Chapter 122: Entry, Then Prepare to Demonstrate Archery Skills

Chapter 122: Chapter 122: Entry, Then Prepare to Demonstrate Archery SkillsThe thrilling sound of the bowstring, as refreshing as being bathed in the spring breeze of April. This is the impression Fuya Nanori left on everyone during the individual preliminaries. —————— At noon, everyone was at a bright family restaurant. Due to the competition, the number of people in the restaurant surged, and the staff were flustered, serving food at a pace more than twice as slow as usual. The waitress kept apologizing, saying "Sorry to keep you waiting" and such. Hanamaru Hanabi sat at another table with some girls from the Kyudo Club, and the conversation with Chitose Mai and Sakurai Fumiko remained quiet. In high school, Hanabi seemed to be quite popular, especially among the girls. If it had been like this in elementary school, perhaps her occasional self-esteem issues would have improved significantly. "I’ve heard about Mizuki’s strength before, and now facing them for real, I can only say — ’As expected.’" Silence. "Actually, it’s not so bad, not all of their shots hit." Uesugi Sakura accepted the steak and vegetable set handed over by the waitress. She returned the polite gesture amidst the waitress’s repeated apologies. "That’s you, Uesugi. We ordinary people aren’t even in the same dimension as you." Hirata Masanobu scoffed, waving his hand as he spoke. "We... still need to work harder." Kanai Hideyoshi rested his right hand on his chin, gazing at the coffee foam below, "We’re just holding Uesugi and Sugita back. With our current abilities, we’re not strong enough to defeat Mizuki." Sugita Shuhei: "Don’t say things like holding back. We are all club members, and even for me and Uesugi, we can’t achieve a hundred percent hit rate. "Everyone will grow. The opponents are not gods; their strength is formidable, and we must strive to defeat them." Seisuke Yooya smiled and picked up the conversation: "So, after the preliminaries, we’re planning a training camp, and the principal has already agreed to our request." "The only concern now is your academics, Kanai." He is a club member of the same year as Kanai Hideyoshi, aware of his current situation. "No problem." Kanai Hideyoshi had prepared to face such a situation when he accepted the invitation to participate in the competition, "The monthly tests just ended, so I can relax a little." His goal is Tokyo Metropolitan University, not the University of Tokyo, but it is still a top public university in the country, widely recognized in Tokyo. Uesugi Sakura understood that the effort to get into such a school is tremendous, and even a little relaxation is relative. "I’m fine too," he said. Hirata Masanobu: "Alright!" "Great! Since everyone has agreed, I announce the Kamigoe High School Kyudo Club’s training camp plan is officially in action!" Club leader Seisuke Yooya extended his fist over the fragrant table, "Let’s work hard and grow together! For a team without achievements, let’s first aim to defeat Mizuki!" Everyone looked at each other for a second and then extended their fists. "Alright." "Understood." "Hmm." "Oss!" The final shout multiplied the effect, drawing the attention of all the other diners towards them. "..." —————— Compared to team competitions, individual preliminaries take much less time. The lesser number of participants is a major reason. Thus, the two weekend mornings were allocated for individual preliminaries. This afternoon is the time for the team preliminaries. 16:03:23 The Kanzaki Togoshi Kyudo Club members were already summoned to the waiting room. Due to Sugita Shuhei’s presence, the audience paid special attention to this team. The title of the national top ten is undeniably prominent. Mizuki High School’s participants have long been watching from the audience seats. Fuya Nanori, the naturally graceful man, seemed to pay particular attention to him. "I wonder if Shuhei has a chance to achieve a higher ranking this year." "What do you think, Nanori?" The elder Adviser Ikemoto’s voice was slow and deep. "Difficult." One word was enough to explain his current thoughts. "Indeed," Adviser Ikemoto looked back at the dojo, "After all, those who can stand there used to be geniuses, no?" The bustling arena reached its peak with the appearance of Sugita Shuhei. Last year, many people witnessed his composed demeanor and impeccable shooting form on Japan’s public television. At the age of 17, he was among those at the center of fame. The word "genius" is deeply ingrained. Unlike most of the audience, Adviser Ikemoto focused on the unfamiliar Uesugi Sakura. He put his hands behind his back, the wrinkles at the corners of his eyes deeply creased. "To have a newcomer just learning kyudo be the vanguard of Kamigoe’s Kyudo Club, even if they are a high school with an academic purpose and few in number, they shouldn’t have arranged it this way. "Nanori?" he inquired of him. Ignoring the surrounding noisy discussions, Fuya Nanori watched Uesugi Sakura, who sat calmly on the bench at the dojo, his voice clear and soft: "Since it’s Shuhei’s arrangement, he must have something exceptional. To call him a newbie... he probably has archery experience in middle school." As Uesugi Sakura’s actions unfolded, Fuya Nanori gradually narrowed his eyes. "His shooting form..." —————— Some people relish the feeling of being in the spotlight, while others feel the opposite. Uesugi Sakura didn’t particularly mind; under the watchful eyes of many, he could perceive a myriad of different expressions. Some praised his looks; others admired his courage. Questioning, anticipation, and doubt — these emotions, more or less, were messages conveyed by the audience to him. In his clean white kyudo uniform, holding his bow and arrows with both hands, he maintained the same stance with his teammates beside him. The gentle breeze stirred the audience’s enthusiastic discussions before the competition began. Scattered cameras in the arena captured the Kamigoe Kyudo Club members’ demeanor. They were like maple leaves lying quietly on the ground, exhibiting their vibrant beauty. The time was brief and fleeting. In the distance, amidst the noisy crowd, Uesugi Sakura saw Hanamaru Hanabi’s blooming smile directed at him. "Stand up!" Upon the referee’s command, the Kamigoe Kyudo Club members responded and stood up. The pristine kyudo upper garment, the dark-colored hakama, and the youthful, clear eyes reflected the dojo’s green turf. Enter. With chests upright, the five held their bows and arrows with both hands at their sides, the white Tabi socks gliding with steady, heavy steps. The open dojo allowed all spectators in the stands to witness the Kamigoe Kyudo Club members’ grace. They walked into their predetermined shooting positions, retreated half a step, and smoothly sank into a single knee sitting position. Turn, stand the bow. A set of movements was executed cleanly and crisply. Four emerald-green arrow fletches lay quietly on the floor, as Uesugi Sakura and the other members awaited the next instructions. The broadcast announced: "Team preliminaries, First Shooting Range, Number One, Kamigoe High School, Uesugi participant. Number Two, Kamigoe High School, Sugai participant. Number Three, Kamigoe High School, Seisuke participant. Number Four, Kamigoe High School, Hirata participant. Number Five, Kamigoe High School, Sugita participant." With the final word of the broadcast, all eyes in the arena were focused on them at that moment.