"I dare say everyone here is smarter than me. I have stolen papers, cheated on exams, and hired people to do my accounting assignments at university, but unfortunately, I have to state a fact: none of you are wealthier than I am."
"School, and even the world’s education, tell us to become lawyers, doctors, teachers, offering little road and few methods to tell you how to become an entrepreneur."
Just a few opening words, Uesugi Sakura heard the confidence of Kohara Kiyosaku, the entrepreneur.
This confidence can even infect others, making one feel that he carries an inherent correctness, with every move exuding a sense of ’success.’
This lecture was worth listening to, at least he talked about many things Uesugi didn’t understand.
As for the university misdeeds he spoke of himself?
Those who understand know he’s saying that everyone has opportunities, rather than using those examples to illustrate how awful he is.
Halfway through the class, Uesugi Sakura was typing a lot of notes on his laptop, recording the stories that Kohara Kiyosaku told, and summarizing them.
"Business theories?" Todaka Keichiro leaned over, seeing the document title on his screen, "Uesugi, do you plan to go into business in the future? What do you intend to do, should we pool together 10 million yen to test the waters first?"
Having a colleague from Tokyo University to do business together would indeed save a lot of effort.
Unfortunately, both are from the humanities and social sciences, not from the economics department of literature, and Uesugi Sakura doesn’t really intend to become an entrepreneur.
"Don’t speak of 10 million so lightly, our annual tuition is only 530,000 yen."
"Hehe, others may not know, but I do know you’re quite wealthy, Uesugi! You can be looked up online, weren’t you the one who achieved victory in the national Kyudo competition last year, and received an award from the Emperor?"
The prize money is public, and thinking this way, doesn’t everyone who knows about him understand that he is wealthy?
No wonder after returning, there have been quite a few more love letters.
He originally thought his charm had subtly increased, only to realize it was money exuding temptation.
Uesugi Sakura promptly continued the previous topic:
"I’m probably not going into business; at most, I might open a café. Although I don’t think I can make it flourish, I must ensure it doesn’t go bankrupt either."
"A café? Didn’t expect that’s your interest."
"I just enjoy being a bit lazy; the little happiness of having a cup of coffee in the afternoon is what I truly like."
"’Afternoons on Langhans Island’?"
"Yes, I really like that book. It’s light, and you can forget about it immediately after finishing."
"I don’t think so. The more relaxed a work is, the more it seems to drain one’s heart and lungs after reading, don’t you think?"
"Vivid characters suddenly disappear, as if one’s life has been hollowed out."
Uesugi Sakura understands his thought; when the repeated daily life in the book ceases, wanting to see the protagonists’ story tomorrow, the mind is left with a void echo.
Kohara Kiyosaku’s lecture at Tokyo University ended after 2 hours, with Q&A sessions throughout.
Since Uesugi Sakura isn’t in economics, he could only listen inattentively, picking up some theories that he could understand and might apply in practice.
In the afternoon, there was another language and culture class, concluding today’s studies.
The light rain continued, with the sound of ginkgo leaves bearing the weight of the raindrops, and crows huddled in their nests, feathers drawn close, looking down on Tokyo University students walking on the tree-lined paths.
With excellent hearing, Uesugi Sakura, walking along, overheard some female classmates speaking. Initially, they talked about a pervert in Shinjuku District robbing children in the park, but upon seeing him, they started discussing handsome guys.
Holding an umbrella, he walked out of the campus alone. The wind in the rain had a slight chill, and Uesugi Sakura began considering whether to stop by a convenience store to grab something to eat.
After thinking it through, he decided to go; no way he could argue with his stomach.
He walked into a 7-Eleven, bought some bread, a bottle of Calpis, and some oden. He sat at the long table by the window of the convenience store and leisurely ate.
Outside the transparent glass window were the city streets in the rain.
The steam of the oden wafted before his eyes, rain splatters filled the glass, and the faint mist seemed to make the world outside the window blurry.
This might be a good spot to read.
Taking a bite of the chikuwa from the oden, Uesugi Sakura pondered whether to visit Bushin Hall, as the inexpensive teacher really wanted him to participate in the competitions, with selections starting in July.
Listening to the sound of the rainy season, he looked out the window.
Uesugi Sakura wonders how long such pleasant days will last; if possible, he hopes forever.
Unfortunately, even if there was a system, it wouldn’t offer such an option.
Moreover, even if he achieved immortality, he would watch Hanamaru Hanabi age step by step and finally leave him irretrievably.
By that time, she might still use her aged hand to comfort him, forever young, urging him to forget her and seek someone better.
With a happiness that could spend a lifetime with him, peacefully departing with a smile.
He still couldn’t forget the warmth that seemed so like yesterday’s fragments.
Such immortality would indeed be torment.
That’s probably what is meant when they say cultivators are lonely.
Abandoning everything, pursuing the path of longevity, regardless of family, friends, or lovers, everything erodes with time.
In the end, even emotions would fade, everything forgotten.
At that moment, they become true immortals.
But that’s a fairy, not a person; living without purpose, it’s just sitting dead through eternity.