Two Bows

From Tuesday onward, until the end of Friday.

You En noticed that Ayanokoji Kiyotaka seemed to have quieted down quite a bit.

But he felt that someone who neither learns from experience nor remembers a beating would really stay quiet? Ayanokoji was just entering a dormant phase.

The poisoning incident hadn't spread. If anyone knew the details, it was a few girls from Class B.

Because on Tuesday night, they were slightly late again, so they had to roughly explain the situation.

As a result, those justice-minded classmates in Class B insisted that Ayanokoji Kiyotaka give an explanation. In the end, after understanding the whole story, they dropped it under Ichinose's persuasion—but those girls felt quite sympathetic toward Horikita Suzune.

Using this incident as a starting point, the female classmates Horikita Suzune was tutoring gained some understanding and mental preparation about her. After two lessons, they became friends—though Horikita Suzune herself probably still felt a bit uncomfortable.

Friendship itself requires grinding in. Horikita Suzune was the type hardest to befriend.

But the Class B girls' patience and empathy were high enough to force that grinding in through.

"Ah, what a hassle."

Horikita Suzune sighed and poked You En.

You En turned around. "Are you inviting me on a date to eat something?"

"How can you think about eating all day? That's not what I'm talking about."

Horikita Suzune shook the terminal in her hand.

"They invited me this weekend to go out and do things. I was planning to waste some time anyway—since, as you said, they're clients. We're essentially in the service industry, so we have to build rapport."

"I just said that casually. Don't take it seriously."

You En was helpless. If someone heard that kind of talk, it would actually be quite hurtful. He'd only said it half-jokingly, but Horikita Suzune had taken it as truth.

"But when I asked them what we'd be doing,"

Horikita Suzune's voice carried a hint of panic, "things like strolling around the school, trying on clothes, watching movies, buying small accessories, visiting clubs... the two-day schedule is basically packed. Only half a day is set aside for studying."

"I think you have a problem,"

You En said. "Taking half a day out of a weekend to study—isn't that already great? It's a day off."

It wasn't like you had to be buried in books. Whether studying or working, it was only a small part of life. The most important thing was rest.

Adjusting your mindset and making yourself happy—as long as your mood was good, efficiency in anything wouldn't be too bad.

"...I've never wasted this much time before."

Horikita Suzune propped her cheek on one hand and tapped her phone screen lightly with the other. She clearly wanted to refuse, but there seemed to be a hint of anticipation?

"It's up to you,"

You En said. "You don't have to agree to everything. Pick a few things you're interested in, or just go for half a day."

"Is that okay?"

Horikita Suzune thought for a moment. "Then let's do Sunday morning. That morning, they plan to visit a club, and I was planning to check that place out again anyway. In the afternoon, we'll study together."

"Then I'll let Ichinose and the others know."

You En had plans this week too. Senior Qiao Heng had messaged him to free up a day this weekend, saying she'd give him one-on-one formal member training for the club.

He was curious, but he hoped Senior Qiao Heng would be a little gentle. He could endure harsh training, but he didn't like it—he wasn't a masochist, after all.

"Takagami is way too arrogant."

A classmate suddenly complained like that.

Hearing this, You En remembered that these past few days, Takagami Rokusho had been leaving early all the time, even skipping class entirely. He'd also turned in a blank test last time.

This behavior, unlike the original story, probably meant he'd sensed something off about this school and planned to drop out.

But... was it really that simple?

If the price for poor grades and bad behavior was just expulsion, then why did Horikita Manabu want Horikita Suzune to drop out so early?

Maybe, in this school, the further you went, even "quitting" was a "luxury."

After a night passed, Saturday arrived.

You En steeled himself mentally and headed to the Kyudo Club.

"You're here?"

Senior Qiao Heng wore a kyudo uniform with a chest guard, her shoulder-length hair sharp and dashing. She waited at the door, smiling with a spirited air.

"Come in. I've been waiting for you."

You En stepped inside. The dojo here was much larger than the previous one, and it clearly bore traces of age and tradition.

On the wall hung various "targets"—some dotted with stars like a miniature universe, others like a sun that seemed to burn hot just by looking at them. These were probably made by the Kyudo Club's seniors.

Qiao Heng saw You En looking at the wall. "Those are the fruits of our training. One day, you'll have to find one to test yourself, then mount it on that wall."

"Which one is yours, senior?"

You En asked curiously.

Qiao Heng pointed at the specimen burning like the sun.

"This one is mine, but my training isn't complete yet. Maybe one day you'll surpass me?"

You En felt the words were like telling a child to point at the sun and shoot it down.

"Haha, I don't know anything right now."

"I'll teach you,"

Qiao Heng said. "Come to the changing room first. I've prepared your clothes and equipment. Let's see if they fit."

You En followed her into the changing room, then heard two words.

Qiao Heng's tone was as casual as saying "dinner's ready." "Strip."

"Huh?"

