Laid-Back Life in Tokyo: I Really Didn't Want to Work Hard
Chapter 108: Strange Identity

Chapter 108: Chapter 108: Strange Identity

Hanamaru Hanabi and Uesugi Sakura met at the age of three, spending their kindergarten, elementary, and middle school years together under the care of their mothers.

They have always been close since childhood, never having any disputes.

Before middle school, Hanamaru Hanabi always called him "Brother Sakura."

But one day, without any warning, "Brother Sakura" suddenly became the more formal "Uesugi-kun."

Though the way she addressed him changed, the distance between them did not.

Uesugi Sakura asked her why, but she remained silent on the matter.

Besides that, there were no other changes.

——————

Kyudo Club.

Seisuke Yooya, while changing shoes at the entrance, ran into Uesugi Sakura who was just coming in.

He instinctively looked up and greeted him.

"Good afternoon, Uesugi... er... who is this?"

The club president noticed the demure girl standing beside him and looked surprised.

"Girlfriend." Uesugi Sakura said casually.

"..."

It took a moment to process.

Seisuke Yooya’s surprised gaze scanned him up and down: "Uesugi, girlfriend?"

Those two keywords didn’t seem like they would associate with him.

Who would have thought that the usually distant and unapproachable Uesugi Sakura would suddenly have a girlfriend, and a cute one at that.

It was as absurd as if the equally aloof Ogata Asaka suddenly introduced a 40-year-old man with a stern face as her boyfriend.

Hanamaru Hanabi didn’t expect Uesugi Sakura to so openly state their relationship, but she quickly recovered from her brief surprise, bowing her head politely in greeting.

"Hello, Senior, my name is Hanamaru Hanabi."

"Hello," Seisuke Yooya noticed the shoulder bag she held in front with both hands and nodded, "Seisuke Yooya."

He then turned his attention to Uesugi Sakura, questioning what this situation was about.

Uesugi Sakura replied lazily, "Oh, nothing much, just walking Hanabi home in the evening, so I thought I’d bring her over to have a look."

In contrast to his lazy tone, Hanamaru Hanabi’s weak voice carried an apologetic air, her innocent appearance quite endearing: "I won’t... disturb anyone, right? If it’s not okay, Hanabi can leave....."

Seisuke Yooya never imagined Uesugi Sakura would date someone with such a personality, but he didn’t mind the disturbance: "No worries, the Kyudo Club is typically quite deserted and not many people visit, so it wouldn’t really be an interruption."

"Thank you, Senior."

"Haha," Seisuke Yooya found her unaccountably cute, smiling at her polite gesture, waving a hand dismissively, "Feel free."

Uesugi Sakura arrived early today, so only a few people were at the Kyudo Club.

Only Ogata Asaka, Sugita Shuhei, and Hirata Masanobu had arrived earlier.

They were already on the shooting line, starting their practice for the day.

Hanamaru Hanabi carefully stepped out of her small leather shoes onto the shiny floor, taking curious strides as she peeked around.

In her eyes, the bow, arrows, shrine, gloves on the stand, "Seisha Hicchu" hanging directly ahead, and the tan hay stacked on a shelf.

Everything was new and intriguing.

Outside the clear verandah was a fresh, bright range.

The spacious, green lawn, the sakura trees casting waving shadows on both sides of the dojo, a gentle breeze bringing tranquility and lushness.

The only sound echoing was the varied, crisp twang of the strings.

"The dojo... is so quiet..."

Listening to the pleasing sound resonating in her eardrums, Hanamaru Hanabi’s gaze landed on Ogata Asaka on the shooting line.

Her tied jet-black long hair, serious and focused expression, stylish Kyudo uniform, and slowly drawn longbow gave her a serene and composed aura.

"Feel free to take a look around, it’s a small club after all." Seisuke Yooya smiled and said.

"And Sakura...?" Hanamaru Hanabi then noticed Uesugi Sakura had suddenly disappeared.

"He’s changing, he’ll be out soon."

Just as he finished speaking, Uesugi Sakura walked out wearing his hakama.

He approached Hanamaru Hanabi and looked at her upturned face.

After a moment of silence.

"Sakura... you look so handsome..."

"Yeah, I know." Uesugi Sakura accepted the compliment naturally.

Seisuke Yooya wasn’t at all surprised by his response, chuckling, "Many people join the Kyudo Club because they think the hakama looks great."

Hanamaru Hanabi glanced around the spacious dojo once more: "The environment in the Kyudo Club is really nice, why doesn’t anyone join then?"

"That’s a question for the president," Uesugi Sakura said.

Seisuke Yooya explained, "Precisely because there are fewer people, the environment is good, it’s somewhat intentional."

"Intentional?"

"You could say it’s a screening process; the initial briefing sessions and two weeks of intense training were set to find members truly patient enough to learn."

Uesugi Sakura gave the president a glance: "That’s not what you said at first."

Seisuke Yooya laughed nonchalantly, "Haha, maybe I exaggerated a bit, but that’s the gist of it, mostly it depends on one’s mindset."

"Is it that no one likes Kyudo?" Hanamaru Hanabi asked, truly thinking the place was great.

"After all, the sense of frustration is strong, the Japanese bow itself requires patience to master," Seisuke Yooya said, "Up to today, many new members haven’t hit a single target yet.

"I advised them to take it step by step, starting with closer targets, but they had already lost patience. Plus, since the Kyudo Club later doesn’t strictly require participation, everyone got used to slacking off, becoming ghost members."

Actually, Uesugi Sakura was also somewhat slack, though better than them.

"By the way, Hanamaru, we’re going to participate in the district tournament soon, interested in cheering along with the Kyudo Club girls?"

Uesugi Sakura glanced at the president again, finding his proposal a bit abrupt.

At this moment,

The three on the shooting line finished their arrows and were getting ready to put on their shoes and head over to pick them up at the target mound.

Sugita Shuhei, who had been focusing on the target, turned around, finally realizing the dojo had an additional person: "Hanamaru?"

"Good afternoon, Senior Sugita." Hanamaru Hanabi greeted him politely.

"Good afternoon." Sugita Shuhei nodded at her.

Ogata Asaka remained silent, but Hirata Masanobu was curious about why there was such a cute girl in the Kyudo Club.

"Who’s this...?"

"Uesugi’s girlfriend/sister."

Seisuke Yooya and Sugita Shuhei both answered simultaneously to his question.

Then they exchanged puzzled glances in astonishment.

"Sister!?"

"Girlfriend?"