Capítulo 102: Chapter 92
The practice continued, the group perfected the songs during their rehearsal, and with assisting to maximize their singing talent, put to practice by using his Singing (Master) alongside Teaching (Skilled). They of course were a little surprised at his deep voice, because they could hear his singing had improved to a magnified level. It could be said that he had been practicing during his streams and while he usually just streamed piano performance, singing always comes to second if the fans betted for it.
Kotoko on the other hand had appeared again, but due to the new profound knowledge, it led Maki to be a little protective towards their group. Kotoko although had gained courage had to left with a gloomy face. While he couldn't help towards the other girl but he pacified the feisty girl, but she asked him to assure that he won't do any move towards the other girl, which he could only agree with.
It was reasonable for Maki to be like that. Kotoko had gone come to trouble them with an immediate purpose and that was to integrate herself to Hiroto to gain a relationship. While it was easy for him to accept her presence, it wasn't for the other girls, especially for herself. While Kotoko was also attending another school. He had hoped her to find someone that might come to love her despite her certain 'qualities', at least for now he can only try and talk with Kotoko online as he had already found her username in the streaming platform. Talking not to bother them for a while he preoccupied more than half an hour talking to this rambunctious girl online, at least for now, he would just give some time to this girl online or she might turn into delinquency again.
While during these two weeks of the excursion, the two girls Arisa and Yukiho as usual really wanted to watch their rehearsals but they had classes and before they could enact their special 'little sister attack' quickly got a reprimand from their respective sisters' clutches. Although Honoka had teased her little sister by showing the grand stage behind her, picturing herself close to the side while balloons with unique colors are being set up making the scene quite marvelous and fantastical. Yukiho immediately interjected while replying with tons of emojis that made Honoka laugh out loud.
With Mamako's help, they could rent a stage for their live performance. Although the girls didn't want to, rather they were the ones who wanted to pay all the bills for the rental itself, but he declined them by saying it was his job.
After all, he won't be able to finish all the millions of yen coming to his wallet and he still has ongoing minor projects contributing to the big number. He asked Kirisu and the chairwoman for permission, although they thought it was unnecessary spending, they didn't even berate him, understanding that it was needed to assure that the school would live well after this. Not until the pink-haired teacher learned that he was earning money leisurely that made Kirisu's face take a turn while the chairwoman laughed softly at their display.
"Wow, look at our banner! It's U's! U's!" Honoka saw a lifter hefting the U's sign to the top of the stage, while it isn't set up yet, they could see it would be so amazing when everything was in place. Honoka felt giddier before she started capturing images with Kotori as she sent it towards her little sister. The others smiled at her as they continued on with their things. Everyone worked together meticulously since the performance would be held two days afterward.
Rin and Hanayo were currently helping out with the alpaca pen in the forest, the stage was set up in the side of the forest and as the alpaca's got a little handsy, Hanayo wanted them pacified for a little time. Although, her short orange-haired friend's reasoning was to just leave the others because she might get another round of 'education' that she truly hates.
The mid-term exam had already passed and with a proud expression on Rin's face, again passed the exam, not breaking her record but maintaining her average score. He even wondered where she put the memory improvement of the pill he gave, while he saw her test papers, she improved except for one subject and that was the foreign language subjects.
Honoka though had a similar expression: a happy face. Her happiness is always as infectious towards everyone nearby. Smiling because she was happy to pass all the exams and a little more excited about the upcoming live performance they will enact.
Lastly, Nico who had been so smug about passing quickly took off the moment she saw Nozomi grinning behind her.
While taking a break, they were currently looking at the stage being set up for their performance, Umi approached him with a look of seriousness.
"Although, you didn't have to do anything." Again feeling grateful, Umi still felt she they were in his debt while the others had similar thoughts and although some girls would be able to contribute like what he did, it would be hard to fork out the money and since they were all independent themselves, they didn't want to ask their parents just to make everything perfect.
Hiroto shook his head and told them with understanding, "What you need is the aspect of the word 'grand', if we don't give our all, it won't be as striking as other school idols. Look, for example, a-rise always performed in their massive advanced concert stage on the roof of their megascope building. Surely, you also saw their massively large screen on their build… After all, what had always made idols popular is that they had the backing to do so." He gave out his words when it comes to idols, it is always a good thing to spend and have grandeur entrance. Popularity was a much-needed variable and a lasting effect that can make everyone remember the scene every time they heard the words related to it. In a way, they have already turned into fans the moment they recall to talk with others about the experience while they spread the experience into information.
