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

The subtext is, "How can a man as tall as you have the nerve to let his wife drive for him?"

"I...don't have much time lately."

"No time? What have you been up to lately?"

Kai Uesugi explained, "I work at the coffee shop and also write novels. The first volume is almost finished."

Kai Uesugi had expected his father-in-law to ask about writing novels, but to his surprise, his father simply nodded, indicating that he understood.

"Ah."

Hanamaru Hiroki glanced at Hanamaru Hanabi in the driver's seat and said, "You guys drive the car back. I don't need it today."

“Okay,” Uesugi Kai replied.

"Why do I feel like you've become a little silly lately?" Hanamaru Yuuki looked at Uesugi Kai, glanced at his expression, and then gave up on the topic. "Well, you're married now. Men are all like this. Correspondingly, you need to cherish your partner more. Otherwise, after being together for too long, you'll take their kindness for granted."

After saying this, the father-in-law waved to Hanabi Hanabi inside the car, said hello, and then turned and walked back into the glass doors of the police station.

My father-in-law is still very busy, and these words seem to have... a deeper meaning.

"Kai-kun, get in the car quickly, it's not time for work yet, Hanabi can take you for a drive around the city."

Kai Uesugi turned around and looked at his wife, who was sitting in the car and smiling at him.

The familiar face, the familiar smile, even the way she smiled at me was familiar.

I'm always asking so much of her... Am I not appreciating her enough?

......

in the afternoon.

2 points.

Rimi Kohashi walked in from outside the cafe with a small backpack. The first thing she did upon arriving was to bow and greet Kai Uesugi behind the counter.

"Good afternoon, senior."

"Good afternoon," Uesugi Kai replied, pointing to the machine behind her. "The milk foam is ready. Could you get it for me?"

"Ok!"

Rikako handed him the milk foam she had prepared.

As Uesugi Kai slowly poured the milk foam into the coffee cup, he asked, "Kohashi, do you know what it feels like to be in love?"

"Ah, ah...?"

Rikako Kohashi was completely unaware that he would suddenly ask this question. She was putting on her apron, and when he asked it, she stopped tying the straps behind her.

She looked up and glanced at Uesugi Kai's back from the side, her face suddenly turning red.

Suddenly, my head was filled with all sorts of strange and wonderful things.

For example... why would Uesugi-kun suddenly ask that question?

What was Uesugi's purpose in suddenly asking this question?

Why did Uesugi Kai specifically ask me this question?

......

The flood of ideas left Rikako Kohashi completely bewildered.

Kohashi remained silent for a long time, and Uesugi Kai assumed she didn't want to answer. He focused on perfecting the latte art and then handed it to Totsuka Katsura, who had come to collect the coffee and was leaving.

"Table number 5, that young lady's table."

"Ok, I know."

Just as Totsuka Katsurachi left, Kohashi Rimi's hesitant reply rang out behind her:

"Love...love should be about wanting to be with the person you like, laughing at each other, looking at each other's faces all day long without getting tired of it."

"..."

Kai Uesugi did not answer.

Looking at his tall figure, Rikako Kohashi felt a little intimidated and whispered, "..."

"Uesugi-kun, don't you think so?"

No, it's because she's absolutely right.

Kai Uesugi didn't know how to answer.

And...her title...

Uesugi-kun...

Uesugi-kun...

Uesugi-kun......

Upon hearing this address, Uesugi Kai's voice still carried a slight weakness...

He couldn't help but think of that little girl from before, wearing a black sailor uniform, a small red scarf, carrying a handbag in both hands, and quietly walking beside him in black leather shoes.

She always called out to herself in a weak voice, calling herself Uesugi-kun.

She often helps him with details he might not even notice...

She didn't bring her books with her when the new semester started... She would organize them from before, then put all her strength into bringing them to herself...

If she forgets her tram pass in the morning, she'll use her own tram pass to get to the next stop.

There happened to be no water during PE class... so she would hand him her half-finished bottle of mineral water, saying... as long as Uesugi-kun doesn't mind...

In winter, when he slept in the classroom, she would secretly, when no one was around, cover his back with her coat...

Her laughter, her tears, her weakness... her tenderness...

Even though the things she recalled were just trivial matters, Uesugi Kai felt a surge of emotion and wanted to cry.

