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

"Furthermore, my family has a lineage of archery masters. We use high-quality materials, the workmanship is exquisite, and the inspection process is very strict. You can rest assured that the bamboo bow I give you is safe to use."

"Is it really that simple?" Uesugi Kai asked the same question as Sugita Sakura.

“It’s that simple,” Sugita Sohei replied in the same way.

"They just gave away 110000 yen like that?"

“My family,” Sugita said calmly, “is not short of money.”

"..."

Kai Uesugi realized that he had been narrow-minded and had forgotten that this was Chiyoda Ward.

"I value your talent more than this bamboo bow."

Sugita Sohei walked to the counter, took out a small round box, and explained to Uesugi Kai, who had followed him:

"This is wood wax, made from walnut oil, applied to the bamboo bow for maintenance."

He then pointed to the deerskin gloves on the other side of the display stand.

“The pot needs to be custom-made, and Uesugi-kun will have to pay for that part himself.”

"clear."

Even salted fish shouldn't be taken for free all the time.

Then Uesugi Kai asked, "How much?"

“A custom-made bowl would cost around 2 yen,” Sugita Sohei said casually. “I suggest you also buy a few more kyudo uniforms, a few pairs of hakama trousers, as well as books, tabi socks, arrows, chalk, oshite bowl, shizuku (stone dart), yuki-bu (yume bag)…”

"Senior, stop," Uesugi Kai quickly waved his hand to stop him, "Just tell me roughly how much it will cost."

“Hmm…” Sugita Sohei thought for a moment, “Around 8 yen, including taxes.”

80,000...

There is a very serious problem—not enough money.

"Hanabi!"

Hanabi Hanamaru, who was chatting with Sugita Sakura, suddenly heard Uesugi Kai calling her from outside.

She stood up, walked over with even steps, and stood in front of him.

She noticed the rather long bamboo bow in his hand and asked curiously in a low voice:

"What's wrong... Kai-kun?"

"It's nothing, it's just..."

Kai Uesugi gave her a very nice smile: "Brother didn't bring enough money, Hanabi, could you... lend me some?"

------

"83215.3, sigh, I'm out of money, I'm out of money."

Kai Uesugi, carrying a large bag in his right hand, sighed. He suddenly found the sound of rain hitting the umbrella particularly irritating. "Half of my savings are gone in the last two days."

The bamboo bow is too big and difficult to carry in the rain. Senior Sugita will personally deliver it to school for him tomorrow.

"Kai-kun...are you short of money...?"

Hanabi Hanabi, carrying five packaged arrows, walked slowly under an umbrella. "As for Hanabi's money... Kai-kun, you don't need to pay it back."

“No.” Uesugi Kai shook his head in refusal.

"Kai-kun used to treat Hanabi to delicious food..."

"A brother must repay the money he borrows from his sister."

Hanabi Hanabi thought of her younger self from a long time ago: "So, Kai-kun still wants to treat Hanabi like a little sister after all...?"

"What does Hanabi think?" Uesugi Kai wanted to pinch her soft cheeks again.

“Kai-kun… has become very bad lately…” Hanabi Hanamaru noticed his gaze and lowered her head slightly.

"Fireworks are just too cute, I can't help it."

"Kai-kun has never been this mean before..."

Kai Uesugi switched the umbrella to his other hand, picked up the bag, and gently put his arm around her shoulder.

The girl's body felt soft and sweet against his chest, and he couldn't help but whisper to her, "Hanabi, don't forget we're lovers now."

"Is this what lovers do?" She didn't resist his embrace and gently leaned against him.

“Yes,” Uesugi Kai said slowly to her, “a lover will make Kai-kun very bad.”

"Kai-kun..."

A cool breeze carried a light drizzle, which brushed against the girl's increasingly shy face.

The streets were sparsely populated, and no one noticed the girl's secret embrace on this rainy day.

The slight chill made her instinctively snuggle closer to him.

My chest... feels warm... and reassuring...

