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

Coming to his senses, Hanamaru Yuuki then noticed Uesugi Kai standing behind Hanamaru Hanabi, and gave an awkward yet polite smile.

"Haha...haha...Kai didn't see anything just now, didn't see anything, right?"

Kai Uesugi nodded immediately.

I've actually seen this many times before, so there's no need to hide it.

"Haha."

"Dinner's ready," came Mieko Hanamaru's voice from the living room.

"Oh! Dinner's served as soon as we got back, that's good,"

Hanamaru Yuuki peeked inside, then smiled at the two of them:

"You guys go sit in the living room first, I'm going upstairs to change my clothes."

After saying that, he rushed upstairs, leaving two people in the entryway.

"I'm sorry, Uesugi-kun, Dad's old problem has flared up again."

"It's okay, I'm used to it."

Kai Uesugi's gaze fell on the stairwell where Hiroki Hanamaru had disappeared.

In his memory, Hanamaru Hiroki had always been a very reliable person.

He has a handsome face, a straight posture, loves to laugh, is optimistic, and is very kind to his family, although he can sometimes become extremely serious and earnest, as if he has suddenly become a different person.

This may be related to his profession as a police officer, but in any case, he performed each role very well.

However, he sometimes acts very childish in front of his daughter, Hanabi, and it's hard to say whether this is an example of spoiling her too much.

Is this called...being a doting father?

Anyway, what Uesugi Kai knew was that Hanabi Hanamaru had always had much more pocket money than him since she was a child, and when asked, she always said it was given to her by her father.

Kai Uesugi and Hanabi Hanabi walked into the living room, where a table was covered with steaming hot food, which looked very exquisite and plentiful.

Hanamaru Mieko, who was washing her hands by the kitchen, said to the two of them, "Hanabi and Uesugi-kun, please sit down first. Dad will be down in a bit."

Looking at the neatly arranged bowls and chopsticks in front of him, Uesugi Kai said to the girl next to him, "Please sit down."

"Ah."

Hanabi Hanabi nodded slightly and sat down at the lower right of the table, with Kai Uesugi following suit and sitting down next to her.

Just by glancing at the dishes on the table, Uesugi Kai could already taste the flavors of food.

Having eaten at his restaurant several times, Uesugi Kai has become very familiar with every dish on the table.

For example, the steaming hot stew right in the center of the table.

The ingredients used are kelp, dried bonito shavings, carrots, shiitake mushrooms, spinach, pomelo, and rice cakes.

The carefully selected and combined ingredients are stewed together, releasing a rich and fresh aroma that makes one's mouth water even before tasting them.

In addition, there was teriyaki chicken salad, caramelized sweet potato, and minced pork with pumpkin on the table.

Each dish is a feast for the eyes, and the rising steam is incredibly fragrant.

However, Uesugi Kai also noticed something: none of the dishes had chili peppers. He wondered if Aunt Mieko had prepared them that way on purpose.

Kai Uesugi glanced casually at Hanabi Hanamaru beside her and noticed that she was indeed looking for something on the table.

But after looking around, she seemed to give up.

Hanamaru Mieko also walked over at this moment, having seen Hanabi's peeking around earlier. She sat down opposite her and said softly:

"Fireworks? Don't bother looking for them, there aren't any chili peppers available today."

"Um......"

Hanabi Hanamaru nodded weakly, looking very obedient, but you could still tell she was a little disappointed.

###Chapter Seven: A Little Farce###

Hanamaru Mieko, as a mother, was naturally able to sense her daughter's change in mood, and she explained to Hanabi:

"Eating chili peppers at night is bad; it can easily cause acne, especially at your age."

She then looked at Uesugi Kai beside Hanabi: "Kai knows too."

Kai Uesugi glanced at Hanabi Hanabi, who looked rather downcast, and could only nod to Mieko Hanabi.

However, he didn't think it was a big deal to let Hanabi eat some chili peppers.

After all, the two of them grew up together and ate so many spicy foods, yet they never saw any so-called "pimples" on Hanabi's face.

Having changed into casual clothes, Hanamaru Yuuki walked briskly downstairs and naturally sat down next to Hanamaru Mieko.

