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

"Ok?"

"What I mean is... when it comes to apologizing, it has to be me who shows sincerity. Letting you apologize first is not the right choice at all."

"That was the answer I was expecting."

Hanabi Hanamaru suddenly turned around, her back to Kai Uesugi, a faint smile playing on her lips:

"Since Kai-kun has said so, Hanabi will also promise Kai-kun that on the day we officially reconcile, Hanabi will hold a birthday party for him alone."

"Hold a belated...birthday party?" Uesugi Kai's pupils contracted.

Hanamaru Hanabi didn't continue what he was saying.

"Even though I sometimes dislike Kai-kun... what can I do when Hanabi likes him..."

Hanamaru Hanabi murmured to herself.

"Once you fall in love with someone, any dislike you feel for them turns into the bittersweetness of love. If he shows even the slightest kindness to Hanabi after doing something wrong, Hanabi will be unable to resist forgiving him... She can never truly hate him."

Kai Uesugi was fully aware of this.

“Kai-kun, you have to understand that we are both happy in our marriage. No matter what mistakes we have made, we should move towards reconciliation instead of making ‘Firework’s’ love seem even more humble.”

Hanabi Hanabi spoke these words in a light voice. With her hands behind her back, she smiled, raised her head, and walked briskly towards the staff room.

Kai Uesugi quickly watched her figure disappear from his sight.

......

As evening approached, the entire coffee shop became quiet.

Kai Uesugi glanced at Hanabi Hanabu, who was holding a book by the bookshelf, and after tidying up the front desk, he said to her:

"See you tomorrow."

"Okay, see you tomorrow." Hanabi closed the book in her hand and smiled at him as always.

From Uesugi Kai's perspective, the setting sun reflected off her through the window, bathing her in layers of light and making her exceptionally beautiful.

Huahua has been staying at her parents' house for the past two days.

It's obvious... my mother-in-law must have been gossiping about me behind my back, and it wouldn't be surprising if she said something like, "Married men are unreliable."

Uesugi Kai, on the other hand, felt somewhat embarrassed to face the two parents.

After all, I was just scolded by them in Hokkaido, and only a week has passed.

......

Kai Uesugi hung up the apron for the coffee shop.

"See you tomorrow, Uesugi-kun." Rikako Kohashi bowed her head in front of him.

"See you tomorrow."

After saying goodbye to Akae Rina and the Tashiro sisters.

Kai Uesugi walked down from the second floor of the coffee shop and onto the streets of Tokyo.

He looked up at the not-so-scorching winter sunset and suddenly realized—it's already December.

Soon... another year will have passed.

Year after year, time keeps flowing on and on...

Kai Uesugi has never been one to dwell on the past, but ever since he met Hanabi... he can't help but reminisce about the past and fear the future.

He would think about what he and Hanabi would do when they grew old.

Is there really an afterlife?

Even if there really is an afterlife, will I still remember the fireworks then?

What if I forget her by then, but she still remembers me, and I unknowingly fall in love with another woman?

Kai Uesugi wouldn't make excuses for himself; he was just heartbroken for Hanabi-chan.

Some emotions are things that some people will never understand.

It's like how people online mock those who have just broken up... They verbally criticize what a relationship is all about, while simultaneously accusing you of wasting your energy on studying.

They didn't put themselves in the shoes of others, they didn't have firsthand experience; they were just spouting off based on their own assumptions.

Chaotic thoughts raced through Uesugi Kai's mind, making him restless and unable to calm down.

He gazed ahead at the road, at the narrow sidewalks of downtown Tokyo.

An indescribable emotion drove his body, making him unable to stop running forward.

With her feet firmly planted on the ground, the trembling in her calves climbed up her body as she passed one stranger after another, pushing her physical limits in the howling wind.

In his eyes, only the ground beneath his feet shone brightly, like a lighthouse at sea, guiding him on his way.

As he ran, the scent of the wind seeped through his skin and permeated his entire body; he continuously exhaled white mist from his mouth, a scent of the cold air.

He could feel the rhythm and breathing of other passersby, as well as the way they looked at him—when Uesugi Kai finally exhausted his strength, he realized that he had come to an unfamiliar place.

