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

They took the Toden Arakawa Station together, with Uesugi Kai following behind the two girls.

As night fell and snow began to fall, the cherry blossoms along the banks of the Kanda River turned yellow and withered.

Looking at the lonely, withered yellow leaves, Uesugi Kai thought that in two months, these cherry blossoms would sprout and grow leaves.

"Brother-in-law, brother-in-law." Hanamaru Yuuki came from Hanamaru Hanabi's side in front to Uesugi Kai's side in the back.

"what happened?"

"Just now, I asked my sister why she likes you so much, and guess what she said?"

"That's because I'm handsome, of course."

"Haha, I didn't expect my brother-in-law to be so narcissistic... Too bad, my sister isn't the kind of girl who likes handsome men."

What if I'm ugly?

"Looks are something that will definitely make an impression on you when you first meet someone... It's much more difficult than for most people to form a positive impression. But even if you suddenly become ugly, brother-in-law, I still won't dislike you."

Hanamaru Yuuki said with her hands behind her back.

"The world keeps saying that we shouldn't care about beauty or ugliness, that inner beauty is the true essence. But how many people in the world can actually do that?"

Kai Uesugi: "So, it takes a lot of courage to like someone who is very ugly."

"Yes, that's why you don't love your sister properly, since your sister treats your brother-in-law like that."

"I love it, of course I love it."

"Hmph, let's get back to the topic we were talking about earlier. Does brother-in-law know what it is about you that sister likes?"

"I don't know." Uesugi Kai was actually too lazy to guess.

"Brother-in-law, come closer, Yu-hope will tell you!"

Uesugi Kai leaned closer to hear what tricks she had up her sleeve.

"Brother-in-law~ My sister said you were really good at it last night~~ She really liked it~~"

After Hanamaru Yuuki finished speaking, she ran ahead in a flash and hugged Hanamaru Hanabi's arm.

Kai Uesugi was left behind.

He was a little puzzled.

Fireworks... You even talk about things like this...?

......

Back at the Hanamaru house, Mrs. Uesugi opened the door for them.

"Hello Auntie!"

"It's Yuuki! It's been so long since I've seen you," Mrs. Uesugi said with a smile. "I heard you were coming, so I specially prepared a few extra steaks for you. Eat as much as you like!"

"Thank you, Auntie!" Hanamaru Yuuki replied with a smile.

"Alright, alright, come in quickly, Hanabi-chan, come in too."

After exchanging pleasantries for a while, Mrs. Uesugi left Kai Uesugi outside alone.

"Now you know why I deliberately blocked your way, right?"

"Um......"

"Kai, you've been so sensible since you were little... To be honest, I don't know what to say to you right now. Anyway, has Hanabi-chan forgiven you yet?"

"I've forgiven... but I haven't completely forgiven."

"Is she willing to let you touch her?"

"Well...it depends on her mood...but she most likely won't refuse..."

Mrs. Uesugi breathed a sigh of relief: "That's good. Then it must just be a girl's tsundere attitude. Kai, I only have one daughter-in-law."

"Mom...you only have me as your son."

"What I mean is, you can only have this one daughter-in-law... Hanabi wouldn't do anything to betray you, so if you're wrong, then you're wrong. You've done plenty of wrong things to her, haven't you?"

“Um…this is it,” Uesugi Kai replied.

"And what was the final result?"

"It was all because of Hanabi that I was forgiven."

"That's right, it's all because Hanabi-chan forgave you... Actually, I feel that no matter how many mistakes you make, even if you cheat on her, she will forgive you... Because girls themselves have no sense of security and no one to rely on. What else can she do besides rely on you?"

"But even so, do you know why I'm still saying these things?"

Kai Uesugi understood perfectly: "Because I can't let her be sad."

“Sigh, you’ve been married for so long, and you’re still saying these things. It makes you seem petty. It’s good that she’s forgiven you now,” Mrs. Uesugi laughed. “Alright, come in quickly. It’s snowing outside, and it’s cold.”

"it is good."

After being lectured by her mother, Uesugi Kai finally changed her shoes and entered Hanamaru's living room.

The living room was lit with a warm, orange glow. Two tables were pushed together and piled high with all sorts of food: turkey, sushi, salad, chicken legs, steak, lamb chops, fruit...

There was also a large plate of sukiyaki in the middle.

Hanamaru Hanayu and Uesugi Kokoro were playing with toys on the sofa, babbling away. Hanamaru Hanabi and Hanamaru Yuuki, who had come in earlier, sat together, chatting and laughing on their phones.

