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

[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.

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.

###Chapter 303 Songchuan Restaurant###

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

"I'm back." Ai Yi stood on tiptoe with her hands behind her back in the entryway.

“It’s you who’s back.” Uesugi Kai stood outside the door, facing Ai who was welcoming him in the entryway.

"Yes, I'm back."

“Nohara Shinnosuke, right?” Uesugi Kai tapped her on the head.

Aiyi hugged her soft hair with both hands, pouted and looked at him: "Aiyi is not Sister Huahuo."

“I hit disobedient children on the head. Aren’t you wearing your hat today?”

Kai Uesugi remembered that she usually wore a small round hat.

"Sister Hanabi washed it off for me."

"Hmm, it's rare to see you without your round hat."

"Brother, who was that just now?" Ai Yi tilted her head up at a 45-degree angle to look at him.

Uesugi Kai put on his slippers and stepped onto the hardwood floor. "Nohara Shinnosuke?"

"Ah."

"A kid who's even more mischievous than you often gets his pants pulled down and spanked."

Upon hearing this, Ai-yi immediately hugged the back of her skirt, saying, "Teacher Jin-xi said that this is domestic violence and we should tell the police."

Kai Uesugi chuckled: "I never said I was going to spank you."

He took a strawberry cake out of his bag and gave it to her. "Where's your sister?"

"Thank you, brother. Sister is doing her homework."

"Aren't you going to write?"

"I won't write it."

"why?"

Aiyi didn't answer him. Instead, she hugged the strawberry cake and ran into her and Qian Aiyi's room with her slippers clattering.

Back in her bedroom, Uesugi Kai thought Hanabi Hanamaru wouldn't be home at this hour, but she was already sitting in front of her computer working.

Today I'm still wearing a white shirt with a red bow at the collar.

Seeing her familiar yet focused profile from the doorway brought a sense of peace.

"Would you like a cup of coffee?"

Hanabi Hanamaru, who was diligently drawing a fox tail, turned around and saw a handsome smiling face. She smiled brightly in return and asked, "When did Kai-kun get back?"

“I’ve been back for an hour, and I’ve been standing at the door watching you.”

"real...?"

"Of course it's true."

At this moment, Ai ran up from downstairs, carrying a plate into the house. "Sister Hanabi, have some cake. Brother just bought it."

Hanabi Hanabi glanced at Ai, then looked up at Kai Uesugi, who still maintained a calm expression.

"Just looking at you, a minute can feel like an eternity."

"Haha, brother's sweet talk is so corny, Sister Hanabi won't like it," Ai said with a laugh.

"Ai is wrong. Hanabi-neechan will like it." Uesugi Kai stretched out her bent index finger in the air. Ai, afraid of being hit on the head, immediately ran away.

"Kai-kun, you mustn't bully children."

"I do not have."

No matter how much Uesugi Kai explained, it was useless. He had used the head-tapping trick on Hanabi too many times, and she recognized him.

He learned this trick from his mother-in-law, and it served as a reminder to Hanamaru Hanabi.

"Don't be angry," Uesugi Kai pulled up a stool and sat down next to her, taking one of her small hands and stroking it in his own. "I have something to tell you."

Its smooth and tender texture feels like caressing flower petals, making it irresistible.

"Kai-kun... is there something you need to ask Hanabi...?" Hanabi didn't pull her hand back, but she could sense from the brief contact that he seemed to have something to say.

"Didn't I ask a few of my classmates to give the author some suggestions before?" Uesugi Kai picked up her slender index finger and touched it gently.

"Yes." Hanabi Hanamaru knew about this; Kai Uesugi had mentioned it to her.

"Judging from the author's feedback, those suggestions and notes were very helpful to him, so I plan to invite some of my classmates to Matsukawa Cuisine. I think you can come along too."

Hanabi Hanamaru asked, "Are we just going to eat food?"

Kai Uesugi gazed at her small, soft, jade-like hands: "Yes."

Hanabi Hanabi asked in confusion, "It's just eating food... why is Kai-kun being so careful with his words?"

"Actually, a female classmate wanted to ask me to do something for her, to pretend to be her boyfriend."

The air fell silent for a few seconds.

"...Why do this?"

Kai Uesugi explained it to her in detail.

Hanamaru Hanabi has fallen silent again.

Kai Uesugi: "You don't want to? It's fine if you don't want to, I'll just refuse."

Hanabi Hanamaru whispered, "No, it's not that I don't want to... it's just that it feels strange..."