Living in Tokyo, all I want to do is laze around.

She stretched her fair neck slightly, trying to find a comfortable position to settle down.

The faint sound of breathing soon began to linger in my ears.

Kai Uesugi smiled as he saw the girl sleeping peacefully against him.

The two ladies sitting opposite them covered their mouths, trying to stop their uncontrollable laughter.

Mount Takao is located in Hachioji City, a suburb of Tokyo. It is 599 meters above sea level and about 50 kilometers from Shinjuku. It can be reached in one hour by taking the Keio Line.

Mount Takao is most famous for its autumn foliage, which turns the forests ablaze with color.

In the warm autumn, gazing at Mount Fuji in the north amidst a gentle breeze, one feels tranquil and at ease.

Of course, as it's one of the most famous tourist attractions near Tokyo, it gets incredibly crowded at that time.

Get off at Takao-Yamaguchi Station. As soon as you exit the station, you'll see a large tourist map and tall cedar trees in the distance.

All the attractions and facilities around Mount Takao are listed above.

Seeing the centuries-old cedar trees on the mountain, Uesugi Kai finally understood why his mother insisted on coming here to draw lots and climb the mountain.

"Which way to go?" Uesugi Kai looked up at the map.

“Number one,” Noriko Uesugi said. “Then we’ll go down the stream from number six, and then soak in a hot spring.”

Mrs. Hanamaru added to the two people standing together, "There's mixed bathing."

Hanamaru Hanabi shook her head.

------

The cobblestone path, paved with concrete, is surrounded by birdsong and insect chirps. On both sides are ordinary, dense forests, with only dry gray and greenery.

When you walk down the road, you can often see elderly men with hiking sticks walking down from above, their steps brisk and agile.

After passing a strange stone pillar inscribed with "Six Roots of Purity," the uphill path begins, taking nearly an hour.

"Are we really going to hike up there?" Uesugi Kai stepped over one strange wooden step after another.

“Otherwise, why would it be called a walk?” Mrs. Uesugi replied without turning around.

"Hiking can save 480 yen, which is enough for two meals. For three people, that's 1440 yen. If we spend less, we can make it through two days."

"Is Kai-kun out of money again?" Hanabi asked softly when she heard him muttering.

"Ahem, it'll be ready soon, don't worry."

I haven't had many expenses lately, and I'm not too poor after saving up my allowance.

"You can use the money for fireworks as you please, Kai-kun has never used it."

"We're not married yet, so I can't just use your money."

Upon hearing the word "marriage," Hanabi Hanamaru was stunned and almost tripped on the stone steps because she wasn't paying attention to her steps.

Kai Uesugi quickly went up and put his arm around her shoulder.

"Thank you, Kai-kun..."

"fine."

Hearing the noise, the two mothers who were walking very fast in front turned around.

"Hanabi, be careful when you walk, and don't keep chatting with Kai." Seeing Uesugi Kai helping Hanamaru Hanabi, Mrs. Hanamaru had already guessed most of what was going on.

After saying that, the two mothers smiled calmly and continued walking forward.

"Don't you want to get married? That's always Hanabi's reaction when she hears about marriage."

With his help, Hanabi Hanabi stood up again and stammered, "...No."

"Does that mean you want to get married?"

"Kai-kun..." Hanabi Hanamaru was clearly embarrassed to answer his question.

"How about we get married after your coming-of-age ceremony?"

"Kai-kun...do you really want to get married?"

"I really want to."

The two continued up the stone steps, catching up with the two mothers.

“If you marry Hanabi, Kai-kun will have to spend the rest of his life with her.” Hanabi Hanamaru looked straight ahead, not at him.

"Isn't it good?"

"Hanabi is afraid... Kai-kun will hate Hanabi..."

###Chapter 117 A Walk on Mount Takao (2)###

Why would Little Fireworks think that way?

The girl's soft voice was as faint as a gentle breeze rustling through the forest.

"Hanabi isn't very good at anything, she can only cook and draw. Kai-kun got tired of Hanabi's cooking and paintings, and Hanabi didn't have anything new to offer him anymore, so naturally he started to dislike her."

“Kai-kun gets bored and annoyed when he sees her every day.”

Sensing the girl's somewhat disappointed tone, Uesugi Kai smiled and said to her, "Does Hanabi think I'm that kind of person?"

