A comic book, but a librarian

"Speaking of which, this is your classmate, Cheng. He's a very nice person. Thank you for being friends with Cheng. After all, he always keeps to himself. I'm afraid that one day he won't even be able to contact us."

Uesugi Saki smiled at Yotsuya Miko, and her enthusiastic smile made Yotsuya Miko a little shy. She scratched her face embarrassedly, and then spoke nervously.

"Thank you, sister... Actually, Uesugi-san is not as lonely as you say. He is a very warm-hearted and kind person who helped me solve a lot of problems. I really don't know how to thank him."

After hearing a few words, the smile in Uesugi Saki's eyes became even brighter. She nodded happily and stretched out her hand to Uesugi Cheng.

"Since you have something to discuss, I won't be the one getting in the way. Ah Cheng, give me the key and I'll go in and wait for you."

"Come on, the key is under the carpet, I don't believe you don't know..." Uesugi Cheng lifted the carpet and looked at her sister helplessly. The sister who was always trustworthy in big things liked to pretend to be confused at ordinary times.

"Huhu, this kind of thing only makes sense if Acheng tells me in person, right? Otherwise, it would be like I came uninvited, right?"

Uesugi Saki took the key from Uesugi Sumiko lightly, then opened the door herself and went in, and thoughtfully closed the door.

"Huh, is that your sister, Uesugi-san? What a formidable adult."

"Don't look at her like that, she's quite powerful when she cries."

Uesugi Sumiko had no intention of keeping his sister's secret and just casually revealed her embarrassing story.

“Eh…” Yotsuya Miko began to doubt if she was hearing something that she shouldn’t be hearing.

"So you suddenly came here at this time. Did something happen? Is there something bothering you again?"

Uesugi Cheng frowned and began to look around.

"Ah, no... No, actually I have something I want to give to you, Uesugi-san, but I didn't see you after school, so I came here."

Yotsuya Miko handed a small package to Uesugi Sumire.

"I made this myself... It's just a small thank you gift. I hope Uesugi-san can accept it. I really don't know how to express my gratitude..."

Uesugi Cheng took the package with both hands and carefully put it into his schoolbag.

"I understand. Live well. I believe that your family, friends, and I all think so. I have received your gratitude, so please live well..."

After all, only if you are alive can I find a stable source of assistance.

Uesugi Cheng was tactful enough not to say the second half of the sentence. His purpose in saying this to Yotsuya Miko was not pure, and it was even so disgusting that he himself wanted to laugh. Of course, he did not want to see the death of his friend for public reasons, but privately he also hoped that he could get a stable labor force for free. Such naked selfishness occasionally made him feel like a bad person.

Of course, Yotsuya Miko did not have such an opinion. She looked very moved and even bowed in panic, saying that she would definitely live desperately for all those who loved her and those she loved.

After giving her thank-you gift, Yotsuya Miko left the door of Uesugi Sumire's apartment in a panic, as if she was running away, although she herself didn't know why she did that.

"Oh, Acheng has grown up, that's great..."

When he got home, the first thing Uesugi Cheng saw was the woman lying comfortably on the sofa without any image. It was really hard for him to connect the woman in front of him, who had no ladylike manners in her words and actions, with the heroic sister of that year.

"That girl... is a very good woman, Ah Cheng, you must not..."

"Come on, come on. How can you look at Yotsuya-san? She and I are just helping each other." Uesugi Sumiko put the ingredients on the table and said with some distress. Why did he think that his sister was about to collapse and then went to comfort her?

"Sister understands... Sister understands everything. Hehehe, Acheng is old too, and sister has no right to ask more questions about such things. Come on." Uesugi Saki smiled and made a cheering gesture to Uesugi Acheng, then got up from the sofa and stretched.

"Aren't you terribly busy with work? Why did you suddenly come all the way from several districts away... Don't tell me you came here just to eat for free. The canteen at the Procuratorate is definitely much better than my place."

"Can't I just come over and see my brother..."

Uesugi Saki looked a little unnatural as she looked towards the room filled with canvases.

"I sometimes want to escape, so I came to you, Acheng... Just think that I was too tired today and went in the wrong direction."

Chapter 39 Dinner Time

Turn on the fire, get the pan ready, heat the oil, and start beating the eggs. Uesugi Cheng learned almost nothing in his new life. Even the cooking skills were the simple home cooking he learned in his previous life. He could barely fry an egg or pan-fry a hamburger patty. It was a bit difficult for him to go deeper and make delicious dishes.

"Well, I didn't expect Acheng to be able to cook. I thought I was going to take Acheng out for a delicious meal today."

"No... You were planning to go out to eat, so why did you come to my place? If you really can't, you can just give me a call."

