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

"It's alright, you just need to rest for a bit." Uesugi Kai looked at Hanabi Hanabi's gradually improving complexion.

"Are you alright?...That's good. You really scared me just now."

Kitagawa Sakakisa gestured with her hands and facial expressions to show how miserable Hanabi Hanabi's face had looked just now.

“She’s never been in good health since she was little…” Uesugi Kai held Hanabi’s cold little hand.

"Did you have any illnesses before?" Jiuzhi Lixiang asked.

“No,” Uesugi Kai shook her head, “It’s just that my constitution isn’t very good…”

"By the way, would you like some coffee? You can order one from that uncle earlier."

"Uncle?"

"He is the owner of this cottage."

"I see."

The three of them ordered a cup of hot coffee to warm themselves up. The uncle, whose name was Kanzaki Shun, sat down and chatted with them.

Kai Uesugi felt that this middle-aged man looked strangely familiar.

"Does Mr. Kanzaki acknowledge Takashi Kanzaki?"

"That's my younger brother. You're Kanzaki Koshito's students?"

It seems the uncle is the old principal's older brother.

"I used to, but now I've graduated from high school."

"You've graduated."

Uncle Kanzaki was in high spirits and talked to them a lot about school.

While drinking coffee, Uesugi Kai and his friends heard many embarrassing stories about the old principal, such as how he ran his pants off during a sports meet and how, when he was fourteen, he often dreamed about toilets at night, which caused him to wet the bed.

Kitagawa Sakakisa was surprised that the school's serious old principal had such a thing to do, and burst into laughter.

The group sat in the small house for a long time, waiting for Hanabi, who had fainted, to wake up.

Kai Uesugi saw a guitar at the front desk and pointed at it, asking Uncle Kanzaki, "Can I use it?"

"No problem," Uncle Kanzaki readily agreed.

As the sun began to set, more hikers started arriving at the uncle's hut.

Most of them were sitting inside chatting, while some older men were gathered in groups chatting.

Many people booked rooms with him as a place to rest for the night, so they could climb up the mountain the next morning to watch the sunrise.

Kai Uesugi took his guitar and walked out of the hut.

He picked up a small stool with his other hand and sat down in the spot with the widest view.

Kai Uesugi kept strumming the guitar strings, turning the metal knob on the headstock with his right hand to tune the guitar to his preferred pitch.

As the sun sets, the twilight glows at your feet, and the sun seems almost within reach on the golden horizon.

Uesugi Kai sat on a small stool, gazing at the sunset over Mount Fuji. His face and eyes reflected the essence of summer.

"Kai-kun..."

Kai Uesugi turned around when she heard the sound and found Hanabi Hanabi standing at the door of the hut. The warm light inside the hut illuminated her figure, making her already rosy face look extremely cute.

Are you feeling better?

"Hmm..." Hanabi Hanabi said somewhat disappointedly, "I'm sorry... Kai-kun, you've been taking care of Hanabi all day..."

"Don't say that to me, come here." Uesugi Kai smiled, placed another small stool next to him, patted it, and waved to the girl standing at the door.

Once she was seated beside him, Kai Uesugi picked up his guitar and asked her with a smile, "What would you like to hear?"

"Whatever Kai decides, that's fine..."

Kai Uesugi turned around and looked at the golden sunset not far below.

"Listen carefully to Yu Takahashi's 'Sakura no Uta'."

"Hmm..." Hanabi Hanabi sat up straight beside him, resting her chin on her hands and gazing at his cheeks flushed red by the sunset.

Kai Uesugi closed his eyes, smelled the fresh mountain breeze, and recalled the melody of "Sakura no Uta".

Soon, his fingers plucked the strings, his little finger rhythmically striking the guitar's soundboard, the unhurried tone and the melody of Cherry Blossom Song flowing gently from his fingertips.

After a melodious ending note, Uesugi Kai sang softly, gazing at the mountain scenery: "We always chatted about trivial daily life, looked at each other and smiled. Every day in the past was shining brightly. The laughter and words of the past still linger in my ears. You said we would eventually grow up. Are you also struggling for life somewhere now? Before I knew it, this spring had arrived."

After singing about spring, the originally melancholic lines burst forth like withered trees coming back to life.

"Arriving gracefully, filling the air with fragrance, like cherry blossoms in full bloom, their vibrant petals fluttering in the air..."

As Uesugi Kai sang, she searched her mind for past memories. Scenes from the past floated in her mind like cherry blossoms, leaving a beautiful and moving aftertaste.

