Chapter 56: A Chance Photography Opportunity

After the commotion in gym class, the group quieted down. Perhaps they realized I wasn't someone to be trifled with, or perhaps they were scared after secretly checking the door and finding it vandalized. Anyway, my daily life returned to normal.

The competition in Kanagawa Prefecture was heating up, but the tennis club remained in good spirits. They were clearly more concerned about the club's upcoming surgery than the seemingly certain victory.

My training with Urahara Kisuke and several other Arrancars in Hueco Mundo gradually stabilized, and I took some time out of my busy daily life to visit Honmaru.

"An amulet for blessing and healing?"

"Yes." I nodded, looking at the swordsmen who hadn't yet ventured out into the main castle. "Our captain is about to have surgery, and after much thought, I decided this would be a good gift."

The ones staying in Honmaru today happened to be Ishikiri Maru and the Nichiren sect's Sujumaru.

"If that's the case, then Ishikirimaru-dono will take the lead." As always, Suzumaru kept his eyes closed, his face calm. "We can also stand guard."

"If it's related to the divine affairs, Big Brother can come and help." Jiro didn't go out on the battlefield today, but it looked like he was returning from the fields. "Judging by the time, he should be back from the expedition soon."

I held in my hand the first letter Kogunemaru had sent back since he embarked on his polarization journey, looked at the few remaining swords in Honmaru, and nodded.

Everyone has a strong desire to become stronger recently, even Kogumaru has gone to practice.

"Ah, speaking of which, do we need to wait for Daitenta to come back?"

When Maeda Toushirou asked this question, everyone fell silent.

Although he often pleads with a gloomy face about being stored in the warehouse for no other purpose, Daitenta is already a permanent member of the first and second echelons of our Honmaru. As the main combat force, his chances of cooperating with others on missions are very high.

Simply put, I'm quite busy.

It seemed awkward not to call him, but even if he did, it was still a question whether he would be willing to do so. After all, unlike Ishikiri Maru, who was enshrined in a shrine, his remedies for illness and misfortune were generally attributed to him being carried by his sword.

"Well... I'm not in a rush anyway. You should wait until the two teams come back for their shift change and bring it up." At this point, I put my hands behind my back, feeling a little embarrassed. "It was just a sudden thought that got me bothering everyone."

"What?! How can the master's request be a trouble?"

"I just prayed for blessings. The Lord is too distant."

"I think it's great. The owner is usually very well behaved and never asks anything of us. I think if we do this occasionally, everyone will be full of energy."

Juzumaru closed his eyes. "Although this may seem strange for a sword like us to say, I'm glad to see you grow in this world, even considering your friends and companions and sincerely praying for their health." A faint smile crossed his face, a rare sight. "I think everyone should be very happy."

Oh no, I feel so light-headed after hearing that. "Thank you, everyone."

Everything was going well with the tennis club and Honmaru, but there was a small problem with the aunt who was taking care of me.

Over the weekend, I went to help my aunt. She's recovering well from surgery, and under my and Sanlang's urging, she's not willing to work too much overtime. She was supposed to go to the hospital for a checkup this weekend, as the incision seems a little inflamed due to the recent hot weather. But just before leaving, she received a phone call, and her expression changed.

"What?! You said part of the manuscript was damaged?" Auntie had already put on her shoes, but with a look of impending disaster on her face, she threw her bag and headed into the room. "Yeah, yeah, I have a backup. When do you submit it? This afternoon? Yeah, no problem, I'll have my kid deliver it to the editorial office."

After finishing the call, she took out a stack of papers from the bedroom, put them into a file bag, and said to me, "Xiao Yan, I'm sorry, but Auntie has a problem here and may need your help to solve it."

The "problem" Auntie was referring to was this month's manuscript from their editorial department. Something seemed to have gone wrong when I submitted it today, and some of the content was damaged. Luckily, she has a backup copy, so as long as I can get it to the editorial department on time, we'll still be in time.

There's nothing I can do. Sanlang is out for business today and isn't home yet. Auntie is recovering from surgery, and the incision is still a little inflamed. I'm going to have a checkup today, and I wouldn't let her do it herself, even if I killed me.

Holding the important documents and following the address my aunt sent me, I sent a message to Saburo to report the situation while heading to the editorial office.

On weekends, the streets of Shibuya are bustling with young people dressed in trendy clothes. My aunt's editorial office is located in a building on the edge of Shibuya. I told the receptionist downstairs my name and purpose of my visit, then stood aside and waited for my aunt's colleagues to come down to meet me.

At this moment——

"Hey, you, it's you!"

With a loud shout, a man in a hat suddenly rushed in front of me.

"Are you the backup model Kitano and the others called in? Oh, luckily you came, otherwise today's shoot would be completely ruined!"

……………………ah?

Before I could say anything, he was already looking me up and down. "Well, my height isn't quite up to standard, but that's okay. It's a magazine photo shoot, so just find the right angle. Okay, why are you still standing there? Come with me to the studio upstairs. If we wait too long and the teacher gets mad, we're all doomed. Thankfully, both Kise-kun and Hayashi-sensei are free today."

What? What?

"Homura!"

A shout interrupted the man's chatter.

"Honami, isn't that you? Long time no see." Ms. Ueda, wearing a suit and short hair, still looked capable, though a little tired. "Thank you for coming to help today."

"Hmm? Isn't this Ueda-kun?"