Beside a city's inner river.

A long-lost passion surged from his chest, and Uesugi Kai, supporting himself on his legs, was panting heavily.

He looked at his sweaty palms and realized his habit of venting his emotions by running.

This feeling of pushing yourself to the limit can really break your lazy, unproductive mindset.

Uesugi Kai propped himself up on his knees and stood up straight. He exhaled hot breath and glanced back at the cherry blossom trees on the shore that had not yet bloomed.

There is a reopening day, and no one is young.

The boy I was once again was no longer the boy I used to be.

And the flower that blooms again is no longer the same one as before.

Even if you could find someone in the world who resembles Hanabi, that person would definitely not be her.

Everything is unique and one of a kind.

Uesugi Kai walked along the river for a while and came to an unfamiliar bus stop, where she boarded a bus with strangers she didn't know.

As the bus moved slowly, Kai Uesugi sat in the last seat, his forehead resting against the window.

Gradually, it started to get dark.

The city began to display its myriad lights, and the bustling streets remained noisy. The sounds of engines, wind, and horns seemed to blend into the air, making Tokyo's prosperity omnipresent.

He looked at the elegantly dressed pedestrians on the opposite shopping street and suddenly thought:

What people love is not the city itself, but the people or emotions that the city brings them.

Kai Uesugi returned home in a daze.

He took out his key, turned the doorknob, took his slippers from the entryway, and went inside.

In complete darkness, he turned on the light switch.

In a flash, the room was bathed in bright white light.

Hanamaru Hanabi's birthday decorations from a few days ago are still intact.

On the coffee table were surprise fireworks, a cake plate, colorful ribbons, balloons she blew up by herself, and six large characters she made herself – “Happy Birthday, Kai-kun!”

Despite the festive atmosphere, the room was eerily quiet.

The living room was empty; there wasn't a single person standing in it.

Kai Uesugi stared at the spot for a long time, then couldn't help but sigh.

What a loser...

He went to the kitchen, opened the refrigerator, and took out a cake that he had partially eaten but not finished.

Kai Uesugi placed the cake on the coffee table in the living room and sat down cross-legged.

The words on the cake—"Happy 19th birthday, Kai-kun! Congratulations!"—were particularly jarring.

The sight of Kai Uesugi is so dazzling that it makes one's heart ache.

If I had gone back that day, I would probably be happily eating cake with Hanabi right now, right?

She would smile at herself, then tease her with cake, smearing white cream on her face, listening to her complaining, "Kai-kun is so annoying!"

Kai Uesugi took out a knife and carefully cut off pieces of the cake that Hanabi had made, then placed them on a plate and ate them slowly.

Although this cake was made three days ago... it didn't taste very good.

But Kai Uesugi felt he should eat it, perhaps out of guilt towards Hanabi, or perhaps to make himself feel better.

As he ate the birthday cake that Hanabi had made for him, he remembered the little girl who used to build a snowman by the window and use it as a substitute for waving to him.

"Good afternoon, Kai-nii."

He thought of the little girl who used to hold many origami cranes in her hands and give them to him.

"These are for you, brother."

"Uesugi-kun...do you think the fireworks are pretty?"

"Uesugi-kun... Hanabi is willing to stay by your side forever."

"Kai-kun...Hanabi likes you...I like you the most..."

"Kai-kun... Hanabi is so happy... so very happy..."

"Please, Kai-kun...always remember Hanabi..."

In the quiet of the night, in her room alone, Uesugi Kai slowly ate the cakes she had made, one by one with a spoon. She recalled scenes from the past, and tears welled up in her eyes, but she quickly smiled through them.

It's not anything very important... I just think she looks... really cute.

He put the half-eaten cake back into the refrigerator, then went to the bathroom to wash his face, wiped away the tears from the corners of his eyes, and stared at himself in the mirror.

Yes, I am never alone.

He turned off the tap, walked out of the room, and looked at the birthday decorations in the living room that were full of surprises.

Looking up at the large characters above that read "The fireworks were prepared for me" no longer seemed so glaring or heartbreaking...

He began to look forward to what the girl had promised him that afternoon.