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

Choose two out of three.

They had no choice but to give up the relatively tiring kendo competition.

Hanabi Hanabi walked out of the kitchen carrying freshly cut fruit; her knife skills were neat, and the watermelon slices were evenly spaced.

Uesugi Shio then looked her over and said, "Hanabi seems to have grown taller."

"Really?" Hanabi Hanamaru looked quite happy, reaching out her palm to touch her head.

Kai Uesugi calmly replied, "No, not at all."

Uesugi Shio looked Hanamaru Hanabi up and down again: "She must have grown a few centimeters taller."

"Even if you're a few centimeters taller, you're still a shorty." Uesugi Kai said in the same tone as before.

"Kai-kun!" Hanabi Hanamaru muttered as she called his name.

Her height is actually not short for a girl.

Uesugi Kai just wanted to tease her, to see her looking a little angry. "How about we go for a walk at Uncle's place this afternoon?"

"Kai-kun, are you going to practice kendo?"

“No,” Uesugi Kai said. “Wearing protective gear in this heat is smelly and tiring, who would want to? Anyway, I absolutely, positively will not practice today.”

Hanabi Hanamaru couldn't remember the last time he practiced kendo, and blurted out unconsciously:

"But... I haven't seen Kai-kun practice in a long time—"

"Yes, I'm going there to practice kendo."

Uesugi Shio quietly ate watermelon while watching a Japanese variety show on TV.

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

After lunch.

It's time to get on the train again and head to Chiyoda Ward.

The uncle lives in that area.

Uesugi Shio changed her clothes specially, wearing a white shirt and black hakama, with sleeves just past her elbows.

Grandma placed the jade ornament she received on her chest; judging by the hanging thread, it was perfectly positioned between her breasts.

There were four magatama in total, and one is missing.

"What color is the other magatama?" Uesugi Kai asked.

Uesugi Shio said, "I don't know. Grandma said they were gone a long time ago. But since your two are red, the other half of mine should be green."

Forget it, there's no point in thinking about this anymore.

Uesugi Kai watched as Hanabi's small feet, wrapped in white silk, stepped into round-toed leather shoes and walked towards him.

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

The air conditioning in the subway was much more comfortable than walking outside. Uesugi Kai gripped the handrail, shielding Hanabi Hanabi's face so that she could be close to him.

An older man with a newspaper was standing next to her in the carriage, glancing at her from time to time.

This made Hanamaru Hanabi a little scared.

"Kai-kun...that person..."

"It's okay, just stay close to me."

Hanabi Hanamaru lowered her face to Kai Uesugi so that he could block her view and prevent the older man from seeing her.

She turned her eyes to the side and looked up, all she could see was his chest and face.

"Hanabi... being a little shorter is fine too..." Hanamaru Hanabi muttered to herself softly.

"Haven't you always wanted to grow taller?" Uesugi Kai said with a smile, of course he could hear what she was saying.

“Being taller is good, but being shorter isn’t bad either,” Hanabi Hanamaru whispered, her weak voice barely audible to the two of them on the train. “Like this… Kai-kun can help Hanabi too…”

"Thanks......"

"Aren't we husband and wife? Why do you always thank me like this?"

"Because... Kai-kun is Kai-kun... Hanabi has always been grateful that he stayed by her side..."

"Isn't it tiring to treat each other with the utmost respect?"

“No,” Hanabi Hanabi said, pressing her head against his chest, “'Thank you'...it won't get tiring…”

*

I rode the train back along the same route I came from, until I transferred to another train in Otemachi, Chiyoda Ward.

After getting off the bus, the man disappeared from sight.

Hanamaru Hanabi has also become much more at ease.

Uesugi Shio walked ahead, exiting the station and continuing straight along the street.

Uncle Sakakibara wasn't exaggerating; he really does have the title of "Heartless Sword Saint."

Wuxinkan is owned by his family and is located in Sarugakucho 1-chome, Chiyoda-ku, not far from Meiji University.

At first, Uesugi Kai thought he was a bachelor who didn't like money and seemed incredibly carefree.

They keep saying those childish, delusional things.

When he returned from London, Uncle Sakakibara told him to find him at a place called "Mushinkan" in Chiyoda Ward.

Only then did he realize that his cheap master was actually a rich man.

To tell you where you can tell.

That can only be said to have been glimpsed from his family's dojo—a courtyard with a pond in front of Wuxin Hall.

The land price for a 42-square-meter house is over 6000 million yen. Uncle Sakakibara's house includes his own residence, a kendo dojo, and a Japanese garden...

As for why he went to Shikoku.

According to him, he had been searching for something.

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

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.

Unexpectedly, it rang again.

It's Goto.

【Hello.】

[Haha, Uesugi, I passed! I passed!]

【Congratulations.】

Hey, you have no idea how tough it's been for me lately. Every night I wait for the envelope to arrive at home.

【Um. 】

Kai Uesugi, phone in hand, gazed at the passersby under their umbrellas as they brushed past him.

[Hey, Uesugi, are you alright? You don't sound very happy. Could it be that you...]

You've passed; don't worry.

[You passed? Haha, that's great! The University of Tokyo... I can't even dream of it. There's a class reunion on Friday, everyone's coming. Are you coming?]

【never mind.】

Hey, no way! The class reunion wouldn't be complete without you! You're a celebrity at our school! Do you know how many girls have asked me for your phone number?

[It wouldn't be much different without me.]

【How can you say that! Every classmate is important! If you don't come, Tsubokawa and I will drag you here!】

There's no need.

"Uesugi, this is necessary. We're worried about you." Goto's tone suddenly became serious.