Laid-Back Life in Tokyo: I Really Didn't Want to Work Hard
Chapter 272 - 219: Rain, Under the Eaves. _2

Chapter 272: Chapter 219: Rain, Under the Eaves. _2

"You should let Uncle try finding love again."

Uesugi Shio rewrapped the lollipop in the freshly opened wrapper and tapped it on his head:

"When did Sakura start coming up with such lousy ideas?"

Uesugi Sakura ignored having his head tapped, after all, it didn’t really feel like anything, "It’s always important to make some changes."

"The problem is, it’s not that easy to change, not to mention his sloppy appearance... no one’s going to find him attractive again."

The red spider lilies ahead were weighed down by the rain, their slender stems seeming close to breaking.

"Shio, you’ve had a tough few years, haven’t you?" Uesugi Sakura understood that their uncle didn’t particularly like his cousin because of their aunt.

Uesugi Shio’s eyes showed no difference in front of him, she smiled and said: "When did Sakura start caring about his sister? Isn’t Hanabi going abroad soon? I think you should cherish this time and spend more with her."

"What’s your dream, Shio?" Uesugi Sakura looked at the raindrops falling from the eaves.

"I don’t have one."

"You don’t? I feel like you’re someone who definitely has dreams, Shio."

"Why would you have that thought, Sakura?"

"Shio, you’ve been working really hard at Sword Dao, right? At the sports festival, everyone was saying that the new president is incredibly skilled."

"Is effort equivalent to a dream?"

"Isn’t it?" Uesugi Sakura said.

"There are many reasons to strive, dreams are just one of them," Uesugi Shio reached out her left hand relaxing on her raised long leg, and with her right hand, picked up the stick of the lollipop.

"Sometimes, dreams aren’t everything, there are things in life more precious than dreams."

Uesugi Sakura suddenly turned to look at his cousin, her sapphire lazy eyes reflecting the orange lollipop, resembling a longing for the past.

"Honestly, I really dislike my own existence."

Uesugi Shio’s calm tone carried no emotion, just stating a fact, "I’m unnecessary and can’t bring joy to those around me, and because of my existence, my mother’s illness worsened."

"She wasn’t in good health to begin with, it wasn’t necessary to have another child, right?"

Listening to his cousin’s self-blaming mutterings, Uesugi Sakura didn’t know what to say.

When he was young, he saw his aunt already sitting in a wheelchair, even if she seemed listless, she would still show a kind, gentle smile, peeling oranges for him and little clueless Hanabi to eat.

Back then, their uncle’s family didn’t have much money, and Grandfather’s Orange Garden had only been newly expanded.

To pay for medical expenses, they borrowed everywhere, causing his uncle’s former friends to gradually distance themselves from the family.

Even now, his uncle still owes money to his father and grandfather.

But he no longer has the motivation to earn more.

His cousin was also raised by grandfather from a young age, so she was especially concerned whenever something happened to him.

As the two silently sat under the eaves watching the rain.

Granny Uesugi led a guest inside.

"Looks like the pupil isn’t in a good mood," Uncle Sakihara, hugging the Shiba Inu, laughed heartily.

"Woof woof!" The shiny-furred Shiba Inu wagged its short tail excitedly upon seeing an old acquaintance.

"Why have you come, Uncle?"

"Uncle?" Sakihara Yishin maintained his smile, "Shouldn’t it be Master?"

"When did I ever admit that?" Uesugi Sakura said.

"Hmm? You forgot?"

Uesugi Sakura stared at his beaming face, recalling slightly that he seemed to have called it once when borrowing the wooden sword a few days ago.

Sakihara Yishin stroked the Shiba Inu’s lustrous fur contentedly, saying, "Seems like you remembered."

Granny Uesugi paid her respects to Uncle, "Sir helped my little grandson 10 days ago, we’re very grateful. Would you care to stay for a meal? The Uesugi family would love to repay your kindness as hosts."

"Haha, no problem, no problem," Uncle Sakihara agreed without reservation, "But Madam, there’s no need for such courtesy, you’re the elder, after all."

"It’s nothing."

Granny Uesugi merely shook her head with a smile, and after exchanging a few more pleasantries, went ahead to prepare lunch.

The excited Shiba Inu broke free from Uncle’s arms, prancing on its four small paws and ran to circle around Uesugi Shio.

"Woof woof! Woof woof!"

Seeing the Shiba Inu jumping around her non-stop, Uesugi Shio simply picked it up, snacking on the lollipop while petting the fluffy dog’s head.

The Shiba Inu stretched its neck, happily accepting the petting.

This guy was the same way in Hanabi’s arms.

