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

Ai's attention was on the pretty clothes, and her voice sounded uninterested in him. She just pulled Hanamaru Hanabi to help her and her sister Chii Ai change clothes.

Sekine Sagara watched as Hanabi followed Ai to the other side, then turned to Uesugi Kai and said, "My sister and I are going to prepare a gift for our father today, so we won't disturb Hanabi-kun any longer."

He smiled at Uesugi Kai again, then turned and led his sister toward the exit. Before leaving, he didn't forget to help them get a free service, and gave the female shop assistant a few instructions.

After saying these words, he disappeared from sight.

Well, this guy is indeed quite handsome, and he knows how to dress well. He has a great sense of style, but he's not the trendy type. He's more of a normal, yet fashionable young man.

"Is he really your classmate?" Uesugi Kai walked over to Hanabi Hanamaru, who was helping Ai pick out clothes.

"Hmm..." Hanabi Hanamaru nodded slightly.

Is he pursuing you?

"Hanabi doesn't know much about it..." Hanabi Hanamaru said, "Sekine has never said that he wants to pursue me... He just occasionally gives me gifts, often comes to me during class to discuss problems, and often invites me and Sakaki Sa-chan to go sketching in Ueno Park, but Sakaki Sa-chan doesn't seem to like Sekine and always refuses."

"Idiot." Uesugi Kai flicked her forehead.

"You can't hit him in the head..."

"Brother, you can't hit Hanabi-neechan's head, or you'll become stupid."

Uesugi Kai smiled at Ai, casually dismissing her to look at clothes with a few words, and then continued speaking to Hanabi:

"What else could that be but a pursuit? It's just very subtle. He wants to get close to you through your classmate relationship. Once you're integrated into the circle, it will be much easier to talk to each other. When you're a little closer, he'll occasionally buy you milk tea, pour you water, or carry your easel. When you're sketching, your hands might accidentally touch while you're holding your paintbrush, and then you'll both look up at each other, making eye contact and developing feelings for each other. That's how guys pursue girls."

"Kai-kun...you seem so skilled..."

"Isn't this the plot of the morning drama you watch? I've memorized it all."

"Didn't Kai-kun say he didn't like watching...? Hanabi really likes it..."

Girls love reading love stories, especially the kind with a touch of angst, and Uesugi Kai understands that.

"I didn't say I liked to read it. I just glanced at it once or twice while I was reading on the sofa."

"Okay..." Hanabi Hanamaru looked a little disappointed because she didn't have a boyfriend to watch romantic dramas with.

Kai Uesugi noticed her mood, but didn't understand what she was disappointed about. Although he understood Hanabi, girls' minds were complicated, and it was normal that he couldn't understand them well sometimes.

"Ahem, getting back to the point, the gift your classmate gave you..."

“Of course I didn’t accept it…” Hanabi Hanabi raised her delicate face to look at him, “Are you jealous, Kai-kun?”

"No, why would I be jealous?"

"But Hanabi always felt that Kai-kun felt a little sour inside."

"Hanabi is so beautiful, isn't it natural for her to be pursued?" Uesugi Kai changed the subject. "As long as she doesn't do anything excessive, I won't interfere. There's nothing wrong with pursuing someone you like, but you should know that Hanabi is already engaged..."

"Kai-kun is just jealous."

"Fine... I'm just jealous," Uesugi Kai couldn't argue with her anymore. "I know it hurts when guys give you gifts, but it's true, pretty girls are popular everywhere, aren't they?"

"Hanabi won't accept gifts from other people, and Kai-kun can't accept gifts from other girls either." Hanabi's soft voice was very low, and her delicate hair covered her crystal ears, making one wonder if she could even hear her own soft voice.

"Do love letters count?" Uesugi Kai thought of the pile of pink letters he hadn't replied to yet.

"Kai-kun accepted a love letter...?" Hanabi Hanamaru looked up at him, her beautiful, violet eyes sparkling.

"Didn't I tell you?" Uesugi Kai saw jealousy in her eyes, and the corners of his mouth involuntarily turned up, revealing a smile.

"Kai-kun... it's okay if you don't agree..."

"Hanabi... are you jealous?" Uesugi Kai leaned closer to her face.

Hanabi Hanamaru hurriedly dodged away, closing her eyes and turning her face away, saying softly, "N-nothing..."

“Girls can’t be dishonest, otherwise a lot of things they say will be misunderstood, like ‘no’ and ‘can’t.’” Uesugi Kai’s face got closer and closer, and he could even smell the sweet, girlish scent emanating from her.

"No! I can't kiss Kai-kun!"

The noise was so loud that it drew the attention of the shop assistants who were helping Ai and Qian Ai choose clothes, making Uesugi Kai feel quite embarrassed.

He didn't intend to kiss her, but Hanabi became exceptionally cute when she was shy, which made him subconsciously move closer to her face.

It's likely that Hanabi shouted because he was too close to her and she was a little flustered, thinking he was going to kiss her in the store.

The shop assistant's wary look, as if she wanted to call the police, prompted Uesugi Kai to explain that it was nothing, that they were a couple.

Are those two older brothers and sisters a couple?

“Yes, Hanabi is my brother’s fiancée,” Ai said.

"That's good. I thought he was the kind of guy who likes to play around with girls because of his good looks," the shop assistant patted her chest, then realized that the people in front of her were two young customers. "Sorry, sorry for saying such things to you, but you probably wouldn't understand."

Qian Aiyi didn't know much about it and shook her head.

Ai Yi: "I know, those kinds of guys will even take girls to really fun places at night."

Qian Aiyi: "What is that?"

Ai Yi: "It seems like it's about having babies together."

"Give birth to a baby...?" Qian Aiyi blushed immediately. Although she was only a primary school student, she had been taught some knowledge at school and still knew a little bit about it.

In fact, they had taken sex education classes and saw naked little figures in cartoon form during the classes.

These classes usually invite mothers to attend and showcase their adorable drawings.

Although no one knows why, no little girl or boy can help but blush.

Of course, Xiao Aiyi is an exception; she's only curious about the underlying principles.

--------

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.