Hanabi Hanabi looked up at his nose, her eyes bright and clear, and whispered in a weak voice, "Kai-kun, you've become so bad since you became my lover..."

"Do you hate it?" Uesugi Kai looked down at the girl in his arms, meeting her beautiful gaze as he walked very, very slowly.

Their eyes met, and she shyly lowered her head again.

"I...I hate you..." But when I said "I hate you," my heart felt warm.

Kai Uesugi smiled.

He grasped her slender shoulders, gently inhaled her youthful fragrance, and spoke as lightly as a passing breeze, his words lingering in her ears:

"Well... that annoying Kai-kun invited Hanabi to his house this afternoon, Hanabi... are you going?"

The girl nestled in his arms, her cheeks flushed. Hearing his voice, her beautiful, bright eyes suddenly wanted to slowly close: "Kai... Kai-kun..."

"Shall we go?" The gentle voice rang out again, without a trace of impatience or urging.

The light, airy little head became languid in the gentle voice.

She closed her slightly dazed eyes, stopped following his movements, and softly murmured:

"go......"

Looking at the little head nestled in her arms, Uesugi Kai smiled again: "So...cute..."

With his left hand gently embracing her soft, delicate body, the two slowly made their way home through the streets shrouded in cold rain.

###Chapter Ninety-Five: Monday, Another Love Letter###

The teaching building was a bit noisy the next day. As soon as Uesugi Kai opened the shoe locker, he saw a pink letter fall out.

"here we go again?"

He wasn't too surprised.

He picked up the letter from his feet and, under the envious gazes of the two male classmates beside him, opened it.

"I like you."

Yes, let's get straight to the point.

"Actually, I've wanted to write this letter to you for a long time, Uesugi-kun."

Yes, the name is spelled correctly.

"I am a very timid girl. I should have written this letter sooner, but I was too scared... I never had the courage to face the consequences of confessing my feelings."

It's good to explain one's personality and express one's deep affection.

Kai Uesugi held the letter in one hand and continued reading.

"I know I'm not perfect, but I will be the most hardworking and dedicated. I still remember that day in the dojo, under the blue sky, your elegant figure and graceful movements. Every time you drew your bow, every time you shot an arrow, you hit not only the target on the ground, but also my timid and cowardly heart."

"The thought of your face makes my heart flutter and keeps me tossing and turning in bed. In the dark of night, whether my eyes are open or closed, your figure is always in my sight."

I really want to hold your hand and tell you I love you.

"I know I am insignificant, I know I am small, I know I am a girl who has no presence."

"But I still want to ask you to give me a reply despite your busy schedule."

"I will stay under the beech tree in the backyard all afternoon and wait until late at night."

"I am very sorry if this letter has caused any trouble for Uesugi-kun."

————Class 2, Group 5, Sawatori Uika, February 16, left.

On the lower half of the letter, you can even see a few dry, stiff creases.

"..."

Kai Uesugi remained silent. If it were a love letter from the past, he wouldn't necessarily throw it in the recycling bin, but he would completely ignore it.

The letter was well-written and humble, inspiring a desire to at least meet her.

"What a pity."

He shook his head, put the letter back into its pink case, and said, "If it were my past life, I probably would have agreed much sooner."

Without much inner turmoil, Uesugi Kai changed her shoes as usual and headed towards the classroom on the fourth floor.

The campus in the early morning always exudes a youthful vitality.

Compared to the early cherry blossoms that are beginning to fade, the sailor-uniformed girls at school are much more attractive.

Every day, as I push open the door and enter the room, I always see the same few classmates who arrive earliest.

Good morning, class monitor.

"Good morning."

Rika Kyuu, who was writing in the class log, casually replied, but the voice sounded like Uesugi's, so she looked up at him sitting by the window and asked, "I'm so glad that Uesugi-kun greeted me today?"

She saw the pink envelope he had placed down and answered her own question.

"He seems genuinely pleased."