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

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.

What do I have to worry about?

[Anyway, it's settled then. 2-6-12 Ginza. Remember to come on time Friday noon, you absolutely have to!]

Kai Uesugi put the phone he had just hung up back into his pocket.

On the way home, the sound of the plastic bag swaying and the rain hitting the umbrella were clearly mingled together.

The words Goto had invited me to the class reunion kept echoing in my mind.

To say it's perfect is an understatement; it's been imperfect for a long time now.

Uesugi Kai continued walking, the sky overcast with rain, filled with an unyielding chill.

......

open the door.

"I am back."

Kai Uesugi spoke loudly because he secretly hoped that a soft, warm voice would reach his ears.

###Chapter 293 Walking in the Rain (2)###

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

On a gloomy, rainy day, the window seats in a fast food restaurant take on a special kind of atmosphere.

It's hard to describe, but it makes the rain beautiful, and the cool chill seeps through the transparent glass and into your heart, as if the world has stopped in a fog.

To stimulate customers' appetites, restaurants typically use warm-colored lighting that creates a soft atmosphere.

From a psychological perspective, this makes dining feel romantic and sophisticated.

More sophisticated designers will hide the lights in the details, making them difficult to notice.

The waitress brought the food to the table, and the aroma of the food brought Uesugi Kai back to reality from the rainy scene outside the window.

Is this Qian Aiyi's first time visiting an aquarium?

"Ah...yes, it's my first time." The voice that answered was slightly shy.

Uesugi Kai wasn't foolish enough to ask "why." No one had ever cared about them growing up, so they certainly never had the chance to visit places like aquariums that required adult supervision.

"good to eat!"

Qian Aiyi: "Aiyi, be quiet while eating."

Why should it be quiet?

"Why...?" Hearing her sister's question, Qian Aiyi stammered for a long time and was also stunned. Why?

Uesugi Kai swallowed a mouthful of rice: "Aren't you tired of shouting every time you eat? You're just saving yourself energy."

Ai Yi suddenly realized, "Oh right, it's better to eat and talk than to be quiet and comfortable."

Qian Aiyi also looked confused, as if she understood.

"Kai-kun, they don't know anything yet!" Hanamaru Hanabi meant that he shouldn't teach the children bad things or spread fallacies.

"I'm telling the truth."

"Kai-kun." Hanabi Hanamaru called his name again.

"Okay, okay," Uesugi Kai instantly gave up her stubbornness and turned to the two little girls in front of her, saying, "I was just talking nonsense. Eating quietly is a matter of politeness. Nobody likes girls who smack their lips."

"Brother! As long as a girl dresses up pretty, someone will like her."

That's the absolute truth.

Kai Uesugi deeply agreed with Ai's words. For example, when Hanabi was little, she was short and chubby and not many people liked her. But in middle school and high school, the inconspicuous little girl suddenly blossomed into a graceful young woman, and many people came to pursue her.

"Ahem, that's not true. As long as you have a kind heart, you will eventually be liked by others."

"It feels exactly the same as the textbook content taught by the teacher."

"After all, everyone is taught to be kind, and this is the benefit of kindness, so it will naturally be written in elementary school textbooks."

"Is there any downside to being kind?" Ai asked, taking a big bite of beef.

"Of course there are."

Chii Ai also became interested in the topic, and following her sister's gaze, she looked at Uesugi Kai: "Is kindness... a bad thing?"

Her eyes revealed curiosity, the pure and innocent thirst for knowledge unique to children.

"Kindness is about compromise and courtesy to others, making them happy while also making yourself happy. However, being too kind can make one's existence seem cheap. One should proactively accommodate everyone and everything. The way to deal with conflict is to assess one's own abilities and wisdom. Everyone knows the difference between right and wrong. Kindness should also have its limits and should be used on the right people."

Qian Aiyi didn't quite understand, but she thought it was very impressive, like a teacher patiently instructing her.

“Kai-kun,” Hanabi Hanabi tugged at Kai Uesugi’s arm, “Chiai-chan doesn’t understand.”

"It's okay if you don't understand, just understand that kindness should only be used on good people."

Ai Yi: "What about bad people?"

"Bad people will take advantage of your kindness to profit from you and trick you into selling yourself!" Uesugi Kai deliberately used these words to scare Ai.

Ai Yi just chuckled and said, "Brother is a bad guy."

"Oh? Then who paid for the beef rice you're eating?"

“This wasn’t said by Ai, it was said by Hanabi-neechan. When my brother and Hanabi-neechan are together, I always hear her say ‘Kai-kun is a bad guy,’ ‘bad person.’”

The usually reserved older sister, Hanabi Hanamaru, blushed and became shy as she thought of something.

She actually blushed when a little girl talked to her; she must be an underage girl.

Kai Uesugi was able to accept Ai's innocent remarks calmly and explained:

"To some extent, this 'bad guy' is an affectionate term."

"Brother, what are nicknames?"

"A term of endearment for someone you like."

"Can I call him 'brother' like that too?"

"No."