Looking at the empty room, Uesugi Saki squinted her eyes and lay back on the sofa. Her little feet wrapped in black stockings were casually placed on the armrest. She didn't seem to care at all whether she would be exposed. She turned on the TV casually, and the sound of the TV program made this small house with no breath of life a little more warm. Uesugi Saki even felt that her eyelids were starting to fight, as if she had returned to her childhood, when her father and mother simply hoped that they would grow up healthy.

Her family and her clan had almost forced her to wear a mask that she would never be able to take off for the rest of her life, if it weren't for her youngest brother, who seemed a little eccentric and was busy in the kitchen, sweating profusely but still not giving up.

"Brother is really something. He just lets you rent a house by yourself... Although the house is registered under my name, he doesn't worry at all that you, Cheng, are feeling a little bit like us..."

"What did you say? I was just cooking. What are you doing lying there? Go wash your hands and get ready to eat."

Uesugi Cheng looked helplessly at Uesugi Saki who seemed to be about to fall asleep. He had no way to deal with this sister in his life. If he believed her now seemingly not very smart and not very sober, then his tragic experience of having his New Year's money cheated away would be the most likely outcome for a gullible person.

"Mmm, it smells so good, Acheng, you can cook, right? Can I come to your place to eat in the future?"

"Are you sure you want to spend an extra half hour commuting just to eat at my place?"

Uesugi Sumiko placed the prepared dishes on the table with an expressionless face, then sat down, but did not pick up his chopsticks.

"It's okay to come and see your dear brother once in a while. I'll bring you a gift next time."

"There's no need. There's no place to put things here." Uesugi Cheng started to move only after seeing Uesugi Saki pick up the chopsticks. He himself didn't even realize that his living habits seemed to have changed a lot.

"No, otherwise I will become a parasite to my brother. I don't want to be called that." Uesugi Saki put a piece of meat pie into Uesugi Sumika's bowl and said casually. Of course, she just felt that her brother seemed to live a life that was too pure and ascetic. If he lived in such an environment for too long, he might become depressed even if he was mentally healthy.

"Then you can go to school. I'll clean up then. There is indeed plenty of space here, which I like." Uesugi Cheng rarely savored the food in his mouth, even though the food he cooked was not as delicious as the one in the restaurant he found.

After dinner, Uesugi Sumika started to clean up the dishes. This was the house he lived in, so naturally he would not ask his sister to help. However, what he did not expect was that his troublesome sister seemed to have just come to see him, and even left in a hurry. After answering a phone call, she just said something to him and left in a hurry.

"Hey, big brother... you know what? I went to my place today... and saw something very interesting."

Sitting in the driver's seat of her beloved car, Uesugi Saki leaned lazily on the back of the chair, picked up her mobile phone and started talking to her elder brother after a long time. A big case she was busy with finally came to an end, which was why she could calmly appear at the door of Uesugi Cheng's house.

Inside the room, Uesugi Cheng looked at the envelope pressed by the tissue box on the table and showed a helpless but happy smile.

"Really... I have to do this kind of thing just to have a meal... It's not like I can't make money."

The envelope was full of banknotes, and judging from the thickness, Uesugi Cheng wouldn't have to worry about his living expenses for at least the next few months.

There was also a note inside.

"This phone is accessible 24 hours a day. If you have any problems, you must tell me, even if you need money! Otherwise, your sister will be really angry! Your dearest sister Uesugi Sakura."

After entering the mobile phone number, Uesugi Cheng picked up the lighter hidden in the cabinet, lit the note and put it in the ashtray.

"When I had problems, I was like a taciturn person, but now I am telling you this... Never mind, it won't be a big deal anyway."

Uesugi Sumiko walked into his studio. Under the bright white moonlight, the canvases covered with white cloth looked like the bodies of the dead one after another. Uesugi Sumiko casually opened the work he had painted after watching "Hell Transformation" and looked at it carefully. He suddenly had an idea. Maybe he could really repaint his works, not just for venting.

"You seem a little groggy lately. Are you okay?"

Hikigaya looked at Uesugi Sumiya who seemed to be a little shaky and said something with concern.

"I'm fine, I just lack some passion... After all, you know I've been quite bored lately and there aren't any books I want to read." Uesugi Cheng simply lay on the table. His grades have always been among the top in the grade, so the teacher didn't really care whether he attended the class or not.

"Let's play tennis later. I'd like to spar with you." Hikigaya was obviously reluctant when he said this. After all, if Uesugi Sumire played for a while longer, he would probably start to crush him. But now he couldn't find any way to cheer up his good friend.

