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

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.

What do I have to worry about?

###Chapter 273 Memories of the Past###

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

June 1st.

Kai Uesugi waited in the living room for Hanabi to come out after changing her clothes.

Last night I secretly touched her toes and accidentally woke her up. I coaxed and hugged her for a long time before she finally fell asleep in my arms.

In the morning, Hanabi Hanabu came out wearing a little skirt and a white shirt, her face flushed, and whispered many little things to him.

It means something like "I hate you," "bad guy," or "big bad guy," and it sounds like both anger and a bit of coquettishness.

Uesugi Kai had no choice but to hold her hands, gently tap her forehead with his lips, and then say to her:

"I did this because I like you. I don't care about other girls."

Upon hearing this, Hanabi Hanabi indeed raised her head, her beautiful purple eyes sparkling as she looked into the morning light in the living room.

"Really...?"

"of course."

Having received his promise, Hanabi Hanabi nodded earnestly again, looking completely convinced and exceptionally happy.

Seeing the girl's appearance, Uesugi Kai thought she was both silly and innocent.

That last sentence was just a very common trick to coax a girl.

In today's information-rich world, girls are basically no longer buying into this kind of thing.

Instead, they might get angry, saying it's just empty flattery, low-class sweet talk, and they'll be unhappy all day.

Only fireworks can be filled with joy because of a small compliment or a little bit of care.

Did she ever consider that this was a line specifically designed to deceive girls?

Perhaps one day she will be deceived, still immersed in a pleasant mood, completely unaware of it.

It makes people feel sorry for them and think they're silly.

In some harem anime, her type is the one who loses the most miserably.

The naive childhood sweetheart, who is incapable of fighting, will definitely be targeted by the other female protagonists.

They would make her unintentionally do many wrong things, deepen the misunderstanding between her and the male protagonist, and then she could only feel disappointed, silently blame herself, and silently distance herself.

Kai Uesugi could even picture Hanabi Hanamaru's departing figure, wearing a white dress, as she offered her blessings.

The one who was the most devoted and stayed the longest was the first to leave.

"You're so silly." Uesugi Kai chuckled and reached out to pat her head.

"Kai-kun".

Hanabi Hanabi pushed his hand away and looked up.

"how?"

"It's because Kai-kun touched Hanabi's head too much that Hanabi didn't grow tall."

"It's good that you're not tall, I can pick you up in one go."

"not good."

"Very good."

"not good."

"Very good."

"not good!"

"Little girl, you've learned to talk back now? I'm not helping you tonight."

Hanabi Hanamaru's face flushed red instantly. Her little hands clasped together, and after fidgeting for a while, she could only lower her head shyly and say, "Kai-kun, you're so annoying."

"Sigh, it's tiring to even talk about it. The scratch marks you left on my arm in the bathroom yesterday haven't faded yet, even though Little Fireworks was lying in my arms and looking so happy—"

Hanabi Hanamaru quickly interrupted, but couldn't find anything to say in response, so she could only close her eyes tightly and say again, "I hate you!"

----------

Shirogaki Elementary School, located in Shinjuku Ward, is a public elementary school in Tokyo founded in the early Meiji period. It is one of the oldest elementary schools in the country.

It's not far from the Uesugi and Hanamaru families; it's a 20-minute walk to the school gate.

The two got off the tram and embarked on the second half of the path, which was both familiar and unfamiliar to them.

What's familiar is that this is the route the two of them have taken to and from school for the past six years; what's unfamiliar is that they haven't walked this route much for the past six years.

Even the small shops where I used to buy snacks have closed down and stopped operating.

As he walked to the door of the roller shutter, Uesugi Kai couldn't help but feel nostalgic. He used to often use his pocket money to buy milk for Hanabi. The little girl would often be reluctant to drink it on the spot, and would take it back to show her mother before she would be willing to eat it at mealtime.

Up to now.

Kai Uesugi looked at her standing beside him.

The little girl has grown into a beautiful young woman.

Hanabi Hanabu stood in front of the roller shutter door, looking up at the empty, blank sign.

"Kai-kun, what happened to Grandpa Yoshitake afterward?"

Grandpa Yoshitake used to be the owner of this small shop. There used to be lots of snacks and marbles hanging outside. A few clever kids would try to sneak around, with two of them trying to distract the owner while one of them would steal the items.

Kai Uesugi understood that Grandpa Yoshitake knew about their petty theft. He didn't pay attention the first time, but the second time he simply chased them out with a stick.

He always told himself and Huahuo that most petty thieves are still just thieves, and he could forgive those few thieves once, after all, his family was poor.

The second time was unacceptable; it was a completely ingrained habit. From then on, if there was anything I wanted, I wouldn't try to earn it with my own hands, but would only think of stealing it.

Grandpa Yoshitake always had a stern face towards those little brats, and many elementary school students were a little afraid to buy things from him.

But he was especially kind to Kai and Hanabi, saying they were good children, and he would often take milk and candy from the shelf for Hanabi to eat, leaning on his cane.

However, times have changed, and Grandpa Yoshitake, who used to sit in the convenience store and watch the children leave school, is no longer there.

Uesugi Kaiya gazed at the empty signboard, reminiscing about the past:

"Later, he developed an illness that everyone goes through."

Hanabi Hanabi turned to look at him, asking in confusion, "Wasn't Grandpa Yoshitake taken away? He's with Yoshitake-neechan and the others...?"

That's a lie.

Kai Uesugi didn't want to expose the lie he told her when they were children. Back then, he didn't want Hanabi to experience the scenario of seeing her one day and never seeing her again the next.

For now... let this white lie continue.

......

Upon arriving at the elementary school gate, you can see many bright signs and balloons hanging on it.

Even from the gate, you can see many ribbons and wishes hanging on the big tree in the middle of the campus, swaying and fluttering in the morning breeze.

Although the campus is open today, registration is still required upon entry.

In case of any potential safety hazards.

Kai Uesugi and Hanabi Hanabi were both proper college students and young people, so it was easy for them to get in.

He made a point of looking at the gatekeeper to see if he was the one who used to cross his legs in the guard room every day when he was a child.

Unfortunately, the person in charge has changed.

During their free time, the two wandered around the elementary school and even played on the slide next to the sandy area of ​​the playground.

The slide is new, but it holds many memories.

Kai Uesugi stood nearby, watching Hanabi slide down the spiral slide with a rather intrigued expression.

He watched her like this when she was little, and sometimes she would pull him aside and invite him to go skating together, just like a little girl.

Hanabi Hanabi tried out the slide once and then came over.

"Aren't you going to play a little longer?" Uesugi Kai asked.

"Hanabi is wearing a skirt, so it's not very convenient," Hanabi Hanamaru said after glancing at the slide.

"You wore skirts when you were little, and you had a lot of fun, didn't you?"

"Kai-kun, Hanabi isn't a child anymore," Hanamaru Hanabi muttered, knowing he was teasing her on purpose.

“Yes, yes, yes,” Uesugi Kai replied with a smile, “Hanabi is now a big sister who’s about to get married.”

Continuing to walk around the campus, we found that the Children's Day activities had not yet officially started. The children had just gathered on the playground for the opening ceremony.

Meanwhile, the parents sat on benches outside the playground, watching the children's performance.

The program included choral singing, Swan Lake dance, and other artistic performances...

These performances showcasing themselves are actually quite similar to those in Chinese primary schools, except that there are many interactive games with adults, and guessing games hosted by the children themselves.

If it's an international primary school, they might even offer special activities.

The opening ceremony speech will also be delivered by five children in five different languages.