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

"So cute."

------------

In the afternoon, the weather forecast said it would rain.

At least when Uesugi Kai went out carrying Hanabi, all he saw when he looked up was a heavy, gloomy sky.

A completely black Toyota was parked outside, and the driver, wearing white gloves, got out and opened the door himself.

Rika Kyuu stood in front of the car, smiling and greeting the two people who came out.

Today she wore a shimmering purple mini skirt, a blue crop top, and white casual shoes; every move she made exuded elegance.

"Hanabi, why is your face so red? Do you have a cold?"

"I just took a shower..." Hanabi Hanamaru said in a low voice, as if she was avoiding the topic.

"I see." Rika looked at the two of them and felt that something was strange, but she didn't ask any further questions.

Kai Uesugi put Hanamaru Hanabi, who was on his back, into the car, and took the opportunity to pinch her cheek and whisper:

"Thank you for just now."

Hanabi Hanabi sat in the car, a little shy, and replied in a very low voice, "Kai-kun, don't say these things in public..."

"it is good."

Kai Uesugi smiled and got out of the car.

Rika asked him, "Uesugi, aren't you taking the car?"

He pointed to the unlocked detached house: "Go back and get your guitar."

Rika nodded, glancing at his retreating figure as he walked into the house. She felt that Uesugi Kai had changed a lot since confirming his relationship with Hanabi Hanamaru.

He used to be a cold and aloof guy, not very talkative, and uninterested in getting involved in anything.

Now, at least I'm willing to participate in the show with everyone.

After getting his guitar, Uesugi Kai came out and sat in the back row with Hanabi.

The engine roared, the vehicle started, and street scenes and pedestrians flashed past the glass window.

Hanabi Hanamaru doesn't like riding in cars because she often feels dizzy. This problem started this year, and a hospital checkup revealed that it's mainly related to the sensitivity of the vestibular receptors in her inner ear.

The doctor said this is because the vestibular system in the inner ear is the body's balance organ, and when it is shaken, the body will experience dizziness.

The medication didn't help much.

It's okay to use your phone on trams or buses, but you absolutely cannot use it in a car, or you'll definitely get dizzy.

Fortunately, it wasn't serious; closing my eyes to rest or looking out the window resolved the dizziness.

Hanabi Hanabi stared out the window, a gentle breeze ruffling the hair by her ear.

"By the way, doesn't Hanabi need to draw illustrations lately? You have hundreds of thousands of followers online."

"The fireworks were all cancelled; we had so much work to do."

"How much do you get paid for each painting now?" Uesugi Kai asked. He remembered that she had been ripped off by a game company before, and the painting she received was worth dozens of times more.

"Fireworks are only drawn by commission now. I originally wanted to keep the price low, but Yuki said she insisted on raising it."

How much for one?

"It depends on the complexity and requirements... Yuuki said the minimum is 20 yen..."

"Hanabi, will you take care of me?" Uesugi Kai asked with a smile.

"Okay, but Kai-kun has to listen to Hanabi."

"Oh? What do you want me to do?"

"Kai-kun can be a model."

"The kind that's completely naked?"

"Of course not!" Hanabi Hanamaru whispered, then made sure that Rika Kujo sitting in front of her hadn't heard her. "Kai-kun is very handsome... his portrait would look great... and Hanabi has always wanted to draw a portrait of Kai-kun."

“But you can’t just draw me alone, you have to appear in the picture too,” Uesugi Kai said.

"Shall we draw together?"

Seeing that she seemed a little confused, Uesugi Kai suggested, "How about drawing me hugging and kissing you? With cherry blossoms falling all around us."

"Why was it Kai-kun who hugged and kissed Hanabi...?"

"What else? Or should Hanabi hug me and kiss me?"

......

The vehicle drove towards Chiyoda Ward, passing by Sakuragi Shrine with cherry blossom trees planted at its entrance, Kitauchi Park, and Nippon Budokan.

Kendo, judo, martial arts and other competitive sports events will be held here.

Kai Uesugi attended the University of Tokyo's entrance ceremony here.

Everyone was dressed in suits and sat on the second floor of the venue, waiting for the principal, dean, and guests to enter.

