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

After Uesugi chatted with Goto for a few more minutes, Kitagawa Sakakisa walked over and stood in front of him.

After glancing at them twice, Goto Iwakatsu left to find Tsubokawa, who was playing games on the other side.

Kitagawa Sakakisa sat down next to Uesugi Kai and turned to ask him:

Why did Hanabi-chan go to England?

"dream."

As a pampered young lady who had always been overprotected by her older brother, Kitagawa Sakakisa had actually never heard of this word before:

"Why does everyone have dreams? Are they really that important?"

"People always need to have some goals."

Wearing a white tracksuit, Kitagawa Sakaki hugged her legs, resting her face on her knees. "Actually, I came to this school mainly to hang out with Hanabi-chan, but I never expected she'd be gone..."

"Are you close to her?" Uesugi Kai asked.

"Of course it's great! Because of her, I'm not angry with you for bullying me anymore."

"What's going on?"

"Last time in Kabukicho, you threw a stone at my leg!" Kitagawa Sakakisa pointed sharply at her face. "I was almost disfigured! Do you know that?!"

Kai Uesugi paused to reflect.

"In my eyes, he was just a thief who stole things."

"That's my own house—never mind..."

Kitagawa Sakakisa's pretty face suddenly deflated. "I promised Hanabi-chan I wouldn't be angry anymore..."

This reminded him of the two people talking in the back garden.

And the way Hanabi secretly gave her a bento box to eat; Hanabi wasn't in a good mood at the time, and Hanabi comforted her.

This shows that Kitagawa Sakakisa is not inherently bad; it's just that her social status gives her some of the characteristics of a rich young lady.

Kitagawa Sakakisa stared at her black sneakers and mumbled softly:

"Are dreams... really that important...?"

Kai Uesugi, who was drinking water, glanced at her from the side.

On Wednesday afternoon, September 3, Uesugi Kai arrived at the archery club with his bow bag on his back.

"What a rare guest! It's been a long time since I've seen you," Minister Qing Youya said with a smile and a joke.

Are there any competitions recently?

"Oh? You're interested?"

"I want to find something to do." Uesugi Kai took the bow bag off his back.

Qing Youya watched him raise the bow and said, "There isn't one recently, but there's a Hundred Shooting Competition you can try to participate in."

"The Hundred Shooting Competition?" Uesugi Kai awkwardly nocked the string onto the end of the bamboo bow.

"As the name suggests, it is 100 consecutive hits. The current record is held by Tadao Sakamoto in 1949, who hit all 100 shots."

"49? That's a long time ago."

Showa 49, which is 1974, is several decades ago.

"The record for recent years is 99 hits and 46 consecutive hits," Aoyuya said to Uesugi Kai. "So, are you interested?"

"Within Tokyo?"

"It's right here at the second shooting range of Meiji Shrine."

Kai Uesugi stood up, picked up his bow in his right hand, and said, "Then I'll have to ask the captain to help me register."

"These are all minor matters. Have you considered taking a grade exam?"

"No, rank doesn't matter to me."

Drawing a bow and shooting an arrow is no longer difficult for Uesugi Kai, and his various postures and shooting techniques are already close to perfect.

Beneath the pristine white, slender kyudo hakama, her posture was exquisitely beautiful.

With the bamboo bow held level above his shoulder, Uesugi Kai drew back the bowstring, focusing his thoughts on the target outside the meadow.

dream...

What is Hanabi's dream...?

The bowstring trembled slightly on the taut string.

Kai Uesugi had never heard her talk about her dreams. All he knew was that she loved painting, was very good at watercolors and illustrations, and was skilled at creating portrait compositions that complemented the scenery.

But is liking something the same as having a dream?

What is her dream?

With his right hand released, a resounding twang echoed throughout the archery range, and the spinning arrow flew swiftly toward the target.

The echoes of the hit and the sound of the strings dissipated together under the slightly drizzling sky.

"It's raining again." Uesugi Kai looked up and put down his longbow.

"I thought your skills would decline after a month, but it seems I was overthinking it." Sugita Sohei released an arrow, which also hit the target.

"The etiquette movements are still a bit rusty; only the accuracy hasn't dropped."

