Tokyo Sword Saint Online Dealing

But now Kyoko Nohara seems to understand something.

The Uesugi-kun in front of her is the happiness she has been longing for.

If she does nothing as before, happiness will slip away right before her eyes!

Back then on the rooftop, she mustered up the courage to confess. Although she didn't succeed, she was able to stay by Uesugi-kun's side and escape the gossip and malicious bullying.

So, Kyoko Nohara mustered her courage again, raised her head, opened her wet, red eyes wide, and pleaded in a soft, aggrieved voice.

"I...I don't want to be separated from Uesugi-kun."

Kyoko Nohara nervously twisted the hem of her clothes, her eyes meeting Kiyoshi Uesugi's for a second before she looked away in a flustered manner.

"I know it's a bit much of a request for me. But could Uesugi-kun take me in?"

"me."

"Uesugi-kun is the only person I can rely on in this world."

The girl's helpless and dejected tone made Uesugi Kiyoshi somewhat unable to handle it. He was the kind of person who would respond better to gentleness than force. If you went against him and had a bad attitude, even if he didn't confront you to your face, he would hold a grudge in his heart until he got his revenge.

But if you plead with him gently, appealing to his emotions and reasoning with him, as long as your request isn't too unreasonable, he won't mind lending a hand and helping you out.

Not to mention the tearful offensive of girls; he's been single for two lifetimes and has never seen anything like it before, so his immunity is practically zero.

Uesugi Kiyoshi nodded hastily, thinking that Nohara Kyoko might have misunderstood something, and gently explained.

"Kyoko, I don't mean to abandon you. But I am, after all, a man, and if we live together, it will affect your reputation."

He wasn't just being perfunctory. Gossip is like a knife; it can kill. In Japanese high schools, dating isn't a big deal, but living together is news. Who knows how many versions of campus love stories could be created if it got out? He was afraid that Nohara Kyoko wouldn't be able to withstand those cold words; her personality was too fragile.

Kyoko Nohara sniffed, shook her head, and gave a sad smile.

"Uesugi-kun no longer cares about public opinion."

“I have no friends, and I don’t have anyone to talk to at school because I have to go home to cook and do housework, and I don’t have time to participate in clubs. Nobody at school cares about me.”

"Uesugi-kun reminded me that if I stayed at Uesugi-kun's house, it would affect Uesugi-kun's reputation. I'm sorry, I didn't think that far ahead. I was being too selfish."

Perhaps it was the protective instinct in his heart that was aroused. Uesugi Kiyoshi gritted his teeth, thought for a moment, and felt that with his ability, taking care of Nohara Kyoko should not be a big problem. He had not yet figured out the fact that she still had the spirit of the Yingcao. In the Hundred Demons Scroll, this little girl was following closely behind him. If he really let her go out to live on her own, he would not feel at ease. In this world, ghosts and gods are rampant. Who knows if Nohara Kyoko will be targeted by some ghost or god?

It would be better to keep her by my side.

As for the difference between men and women, Kyoko Nohara didn't care. As a boy, he didn't need to be pretentious—in any case, he was the one who benefited from this.

Thinking of this, he patted Nohara Kyoko's head and said softly, "Alright, since Kyoko doesn't mind, then stay at my place for now."

"I'm living on a tight budget, and my apartment is small and run-down. If you change your mind when we get there, I won't mind."

He made a joke, but Nohara Kyoko clearly took it seriously. She shook her head rapidly, her eyes filled with surprise and determination.

"I won't go back on my word!"

"Thank you, Uesugi-kun, for taking me in!"

"I will listen to Uesugi-kun obediently! I can cook for Uesugi-kun, clean the apartment, and do the laundry. I won't cause Uesugi-kun any trouble!"

"I will also go out to work and won't just eat and stay for free!"

These words made Uesugi Kiyoshi feel even more sorry for Nohara Kyoko. She was so careful and humble, afraid that Uesugi Kiyoshi would change his mind. This cautious appearance reminded him of himself when he was living under someone else's roof.

