Chapter 154 - 147 Stirring Fiery Love

Words : 959 Updated : Oct 2nd, 2025

Chapter 154: Chapter 147 Stirring Fiery LoveThe banks of the Kanda River are lined with sakura trees, and for the two who grew up in this area, every brick and stone is steeped in memories. The river water isn’t exactly clear, but you can see koi swimming. Unlike the famous Meguro and Sumida Rivers in the Arakawa water system. The Kanda River is far from the bustling hustle of Shinjuku, quiet and secluded. You can leisurely take photos and enjoy the flowers while walking on the path by the riverbank. Strong winds blow, stirring ripples on the river’s surface, where sunlight shines in shimmering waves. Underneath the sakura tree’s green, extending branches, moss and vines cover the stone platform by the water’s edge. Hanamaru Hanabi presses down her skirt being lifted by the wind with her small hands, gazing into the distance in the direction the wind comes from. The vast and blue sky, cherry blossom leaves disturbed, drift and fall, floating on the waters, stirred by ducks swimming. A cool breeze continuously grazes her cheeks, passes through her hair, the refreshing and soothing wind makes her close her eyes, slightly lift her head to enjoy a moment of heartening pleasure. Behind her, the lush green branches of the sakura tree stretch down to the river, casting dense shade over her graceful, delicate features. The girl, in her pure white little dress, makes her resemble a summer white lotus blooming by a pond, spotless and pure. Uesugi Sakura quietly gazes at her graceful figure. He recalls when she used to sit here crying secretly as a child, hugging herself, the image gently appearing. If she hadn’t always been by his side, would he have remained obscure and uncared for like in his past life? "Sakura... are you unhappy?" Hanamaru Hanabi turns her head back. "How could I not be happy for getting first place?" Uesugi Sakura asks her back. "Whenever Sakura has something on his mind, he always looks at Hanabi with those eyes." "Very perceptive." He chuckles. "Sakura’s too obvious." Hanamaru Hanabi turns her head, her shiny black little shoes swaying on the river’s edge, humming a tune, her voice gentle and vibrant. "There are many things that Hanabi received from Sakura, so she’s been secretly paying attention to him too." Uesugi Sakura glances at her little shoes lightly tapping the water’s surface, scaring the fish away. "It’s not so much something on my mind, but sitting here with you always relaxes me, enough to think of many past memories." Hanamaru Hanabi’s lips curl into a beautiful smile, "Back then, Hanabi loved following Sakura around." Her smile makes Uesugi Sakura think of the little girl who, no matter what he did, stayed close by his side. "Very clingy, and I couldn’t dislike her because she would just quietly stay by my side, saying nothing." "But Sakura never drove her away, instead taught her to read and look at books." Hanamaru Hanabi’s blossoming smile still carries her youthful innocence. Uesugi Sakura couldn’t help but take her soft, small right hand, sliding his thumb gently over her palm and fingers. Whenever she was nervous, she would grab his arm tightly with that small hand, holding on quite tightly. "But after all that time together, she never said a word." "Hanabi... was afraid her words wouldn’t sound good, would be disliked, she’d lose her only friend." Fingers interlocked, palms conveying a sweet, loving sentiment. Uesugi Sakura recalls Chitose Mai once saying she liked her brother’s side. "Hanabi." "Sakura...?" Hanamaru Hanabi turns her head, her amethyst eyes blinking several times. "Do you want a hug?" "Sakura... won’t just touch randomly... right?" "I won’t." "Then... alright..." Together they look down at the fish swimming in the Kanda River, Hanamaru Hanabi snuggles a bit closer to him. "Won’t you come closer?" Uesugi Sakura patted the cardboard beneath them with a dull thumping sound. "Okay..." Uesugi Sakura reaches out his right hand to hold her snowy shoulder, letting her slowly lean into his embrace, then softly asks in her ear: "Little Hanabi likes it this way?" Hanamaru Hanabi slightly tilts her head, rubbing this little head against his chest instinctively, "Sakura... why ask this?" The little girl nestled in his arms, seemingly both coquetting and enjoying. "In the past, Hanabi loved hugs." Hanamaru Hanabi moved her red lips, her small hand gripping their clasped hand: "Now... it’s different now... isn’t it?" Not even the wind could pass through the gap between their tightly pressed bodies. "I think it’s still the same, the same love for coquetry." "...Is it considered coquetry?" Hanamaru Hanabi shyly says, her gaze follows her slender arm to look at their clasped left hands, where two rings shimmer brightly in the sun. "It is." Uesugi Sakura supports her shoulder, the sensation of her delicate skin smoothing its way into his heart through his fingers. "Actually, in the past, I rarely thought we’d end up together." "Hanabi understands... Sakura must have thought so long ago. But later, as Hanabi grew a bit, Sakura liked secretly watching her." "You knew? Actually, at that time, watching you always brought some—" A small hand suddenly covered his mouth, the fragrance of the girl’s hand immediately filled his nose, swaying his thoughts between breaths. The gentle voice continued: "Hanabi... didn’t know before, but Hanabi always knew Sakura saw her as a little girl... often deliberately avoiding... "But... Hanabi will grow up..." Hanamaru Hanabi’s vibrant amethyst eyes, reflecting with a sunlit brilliance: "Now, Hanabi has become Sakura’s fiancée... "To strive for a better future... Hanabi can only rely on Sakura, and for Sakura, Hanabi will give it her all." Through her eyes, Uesugi Sakura understands that her affection for him is even deeper than his for her.

Chapter 154 - 147 Stirring Fiery Love

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