Sugita Sohei didn't refute anything. Modern archery has become a purely exhibition match, and etiquette is an indispensable part of the entire archery system competition.

"Many new members will be joining tomorrow, do you want to come?"

"We'll see. I'll come unless there's a specific reason."

Sakurai Fuko brought out several cups of hot tea from the lounge, glanced up at Uesugi Kai who was walking down from the shooting position, and said, "I always feel like Uesugi-kun isn't in the right state of mind."

Chitose Mai also came out of the lounge, and after hearing what her senior said, she blinked and said:

"Isn't the senior still the same? His hit rate is just as high."

"Hmm~ If I had to say it, I wouldn't know how to describe it." Sakurai Fuko rested her chin on her right hand. "But it's just a feeling, a feeling, you understand? Mai."

Chitose Mai handed out cups of hot tea to everyone who came down from the shooting positions, saying, "Feelings are the most unreliable thing! Fuuko-senpai, please don't use this to explain things."

Kai Uesugi picked up his cup, gazed at the rising steam, and asked everyone:

Do you all think dreams are important?

Sakurai Fuko and Chitose Mai exchanged a glance.

"See? My gut feeling was right."

“The senior was just asking a question; it doesn’t prove he’s not in the right frame of mind,” Chitose Mai retorted. “But as for dreams… I don’t think they’re that important.”

Fuko Sakurai: "How can dreams not be important? Without dreams, you don't even know how to move forward."

“I don’t have any dreams,” Chitose Mai said, holding her teacup in her right hand. “If the path ahead is predetermined, that would be a boring choice. Besides, dreams can change depending on environmental factors.”

Hirata Masanobu forced a smile: "I also agree with Chitose's point of view."

The aloof Ogata Asaka chimed in from behind the crowd: "A goal is a goal, a dream is a dream. If a dream can be achieved, then it is no longer a dream."

Department head Yuya Ao also asked Kai Uesugi, "Did something happen to you, Kai-san, Uesugi?"

“No.” Uesugi Kai shook his head. “I was just thinking about a reason why I have to do something.”

Sugita Sohei put down his teacup and said calmly:

"I think that the so-called dream is just about enjoying the process of pursuing it. When the goal is achieved, the result is just icing on the cake."

"In the process, the people you meet and the emotional interactions you have are the most precious things on your journey to your dreams. Without the people and events in between, the dreams you achieve will ultimately be nothing but emptiness."

Chitose Mai said with a curious look, "What Sugita-senpai said is so profound!"

Sugita Sohei shook his head: "There's nothing profound about it. The most precious moment for a toy is when it's in the shop window, but the process of getting it is what you really need to experience."

Kai Uesugi simply looked at the cup of tea in his hand, carefully considering what Sugita-senpai had said.

------------

That evening, Uesugi Kai went home with her cousin.

“There’s a very serious problem now.” Uesugi Shio took off her shoes, revealing long, slender legs with black over-the-knee stockings peeking out from under her skirt.

"What's the problem?"

Kai Uesugi slung her schoolbag across her shoulder, put on her slippers, and stepped onto the floor.

"Since Xiaohuahuo left, there will be no one to cook dinner for us this afternoon."

Uesugi Kai was taken aback; this was indeed a very serious problem.

"Sister tide, can't you cook?"

Uesugi Shio crossed her arms and leaned against the wall. "I can help you in the kitchen, but when it comes to cooking, I'm not much better than you."

"Then I'll just buy a bento at the convenience store."

Who will go?

......

Ten seconds later.

Uesugi Shio looked at her raised hand with her lazy sapphire blue eyes. "Why have I never won?"

"There's a secret to this too."

"What's the secret?"

"If you reveal the secret, can it still be called a secret?"

Kai Uesugi walked into the inner room and waved to her cousin, who was still standing in the entrance hall, saying, "I want a beef bento, plus a bottle of Calpis, and anything else is fine."

Uesugi Shio picked up her keys, put on the shoes she had just taken off, and left home.

......

The first thing Uesugi Kai did upon returning to his room was to lie on the bed, pick up Hanabi's giant shark, lift it up, and ask:

What is Hanabi's dream?