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

"No way, this is the last lap."

"Of course, health is the most important thing. Are you even a fan?"

"Of course it is! But for Hn-chan, it's also important to persevere and achieve your goals."

Everyone in the fan club took turns speaking.

But Tsubokawa wouldn't listen to a word he said. He turned around, frowned, and glanced at the rows of spectators outside the track.

Where did that Uesugi guy go?

--------

Kai Uesugi, who had just finished helping the head of the academic affairs office move things, realized that she had encountered a lot of things today.

The little beggar in the black dress was blocking her way again.

What do you want to do by stopping me?

The mineral water bottle in his right hand shimmered green under the light reflected from the translucent leaves.

"Kai Uesugi!" Kitagawa Sakakisa's voice was initially high, but quickly dropped. "You, you, you, you have to apologize to me today..."

"I gave you money, and now I have to apologize?" Uesugi Kai just wants to watch the fireworks competition.

"Who, who wants your money! I never said that..."

Uesugi Kai wasn't impressed by the series of people who kept appearing in front of her, and directly interrupted her:

"First, did you just appear in front of me out of nowhere?"

"So what if it's like this? It's all your fault..."

"Second, did you run away from home?"

"How...did you know?"

Third, were you very hungry at the time?

“Even if I was very hungry at the time, you shouldn’t have done that…” Kitagawa Sakakisa’s voice grew softer and softer as she stole glances at him from time to time.

As he spoke, Uesugi Kai took out his phone and glanced at the message Tsubokawa had sent him.

"Alright, I'm not talking to you weirdo anymore. I have things to do, goodbye."

Just as they passed each other, the girl in the black dress turned and took a step forward, grabbing his wrist and saying:

"wait wait wait……"

Kai Uesugi turned around, and the refracted sunlight suddenly dazzled him, causing him to squint.

Kitagawa Sakaki looked up at his face, biting her lip as she asked, "Am I... that hateful?"

Kai Uesugi didn't want to get entangled any further, so he shook off her hand and said coldly, "It's okay if you don't like it."

After saying that, he walked past her and left.

Kitagawa Sakaki lowered her head and looked at her hand that had been flung away. A feeling of loss and loneliness lingered in her heart for a long time.

She crouched down under the swaying, verdant beech tree, hugging her knees, burying her face, which was covered in gauze.

"I just... want an apology..."

---------

On the other side, in the rest area for the contestants from Class 4, Grade 2.

The surrounding area was filled with the noisy chatter of classmates.

Hanabi Hanamaru sat on the stool with her head down, her legs aching, her little head still recovering from the lack of oxygen.

The feeling of dizziness lingered in front of my eyes.

"Hanabi-chan, don't be disappointed, third place is already pretty good."

Rie Ayaka, also dressed in sportswear, came over and sat down next to her, saying that she came in sixth place.

"The top two are both from the Waseda University track and field team. They train every day. They were both very strong marathon runners at last year's Tokyo Summer Games, so it's normal that they couldn't beat them."

"No, I'm not unhappy, I'm just a little dizzy," Hanabi Hanamaru said.

Ayaka Rie stared at her for a while: "Then sit down for a bit, I'll go get you a bottle of water."

"Ah."

Seeing her leave, Hanabi picked up her phone from the table next to her.

She turned on the screen, her gaze lingered on the wallpaper featuring the two of them for a few seconds, and then tapped the "read" LINE message again.

Inside, Uesugi Kai was staring at a girl in a black dress whom she didn't recognize, their hands clasped together.

"What are you looking at?"

Hanabi Hanamaru panicked when she heard the sound and quickly hid her phone.

"N-nothing."

Kai Uesugi moved away from her ear, "If Hanabi says there's nothing, then there is."

Her violet eyes darted around nervously.

"Is it my fault for not coming to watch your match in time?"

Hanabi Hanamaru turned around and placed her phone on her lap: "No, I'm already very satisfied as long as I can see Kai-kun on my way back."

Rie Ayaka returned to the players' lounge, but as soon as she opened the door, she paused, then turned and left.

The two people in the lounge turned around at the same time.

"I'm sorry, you've worked so hard for so long, but I haven't even seen half of the game."

"Kai-kun, there's no need to apologize," Hanabi Hanamaru said, lacking confidence.

The two fell silent again.

Kai Uesugi noticed that she wasn't in good spirits, perhaps because she was too tired from the long run.

"What do you want to eat today?"

Hanabi Hanamaru gripped her phone tightly in her small hand, the ring glowing faintly, the photo lingering in her mind.

Perhaps... I really am not good enough, and I can't keep Kai-kun liking me.

The Weaver Girl also disliked herself, disliked that she had bothered her on Qixi Festival, and disliked the wish she made on that day.

Why aren't you saying anything?

"Hanabi..."

Hanamaru Hanabi's voice remained as soft as ever; confidence was something that had never existed for her.

"Kai-kun, it's normal to feel bored with fireworks."

"Why are you suddenly bringing this up again?"

Kai Uesugi took her small hand in his, realizing that her little bit of inferiority complex had resurfaced.

This is her flaw, and also the part of her that makes her least likable.

Many people found it annoying, feeling that she shouldn't be so weak in everything, and they looked down on her inferiority complex.

But Kai Uesugi understood that the best thing to do at a time like this was to treat her with patience.

If you show her any annoyance, she will just keep a lot of things to herself.

Even when they get sick from holding it in, they are unwilling to trouble others anymore.

From a young age, Xiaohuahuo also needed someone to comfort and help her easily hurt heart.

###Chapter 183 The July Sports Festival (4)###

The light streaming into the lounge was lively, and the light swayed in the breeze by the light curtains beside the bed.

Everything remained the same, but Hanamaru Hanabi's downcast face no longer held the bright smile she had at noon.

She lacks confidence in herself.

"Kai, Kai-kun... Hanabi... I don't know what to do..."

"Hanabi... is just an ordinary girl, and she doesn't even know what use she is..."

"Hanabi is clumsy at everything she does; it takes her a long time to learn."

"Hanabi..."

Kai Uesugi pressed his index finger against her soft lips.

"What happened? I've been feeling that Hanabi is acting strange lately."

Hanabi Hanabi lowered her head, her two small hands clasped together, not daring to look him in the eye.

"It's because the fireworks are useless... It's only natural that Kai-kun doesn't like her anymore."

Kai Uesugi squatted down in front of her.

Why do you always say these things?

"Hanabi...hates herself..."

Perhaps he is sick, or perhaps he is not in good spirits.

But Kai Uesugi knew she was feeling down and in a bad mood.

Her appearance gripped my heart, and everything around me seemed to begin to dim.

"Don't do this." Uesugi Kai shook her arm.

But Hanabi Hanabi kept her head down and did not respond to his voice for a long time.

The way she closed herself off as a child seemed to reappear.

"Hanabi? Little Hanabi?"

No response.

"I like you, Little Firework."