Laid-Back Life in Tokyo: I Really Didn't Want to Work Hard
Chapter 353 - 266 Collision

Chapter 353: Chapter 266 Collision

When Tachibana Youko saw the stance Uesugi Sakura assumed, she realized the opponent had already advanced, the wooden sword’s blade suddenly enlarging in her eyes as if it carried a fierce wind, striking her helmet with a blow.

Bang!

The wooden sword knocked against the helmet with a dull thud, delivering a solid hit.

The expression inside Tachibana Youko’s faceguard was still one of astonishment as she staggered backwards, barefoot, for several steps.

"I...ppon..."

The temporary judge Bin Yuehui took a long time before slowly uttering these words.

"So fast!" Tachibana Youko thought in amazement, but her alertness allowed her to quickly return to her previous stance.

Pursue the victory.

In the swordsmanship competition, Uesugi Sakura couldn’t be bothered to maintain Residual Heart, not intending to give the opponent a chance to breathe. He stepped forward with a few strides, raising both hands high, and fiercely slashed down at Tachibana Youko with the wooden sword.

He emulated his father-in-law’s Greeting Swordsmanship to strike hard at her face.

The swordsmanship of the Jigen Style lies in overpowering with force, though he usually disliked speaking loudly, at this moment he shouted several times:

"Men! Men! Men!"

Pressing hard and slashing intensely, advancing step by step.

Sword Dao competition is never about brute force; Tachibana Youko was not unfamiliar with swordsmen of the Jigen Style, but at this moment, she didn’t know how to respond.

Firstly, the opponent wasn’t just swinging wildly; every strike targeted variations in her defense.

Secondly, the opponent’s footwork pressed inwards step by step, one move following another, leaving her breathless.

The sound of the wooden swords clashing snapped sharply, the shocks transmitted from the hilt making her hands limp and numb.

Tachibana Youko could only retreat into a turtle-like defense, defending repeatedly.

This Greeting Swordsmanship is actually quite famous in the Japan police system’s swordsmanship, also having an extremely chuunibyou name.

Called [Golden Winged Bird King Sword], it originated from the Chujo Style and later became a standard swordsmanship secret technique of the One-Sword Style.

Simple yet difficult.

Easy to understand and learn, but hard to apply practically.

Once the bamboo sword is raised, high-ranking swordsmen can score with a sacrifice strike.

Uesugi Sakura used this move by following his father-in-law’s Jigen Style, imposing in momentum, and through [Accuracy] forcibly controlling the details.

Every strike was just right, even the sturdiest turtle defense would show a flaw.

"Strike the hand!"

Caught off guard under continuous pressure, Uesugi Sakura seized the gap and delivered a left horizontal slice directly to the front end of her glove, securing a second point.

Again she staggered several steps back, her feet creating a resounding noise on the floor, and the wooden sword in her hand was struck out of the ring.

There was no discussion from those outside the ring, everyone fell silent, only the sound of the wooden sword dropping to the ground and its bouncing remained.

This complete overpowering left Tachibana-senpai without even time to speak, his strength was naturally obvious for all to see.

Discontent lay in their hearts; everyone felt some discontent.

But what could be done?

Very few people could win against Tachibana-senpai in a competition, facing Uesugi who overpowered her throughout, what chance would anyone else stand?

Wouldn’t it be evident they would lose face if they challenged him?

In terms of skill, everyone in the dojo was very self-aware.

If defeated, then defeated; as a swordsman immersed in Sword Dao for years, Tachibana Youko didn’t have an ego to maintain, but looking at her empty hands, she still couldn’t believe she would lose so completely.

[Cut] was also within her skillset, yet she couldn’t execute it so confidently and flexibly.

She hadn’t even used the signature move of the One-Mind One-Sword Style before being scored against with two points, and the wooden sword flew out—truly... too weak.

Tachibana Youko rarely indulged in self-mockery in her heart, then immediately tucked her numbed hands to the side, slightly bowing her head to Uesugi Sakura opposite her.

Without speaking, she just bowed her head.

Uesugi Sakura understood her gesture as acknowledgment of his role as the Vice Master, then looked around at everyone again, "If no one else wishes to challenge me, then we can begin the training now!"

What should they do at this moment?

Step up to the challenge?

Most lacked the confidence; everyone had seen the speed and might of that previous technique, even senpai couldn’t handle it, let alone them.

But many felt a bit awkward about addressing someone seven or eight years younger than themselves as Vice Master.

Calling him Vice Master,

did it not signify that their own years as "senior" were wasted?

In Japan, where notions of rank and hierarchical relationships are serious, few exhibit such behavior of honoring the worthy.

Respect is respect, low is low.

The sudden reversal of status was hard for them to accept.

But...

For now, there was no choice, the gap in skill was evident.

They could only resign.

In the dojo, faced with Uesugi Sakura’s repeated inquiry, no one responded, even that particularly angry-looking man had no intention of stepping forward, merely lowering his head, fists clenched tight.

"Very well!" Uesugi Sakura ignored him, saying with head held high, "Since you all acknowledge my temporary role as Vice Master, we will now begin the training!"

"..."

No sound.

Uesugi Sakura grasped the wooden sword, and shouted sternly in the dojo:

"Where’s your voice!? Haven’t you eaten enough? Practicing Sword Dao without sound? How did you shout your Qi Union? Have you learned only to lower your head after all these years!?"

"Prepare for training!!!"

The crowd looked left and right, listless:

"Yes..."

"Again!" Uesugi Sakura shouted again.

"Yes!" Tachibana Youko saw everyone hesitating, took the lead to shout in response, immediately after, seeing that Senpai took the lead, they chimed in with their own yells of affirmation.

"Not synchronized enough! Again!!"

"Yes!"

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Outside the window, insects chirped, and green leaves rustled.

Hanamaru Hanabi looked at the Japanese sweets she had painstakingly made on the small plate, wiping the drops of sweat from her forehead.