Laid-Back Life in Tokyo: I Really Didn't Want to Work Hard
Chapter 64 Kyudo

Chapter 64: Chapter 64 Kyudo

The cool breeze rustled gently, swaying the trees that sprouted tender buds in April.

Beside Kamigoe High School’s sports field, under the wide eaves of the Kyudo Club.

Uesugi Sakura, dressed in pristine Kyudo clothes and hakama, holding a seven-foot longbow, drew the bowstring fully, his eyes conveying calm serenity with a hint of tranquility.

Behind him, the club members quietly observed his movements, not making a sound to disturb his concentration.

In Kyudo, one cultivates the heart.

When the heart is calm, the arrows naturally follow one’s desires.

This is the so-called — "Seisha Hicchu".

As always, these powerful, rough words were hung right above the Kyudo Club, constantly reminding everyone practicing Kyudo here.

Uesugi Sakura’s right hand, wearing deerskin gloves, pulled the bowstring taut, the arrow on the string steady, yet poised to strike.

Meanwhile, he used his ring and little fingers to grip the second arrow, forming a neat obtuse angle with the arrow on the string.

The arrow on the string remained parallel to the ground.

A breeze blew directly toward him.

As it tousled his hair, it also made the black hakama he wore flutter, his tall straight figure appearing naturally fresh.

An invisible aura emanated from him.

The sixth step of the Eight Forms of Kyudo — "Kai", was ready.

The seventh step — "Hanare", is to release the arrow naturally when the momentum and power of "Kai" reach their peak.

With a solemn face, Sugita Shuhei sat cross-legged at Uesugi Sakura’s side, constantly watching his movements.

He knew the arrow on the fully drawn bow was ready to be released.

Everyone was subconsciously holding their breath, captivated by Uesugi Sakura’s steadily building momentum, watching his chest rise and fall calmly.

The next moment,

Uesugi Sakura’s dark eyes gleamed, his slightly trembling fingers suddenly releasing.

Crack...!

With a high-pitched twang, the straight arrow shot forward,

amidst the whistling sound, as Uesugi Sakura maintained his shooting posture —

The swiftly flying arrow aimed directly at the circular target 28 meters away.

All eyes followed the arrow, looking toward the target center.

"As expected." they thought to themselves.

One shot, a precise hit.

And the posture was extremely standard.

[Accuracy Lv7 (0/40)]

"The sound of the bowstring, perfect, such a movement can be called ’Kai’.

Sugita Shuhei stood up from a sitting position, looking at Uesugi Sakura who was still in the final stage "Residual Heart" of the Eight Forms of Kyudo, showing a look of approval.

Other club members who joined the Kyudo Club with Uesugi Sakura also looked at him with envious eyes.

They couldn’t achieve such a level of shooting skill, and they were extremely puzzled.

Could it be that in just two days of practice, such a level of skill could be reached?

Is this what they call a genius?

Handsome, composed, mature.

This is the demeanor one should show at the moment the bow is released in Kyudo.

They still didn’t disturb Uesugi Sakura because another arrow was already on the bowstring in his hand.

With his right hand pulling the string, left hand holding the bow, accompanied by deep breaths and slightly trembling fingers, Uesugi Sakura drew the bow to halfway.

He paused.

"’Daisan’, ’Hikime’."

The Kyudo Club captain, Seisuke Yooya, silently said these two steps in his heart, also dressed in pristine Kyudo clothes and hakama.

"Daisan" — pressing at the thumb position pulling back the string to a third of the bow’s width, slightly pausing here.

"Hikime" — at the pause of "Daisan", instantly drawing the bow fully.

At this moment, still steady, adjusting the fully drawn bow to the best posture suitable for one’s length, this is the sixth step of the Eight Forms of Kyudo — "Kai".

The perfect moment.

"Release the arrow!"

Sugita Shuhei, Ogata Asaka, Hirata Masanobu, Sakurai Fumiko, and several other experienced Kyudo Club seniors shouted these words in their hearts.

As if responding to their inner call, the arrow in Uesugi Sakura’s hand whizzed out instantly!

Crack...!

The string was loosened, the arrow flew out, spinning a beautiful straight line in the air, sharp and clear!

Another 28 meters away, the arrow shot by Uesugi Sakura again hit the target center!

Silence, complete silence across the venue,

The sound of the string resonated in hearts, reverberating in their chests.

Everyone looked at the man at the shooting position gently lowering his longbow, feeling genuine admiration.

The resolute and serious face, the handsome and composed actions, the pristine Kyudo clothes and hakama perfectly outlining his graceful aura at this moment.

"Hoo~"

Uesugi Sakura let out a gentle sigh, after the Residual Heart phase, holding the 2.2-meter longbow, turned slightly and bowed to the club members present.

Clap... clap... clap...

Seisuke Yooya naturally showed a smile, clapped his hands together, and gave an appreciative applause.

Under his lead, the quiet atmosphere suddenly shifted, and the applause rose one after another.

The throbbing heartbeats and expressions of admiration surrounded Uesugi Sakura, who could only bow to them once more.

Vice-captain Sugita Shuhei, the graceful Kyudo genius high school student, approached Uesugi Sakura and said softly:

"Uesugi, you passed."

"Thank you, Senior Sugita."

Uesugi Sakura slightly lowered his head to him, for it was truly thanks to the generous teachings of this "Kyudo genius high school student" in these two days that he could surpass his peers and reach such a level of archery.

Even practicing until 9 p.m. every day, delaying even his study sessions.

"A very beautiful shooting form, though the previous ’Taihai’ had slight deductions, you still have considerable strength, I have great expectations for your talent, Uesugi."

Sugita Shuhei spoke very seriously, this was an acknowledgment coming from one of the nation’s top ten archers.

Hearing the word "Taihai", Uesugi Sakura showed a bitter smile and shook his head:

"The preliminary etiquette before Kyudo is still too difficult, it’s also a test of physical fitness."

The basic movements include standing, sitting, stepping, turning while standing, turning while walking, turning while sitting, and bowing, the eight forms.

Entering, exiting, performing the ’three breaths ceremony’ at the shooting position after entering, the ’two breaths bow’ from the second arrow onward, and so on...

Only after that does the bow-drawing preparation stage begin.

All these require practicing the actions solidly, without wavering, with natural smoothness.

With all these, it’s truly troublesome.

Not to mention whether [Accuracy] can be achieved successfully, just the stamina consumed during this period is a dual test of spirit and endurance.

Furthermore, maintaining the proper form to draw the 2.2-meter longbow consumes even more tranquility.

This was still Uesugi Sakura demonstrating the shooting technique alone, without performing the exit ceremony.

Cool was truly cool, but exhausting was indeed exhausting.