After Uesugi Kai finished singing, he held his guitar in his hands and smiled as he asked Hanabi Hanabu, who was sitting next to him listening:

"Does it sound good?"

Hanabi Hanabi wiped her eyes and smiled, saying, "It sounds nice..."

"If it sounds good... If you'd like, I'll play it for you every day... Besides, I originally learned to play the guitar just for you."

Kai Uesugi looked into the distance.

"Speaking of which, how is Yuki doing in England? Miss Anna, Mr. Bryce, and Mrs. Margaret."

Hanabi Hanamaru said, "Yuuki is doing well... She even won an award not long ago... Miss Anna and Mr. Bryce are still working at that coffee shop, and it's Mrs. Margaret..."

Kai Uesugi turned around and looked at Hanabi Hanabi's lowered face.

"Really... I remember, on my first day in England, she prepared breakfast for me... bread, eggs, milk, peanut butter..."

Kai Uesugi remembered the words of blessing she and Hanabi had exchanged with them as they left.

Mrs. Margaret suffered from infertility, which was a cruel blow to any woman.

Her husband loved her deeply and did not choose to divorce her because of her disability.

Her husband neither smoked nor drank, and worked three part-time jobs just to earn money to buy Mrs. Margaret those expensive medicines...

The two talked about their dreams and worked hard for the future.

However, before her dream could be realized, Mrs. Margaret's husband died young.

After that, Mrs. Margaret spent nearly fifty years alone, using the rest of her time to fulfill the shared dream they had as lovers, thus making up for her regrets.

Kai Uesugi still couldn't imagine that strong and independent old lady leaving this world so simply.

Did Mrs. Margaret say anything when she left?

Hanamaru Hanabi shook her head.

"Then...she must have a lot to say to her husband..."

###Chapter 379 A Girl in Love###

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

(Needs some revision)

Oh my god, it's snowing.

In the darkness, Hanabi breathed warm air into her hands and carefully rubbed them together.

"Cold?"

"Um....."

Kai Uesugi stood on a rock atop Mount Fuji, gazing at the dark horizon in the distance.

He turned around, reached out his hand to the girl, and said, "Don't rush this time."

Hanabi Hanabi's little hands were a little red from the cold. She looked at Kai Uesugi's outstretched hand above her and reached out to touch it.

She could feel it; his hand was warm.

“Kai-kun…” she muttered to herself, head bowed.

"What are you saying?"

"N-nothing..." Hanabi Hanabi looked up, her slightly flushed face turning towards Kai Uesugi, who was holding her hand.

He was wearing a helmet with a night light for finding his way.

The nightlight cast a beam of light, reflecting the falling snowflakes on his face.

With his help, Hanabi Hanamaru stood on a rough rock beside him.

As Uesugi Kai continued looking ahead, Kitagawa Sakakisa, Kuju Rika, and many other hikers were already ahead.

Hanabi's attention, however, was on his face. She held his warm hand and asked softly, "If... if Hanabi says Kai-kun is handsome... would Kai-kun be happy...?"

Hearing her voice, Uesugi Kai turned around, smiled, and then took up her small hand, which was wrapped up in his arms, and said, "Hanabi has to say 'I love you so much, Kai-kun' and then give me a big kiss. That's what will make me happy."

"Kai-kun... Kai-kun is always like this..."

Kai Uesugi smiled again: "As long as Hanabi knows that I enjoy it, that's all that matters."

It is 2:30 a.m.

To see the sunrise, you must climb to the top of the mountain before 4:30 a.m.

Although it is summer, the air temperature has dropped below zero. Snow is falling on the mountain, making the remaining hiking trails treacherous and difficult.

In complete darkness, all that could be seen were jagged volcanic lava formations, and the air was so thin that one would start panting after just a few steps.

The happiest moment in mountain climbing is when you support each other, overcome the hardships of the journey together, and reach the summit to enjoy the beautiful scenery.

As we climbed upwards, our limbs went numb from the cold wind. It took us nearly two hours to ascend just 200 meters.

4:12

Kai Uesugi put down his watch, took Hanabi Hanabi's hand, and looked at the horizon where a faint light was beginning to appear.

This is the best spot to watch the sunrise.

Before my eyes, the clouds stretched endlessly, and a strong wind blew by, instantly refreshing my senses. The vast expanse of white clouds made me feel as if I had entered a fairyland.