Tokyo: The story begins with a confession.

Page 8

Chapter Nineteen: Vicious Netizens

Back home, after finishing his meal, Uesugi Kenichi tidied up the trash and put it in a garbage bag by the door. Then he took out the wood he had picked up in the park and started practicing carving. As for studying, he would have to put it aside for the next couple of days.

There are still a few months until the exam, so it won't have a big impact. Besides, he's been studying very fast these days, and he's already picked up a lot of the knowledge he had before. His memory has also improved a lot compared to before, probably thanks to his high intelligence.

He examined the wooden carvings he had made yesterday on the table again for a while, summarized the mistakes he had made yesterday, and then took out his carving knife to continue carving. However, he did not carve Pikachu today. He suddenly recalled the gentle appearance of the girl named Kato Megumi in his mind, and his carving knife was eager to try.

I can carve a chisel in her likeness as an apology; I know I didn't do a good job today.

Sculpture is a long-standing folk craft that originated in China. According to research, this technique existed as early as the Stone Age and gradually developed into an art form.

It has shone brightly throughout China's long history, and it is no exaggeration to say that it has swept the world.

In order to carve a good wood carving, in addition to the carver's skill, the material is also a very important factor. Wood carvings made from good wood are extremely expensive.

However, carving is an extremely delicate skill that allows no room for carelessness. A single wrong cut can ruin the entire piece and cause it to lose its charm. Therefore, there are not many carvers who dare to work on precious woods. They have to bear the consequences if something goes wrong. This also means that even if there are good wood carvings, not many carvers dare to work on them.

Moreover, with the continuous development of science and technology, there are fewer and fewer people who know these skills nowadays. More and more things are being replaced by assembly line engineering, and carving is no exception. Although it is not as delicate as manual carving, it is fast and cheap. Ordinary people cannot distinguish the more subtle details on it.

It's not just wood carving; many other craft-related items are like this.

However, there are some things that machines cannot replace, namely the spirit of the work and the emotions that the masters of craftsmanship have poured into it.

Just like how realistic photography is now, there are still paintings. Ultimately, there are some things that machines cannot replace.

The wood in his hands was of very poor quality. The wood had not been air-dried or sun-dried, and it contained a lot of moisture. The finished work would be very unremarkable. Moreover, it was not easy to carve such untreated wood.

However, it's enough for him to practice. With the help of this system, all he has to do is accumulate experience points and level up. Once he reaches the required level, it's like a sudden enlightenment, and he will understand the various carving techniques and knowledge.

After a long while, with a careless slip of the carving knife, a nearly finished wood carving broke off and fell to the ground.

Kenichi Uesugi stretched his fingers and wrists. Carving for so long had taken a toll on his hands, and it was no longer appropriate to continue practicing. After cleaning up the wood shavings on the table, he examined the wood carving in the likeness of Megumi Kato and shook his head.

Although it looks pretty good, and has all the charm, he feels it's still lacking something before he can send it out; at the very least, the wood needs to be replaced.

After resting for a while, he took out his phone and opened LINE, only to find that a netizen named Juice Girl had sent him a bunch of messages.

Juicer: "What does that scumbag want all of a sudden? Is it because he was bullied and wants to learn kendo to get revenge?"

Juicer: "I'm actually a little curious, what outrageous thing did that scumbag suddenly do?"

Juicer Girl: "Could it be that he did something inappropriate to some girl and got caught red-handed by her boyfriend and beaten up?"

Juicer: "Why aren't you saying anything? Could it be that I guessed right? Tsk tsk tsk, just like something a scumbag like you would do."

Juicer: "I've already organized and sent you the kendo book you requested, but is it too late to learn it now? How about I give you some advice?"

Juicer Girl: "Dead???"

……

Looking at the long string of information above, Uesugi Kenichi was speechless. It was one thing for someone to talk to themselves, but saying that he had already passed away was a bit too much. And calling him "scumbag" was really making him feel helpless. It wasn't that he hadn't resisted, but he had only suffered a more severe counterattack. This "juice extractor" was really frighteningly sharp-tongued. Helplessly, he could only selectively ignore the nickname.

Moreover, this unknown netizen claimed to be a female high school student, but he found it hard to believe. How could a female high school student drive so well? The car was going so fast that he couldn't even react.

Without asking when he would return: "I have received the document. Thank you very much. If we have the chance to meet in the future, I will treat you to a meal."

"And don't think of me as something so despicable, okay? I haven't even considered girls right now, okay?"

