Chapter 532: Chapter 356: Striving for the Bridal Chamber_2
The train made sounds as it ran on the tracks.
Hanamaru Hanabi thought about that moment and looked at his face, immediately breaking into a radiant smile:
"Alright!"
When the train reached the midpoint, Hanamaru Hanabi had to transfer to another train to go to the shrine.
The train doors opened, but she was reluctant to leave, holding his hand with her delicate fingers.
"Sakura, I’m going ahead, okay."
"Safe travels."
"You too, Sakura."
Hanamaru Hanabi’s graceful figure disappeared into the bustling station crowd.
Uesugi Sakura watched.
Every time she left the station like this, a warm feeling filled his heart.
He didn’t believe in gods.
But if they did exist, he would pray wholeheartedly every day.
Dear Gods, if this is a dream, please let it last forever!
Whether wealthy or poor, as long as Hanabi is by his side, as long as he can see her smile, everything is enough.
Uesugi Sakura watched the gap where the train doors closed, saw his reflection in the glass, and thought about spending this year’s fireworks festival with her again. Recalling her various past smiles, his heart warmed, and he smiled knowingly.
Having a childhood friend like this is truly great.
——————
Earn money, earn money.
Uesugi Sakura was determined to win this year’s Kendo championship.
Besides the dreamlike lottery win, the one hundred million yen prize money was what he wanted urgently and was close to getting.
With the money, he could buy a marital home, and then in the evening, he could have dinner with Hanabi and Chiaei, watching the flourishing lights outside the floor-to-ceiling windows of Tokyo.
Top sixteen to top eight, and top eight to top four.
Reaching the top four, they could represent the Kantou Region in the national competition.
Hokkaido, Tohoku Region, Kantou Region, Central Region, Kansai Region, China Region, Shikoku Region, Kyushu Region, Okinawa.
Each area would have four groups of teams, leading to even fiercer competition.
Uesugi Sakura and his senior brother’s team had already won one match and needed one more victory to enter the winners’ bracket of the top four.
In the end, the four teams would be ranked to determine the Kantou Region’s seed teams.
The teams that lost initially wouldn’t be out of opportunities; the eight teams in the losers’ bracket could compete further for a chance to join the winners’ fourth place team.
Of course, this had nothing to do with Uesugi Sakura.
Unless they fell to the fourth place.
Tokyo Arena, Shibuya District.
Uesugi Sakura changed into his protective gear for the competition and went from the dressing room to the lounge.
They had just drawn lots, and they were up against a team that advanced from Group A.
"It’s going to be tough."
Uesugi Sakura asked, "What’s tough?"
Senior Brother Higuchi Yoshiaki said, "Junior, you just drew a strong opponent for us."
Uesugi Sakura didn’t react much and asked, "Are they really strong?"
At this point, Kusunoki Kubomaru suddenly joined them, putting his arm around his shoulder and asked in a curious and surprised tone, "Hey junior, are you really Hanamaru Hiroki’s son-in-law?"
As for why the senior brother was surprised... Uesugi Sakura had some idea about his father-in-law’s reputation in the Kendo world.
To put it mildly... quite formidable.
"Sort of a son-in-law," he said, "We haven’t married yet."
"Close enough, it means you might be quite good! The other day when we sparred, I noticed you were remarkable."
Uesugi Sakura sensed a bit of intentional flattery.
Kusunoki Kubomaru patted his shoulder, "Junior, you should know, the national competition isn’t just attended by youngsters like us. Our opponents from Group A are veterans from the Police Headquarters; those guys are battle-hardened, practicing sword skills every day like it’s their meal.
"For the next match against them, I want to ask, among those veterans, do you know any of them, their habits or preferences? You can share anything."
Uesugi Sakura didn’t even know this Police Headquarters team was there, so he could only say:
"... I haven’t seen them, and I don’t know who they are."
"Didn’t you specifically stay to watch their match a few days ago?"
"I only watched one match and left."
"So you’re saying you don’t know either?"
"No idea."
This also meant Uesugi Sakura had no information.
Kusunoki Kubomaru sighed: "Alright, come what may, it’s water for mud."
Uesugi Sakura was a bit surprised, weren’t the senior brothers the champion team?
The Police Headquarters people might be formidable, but they shouldn’t trouble the champion team, right?
He had seen Kusunoki Kubomaru’s skills last time, and they were quite good.
"Ahem," Senior Brother Kusunoki cleared his throat, straightening up, "Junior, not all your senior brothers have the strength of your Senior Brother Kusunoki or your Senior Brother Fujimaki. I might not lose, but that doesn’t mean they won’t, and it’s common to win or lose in Kendo matches. Even eighty-year-old Fan Shi losing to a third rank is possible. If your other senior brothers lose a match, it’s very normal. But as for me, trust in me, it won’t happen."
Everyone heard what he said to Uesugi Sakura.
Higuchi Yoshiaki: "..."
Tsujimoto Kiro: "..."
Koshin Kagami smiled faintly: "Enough, stop boosting your ego. Every time, you lose to those Jigen Style police, getting whacked on the head with a stick, and you don’t even have the momentum to fight back."
Kusunoki was not backing down and loudly responded: "Hey! Come on, it’s just I either beat them or they beat me."
Isn’t that obvious... Uesugi Sakura thought to himself.
Moreover, a third rank in Kendo isn’t considered a newbie; they’re experienced. Kusunoki Kubomaru was probably just talking nonsense.
Kusunoki Kubomaru realized he wasn’t accurate and quickly amended: "I meant, when competing with the Police Headquarters guys, it’s about momentum. If he strikes faster, he wins; if I strike faster, I win."
Koshin Kagami interrupted him: "Alright, alright, the match is starting soon, stop talking about useless things, do your best. After all, you’re the champion team; don’t drop the ball just because Senior Brother Fujimaki isn’t here."
This was purposely said for Kusunoki Kubomaru, but he took it with a grain of salt, thinking, who has less momentum, you or me with your scholarly words?
The fact that they didn’t get along was well known.
Of course, they were just arguing for the sake of it.
Around ten in the morning, the audience, cameras, and TV staff were mostly ready for their respective tasks.
Uesugi Sakura and his senior brothers also prepared to go on stage for the match.
At this time, Cousin Uesugi Shio suddenly came over to him, tapping his back with her phone.
"There was a call last night."
"What kind of call?" Uesugi Sakura turned his head and asked.
"A strange call, asking if I knew Uesugi Sakura."
Uesugi Shio glanced at his face.
"You didn’t get into trouble, did you? The voice didn’t sound friendly."
Uesugi Sakura met his cousin’s gaze, saying honestly: "Sis Shio, I’m a good citizen, I don’t steal or rob, haven’t even been to any shady shops. What you described could just be someone causing trouble. Just ignore it. It might be a scammer trying to extort money through intimidation."
Uesugi Shio glanced at him, "Sakura, be careful; they’re no good."
"Don’t worry about it."
The cousin also had her own competition.
After she left, Uesugi Sakura felt a bit suspicious about that call too.
He speculated that it might have been those guys who were following him before.
Since they ran into Hanamaru Hiroki last time, they hadn’t bothered him again.
But temporarily not coming didn’t mean they wouldn’t show up ever.
What did they want from him?
Uesugi Sakura thought about it for a long time, and only the idea of a diamond ring being valuable came to mind.
Or were they targeting his championship prize money?
But they didn’t seem to have that idea either.
They wanted him to drop a lawsuit... But what had he been suing recently?