Laid-Back Life in Tokyo: I Really Didn't Want to Work Hard
Chapter 274 - 220: Autumn Arrives_2

Chapter 274: Chapter 220: Autumn Arrives_2

"Oh, right, it’s time for lunch."

Sakihara Yishin let go of A-chai, allowing it to run to Uesugi Sakura, then turned to Uesugi Shio who was still practicing and said, "Shio, it’s time for lunch."

"You guys go ahead, I still have fifty more swings to complete."

Wearing a ponytail, short sleeves, and shorts, Uesugi Shio swung the wooden sword cleanly and efficiently, her forehead glistening with beads of sweat.

"Eating is also a part of sword practice, and it’s the most important part!" Uncle Sakihara continued.

"Sigh~ Okay." The steaming Uesugi Shio exhaled, setting down the wooden sword in her hand.

"I get the feeling you’re working really hard, Shio. Is there a goal you’re eager to achieve?"

"Yes, I have one."

Sakihara Yishin didn’t press further about her goal, because he always felt there were things this girl held tightly in her heart.

"Having a goal is good. You’ve got to have a direction to move forward, otherwise living aimlessly day by day is just a mechanical repetition of every day."

"I understand." Uesugi Shio walked over to where the jacket was placed, fished a lollipop out of the pocket.

The three of them walked out of the warehouse filled with a citrus scent. The cold wind blew raindrops inside, making sounds as they hit the warehouse doors.

The grass in front of them was also soaking wet.

"This rain hasn’t stopped for quite a while." Uncle Sakihara opened an umbrella, "Small in quantity, long in duration, what’s it called?"

"Autumn mildew rain," Uesugi Sakura said.

"Meaning?" Uesugi Shio asked.

"It’s like a persistent autumn rain similar to the plum rains," Uesugi Sakura explained.

Uesugi Shio gazed at the cherry hills covered with a layer of rain mist, eating the lollipop she just took out, "Come to think of it, it’s already fall."

"Yeah, it’s fall."

——————————

Today’s lunch at noon featured tempura, paired with vegetable salad, soba noodles, fried dumplings, and orange juice.

Uesugi Sakura silently buried his head and finished half of his meal, paying little attention to the conversation at the table.

"Sakura." Mrs. Hanamaru called with a smile.

Uesugi Sakura looked up.

"Have you figured out the answer to the question I asked you a few days ago?"

"Not... yet."

"If not, give it some more thought." Mrs. Hanamaru said with a hint of a reminder.

"I will."

————————————

In the following days, the sound of rain persisted, and soon it would be time for school to start.

Uesugi Sakura was just aimlessly following Uncle Sakihara to learn Sword Dao.

It must be said he knew a bit about everything.

He had touched on features of various schools, even knew the legendary Sasaki Koichiro’s "Swallow Return."

That’s Miyamoto Musashi’s archenemy.

Exhausted from sword swinging, Uesugi Sakura sat on a bench in the warehouse, casually took an orange from the basket behind him and peeled it to eat.

"My dear apprentice, it’s been so many days, why haven’t I seen your little girlfriend?" Uncle Sakihara plopped down beside him.

"She went to England." Uesugi Sakura put a slice of the orange in his mouth. It was sweet, but he felt nothing.

Uncle Sakihara seemed surprised at this answer, "For a good reason, to England for what? How long will she be there?"

Uesugi Sakura didn’t mind having someone to talk to, so he didn’t pay much attention to the uncle’s inquiries.

"To study, the time... probably about three and a half years....."

"Three years! That’s really long." Uncle Sakihara hugged the puppy A-chai that was acting coy in front of him, "Three years’ time, a lot can change."

"..."

"Indeed, three years... is too long..."

"..."

Uesugi Sakura believed he was right, little Hanabi had always been too reliant on him.

Leaving for three years... she’ll surely grow, and she’ll have the qualifications to realize her own dreams.

Dreams, those things are really heavy.

But, her dreams?

Her dreams... her dreams...

Were... what again?

In a flash, Uesugi Sakura recalled back to preschool, when she happily showed him a drawing...

