Laid-Back Life in Tokyo: I Really Didn't Want to Work Hard
Chapter 92 Sugita Bow Shop

Chapter 92: Chapter 92 Sugita Bow Shop

Yes, it’s a date.

With that reply, Uesugi Sakura put the phone back in his pocket.

Hanamaru Hanabi looked at him with her beautiful eyes and asked, "Did Rie-chan say something?"

"Ayaka said she wishes us an enjoyable date," Uesugi Sakura couldn’t resist and said with a smile.

"No... today isn’t a date..." Hanamaru Hanabi looked at her legs wrapped in white silk under her skirt, "Rie-chan wouldn’t say that to Sakura-kun either..."

She understood.

"Sakura-kun... is lying again..."

"Don’t worry."

Uesugi Sakura gently hugged her shoulders, letting her slowly lean into his embrace. Under the reaction of a little girl across the way covering her face, he softly said to the girl:

"Sakura-kun will always be good to Hanabi."

——————

After transferring to the Shinjuku Line, they got off at Ogawa-cho Station.

In Chiyoda District, the average household income ranks first among the Tokyo 23 Districts.

The high housing price of 2 million yen per square meter makes the residents here either wealthy or noble.

Thus, the population here is also the least in the Tokyo 23 Districts, with only over 50,000 people.

Uesugi Sakura didn’t really like coming here because randomly picking any passerby would be someone with an annual income of over 10 million yen.

Hanamaru Hanabi had no such burden; she often came here to play with Kyujuu Rika before.

Speaking of which, isn’t her father the Police Chief? How much is his annual income again?

Although Hanamaru Hiroki didn’t admit it, Uesugi Sakura had already equated his uncle with his father-in-law in his heart.

"Hanabi."

Walking together under the umbrella, the cold air from the drizzle made them almost snuggle together.

She heard the voice and looked at him.

"What’s uncle’s annual income?"

"Sakura-kun... why are you asking this..."

"Just wanted to ask."

"I don’t know..." Hanamaru Hanabi said as she took out her phone from her small bag.

"Never mind if you don’t know—" Uesugi Sakura saw her take out the phone and asked, "Ayaka?"

Hanamaru Hanabi shook her head, whispered, "I’m helping Sakura-kun ask Dad..."

The message was sent, and suddenly Uesugi Sakura felt a jolt, "Hanabi, how did you ask uncle?"

"Sakura-kun is asking Dad about his annual income..."

Uesugi Sakura hesitated: "Forget it, go ahead and ask."

Although it seemed a bit opportunistic.

The reply came back in no time.

"Salary? Recently got a raise, base salary is 1.2 million yen, if Hanabi wants more pocket money, just ask Dad."

"But what’s that kid asking this for? What’s his intention?"

"Dad said... his annual income is over 14 million yen... base salary..." Hanamaru Hanabi skipped over Hanamaru Hiroki’s follow-up question for Uesugi Sakura.

That’s a lot, anyway much more than I, Uesugi, have.

How would I rob Hanamaru to get that much money?

Rely on my precise skills to empty all the claw machines in Akihabara?

Sounds good, and if filmed step by step, might even get the title "God of Claw Machines."

After becoming famous, I could tour various variety shows, drawing in explosive traffic with my increasingly handsome and popular face.

Finally transition into an actor, completing the transformation from internet celebrity to star.

At that point, Uesugi would officially step onto the pinnacle of easily making money.

That’s ridiculous.

Just that strange title is a loss for words.

Abandoning this unrealistic idea, Uesugi Sakura couldn’t help but look at Hanamaru Hanabi beside him and ask:

"When are we getting married?"

"Sakura-kun..."

Hanamaru Hanabi buried her head deeply, pink blossoming on her cheeks, lips pressed together.

The girl didn’t answer Uesugi Sakura’s question.

They walked together to 1-16 Kanda Suda-cho, and upon lifting their eyes, they saw the wooden signboard.

"Sugita Bow Shop"

Such a simple name, mostly handmade shops like wooden statue carving along the way, this street seemed to have a connection with "wood" in Uesugi Sakura’s view.

The shop was neither big nor small, and as they pushed the door open, they could hear the clear sound of a bell.

"Welcome to Sugita Bow Shop."

Speaking was a girl about twelve or thirteen years old, sitting at the counter on the left-hand side, doing her homework.

Uesugi Sakura glanced around, on the right wall hung with bamboo bows, a large stretch that dominated his view.

Bow accessories, arrows, gloves, and books related to Kyudo were orderly scattered in this tidy shop.

Of course, the most striking was the right wall, filled with bamboo bows.

If you look closely, you could see the maker’s surname, bow pull strength, and price labeled under each bow.

As a beginner, Uesugi Sakura’s bow pull strength was 14kg, so he glanced at the prices of those bamboo bows.

Ishizaka Shijutsu—24,800 yen

Kodera Kokoro—29,000 yen

Oide Naoki I—39,001 yen

Ninomiya Naoki II—44,000 yen

Ninomiya Naoki III—48,000 yen

Suwa Guxin—90,000 yen

...

Finally, Uesugi Sakura focused his gaze on a bamboo bow labeled with the Sugita surname

Sugita Seiya (custom-made)—110,000 yen

Why... so expensive?

"..."

Uesugi Sakura suddenly realized that the money he brought today... might not be enough...

Speaking of which, what do those heart, direct heart, and crane heart mean, the hierarchy of bows?

It was Hanamaru Hanabi’s first time seeing such an array of bows. She tugged at the corner of Uesugi Sakura’s clothing with her small hand and curiously asked:

"Sakura-kun... why are the bowstrings on those bamboo bows crooked?"

This was a blank spot in Uesugi Sakura’s intelligence: "Asking me? I don’t know either; anyway, the bowstrings in the Kyudo Club are also crooked, never asked."

The girl from the bow shop came over to explain:

"The bowstring leans to the right because the bamboo’s fibers are not suitable for lateral force. Leaning to the right alters the local deformation mode for better maintenance of the bamboo bow while preserving its elegance."

She glanced at Hanamaru Hanabi holding onto Uesugi Sakura’s clothing and temporarily regarded her as a sister.

"Compared to fiber bows, bamboo bows require more care, so it’s not recommended for beginners to purchase."

The girl’s features looked somewhat familiar; Uesugi Sakura asked her:

"Senior Sugita’s sister?"

With a calm demeanor far exceeding her age, she had the composed demeanor of Senior Sugita.

Sugita Ourei glanced at Uesugi Sakura’s somewhat handsome face and asked, "Are you the classmate my brother mentioned?"

"I guess so," Uesugi Sakura replied, "Where’s Senior Sugita? Didn’t he say he was in the shop when I contacted him just now?"

"My brother went to the bathroom, should be back soon."

Sugita Ourei couldn’t help but take a few more glances at Hanamaru Hanabi’s delicate face.

In her heart, a question arose.

Why do both brother and sister look so attractive?

Her brother, apart from his demeanor, couldn’t even meet half of her appearance standards.

Almost about to graduate, he hasn’t even held another girl’s hand, always engrossed with his bow.

Can he find a girlfriend?

She couldn’t help but feel sorry for her brother’s latter life.

Sigh.