He smiled wryly and shook his head, deeply moved.

"I don't need to go out to work. I'm not at the point where I need to make a living from apricots."

"In short, please take care of me from now on."

Kyoko Nohara paused for a moment, then hurriedly stood up and formally bowed to Kiyoshi Uesugi.

"Uesugi-kun, nice to meet you!"

A genuine smile appeared on her cute little face, which was partially hidden by her drooping hair.

Mom, you were right after all.

A girl's happiness is something she has to actively strive for!

Chapter 41 Outside the Town of One Hundred Demons

When I walked out of the tram station, there was less than half an hour left before midnight.

Uesugi Kiyoshi looked up at the sky, and could hear the muffled thunder in the distance—was the rain that had been brewing for several days finally about to pour down?

On a rainy midnight in early spring, the cold wind blew relentlessly.

Arakawa Ward is not a bustling city center. At this time, all the lights are off, pedestrians are few and far between, and the scene is desolate.

Uesugi Kiyoshi tightened his collar and hurried home.

The only advantage of his shabby apartment was that it was very close to the tram stop; he and Kyoko Nohara walked home in less than five minutes.

After going upstairs, opening and closing the door, and turning on the dim fluorescent light, Uesugi-kun looked at the familiar scene in his home and let out a long sigh of relief. An overwhelming feeling of exhaustion welled up from the bottom of his heart.

He was really tired.

He had a tough day too. The "Heart Slash" he unleashed when fighting Yokota had exhausted his energy and spirit. Later, he also had to deal with Ryunosuke Akutagawa, striving to maintain his momentum and prevent Akutagawa from seeing any weaknesses. All of this was very mentally taxing.

Now that he's home, all the pent-up fatigue has surfaced at once. Even though his willpower is much stronger than most people's, he can't help but feel tired and weak.

He forced himself to stay alert and made sure to take good care of Nohara Kyoko behind him.

He turned around and saw Nohara Kyoko had already taken off her shoes and was standing behind him with her schoolbag. Her small, delicate toes, clad in over-the-knee socks, were curled up nervously, seemingly indicating her unease. She lowered her head, secretly glancing at Uesugi Kiyoshi's apartment from the corner of her eye. Suddenly, her eyes met Uesugi Kiyoshi's gaze as he turned back, and she immediately lowered her head in a panic, whispering, "Uesugi-kun, I'm sorry to bother you!"

Uesugi Kiyoshi smiled helplessly. He thought Nohara Kyoko looked just like a little hamster that had moved to a new home.

"Apricot, don't be nervous."

"My humble abode is simple and unadorned; I hope you will forgive my poor appearance."

Uesugi Kiyoshi casually tossed his schoolbag and wooden sword onto the desk, then roused himself and opened the wall cabinet—his wardrobe.

After rummaging around for a while, he found his spare mattress and placed it next to the tatami mats. Only a few squares of space against the wall in his room were made into traditional Japanese tatami mats, raised above the rest of the floor. They were rather small and simple, and he guessed that the previous occupants had used them as beds. The rest of the room had ordinary wooden floors.

Uesugi Kiyoshi naturally couldn't let his guest sleep on the floor. He patted the tatami bed and said with a smile, "If Kyoko doesn't mind, she can sleep on my bed. I'll go to the other side and put out another quilt."

Kyoko Nohara followed Kiyoshi Uesugi's example and placed her schoolbag on the desk as well, about to show that she didn't mind the old and cramped apartment—for her, it didn't matter where she lived, but who she lived with.

Besides, this place is much better than the little nest she used to make from her uncle's storeroom.

Upon hearing Uesugi Kiyoshi's words, she was startled and hurriedly shook her head.

"No need! Uesugi-kun, how could I do something so rude!"

Nohara Kyoko shook her little head like a rattle-drum, refusing to sleep in Uesugi Kiyoshi's bed no matter what. Seeing her firm attitude, Uesugi Kiyoshi thought for a moment and didn't insist. The tatami mats he slept on were actually of very poor quality, and now that it was a rainy day, they were damp and wet, so they might not be very comfortable to sleep on. They might not be as comfortable as the floor. He was strong and healthy and didn't care, but Nohara Kyoko's little body could hardly stand it.

