Chapter 86 Apology

Chapter 86: Chapter 86 Apology"What do you think I’m looking at?" Uesugi Sakura smiled, looking into her eyes sparkling in the sunlight. In front, a thin girl with round glasses stood behind the crowd. Hanamaru Hanabi noticed her legs wrapped tightly in white silk under her plaid skirt, and her little hands instinctively tightened as she turned back and said, "Sakura-kun... do you like that kind of thing?" Uesugi Sakura, who had been focused on an urgent task, hadn’t noticed this highlight. He glanced over and also felt her small hand squeezing his own. Sometimes men need to be straightforward. "Yes, that’s right, I like it a lot." Uesugi Sakura said with a smile to her. Hanamaru Hanabi stared blankly at his smiling face, mumbling, "Actually, Hanabi’s family... also has these kinds of socks." Uesugi Sakura was dazed for two seconds, suddenly wanting to pinch her sun-blushed cheeks: "Hanabi, do you want to wear them for me to see?" Hanamaru Hanabi lowered her head, holding the bento box with one hand. "Right now... it’s not possible..." "I know." Uesugi Sakura held her hand as they crossed the newly lit green light, walking along the bustling Ome Street together. Soon, the building of Shinjuku Police Station came into view. Several 14th generation Toyota Crown police cars were parked in front, their reflective black and white paint disorienting passersby. "Which floor does dad work on?" Hanamaru Hanabi curiously looked up at everything around her, still feeling a bit unsettled about the apology. "On the fifth floor, the largest office." Uesugi Sakura took out his phone and called his uncle. Instantly connected. Hanamaru Hiroki: Are you there? Uesugi Sakura: Yeah, just arrived on the street opposite the main gate. Hanamaru Hiroki: Don’t come in through the front entrance, come through the back of the building. Uesugi Sakura: No problem. Beep— Hanamaru Hiroki decisively hung up the phone. Uesugi Sakura didn’t know why they couldn’t enter directly through the front, but since it was his father-in-law’s request, he wouldn’t ask too many questions. "Will dad come out?" Hanamaru Hanabi asked. "He will," Uesugi Sakura said, holding the cardboard tube while gripping her soft little hand, "Let’s go to the back of the building." "Okay." Hanamaru Hanabi nodded, closely following her held hand. Arriving at the back door of the Shinjuku Police Station building, Uesugi and Hanabi waited briefly before seeing Hanamaru Hiroki in a blue-gray police uniform walking out. As he approached, he immediately noticed the box in his daughter’s hands. Seeing her father, Hanamaru Hanabi suddenly lowered her head, looking at the bow on her collar. Her unusual demeanor was naturally noticed by Hanamaru Hiroki, who didn’t even mention any reminders like "Today’s skirt is a bit short." With a glance, he signaled Uesugi Sakura to ask what was going on. Uesugi Sakura could only respond with a look, indicating it wasn’t his fault. His daughter’s sudden desire to come to him had already made Hanamaru Hiroki feel strange, "Well, come to my office first." Along the way, the large building had sparse encounters with people. When they met, the officers all gave Hanamaru Hiroki a 45-degree bow, respectfully greeting the Police Chief. And as they left, they curiously watched the two young people following behind him, chatting about something. The spacious fifth-floor office. Two cups of tea already steaming with heat, Hanamaru Hiroki sat back in his chair, placing his hands on the desk as he smiled at the two ahead: "Why did Hanabi suddenly think of coming to see dad today?" "Hanabi... came to apologize to dad..." "Apologize?" Hanamaru Hanabi lowered her head, lifting the bento box with both hands and seriously offering it, her voice earnest: "I’m sorry... Hanabi made dad unhappy..." Unhappy? Hanamaru Hiroki glanced at Uesugi Sakura sitting beside her, and his astute mind had already grasped what his daughter was referring to. It must be regarding yesterday morning’s matter. Had she sensed his mood when he left? He took the lunchbox his daughter had prepared for him, feeling the warmth on it, not really caring about what happened the previous morning. He looked at the guilty Hanamaru Hanabi, softly saying, "Does Hanabi think dad would be very sad because of that thing?" "Hanabi..." "Perhaps so." Hanamaru Hiroki answered himself, interrupting his daughter’s attempt to speak. "I’m sorry..." Hearing his words, Hanamaru Hanabi’s head buried lower, her voice growing weaker. Apologies filled the air, even Uesugi Sakura sitting beside her could clearly feel it. "However," Hanamaru Hiroki shifted his tone, speaking with the calmness of a father, "I’ve been prepared for this for a long time, watching you grow day by day, while I’m happy, I also worry one day you’ll leave my side." As a father, the sight of his daughter gradually growing up surely occupies an indelible space in his heart. He took out a silver-white pocket watch from his inner pocket, opening it was a photo of Mrs. Hanamaru holding little Hanabi when she was young. The pocket watch was simple, though well-maintained, the inside’s yellowing dial still bore the marks of time. Uesugi Sakura knew the backstory of this watch. During an elementary school autumn cultural festival, a kind lady bought a very immature painting by little Hanabi back then. One thousand yen. Though a thousand yen wasn’t much money for the Hanamaru family, it was enough to greatly encourage little Hanabi at the time. She was very happy and used the money to buy a very cheap pocket watch. The first money she earned in her life, the first gift she bought with her own effort. Hanamaru Hiroki was very happy to receive this inexpensive yet luxurious gift from his daughter back then. And he kept it until now. As for why Uesugi Sakura knew, it was because when the pocket watch was bought, he was next to little Hanabi. His right hand gripping the pocket watch, Hanamaru Hiroki looked at his guilty daughter, unable to feel any hatred. "Uncle, there’s also this." Uesugi Sakura handed the small paper tube beside him to Hanamaru Hiroki. "Hanabi’s painting?" Hanamaru Hanabi glanced at her father, softly saying, "Sakura... Sakura-kun said apologies should be sincere... so Hanabi drew a picture for dad." She paused. "So... can dad forgive Hanabi? Hanabi won’t say those kinds of things to dad again..." "I accept the apology." Hanamaru Hiroki understood that accepting her apology was the best way to care for her feelings at this time. He looked at the exquisite lunchbox in his hand and the yet unopened painting, "The sincerity has been clearly conveyed, and you prepared so many things for it, I know, you must have put a lot of effort in." He continued to speak. "I’ve never been mad at Hanabi, and I never will be. Having such a sweet daughter, being able to witness your growth from birth to adulthood, is already the happiest thing in my life." "Seeing you happy and joyful every day is what makes me proudest as a father."