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

He dedicated his life to helping his childhood sweetheart recover from her illness.

Even now, during breaks in PE class, he silently observes Qingmei's condition to prevent anything from happening to her.

This pure love is so touching and moving that it brings tears to your eyes just by hearing it.

Although Hanamaru-kun doesn't seem to have anything wrong with her at all.

but,

Takahiro Tsubokawa was truly moved by Kai Uesugi and decided to go back and find some light novels about childhood friends to experience that feeling of being accompanied by warmth.

Uesugi Kai was completely unaware of what Tsubokawa was thinking, silently watching Hanabi Hanabi's clumsy shooting form.

He was thinking about how to make Hanabi less shy about his actions.

Given her weak and submissive personality, wouldn't that mean...?

For some reason, the image of Hanamaru Yuuki holding a gun to his head suddenly flashed into his mind.

------

After finishing my club activities, I took the tram home.

It was evening.

The setting sun blazed like fire, casting a deep golden-red hue over the scorched ground.

Kai Uesugi and Hanabi Hanabi embarked on the final leg of their journey home, feeling the warm glow that enveloped the entire city of Tokyo.

The two shadows, extremely close together, were reflected and followed closely behind them.

This evening is unusually leisurely. Due to Mr. Haneda's personal reasons, today's study session will be postponed.

"Kai-kun".

Hanabi Hanabi, wearing shiny round-toed leather shoes, spoke in a soft, sweet voice.

"I'm here."

The familiar voice was still familiar, but lately, Uesugi Kai especially liked it when she called her name.

From girl to young woman, no matter how many times I call out to her, I can't shake off that thrilling sense of novelty.

Hanabi Hanabi moved closer to Kai Uesugi, trying to make her barely audible voice more palatable: "Kai-kun, what do you think of the bento Hanabi made today...?"

"Does Hanabi want me to share my feelings?" Uesugi Kai didn't expect her to approach him so readily.

Under Kai Uesugi's gaze, Hanabi Hanabi nodded slightly.

She seemed very worried that she hadn't cooked well.

Uesugi Kai didn't continue what he was saying. Instead, he looked at her, who was standing very close to him, and smiled. "Hanabi, please put your hand out."

Hanabi Hanabi looked up at him in confusion, not quite understanding why she had reached out her hand.

Despite her doubts, she still handed over her small hand that was holding the shoulder bag.

Her trust in him was special.

Uesugi Kai stopped on the narrow street filled with the setting sun and pedestrians. Facing her bright eyes, he grasped her outstretched hand with his right.

The moment I touched her soft skin, she instinctively pulled back, her little hand even more timid than a wary cat.

She is gentle and shy.

Hanabi Hanamaru wasn't used to the feeling of him holding her hand on the street, nor was she used to the gazes of strangers secretly watching her, but the feeling of being held by him was unusually reassuring.

"棣...棣君..."

A soft, timid whisper, tinged with fear and anticipation, slowly escaped from her trembling cherry lips.

"Relax."

With a smile, Uesugi Kai grabbed the lovely girl, then slowly extended his left hand, gently touching her palm with his fingertips, and sliding them upwards along her soft hand.

In those four shy gaps, slowly spread her soft, pliable fingers that were tightly pressed together.

Seeing Hanabi's shy expression, Uesugi Kai tightly held that bewildered little hand.

That soft, comforting touch came from her hands.

Palm to palm, between the fingers, pressed tightly together.

Her fingers were connected to her heart, and her throbbing heartbeat was clear and distinct.

That petite figure, held tightly and grasped firmly, allowed Uesugi Kai to truly find her real existence.

"Kai-kun has already felt Hanabi's feelings."

Hanabi Hanabi didn't dare to look up, afraid of the stares from the strangers around her: "Kai-kun...do you like it? Is Hanabi's cooking delicious?"

What if I say it doesn't taste good?

"Then... then Hanabi will apologize to Kai-kun, and Hanabi will try her best to continue learning how to make bento boxes from Mom. As long as Kai-kun doesn't mind the bento boxes Hanabi makes..."

The warmth from her palm and fingertips made Hanabi blush with embarrassment.

