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

"Alright then," Chitose Mai reluctantly accepted this explanation, "but how does senpai plan to apologize to the other person? Do you have any ideas?"

"Give a gift." Uesugi Kai felt inexplicably that saying those three words sounded incredibly cliché.

It's actually quite cliché.

But to my surprise, Chitose Mai didn't object at all: "Sure, as long as you're sincere, it's easy to accept."

"Won't it be too ordinary?"

"The ordinary thing is the act of giving gifts; the extraordinary thing is the person giving the gifts."

Chitose Mayi put on a satisfied expression, closed her eyes and nodded to herself, "After all, there are so many couples in this world, and no matter how original the gift is, there will be some overlap. Anyway, for me, originality is not as important as sincerity. As long as the other person sincerely wants to apologize to me, and the intention is there, I will accept it no matter how shabby the gift is."

Kai Uesugi liked her point of view and looked forward to her next answer, so she continued to ask, "What kind of gift is considered thoughtful?"

Perhaps because she thought highly of her own point of view, Chitose Shinichi took out some chewing gum from her pocket, put it in her mouth, and continued with a touch of pride, "Action."

Kai Uesugi listened attentively to her explanation.

"The so-called action refers to the process before creating the gift, such as making a cake by hand, knitting a towel for her by hand, giving her her favorite doll by hand, and preferably attaching a sincere apology letter."

"Um......"

Hearing her words, Uesugi Kai began to ponder.

He doesn't need to worry about making cakes or food; he's afraid that if Hanabi makes something that tastes bad, she'll have to force herself to finish it.

That's called an apology? That's coercion.

How about giving a shark or chili pepper plush toy?

Hanabi would look adorable hugging a shark chili doll that's about the same size as her.

The idea is good, but the Hanabi family already has these things.

Most of them were bought by Hanamaru Yuuki, and a small portion were won from claw machines when we went shopping together in the past.

Chapter 83: The Oar, Striving Towards Saturday.

“Of course, this is my advice as an ordinary person.” Chitose Mai nodded and said confidently, which made the boys from the baseball team inside the fence all chatter and look at her.

Baseball is undoubtedly the most popular and beloved sport in Japan. It's common to see girls standing outside the baseball net, secretly observing the boys in the baseball team.

It feels good to be the center of attention, and the common psychology of high school boys makes them feel especially handsome... Therefore, the baseball team members have a kind of inexplicable confidence.

Hearing the enthusiastic discussions among his classmates, and thinking about being able to join hands with that beautiful girl and make it to Koshien, Terai Hideo put all his effort into it.

Wearing a white tracksuit, he wanted to achieve a Grand Slam that he had never done before.

Having a beautiful girlfriend to cheer you on during the most passionate years of your youth is the true climax of life.

He decided that the next time he met that pretty girl outside, he would do everything in his power to pursue her.

I failed last time, so I absolutely cannot fail this time!

Bang...!

Sweat mingled with the baseball, spreading across the sky.

Kai Uesugi recognized him; he was the guy who confessed to Hanabi before.

The gaze that just looked this way was completely unobstructed.

I thought he was an innocent young man, but I didn't expect him to get over the rejection so quickly.

Ignoring their naked and confident gazes, Chitose Mai continued speaking to Uesugi without turning her head: "Next, this is my personal advice."

Kai Uesugi noticed the look he had just given Hideo Terai, but Hideo clearly didn't recognize him. Their eyes met only briefly, like strangers passing each other on the street.

But soon, Terai Hideo, who had put down the baseball, glanced at him again, his gaze fixed on him as if he regarded him as an enemy.

"Senior? Are you listening?"

Chitose Mai waved her hand in front of Uesugi Kai, and she noticed his gaze fixed on the baseball team boy.

Why would the senior look at that guy if he seemed so ordinary?

“I’m listening, please continue.” Uesugi Kai turned his gaze back to the front.

Chitose Mayi straightened her back, put her hands behind her back, and took loose steps.

"Well, if you ask me, it would be best to go out and have fun together after apologizing."

"A date?" The word inexplicably popped into Uesugi Kai's head.

"Who says going out with female friends is dating?" Chitose Mai chimed in. "Can't there be pure friendship between men and women?"

Passing the locust tree, you'll find the ancient banyan tree, over three hundred years old, its broad branches covering the two people walking below.

