Laid-Back Life in Tokyo: I Really Didn't Want to Work Hard
Chapter 149 - 143: Strength, Undoubtedly. _2

Chapter 149: Chapter 143: Strength, Undoubtedly. _2

However, the action of Chitose Mai putting her hands together allowed Uesugi Sakura to see an old lace hair tie on her right hand.

Hanamaru Hanabi came over from the restroom.

Chitose Mai quickly ran to her side, hooked her arm around her neck, and sniffed lightly, the fragrance of lilies filled the air: "What body wash does Hanabi-chan use? It’s so fragrant."

"Is it really that nice?" Hanamaru Hanabi noticed that both she and Ayaka Rie seemed to enjoy getting close to her.

"It’s very fragrant! You don’t know, when I get close to you, I can’t help but want to smell more."

Chitose Mai nudged her cute face.

"And Hanabi-chan’s face is so soft too, like the perfect girl."

"It’s not that great." Under the dazzling sun, Hanamaru Hanabi felt a bit warm being hugged by her.

"By the way, Hanabi-chan, why do you have a ribbon tied around your neck?"

Chitose Mai peered at the sunlight, "Such a big sun."

"..." Hanamaru Hanabi lowered her head slightly: "Mainly because... it looks good..."

"Ahem..." Uesugi Sakura interrupted the conversation, "Let’s go in first, the competition is about to start."

——————

Mizuki High School is a strong school, always bearing the label of a powerful institution.

"What will happen if we lose to someone who’s been doing Kyudo for only two months?" Fuchigami Atsushi twirled a pen in his hand, the expression under his square glasses revealed nothing special.

"Nothing, it just shows that our skills are inferior," Yagi Ruijin said.

Shimokawa Binro chuckled: "Do you really believe he’s a newcomer in the Kyudo world? If you do, that’s really foolish."

"Watch your words, Shimokawa," Yagi Ruijin glanced at him.

"Alright, alright~" Shimokawa Binro spread his hands, shaking his head with a smile, "You’re starting your etiquette lecture again, I understand."

The smile remained, and his eyes squinted.

"But Yagi-senpai, it seems you’ll graduate next year, right? What a pity, as a first-year, I would no longer be able to hear your earnest teachings, senpai."

This guy!

Yagi Ruijin felt displeasure in his heart, wondering what would become of this guy if he stays in Mizuki’s Kyudo Club in the future.

Besides him, all the four participants this time are third-year students.

Adviser Ikemoto also seemed uninterested in managing much.

In front of the rest area seats, Fuya Nanori was carefully wrapping the kake in his hand.

"There’s nothing to worry about, even if Kamigoe’s number one has perfect accuracy, you just need to perform stably."

The inner string was tightened, and the black twist clip was wrapped around the kake, tightly locking it onto the wrist.

"The gap in hard strength is reflected in their second, third, and fourth positions."

Players from both sides walked into the green grass-covered dojos facing the morning sun.

The scoreboard was in the most conspicuous position on the right side of the venue.

Most of the judges were middle-aged men over fifty.

——They are resident members of the Shinjuku District Kyudo Association, mostly ranked around the fifth or sixth rank.

Under the gaze of all, members of both Kyudo clubs took their seats.

With unified pure white Kyudo uniforms and a unified way of holding the bow, the long tip pointing downwards remained steady, leaving a layer of book distance from the floor.

Despite their different thoughts, they now have only one goal—to win against the opponents! To take the crown of this tournament!

Shimokawa Binro glanced at the number one position of Uesugi Sakura with the corner of his eye.

Thinking back to when he mocked him as a newcomer, he couldn’t help but feel agitated.

With such skills, why spread rumors about being a "Kyudo newcomer for two months"? Isn’t this intentionally showing off?

Anyone who practices Kyudo would understand that the skills and shooting form presented are nowhere near that of a newcomer.

At this moment.

The hakama at everyone’s feet was lifted by the wind, carrying the freshness of the green grass into the blue sky.

The voice from the broadcast: "Men’s team finals, First Shooting Range, Number one, Mizuki High School - Shimokawa."

Number two, Mizuki High School - Yagi.

Number three, Mizuki High School - Hakogoe.

Number four, Mizuki High School - Fuchigami.