When people spend a lot of time together, some feelings are bound to fade away.

But when I actually think back on it, I suddenly feel a deep sense of reluctance.

Kai Uesugi looked up again at Hanabi Hanamaru, who was busy serving coffee and carrying trays around the shop.

When they went to university, they separated. Although they were still a couple, they missed out on many of the things they could have experienced together during their student days.

Kai Uesugi could even recall how she cried during her graduation season at Shingoku High School. It was a pang of reluctance to part with her classmates and teachers, a reluctance to leave behind her three short years of youth, and a longing for Kai-kun, who had once confessed his feelings to her.

But everything has its end.

Kai Uesugi doesn't know what he will feel when he and Hanabi Hanabi grow old together in happiness.

Now, Kai Uesugi imagines himself old, sitting in a lonely room, looking out the window at the sky, praying for a next life with Hanabi. Even if they have no memories of each other then, he hopes they can meet again in the vast sea of ​​people.

I long to see her again... Her pure and lovely appearance touched my lonely and wandering heart.

My deepest love back then was a passionate, youthful yearning.

......

"Uesugi-kun...Uesugi-kun..." Rimi Kohashi's voice brought Kai Uesugi back to reality. "Are you alright?"

"N-nothing...it's nothing." Uesugi Kai tried her best to turn her face away, squinting her eyes to force back her tears. "I was just thinking about something, and I think what you said is very true."

"About love...? Actually... I've never been in a relationship. Those are just emotions I've seen in TV dramas."

"But I still remember the first time I watched TV, my expression when the male and female leads fell in love and got married. It's kind of embarrassing to talk about it now. When I saw them smiling at each other, I buried my head in the blanket and covered it tightly. Then I rolled around on the bed, unable to stop laughing. When I saw them kiss, I covered my face with my hands, as if I was too ashamed to be seen, but I couldn't help but peek at the TV screen through my fingers... I was so shy..."

Rimi Kohashi was completely unaware that Kai Uesugi was wiping his eyes. Behind him, she was looking down, reminiscing about her innocent self from the past.

“I used to yearn for love and really wanted to find someone I liked to date, but I never succeeded in high school. I was too busy studying to prepare for the entrance exam for Tokyo University of the Arts... and the boys didn't really like that type of girl... Later, I never met anyone I truly liked, and because of that, I always felt that something was missing in high school, which is a real regret.”

"Idol" Kohashi Rie paused for a moment, "...I do have idols, but I understand that I am too far removed from them."

"Thank you."

"what?"

"Thank you," Uesugi Kai said to her.

"What is Uesugi-kun thanking for?"

"You inspired me, and that's why I'm grateful to you. Let me make you a cup of coffee as a token of my thanks."

"Huh?" Rimi Kohashi was completely taken aback and could only nod in agreement, "Okay, okay..."

What would you like to drink?

"What should we drink... Since we're talking about love, how about a glass of Rose Lover?"

"no problem."

As Uesugi Kai began brewing coffee, Kohashi Rimi, out of curiosity, asked him again:

"Was it my understanding of love that I just shared that inspired Uesugi-kun?"

"Yes, this is it."

"Well, that's good." Although Rikako knew in her heart that she had no idea what had inspired him, and given the current atmosphere, she was too embarrassed to ask any further.

Sunlight streamed through the glass windows and fell onto the coffee bar.

Kai Uesugi handed the prepared red rose lover's drink to Rimi Kohashi.

"Thank you," Rikako Kohashi said, handing him the coffee.

"You're welcome."

Kai Uesugi replied, wiping the front desk with a rag. After tidying everything up, Rikako Kohashi finished her coffee and went to the restroom inside the coffee shop, leaving Kai Uesugi alone at the front desk.

Kai Uesugi had been thinking for a while, and now he's figured it out.

He looked up at Hanabi Hanamaru, who was having a good time playing with Coco, the fat cat, in the coffee shop.

He made a decision.

She took out her phone, found a number in her contacts, dialed it, and put the phone to her ear.

Throughout the entire time, Uesugi Kai's gaze remained fixed on Hanamaru Hanabi's face.

"Hello..." A rather clear and pleasant female voice came from the other end of the phone.