“Extremely rare, and most of them spoil,” said Kai Uesugi.

Chitose Mayi disagreed, "My senior is the first male friend I made at this school. It's nice to chat together like this, isn't it?"

"When did we become friends? Besides, do you think I'd go out with you on weekends just because we're friends?"

"Probably?" Chitose Mai turned her head to look at Uesugi Kai, making it seem like "this is my lifelong request."

"No." Uesugi Kai refused ruthlessly.

"Hey!" The girl's voice suddenly rose, "And I even helped my senior answer so many questions."

"That's your way of thanking me."

Kai Uesugi looked up at the classroom, already having made plans for the weekend in his mind.

"How could this happen..."

Chitose Mai slumped her head. If it were a game, she could even see the words "Affection +1" above Uesugi Kai's head.

------

"Oh, it's Kai Koya. Welcome."

The following day, Saturday morning, Mrs. Hanamaru said these words with a smile at the door.

Today's weather was as unremarkable as ever, neither too hot nor too cold. Normally, it would be the kind of day you'd forget about in a few days.

"Good morning, Auntie. I'm here to see Hanabi." Uesugi Kai noticed that Mrs. Hanamaru was looking at him strangely.

Mrs. Hanamaru gave a kind, motherly smile, but her eyes grew increasingly strange: "Besides coming to see Hanabi-chan, does Kai have anything else to do?"

Kai Uesugi was simply blocked at the doorway by her, without making any other move.

"aunt?"

Mrs. Hanamaru said gently, "Kai, tell your aunt secretly, did you do anything naughty to Hanabi-chan that night?"

She was clearly a gentle mother, yet her eyes held a girlish cunning.

Something naughty?

No.

Does it count as rubbing her soft belly in my dream and...?

Has Hanabi already told her aunt about this?

Before Uesugi Kai could even find the right words to reply, Mrs. Hanamaru smiled and continued, "While I strongly disagree with doing this, if you do it, please be sure to take precautions, even if you don't have any right now."

Mrs. Hanamaru seemed to have been prepared for this kind of thing for a long time.

"Sigh, your auntie understands you. After all, Xiaokai and Xiaohuahuo have just entered puberty and are so close. It's normal for something to happen when they're alone together."

"Mrs. Hanamaru is so understanding," was the first thought that popped into Uesugi Kai's mind after hearing that.

He even asked a question that was irrelevant at the moment: "Is Uncle home?"

"Kai~~~"

Mrs. Hanamaru maintained her smile, narrowed her eyes, and flicked Uesugi Kai's forehead hard with her finger. "What are you saying in front of Hanabi's mother?"

"It's nothing, just checking in on your uncle's work," Uesugi Kai said, his forehead throbbing, changing the subject, "Is Hanabi still sleeping?"

"Hanabi hasn't gotten up yet, and Daddy's busy with work and not home, so don't worry, the weekend will be all just the two of you," Mrs. Hanamaru changed the subject, "but before that, there's something I need to tell you, Kai."

"Please speak, Auntie."

"It's nothing serious, it's just that Xiaohuahu has been in a bad mood since yesterday, you should have noticed, right?"

"Ah."

Through Mrs. Hanamaru's subtle facial expressions, Uesugi Kai firmly believed that it was his fault.

“It seems you know,” Mrs. Hanamaru nodded, then stepped aside at the door. “Then I won’t say any more, please come in.”

"Excuse me, Auntie."

"You are welcome anytime."

Afterwards, Mrs. Hanamaru watched as Kai Uesugi went upstairs, smiled and shook her head, then went into the kitchen to start preparing breakfast.

dong dong...

Two crisp knocks on the door.

Before opening the door directly, Uesugi Kai knocked first, just in case, to avoid any situation where the protagonist might accidentally stumble upon the changing room.

"......Mother?"

Through the door, a muffled, weak voice came from inside, sounding somewhat dazed and frustrated.

“It’s me,” Uesugi Kai said softly.

"Kai...Kai-kun..." Hanabi Hanabi was silent for a moment inside the room. "Please don't come in yet, Hanabi is changing clothes..."

Her voice was very soft and weak, like the muffled sound of someone with a cold and fever.

Is it still the same as last night, with no change whatsoever?

"Ah."

Hearing Hanabi's distressed voice, Uesugi Kai lost all interest in joking and waited quietly outside.

A moment later.

"Kai-kun...you may come in now..."