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

Kai Uesugi still remembers her short, chubby legs when she was little.

“If I weren’t too old, I would take Xiaohuahuo to apply for a marriage certificate right now.”

“Kai-kun said these things to Hanabi before.”

"That was just a joke." Uesugi Kai smiled, casually took out a few coins from his pocket, and ordered a coffee and a milk from the vending machine.

"Just something I said when I was a kid."

Looking back, she often pounced on his lap and said innocent things that only little girls would say.

"Hanabi has always been serious," Hanamaru Hanabi shook her head firmly, then looked up at him and said, "Hanabi said that when she grows up, she will marry Kai-nii."

Little girls always yearn for the so-called marital relationship between adults, and they often say things like "I'll marry you when I grow up" to the people they are close to.

But when you look back on it as an adult, you'll just think of it as a joke between children.

I no longer have that deep affection for my former playmates.

If you're too far apart, you'll become like strangers.

"Were you serious back then?" Uesugi Kai smiled, thinking that she was just a little confused about her memories.

He heard two bottles of drinks fall from the vending machine and bent down to get them.

"Ok!"

Hanabi Hanamaru's pretty face revealed the childlike innocence she once had, and she said earnestly, "Kai-kun doesn't know, but Hanabi has always been earnest."

Kai Uesugi stood up, holding two bottles of drinks.

Hanamaru Hanabi continued looking at him and said:

"Hanabi knows that no one likes her, and the only person she can get close to is Kai-nii. If she loses Kai-nii... then no classmates or friends will care about her anymore..."

"So every night when Hanabi goes to sleep, she thinks about how to make Kai-nii happy."

He used to dislike smiling, and he simply couldn't bring himself to smile at those little brats who liked to bully the weak.

So the two of them were often together, which is what is called marginalized people who were ostracized.

He's better off; he doesn't care about these things.

But Hanabi is indeed an innocent and naive child, and she gets especially sad and upset when she is disliked and ostracized by everyone.

Kai Uesugi said half-jokingly, "Hanabi has been talking to me about things from the past lately."

"So the way you came up with the idea to make me happy at night is to marry me when you grow up?"

"Hanabi... I've never had the chance to say these things to Kai-kun before..."

Hanabi Hanabi answered softly, then nodded and said, "Yeah, but Hanabi knows she's annoying, withdrawn, dull, and not very pretty... She's not qualified to be Kai-nii's wife."

Kai Uesugi smiled and handed her the milk: "Didn't you do a great job now?"

Hanabi Hanabi took the bottle of milk with both hands, holding it in her palms, her violet eyes fixed on his face, shimmering with a gentle light.

"Hanabi has been trying to learn from her mother about that phrase."

"Always."

"Haha, then you..."

Kai Uesugi was laughing for a while when he suddenly stopped laughing.

Seeing her familiar face, and thinking about what she had done for him recently—making him lunch in the morning, cooking him dinner in the evening, hand-washing his clothes, and massaging his shoulders to relax him when he was tired from training—he felt a surge of emotion.

He suddenly realized that her words, "I want to marry him," were not just a childhood joke.

She did everything with meticulous care and attention, striving to become the so-called "wife to be married to".

Some of them had done it for him a long time ago, while others had only recently learned how.

At the age of 5, she possesses a virtuousness that doesn't seem like that of a girlfriend.

She seems to have been working hard quietly all along.

She has a weak, taciturn, and unlikable personality, but she has always been quietly and diligently giving her all.

I have never asked for praise, nor have I ever complained.

This feeling of being there for you for so long, silently watching over you, caring for you, and selflessly giving to you... I don't know how to describe it.

"..."

Was it worth it for me to be so slow-witted before?

Hanabi, dressed in a pristine white dress, smiled and said, "Hanabi likes Kai-kun."

"If Kai doesn't like Hanabi, Hanabi will always secretly watch him from afar. But thankfully... Kai sometimes feels a bit awkward towards Hanabi."

The girl's smile as she spoke was very innocent.

"Ahem... How could Little Fireworks say something like that in such a serious manner?"

"Back then, when Kai-kun secretly looked at Hanabi's chest, wasn't it a little arousing?"

"Don't you like fireworks?"

Hanabi Hanamaru picked up the milk with her little hand, inserted the straw, and said, "Kai-kun is a boy, Hanabi can understand."

Kai Uesugi remembered the day he told her he liked to peek at her chest, and how her little brain went completely blank.

Why is everything so calm now?

"Hanabi, have you been watching something bad lately?" He was inexplicably worried that the innocent Hanabi had been corrupted.

"Something bad?" Hanamaru Hanabi tilted her head.

Okay, Little Fireworks is still Little Fireworks.

"Does Kai-kun want to ask Hanabi why she said Kai-kun is lewd?"

Kai Uesugi nodded, feeling that the word "sour" sounded very strange coming from Hanabi's mouth.

Hanabi Hanamaru turned around, sucking on her milk. Her flowing dress was as soft as a white cloud, leaving him only with the silhouette of her snow-white shoulder.

"Kai-kun... knows it himself..."

------

During lunch, Uesugi Kai kept thinking about a question.

So, is it true that I am a perverted person?

Things might not be going so well lately, but I used to be a cool and handsome guy when I was out in public.

He was utterly heartless; he was the kind of person who would throw away the first love letter he received.

In the end, he could only attribute the cause to adolescence.

I didn't feel anything before, but now just seeing Xiaohuahu's face turn red when she eats chili peppers makes me want to hug her and kiss her.

Soft, delicate lips, exuding a youthful charm, with a hint of spiciness.

It's just too tempting.

Kai Uesugi rested his chin on his right hand, watching Hanabi Hanabu happily eating her food across from him.

Her small, soft lips, red and lively, were increasingly distressing to look at.

He hooked her leg under the table with his foot.

"Kai-kun...?" The girl stopped eating.

I want to kiss you.

"Kai-kun... is getting all aroused again..."

"Is that not allowed?"

Hanabi Hanabi looked around at the other diners: "There are so many people here..."

It means it's possible, but not here.

"How about we stay at a love hotel for one night?"

Hanabi Hanamaru took a bite of the spicier dish, her face turning red—whether from the spiciness or embarrassment—and she stole a glance at him.

"Dad...won't agree to Hanabi doing this...Hanabi is still a minor..."

"Can't I even just sleep?"

"When Dad's not around... Kai-kun can just come to Hanabi's house..."

My father-in-law is going home today, so I can't fall asleep with my little firecracker in my arms like I did last night.

The shoulder and back massages in the bathroom are gone.

Gone!

Suddenly, I feel so sad tonight.

Xiaohuahuo will be 6 years old in October, but I will only be 7 next year.

This still means we can't get married.

Why have the days suddenly become so hard to bear?

"There's still time this afternoon..."

Hanabi Hanabi suddenly whispered, "Kai-kun can sleep while hugging Hanabi too..."

"After we finish eating, shall we go home...?"

"Hmm... Hanabi knows Kai-kun is a shy boy... as long as Kai-kun isn't too bad..."

Uesugi: "Hanabi."

Hanamaru Hanabi: "Well..."

Kai Uesugi: "From now on, Hanabi, could you please stop using the word 'sexy'?"

Hanabi Hanabi blushed and said, "Hanabi... didn't want to say it either... but that's just how Kai-kun is..."

Kai Uesugi couldn't help but ask, "Where did Hanabi learn those words?"

Hanabi Hanamaru: "In the past... when people talked about it... they often talked about these things..."