Chapter 117 Mount Takao Stroll (2)

Chapter 117: Chapter 117 Mount Takao Stroll (2)"Why would little Hanabi think like that?" The girl’s timid voice was as gentle as a breeze through the forest. "Hanabi doesn’t really know much, only how to cook and paint. If Sakura gets tired of Hanabi’s cooking and paintings, and if Hanabi can’t offer anything new for Sakura, naturally Sakura will hate her." "Seeing her every day, Sakura will feel bored and annoyed." Sensing the girl’s slightly dejected tone, Uesugi Sakura smiled at her and said, "Do you think I’m that kind of person, Hanabi?" Hanamaru Hanabi glanced at him, paused for two seconds, then lowered her head, "No, I can’t blame Sakura...it’s just that I’m useless...I’ve always been so ordinary..." Yesterday’s rain hadn’t yet disappeared from the fallen leaves and twigs underfoot, mixing with the earth, feeling damp and moist. Uesugi Sakura knew it was her lifelong inferiority complex acting up again. "There’s nothing wrong with being ordinary." He held her timid hand. "But...won’t Sakura find it boring? Hanabi barely helps Sakura with anything, just making bento every day..." The two mothers walked quickly, their figures gradually diminishing on the mountain path above. They stepped over the stone steps, following their path. Gazing ahead, Uesugi Sakura didn’t directly answer Hanamaru Hanabi’s question but instead asked, "Hanabi, do you know what I like most about you?" A little spider crawled across the mottled fallen leaves on the ground, looking up at the two walking side by side on the path. Hanamaru Hanabi looked down at the path under her feet, thought for a moment, and softly said, "I don’t know..." "Silence." Uesugi Sakura turned his head to her, "Little Hanabi never takes the initiative to ask for anything. She just quietly stays by the side, quietly waits, endures what comes her way, and makes silent sacrifices." "Even if countless people surpass her, she would quietly wait for the happiness that came late, regardless if that happiness should’ve belonged to her long ago." "Silently doing her best, enduring all she can and all she can’t, is her biggest trait." "If I hadn’t taken the initiative to confess to little Hanabi, and instead maintained our previous relationship, even if I dated and married another girl, could she have told me she liked me?" "No, she would just blame herself for not being liked by Sakura." The mountain breeze gently brushed the soft locks by the girl’s ear, as Uesugi Sakura gazed at Hanamaru Hanabi’s delicate profile, questioning and answering himself. "But Sakura really doesn’t want her to be sad no matter what." "Little Hanabi shouldn’t always belittle herself. Like I said before, you showing me your smile is the most important treasure of my life." He paused for a second. "Sakura, I’m really glad to have met little Hanabi." Those words uplifted Hanamaru Hanabi a lot, the steadiness from their interlocked hands felt as reassuring as when he held her hand going home as a child. The girl raised her head in response to his words, revealing that heartwarming smile: "Hanabi is also very grateful to have met Sakura." —————— The road uphill always left one physically and mentally exhausted, stopping and going all the way. Under the kind teasing of the two mothers, they finally reached a more populated area. The red street lamps, only as tall as elementary school students, adorned both sides of the Yakuoin path, lined with tall, thick cedar trees. Through the dark green needle-like leaves, the blue sky above was visible. Perhaps due to yesterday’s rain, the vibrant plants around seemed full of life. Passing through this path, they arrived at a roofed structure supported by four pillars, with no walls. This place was called a Chozuya, usually found at the entrance of a shrine, where visitors wash their hands and rinse their mouths before worshipping. Before washing her hands, Uesugi Nobuko took out four 5-yen coins from her bag. "Sakura, go tap that iron pillar." Though not sure why tapping the iron pillar was needed, Uesugi Sakura picked up a wooden stick resting nearby and struck the middle of it. Dong~~ A melodious sound resonated, and he directly put the four coins into an unattended offering box on the platform, then went to the water basin at the Chozuya, picked up the water ladle, and washed his left hand. "By the way, can this water be drunk? It looks pretty clear." Uesugi Sakura had always been curious. "No, it can’t," Mrs. Hanamaru said, "Are you thirsty?" "It’s tiring to walk, and I’m a bit hungry too." Uesugi Sakura placed the ladle back by the water basin. "Hanabi-chan, are you hungry?" Mrs. Uesugi asked. Hanamaru Hanabi had just gently shook the water off her little hands and nodded, "A little..." Uesugi Sakura suddenly interjected, "A little means very hungry, really want to eat noodles, let’s have soba noodles." Mrs. Uesugi laughed, "In such a rush, do you have that much pocket money? The noodles on the mountain are expensive." "..." "I don’t have any." Below the shrine was a small shopping street, featuring traditional Japanese architecture with a strong Edo style. The tengu of Mount Takao are famous, so there are many red tengu-related souvenirs around here. The goods were abundant, and the passersby were diverse. There are about 25 soba noodle shops in the Mount Takao area, each known for its unique flavor. Upon entering a shop, the two mothers kept pushing payment responsibilities back and forth until Uesugi Sakura reluctantly stepped in and paid. -5792 Dipping noodles in the rich soup made from simmered bonito flakes, they listened to the two mothers discussing their next plans. "The Kurikarado, the main hall, the Aizen Hall, the Master Hall, and finally the main shrine, if there’s time left, shall we go to the Asama Shrine at the top?" Mrs. Uesugi asked. "Let’s visit them all at once," Mrs. Hanamaru said with high spirits. Then, Uesugi Sakura and Hanamaru Hanabi had no opportunity to make any suggestions, as the mothers had already decided the rest of the itinerary. Uesugi Sakura couldn’t help but glance at his watch. 13:30:25 Running from Shinjuku to Hachioji City, then climbing Mount Takao, they just barely got through midday?! After finishing the noodles in his bowl, Uesugi Sakura decisively ordered a few more servings to prepare for the high-intensity hiking ahead. "Sakura...?" "Little Hanabi, eat a few more servings too." Total: 8232 yen Leaving the shop, Uesugi Sakura kept muttering about how expensive things in tourist areas were and lamented running out of money. Approaching the Yakuoin Temple, various architectural features of Buddhism and Shinto gradually appeared. Kurikara Hall. On a small stone pedestal was a statue with two golden dragons coiled around it, protected from rain by the wooden fence, with a dozen or so bell talismans hanging all around. Golden and silver bells intertwined with red and blue strings, making swaying sounds. "Good fortunes be knotted, all fates auspicious" — a couplet hung on either side of the small hall’s doors. The plaque above bore the words "Enmusubi," meaning the binding of fates. Enmusubi is the prayer for the blossoming of destinies between people and things, or between people themselves, particularly for romantic relationships. Thus the god of Enmusubi is also Japan’s god of matchmaking. It’s just that the characters for "Enmusubi" here were actually green. Looking at it, Uesugi Sakura felt inexplicably anxious.