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

"The image compositing technique is very advanced; it's not something an ordinary high school student like her could do."

Hanamaru Hiroki pointed to an A4 sheet of white paper he was flipping through, "She found someone online, and the price they quoted for photo compositing was usually 3000 yen. She got a total of 13 photos."

Uesugi Kai flipped through the compiled documents, and sure enough, there were some photos of him on them.

The scale varies.

One of the photos shows him shirtless, gazing tenderly at a woman in his arms who has raised her hand to touch his chest; the setting is a brightly lit nightclub.

The photo's overall angle is skewed, giving the impression of being taken from a distance.

How did you manage to do this?

Hanamaru Yuuki glanced at him and continued, "Some photos are simply photoshopped with your face on top, then the camera zooms out to blur the upper body features, highlighting the interaction and ambiguous relationship between the two people."

"Not surprising."

"The superb compositing technology, the use of lens imitation, and the girl's first impression of the photo make it very difficult for her to recognize that it is a composite photo."

What he really meant was that he was slightly surprised when he first saw these photos.

And what would Xiaohuahuo, who hasn't seen much of the world, think?

However, Hanamaru Hiroki understood his temperament and had handled cases where composite photos were used to mislead the police before. After observing and identifying the photos for a while, he discovered the clues.

Sitting in the police chief's office, Hanamaru Hiroki spoke with equal calm:

“The girl’s emotions didn’t change suddenly; they accumulated day by day. I believe she will be willing to believe you, but the more you keep these things buried in your heart, the more likely they are to leave indelible marks.”

"As the marks become larger, she will become more self-conscious and insecure, and begin to doubt her own role. Her low mood will be triggered by a single event."

Kai Uesugi understood that the trigger must refer to the negative effects of long-distance running.

The photo of herself and Kitagawa was sent just before the race, which further aggravated her psychological burden before the run.

Adding to the fact that he couldn't watch her game in the first half, his feelings of disappointment and inferiority suddenly erupted.

Kai Uesugi stared at the documents in his hand and thought to himself.

What will happen to that high school girl?

"She will be charged with harassment and stalking. Since she is a minor, she will be forced to transfer schools."

"Do you want to see her again?" Hanamaru Hiroki asked.

“I don’t want to at all,” Uesugi Kai said calmly.

I thought you would be very angry.

“I’m very angry, and I really want to beat that guy up, but that’s not the right occasion. Arresting him is enough.” Uesugi Kai handed the file back to his father-in-law.

Hanamaru Hiroki nodded in satisfaction: "Yes, it's best not to act rashly. If you vent your emotions in front of your classmates, you'll probably have to come and stay with me for a few days."

"What you said is more than enough."

Outside the office's huge floor-to-ceiling windows, cars sped along Ome Street under the night sky, their lights illuminating the entire city of Tokyo.

Hanamaru Hiroki placed the organized documents aside again, the aroma of tea wafting in front of him.

He raised his nearly 40-year-old face and looked at the boy he had watched grow up:

"Go back and spend more time with Hanabi; she needs you."

"Ah."

----------

It was almost 9 p.m.

The sound of a key turning in the door frame.

Kitagawa Sakakisa, who was happily chatting with Hanamaru Hanabi on Line, turned her head to look at the entrance.

She suddenly looked surprised, stood up, and ran over to him in her black stockings.

"Banping, what happened to your face?"

"I went to the police station and had a bowl of pork chop rice," said Hanpei Suji, waving his hand, his demeanor revealing the weariness of an older man.

"Does eating pork chop rice require getting slapped in the face?"

Kitagawa Sakakisa seemed confused about the connection, "Besides, why would we eat pork cutlet rice at the police station?"

Banping walked into the room, which was brightly lit by a single lamp, and sat down on a cushion next to the coffee table.

"I'm satisfied as long as it didn't cost me any money!"

"Such a good thing?! The police station is offering free pork cutlet rice!" Kitagawa Sakakisa exclaimed, as if she had discovered something amazing. "Can I go?"

