afraid of getting your hakama skirt dirty?" Sakurai Fuko took the few bottles of drinks she had bought that were almost out of her hands.

"Huh?" Chitose Mai turned her head to look at her black hakama skirt, which was indeed quite wet. "It's really dirty!"

"Then you'll have to go back and take a shower," Sakurai Fuko said with a smile.

"Can't I wash it in the washing machine?"

"Not recommended."

"Hand washing is too much trouble~"

While dozing off, Uesugi Kai overheard their conversation and suddenly remembered that Hanabi had always hand-washed his archery uniform.

She said that although she was not a member of the archery club and could not watch over Kai-kun all the time, she could still help Kai-kun wash his clothes.

Then came another inexplicable outburst of insecurity.

Most of the time, when he went to see her in the morning, she would give him his neatly folded archery uniform.

Too... virtuous... so virtuous that she doesn't seem like a girlfriend.

Should I give her a gift?

Kai Uesugi thought of the doll in the mall.

"Senior, what would you like to drink?" Chitose Mai asked him, carrying several bottles of beverages.

"Thank you," Uesugi Kai said, taking a bottle of coffee. "You paid for it?"

"How could this be!"

Chitose Mai distributed the remaining bottles to everyone, then turned to him and said, "I'm so poor I have to work at a convenience store, I don't have enough money to treat you guys to drinks."

She pointed at Aoyuya.

"The minister paid for it all."

"I thought you hadn't been working lately."

Kai Uesugi grabbed the bottle with his left hand and unscrewed the cap with his right.

"Wait!" Chitose Mai suddenly shouted.

Uesugi stopped what he was doing. "What's wrong?"

"What's that on your upper left shoulder, senior?"

"The engagement ring," he said casually, then unscrewed the cap and took a sip of his bottled coffee, which had no bitterness whatsoever.

"Senior, you don't want that cute Hanabi-chan anymore!?"

"It's her."

"Senior, you and Hanabi-chan are engaged!?" Chitose Mai seemed to be in a state of bewildered surprise.

Everyone in training turned to look at Uesugi Kai.

"Is it strange?" He didn't understand why everyone had such an expression today.

"It would be strange if it weren't unusual, okay?" Chitose Mai blinked at his sparkling ring; the diamond... was a bit too big.

“I think it’s strange that it’s not strange at all; there’s nothing strange about it.” Uesugi Kai didn’t deliberately avoid the topic.

"But senior has only been dating Hanabi-chan for less than two months, and he's already... engaged?"

“Including the past two years,” Uesugi Kai glanced at her, “How did you know?”

"Hanabi-chan told me that. She also said that when her senior confessed to her, she was so happy that she couldn't sleep at night, just staring blankly at her pillow."

No wonder Hanabi was listless for several days.

"oh, I understand now."

"By the way, what do you like about Hanabi-chan, senpai?"

"Why ask these questions?"

"I'm just curious~ I can tell you what Hanabi-chan likes about you, senior."

"You and she have become so familiar with each other?" Uesugi Kai couldn't believe that girls could really talk about anything.

"Hanabi-chan is very easy to talk to. If you ask her a little more, she'll tell you." Chitose Mai smiled.

She's easy to talk to, and you're quite gossipy.

Uesugi also wanted to know what Hanabi liked about him doing to her, but if he asked her, she would probably be too embarrassed to say it.

"First of all, she's cute. She looks very light and agile, and her walk has a quiet, ethereal quality."

"And then what?"

"Then there's her face, which is soft and easily turns red. Her hands are also very soft, and they all feel very warm and smooth."

On the other side, Fuko Sakurai was also quietly listening.

Curiosity is human nature, especially for women.

"And then, and then?" Chitose Mai asked excitedly.

"Why ask so many questions?" Uesugi Kai had originally planned to mention his waist, legs, and feet as well.

"Understanding boys' quirks...uh...hobbies." Chitose Mai smiled. "Actually, Hanabi-chan really likes the older brother's side."

"The brother's side?" Uesugi Kai roughly understood.

"I can't find out the specifics either, mainly because Hanabi-chan can't explain it either."

"..."

"Is this all the information you have?"

Chitose Mai wasn't stupid; she gave a shrewd smile and said, "That's enough for you, senpai."

Chapter 138 Strange Habits.

After school, we met under an umbrella.

Hanabi Hanabi carried groceries from the supermarket, her steps quiet and light, her small feet encased in shiny black leather shoes.

"Are you happy about something?" Uesugi Kai asked, holding an umbrella between the two of them.

"The fireworks competition results are in." She tilted her head back, the small scarf on her sailor uniform fluttering gently, highlighting her beautiful smile.

Kai Uesugi couldn't help but smile knowingly at her: "First place, I guess."

"Ok!"

Hanabi Hanamaru seemed very happy. She stood on tiptoe, put one small hand on his shoulder, and quickly kissed him on the cheek.

When the heel of her little leather shoes hit the ground, splashing a tiny drop of water, a unique blush quickly spread across the girl's cute and well-behaved face.

"Thank you, Kai-kun."

A rare act of initiative.

Listening to the rain pattering against the transparent umbrella, Uesugi Kai continued walking with her home.

The cherry trees along the Kanda River have sprouted new buds, preparing for next year's blooming season amidst the hazy rainy season.

He remembered that day at Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden, when she smiled at him under the cherry blossom tree.

He felt honored that the person standing and gazing beneath the fluttering cherry blossom petals was always his first love.

Why are you thanking me?

"Kai-kun gave Hanabi a lot of encouragement and confidence."

Her radiant smile and sweet appearance attracted the attention of many passersby.

The fleeting face lingers in my heart.

Kai Uesugi was also attracted by her familiarity and warmth, and feelings began to stir within him.

"What are we eating today...?"

Hanabi Hanabi picked up the bag in her hand and said happily, "Shrimp and trout stew, quinoa, vegetable and beef sushi, and vegetable salad."

"Could we... add another dish...?"

"Kai-kun, is there anything else you'd like to eat?"

Uesugi Kai gazed at her smiling face for a long while, then slowly said:

"No, it's nothing, it's enough."

The rain, which seemed to weep from the sky, continued incessantly.