Laid-Back Life in Tokyo: I Really Didn't Want to Work Hard
Chapter 170 - 160 Useless Old Men of the Kendo Department

Chapter 170: Chapter 160 Useless Old Men of the Kendo Department

The Kamigoe Private Academy’s Kendo Department doesn’t have much of a reputation; compared to baseball and soccer, it’s far less popular.

In recent years, it has been so weak that they can’t even gather five members for a competition.

Uesugi Shio held the bamboo sword, pointing at the former members of the Kendo Department.

"I’m not demanding anything from the first-year students, but you upperclassmen are way too lazy. For two days—yesterday and today—you didn’t practice kendo at all. Did you join the Kendo Department just to earn school credits without doing anything?"

"Our Kendo Department matters are none of your business!" shouted the leader, a boy with a buzz cut.

"Now, I’m the head, so do you think it matters or not?"

From the corner of her eye, Uesugi Shio saw Sakura and Hanabi at the door. She turned back and continued speaking to the group, "Heard you wanted to give me trouble today?"

"That’s right! Just because you’re arranged by the school doesn’t mean you can make us submit!"

"You all have quite a reason."

Uesugi Shio understood their little schemes. The previous head of the Kendo Department was just like them; after sending away the instructor, the department became a place for earning credits without real dedication. How could there be any talent?

Kamigoe Private Academy has a credit system; passing the required courses earns you 70 points, and another 24 points from other elective courses. You need 94 credits in total to graduate.

Being late, leaving early, or skipping classes would result in a deduction of credits as punishment; having insufficient credits means direct expulsion.

If you don’t want to put too much effort into elective courses, joining a club is a good choice.

As long as you participate in club activities daily, even without any significant results, the Student Council will allocate matching credits during the monthly tests.

In other words, participating in a club can earn you 12 credits over three years, even if you just hang around.

—This is why the Kyudo Club has many ghost members; the head, Seisuke Yooya, is easy-going. Most members just have to show up and report to complete their task.

"Yes! We won’t accept this!" shouted a boy named Mitsuzawa, gripping his bamboo sword tightly.

Uesugi Shio didn’t even bother to glance at them; this group just had a title as Kendo members, without much real capability.

Sneaking around the Kendo Department every day, eating, drinking, and chatting—what achievements could they possibly have?

It’s already remarkable if they’re not bloated and lazy.

"Let me be clear: your previous head has been kicked out of the Kendo Department by the school and had their credits docked as punishment. As the current head, I advise you: if you don’t want to train, leave the Kendo Department quickly. Stop hogging space here to eat, drink, and garner credits; it’s an eyesore."

Uesugi Shio, dressed in a white Kendo outfit, spoke to them lazily.

"If you’re not convinced, stop whining and resolve the Kendo Department’s issues through kendo: defeat me to prove that you have the capability to develop this kendo-less Kendo Department."

"Tch, I’ll go!"

A male member stepped forward in a traditional blue-dyed Kendo outfit, with the name "Matsuno" embroidered on the lower part of his uniform.

"At least you have some courage."

Uesugi Shio, in an all-white Kendo outfit, casually pulled out a lollipop, unwrapped it, and popped it into her mouth. While her right hand gripped the bamboo sword, her left hand stuffed the discarded wrapper back into her pocket.

—Usually, it’s forbidden to smoke or eat snacks inside the dojo except in the lounge, and it’s impossible to eat during a match—it could choke you, not to mention it’s quite impolite.

Although this was not an official match, Matsuno felt completely disrespected by this behavior.

Maintaining his composure, he gripped the bamboo sword with his left hand, positioning it at his waist. The sword tip was down as he performed a bow, his eyes fixed on his opponent.

Seeing him bow, Uesugi Shio leaned forward about 30 degrees in a return bow, then resumed a neutral stance.

Matsuno tilted his head, his right hand gripping above the left on the bamboo sword: "You’re a girl, I’ll let you attack first."

"Are you sure?" Uesugi Shio’s lazy eyes fixed on him.