"You are Aihara from the sports magazine? What's wrong?"

The man looked puzzled. He looked at me, then at Ueda, his expression gradually becoming horrified. “Wait, aren’t you a model?”

Brother, you finally reacted!

"no."

As I said this, I raised the file bag in my hand.

"I'm here to deliver some information. Hello."

Then this man named Aihara spent a full three minutes apologizing to me, and another five minutes trying to please Miss Aihara.

"Senior, Ueda-senpai, beautiful Ueda, and this little girl, your name is Homura, right? Please! This is very important to us!"

"Didn't you say the backup model would be here?"

"They just texted me saying the backup model has other plans and can't come today. If we want to find someone, we'll have to wait at least half an hour. The teacher and the brand can't wait that long!"

"If you want to borrow someone, you have to ask Renzi. This child is Renzi's niece."

Mr. Aihara's eyes lit up completely. "What?! Yes, she's Senior Jiu Jing's niece? What a coincidence! I'll call her right now!"

"Aihara is the editor of the sports magazine downstairs," Ms. Ueda whispered in my ear while he was on the phone. "They originally wanted the brand and a professional photographer to shoot the magazine cover and inside pages today, but it looks like the female model won't be able to come. If you mind, I'll turn it down for you right now."

"Uh, it's okay with me actually." Mainly because Mr. Aihara's eyes were red just now, and it felt like he would really collapse if he was rejected.

He nodded and bowed on the other end of the phone, even using the respectful title of "Master Jiujing". After hanging up with many thanks, he looked at me expectantly: "The senior said it doesn't matter to her, Miss Yan just needs to nod. Don't worry, our job is not difficult. You just need to change into sportswear sponsored by the brand and stand with the male model for a few photos." After saying this, he raised his hand with emotion: "I can guarantee that nothing bad will happen, and there will be no close contact with the male model. Miss Ueda can testify! Our magazine usually publishes interviews with students, and the models we find are all students. Please, please."

Now that they have said this, I really can't bear to refuse.

In the end, I still had to trouble Ms. Ueda. After she delivered the manuscript, she immediately ran to the studio downstairs to accompany me.

When Mr. Aihara led me into the studio, he didn't hold back and openly explained the reason. The brand's representatives seemed a little hesitant at first, considering the use of an amateur. But the photographer took one look at me and asked, "Do you do any exercise?"

"Kendo, and, uh, tennis?"

In the end, I was inexplicably put on makeup, a sports suit, and was led to the curtain with a tennis racket.

"Huh? Isn't the model here today Lisa-chan?"

The male model waiting in the studio had bold blond hair, a handsome face, and was very tall. It was initially estimated that he was only slightly shorter than Captain Kyoraku, about 1.9 meters tall.

"Don't mention her." Mr. Aihara was very familiar with the male model, so his tone was much more casual. "My agent said she ate something she was allergic to and had a rash. She can't shoot now. The backup model is busy today, so this girl is here to help out. Kise-kun, please help her out a little."

"Okay, okay~" He agreed with a smile, then looked at me: "Hello, my name is Huang Lai Ryouta, thank you for your guidance."

"My name is Jiu Jingyan, please give me your guidance."

"Oh~ That's Xiao Jiujing. You look so young. Are you a junior high school student? Ah, I'm a high school student. I'm currently studying in Kanagawa. Do you know Kaijo High School?"

This person is quite familiar, isn't he?

"Yes." Kaijo High School. From what I'd heard Kirihara and the others talking about before, it seemed like a super wealthy private high school known for its basketball prowess. "I also study in Kanagawa, at Rikkai University."

"Eh?! Rikkai University, isn't that amazing!"

Kise-kun must be quite fond of sports. As soon as I mentioned the name of Rikkai University, he immediately mentioned the tennis club that won the championship for two consecutive years.

"I remember this magazine interviewed your school's tennis club before. What a coincidence! I must tell Mr. Aihara about it later."

After saying that, before the photo shoot started, he pointed at himself with great interest: "It just so happens that I'm also in the Sports Department. Xiao Jiujing, do you want to guess?"

Guess what? Is there any need to guess? With that kind of height, long limbs, and a very stable lower body, the athletic department only has a few sports. Plus, he just shook my hand, and I could feel the calluses on his palm.

"...Basketball club?"

"Bingo! Correct!"

Haichang High School basketball team, then wouldn't he be equivalent to the regulars on our tennis team? Very strong?

After chatting with Kise-kun, I gradually relaxed. With the help of the photographer and the guidance of the staff, the shoot went pretty smoothly.

At the end, Ms. Ueda told me that these photos would be published in the next issue of the magazine, and Mr. Aihara thanked me again solemnly.

As for Kise-kun——

"Can I add Xiao Jiujing on Line? We're both from Kanagawa, let's get to know each other."

Is he really too familiar?

-----------------------

The author has something to say: Everything about photography in the article is just nonsense, don’t believe it.

Although this situation may exist in Japan, opportunities generally don't fall on amateurs. This time, Homura was just lucky enough to be in a sports magazine, and the photography content focused more on sports and daily life, plus she is really good-looking.

Model, I'm too lazy to come up with something original! After all, this world already has killer tennis balls, so why can't there be superpower basketballs, right?

This chapter is just a transition. The next chapter will continue to return to school. The bullying incident is not over yet (rubbing hands)