"I’ve asked about the May Festival."
"Oh, is it okay?" Kyujuu Rika said, the aroma of grilled meat wafting from the table’s grill.
"Have you all decided to perform?" Uesugi Sakura didn’t answer directly, but instead asked back.
"I have no problem." She looked at Kitagawa Sakisa who was picking up meat with chopsticks beside her.
"Me? If you’re all going, I obviously have no problem. After all, besides sketching lately, I haven’t been doing much."
Hanabi surely wouldn’t have any problem, so it was down to Ayaka Rie.
"We can go!" declared Kitagawa Sakisa firmly, her mouth chewing on grilled meat.
Ayaka Rie inexplicably wanted to roll her eyes at her.
"All right then... but I’ve got to practice sketching hard lately... not much time for practice."
"Heh, as long as you come."
Uesugi Sakura: "The song hasn’t been decided yet, where should we practice? There’s not much time left."
Kyujuu Rika thought for a moment, her tableware and plates arranged very neatly in front of her: "Location... my place or Sakisa’s place, either works."
"Let’s go with your place! Mine’s not very suitable."
"Alright then..." Kyujuu Rika nodded, "No problem."
Hanamaru Hanabi, after passing a piece of meat to Uesugi Sakura, looked up and said: "This... seems like it’s our first time collaborating on a show, right?"
Kitagawa Sakisa giggled and said, "Isn’t it because Uesugi didn’t join during the senior-year school festival, went to compete instead."
She purposely leaned her head out and asked:
"Uesugi-san, how was it winning first place in a national-level Kyudo competition? I don’t think I’ve asked you before."
Uesugi Sakura was looking elsewhere where a middle-aged man, already drunk by noon, was shouting loudly at the server to bring more beer.
The young part-time waitress poured more beer for him, but he kept complaining, and the girl just kept bowing, apologizing profusely.
"Uesugi." Kitagawa Sakisa saw he was a bit lost.
"It’s nothing." Seeing that the man was only complaining, Uesugi Sakura redirected his gaze, "Asking about my thoughts on winning first place? Well... I saw many people working very hard, and the styles were each unique."
"Uesugi, I’ve always been curious about what’s different in the Kyudo styles," Kyujuu Rika asked, "I’ve watched many competitions, but only noticed their stances slightly differ, not understanding the Martial Archery or Ritual Shooting System."
Uesugi Sakura casually placed the snowflake beef on the grill and explained: "Simply put, Kyudo styles are the unique differences from others.
"The stance, bow height, angle of holding the bow, draw strength, and the right time to apply force all differ. The difference between styles is one of major or minor, strong or weak, with each style making trade-offs between these variables to find the most suitable posture for their style."
"Of course, what’s most important is finding what’s suitable for oneself. In the Kyudo world, a common mistake is learning completely mechanically, losing the unique charm that comes with mastering Kyudo oneself."
"I see." Kyujuu Rika listened intently.
Kitagawa Sakisa said: "Uesugi-san, why not go for first in Sword Dao? I remember you used to be in the Kendo Department."
Ayaka Rie: "Just focusing on Kyudo must be exhausting, there’s no way to have so much time to train in Sword Dao, probably."
Kitagawa Sakisa swallowed a piece of meat and wiped her mouth with a handkerchief: "True, I’ve swung a bamboo sword, and couldn’t last more than half an hour."
Uesugi Sakura didn’t continue the topic, essentially the reason was probably the lack of time.
An hour and a half later, he settled the bill at the front desk.
Grilled meat shouldn’t be this pricey.
Uesugi Sakura turned back to look at the seating area, even Hanamaru Hanabi’s cheeks were a bit flushed from eating.
Usually, no matter how many chilies she ate, her face would only turn slightly red.
It seemed she was really full.
The thing about eating grilled meat is when you’re full, you think: it’s too greasy, I’ll never come back.
But once you’re hungry, you find yourself reminiscing about the sizzling, crackling grilled beef and want to go again.
Until you go in and out again, repeatedly cycling through this annoying yet irresistible loop.
But for now, Uesugi Sakura couldn’t eat another bite.
Pulling aside the curtain and stepping out of the grilled meat restaurant, everyone stood on the pedestrian street, each with a contentedly full belly.
"Do you have any more classes this afternoon?" Uesugi Sakura asked everyone, with Hanamaru Hanabi on his back.
"Just one more," Kitagawa Sakisa replied, "Why are you asking? Going to take a trip to Disney Park?"
She inexplicably grew a bit excited as she spoke the last part.
Kyujuu Rika knew why he asked, saying: "We have cultural classes this afternoon, we have to go, but Hanabi’s leg is injured and she’s been excused these days."
Ayaka Rie: "You should take Hanabi-chan back to rest first, we’re off to class."
Uesugi Sakura held Hanamaru Hanabi’s slender legs on his back and said to them: "Okay, then Hanabi and I will head back first, I’ve got to sort out some clothes, let us know on LINE when it’s time to start program rehearsals."
"Bye Hanabi-chan, see you tomorrow~"
"Hmm... see you tomorrow..."
The four girls disappeared around the corner of the walking street, and Uesugi Sakura began looking for a taxi.
The sunlight was gentle, the white clouds chased after the clear blue sky.
As Uesugi carried Hanamaru Hanabi, she couldn’t help but want to lean her little head against his shoulder.
She would press her face very close, unable to resist peeking at his profile: