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

"Hmph, Uesugi, what are you looking at!"

Hanabi Hanamaru's childlike face was flushed, her body slumped weakly on her desk, panting heavily, the red scarf of her sailor uniform rising and falling with her pounding chest.

He was clearly exhausted.

Kai Uesugi, expressionless, rebuked:

"Look what you've done to the fireworks, just to ask about that trivial thing from this morning?"

"Uesugi-kun... I'm alright..."

"Hmph, mind your own business! You did something bad this morning while I was away, and even dragged Hanabi-chan into it. I'll find out someday!"

What will you do if you're in the top ten of the monthly test?

"Don't worry about me, I'll pass the test!"

"You won't pass the exam." Uesugi Kai said calmly, knowing full well Ayaka Rie's level.

"You'll pass the test!"

"You won't pass the exam." The tone was firm and resolute.

"You!" Ayaka Rie gave up. "Then tell me, what should we do?"

"Come to Hanabi's house this weekend for another study session. I'll help you two with your math problems. If you want to improve, you'll have to spend more time on it."

"Okay, it's a deal!"

Ayaka Rie readily agreed this time, and Uesugi Kai didn't say much, continuing to complete his homework.

8:32:11

The drizzling rain of the day had stopped at night, but the bright moon, which was usually so bright, was still nowhere to be seen.

The gray clouds obscured the only light in the sky, but few people in bustling Tokyo would notice.

"Two takoyaki, one extra spicy, please."

"The total is 1260 yen. Thank you for your patronage."

On the way, Hanamaru Hanabi put the takoyaki covered in chili powder into her small mouth.

"Be careful it's hot."

"Ouch...it's hot..."

As soon as Uesugi Kai reminded her, Hanamaru Hanabi let out a faint whine, and tears welled up in the corners of her eyes.

It was obvious that he was badly burned.

The two immediately stopped on the narrow street.

Hanabi Hanabi tilted her head slightly, exhaled hot air, and after struggling for a while in her mouth, she cruelly swallowed the takoyaki.

One takoyaki at a time.

It's the large size, too.

Looking at her slightly pitiful profile, Uesugi Kai took out a bottle of purified water from his bag, opened the cap, and handed it to her: "Here, have some water."

"Thank you, Uesugi-kun..."

"Is it tasty?"

"Mmm...delicious." After taking a sip of water, Hanamaru nodded weakly.

"How come you swallowed it all in one gulp this time, without even leaving any scallions on top?"

"Because...eating like this...is extremely satisfying...Uesugi-kun should try it too!"

"Yeah."

"Ok!"

"..."

"Okay, I'll give it a try."

Under Hanabi's expectant gaze, Kai Uesugi had no choice but to fork up a takoyaki in his hand, open his mouth wide, and put it in his mouth.

Take a bite.

Instantly, the juice bursts in your mouth, and the unique soft and chewy texture of the takoyaki bursts forth, tantalizing every nerve on your tongue.

The perfect balance of scallion aroma, combined with the exquisite sauce and meat flavor, leaves an unforgettable taste experience in your mouth.

It even fills the brain with a blissful sense of happiness.

Savoring the lingering fragrance in his mouth, Uesugi Kai nodded subconsciously:

"Yes, it's really good."

“Right?” Hanabi Hanabi smiled brightly, “Would you like to try Hanabi’s, Uesugi-kun? It’ll be even more enjoyable with chili peppers. Hanabi would never lie to Uesugi-kun!”

As she spoke, she presented her bright red takoyaki balls to Uesugi Kai with both hands.

“This…” Uesugi Kai hesitated for a moment, “I think I’ll pass, Hanabi, this is too spicy, I can’t handle it.”

He had tried the food from the fireworks once before, and it was so spicy that even drinking a liter of milk couldn't calm him down; he kept coughing.

From then on, a shadow of fear was cast in his heart.

The beef curry I had at Hanamaru's house last night was the same.

Hanabi Hanabi's curry was different from the others'; hers was a super spicy version specially made by Hanabi Mieko.

The kind that makes your cheeks turn red from the spiciness.

"Oh well..."

Hanamaru Hanabi put the small box back and then forked a bright red takoyaki into her mouth.

Taking a bite, a beautiful smile spread across his face.

She was very quiet when eating noodles or rice, and only when eating super spicy food would she show a smile.

It's true love.

Kai Uesugi sighed inwardly, but he just couldn't understand how she could eat so much spicy food.

Perhaps this is what makes people different.

He forked the golden takoyaki in his hand again and put it in his mouth, just like Hanamaru Hanabi had taught him.

Take a bite.

Beauty blossoms from the lips.

Tokyo at night is ablaze with dazzling neon lights. Overwhelmed by happiness, the two walk side by side, leaving behind two elongating shadows as they continue their journey home.

###Chapter 50 Shinjuku Police Station###

"I'm on duty tonight and can't go home for the time being. Ask Uesugi to come find me at the Shinjuku Police Station."

Right at the door of Hanamaru's house, Uesugi Kai stared at the message Hanamaru Hanabi had shown him, then handed the phone back to her.

“Sigh,” he sighed, “You go back first, Hanabi, I’m going to see Uncle Yushu.”

Hanabi Hanabi is somewhat worried about Kai Uesugi:

"Uesugi-kun, be careful. I'll ask Dad to go easy on you."

"..."

"Ah."

Kai Uesugi shook his head helplessly, walked back to his empty house, put down his schoolbag, and headed back to the station.

Stepping outside and facing the cold night wind, Uesugi Kai took the Toden Arakawa Line from the station, changed trains several times, and got off at Shinjuku-sanchome.

Then I transferred to the Marunouchi Line and got off at Nishi-Shinjuku Station.

The tram was still extremely crowded at night. After getting off the train, Uesugi Kai looked at the brightly lit metropolis in front of her, took a breath of fresh air, and relieved the stuffiness in her heart.

Along the way, there were all sorts of passersby. Uesugi Kai continued walking, passing an intersection that had appeared in "Your Name."

9:12:23

Half an hour later, he finally arrived at the police station in Shinjuku, Tokyo.

It was a very large building, with most of the square windows at the top lit up.

Shinjuku Police Station, Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department

Pushing open the transparent glass door, Uesugi Kai walked into the Metropolitan Police Department building.

As soon as you enter, you see the vending machine on your right.

Two police officers in light blue uniforms and caps were standing there, drinking canned coffee and talking to each other.

The two of them also clearly saw Uesugi Kai, who had just stepped into the Metropolitan Police Department building.

One of them was Teppei Suzuki, whom I met this morning.

"Officer Suzuki."

Kai Uesugi turned around and greeted him, since they were acquaintances after all.

"you...?"

Teppei Suzuki frowned, put down his coffee, and asked Kai Uesugi:

"It's you again. You came this morning and you're here again tonight? What's up?"

"You know Suzuki-senpai?" Another young policeman looked at Uesugi Kai, who was still in his school uniform by the door.

“Him,” Suzuki Teppei glanced at Uesugi Kai and flicked the coffee can in his hand, “this morning he and his girlfriend were doing something intimate on the train and someone saw them.”

"That guy probably thought he was molesting a female high school student, so he called the police station and wanted us to arrest him. I happened to be patrolling in that area, and after receiving the assignment, I brought the two of them to the police station."

“I see,” the young policeman nodded, smiling as he looked at Kai Uesugi. “I didn’t realize you were so bold. I wouldn’t dare do something like that on the train.”

Teppei Suzuki glanced at the young policeman beside him:

"Ishibashi, you're quite handsome, but you're not as good-looking as this kid. When are you going to learn from him? You're 23 years old and you've never even had a proper girlfriend."