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

"Having eaten here for so many years, Kokai isn't exactly a guest, Hanabi."

Hanabi Hanabi heard her mother's voice and looked at her.

"Mom's a little tired today, so how about you and Uesugi-kun do the dishes?"

"it is good."

Hanabi didn't think much of it and agreed.

......

Hiroki Hanamaru and Mieko Hanamaru sat in the living room to watch TV.

Meanwhile, Uesugi Kai and Hanamaru Hanabi quickly cleared away the dishes on the table, tied on their aprons, and went to the sink.

The two had a clear division of labor: Uesugi Kai was responsible for scrubbing, and she was responsible for washing.

Kai Uesugi expertly handed her the bowl. Looking at the girl before him, he suddenly remembered what Aunt Mieko had said earlier, and something he was also curious about asked:

"Hanabi, do you like me?"

The unexpected question made Hanabi Hanabi pause in her dishwashing, her face flushed, and she nodded:

"Hmm... Uesugi-kun has always been very kind to Hanabi."

As Uesugi Kai watched the cool water flow over Hanabi Hanabi's fair little hand, he knew she had misunderstood.

"Hanabi, the 'like' I'm talking about isn't the 'like' you're talking about. It's the 'like' that Aunt Mieko just mentioned, the 'like' between lovers. You know what they both think."

Hanabi Hanamaru's movements while washing the dishes quickened, and there was a slight tremor in her hands, but the sound remained as slow as before.

"Fireworks...fireworks...I don't know about fireworks either..."

"Ah."

Kai Uesugi knew her personality well. Although she used to rely on him a lot, like a younger sister relying on her older brother, she had become much more independent since starting high school.

He had no way of knowing how her feelings for him changed during that time.

Perhaps, it has never changed.

The air grew silent as the two continued with their own work, without returning to their previous conversation.

###Chapter Eight Conversation###

......

"I'm sorry... Uesugi-kun..." Hanabi Hanamaru said softly, looking at the bowl and chopsticks in her hands.

Why apologize?

"Because Mom just said those things again, it must have really bothered Uesugi-kun. Please don't take it to heart..."

"Hanabi...will properly apologize to Uesugi-kun..."

The weak voice grew softer and softer until it disappeared, but Uesugi Kai could hear the deep apology in her words.

She often does this, and she will take corresponding actions on her own.

Hanabi Hanabi bit her cherry lips lightly: "For a long time, Hanabi has been clinging to Uesugi-kun. If... if Hanabi makes Uesugi-kun impatient... Hanabi will..."

"Fool."

Kai Uesugi interrupted her directly.

"Why...did Uesugi-kun scold Hanabi...?"

Kai Uesugi smiled and said, "Because you're still the same as when you were a child, you haven't grown up at all. What else could you be but an idiot?"

"Hanabi isn't stupid...Hanabi is sincerely apologizing..."

"Because he's apologizing, he's an idiot."

"No...no! Hanabi is serious!"

"He's an idiot."

"no......"

"Yes."

"Do not..."

The sound suddenly stopped.

"Hanabi..."

Hanabi Hanamaru lowered her head again, remaining silent for a moment, seemingly accepting the explanation.

"I'm sorry... Uesugi-kun... Hanabi is an idiot."

"Alright, now the idiot has evolved into a big idiot."

"Why...why?" Hanamaru Hanabi couldn't understand why she had acted so stupidly again.

“Because Hanabi is still so stupid,” Uesugi Kai smiled again, “and failed to understand what I meant.”

"No...no...Hanabi wouldn't...Hanabi doesn't understand..."

Kai Uesugi's smile made Hanabi Hanamaru truly believe she was becoming increasingly stupid. She began to stammer as she lowered her head further and further, emitting intermittent whimpering sounds like a small animal.

Kai Uesugi's pupils contracted.

"No, no!"

He suddenly realized that he seemed to have gone too far in bullying her. His gaze kept glancing at the couple in the living room. He wanted to stop her immediately, so he quietly moved closer and said, "Huahu, calm down. I was wrong. I apologize to you."

After saying that, Uesugi Kai sighed silently in his heart. How could he have acted like a child just now, forgetting Hanabi's weak personality since childhood?

When she was in kindergarten, she would cry at the drop of a hat.

She was terrifying back then.

"Ah."

Hanabi Hanamaru composed herself, nodded in agreement, her eyes red-rimmed, as if she wanted to say something, but ultimately remained silent.

Seeing that she had gradually calmed down, Uesugi Kai breathed a sigh of relief and continued washing the dishes.

If Hanamaru Hanabi were to be seen like this by Hanamaru Yuuki, wouldn't he be unable to get out of bed tomorrow?

I'd better just quietly finish washing the dishes.

......

"Kai, are you really not considering staying here to rest?"

In the entryway, Hanamaru Mieko was smiling as she watched Uesugi Kai change his shoes below.

"No need, Auntie."

"If Kai is willing to stay here to rest, I can consider letting you share a room with Hanabi tonight."

"Mother....."

Hanabi Hanabu tugged at Mieko Hanamaru's clothes with her little hands, her eyes still a little red.

"What does it matter?"

Hanamaru Mieko waved her hand dismissively.

Kai Uesugi hadn't expected Aunt Mieko to care about him to this extent, but he still shook his head and refused:

"No need, Auntie. I haven't watered the potted plants in my yard today. I have to go back first."

"Are you really not going to consider it? I'll be sharing a room with Hanabi tonight!"

"..."

Uesugi Kai didn't know whether to laugh or cry, and quickly said:

"It's really not necessary."

"never mind."

After repeated rejections, Hanamaru Mieko sighed and waved her hand dismissively:

"Go back quickly."

Uesugi Kai bowed slightly to her and said:

"I apologize for disturbing you tonight."

With a creak, the door was gently closed by Uesugi Kai as he walked away.

"Mom, why are you in such a hurry...?"

boom...

Mieko flicked Hanabi's forehead with her right index finger, making a crisp sound.

"Waaah—"

Hanabi Hanamaru took a step back, clutching her head with both hands, her eyes red-rimmed, and her gaze filled with great confusion.

"Mother?"

"You two kids just don't understand what precious things are. You clearly have feelings for each other, but you never know how to take a step forward."

With that, Mieko Hanamaru took Hanabi Hanaru's slender arm and led her into the living room.

"Dad, let's go upstairs first."

"what?"

Hanamaru Yuuki, who was watching a kendo match in the living room, was immediately sent upstairs by Hanamaru Mieko.

After turning off the noisy television, Hanamaru Mieko pulled Hanamaru Hanabi to sit on the sofa and gently stroked her hand.

"Hanabi, what do you think of Uesugi Kai?"

"What do you think of...me...?"

Hanabi Hanamaru looked at her mother's serious expression, lowered her head, and quickly withdrew her hand, her fingers fidgeting restlessly on her lap, too embarrassed to answer.

"Think about it again."