Number five, Mizuki High School - Fuya."

Cheers rose and fell, Mizuki’s fangirl cheering squad seemed ready to turn the place into an idol concert.

Most of them were shouting "Fuya Nanori" —the man known for maintaining elegance.

The voice from the broadcast: "Men’s team finals, Second Shooting Range, Number one, Kamigoe High School - Uesugi."

Number two, Kamigoe High School - Sugai.

Number three, Kamigoe High School - Seisuke.

Number four, Kamigoe High School - Hirata.

Number five, Kamigoe High School - Sugita."

Following the voice from the broadcast, the audience’s eyes swept across the faces of the young men one by one.

Some people have memorized the skills and grace they showed in previous matches.

"This time, we definitely won’t lose!" Kanai Hideyoshi thought intensely, recalling his mental shout to himself.

The senior head judge, full of momentum, glanced over the figures of the young men from both clubs in their seats.

"The 36th Tokyo Shinjuku Kyudo Alliance Finals officially begins. Now, please —"

The voice was loud, full of confidence.

"Stand—!!"

With a command from the head judge, the members of Kamigoe Kyudo Club rose in response.

The hakama fluttered with the wind, the sharp bow held steadily, while the bright eyes of the young men reflected the vast crowd in the venue.

"Enter the range!"

Swoosh—

The sound of the wind passed by.

Uesugi Sakura, in the first position of Kamigoe Kyudo Club, calmly took his first step.

In the audience, the female members of Kamigoe Kyudo Club patiently watched the five people who were slowly walking to the shooting line.

"Everyone, can they win?" Chitose Mai asked.

"It’s still quite difficult..." Sakurai Fumiko seemed lacking in confidence.

"These days, it’s not just us who train." Ogata Asaka, the only one with senior experience here, said.

"A person’s aura will emit their unique atmosphere, and their shooting form reflects their current mindset."

"Everyone in Kamigoe Kyudo Club needs to put in more effort to maintain the current mindset."

"Everyone can win." Hanamaru Hanabi kept a close eye on Uesugi Sakura’s action of crouching to lift his bow, her small hands tightly clenched together.

Uesugi Sakura’s calm heart did not have any ripples despite this being the finals.

Even if they lose, it’s just losing two million yen.

Taking the first step with dignity, shoulders broad and even, elbows raised high.

The bamboo bow, far taller than average, was slowly drawn and slowly opened in his graceful posture.

His eyes were a deep black, revealing no emotion, focusing straight ahead.

When he fixed his eyes on the target 28 meters away, it became a predetermined fact before it happened.

The uniform and steady "dai-san," is hard to find fault with.

Slowly, slowly, slowly drawn, equally balanced to one-third point.

Then suddenly drawn open with immense strength, it seemed the bamboo bow was barely able to withstand it.

Vast momentum surged from the "kai" he unfolded.

In the audience, the Kyudo members of Sagami High School were instantly surprised, looking at their ace captain: "...This is!?"

Yukawa Reisei slightly furrowed his hawk-like brows, speaking softly: "Hidesato Style—’kai’."

Ogata Asaka was also somewhat astonished: "An ancient style martial archery ’kai’?"

Although Chitose Mai could feel this distinct aura, she couldn’t understand the underlying principle, isn’t it just drawing back a bit?

"Is there something special about it?"

Ogata Asaka focused on Uesugi Sakura’s poised-for-action movement, staring intently and said:

"The composition of ’kai’ varies greatly with the shooting techniques of different styles, martial archery and ritual archery are vastly different.

"Straight pull-up, diagonal lift, it involves shoulder width, step width, position height, half-draw, full-draw, the vertical and horizontal cross...

"Every step’s key point impacts the draw, the large three-part draw requires immense care due to different styles.

"It’s said that when the bow is drawn, and bow power is unfolded, the posture formed by the draw is difficult to change. A slow large three-part draw trying to forcefully change previous fixed shooting techniques and styles is exceedingly difficult.

"I don’t know if forcibly changing will lose accuracy, but what I can be sure of is.

"The ’draw’ of ritual archery suddenly shifting to the ’kai’ of martial archery significantly enhances the presence of the shooting technique, emphasizing the position of number one ’flag bearer’—

"To achieve what’s called, leading the first shot of the round."