Instead of rubbing her nose as usual, Uesugi Kai took her little hand and started walking.

He silently watched the shy girl beside him, her head bowed, the fresh, sweet scent wafting from her body.

The black sailor uniform accentuated the girl's slender and graceful curves, while the wide neckline showcased her alluring collarbones to the fullest extent, and also cleverly concealed the girl's barely noticeable chest bra.

The black pleated skirt swayed, revealing her soft, fair thighs, with a touch of pinkish blush subtly appearing on her perfectly plump figure.

Black stockings covered her straight, slender calves, and the round-toed leather shoes on her delicate feet further accentuated her girlish cuteness.

At this moment, Kai Uesugi was very glad that he had joined Shin-kyo High School, which allowed him to appreciate Hanabi Hanabi in this state.

Their fingers, pressed tightly together, allowed him to feel her presence and her softness.

He suddenly came to like the feeling of shaking hands.

"Hanabi."

"Um......"

"How about you come to my place first?"

"it is good......"

Hanabi Hanamaru didn't think much of it and nodded in response, "But Kai-kun hasn't told Hanabi yet... how was the breakfast...?"

She has gradually gotten used to the feeling of shaking hands.

“Of course it’s delicious,” Uesugi Kai said, ignoring the envious glances from the pedestrians ahead. “You must have learned it from your aunt. Apart from being a little spicy, it’s perfect.”

Hanabi Hanabi was still not used to other people's stares. She secretly glanced at the pedestrians who had already walked past the two of them and whispered, "Will it be very spicy...? But there are very few fireworks."

“No matter how little chili you put in, it will still be spicy,” Uesugi Kai said with a laugh. “I always feel that Hanabi becomes silly when chili is mentioned.”

"But it really tastes delicious...and it feels so comforting..."

Hanabi Hanamaru's tone suddenly became firm.

###Chapter Seventy-Five: Evening Preparation Time###

Hanabi Hanabi is a very delicate girl, and Kai Uesugi always felt that chili peppers were not a good match for her at all.

Also, he couldn't understand her liking for sharks.

She found it strangely cute, even though it was a very fierce creature.

Why would someone like a cartilaginous fish with a gaping maw and a mouthful of sharp teeth?

Could it be that she, who appears weak on the surface, is actually very strong-willed inside?

Kai Uesugi suddenly remembered the words he had used to fool Takahiro Tsubokawa at noon.

Could she really be a yandere?

He held her small hand, his gaze passing through the halo of light shining from the sky, looking towards the corner of the sky, dimmed by the setting sun.

The layers of clouds there, ranging from dark gray to golden red, intertwine to create the twilight over Tokyo.

The passersby walking below were all shrouded in a color that did not belong to them.

Kai Uesugi turned to look at Hanabi Hanabi's innocent face, preparing to ask her a question in this place that resembled the scene where the protagonist ended her life.

"Hanabi."

“Kai-kun…” Hanabi Hanamaru felt her hand being gripped tighter by him.

"Are chili peppers really that delicious?" Uesugi Kai decided to start with this question.

"It's delicious."

Are sharks really cute?

"So cute." Hanabi Hanamaru tapped her blushing cheek.

"Hanabi, are you a yandere?"

The third, seemingly unrelated question left Hanabi struggling to understand why Kai Uesugi would say something so abrupt:

"Kai-kun... what are you saying...?"

Her bright, violet eyes remained as innocent and captivating as ever, bathed in the blazing sunset.

Kai Uesugi unconsciously gripped the treasure in his hand tighter, abandoning his original plan to test her response with "What if I wanted to have more girlfriends?"

"nothing."

There's no reason why, it's just because fireworks are so cute.

He said something to himself in his heart.

------

Holding hands, they arrived at two adjacent detached houses, and Hanabi Hanabi followed Uesugi Kai to his home without any warning.

At this moment, the two finally released their tightly clasped fingers.

The warmth they shared still lingers in each other's palms.

Hanabi Hanamaru tiptoed off her little leather shoes at the entrance and slipped on her own fluffy slippers with her delicate, jade-like feet.