Uesugi Sakura had understood, this guy liked having his head patted by girls.

Sakihara Yishin plopped down beside Uesugi Sakura.

"So, Uncle, you came today just for lunch?" Uesugi Sakura asked.

"Of course not, I’m here for your future!" Uncle Sakihara said with sincere seriousness.

"Okay, so just for the free meal then."

"How can you say such things right to my face! How did you know?"

Uesugi Sakura: "I could tell you’re quite broke."

Uncle Sakihara glanced over himself multiple times, everything seemed quite tidy, not sloppy at all.

Curiously he asked, "How’d you know?"

"Just a guess."

"..."

Silent for several seconds.

"Alright, alright, no more nonsense, interested in learning my Sakihara’s One-Sword Style?"

"No."

The air was silently pierced, only the sound of rain could be heard.

"As your master, how come it seems like you’re without any desires or pursuits? Encountering such an opportunity to learn unparalleled skills from a peerless master, shouldn’t you be excitedly begging to be taken in as the disciple?"

"That’s just a plot from comics," Uesugi Sakura listened to the soft rain hitting the blue stones, "there’s nothing like that in reality, all that matters is whether you have money, only after having money will you pursue these things."

"That’s way too unambitious!!" Uncle Sakihara shouted righteously.

Uesugi Sakura: "So, Uncle, do you want money?"

"Of course, I do!!" Uncle shouted decisively this time.

"There you have it then? Uncle, just enjoy lunch, no need to keep talking about taking me on as a disciple."

"Learn my sword skills, pupil, and you’ll easily claim the top title in national Kendo! Money would be at your fingertips then, wouldn’t it?"

Uncle Sakihara suddenly looked at Uesugi Shio, who was cuddling the Shiba Inu, "Of course, if the girl wants to learn, I can teach too!"

Uesugi Shio didn’t expect the topic to shift to her, "I’d be very happy if I could learn, Mr. Sakihara is quite formidable in the Kendo World."

Upon hearing the praise, Uncle Sakihara’s inexplicable confidence swelled up again: "Hahaha, correct! That’s right! Did you hear that, pupil?"

Uesugi Sakura looked expressionlessly at the rain clouds on the dome, "Uncle, did you forget last time I knocked you out in one move?"

"It was twenty-six moves."

Talking about last time, Uncle Sakihara’s face quickly turned serious, "Speaking of which, pupil, what exactly is going on with you? Whether it was the last strike that knocked me out or the sword skills that took down the gang, neither belongs to any stream of modern sword arts."

"Niten Ichi Style?" Uesugi Sakura tested.

"It’s somewhat similar, but fundamentally, it’s completely different."

Different?

Based on what Uncle said, the sword skills bestowed by [Miyamoto Musashi’s legend] weren’t exactly "Niten Ichi Style"?

Or maybe, the modern "Niten Ichi Style" that passed down isn’t the same as Miyamoto Musashi’s "Niten Ichi Style" at all.

Over the long stretch of time, modern swordsmanship has shed that layer, evolving into something new.

Meaning the current swordsmanship schools have merely inherited a title?

Thinking about it too much, Uesugi Sakura decided that pondering over this thing wouldn’t achieve anything, he even thought he was already unmatched in the world, so who cares about the legitimacy.

Worrying about these things was meaningless.

Uesugi Sakura responded to Uncle Sakihara’s earlier question:

"Maybe it’s talent, it’s a gift from above."

"Innate?" Uncle Sakihara seemed intensely interested, quickly asked.

"Exactly!" Uesugi Sakura confirmed.

Uesugi Shio interjected, "Sakura in the past was still a boy who thought carrying oranges was tiring when he returned to Ehime, didn’t see any talent in Sword Dao, nor picked up a wooden sword."

Listening to this, Uncle Sakihara’s eyes fixed firmly on Uesugi Sakura: "You never practiced Sword Dao when you were young?"

Regarding this "I’m extremely, extremely, extremely skilled" revelation, Uesugi Sakura responded calmly:

"Nope."

"Since when did you start practicing Sword Dao?" Uncle quickly inquired.

"April," Uesugi Shio answered for him while petting the Shiba Inu.

"April five years ago?"

"This year."

"Impossible! Impossible, impossible, impossible."

Uncle Sakihara’s gaze shifted back to Uesugi Sakura, repeatedly shaking his head and saying impossible four times.

"Uncle."

Uesugi Sakura said with a face of calmness, "When an impossible event occurs before your eyes, is it still impossible?"

Not looking at Uncle’s face, he extended his palm, catching raindrops falling from the eaves.

"Logic follows reality, but reality does not need to follow logic."

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