Chapter 111: Hard Work and Slacking Off Must Proceed Simultaneously

Chapter 111: Chapter 111: Hard Work and Slacking Off Must Proceed SimultaneouslyAlthough there aren’t many members in the Kyudo Club, it has a significant reputation. The fame of being among the top ten in the national championship also brings some promotional effect to Kanzaki Togoshi Private Academy. Therefore, quite a few people join the Kyudo Club out of admiration, but most of them become ghost members, and only a few persevere. Principal’s office. Knock, knock... "Come in." The principal rotated the chair to face the visitor and extinguished the cigarette in the ashtray. "Most of the skilled students in the Kyudo Club have graduated. I won’t even mention the singles competition. Is there any hope of winning a place in this year’s team competition?" "Yes, there is." "Then I’ll leave it to you to take care of things. The Kyudo Club is still very important to the school." The principal’s expression softened, "The Kyudo Club hasn’t had a guiding teacher all along, do you need the school to arrange one for you?" Seisuke Yooya hesitated for a moment, then said, "As long as Sugita is around, we don’t need one for now." The principal turned his chair away again, closing his eyes, his gray-white hair barely covering his moving lips: "In fact, the school didn’t pay much attention to the Kyudo Club before, considering it just a student hobby group." "But ever since Sugita achieved a remarkable ranking at the national championship, the board wants to turn the Kyudo Club into a second baseball club to promote Kanzaki Togoshi Private Academy." He sighed. "After all, it’s a private school and needs to make money." The principal spoke candidly, without any intention to avoid the topic. "However, I think it would be better if the Kyudo Club maintained its own style. After all, even without interference, students like Sugita have emerged." His tone was slow and deliberate, pausing briefly. "That’s what I told the board as well, but ultimately, they still look at the results." The smoke coil in the room lingered, the principal not saying another word with his back turned to the chair. Seisuke Yooya understood that the principal meant that if the Kyudo Club didn’t achieve results, the board would likely intervene in management. It might not be too bad, but it definitely wouldn’t have the current laid-back atmosphere. The baseball club is very tiring, with fixed training times every day, strictly prohibiting early departure and disrespect to senior students. Generally, first-year newcomers are assigned to carry water, return equipment, and other errand tasks. The principal turned back around, pulled out a folder from the cabinet, and handed it to the approaching Seisuke Yooya. "This is general information about other schools’ Kyudo Clubs, which I believe will be useful to you." —————— Uesugi Sakura, from the Kyudo Club, drew an arrow with emerald green fletching from the quiver and hooked the tail of the arrow with the Middle Attachment on the string. Raising the bamboo bow high, with an extremely graceful shooting form, he slowly pulled the string, looking straight ahead, loosened his fingers, and released. A streak of emerald green flew across the lawn, striking the target. Sugita Shuhei stood by, helping the first-year newcomers correct their shooting form. They could only shoot haphazardly at the moment, with arrows often falling to the ground, their attempts as catastrophic as a cat falling into water. Nevertheless, despite their clumsy actions, Sugita Shuhei patiently guided and corrected them, and had them reference the shooting form Uesugi Sakura had just demonstrated. "Falling arrows are quite common, so there’s no need to worry excessively. Secure the Middle Attachment properly, and ensure that the arrow fletching stays perpendicular to the string when you nock." "Pay attention to the Kime and show the vertical horizontal cross in your posture." A sound of the string resonated. Uesugi Sakura, having shot another arrow, lowered the bamboo bow and took a light breath. This was his fortieth arrow of the day. His arms and fingers had begun sending agonized signals to his brain, fervently begging him to take a rest. The first-year newcomers diligently tried to learn from Uesugi Sakura’s movements, but could not comprehend what Sugita Shuhei was explaining, asking: "Senior... what does this mean?" In response, Sugita Shuhei did not immediately answer but first called out to Uesugi Sakura. "Alright." Uesugi Sakura reluctantly complied, then drew another arrow and set it on the bamboo bow, proceeding to the stage just before Yagake in the Shooting Technique Eight Steps. That is, the draw and hold action before releasing, and he kept still. "Observe Uesugi’s actions," Sugita Shuhei explained to the newcomers, "the shoulders, waist, and feet form a vertical line from top to bottom. This vertical line and the horizontal line of the arms create a cross pattern." "The main thing is that vertical line. As long as the waist maintains stability, the arms on the horizontal line can pull back smoothly, presenting a very graceful shooting form and making the person look very steady." "Understood?" "Under... stood..." The first-year newcomer appeared bewildered, confusedly responding. Uesugi Sakura decisively released his trembling hand that had been maintaining the draw posture. "..." Sugita Shuhei felt that he had explained thoroughly enough, "Okay, just stabilize your lower body and ensure your arms remain steady when drawing the bow." Sakurai Fumiko expressed a warm smile, "Haha~ It’s natural that this is a topic for the fifth rank examination, understanding and mastering it at first contact is indeed difficult." "Then... senior, do you know how?" Chitose Mai curiously asked. "Both Kime and Nobiai." Uesugi Sakura left the shooting line and walked to the stand where the bows were placed, now only wanting to rest a bit. Chitose Mai watched Uesugi Sakura leaning against a bench and asked, "Kime is what Shuhei senior just mentioned, but what is Nobiai?" "Don’t draw the bow further nor shoot hastily, prevail this arrow in your heart," Uesugi Sakura lazily recited a poem. "?" She appeared even more puzzled, "What does that mean?" "It means I suggest you first master the Kime part." "Really?" Chitose Mai, who had some grasp of language, could somewhat perceive the poem’s meaning. "That’s the fact." Uesugi Sakura felt that without Hanabi’s smile beside him today, his motivation had dwindled considerably. Understanding those now seemed meaningless, and Chitose Mai decided to first try hitting an arrow target. "Hey, why hasn’t Asaka been around today?" Sakurai Fumiko looked around, observing that the club president, Hirata Masanobu, and Sugai Eigi were present. With the competition approaching, the Kyudo Club’s training recently became more rigorous. The five members of the team would be coordinating their pace with each other, while the two female contestants for the singles competition would enhance their shooting skills. "Perhaps there’s something important," Chitose Mai said, having just picked up a weaker bow from the stand. Uesugi Sakura, however, knew the reason, but he could only silently wish someone the best during this short break. The following days were spent in such semi-strenuous routines.