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

As someone who has been given a second chance at life, when faced with a cheat code that suddenly appears in one's mind, one should give it a try, no matter how one thinks about it.

Opportunities always come with a certain degree of risk.

Amidst the noisy crowd, Uesugi Kai closed the book on her lap and waited quietly.

He watched the gradually disappearing dark blue characters, and he was ready.

Cherry blossoms, falling gently in the breeze, release their sweet fragrance, a refreshing and light scent that is not cloying at all, but rather soothing to the mind.

That's why he's sitting here reading.

“Uesugi-kun…”

Upon hearing that soft, sweet voice, Uesugi Kai, who had been silent for a long time, opened his eyes and saw the youthful and charming girl who suddenly appeared in his line of sight.

"Fireworks?"

"Ah."

Beneath the falling cherry blossoms, Hanabi Hanamoto nodded weakly, her delicate, blushing face seemingly flushed with a sweet, intoxicating allure.

The chill of March lingers in Tokyo, but the first signs of spring are emerging.

The girl's clothing was also relatively conservative, with a light gray Japanese-style trench coat paired with a beige knitted sweater and a thick light blue scarf around her neck.

Beneath her shoulder-length short hair were her flushed cheeks.

A creamy white Japanese-style pleated skirt and white knee-high socks.

The sheer lace trim at the hem of the skirt perfectly complements the colors of the cherry blossoms fluttering around it, adding a touch of charming cuteness.

Her soft appearance and gentle voice make her all the more endearing.

Uesugi Kai looked into her bright, warm, violet eyes and asked:

Why are you here?

Hanabi Hanamaru shrank back, burying her rosy cheeks in her scarf, her hands clasped together between her thighs, and whispered weakly:

"Today is cherry blossom season, Hanabi... Hanabi wanted to come and see the cherry blossoms with Uesugi-kun... but Aunt Noriko said you left home at eight o'clock this morning."

"So...that's why I came here."

###Chapter 141 The Intertwining of Dreams and Reality###

What does it feel like to have a wonderful dream?

Half awake, half hazy.

It seems fake, yet one is deeply trapped in it and cannot extricate oneself.

In my memory, the mist that obscured her face was neither cloud nor fog, and her weak voice calling his name was ethereal and graceful, leaving one feeling only vague and unclear.

Only that radiant smile is deeply etched in my mind.

It feels soft and fluffy, just like it's made from ground white sugar.

In the early morning, the dazzling sunlight shattered on the headboard, my closed eyes were bathed in a red glow, and I awoke from a deep dream.

My sleepy eyes slowly opened halfway, and light shone through the window to my soul.

The curtains swaying in the wind made the dappled sunlight dance and shimmer on my face.

The soft chirping of birds outside the window drifted into the room on the breeze.

Kai Uesugi sat up from the bed, which was much softer than his own, stared blankly for a few seconds, rubbed his temples, and tried to adjust to the bright light.

Then, after sitting there for several minutes, he turned his neck to look at Hanamaru Hanabi, who was still fast asleep beside him.

Her breathing was steady and even, and her cheeks were flushed with a faint pink.

She was covered with a thin sheet, her little hands were placed on her chest, and she was lying on her side on the bed.

The girl slept soundly as always, and still loved to sleep in late in the morning.

All she was wearing was a thin nightgown.

The thought of the frosty, bright moon he saw when he woke up last night sent a chill down his spine.

It seems a bit cold.

Snorting, Uesugi Kai got up, drew back the curtains, and stood for a few minutes, looking at the bright sunlight streaming in from the azure sky and then at the closed blinds of her own home.

After warming himself up a bit, he instinctively wanted to go to the restroom to wash up.

But as soon as he turned his head and saw Hanabi sleeping soundly on his own bed, he suddenly realized that this was... Hanabi's house.

Okay, let's wake her up first, otherwise she won't get up for ages.

"Get up, Little Firework."

After a long, drawn-out "hmm," Hanabi murmured, "Kai-kun...don't...touch Hanabi's waist..."

"..."

