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

Kai Uesugi found that Ai, this little girl, was very easy to handle; she would eat anything given to her. It was nice to have such an obedient little sister.

Speaking of which, Ai and the others have changed their surname now. Since they were transferred to the Hanamaru family, they now also have the surname Hanamaru and are Hanabi's true younger sisters.

This time, the ochazuke (rice with tea) didn't turn out badly.

The side dishes in the bento box barely made up for this meal.

After finishing her meal, Uesugi Kai went to the bathroom to run a hot water tank. She leaned out and called out to Ai, who was watching TV in the living room:

"Aiyi, it's time to take a bath."

When Ai came over, Uesugi Kai reminded her, "Remember to change your clothes and take a shower. Don't come out naked looking for clothes like last time."

Aiyi put her hands behind her back and stood on tiptoe: "I know~ but Aiyi didn't bring any change of clothes."

"Just wear your sister Hanabi's clothes for now, I'll go look in the closet."

Upon entering the bedroom, Kai Uesugi rummaged through Hanabi's wardrobe for clothes that would fit the little girl's figure.

"Sister Hanabi has so many dresses!" Aiyi noticed a box under the clothes. Curious, she took it out and opened it. Inside was a neatly folded white dress.

Aiyi put down the cardboard box, picked up the white dress, and looked on with curiosity.

Because this dress is very strange: short sleeves, white three-tiered ruffled cake skirt, and the waistband in the middle is completely transparent, made of sheer fabric, making it look vague and hazy.

Furthermore, inside the cardboard box was a pair of lace panties made of the same material as the skirt, which also appeared to be semi-transparent.

"Nini~ This is so strange..."

The moment Uesugi Kai saw Ai holding the dress, he snatched it away and hid it behind his back. "Ahem, I found some pajamas that are suitable for you to change into."

"What was that dress you were wearing just now?" Ai asked curiously.

"That... is your sister Hanabi's simple... um, wedding dress..."

"A wedding dress? It feels so different, but... why is the wedding dress transparent?"

Kai Uesugi was a little embarrassed because this was a see-through nightgown he had secretly bought for Hanabi.

But she refused to wear it, so it just sat in the closet collecting dust.

I had no idea that Ai Yi would find this piece of clothing.

"Isn't the skirt of a wedding dress supposed to be transparent? This one is just a little more transparent."

"Aiyi also wants to try on her sister's wedding dress."

"No, the child is not an adult yet, how can she wear a wedding dress?"

"Does brother think Aiyi is a little kid?" Aiyi tilted her head, which was covered by a hat.

"Of course, go take a shower quickly." Uesugi Kai put his hands on her shoulders and shooed her towards the bathroom. Then, while she was away, he quickly put the transparent nightgown back into the cardboard box and hid it in the innermost drawer of the wardrobe.

Fortunately.

My image almost collapsed.

Kai Uesugi gave her a plain nightgown from Hanabi, which was a little too big, but it didn't hinder her movement.

After washing the dishes, Ai Yi came out and took a shower, then lay down on the big bed to read.

Just as I was getting ready to go to sleep, Aiyi came in again.

Ai's pajamas were loose and baggy. Uesugi Kai, holding a book and wearing glasses, looked at her and asked, "What's wrong?"

"I want to sleep with Nini."

"You're all grown up now, is it okay for you to sleep alone?"

"But my brother just said that Ai Yi is a little kid."

"..."

Fifth graders are indeed considered young children.

"Alright, come over here and sleep on the side." Uesugi Kai moved to the side.

It was clear that Ai was really sleepy; she fell asleep shortly after hugging Hanabi's shark.

After reading for a while, Uesugi Kai turned off the lights and went to sleep.

The next day, when he woke up at seven o'clock, Uesugi Kai found Ai sitting next to him, calling him to get up.

Are you going to school today?

"Of course I'll pull! It's Friday!"

"Alright, I'll take you."

I got up and fried two eggs. This time, Uesugi Kai was smarter and used less salt.

------

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.

###Chapter 420 Longing is Mutual###

The Central Dining Hall at the University of Tokyo.

Totsuka Katsura was astonished to see Uesugi Kai order two large steaks, even though he had previously been a penniless guy who could only afford hamburger meals.

"Uesugi, it's only been two days, and you've already become so extravagant? You can actually afford a black pepper steak that costs 5,000 yen!"

5000 yen is approximately 274 RMB.

"It's an occasional splurge, but I don't have much savings right now." Uesugi Kai carried the plate and sat down at the dining table.

Totsuka Katsura sat down opposite him, holding a bowl of ramen: "I heard you bought a house in the port area outright for your wedding?"

"Ah."

How much are the house prices over there?

"I bought a 160-square-meter apartment, excluding the common area, for 140 million yen per square meter."

What is the shared area?

"You don't know that?"

"I don't know, I haven't looked into houses."

Kai Uesugi explained: "Don't walls have thickness? The thickness of the walls should be included in the purchase area. The remaining elevator shaft, bathroom, transformer room, stairwell, and property management room should also be included in your purchase price. In the contract, this is the 'shared area'. Some houses are 145 square meters, but after deducting the shared area, the actual area is only 109 square meters."

"This is outrageous!? I've never heard of such a thing before. Where did this genius salesperson learn this?"

"I don't know, but if you're buying a house, be careful to avoid these traps. I did some research on the market when I bought my wedding house, and I heard it's a sales tactic that's been around recently."

"How are taxes and property management fees calculated?"

"It's probably calculated based on the total area stated in the contract." Uesugi Kai used a Western-style knife to diagonally cut off one side of the black pepper steak.

"Black, so black!"

Uesugi Kai then asked, "Weren't you looking for a job? Did you find one?"