The vehicle drove away and soon arrived at the mansion of the ninety families.

The driver got out of the car, his white gloves touching the open door.

"Uncle Hezheng, I already said there's no need to be so formal."

“Miss, this is necessary.”

Rika sighed softly and glanced at Kai Uesugi, who was helping Hanabi out of the car.

"Have they all arrived?" he asked.

Rika Kyushu said, "You've all arrived. You live closest to my house. Hanabi injured her foot, so I came with Uncle Tsuru to pick you up."

The mansion of the ninety-family family is a twelve-minute drive from the University of Tokyo, and about a sixteen-minute drive from their new apartment.

"Let me carry the guitar for you," said Rika Kyuu as she approached Kai Uesugi, who was carrying Hanabi Hanamaru on his back.

Kai Uesugi didn't refuse. "Yes, thank you."

The high-rise mansions near the Imperial Palace are so grand that you can tell just by looking up. With the addition of the rooftop garden, the construction cost 36 billion yen.

Kai Uesugi was thinking about the roses and hibiscus there, and of course, the swimming pool.

But they weren't there to swim, so the three of them went to a private bedroom upstairs in the rooftop garden.

This is where Kyushu Rika practiced piano since she was a child. Thin, wing-like curtains fluttered in the wind, and there were floor-to-ceiling windows. A Steinway piano stood in the center of the room.

Sitting at the piano, you can see the Tokyo Skytree in the distance, the Imperial Palace nearby, and the rooftop garden with its swimming pool at your feet.

Even the bedroom environment exudes an air of "money".

Kitagawa Sakakisa leaned lazily against the sofa watching TV, like a resting cat, with potato chips in her arms.

When engrossed in watching TV, the hand holding the potato chips will remain motionless near the mouth.

Ayaka Rie tried playing the drums on the other side, but her movements were a little rusty, probably because she hadn't played them in a long time.

Uesugi Kai had some doubts about whether the five of them could actually work together well.

As soon as they entered, everyone in the room greeted them.

"Uesugi-san, do you know how our band should practice?" Kitagawa Sakakisa asked, taking a bite of a potato chip.

Kai Uesugi: "We're not really a band, just a small group. We only performed one song temporarily."

Kitagawa Sakaki shook her head, looking very sad: "Sigh, to be honest, I didn't have much hope. It was a last-minute decision to play a song together."

Uesugi Kai wasn't very confident about putting together a team for a performance, since he didn't know their skill level or how they could coordinate well.

Fireworks only ever sang to herself.

There are still three days until Saturday. We need everyone to work together well before then, because the road ahead is uncertain.

----------

A street scene in Tokyo at 1:39 p.m.

Cold rain sprinkled across the transparent umbrellas that were being used to walk between the high-rise buildings.

"Welcome to 7 Days Convenience Store."

"Hi, Seunghye, 300 yen."

"Sir, starting in September, you'll be charged for plastic bags. Here's your change: 190 yen. Please keep it safe."

Thank you for your patronage. We look forward to welcoming you again.

After leaving the convenience store, Uesugi Kai, whose chin was now covered in stubble, walked home alone, holding an umbrella.

The whispers of raindrops hitting the umbrella's surface filled my entire body with a chill.

Kai Uesugi didn't react much, letting the chill invade his body as he continued walking through the rain-soaked streets of Tokyo.

He answered the phone, carrying a clear plastic bag containing two cup noodles.

It is the mother.

【Akai, the letter from the University of Tokyo has arrived.】

【Um. 】

[It says on the sign that the entrance ceremony will be held on April 1st!]

That's really lucky.

[Yeah, yeah! I can't believe you actually got in, A-Zhao! This past year must have been tough, right? What do you want to eat tonight?]

Kai Uesugi glanced sideways at the two packs of Nissin Cup Noodles in his plastic bag.

The pattering raindrops continued to fill my ears.

I've already bought some instant noodles.

[Instant noodles? No way! That's unhealthy. When you get home, just wait for me to go grocery shopping; it'll be ready in a minute.]

【Um. 】

Kai Uesugi hung up the phone and put it back in his pocket.