The father and father-in-law sat on the balcony drinking and watching the snow, while Mrs. Uesugi and Mrs. Hanamaru, who had just come in from the entrance hall, were busy preparing dinner in the kitchen.

My cousin, Uesugi Shio, was sitting on a single sofa watching TV.

The small living room was filled with a lively atmosphere under the warm lighting.

Standing at the entrance, Uesugi Kai was somewhat taken aback by the scene before her...

The sounds of the television, the aroma of food and wine, the sounds of conversation, and the people in front of him... all made him stand still, thinking about many things from the past.

From high school to now, although only two or three years have passed, it feels like a lifetime to Uesugi Kai.

A blissful feeling, like a dream, enveloped him inside the little house...

He still remembers that Hanabi gave him his favorite toy here when he was a child, that the two of them did their homework together by the coffee table, that after he confessed his feelings, Hanabi wanted to stay and keep her company, and that the two of them went home from school together and then fed each other.

Mom was right...

She gave herself so much, so many experiences and memories...

How could I let her down?

You idiot Uesugi, you idiot Uesugi... if you hadn't met Hanabi, would you have ever found true love?

At that time, I'm afraid I'll fall into a state of confusion like my uncle, living a life of debauchery and living just to survive.

Looking at the warm and welcoming family in front of her, Uesugi Kai felt a deep sense of emotion.

Having lived a second life, he truly gained so much.

Kai Uesugi suppressed his emotions and walked in with a smile.

"Xiao Zai, what were you doing standing at the door just now?" Mrs. Hanamaru, who was cooking in the living room, asked him with a smile.

"I...I was thinking about something just now..."

"You little rascal, you're here to eat right away, what are you thinking about? I had Yu Shu send your uncle a prepared dinner early. It's not a big meal, but it's enough for him, so don't worry."

"Um..."

Looking at the two mothers bustling about in the kitchen, Uesugi Kai said, "Let me help chop some vegetables."

"Go! Go! Go!"

Mrs. Hanamaru smiled and waved to him, "Go with Hanabi and Hanayu. You're here for dinner today, so leave the cooking to you and me."

Mrs. Uesugi added, "Yes, we didn't even ask Hanabi to help. You should hurry up and go out. The remaining dishes will be ready soon, and then we can start eating."

"Go quickly, go quickly!" Mrs. Hanamaru waved to him with a smile.

Kai Uesugi looked at the two mothers and smiled, "Then I'll go rest and wait for the big meal."

"Oh, stop nagging, just go. Stop being so long-winded."

Despite being criticized by his mother-in-law, Uesugi Kai actually felt happy. He went to the living room, greeted Shio-nee, and was pulled by Yuuki to sit with Hanabi-chan.

"Sister, I'm going to the restroom. We can talk about cosmetics later."

"Ah... okay."

On the sofa, only the two of them remained, along with two babies who had just learned to call out "Mom" and "Dad."

Kai Uesugi glanced at Hanaru Hana and Kokoro Uesugi, and said with a smile to Hanaru Hanabi, "Shouldn't we have some cute kids in the future?"

"It depends on Kai-kun. How many do you want, Kai-kun?"

"I...I want it, and I don't want it."

"why?"

"Because children represent the end of our youth. When we get married and have a family, we become parents... and everything will be different."

"Is Kai-kun reminiscing about his high school days?"

Kai Uesugi lowered his gaze, looked at his hands, nodded, and said, "I do miss it a little."

Then he saw a small, white hand rest on his own. Unlike the past few days, it wasn't cold to the touch; instead, it was warm and gentle...

Kai Uesugi met her gaze.

Their eyes met; the girl's violet eyebrows and eyes were as gentle as snow.

"Kai-kun... Hanabi also misses high school, because that's when Kai-kun confessed to Hanabi... We spend every day happily with each other, finding joy in each other's strengths and the changes brought about by our relationship."

"But the memories aren't just from high school, but also from junior high, middle school, elementary school, and how we met..."

"Kai-kun, all of this is a memory, a memory that seems especially precious now."

"But that doesn't mean we're not happy now. We're still together, we can still look at each other, feel each other, listen to each other's words, and look at each other's faces..."

"Hanabi thought that getting married would be the happiest moment for Hanabi and Kai... but actually it wasn't. Just like he said, Hanabi and Kai's happiness has only just begun. It has the happiest starting point and no end in sight. As long as we are still by each other's side... happiness will continue forever, won't it?"

As Hanabi Hanabi finished speaking, she placed both her hands on his, her cute little face revealing a sincere and adorable smile.

Kai Uesugi remembers her smile, he will always remember her smile to him.