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

Their eyes met.

The other's image was reflected in their eyes.

Immediately afterwards, both of them avoided eye contact.

"Honestly, still shy!"

Mrs. Hanamaru and Mrs. Uesugi couldn't help but laugh when they saw this.

......

After the photoshoot, the two ladies discussed with the photographer which style and background would be more suitable.

Kai Uesugi stood to the side holding his younger sister, Kokoro Uesugi. Hanabi Hanamaru walked over at this moment. She had changed out of her wedding dress and was now being entrusted with a little one by her mother.

The two younger sisters see each other often and are already very familiar with each other. When the two little ones get close, they will greet each other with babbling sounds.

The girl stood beside him, and Uesugi Kai noticed that she still looked somewhat innocent and shy, as if the feelings from her first love had never faded.

"Hanabi."

Hanabi Hanabi raised her head, hugging her younger sister Hanabi Hanayu, and looked at his face at the same time.

"Thanks..."

Hanabi Hanamaru perhaps understood what he was thanking him for, and lowered her head to soothe Hanamaru Hanayu, who was fussing in her arms, her soft, purplish-red eyes sparkling.

She shook her head and said softly in a weak voice, "Kai-kun, you don't need to thank me..."

.....

In the following days, Kai Uesugi went to participate in the finals as scheduled.

His opponent was Isshin Sakakibara's apprentice, his own senior brother, and a two-time champion.

It was supposed to be a fierce battle, but lately Uesugi Kai felt like something was lingering in his mind, making him lose the will to train and the desire to show his true strength.

With only the desire to end the competition quickly, he won this year's championship in a lifeless manner.

Even the organizers and the audience and media from all walks of life failed to realize it.

The final match was not even as exciting as the semi-final.

The first four matches were fine, within the normal range.

But when it came to Uesugi Kai, he defeated Fujimaki Asuka in just two moves each round with overwhelming power.

After losing three rounds in a row, Fujimaki Asuka, the senior disciple, stood there, staring blankly at the bamboo sword in his hand, doubting himself.

He was an arrogant man, and he had the right to be arrogant, but he never expected to lose so completely today.

Afterwards, reports of Uesugi Kairokutou winning the national kendo tournament filled all the newspapers related to kendo.

Almost everyone was curious about how he managed to defeat a two-time champion in just six moves.

Some media outlets even discovered that the two were from the same school, leading to rumors that the match was rigged and contested.

However, none of that matters now.

Time marches on relentlessly.

Uesugi Kai thought that Ai and Chi Ai's matter would lead to something else happening with the Yakuza, but his uncle handled things very well, with almost no resistance, and Uesugi Kai didn't need to go and help.

The situation has been investigated and clarified. The two little girls' father offended a gang leader in the Kitagawa Clan, causing the stock market to plummet. Their brokerage firm failed to sell at the peak, resulting in the gang leader losing a large sum of money and developing a desire for revenge against Ai's father... Using this as a pretext, they approached Iwashita Sumiko...

Kai Uesugi wanted to see Sumiko Iwashita one more time, but she disappeared after the custody of Ai and Chii was awarded to the Hanamaru family.

The wedding venue has also been chosen: Meiji Shrine, a traditional Shinto-style wedding.

But Kai Uesugi always felt that something was missing.

He also wanted to see fireworks in a wedding dress, to see her in a pure white, dreamlike wedding gown, and to see her walking slowly towards him with even steps.

...

In early October, the Dongda University started its new semester.

The campus was covered with golden ginkgo leaves. Uesugi Kai, wearing gold-rimmed glasses and holding a book, looked up at the clear sky above.

A gentle breeze stirs the blue sky, countless schools of fish ripple across the autumn air, and dew accumulates, thick with frost.

The new semester is no different; it's just that spring turns into autumn, repeating itself every year.

Uesugi Kai continued walking, the wind scattering golden leaves across the ground.

After walking through the ginkgo-lined path in the Tokyo University campus, Uesugi Kai arrived at the school's bicycle parking area.

He found his bicycle, took out the ginkgo leaves from the basket, put the book in his hand into the basket, then clicked down the kickstand and pushed the bicycle slowly towards the school gate amidst the scenery of ginkgo trees.

As she occasionally brushed past some students, Uesugi Kai would sometimes look up and gaze at the scenery along the way.

