Chapter 205 - 182: July Athletic Festival (3)_2

Words : 1501 Updated : Oct 8th, 2025

Chapter 205: Chapter 182: July Athletic Festival (3)_2"You have to know, one day he’ll get tired of it, one day he’ll be indifferent to your exquisite meals." "Every day you look so weak and dull. What can you do to make him happy? With your pathetic demeanor? He’s just pitying you." "Your cooking? Or is it that lackluster painting that barely got you first place?" "He doesn’t like any of those things. You’ve known him for so long, don’t you think he’ll get tired of you eventually?" "You’re always like this, no creativity, no freshness." "What? Fiancé? Haha, don’t joke around. So what if you’re married? Aren’t there enough divorces?" "You just need to know you’ve always been useless, you can’t help him with anything." "Useless, useless, useless." "Not replying to messages? Haha, it seems you understand." "If this continues, he’ll start to dislike you soon. I’m waiting, Hanabi-chan~" "Hoo—Hoo—" The steps became slower and slower, the airy ankles were hard to bear the impact of the sneakers on the ground. The senior in front was getting farther and farther away. Pain, known as discomfort, pounded heavily on the brain, and the dazzle brought by hypoxia made everything covered with bizarre shadows. Hanabi really hated herself. Just like that person said, she’s always been useless. Sakura-kun looked so cool in the competition, able to take first place among great people, winning lots of money. Hanabi knew many girls liked him from a long time ago. Some of them were very outstanding, some were very sunny, and looked better than Hanabi did back then. And Hanabi could only do some trivial little things. Hanabi had always been working hard, always wanted to change herself. Hanabi... didn’t want Sakura-oniisan to dislike her... Constantly overtaken by others, in the blink of an eye, she dropped from second to fifth. All those days of hard work... Hanabi... still so useless... "Hn! Hn! Hn!" Everyone from Hanamaru Hanabi’s fan club chanted her nickname in unison. Under the big banner, a group of people waved and cheered. Hearing everyone’s encouragement, Hanamaru Hanabi gritted her teeth and kept up with the rhythm of the person in front. The stand-in president Tsubokawa Takahiro, wearing a headband with the "Third Generation" written on it, stood right under the banner. Behind him were this group of fan club members. "President! Why aren’t you shouting?" "Go, go, mind your own business." "President! Hn-chan seems to be having a hard time now, her face is so red from running." Tsubokawa Takahiro looked towards the track, where competitors from five schools were racing, he adjusted his glasses and said: "The ones in front are running too fast. How can Hanamaru follow the rhythm of Zao High track and field club’s ace?" "President, why aren’t you calling out to Hn-chan." "That’s not the point." Tsubokawa, with his third-generation headband fluttering, turned back and said to them. "Exactly, those tall dark legs look really awesome, Hn’s pushing herself too hard, now it’s hard to even maintain speed." "Maybe give up." "No way, it’s already the last lap." "Of course, health is most important. Aren’t you a fan?" "How could I not be! But for Hn-chan, persisting to complete her goal must be important, too." Everyone in the fan club chimed in one after another. But Tsubokawa couldn’t hear a single word, he turned and frowned, scanning the rows of spectators outside the track. Where did that Uesugi guy run off to? ———————— After helping the head of the academic affairs office move some things, Uesugi Sakura realized she had encountered a lot today. The little beggar in a black skirt once again blocked her way. "What do you want, stopping me?" The bottle of mineral water in her right hand, under the refraction of light through leaves, glowed green. "Uesugi Sakura!" Kitagawa Sakisa’s tone started high but quickly lowered, "You, you, you have to apologize to me today..." "Give you money to use, but still want me to apologize?" Uesugi Sakura just wanted to go watch Hanabi’s match. "Who said I wanted your money! I never said that..." Uesugi Sakura wasn’t in the mood for the people showing up in front of her, directly interrupted her. "First, didn’t you just show up in front of me for no reason at the time?" "So what if I did, it’s all because of you..." "Second, didn’t you run away from home?" "How did you know that..." "Third, weren’t you very hungry at that time?" "Even if I was very hungry, you couldn’t just..." Kitagawa Sakisa’s voice grew quieter, occasionally sneaking a glance at him. While speaking, Uesugi Sakura pulled out her phone to check the messages Tsubokawa sent her. "Alright, I’m done talking with you weird person, I have something to do, goodbye or rather not." As she brushed past her, the girl in the black skirt turned forward and took a step, grabbing his wrist and whispered. "Wait, wait..." Uesugi Sakura turned back, the refracted sunlight suddenly dazzled her eyes, making her squint. Kitagawa Sakisa looked up, biting her lip as she asked: "Do you... hate me that much?" Not wanting to get entangled, Uesugi Sakura shook her hand off and intentionally said coldly: "Just as you don’t like, it’s fine." With that, she left, brushing past her. Kitagawa Sakisa lowered her head, looking at her own hand that was shaken off, feelings of loss and loneliness fermented within her heart for a long time. She hugged her legs and crouched down under the green shade of the beech tree, burying her bandaged face. "I just...wanted an apology, that’s all..." ————————— On the other side, in the resting area for second-year class four competitors. Surrounded by the noise of classmates chatting. Hanamaru Hanabi sat on a bench with her head down, her legs ached, and her little head was still slowly recovering from the hypoxia state. The dizziness lingered before her eyes. "Hanabi-chan, don’t be disappointed, third place is already very good." In the same sports attire, Ayaka Rie came over and sat beside her, she had gotten sixth place. "The first two were from the Zao High’s track and field club; they train every day. Last year’s Tokyo Summer Games, they were very strong marathon runners. It’s normal not to beat them." "Not, not unhappy, just a little dizzy." Hanamaru Hanabi said. Ayaka Rie looked at her for a moment: "Then sit for a bit, I’ll go get you a bottle of water." "Okay." Seeing her leave, Hanamaru Hanabi picked up the phone placed on the table beside her. Lighting up the screen, her gaze lingered for a few seconds on the wallpaper of their photo together, then she opened the already read line. "(Picture)" Inside, there’s Uesugi Sakura staring at a black-skirted girl she didn’t recognize, holding hands. "So, was I right?" "Deleting it won’t do any good, it’s not my problem, it’s your own problem." "What are you looking at?" Startled by the voice, Hanamaru Hanabi hurriedly hid the phone. "N-nothing." Uesugi Sakura moved away from her, "If Hanabi says nothing, then there’s definitely something." Her violet eyes kept avoiding. "Are you upset because I didn’t come in time to watch your match?" Hanamaru Hanabi turned back, placing the phone on her lap: "No, just seeing Sakura-kun when returning, Hanabi is already very satisfied." Ayaka Rie returned to the player rest area, just pushed the door open, paused, and turned away. The two in the lounge turned their heads simultaneously. "I’m very sorry, you’ve worked hard for so long, but I didn’t even see half of the match." "Sakura-kun, you don’t need to apologize." Hanamaru Hanabi said without much confidence. Silence fell between the two again. Uesugi Sakura noticed she wasn’t in high spirits, perhaps because the long run was too exhausting. "What would you like to eat today?" Hanamaru Hanabi clenched her small phone tightly, the ring gleamed faintly, and that photo lingered endlessly in her mind. Maybe... it’s really because I’m not good enough, unable to make Sakura-kun like me forever. The Weaver Lady also disliked herself, disliked how she bothered her on that Tanabata, disliked the wish she made that day. "Why aren’t you speaking now?" "Hanabi..." Hanamaru Hanabi’s voice was small as always, confidence was something that never existed for her. "Sakura-kun, it’s normal to feel fed up with Hanabi..." "Why did this all of a sudden come up again?" Uesugi Sakura grasped her small hand, understanding her wave of insecurity. This was her flaw, and it’s what made her the least likable. Many found it bothersome, thought she shouldn’t be so weak about everything, and looked at her insecurity with cold eyes. But Uesugi Sakura understood; only treating her with patience was the right thing to do in these times. If she sensed annoyance, she’d only bottle up her feelings. Until she got sick, unwilling to trouble others anymore. Little Hanabi, from a young age, needed someone to comfort and support her easily hurt heart.

Chapter 205 - 182: July Athletic Festival (3)_2

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