Banping looked at the girl in the black dress and laughed: "Miss, of course you can go too, but after you eat there, they will send you home."

"Then... never mind!" Kitagawa Sakakisa saw his swollen, bluish face. "Are you alright? Do you have a first-aid kit at home?"

With a half-pointed finger, Kitagawa walked over to the box on the tall cabinet.

"Miss, you still feel sorry for an old man like me who's on the fringes of society?"

"Uncle Banping is a nice guy, it's no trouble for him to apply some medicine for you." Kitagawa Sakakisa stood on tiptoe, trying to reach the medicine box on top.

But no matter how hard she tried, even with her thin feet in black stockings raised to the highest point, she still couldn't reach it.

A pair of hands reached over my head and lifted the box down.

Kitagawa Sakakisa turned around, took the medical supply box he handed her, and nodded slightly: "Ah... thank you."

Banping sat back down in her original position: "Miss, have you learned these things?"

Taking out the alcohol and gauze from the box, Kitagawa Sakakisa lightly brushed a strand of hair from her face and said:

"I've helped my brother with his injuries before, hmph, Hanpei, don't underestimate Sakaki Sa!"

The alcohol stung his face, but it was just a minor itch to him.

The room, only six tatami mats in size, was very cramped.

"Miss, you'd better go home quickly."

Are you kicking me out?

"It's not that I'm trying to get rid of you, but the chairman is definitely worried about you, Miss."

Kitagawa Sakaki pouted: "You siscon brother! I don't want to go back."

"..."

Banping understood that their young master was just a bit too doting on his younger sister, though he did sometimes go overboard.

"How much longer will you be staying at my house, Miss?"

"Stay as long as you want." Kitagawa Sakakisa applied gauze to his wound.

"..."

The phone rang.

Banping answered the phone: "Chairman."

On the other end of the phone, Kitagawa Sakakibara, attending a gathering of ninety families, held a wine glass in his hand, his simple and clean face beaming with smiles.

"Hanpei, give the phone to Sakakisa, she hung up on me again."

Banping handed the phone to the girl.

"It's the older brother again?"

Kitagawa Sakakisa didn't even look at the phone before hanging up.

Beep...beep......

At the banquet table next to the rooftop garden, Kitagawa Sakakibara stared blankly at the dial tone for a while.

Then, a smile returned to his face, and he gently swirled the glass:

"This child."

###Chapter 196 A Scorching Summer Vacation: A Trip to Ehime Prefecture by the Sea###

August 1st, 22:38.

Haneda Airport, Ota Ward, Tokyo.

Japan Airlines flight JAL0443, bound for Matsuyama City, Ehime Prefecture, began changing course following the flight attendant's announcement.

Hanabi Hanamaru's beautiful, violet eyes gazed at the flashing lights outside the round window, while the chatter of passengers in front and behind her filled her ears.

"Open your mouth."

Hearing the voice of the person next to her, Hanabi Hanabi subconsciously opened her soft pink mouth and put a spicy biscuit into her mouth.

For Xiaohuahuo, spiciness equals happiness.

After taking a bite, savoring the powder and spiciness left in her mouth, Hanamaru Hanabi turned around and saw the spicy cookie in his hand.

"Want more?"

"Um......"

"Just be cute and I'll give it to you, little firework." Uesugi Kai waved the cookie in her hand.

Hanabi Hanamaru placed her obedient hands on her white dress, her little head following the cookie in his hand, and whispered:

"Fireworks...can't be cute..."

"You can learn now if you don't know how."

"I...I can't learn it..." Hanamaru Hanabi secretly glanced at him.

Uesugi Kai pinched her cheek, which she was trying to refuse, and said, "Say that you like Kai-kun the most, and please give me a firework cookie."

Hanabi lowered her head, her little hands only daring to clench her skirt tightly.

Kai Uesugi put the cookie in his mouth and said with a smile, "I'll just finish it."

"No, you can't!"

After a struggle within myself, I realized I especially loved the spicy-flavored fireworks. Two little deer fluttered wildly in my shy chest.