He could see the passage of time in those scattered ginkgo leaves.

As Uesugi Kai pushed his bicycle out of the school through the red gate, intending to go straight home, he suddenly heard someone call his name from behind.

"Kai-kun".

Kai Uesugi turned around and looked at the girl in autumn clothes with some surprise:

"Fireworks? Were you waiting for me?"

"Yes."

Hanabi Hanabi walked up to him, a slightly puzzled look on her face. "Kai-kun...didn't we agree to go home together today...?"

"Kai-kun...you haven't forgotten, have you?" She tilted her head slightly in front of him.

"..."

A moment of silence followed.

"I really forgot."

"Don't be angry," Uesugi Kai said hurriedly, quickly patting the bicycle seat next to him with a smile, "I'll give you a ride home today!"

"Kai-kun...you're really going too far..."

Hanabi Hanamaru muttered softly, her tone slightly reproachful, but a sweet smile graced her lips.

After saying that, she lifted her skirt and sat sideways on the back seat of the bicycle he was holding.

It was only then that Uesugi Kai took a closer look at her clothes: a schoolgirl sweater, a cotton tulle skirt, a thin light-colored jacket draped over her upper body, and a scarf around her neck.

The overall style is rather simple and elegant, with a touch of cuteness. It is precisely this simple beauty that makes her beautiful face even more vivid.

"Speaking of which, the weather turned cooler quite early this year."

"Yes, Kai-kun should wear more clothes too, so he doesn't catch a cold."

"You're the one who should be worried about catching a cold!" Uesugi Kai looked at her, then suddenly said, "Today... you look very beautiful, my dear wife."

"She's not my wife!" Hanabi Hanamaru quickly added with a laugh, "She will be in ten days."

Kai Uesugi laughed and started pushing his bicycle, taking the girl sitting on the back seat with him on the way home.

The weather was perfect in the afternoon; the sky was still bright, and the streets were bustling with pedestrians and vehicles passing by from time to time, creating a lively atmosphere both inside and out.

"You're getting married soon, Hanabi-chan, what are your thoughts?"

"Happiness," perhaps feeling that wasn't enough, Hanabi Hanamaru added exaggeratedly, "Very happy!"

"From then on...we'll always be together."

"From now on... Hanabi and Kai will be husband and wife, so of course they'll always be together!"

"Husbands and wives should support each other, so please don't despise me in the future."

"It should be Kai-kun who doesn't mind the fireworks."

The two looked at each other and smiled at each other at the same time.

As Uesugi Kai pushed his bicycle, many passersby turned to look at the two of them because of the beautiful girl on the back seat.

"Kai-kun, aren't you going to ride your bike home?"

“It’s illegal to carry passengers on a bicycle. We almost got caught by the traffic police last time, and your dad found out about it. He even scolded me. Have you forgotten?”

"Just now Kai-kun said he'd take Hanabi back..." Hanabi muttered, swinging her legs slightly behind him, "But... Hanabi thinks it's better to go home a little slower."

I slowly pushed my bicycle, strolled leisurely through the city, and slowly made my way home.

This was supposed to be a very boring thing, but Uesugi Kai wished that time could slow down, just a little bit more...

The only reason is the girl sitting on the back of the bicycle.

"Kai-kun..."

"what happened?"

"Hanabi likes you..."

You like me.

The girl's sweet and tender affection left Uesugi Kai stunned for a moment.

“I…I understand now.” He continued pushing the bicycle.

"What did you understand...?"

"Now I understand why so many couples say things like 'a love that spans three lifetimes, to spend the next life together.' I didn't understand them before and thought it was cheesy, but when I experienced it firsthand... I realized how much reluctance they felt when they said those words."

"Does Kai-kun mean... that he wants to spend the next life with Hanabi?"

"So? Are you willing?"

Hanabi Hanabi smiled behind him and said, "Hanabi should think about it carefully."

"Why do I need to think about it? Shouldn't Hanabi-chan just say to me definitively, 'I'm willing! I'm willing! Hanabi loves Kai-kun the most! We'll be together in the next life too!'"

Kai Uesugi imitated Hanabi Hanabi's voice, making her cover her mouth and smile softly.

"Hanabi wants Kai-kun to say these things first..."

"What should I say first?"

"Let me start by saying, 'Kai-kun loves fireworks the most.'"

"Kai-kun loves fireworks the most."