After sending the message, Uesugi Kenichi was just about to look at the kendo book she had sent when his phone beeped again.

Juicer: "Tsk tsk tsk, such words are not very convincing for a high school student with surging hormones. I don't believe it. Using such a low-level method to cover up your inner thoughts is really a bit low-class."

Juicer: "[Image]"

Uesugi Kenichi ignored the words above and clicked on the picture, then couldn't help but rub his temples before closing it.

The picture shows a pair of long legs in black stockings that fill the entire screen. The legs are perfectly shaped, with slightly arched toes that gleam with an alluring sheen. To put it bluntly, for some gentlemen who enjoy this kind of thing, these are simply impeccable legs that one could play with for a lifetime.

Even he, caught completely off guard, couldn't help but feel a jolt of surprise, his mind momentarily dazed.

Without asking when he would return: "..."

Juicer: "Why isn't that scumbag saying anything? Could it be that just one picture has made it hard for him to suppress his filthy desires, or that it's already over? As expected of the pervert, I knew I hadn't misjudged you."

Without asking when he'd return: "I didn't! Don't slander me! And why have I gone from scum to a pervert again?!"

Juicer: "Pervert seems completely unaware of the fact that he is a pervert. It seems I need to help you face reality."

Without asking when he'll return: "Stop, I'll admit it, okay? Are you really that free every day? You're here every night, don't you ever get sleepy during the day?"

Juicer: "No, it's not that. I've been having writer's block lately, so I'm a bit anxious. If I'm sleepy during the day, can't I just sleep? Pervert, are you worried about me? Could it be that just one picture has made you want to make a move on me? That's scary. I guess I'll have to be careful."

Without asking when he would return: "..."

After putting down his phone, Ueyama Kenichi smiled helplessly. He was almost immune to her comments now. If it weren't for the fact that he had no one else to talk to when he first met her, he would have deleted her long ago.

He checked the time and was about to look through the kendo books before going to sleep when a knock came at the door.

Chapter Twenty: An Unexpected Incident (Seeking Flowers)

After putting down his phone, Uesugi Kenichi smiled helplessly. He was almost immune to her comments now. If it weren't for the fact that he had no one else to talk to when he first met her, he would have deleted her long ago.

He checked the time and was about to look through the kendo books before going to sleep when a knock came at the door.

"One-san, one-san, are you there? Can you open the door?"

As soon as Uesugi Kenichi opened the door, Kagura Keiko's somewhat anxious appearance immediately came into view.

"what happened?"

"One-san, could you come and help me? My mom seems to be in her room, but no matter how much I knock on the door, there's no response, and she's not answering the phone either," Kagura Keiko said anxiously.

"Don't worry, let me take a look." Uesugi Kenichi gently reassured Kagura Keiko before taking the key and leaving the room.

Arriving outside Keiko Kagura's room, he listened intently to what was happening inside. He knocked on the door, but there was no response.

"Mom has a habit of drinking often, could it be that she was drunk and didn't hear me?" Kagura Keiko whispered.

After knocking a few more times without any response, Uesugi Kenichi looked at Kagura Keiko, who was timidly following behind him, and said, "Why don't you come to my house for a while?"

Upon hearing this, Kagura Keiko instinctively took a step back. Although Uesugi Kenichi didn't seem like a bad person, no one could guarantee what might happen if they went inside. Looking at the dark surroundings, she hesitated for a moment and said, "I'll wait here for a while. Mom will probably wake up in a bit."

After frowning and thinking for a moment, Uesugi Kenichi looked at the door and asked, "Keiko-chan, you don't mind if I force the door open, do you?"

"Huh? Huh?"

Kagura Keiko was startled by what she heard and subconsciously responded. Before she could react, the apartment door was slammed open by Uesugi Kenichi with his shoulder. Seeing this, her mouth opened slightly, her surprise undisguised—she hadn't expected that her seemingly frail-looking older sister would be so powerful!

Are you alright, Onassis?

"It's nothing." Uesugi Kenichi waved his hand, somewhat surprised. He had just tried using the "Tie Shan Kao" technique from Bajiquan and managed to break the door open with minimal effort. He felt nothing on his shoulder. Although the apartment was dilapidated, the door wasn't made of wood, and he was surprised that he could break it open so easily.

As he entered the room, his gaze fell on the table, where a pale body came into view. He immediately turned around. Kagura Keiko's face showed a hint of embarrassment, but she was quick to step forward and cover the person lying on the ground with a piece of clothing.