"Okay, it's time to exercise. Inspiration always comes when I empty my mind." Uesugi Cheng rubbed his sore eyes. He has been devoting himself to organizing and studying books in the bookstore recently. He feels like he is getting rusty sitting at several different desks, so he readily accepted Hikigaya's tennis invitation.

"By the way, what have you been doing in the Service Club recently? Investigating that part-time student?"

"I actually have some idea about that, but it's only at the speculation stage. I'll probably mention it to Yukinoshita tomorrow. It's okay to tell you now. As for the recent activity of the Servant Club, it's to help Ayaka improve his tennis skills... although I don't think this will achieve his goal of improving the overall strength of the tennis club."

Hikigaya shrugged, he seemed a little too calm.

Chapter 40 Pendant

"Is this how we are grouped in the end? What is this? Is this fate?"

Uesugi Sumire twirled the racket in his hand and teased Hikigaya who was looking at Yukinoshita speechlessly.

"I guess Yukinoshita probably thinks you're a beginner, so she assigned you this way to even out the levels of the four of us in our two groups... She probably hasn't seen you and me play tennis."

Hikigaya just hopes that Sugisumi won't be too harsh when he attacks. After all, although Yukinoshita Yukino seems to know everything, her physical weakness in nature cannot be concealed at all.

"I'm indeed a beginner, do you have any opinions?" Uesugi Sumiko waved the racket in the air, looking as if he was learning how to swing.

"Why don't you say this to Ayaka and see what he thinks." Hikigaya looked at Uesugi Sumire speechlessly and heard the signal from Yui Higahama.

"Preparation has begun, try your best to cooperate."

Uesugi Cheng deliberately restrained his exaggerated athletic ability. He didn't want to do something as bullying as playing tennis with his classmates with his pulse rhythm or healthy soul.

"Huh... Huh... Is this the level a beginner should have? This Hikigaya guy..." Yukinoshita Yukino gritted her teeth and wiped the sweat from her forehead. She had originally divided the groups like this in order to make both sides feel more involved, but now it seems that Uesugi Sumika's tennis skills are far stronger than she thought. At least she herself can't do such a watertight defense. But when playing, Uesugi Sumika looks like a rich landlord who is guarding his land and is unwilling to leave. He doesn't even look at the ball that doesn't land within a certain boundary, and leaves it entirely to Hikigaya Hachiman to deal with, resulting in the doubles tennis looking like 1v2v1.

"Ah...playing tennis. Hey, can we play here too?"

A very unpleasant voice was heard, at least that's what Hikigaya thought. He looked towards the wire gate of the tennis court and sure enough, the class's celebrity, the blonde Yumiko Miura, who sounded a little arrogant, was standing at the door of the tennis court with her arms folded across her chest, asking them. Although she said she was asking, it didn't look like she wanted to hear an answer like "no" at all.

"Miura-san, we are not playing..." Totsuka Ayaka was still trying to explain something, but after Hikigaya and Uesugi Sumire looked at each other, their eyes met Yukinoshita's again. They almost instantly judged that today's tennis practice would probably end here. Those people who seemed to have their own independent social circles just wanted to play tennis and would not care about their opinions at all.

"Hey, what did you say? I can't hear you clearly." Miura Yumiko's nonchalant attitude made Totsuka Ayaka, who was originally a little timid, unable to continue speaking, and she could only lower her head silently.

"This is the place we applied for. It's not right to just let you play with it like this."

"Don't say that... We also think it's more fun to play together."

Hayato Hayama, the super lively and positive guy in the class, has the natural ability to unite most of the students. At least the people around him nodded in agreement after hearing this.

"Well, since you want to play tennis so much, we'll play with you. It's not a big deal." Uesugi Sumiya smiled gently and turned the tennis racket in his hand again. Hikigaya Hachiman next to him was stunned for a moment. He heard the subtle, almost inaudible words from Uesugi Sumiya's mouth.

"A grandiose idiot."

"This should be fine..." Looking at Miura Yumiko who was already getting impatient, Hayama Hayato decided to smooth things over. After all, if he just went along with Yumiko and made the situation awkward and offended his classmates, it would be too much of a loss for Hayama Hayato.

"In that case, how about a mixed doubles match?" Although Miura Yumiko seemed to be looking at the tennis ball in her hand, her eyes were always on Yuigahama Yui who was wearing sportswear. "It's just right, Yukinoshita-san should be a little tired from playing, how about letting Yui play a game?"

"Eh, but...I..." Yuigahama Yui instinctively wanted to object, but the moment she saw Miura Yumiko's eyes, her nature of going with the flow prevailed again. Just when Yukinoshita Yukino was about to stand up, Uesugi Sumiko spoke with a smile.

