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

【Akai, the letter from the University of Tokyo has arrived.】

【Um. 】

[It says on the sign that the entrance ceremony will be held on April 1st!]

That's really lucky.

[Yeah, yeah! I can't believe you actually got in, A-Zhao! This past year must have been tough, right? What do you want to eat tonight?]

Kai Uesugi glanced sideways at the two packs of Nissin Cup Noodles in his plastic bag.

The pattering raindrops continued to fill my ears.

I've already bought some instant noodles.

[Instant noodles? No way! That's unhealthy. When you get home, just wait for me to go grocery shopping; it'll be ready in a minute.]

【Um. 】

Kai Uesugi hung up the phone and put it back in his pocket.

Unexpectedly, it rang again.

It's Goto.

【Hello.】

[Haha, Uesugi, I passed! I passed!]

【Congratulations.】

Hey, you have no idea how tough it's been for me lately. Every night I wait for the envelope to arrive at home.

【Um. 】

Kai Uesugi, phone in hand, gazed at the passersby under their umbrellas as they brushed past him.

[Hey, Uesugi, are you alright? You don't sound very happy. Could it be that you...]

You've passed; don't worry.

[You passed? Haha, that's great! The University of Tokyo... I can't even dream of it. There's a class reunion on Friday, everyone's coming. Are you coming?]

【never mind.】

Hey, no way! The class reunion wouldn't be complete without you! You're a celebrity at our school! Do you know how many girls have asked me for your phone number?

[It wouldn't be much different without me.]

【How can you say that! Every classmate is important! If you don't come, Tsubokawa and I will drag you here!】

There's no need.

"Uesugi, this is necessary. We're worried about you." Goto's tone suddenly became serious.

What do I have to worry about?

[Anyway, it's settled then. 2-6-12 Ginza. Remember to come on time Friday noon, you absolutely have to!]

Kai Uesugi put the phone he had just hung up back into his pocket.

On the way home, the sound of the plastic bag swaying and the rain hitting the umbrella were clearly mingled together.

The words Goto had invited me to the class reunion kept echoing in my mind.

To say it's perfect is an understatement; it's been imperfect for a long time now.

Uesugi Kai continued walking, the sky overcast with rain, filled with an unyielding chill.

......

open the door.

"I am back."

Kai Uesugi spoke loudly because he secretly hoped that a soft, warm voice would reach his ears.

###Chapter 248 Barbecue Restaurant Gathering###

"I've already inquired about the May Festival."

"Oh, is that alright?" said Kyushu Rika, as the aroma of grilled meat wafted from the grill on the table.

"Is it already confirmed that you'll be performing?" Uesugi Kai didn't answer directly, but instead asked in return.

“I’m fine.” She looked at Kitagawa Sakakisa, who was picking up meat with chopsticks.

"Me? If you all want to go, of course I'm fine with it. After all, I haven't had anything to do lately except draw sketches."

Fireworks are definitely no problem, so in the end, only Ayaka Rie is left.

"I......"

“I can go!” Kitagawa Sakakisa said firmly while chewing on grilled meat.

For some reason, Ayaka Rie wanted to roll her eyes at her.

"Alright... but I need to work on my sketching recently... I don't have much time for practice."

"Hmph, as long as they come, that's fine."

Kai Uesugi: "The song hasn't been decided yet, and where will we practice? There are only a few days left."

After a moment's thought, Kyuuji Rika, whose tableware and plates were neatly arranged in front of her, said, "The venue... either my house or Sakaki's house is fine."

Hanabi Hanamaru, who was putting another piece of meat on Uesugi's plate, suddenly said, "Isn't this the first time we've worked together on a show?"

Kitagawa Sakakisa said with a grin, "It's just that Uesugi didn't participate in the senior year school festival because he went to compete."

"Uesugi-san, how do you feel about winning first place in the national archery competition? I don't think I've asked you before."

Kai Uesugi saw a middle-aged man on the other side who was drunk at noon and was yelling at the waiter to add more beer.

Even after the young waitress, who was clearly working part-time, refilled his beer with another large glass, he still vented his dissatisfaction. The girl had no choice but to repeatedly bow and apologize.