"But..." Umi knew his points but she felt it was unnecessary, so she didn't know what to do and since they were already in the last two days before the concert, she knew there wasn't anything to stop them from making their grand live performance. While it felt a little inappropriate to compare their new school idol group to longer-lived one while they were also at the top seats of school idols.
He waved his hand with a smile on his face, "No buts. We're already expecting a large group of students wanting to watch here and even if there are only some people to attend. It is better if we gave a high, impactful performance rather than a tame usual one. I'm not worried about spending the money, rather I'm delighted to see all of you happy and we could still upload it for more recognition."
"Worry not, this guy is rich.." Maki said straightforwardly while she approached them. She had been practicing alone earlier since she wanted to perfect so that she wouldn't make any mistakes in her part during the live performance.
"Good work." Hiroto handed out a water bottle to Maki before taking her own towel and wiping the back of her head.
'Hey! Why do you show that to my face?'
Although a little jealous, Umi was able to tolerate their casual touching. Maki, who was eyeing Umi, saw her making weird faces pointed at them. Maki who knew her displeasure left his care and approached Umi as she began to talk with her casually. While they're both interested in both different topics, they usually talked about school idols and stuff. Umi was usually the one who listened to Maki even though she was her upperclassmen. It wasn't that Maki was better in speech, she was a loner and only liked to talk to those she befriended herself with, while Umi was, as usual, a silent listener but when she talked was a good conversation friend and fun to be with.
He would also be performing, although after them. He already planned to perform something that would make them remember the Otonokizaka Academy school idols. Thinking of playing the piano using their songs had come into his mind.
Maki approached her thoughtful boyfriend with a nudged, "Hey why don't we take a look at the Archery Club? Umi invited us."
With a surprised face, he looked at her and told her if she was sick or something as he put his hand on her forehead albeit immediately received a pain on his waist.
"Aw.. aw.. Why did she invite us?" He rubbed the pain and looked at her with confusion.
"You don't remember? She told me she asked you if you can join the Archery Club in the past but since 'someone' hasn't been able to remember the notion. Umi asked me if I can apply as a temporary member of the club." Maki looked at him as if he was at fault, she knew that he already knew Umi's curiosity towards him, and while it was getting a little more and more rooted. Maki had come to take a stand towards Umi's view of her boyfriend.
Always and every time, he and Umi had been alone, he would always assume his 'nice guy' personality. While clearly, not having any ambiguous moves would make it unusually destructive against conservative girls. Like honestly, it was like what he did with Maki and though she fell for it didn't become hesitant towards her decision.
He looked at the girl who was trying to pick up their talk, even with her calm personality, had become aware of his gaze thereby becoming red as she frantically waved her hand.
Hiroto smiled apologetically and said straightly, "Then why didn't you ask me again? I might have just forgotten it about.. Sorry if I neglected your request."
Umi didn't blame Maki as she felt her cheeks heating up as she looked down, rubbing her fingers while saying meekly "It's n-nothing, I just felt that I'm going to trouble you again.." Although Umi wasn't active lately at her Archery Club, she was still a member after all. She was the only member in the club and she really needed to recruit more as she had become close with Eli as the student council president had come to remember about the club situation.
While due to the Archery Club's long history, it won't be possible to close it off and Eli only felt it was a waste not to be used. So getting reminded about it, Umi had to take the chance to recruit members, she had come to Honoka and Kotori about it as they readily agreed. She needed a few more to join and that was why it had come to asking Maki but due to the time and place had come to remember that she asked him in the past, until now, she felt she indirectly asked him again because she told her meeting with him in the past with Maki. Clearly, Maki was the one that told him about this, making Umi feel like something stuck on her lungs but she currently had a perpetual blush on her cheeks.
"You're embarrassing her, let's just get on with it." Maki was a little interested in trying out archery, while she usually gunned towards heading home or spending time along with Hiroto. After a long time training had been wanting to find some sort of stimulation other than performance and rehearsals.