Uesugi Kiyoshi made up the bed for Nohara Kyoko on the opposite side of the tatami mat, against the wall. He stood up, examined the bed, and expressed his satisfaction with his work. Then he looked at Nohara Kyoko with a smile.

"Apricot, would you like to take a bath?"

"There should be hot water, but it's only for showering, so the conditions are rather basic."

"You can wear my clothes for now—well, don't change your undergarments yet. Tomorrow I'll take you back to the Yokota family to get your things. It's too late today, so this will have to do."

He felt a little embarrassed saying this. Talking about intimate clothing with a girl always seemed a bit like being a pervert. However, he had a clear conscience and didn't show it on his face. On the contrary, Nohara Kyoko lowered her head shyly.

"Thank you for your help, Uesugi-kun."

This time, Kyoko Nohara didn't refuse. Japanese people love taking baths and bathe frequently. Moreover, Kyoko Nohara had cried several times due to the sudden change in her life, and now her little face looked like a little kitten, with streaks of gray and red. She herself felt very uncomfortable on her face and body.

Even if she couldn't change her underwear, washing it was better than leaving it dirty. In any case, in front of Uesugi Kiyoshi, Nohara Kyoko still wanted to present her best image.

Uesugi Kiyoshi turned around and pulled out a set of summer sportswear from the closet—shorts and a short-sleeved shirt, plus a clean towel. It wasn't that he didn't want Nohara Kyoko to wear long sleeves, but given her height, Uesugi Kiyoshi's clothes would probably wrap around Nohara Kyoko twice, so they wouldn't fit her at all.

"It's no trouble at all. Use this towel, and my shower gel and shampoo are fine. There should be plenty of hot water, so don't worry. Just call me if you need anything."

Uesugi Kiyoshi gently handed the clothes and towel to Nohara Kyoko, smiled slightly to reassure her, and then watched as Nohara Kyoko took small steps into the bathroom. With a sigh of relief, he sat down on his tatami mat, leaned against the wall, and let out a long sigh.

so tired.

But we can't rest now.

Uesugi Kiyoshi shook his head, patted his forehead, and tried to invigorate himself, focusing his mind and concentrating his thoughts.

When he opened his eyes again, he was already in the town of a hundred demons.

Instead of rushing to the Mirage Tower, he stood still, closed his eyes, and felt the rustling of the wind and grass around him.

He stood beneath the torii gate, before the beach, the sea breeze whispering in his ears, the faint salty scent of the ocean filling his nostrils.

That's not what he wants.

He needed to figure out whether the Town of a Hundred Demons was truly his dream world.

Is he now considered a superhuman? Has he been connected to the world's will?

Is this the "room in the apartment building" that Ryunosuke Akutagawa mentioned?

If so, then Uesugi Kiyoshi is certain that he is different from others; at least, this mirage should not exist in the dreams of other extraordinary individuals.

"Since it's my sea of ​​consciousness, my thoughts should be able to drive changes in this world."

"In the past, although I had tried my hand at the seams, I never really had a strong desire to go out and see the world."

"Give it a try. If it succeeds, it means I was right. If it fails, there's nothing to lose."

Uesugi Kiyoshi concentrated and silently recited in his mind.

"I want to see the world outside the Town of a Hundred Demons!"

In a split second, driven by his strong conviction, the wind and clouds surged, and the sea breeze became fierce.

Uesugi Kiyoshi opened his eyes and found that the gray mist that had surrounded the isolated island of Hyakki no Machi had been blown away by a gust of wind.

The fog cleared and the clouds parted, revealing a bright and sunny day.

Before Uesugi Kiyoshi lay a calm, shimmering sea.

Looking around again, he narrowed his eyes thoughtfully.

He was right.

A few kilometers from this isolated island lies a undulating coastline and the silhouette of a silent city.

That is Tokyo Bay.

This is Tokyo in the dream world.