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

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

An umbrella that rains as soon as you open it.

【How to use: Take it out and use it】

[Brief description: One of the strange umbrellas, a Doraemon gadget that was stolen.]

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

Gender detector

[How to use: Click to use]

[Brief description: You might, perhaps, or probably will need this item.]

After a quick glance, Uesugi Kai thought the reward for this mission was mediocre.

But apart from that intermediate card, why are the other three special rewards getting weirder and weirder?

Especially that umbrella that makes it rain as soon as you open it, what's the point?

Is it meant to keep out the rain or to let you get wet?

As for the "gender detector," there's no need to even comment on it.

Uesugi Kai shook his head after stopping, and walked towards the archery club with a blank expression.

I picked up a mid-level card on the way.

The results are: [Attribute Points ×9], [Calligraphy Skill Activation Card Lv4]. Please check your account.

On the fifth day of May, after school in the afternoon.

Kai Uesugi walked into the archery club as usual, took off his shoes, and went into the changing room to change his clothes.

"Senior, you haven't been coming to the archery club much lately."

"Ah, it's alright," Uesugi Kai replied casually.

As Yuasa Taketa watched him tighten the horn belt around his waist, the beautiful archery technique he had displayed a few days ago inexplicably flashed through his mind, and he felt a great deal of envy for his skill: "Senpai is clearly in the same class as me, but his archery technique is so much better than mine."

Even without the help of [Precision Lv8], Uesugi Kai's strength was still higher than that of his fellow members.

"Tell me about your archery practice," he asked as he put on his archery uniform.

"Is this some guidance from you, senior?" Taketa Yuasa asked, turning his head in surprise.

"After all, archery is about cultivating the mind, and mutual progress is also a very important part," said Kai Uesugi.

"Then thank you in advance, senior."

"fine."

Takeshi Yuasa sorted out his thoughts: "Actually, when I was standing at the shooting position, I felt that 28 meters was too far. The target in my line of sight was just a very small dot."

“Every time I raise the bow, I feel helpless, not knowing whether I should raise it higher or lower it.”

"Everyone says that a direct shot will hit the target, and I can only try my best to maintain my balance. But when I see the target in the distance, I feel inexplicably panicked. I feel like my breathing is being compressed, and I am very worried that this arrow will miss the target."

Upon hearing this, Uesugi Kai felt there was no need to listen any further.

She took out the black hakama, closed the cabinet, and interrupted him.

"To achieve this alignment, you need to determine the target in the third section of the sitting posture—'Preparing the Bow.' You must be facing the target directly, and your bow must also be facing the target. First, face it; don't worry about whether you hit the target or not."

"The key to 'a direct shot always hits the target' lies first and foremost in the mind."

Uesugi Kai, dressed in white, wore black hakama tied around his waist.

"This might be a bit difficult for someone who has just finished practicing on a straw target, but the key to archery is perseverance. Actually, there is a reference method in archery that can help you grasp distance and power. Kiyonobu Ogasawara's 'Detailed Explanation of Archery' has it written about. You can buy it and refer to it."

"A detailed explanation of archery?" Taketa Yuasa bowed to Kai Uesugi and said, "Thank you, senpai."

"fine."

Kai Uesugi, dressed neatly, walked out of the changing room.

Upon opening the door, to the right is the neat and tidy archery dojo of Shin-Ko High School.

There weren't many people, but it was quiet and peaceful.

A round of archery was fired, and the crisp, melodious notes of the bowstrings rang out one after another, with even intervals and distinct sounds.

Uesugi Kai took out a bamboo bow and bowstring from the black bow case, pressed its light bow against the groove on the wall, and then tied the specially made cotton ropes at both ends of the string to the two ends of the bamboo bow.

The center of the string is slightly thicker than the rest of the string.

This place is called "Zhongshi Gua".

Because the grooves on the arrow fletching are thicker than the bowstring, the main purpose of the middle hook is to make it easier to hook the arrow fletching, thus making it easier to nock the arrow.

Here, it is necessary to use adhesive (rosin) and hemp rope to wrap and enlarge it, adjust the thickness of this part of the bowstring, and finally fix it with a Daobao (a type of bowstring).

In fact, Kai Uesugi never understood why these two small wooden sticks were called "Hui Dao Bao" (meaning "treasure of the Way").