“Uesugi.” Kitagawa Sakakisa noticed that he seemed lost in thought.

"It's nothing," Uesugi Kai said, seeing that the uncle only complained a few times. "If you ask me what I think about winning first place, I can only say that I met many very hardworking people, and each school of thought has its own characteristics."

“I’ve always been curious about the differences between different styles of archery,” Rika Kuju asked. “I’ve watched many matches, and all I’ve noticed are slight differences in their stances.”

Kai Uesugi casually placed the marbled beef on the grill and explained, "To put it simply, the difference between different styles of Kyudo is that one style is different from the other. The stance, the height of the bow, the angle of the bow, the force of the draw, and the appropriate timing of the force are all different. The difference between styles is the difference between large and small, strong and weak. Each style will make trade-offs between these two variables to achieve the posture that best suits its own style."

"Of course, the most important thing is to suit yourself. There is a common misconception in the world of archery, which is to learn completely by rote, like a machine, and lose the grace that should be present when mastering archery."

"I see." Kyushu Rika listened attentively.

Kitagawa Sakakisa said, "Uesugi-san, why don't you try to get first place in kendo? I remember you were in the kendo club before."

Rie Ayaka: "Kyudo alone is very demanding, so it's unlikely that I'll have as much time to train in kendo anymore."

Kitagawa Sakakisa swallowed a piece of meat and wiped her mouth with a handkerchief: "Yeah, I swung a bamboo sword, but I couldn't last more than half an hour."

An hour and a half later, Uesugi Kai went to the front desk to pay the bill.

Consumption: 30123 yen.

It's a bit pricey.

Logically speaking, homemade barbecue shouldn't be this expensive.

Kai Uesugi turned to look at the direction of the seat. Even Hanabi Hanabi's face was a little red from eating. In the past, no matter how much chili she ate, her face would only turn red for a little while.

It seems they really ate a lot.

There's a certain characteristic to eating barbecue: when you're full, you think, "The barbecue was too greasy! I'll never come back again."

But once I get hungry, I remember the sizzling grilled beef on the grill and I want to go again.

This cycle repeats continuously until you go in and out again.

However, at least for now, Uesugi Kai is unable to eat anything else.

After lifting the curtain and leaving the barbecue restaurant, everyone stood on the pedestrian street, their bellies slightly full.

"Do you have classes this afternoon?" Uesugi Kai asked, carrying Hanamaru Hanabi on his back.

“There’s one more thing,” Kitagawa Sakakisa said to him. “Why are you asking this? Are we going to Disneyland again?”

She got a little excited at the end.

Knowing why he asked this, Jiu Shi Li Xiang said, "We have cultural classes this afternoon, which we have to attend, but Hana Huotui is injured and has been on leave for the past few days."

Rie Ayaka: "You take Hanabi-chan back to rest first, we're going to class."

With her arms wrapped around Hanabi Hanabi's slender legs, Uesugi Kai said to everyone, "Alright, Hanabi and I will head back now. We still need to tidy up our clothes. If you want to start rehearsing for the show, just let us know on LINE."

"Okay, goodbye."

"Goodbye."

"Bye-bye, Hanabi-chan! See you tomorrow~"

"Um...see you tomorrow..."

The four girls disappeared around the corner of the pedestrian street, and Uesugi Kai, carrying Hanabi on his back, started looking for a taxi.

Hanabi Hanabi, perched on his back, always couldn't resist wanting to rest her little head against his shoulder.

She would press her face very close, unable to resist stealing glances at his face: "Kai-kun..."

The girl's weak cry was very close, amplified slightly near her ear.

"Isn't it uncomfortable to carry you?" Uesugi Kai carried her across the pedestrian street, and many passersby couldn't help but glance at them out of curiosity.

"No......"

"Then why did you call me?"

"Hanabi could clearly feel every step Kai took on his back."

"So that feels pretty good?" Uesugi Kai said with a smile.

Hanabi Hanabi's slender, pale arms tightened around his neck, and her face pressed against his shoulder.

"Hanabi just feels...very...good...to have Kai-kun by her side..."