Chapter 87: The Park Bench

Chapter 87: Chapter 87: The Park BenchHanamaru Hanabi and Uesugi Sakura had already left. Hanamaru Hiroki sat on the recliner, picked up the paper tube next to the empty teacup, and opened the painting that had not yet been revealed. The painting was simple, depicting a father holding a little girl’s hand as they strolled through the bustling city. The theme was clear and straightforward, yet this not-so-large watercolor painting incorporated numerous elements. The deep blue night sky, shimmering neon lights, bustling commercial streets, various street stalls, and pedestrians harmoniously coexisted. The father’s stability, the girl’s curiosity, and the subtle care in the gesture of the big hand holding the small one were vividly depicted in just a few strokes. Everything seamlessly blended with the leisurely walking father and daughter, creating a remarkably realistic scene. The structure was simple, yet the unutterable happiness it contained was vividly conveyed to the heart. Hanamaru Hiroki carefully admired the watercolor painting several times, a faint smile appearing on his face: "The painting is getting better and better." —————— Whenever she thought about how her father hadn’t opened the painting until they left, Hanamaru Hanabi couldn’t help but worry: "Sakura-kun... do you think dad will like the painting I made?" Walking under the lush beech trees dotted with sunlight, Uesugi Sakura gently said, "If I had a daughter who painted such a picture for me, I’d be incredibly happy." He naturally tightened his grip on her small hand, the softness and warmth spreading like a spring breeze in his palms. "Uncle also said he received Hanabi’s heartfelt wishes." Hanamaru Hanabi’s sparkling violet eyes swayed lightly under his gaze. "So, please don’t worry, Uncle will always be behind you; your happiness is his pride." Uesugi Sakura naturally smiled at her, as usual: "Sakura-kun will be the same, always accompanying you, always caring for you, just like we’ve grown up together all along." "Sakura-kun..." Her cheeks reddening, Hanamaru Hanabi felt a bit embarrassed to meet his gaze. "Would you like to take a walk in Shinjuku Central Park?" he suggested with a smile. "Alright..." she nodded, her heart racing with anticipation for the weekend. After walking a kilometer past the Tokyo Kerry Hotel, they reached the freshened air of Shinjuku Central Park. As Shinjuku District’s third-largest park, only after the Imperial Garden and Toyama, covering eighty thousand square meters, Central Park offers a rare corner of leisure amidst the bustling city. The fresh and serene French garden is symmetrically arranged, with fountains, pools, steps, and statues adorning the greenery. The park was bustling yet courtesy and natural, consciously maintaining the peace of this corner. Looking up from here, the surrounding views were filled with towering skyscrapers. The two sat on a bench opposite a pool fountain, listening to the exhilarating sound of spraying water. "Speaking of which, I haven’t prepared an apology gift for Hanabi-chan yet," Uesugi Sakura said. "Sakura-kun hasn’t done anything to apologize for; Hanabi doesn’t need an apology gift," Hanamaru Hanabi replied. "I secretly touched you, do you know?" Uesugi Sakura asked, facing her. "Yes... Hanabi knows..." Hanamaru Hanabi responded softly, indeed recalling every detail. "So, a gift is still necessary." "But... that was a dream..." Hanamaru Hanabi’s face flushed as she recalled that tickling touch. "Whether it was a dream or not doesn’t matter; what’s important is that I had this thought, and I acted on it without Hanabi’s consent, so I still need to apologize to you." The lingering sensation of being touched would not dissipate, making Hanamaru Hanabi breathe warmly, and amid the moderate sunshine in the park, her body exuded a fragrant youthful aroma: "Then... as long as Hanabi consents to Sakura-kun’s thoughts... Sakura-kun wouldn’t need to apologize to Hanabi..." Uesugi Sakura moved slightly closer to her, indulging in the girl’s fragrance filling his nostrils, and whispered quietly into her ear: "Then, can I touch you now?" The sunlight filtered through the rustling leaves, scattering over her little dress, with the collar’s red bow matching the white blouse, making her irresistibly cute. She discreetly glanced at the walking and dog-walking passersby around them, her slightly twisting petite body tense and uneasy. "Not... not now... too many people... too many people are here..." "Then, how about after we get home?" Uesugi Sakura was amused by the increasingly shy girl, revealing a smile, "after all, I’m not entirely heartless." "Sakura-kun... do you really like touching Hanabi’s tummy?" she asked timidly, not directly answering his question. "I really like it; it’s soft and comfortable, makes me want to touch it all the time." "Well..." "Hanabi agreed?" "As long as... as Sakura-kun wants to..." She seemed bashful about the topic, speaking so softly it was almost inaudible. "How about your chest?" Uesugi Sakura mischievously asked. The previously downcast Hanamaru Hanabi naturally shifted her attention to beneath the red bowtie. Imagining being gently touched through the white blouse, she suddenly closed her eyes. After a moment’s hesitation, she stammered: "Also... it’s fine..." "Really?" "Rea...lly..." "Then..." Uesugi Sakura deliberately elongated the last word. Hanamaru Hanabi suddenly, in a panic, stretched out her small hands, turned her head, and closed her eyes tightly: "Don’t... don’t bully Hanabi, Dad will hit Sakura-kun." Why is she so adorable? Uesugi Sakura chuckled, took her hands, and pressed against her flushed earlobes: "Uncle won’t find out." "Dad has a gun..." "Uncle won’t find out." "Dad is very powerful, and he caught many bad guys..." "Uncle won’t find out." "Dad, he..." Unable to quickly think of a response, Hanamaru Hanabi could only utter a pitiful plea, "Hanabi will make bento for Sakura-kun... Sakura-kun... please don’t, don’t bully Hanabi..." "Not enough." "Hanabi will earn money from painting and make delicious food for Sakura-kun every day..." Hanamaru Hanabi carefully considered her offer. "Still not enough." "Hanabi will listen to Sakura-kun, stay by Sakura-kun’s side whenever not feeling well..." "Still not enough." Hanamaru Hanabi was so nervous her heart pounded, her little head short-circuited: "Hanabi, Hanabi... can’t think of anything..." She quickly continued to beseech, adding, "But Sakura-kun must not bully Hanabi, okay? Hanabi cries easily..." Her weak voice seemed on the verge of tears. Uesugi Sakura couldn’t help but laugh, embracing her slender waist through the thin clothes: "It’s a joke, can’t Hanabi tell?" Feeling the closeness of his chest, like a startled little white rabbit, Hanamaru Hanabi felt a bit relieved, yet still cared about the previous conversation: "Then... Sakura-kun will still touch Hanabi, right..." "Yes." Slinking his arm around, he touched her soft, smooth belly. She only felt a tingling sensation where she was touched, "Then... Sakura-kun, please be gentle..." "I’ll be very gentle." "Mm..." Sitting on the park bench, feeling the sunlight passing through the green leaves onto her face, Hanamaru Hanabi leaned against him, closing her eyes lazily in a daze. An old woman walking her Shiba Inu noticed the silhouetted couple on the bench, shook her head, and with a faint smile, silently led her dog away.