Hanabi Hanabi looked up at him, paused for two seconds, then lowered her head again. "No, it's not Kai-kun's fault... it's just that Hanabi is useless... I've always been just average..."

Yesterday's rain had not yet receded on the withered branches and fallen leaves underfoot; the mixture of soil and earth felt damp and soggy.

Kai Uesugi knew that it was her childhood inferiority complex acting up again.

“There’s nothing wrong with being ordinary.” He took her timid hand in his.

"But... won't Kai-kun find it boring? Hanabi hardly helps Kai-kun at all, all she does every day is make bento boxes..."

The two mothers walked quickly, their figures gradually shrinking on the mountain path above.

Step over the stone steps and follow their path.

Looking straight ahead, Uesugi Kai didn't directly answer Hanabi's question, but instead asked, "Hanabi, do you know what I like most about you?"

The little spider crawled across the mottled fallen leaves on the ground, looking up at the two people walking side by side on the road.

Hanabi Hanamaru looked down at the road beneath her feet, pondered for a moment, and whispered, "I don't know..."

"Quiet."

Kai Uesugi turned his head and said to her, "Hanabi never asks for anything. She just stays quietly by my side, waits quietly, accepts whatever comes her way, and gives silently."

Even if countless people surpass her, she will only quietly wait for the happiness that comes late, regardless of whether that happiness should have belonged to her long ago.

"Her greatest characteristic is to quietly do her best and bear everything she can and cannot bear."

"If I don't confess my feelings to Xiaohuahuo and instead continue our previous relationship, will she be able to tell me she likes me when I'm dating and marrying another girl?"

"No, she'll only blame herself for not being liked by Kai-kun."

The mountain breeze gently caressed the soft strands of hair beside the girl's ear. Gazing at Hanabi Hanabi's delicate profile, Uesugi Kai asked himself a question and answered it.

"But Kai-kun really didn't want her to be sad no matter what."

"Little Firework, don't always belittle yourself. Like I said before, the fact that you can smile when you're by my side is the most important treasure in my life."

He paused for a second.

"Kai-kun, I'm so glad I met Hanabi."

His words made Hanabi feel much better, and the steadiness in his hands was as reassuring as when he used to hold her hand and lead her home when she was a child.

The girl looked up, responding to his words with a heartwarming smile:

"Hanabi is also very grateful to have met Kai-kun."

------

The journey up the mountain was always exhausting, requiring frequent stops and starts.

With the two mothers' gentle teasing, we finally arrived at a more crowded place.

Red streetlights, only the height of a primary school student, adorn both sides of the Medicine King's Ginseng Path, lined with tall, sturdy fir trees.

Through the dark green needle-like leaves, you can see the azure sky above.

Perhaps because of yesterday's rain, the surrounding plants look vibrant and full of life.

After passing through this path, you will arrive at a roofed but wallless building supported by four pillars.

This place, called a tesushi-sha, is usually located at the entrance of a shrine and is where people wash their hands and rinse their mouths before worshipping.

Before washing her hands, Noriko Uesugi took out four 5-yen coins from her bag.

"Ah-Zhao, go and knock on that iron pillar."

Although he didn't know what the iron pillar was for, Uesugi Kai picked up a wooden stick that was lying nearby and started hitting it in the middle.

Clang~~

A melodious sound rang out, and he threw four coins directly into the unattended money tray on the table. Then he walked to the water basin in the handwashing station, picked up the bamboo tube filled with water, and washed his left hand.

"By the way, is this water drinkable? It looks quite clear." Uesugi Kai had been very curious.

"You can't drink it," Mrs. Hanamaru said. "Are you thirsty?"

"I'm tired from walking and a little hungry." Uesugi Kai placed the bamboo tube by the pool.

"Is Hanabi-chan hungry?" Mrs. Uesugi asked.

Hanabi Hanamaru gently shook her little hands clean and nodded, "A little..."

Kai Uesugi suddenly chimed in, "There's one thing: I'm really hungry. I really want to eat noodles, I want to eat soba noodles."

Mrs. Uesugi smiled. "In such a hurry? Do you have that much pocket money? Noodles are very expensive up in the mountains."

"..."

"No."

Below the shrine is a small commercial street with traditional Japanese buildings and a strong Edo-era feel.

The tengu of Mount Takao are very famous, so there are many souvenirs and merchandise related to the red tengu here. The goods are dazzling, and the passersby are all kinds of people.