"Get up. Why do you keep thinking about touching your waist?" Uesugi nudged her again.

Hanabi Hanamaru closed her eyes and made a few more "woo" sounds, as if her mind was trying to understand the meaning of the word "get up".

After a while.

"Hanabi... wants to... sleep a little longer..."

After waiting for so long, all I got was this one sentence?

Uesugi Kai gazed at her obedient sleeping face, and for some reason, he just wanted to wake her up.

He grabbed her waist with both hands through her thin sheet.

The corners of her mouth gradually curved into a smile, the girl smiled with her eyes closed.

"itch......"

Can't pay it back?

Uesugi Kai went all out.

"Haha, Kai, goodbye, Kai-kun!"

Hanabi Hanabi's cute face immediately lit up with a smile, and she reached out her little hand to stop him.

"get up."

Tears welled up in her eyes, and she laughed breathlessly, "Hanabi, Hanabi understands."

Kai Uesugi could tell that she was indeed getting up, so he simply let go.

What do you want to wear today?

"That white shirt." Hanabi Hanamaru sat up, her violet eyes still sleepy, and pulled the sheets covering her with both hands.

"Not wearing skirts anymore?"

“You can wear it too. Kai-kun, which one do you prefer Hanabi to wear?” Hanabi looked up at him.

"I can just pick whatever I want?" Uesugi Kai smiled. "Your usual school uniform is fine."

The morning light filtered through the gaps in the curtains, scattering across the headboard and making the girl's silhouette against the light clear and striking.

"But wouldn't it be strange to wear a sailor uniform on the weekend?"

This is the impression that most female high school students have of them.

School uniforms are for wearing at school. Why would you wear them on the street on a weekend when you're resting?

Kai Uesugi suddenly remembered the little dress she wore in the rain that day; it gave her a light and ethereal air.

"That off-the-shoulder white dress is also nice."

Hanabi Hanamaru hesitated for a moment, then whispered, "That... skirt is too short..."

It's too short?

He only noticed the shoulders and legs at the time, and didn't pay attention to whether the skirt was short or not.

However, recalling it from the perspective of the courtyard, it was indeed quite short.

"Haven't you been wearing safety shorts lately? It's fine, as long as it looks good."

Hanabi Hanamaru has been very sensitive ever since she heard about that dress.

Upon hearing "safety shorts," she paused for a second, her delicate, childlike face flushing crimson, and asked in a dazed, sweet voice:

"Kai-kun... how did you know that Hanabi has been wearing safety shorts lately?"

"..."

On Saturday, birds flew across the azure horizon, and beneath the sky, several boys dressed in pristine white archery uniforms entered the waiting room.

The entrance to the dojo has a prominent and eye-catching sign.

The bustling crowd chatted as they entered the venue and stepped into the audience seats.

Everyone here has some knowledge of archery.

There were students from various school archery clubs who came to learn from their experience, spectators who had always been interested in archery, and people from various dojos, enthusiasts, and learners...

Kyudo, with its long history and accumulated traditions, is no less popular or entertaining than Kendo.

The simple and clear rules, the resounding bowstring soaring into the sky—at the moment the archer displays the most beautiful shooting form and fires a resounding arrow, everyone's heartstrings ripple and sway in the sky along with the lingering resonance of the bowstring.

"what"

In the second waiting room of the venue, Uesugi Kai covered his mouth and yawned, even though he had slept very well last night.

But too much comfort can also make people lazy.

"...Uesugi, are you alright?" Hirata Masanobu asked, a little worried at his listless appearance.

Kai Uesugi shrugged, trying to relax. "No problem, no problem."

“Uesugi, you said ‘no problem’ twice in a row, and I’m inexplicably starting to panic.” Hirata Masanobu’s expression reflected this. “Our strength isn’t great, so we mainly rely on your and Sugita-senpai’s consistent performance.”

Hiroki Kanai patted him on the shoulder, "We're facing Tokyo No. 10. We need to have confidence in ourselves before the final. Haven't you been training very hard lately?"

A few girls walked over and happened to overhear their conversation.