The memory indeed was too vague, everything was shrouded in a hazy black.

"Three years of time, are you willing? You guys seem like you’re already engaged."

Uesugi Sakura continued eating his orange, the ring on his ring finger shined brightly, he looked towards his cousin still diligently practicing sword swinging:

"Why is uncle telling me all this?"

"I saw you practicing swords absent-mindedly, so I was trying to help you resolve some inner issues."

"Does uncle have any inner issues?"

"Haha, how come you’re asking me now." Sakihara Yishin scratched A-chai’s belly, "If we talk about inner issues, of course, I have some."

"What are they?"

"Like any renowned swordsmen, a failure in battle threw me into a slump. Every time I challenged him, he looked at me with such impatience.

"And told me: ’You weakling! When your apprentice can beat me, then come for a duel to the death!!’

"..." Uesugi Sakura turned his head, "You’re sure uncle didn’t make that up on the spot? That phrase sounds like it came from a child’s cartoon villain."

"Ahem!"

Uncle Sakihara cleared his throat with his fist, coughed twice to ease the awkwardness, then said, "Though there’s a bit of artistic embellishment, that’s pretty much what he meant."

"So this is why uncle took me as a disciple?"

"Absolutely not because sometimes you’re even better than me!"

"..."

That he even admitted himself.

Uesugi Sakura even suspected this uncle was deliberately trying to amuse him.

"The most important thing is still to prove one wasn’t born into this world in vain."

Uncle Sakihara’s tone suddenly turned serious, "These days, I can see Shio is practicing Sword Dao very diligently, really diligently, but her talent... to put it bluntly, she doesn’t learn fast, can’t compare with you."

"But, she works so hard, practicing so engrossedly that she forgets time."

Uesugi Sakura’s gaze followed his uncle’s words toward his cousin, the whistling sounds of empty swings were filled with power and rhythm.

"I think cousin is reminiscing, rather than getting caught up in practicing Sword Dao itself."

"So you say..." Uncle Sakihara rubbed the stubble on his chin, "looks sort of like what you were just now, but with more focus, not as empty."

"Forget it, let’s continue practicing swords." Finishing the orange, Uesugi Sakura wiped his hands clean with a tissue and said, "When will uncle teach me that ’Swallow Return’ technique?"

"That’s my signature move!"

"..."

"Money?" Uesugi Sakura picked up the wooden sword and said.

"You’re insulting uncle’s dignity! Though uncle’s indeed a bit poor, unique techniques can’t be bought with money!" Uncle Sakihara, holding the Shiba Inu, righteously stated.

"Then add a bit more?"

"I just need you to help me defeat someone."

"The villain uncle was talking about just now?"

"Don’t interrupt!"

Uncle Sakihara hugged the panting A-chai in his lap, seemingly lost in reminiscence:

"That person is extremely strong! A solitary champion of the arena, rising effortlessly! Never met an equal in a lifetime, except me!—The Heartless Sword Saint almost defeated him!"

"Can someone who almost won still be called a Sword Saint?"

Uesugi Sakura had plenty of reasons to suspect this "Heartless Sword Saint" was a self-proclaimed title by the middle-aged uncle suffering from Chuunibyou.

"In short, I need you to challenge him, tell him that my One-Mind One-Sword Style can definitely surpass his!"

"Uncle, you’re a Sword Saint, why not go yourself?"

"So, my dear disciple, are you going to learn or not?" Uncle Sakihara gave him several sideways glances.

"Reluctantly... I’ll learn."

"Great!" Uncle Sakihara got excited again, patting his shoulder, "Next, I’ll tell my dear disciple, the teacher’s arch-nemesis is—"

"Is—"

"Is—"

The final sound dragged on, Uesugi Sakura stared at the uncle for several seconds.

Finally, after brewing for so long, a name was firmly spat out:

"Hanamaru Hiroki."

"..."

The air instantly fell silent.

Uncle Sakihara turned his back and said, "Remember this name well, my dear student. When you see him, strike him hard! See if he dares to be so arrogant in front of your master then!"

"...."

"Alright, start practicing swords! Strive for a new goal!"