"Alright, Onassis, you can turn around now."

Turning around and looking at the scene before him, Uesugi Kenichi frowned. This room was about 10 square meters larger than the one he had rented, but it was frighteningly messy. Clothes were scattered all over the tatami mats, including some underwear.

Several beer bottles were scattered on a small table in the middle of the room, and some were also lying on the tatami mat.

However, the rest of the room looked very clean, so the mess must have been made recently.

He resisted the urge to cover his nose with his hand. The room was filled with the distinctive scent of someone who had just finished having sex, mixed with the smell of cheap perfume, which made him feel nauseous.

His gaze fell on Kagura Keiko's mother's face. She looked to be around thirty years old. Her makeup was a bit smudged, her eyes were sunken, and she had heavy dark circles under her eyes. She looked unnaturally thin, but it was clear that she had been a beauty in her youth.

Keiko Kagura bears a striking resemblance to her, but she has blossomed into an even more beautiful and radiant young woman.

Keiko Kagura knelt beside her mother, her face showing embarrassment. Seeing this scene in front of outsiders was incredibly distressing for her.

However, what worried her more at this moment was her mother's physical condition. Since she entered the room, her mother had not shown any reaction. Even if she was drunk, she wouldn't be like this.

Although her mother had hardly fulfilled her maternal responsibilities since her birth, she was still her mother no matter what.

"Mom, wake up." Kagura Keiko shook her mother a few times but found no response. Her expression immediately turned terrified. "Mom, what's wrong? Don't scare Keiko. I'll be good from now on. Mom, please get up!"

"Onii-san, Mom isn't responding! What should we do?" Kagura Keiko ran over, her voice trembling with tears, and grabbed Uesugi Kenichi's clothes.

At this moment, she was extremely flustered, her mind went blank, and she had no idea what to do. After all, no matter how precocious she was, she was still just a child of about ten years old.

Uesugi Kenichi's expression hardened. At this moment, he disregarded the difference between men and women and quickly ran over and squatted down to check on Kagura Keiko's mother.

He placed his hand near Kagura Keiko's mother's nose and breathed a sigh of relief when he found she was still breathing.

Although she was still alive, the situation seemed far from optimistic! Kagura Keiko's mother's breathing was very weak.

Uesugi Kenji glanced at her face; it was extremely pale and somewhat emaciated. When his gaze fell on her arm and he saw the dense needle marks, his pupils suddenly contracted.

He looked at the table and saw a bunch of beer bottles and a syringe.

He instantly understood what was going on.

"Call an ambulance right away!"

Kenichi Uesugi deftly picked up Keiko Kagura's mother and said to Keiko Kagura, who was still feeling uneasy.

Upon hearing Uesugi Kenichi's words, Kagura Keiko panicked and said, "Okay, I'll fight right away."

Because it was late at night, the ambulance arrived quickly, getting downstairs in about ten minutes.

After putting the person into the ambulance, Uesugi Kenichi saw the unease on Kagura Keiko's face and sighed.

"Let's go, Onii-san will go with you."

Kagura Keiko calmed down a little after hearing Uesugi Kenichi's words.

"Thank you so much for your help today."

"Don't say that. It was just a coincidence." Uesugi Kenichi gently stroked Kagura Keiko's hair.

When they arrived at the hospital, Uesugi Kenichi learned the name of Kagura Keiko's mother—Kagura Sayuri.

He sat on a bench outside the emergency room and sighed as he looked at Keiko Kagura, who was sitting beside him, staring intently at the emergency room.

This child is quite similar to him when he was young; both of them had a childhood that's hard to look back on. However, Kagura Keiko is even more unfortunate because she has such parents. Her father is nowhere to be found, and her mother probably doesn't care about this unfortunate child at all, and now this has happened.

Keiko Kagura was indeed very nervous at this moment. Her mother had many flaws and she couldn't say that she loved her mother very much.

She cooks her own meals every day, cleans the house, and goes to and from school alone.

If it weren't for government regulations requiring school-age children to attend school and the fact that primary school education is free, Kagura Sayuri probably wouldn't have sent her to school.

She thought about escaping, about growing up quickly and escaping this house that could hardly be called a home. But when she realized she was really going to lose her mother, she felt incredibly sad and panicked. Some things are deeply ingrained and cannot be changed.

A moment later, the emergency room door opened, and a doctor in a white coat walked out with a somber expression.

Chapter Twenty-One: Death