Assuming the mid-stance, she set her form.

"I’m sure," Matsuno replied, taking the same mid-stance defensive posture. "Although I..."

Uesugi Shio burst forward with blinding speed.

Her right foot stepped out, shifting from double to single-handed, turning sideways.

One-handed Thrust.

The white tip of the bamboo sword pointed straight at the opponent’s throat.

"Thrust (throat)."

A gust of wind grazed his neck, tickling it slightly.

Matsuno was stunned for a moment, instinctively stepping back half a pace.

"One point." Uesugi Shio withdrew the bamboo sword, her swaying light blue hair unsettling the opponent’s mind. "Next."

"Wa-wait!" Matsuno shouted.

"Do I need to score a second point for you to be convinced? Next."

Sudden defeat sent the other members into whispered discussions when they sensed the danger.

Though Matsuno’s skills weren’t great, he had been a third-year member in the Kendo Department for two years.

Being defeated in a second by a young girl made not only him but also the other members uneasy.

No matter how inexperienced they were, they had practiced some kendo. Anyone watching could see that Matsuno and she weren’t on the same level.

Uesugi Shio held the stick of the lollipop:

"No one dares to step up? Is the Kamigoe Kendo Department’s standard just this low? Show some manliness to prove it."

"..."

A moment of silence.

"I’ll go!" Another member in traditional blue Kendo attire stepped forward. Wearing a helmet that obscured his face, the name tag on his waist read "Ogura."

Uesugi Shio gripped the hilt again with both hands.

After the ceremonial bow, their bamboo swords began testing each other.

It was said to be a test, but Uesugi Shio’s bamboo sword remained steadily fixed in her hands, no matter what feints Ogura attempted—Attack Face, Body Attack, Hand Attack... her bamboo sword didn’t budge at all.

Her lazy sapphire eyes silently watched his performance.

To attack, or not to attack?

Ogura struggled internally for a while, and after testing with slide steps for a long time without finding anything, he couldn’t decide.

If I attack, what move will she use to defend?

In the next second, he decided; after three attempts to test, he would directly Attack Face.

Eh.

It has been ten whole seconds!

Seeing his hesitation, Uesugi Shio realized he couldn’t come up with anything decent.

Indecisiveness is the last thing kendo needs.

A sudden leap forward, the bamboo sword aimed at his body’s centerline.

In an instant!

Lowering her body, twisting her waist, and striking in one fluid motion.

Right Body Strike.

With a crisp sound, the bamboo strips vibrated, echoing throughout the Kendo Dojo.

"Body."

Only then did Ogura, in shock, swing his bamboo sword, which the next second hit her white shoulder armor.

A completely ineffective attack.

Uesugi Shio quickly returned to a standing posture, maintained Residual Heart, and casually flicked the bamboo sword, saying to him:

"One point, next."

"..."

No one responded.

Uesugi Shio pointed the tip of the bamboo sword at them with one hand: "Is that all you’ve got?"

"I’ll go!" Another voice shouted.

Half a minute later.

"Face, next."

"Me!"

Twenty seconds later.

"Hand, next."

"..."

Sixteen seconds later.

"Thrust, next."

"Next."

"Next."

...

Hanamaru Hanabi, who curiously watched from the doorway, tugged on Uesugi Sakura’s coat.

"What is it?"

"Shio-sis is amazing."

Although she didn’t understand kendo, she could easily read the defeated expressions on the Kendo Department members as they reluctantly left.

Uesugi Sakura knew that today, her cousin wouldn’t run into the so-called trouble, as the Kamigoe Kendo Department members were too weak; they were practically beginners, no wonder they didn’t have any popularity in school.

If they went out to compete, wouldn’t they be suppressed and suffocated?

Yet they were still not convinced and wanted to cause trouble?

"Actually, I’m also this good. Hanabi, do you believe me?" Uesugi Sakura said.

Hanamaru Hanabi smiled at him, her small hands behind her back holding a cute shark-decorated shoulder bag: "I believe you, Sakura-kun; you must be very strong."