Umi excitedly explained the history of the Archery Club, the founders of the club hailed even close to the creation of the school, close to a century, and is an amazing discovery. Hiroto and Maki got intrigued but
"Well… it's just students today had already moved away from the tradition with the exception of physical sports like the running club or the others. " Umi felt sour all of a sudden. While in her honesty, the equipment in the club wasn't that modern as they still had wooden bows. Even their dojo had better bows than in school, while she had tried to take a petition, it didn't go well.
It's a traditional sport but it wasn't that popular in recent days given the fact that the school hadn't given effort to maintain better equipment and rather, they weren't able to do so since the school was 'closing'. The majority of the interested sporty students would want to enroll in other clubs that had major popularity in all schools.
Although, even if she was now a popular school idol, she can't fathom asking other students to join the club even if it was in-name-only. Like earlier, she just made a passing remark although Maki had prompted her to pursue the topic that made her talk it out loud.
They reached the Archery Club, Umi gathered the necessary equipment like bows and gears to show off everything in the club. Maki didn't want to wear the traditional Kimono but Umi got so persistent so in the end, she wore it. He wondered if she only needed to bun her red hair and it would all be perfect.
Seeing them in that getup made him nod, although they were wearing rather old ones, it didn't remove their beautiful appearance. It didn't take long to start practicing even if it was just to show that they were interested. Although, he was also wearing one, but not minding the look of the two just pretended to not care.
The main purpose of shooting with bows had three rules, only draw the bow towards the target, with or without arrows. Next is do not shoot arrows up into the air and always check the bow if it's okay without failing midway.
Umi gave them arrows before putting the spares in the quiver behind their backs. There weren't many spares but it was enough for the three of them getting three pieces each.
"There are few parts in traditional bowing techniques, it's rather simple. First is the stance, standing upright and feet 90 degrees towards the target. Gripping the rather long wooden bow, Hiroto and Maki posed based on the description Umi gave, seeing them following her instruction immediately mediated by correcting their stance. She was rather excited teaching the art of bow to others, she pointed here and there adjusting to a correct stance before she nodded with satisfaction.
"Second is gripping and placing the arrow in the place." Umi enacted it out, by gripping the handle and placing the arrow while keeping the bow inline. It was also because of doing traditional arts that made her more resilient and big stamina.
"Third is the final.. Your finger position should be at the center of the curved. While drawing is the hardest... If you don't have good strength, you won't be able to control and accurately hit any target. While you need to maintain a close look to maintain your aim before releasing your hold on the arrow feather." With a sound of *pishu*, the arrow quickly landed on the target, hitting the middle center of it as it made them more impressed at her finesse.
"You're so good." In terms of skill, Umi might have an Archery [ Skilled ]. He concluded that if he could see her stats, she might have many skilled tier skills because of her upbringing. While she was clearly not a showoff and rarely participated in competitions she was a master and he would like to consider having to go towards her dojo to practice a bit.
"Not as good as my parents." Umi smiled and felt fluttery at his compliment. With another sound of hitting a target, Maki had let off her arrow albeit it hit the sturdy wooden wall a little more than 5 meters away from the target.
Maki, who had felt a little shame, heard Umi's voice and began to calm down. "Ahem... It takes time to get better, accuracy accompanies practice, it's not that bad to already hit 5 meters just a little away from the target when you just had started."
"She said it's already good, keep it up." Hiroto shot the arrow in his bow and immediately tried to pacify the tomato girl since she might get handsy if not treated with gentleness. Rubbing her head softly while looking at the arrow stuck on the periphery of the target. If he practiced a little more, it would seem that the Marksmanship (Proficient) did a large help to this.
During the practice Umi and Maki felt that a little rivalry had sprouted from them, it was because they started wanting to get a 'compliment' from him and wanting to get his attention started doing things that made his headache for a little. Maki didn't hate Umi for wanting to get his attention and just let her become a 'light bulb' although feeling a little pride in herself.
While during the short activity, he learned that he gained Archery [ Basic ] in just one hour of trying the archery. Both him and Maki approved to get listed as a member of the club but they would only be in the papers and not in the actual practices. They might come here in the future but they are busy these days.
REFLEXIONES DE LOS CREADORES 
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