She unfolded the folded clothes. "You haven't learned how to wear them. As the first official member I've taken on, I'll teach you once."

You En certainly liked where this was going, but he had his principles.

"No need, senior. Just tell me how to put them on. I'll do it myself."

"What, embarrassed?"

Qiao Heng said. "As your teacher, I'll need to check your body many times from now on. Better get used to it early."

You En was puzzled. "Is that part of archery tradition?"

Qiao Heng shook her head. "No, it's my teaching method. First time trying it, though."

You En tried to negotiate. "Can we stick to the traditional way?"

The senior's tone dropped slightly.

"Strip now, or I'll have to do it myself."

You En felt like he'd boarded a pirate ship. In hindsight, wasn't this whole school one big pirate ship? But since things had come this far, there was nothing left to fear.

"Fine, I'll strip! Just don't touch me!"

You En had no choice but to start undressing on the spot. Still, there was nothing to resist about it. In his past life, he'd gone through several mandatory checkups that required him to strip completely. He'd just treat it the same.

"What's wrong?"

You En saw Qiao Heng staring at his body.

"Nothing. Not bad."

Qiao Heng hadn't actually intended for him to strip completely. For checking physical development and bone structure, leaving his underwear on would have been fine. She just hadn't expected him to actually follow through. So now she could only... appreciate the view. First time seeing the real thing. Not bad.

She reached out and squeezed his muscles and bones a few times. "Doing any moderate exercise?"

Seeing that she wasn't embarrassed, You En figured there was no reason for him to be either. As long as his skin was thick enough, he was invincible.

"Yeah, nothing serious. Just morning jogs, not every day. And I've started swimming recently."

"Good."

Qiao Heng wasn't just being polite. She genuinely felt You En was in the best state—untrained, at the peak of his potential, with his mind nearly mature. This was the perfect time for refinement.

After another round of confirmation, she dressed him in the archery uniform, carefully explaining how to wear the kyudo-bakama, how to tie the belt knots—the Ronin Knot, the Cross Knot, and so on.

You En understood at a glance. He'd already mastered knots with Teacher Annie. This skill was relatively easy to pick up, since the basic techniques were just a few patterns combined. Of course, reaching mastery or professional level would take time and effort.

After dressing him, Qiao Heng adjusted the belt position once more, surveyed her work, and nodded.

"Looking sharp."

"I look good in anything,"

You En said confidently. "But with senior dressing me, I look even better."

"Ha, full of yourself, aren't you?"

Qiao Heng patted his side, looking him up and down. "Not bad. Let's go. There's a lot to teach you today."

You En followed his senior to the dojo.

Qiao Heng glanced at You En. "I have two bows for you. You can choose one to start with."

She had prepared for a long time. On a side table lay two long rosewood boxes—one about a meter and a half, the other roughly two meters.

Qiao Heng opened one. A dark red bow, over two meters long, covered in barbs and fierce in appearance, was revealed in the air.

"This longbow was mine once. It accompanied me for many years. I called it 'Heavenly Crimson.'"

You En said nothing. He just felt the bow was vicious—not like a bow for hunting animals, but more like... a bow for killing people.

And, whether it was his imagination or not, he felt the bow was alive, watching him.

Qiao Heng watched his expression, then opened the other box. Inside was a slightly more ordinary bamboo bow.

"This half-bow was a master bowyer's special work. From material selection to completion, it took... nearly half her lifetime. A masterpiece rarely encountered. But it never suited me, so it's been sitting here until now."

You En looked at the half-bow. Its length was only about sixty or seventy percent of a longbow, very plain, with nothing special to be seen.

"Then I'll take this one."

Qiao Heng asked, "Can you tell me why you chose it?"

You En explained his thoughts.

"Senior, that 'Heavenly Crimson' is your bow, but didn't you say you wanted me to help you? Then I can't walk the same path as you."

Qiao Heng said nothing. She lowered her head first, then slowly raised it, her amber eyes flickering.

"Walking your own path is very hard. If you use my bow, the road ahead will be a little simpler."

"It's not entirely for you, Senior,"

You En said.

"Compared to walking someone else's path, I prefer to walk my own. Even if I ultimately don't succeed, I won't regret it."

"Won't regret it?"

Qiao Heng fell into thought again. After a long while, she pushed the bamboo bow in front of You En.

"It's yours. Give it a name."

You En asked, "May I pick it up and look at it?"

"Of course."

He took out the bamboo bow. As it touched his hand, he seemed to feel a calm joy emanating from the bow's body—not intense, like a quiet bamboo grove sprouting in his heart. Meeting a friend, he spoke softly.

"Half a life wasted, only to meet a kindred spirit... Let's call it 'Heart Bamboo.'"

Qiao Heng closed her eyes, then opened them and said slowly, "It says it really likes that name."

The senior's lips curved slightly, outlining a smile, elegant and simple like bamboo.

"I like it too."