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

Hanamaru Hiroki looked shocked upon hearing this, because Uesugi Kai didn't seem to be lying, but his experience told him that it was completely impossible.

"Do you think I'd believe your nonsense? With your skills, you'd be considered one of the top students in the school."

"But that's really how it is..."

Uesugi Kai didn't want to lie; he truly had no prior experience wielding a sword, and there was no benefit in lying to his father-in-law.

Besides, Hanabi knew that he had never studied kendo.

Hanamaru Yuki still didn't believe it. In his opinion, the strength that Uesugi Kai had just displayed was at least at the level of a third-dan swordsman.

Both his reaction speed and sword-wielding posture require at least two years of training.

A third-dan swordsman has already entered the realm of swordsmanship and has established the foundation of his own "way".

Is this swordsman a novice who is holding a sword for the first time?

Is it the initial inspiration for Kendo that I had only seen on TV before?

Hanabi Hanamaru, who was watching from the sidelines, saw that her father still had a furrowed brow and spoke up:

“Dad... Uesugi-kun had never practiced kendo before. He only recently joined the school's archery club.”

"You also joined the archery club?"

Hanamaru Yuuki looked at Uesugi Kai again, and suddenly realized that he couldn't quite understand this kid.

It's one thing to be smart as a child, but to be this good on your first time holding a sword, is he some kind of genius?

"Um...yes." Uesugi Kai forced a smile.

This kid was special since he was a child, and he's still special now that he's grown up.

Hanamaru Yuuki thought to himself, his expression unchanged, unusually serious, after all, he now held the dual identity of the kid in front of him.

Master and father-in-law.

With these two identities combined, how could Uesugi Kai possibly have a good outcome?

Although Kai Ueyama's skill level could be described as genius for a novice who was holding a sword for the first time, it was still completely inadequate in the hands of Yuuki Hanamaru.

After all, he is a rare figure in all of Japan—a seventh-dan in Kendo.

Be careful!

Hanamaru Hiroki took a step forward, raised his bamboo sword high with both hands, and slashed down vertically.

Snapped!

Uesugi Kai extended his bamboo sword, blocking the attack at a slightly tilted angle.

This is the experience his body has learned from him at Kendo Lv5.

While blocking the attack, create distance between yourself and your opponent, making it difficult for them to launch a follow-up attack.

"Not bad, kid."

Hanamaru Yuuki smiled. He really admired this kid. With more training, he could definitely be called a rising star in the world of kendo.

but,

Right now, we still need to temper his arrogance and make him understand that there are always higher levels to reach.

"noodle!"

With a loud shout, Hanamaru Hiroki raised his bamboo sword with both hands and struck down again.

Uesugi Kai reached out again to meet the attack, and the bamboo sword trembled violently, but it was still able to withstand the blow.

Without hesitation, Hanamaru Yuuki raised the bamboo sword again, his hands tensing.

"Mian! Mian! Mian! Mian! Mian!"

In an instant, Hanamaru Yuuki unleashed a series of powerful downward strikes, the force of which, combined with his fierce aura, relentlessly pounded against Uesugi Kai's bamboo sword.

The speed was so fast that it left afterimages of swords swinging down!

It's incredibly oppressive!

clap clap clap!

The dust from the bamboo sword being struck was particularly noticeable under the moonlight.

Uesugi Kai had no time to react. He was stunned by the blow, his throat tightened and went dry, his stiff wrists trembled and went numb, and his body subconsciously kept backing away.

"noodle!"

Snapped!

The sound of the clash was so loud that it even reached Uesugi Kai's ears, deafening him.

Next second,

He only felt the bamboo sword slip from his hand, and immediately saw a swift downward slash suddenly appear at the tip of his nose.

"noodle."

The last 'face' was spoken with particular calmness.

Because the outcome is already decided.

The sword's edge swept through the air, whistling across Uesugi Kai's face, ruffling the hair above him, cold and unsettling.

Before him, the round blade of what appeared to be a simple bamboo sword sent a chill down Uesugi Kai's spine.

His gaze fell on the bamboo sword that hovered quietly on the tip of his nose, and a wave of fear washed over him.

The bamboo sword was just a hair's breadth away from hitting his face.

His bamboo sword lay quietly on the grass at his feet, and all that was in front of him was the round blade that occupied his entire field of vision.

They didn't even realize what was happening.

Meanwhile, Hanamaru, who was watching from the sidelines, nervously covered her face with her hands. Through the gaps between her fingers, she saw the two facing off and exclaimed in a weak voice:

"Daddy...is so amazing..."

She had never seen Hanamaru Yuuki demonstrate his kendo skills.

"You can't even react to the simplest consecutive attacks, you're still too green."

Hanamaru Yuuki lowered the bamboo sword that had been blocking Uesugi Kai's path, switching it to his right hand and holding it with one hand.

“When you train here, there’s no protective gear. Pain is your best teacher, reminding you of how you got injured every moment.”

"Fortunately, we'll have better methods to deal with this next time."

Hanamaru Yuuki glanced at Uesugi Kai, who had slightly regained her senses, and took a step back.

"I was already showing you mercy just now. It won't be that easy next time. Pick up your sword and continue training with me."

Still shaken by the attack, Uesugi Kai whispered a reminder, "Uncle Yuuki, Uncle, are these... too difficult for a beginner like me?"

"Hmph,"

Upon hearing this, Hanamaru Yuuki smiled, his features particularly sharp in the moonlight.

"What do you think, Uesugi Kai, the novice swordsman?"

The hidden meaning is self-evident.

"I..."

Kai Uesugi paused for a moment; today he had truly witnessed the true colors of his neighbor, Yuuki.

Chapter 42 The Pleasant Moonlight###

"Ha~"

The air was thick with mist, and the warm light from the bathroom heater became dim and indistinct.

Lying in the bathtub, the warmth of the water seeps into my skin, enjoying a rare moment of relaxation during the day.

Kai Uesugi turned his head, picked up the watch face next to him, and wiped away the water vapor on it.

22:43:23

It's been half an hour already.

Touching his slightly sore cheek, he could still recall Hanamaru Yuuki's bamboo sword strike accompanied by a loud shout.

"They really showed no mercy at all."

With a sigh, Uesugi Kai reluctantly stood up from the bathtub.

I walked to the washbasin and wiped the water vapor off the mirror with a cloth.

Kai Uesugi looked at his own face.

Um...

So handsome!

He couldn't help but nod to himself.

However, a bruise had formed on his right cheek, with a slight purple tinge around the edges.

"Why, do you have to slap me in the face?"

Unable to understand, Uesugi Kai wiped the water off her body, put on her clothes, and went outside.

The living room is spacious, typical of a detached house in Tokyo, and even has a small lawn and yard.

The Hanamaru family next door is the same, except that the two families have slightly different decorations; the one over there is more refined, while this one is more minimalist.

Looking at the pleasant moonlight outside the living room, Uesugi Kai walked out wearing her shoes.

The flowers in the courtyard are still yearning for his care today.

Ding-dong...

The doorbell outside suddenly rang.

"Not working overtime tonight? That's rare." Uesugi Kai turned and walked towards the entrance, somewhat puzzled. "But why don't you use a key to open the door?"

A snap.