"Okay, that's it, let's do some warm-up activities and get started."

"Huh?" Yuigahama Yui didn't expect that Uesugi Sumika would make a hasty decision for her, but when she looked at Uesugi Sumika, she swallowed instinctively. Compared to the tepid-looking Uesugi Sumika just now, he now seemed to have a temperament that made people dare not look directly at him.

"Yuigahama-san...just stand still when we play ball later." Uesugi Sumire leaned over and whispered this to her, then returned to his seat as if nothing had happened.

"Eh?" Yuigahama Yui hasn't reacted yet. She looks more like a beginner than Uesugi Sumire holding the racket.

"Then, please serve first, Uesugi-san." Hayato Hayama still maintained his sunny and cheerful smile, even within a second after the tennis ball landed.

"Then...what is that?"

"Serve, hey, it's your turn to serve." Uesugi Sumiya waved his racket, making Hayama Hayato unable to keep smiling any longer. Even though he was considered the ace of the football club, he didn't even see the trajectory of the ball that Uesugi Sumiya just served, let alone make an effective response.

Miura Yumiko served the ball. She hit the tennis ball towards the area where Yuigahama Yui was, and then stared at Yuigahama Yui, as if she was really expecting Yuigahama Yui's helpless look when the ball fell to the ground.

"Bang!!"

The tennis ball brushed her ankle and bounced to the ground, jumped high and hit the wire net behind her. Miura Yumiko didn't even know when Uesugi Sumiko stopped in front of the net and gave her a precise smash.

"I..." Yuigahama Yui felt like she was dreaming. She stood on the court without taking a single step. It was completely that Uesugi Sumire was violently bullying the two people on the opposite side by herself.

"That's why I said it. There are people who are so ignorant as to provoke someone who is in a bad mood about something like this." Hikigaya opened his water bottle with a gloating look, and then saw Yukinoshita Yukino next to him looking at him with resentment.

"Why are you looking at me like that? Uesugi just started learning last time. You have to believe that there are geniuses in this world, just like that guy."

Hikigaya pointed at Uesugi Sumiya, who was smiling happily and mockingly on the court. He looked much happier than he had been during practice just now.

Chapter 41: End of the Game

"Yukinoshita, I don't know if you are willing to believe it or not, but I have to tell you that there are geniuses in this world, real geniuses..." Hikigaya Hachiman put down his kettle, looking like a man who had seen through the world.

"Hey, Hikigaya, you speak in this tone... It's disgusting." Yukinoshita Yukino frowned. "But compared to your annoying attitude, Hikigaya-kun, I'm more curious about what makes you think that Uesugi-san is a 'real genius'?"

"Ha, I learned this from that Uesugi guy. They look very similar, right?" Hikigaya's lips curled up slightly. His sarcastic expression made Yukinoshita clench his fists. Seeing this scene, Hikigaya Hachiman immediately surrendered.

"If you really want to say something, go to the art club, Yukinoshita, and see what a true genius can draw. That's all I can say."

Hikigaya shook his head. More and more students gathered around, even Zaimokuzu came over and started shouting, which gave him a headache. After all, they didn't want to make a big deal out of this matter. However, the way Uesugi Cheng was unilaterally and violently fighting two people had already made many people look at him sideways.

"How is it? Do you want to continue?"

Uesugi Sumire kept smiling, and his face still looked as if he had just stepped onto the court. Compared with the two people opposite who were panting and sweating profusely, he had at most two more drops of sweat on his forehead. He looked very relaxed and contented, which made the shivering Yuigahama Yui next to him look extremely awkward.

"Huh... Huh... That's scary, Uesugi-san. Are you that good at tennis?" Hayama Hayato was panting, but still maintained his composure, which seemed to make him look like a brave man challenging the devil in the eyes of his classmates.

"Ah, that's probably it. Do you want to continue? I'm in a much happier mood now."

Uesugi Sumire made a statement that was quite like that of a 2D villain and moved his body. The oppressive feeling he exuded even made Yuigahama Yui subconsciously hold her breath. It was as if she saw a sleeping beast completely awakened.

"You guy..." Miura Yumiko gritted her teeth, wiped the sweat from her face, and looked unyielding.

"Forget it, it looks like that's all for today. I hope you guys have fun."

Uesugi Sumiko narrowed his eyes, as if the threatening boy just now did not exist at all. The racket in his hand turned a circle, and finally he hit a serve. Hayama Hayato subconsciously wanted to catch the ball, and then he found that he had just moved the racket, but the ball flew past the racket's previous position and hit the boundary line accurately. If he had not moved, he would have been able to catch the ball and hit it back.