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

Kenichi Uesugi, who had his work badge hanging around his neck, paused for a second upon hearing the dial tone.

Then he turned off his phone screen, placed it on the table, picked up a cup, took a sip of tea, closed his eyes, and murmured:

"There's something else this kid hasn't told me yet."

------

"Kai-kun... has something happened?" Hanabi asked, noticing he had been on the phone for a long time.

The rain showed no signs of abating, and even seemed to have intensified.

The tapping sound against the transparent umbrella was short and sharp.

Kai Uesugi unconsciously moved his umbrella closer to her, saying helplessly, "I was going to treat Hanabi to a nice meal, but I'm broke again."

"Didn't Kai-kun just earn 200 million yen?" Hanabi Hanamaru affectionately hugged his arm that was holding the umbrella, her small body leaning closer to him.

"It's gone again." That's all Uesugi Kai could say. "Hanabi, you can take care of me for now."

Hanabi Hanabi winked at him, a beautiful smile spreading across her face: "Okay."

"You don't mind that I'm so useless?"

Hanabi Hanamaru wrapped her arms around his, rested her head on his shoulder, closed her eyes, and said:

"As long as Kai-kun is Kai-kun, that's enough. Hanabi will do her best to take good care of him."

"Little Fireworks..."

Sometimes, Kai Uesugi felt unworthy of her unreserved and close devotion, and felt guilty for not caring enough for her.

"How about I cook today?"

"Mmm..."

Hanabi Hanamaru quickly opened her eyes and shook her head, her hair swaying as she did so: "Kai-kun, rest. Hanabi can manage on her own."

The sound of the raindrops was so loud it was almost unsettling, and most people on the sidewalk moved closer to the trees where the rain was less intense.

A vehicle sped past, splashing water everywhere.

Kai Uesugi listened to these voices in silence.

"..."

"Is it really not tasty?"

"Kai-kun has been working so hard! Hanabi can feel it!" Hanamaru Hanabi encouraged him earnestly.

Kai Uesugi started to wonder whether he should order the dish that had a value of -9 to make it a positive number.

Hanabi Hanamaru continued, saying that the black sailor uniform exudes a youthful and lively charm:

"Kai-kun, don't worry too much. Hanabi is Kai-kun's fiancée and will always be by Kai-kun's side. I will do my best to make lunch boxes and dinners every day."

"As long as Kai-kun doesn't get tired of it and start to dislike the fireworks."

Kai Uesugi smiled and said to her, "I was afraid you'd dislike me."

"No, even though many people don't like Kai-kun, Hanabi will always like him."

After he finished speaking, the girl smiled at him.

Once a person gets something, they forget the feeling of standing on tiptoe and peering through the shop window to see it.

Although I've long forgotten the novelty of tiptoeing back then, her heartwarming smile, that familiar smile that has accompanied me for twelve years, is worth cherishing and protecting for a lifetime.

"I'll give you a shoulder massage today."

"Kai-kun...you're not trying to sneak around, are you..."

"No, I just wanted to make you feel more relaxed."

"Um..."

"Actually... Kai-kun... Hanabi wouldn't mind..." Hanabi's voice grew softer and softer until even Uesugi couldn't hear it.

"what?"

Hanabi composed herself, looked at the raindrops falling at her feet, and replied, "N-nothing... I'm glad Kai-kun likes it..."

###Chapter 153 A Little Wave Rises in Our Peaceful Life###

------

The organization that controls the lifeline of the nation's agriculture naturally controls a production and sales route that is almost a monopoly.

They wield immense power and have vast financial resources.

While providing loans to help farmers engage in farming, the company also mandates a series of services, from vegetable and fruit production to distribution and sales.

They control both the buyer's and seller's channels.

Those who can control market prices act as both players and referees.

They buy low and sell high, arbitrarily exploiting both ends.

------

After that, the two went home together after buying groceries.

I bought one at a FamilyMart convenience store along the way.

Hanabi Hanabi would take out the small chili peppers she always carried with her and eat them together; Kai Uesugi had no idea what kind of strange flavor they were.

She seemed to enjoy her meal quite well. When asked out of curiosity, she only said it tasted sweet and spicy, and that she seemed very happy.

Walking together on the quiet path home, Uesugi Kai could feel Hanabi intentionally or unintentionally moving closer to him.

It is said that under the umbrella of mutual attraction, people who have feelings for each other will feel closer to each other both psychologically and in their actions.

Kai Uesugi glanced at the small hand pierced in his arm.

"Tonight...?"

Hanabi Hanabi held the chili-filled crepe in both hands, took a bite, and nodded shyly.

"Um..."

After turning this corner, they saw the familiar home of the two.

"Your side, or mine?"

The two exchanged a glance, their understanding unspoken.

With a supermarket bag in her hand, Uesugi Kai turned towards her front door.

Some of the newly blooming roses in the courtyard couldn't withstand the ravages of wind and rain and became dull and lifeless.

Uesugi Kai doesn't dislike the rainy season; it's some of his flowers that hate it.

Around the corner, you can see the eaves of the Uesugi family's house.

However, the two who returned home stood still, not making a move for a long time.

"..."

The sound of cold rain pattering against the house continued to fill the air. A bored girl with black hair and earrings was squatting in front of the Uesugi family's door, fiddling with the weeds in the cracks of the stone slabs with her fingers.

Beside the black-haired girl was a wet travel bag, a strangely rectangular bag.

With a lollipop in her mouth, she quickly noticed the two people standing outside. As she looked up, she casually plucked a weed and waved it at them in a lazy tone.

"Oh, you're back."

"..."

------

The cold rain couldn't blow away the dampness of summer.

Hanabi Hanabi prepared tea and served it to Uesugi Shio and Uesugi Kai before continuing to cook in the kitchen.

The rising steam from the hot tea blurred her vision. Uesugi Shio, with her light blue hair, glanced at Hanamaru Hanabi bustling about in the kitchen, her previous languid demeanor vanishing as she asked curiously:

"Ah-Zhao, you guys..."

"fiancée."

"Oh~~"

Uesugi Shio was quite surprised and it took her a while to process this information. Holding her teacup, she glanced at him sideways and said, "Didn't you dislike Hanabi?"

"Who said that?"

"You said it." Uesugi Shio ate a lollipop while drinking tea. The sweetness of the candy and the bitterness of the tea blended in her mouth, creating a strange and wonderful sensation.

She couldn't help but purse her lips, but then took another sip.

Uesugi Kai glanced at her sideways. "When did I say that?"

"A-Zhao, A-Zhao!"

"I know you like to lie, Sister tide."

Uesugi Shio put down her teacup and took a big bite of the lollipop, making a crisp, loud crunch. "You seemed lazy and stupid when we were little, but Shio-nee knows you're smarter than anyone else."

"I was just lazy," Uesugi Kai defended himself.

"A-Zhao, A-Zhao!"

"You lied again."

Uesugi Shio waved the white stick she had bitten flat in her hand and said leisurely, "You say you're lazy, so that means you're doing pretty well. You're lying a lot today."

After saying that, she leaned against the table with one hand and stared at the rain outside the living room for a long time, as if she were rummaging through memories from past black and white images.

"You've fooled Grandpa quite a few times."

"Just a reasonable rest."

Seeing her languid profile as she leaned on her hand, Uesugi Kai wondered, "Is Grandpa alright?"

"grandfather..."

Uesugi Shio sighed and rested her chin on her hand, fiddling with her light blue hair.