Laid-Back Life in Tokyo: I Really Didn't Want to Work Hard
Chapter 128: Thoughts and Past Events

Chapter 128: Chapter 128: Thoughts and Past Events

The shadows of the bamboo swayed under the unavoidable sun, making this rare tranquility all the more precious.

Uesugi Sakura temporarily let go of those miscellaneous thoughts and rested peacefully.

—This situation is great for reading, but his book was still in the dormitory, so he could only take a short nap for now.

"Seems like the genius boy has something on his mind."

Hearing the voice coming from behind, Uesugi Sakura sat up.

"Ogasawara-sensei."

He maintained respect toward this elderly man past his seventies.

"No worries," Ogasawara Shikyo waved off his politeness, leaning on another rattan chair, and gazing at the Japanese-style estate within the bamboo grove, "just like this old house that neither falls nor rises, someone will remember past events."

A moment of silence.

"Let’s not talk about these things, let’s talk about you instead."

"Shuhei mentioned that you reached his level in just a month; initially, I didn’t believe it, but that’s the reality."

Ogasawara Shikyo suddenly chuckled, "Sometimes reality is brutally straightforward, presenting facts before you without any logic, and you have to accept it."

He retracted his smile and leaned back on the rattan chair, speaking slowly.

"Shoot an arrow, lifelong strength—I’ve been involved with Kyudo since childhood. I was stuck between Fourth Rank and fifth rank for twelve years, unlike you talented young people nowadays. During those days, I was lost for a long time, feeling that I had failed the Ogasawara name."

"However, the longer you settle, the more you gain. Those twelve years let me understand what it really means to make steady progress—these laid the foundation for my belief in Kyudo in the future."

Ogasawara Shikyo’s face was stern and serious, but his tone was affable and relatable.

"From your shooting style this morning, you seemed a bit impatient—it’s human nature for worries to disturb the mind, but isn’t treading one step at a time the foundation of your solid experience?"

"In any case, focus on the present, and don’t be troubled by past events."

"..."

Upon hearing this, Uesugi Sakura was certain that Ogasawara Fan Shi truly understood what was on his mind.

"How does the teacher understand my thoughts?"

Ogasawara Shikyo smiled, "The heart follows the arrow; you now deeply understand its essence."

——————

Thud...!

The rustling of the bamboo accompanied the whirring sound of the flying arrows echoing in the dojo.

Uesugi Sakura set down the longbow, his calm breathing as refreshing and pleasant as a gentle breeze.

Chitose Mai, who had just hit her first arrow in life, looked at him curiously, "Senpai seems a bit different again."

"What’s different?"

"Um..." Chitose Mai propped her chin, "Can’t quite say, but your hit rate is still as high as it was before."

Uesugi Sakura didn’t pick up the conversation, "Let me ask you something."

"Please go ahead, Senpai."

"Have you ever been disliked?"

"Why is Senpai asking this," Chitose Mai tilted her head in confusion, "But being disliked is for sure, after all, everyone has different preferences and personalities, no one can be liked by everyone."

Uesugi Sakura drew an arrow from the quiver behind him, "Do you know my first impression of you?"

"Very pretty?" Chitose Mai smiled.

"Very annoying, suddenly coming over to strike up a conversation."

"Ah? Wasn’t it Senpai who bumped into me first?"

"I mean after I apologized."

"I just thought Senpai looked very lonely, always walking alone, and figured ’he probably doesn’t have many friends.’ As a fellow member of the Kyudo Club, I just wanted to help." Chitose Mai said.

Uesugi Sakura paused at these words, turned back to look at the target in the distance, and drew the bow with his right hand to shoot another arrow.

Thud...!

The loud string sound dissipated with the accompanying echo.

"Senpai, do you have something on your mind?"

"You can tell too?"

"Also?" Chitose Mai couldn’t understand with whom else he had said so many words today, "I just think Senpai looks very similar to the last time you talked with me."

Uesugi Sakura was silent for a moment before he spoke: "Hanabi is very popular, right?"

"Yes."

"But in the past, she wasn’t like this, always unliked, and even as a child couldn’t make friends."

"How could that be? Hanabi-chan is so nice and kind."

Chitose Mai, during conversations, had asked Hanamaru Hanabi about their childhood, but she often remained silent on the matter.

"..."

"She wasn’t very good with words and cried a lot; her classmates’ first impression was that she was unapproachable."

Uesugi Sakura continued, "Over time, everyone thought she had some kind of problem, even her speaking was poor, just a crybaby, leading to all the alienation and exclusion."

"The most vivid image I have is of her holding a ball, squatting alone in a corner."

"Senpai...didn’t help Hanabi-chan?"

"What do you think?" Uesugi Sakura countered and then continued, "Later, someone threw an item from craft class at her, nearly injuring her eye... She merely wanted to make friends at first."

"Her father learned of this incident, came to the school to question the teachers... and naturally, the ultimate solution was—transferring school."

"Didn’t Senpai follow her?" Chitose Mai’s voice softened, "Changing schools, facing a new environment with no acquaintances, must have been even scarier for Hanabi-chan..."

"Yes, as it turned out, her personality was not likable no matter where she went."

At this point, Uesugi Sakura stopped speaking, taking a glance at the group retrieving bamboo arrows on the other side.

"Why did Senpai share these things with me?"

"Those words you said inspired some thoughts," Uesugi Sakura said calmly, "If only Hanabi had fervent friends like you and Ayaka Rie from a young age, she wouldn’t have been bullied all the time."

"With different genders, if she stayed beside me for long, she too would’ve been mocked."

Chitose Mai wanted to say something, but didn’t know what she could really say in her current position.

"But just as Ogasawara-sensei said, only the road tread step by step is solid. Going through so much, Hanabi has become much stronger now."

Uesugi Sakura turned around to retrieve the bamboo arrows he’d just picked up.

"For me, it’s about focusing on the present, cherishing now."

——————

In the evening, the moon clearly emerged, with flickering firelight reflecting off the rustling bamboo forest.

After a day of training, the members of the Kyudo Club decided to have a barbecue by the stream outside the estate.

The cold stream water gleamed under the glow of the firelight, occasionally splashing and wetting the pebbles alongside the river path.

To have the barbecue, a few guys from the Kyudo Club especially moved several not-too-big or small smooth stones near the stream, calling them natural stone stools.

Indeed, they’re much cooler than regular stools.

Setting up the barbecue grill, they used nearby dry bamboo leaves to light the fire, finally using small kindling to make the charcoal glow brilliantly red.

The vegetables and meats began to emit an enticing aroma on the iron grill.

—These are all things from the Ogasawara family, and the ingredients are provided by the old lady.

A variety of vegetables made up the majority, but there was also some rare delicacy of venison.

The atmosphere was lively as everyone gathered to discuss together.

"Uesugi, help get the salt."

"Hey! Wait, wait! Don’t sprinkle so much!"

"..."