He smiled and addressed the group, pointing to the several large bowls of food on the table in front of him:

"Let's get started."

After a very ordinary "I'm starting," Uesugi Kai picked up the warm porcelain bowl with his left hand, held chopsticks in his right hand, picked up a piece of teriyaki chicken salad, combined it with the mixed rice, and put it into his mouth.

The moment the fragrant food touches your taste buds, the freshness of the ingredients bursts forth in your mouth.

The familiar taste, the same delicious flavor, is incredibly enjoyable.

"Oh right, there's less than a week left before school starts, right?"

"Hello, Dad."

When Hanamaru Mieko saw that Hanamaru Yuuki was still talking while there was something in his mouth, she raised an eyebrow.

The Hanamaru couple liked to refer to each other by their titles after Hanabi was born.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry."

Hanamaru Yuuki quickly swallowed the food in his mouth and looked at his daughter eating quietly, feeling inexplicably emotional.

"I can't believe how fast time flies. Hanabi will be a sophomore in high school in the blink of an eye. I still vividly remember the first time I held Hanabi in my arms."

"Daughters always have to grow up."

Hanamaru Mieko looked at Hanabi and couldn't help but smile. Then she looked at Uesugi Kai next to Hanabi.

When the two of them sat together, she always felt very comfortable and asked:

"Xiao Kai, what's your decision about that guy from before? What do you think about it today?"

here we go...

Kai Uesugi silently muttered something to himself.

Hanamaru Yuuki immediately became alert: "How many times have I told you, I don't agree!"

"Don't interrupt me." Hanamaru Mieko glared at him fiercely.

Kai Uesugi noticed Hanabi Hanabi, who was quietly eating with her head down, and said:

"I haven't decided yet."

Hanamaru Mieko sighed, then looked at Hanabi beside him and asked:

"Little Firework, what about you?"

Hanabi Hanamaru clearly knew what her mother was referring to, but she had absolutely no idea how to answer, and could only stammer:

"I...I don't know."

"Ah~"

Hanamaru Mieko sighed as she looked at Hanamaru Hanabi.

I've told you so many times.

On second thought.

"That's true, Hanabi wouldn't say those things. But Kai, it's been so long, haven't you two... made any progress?"

Hanamaru Yuuki immediately turned to Uesugi Kai with a stern face and an extremely unfriendly gaze: "I object. Hanabi cannot be in a relationship yet."

"Objection rejected!"

Seeing Hanamaru Yuuki being pushed back down again, Uesugi Kai understood what Aunt Mieko meant and said:

"Auntie, Hanabi and I are both too young. We're not even in our second year of high school yet. Besides, this is a matter for both of us, and Hanabi's opinion is also necessary."

Kai Uesugi glanced at Hanabi Hanamaru, who remained silent beside him.

"Besides, I... don't have those kinds of feelings for fireworks..."

"Hmph, you said the same thing last time, it's all just an excuse," Hanamaru Mieko said with a meaningful smile. "You two have been so close since you were little, it's just a relationship, nothing serious."

"Of course, it would be best if we could get engaged."

"Engagement is absolutely out of the question!"

Glancing at Hanamaru Yuuki, Hanamaru Mieko didn't press the matter further. Instead, she waved her hand and said:

"Forget it, I shouldn't interfere too much in your relationship. It's best to let things take their natural course, after all, you've shared twelve years together."

Hanabi Hanamaru ate her meal quietly, but her delicate profile was flushed with heat.

Kai Uesugi turned to the side and spoke to her in a voice only the two of them could hear:

"Don't worry about it, Hanabi, Aunt Mieko was just joking."

"Um..."

Hanabi Hanabi blushed and nodded obediently.

Such are the little farces in the Hanamaru family. He's gotten used to it, since the two families are neighbors and their mothers were college classmates.

Therefore...after entering high school, they became very concerned about the relationship between the two.

After everyone had finished eating, Uesugi Kai saw Hanamaru Mieko clearing away the dishes and said:

"Aunt Mieko, let me wash the dishes."

“Xiao Zai is a guest, how can we let a guest do such chores?”

Hanamaru Mieko said this, waving her hand casually, but then her eyes caught sight of Hanamaru Hanabi beside him. Remembering something, she quickly changed her tune and laughed: