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

Wow, that's amazing... How much strength does that take?

The students around the competition area were stunned. They had been practicing kendo for so many years and had never seen two bamboo swords collide and only the handles remained.

All four bamboo strips were broken, and even the iron rods used to hold them in place inside were broken.

Fujino is one thing, he's physically strong and over 1.9 meters tall.

Despite his terrible personality, you have to admit he's incredibly strong.

But Uesugi Kai...

It's hard to understand how he could have strength comparable to Fujino's.

He was standing in the middle of the competition area, looking at the handle in his hand, acting as if nothing had happened.

It seems like the teacher's college student is only 18 years old... How come so many strange things are happening...?

----------

A street scene in Tokyo at 1:39 p.m.

Cold rain sprinkled across the transparent umbrellas that were being used to walk between the high-rise buildings.

"Welcome to 7 Days Convenience Store."

"Hi, Seunghye, 300 yen."

"Sir, starting in September, you'll be charged for plastic bags. Here's your change: 190 yen. Please keep it safe."

Thank you for your patronage. We look forward to welcoming you again.

After leaving the convenience store, Uesugi Kai, whose chin was now covered in stubble, walked home alone, holding an umbrella.

The whispers of raindrops hitting the umbrella's surface filled my entire body with a chill.

Kai Uesugi didn't react much, letting the chill invade his body as he continued walking through the rain-soaked streets of Tokyo.

He answered the phone, carrying a clear plastic bag containing two cup noodles.

It is the mother.

【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.

A street scene in Tokyo at 1:39 p.m.

Cold rain sprinkled across the transparent umbrellas that were being used to walk between the high-rise buildings.

"Welcome to 7 Days Convenience Store."

"Hi, Seunghye, 300 yen."

"Sir, starting in September, you'll be charged for plastic bags. Here's your change: 190 yen. Please keep it safe."

Thank you for your patronage. We look forward to welcoming you again.

After leaving the convenience store, Uesugi Kai, whose chin was now covered in stubble, walked home alone, holding an umbrella.

The whispers of raindrops hitting the umbrella's surface filled my entire body with a chill.

Kai Uesugi didn't react much, letting the chill invade his body as he continued walking through the rain-soaked streets of Tokyo.

He answered the phone, carrying a clear plastic bag containing two cup noodles.

It is the mother.

【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.

###Chapter 270 Uesugi Teacher's Representative###

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

Having a wooden knife pointed at your nose feels... humiliating.

This sense of humiliation erupted from the depths of my heart, mixed with resentment, and gradually turned into anger.

“Fujino,” Uesugi Kai said, his expression unchanged, as he extended the tip of his knife forward. Fujino, who was 1.9 meters tall, felt a sudden tightness in his chest and staggered back a step, his anger vanishing. “I wonder if you still have the will to fight? If you want to continue the challenge, I’m ready anytime.”

What could he do? In the time it took to swallow his saliva, many thoughts flashed through Fujino Masayuki's mind. His hands were still numb, and his turbulent emotions were still trapped in the scene of being overpowered and beaten.

It's hard to calm down.

Fujino's eyes were bloodshot as he tried to grip the broken wooden hilt of his sword, but he was ultimately powerless and could only utter a helpless sigh:

"I concede."

As soon as he uttered the word "surrender," his tense body seemed to relax, but the knife tip that Uesugi Kai then thrust into him sent a shiver down his spine.

"Admit defeat? Nothing can be resolved with just admitting defeat. Where is your sincerity?"

Sincerity...?

Fujino Masayuki looked around the dojo and noticed that everyone was staring at him, so he remained silent.

They all seemed to be expecting to make a commitment.

At this moment, the air seemed to freeze, so frozen that even the tip of the knife pointing at his nose exuded a sense of oppression.

Fujino hesitated for a long time before finally forcing himself to speak:

"Teacher...Fan Dai—"

“Don’t misunderstand,” Kai Uesugi interrupted him calmly, his eyes fixed on him. “I don’t care if you’re unhappy with me. It was your own business if you just walked away last class.”

Fujino couldn't understand why the other party didn't seem to want him to apologize or back down.

If these things aren't needed... then why did you say those things before?

He now feels like he's being pointed at with a knife and being looked at like this by everyone, which is very embarrassing.