Chitose Mai and Sakurai Fuko chatted happily, and when they saw Uesugi Kai approaching, she smiled and greeted him.

"By the way, senior, do you want to sign up for the district competition?"

"District tournament? Shinjuku district?" Uesugi Kai, who was holding a bow in his left hand, stopped. "Does this count as a preliminary round for the National Archery Championships?"

Japan's administrative divisions are prefectures and cities, which consist of 1 metropolis, 1 circuit, 2 prefectures, and 43 counties.

Tokyo has 23 wards, so this is already considered a very large-scale event.

“No, that’s not true.” Sakurai Fuko explained with a smile, “For the national tournament, the entire Kanto region holds preliminary rounds, and only those who advance will participate in the national tournament as the host country.”

"Hmm...actually, I don't know whether it will be held in Tokyo or Kyoto this year."

"How about it, senior, do you want to give it a try?" Chitose Mai looked expectant.

To go or not to go?

Kai Uesugi hasn't decided yet, but given his personality, it's probably best not to go.

He walked to the wide shooting position, his gaze passing through the green lawn and landing on the target.

Hold the bow in your left hand, nock the arrow in your right, pull the string with the saddle, spread the bow evenly to the left and right, and pause briefly when you have pulled it to about one-third of its length.

After holding your breath, pull it open in one breath, and the string will sound as the arrow shoots out.

The reaction force of releasing the arrow causes the string to rotate to the outside of the wrist.

It hit the target, but only on the outer edge of the target 28 meters away.

With steady breathing, Uesugi Kai spoke slowly:

"Forget it, I'd rather not go."

###Chapter 103 This system seems pretty useless###

Why not go?

Sugita Sohei, also dressed in a kyudo uniform, walked up from behind, holding a brand new yuba in his hand.

"Too much trouble."

Uesugi Kai put down the bamboo bow and, as he turned around, casually used the [Gender Detector].

Gender: Male

Yes, it lives up to its name.

Even the name isn't displayed.

Even Sugita Sohei couldn't help but glance at him after hearing that last sentence: "Have you been leaving early every day for the past two weeks?"

“Leaving early is also meaningful,” Uesugi Kai said earnestly.

What's the point?

"fall in love."

"..."

What could he say? Does archery not need love?

“Never mind,” Sugita Sohei handed the deerskin gloves to Uesugi. “This is the yurt you ordered before; the string rest is made of ‘Morning Breeze’ material.”

"What do you mean?" Uesugi Kai knew that the string rest was the small groove on the thumb that hooks the string, but what was Asahara?

"Departure should be as swift as the morning mist over the mountains, or as gentle as a breeze through a pine forest."

Sugita Sohei recited a nonsensical line of poetry, then continued, "This is a teaching song from the Hioki-ryu Chikurin school. While it's not the origin of 'Asarashi,' the meaning is quite fitting."

"Li" refers to the step of leaving the bowstring in the eight stages of archery.

Analyzing the meaning of the poem, it should refer to a faster departure from the bow.

The so-called "morning mist" seems to have been specially treated in the small grooves on the string rest.

Uesugi Kai took the bowl from Sugita Sohei and put it on.

It must be said that the custom-made product truly lives up to its name; it feels exceptionally comfortable as soon as you put it on.

The belly leather and twisted leather fit tightly against the tiger's mouth, and the pointed cap (the part of the thumb with the string bolster) faces the middle finger.

It's not too tight or too narrow, giving the thumb some freedom of movement inside the hat.

"How do you feel?" Sugita Sohei said with a smile. "Actually, I'm quite confident in making the bottle."

Uesugi Kai felt for some reason that he seemed to have heard his senior's words somewhere before.

"very nice."

"Did you make this, senior?"

Sugita Sohei took the old yurt that Sugita had taken off and said, "I still want to inherit the skills of my ancestors. Although archery is not a popular sport, it can still make a living."

"You're too modest, senior." Uesugi Kai knew that what he meant by "making a living" was—"My family isn't short of money."

Sugita Sohei: "Speaking of which, Uesugi, you really don't plan to participate in the district tournament?"

Uesugi Kai weighed the bamboo bow he had been using very well lately in his hand: "I'm out of money. I'm looking for a part-time job at a convenience store."

He tried to improve his cooking skills to apply for jobs like chef or barista, but the negative points were harder to improve than his accuracy to Lv8.