Chapter 91: Drizzly Rain, Victory or Defeat?

Chapter 91: Chapter 91: Drizzly Rain, Victory or Defeat?He reached out with his right hand to gently caress her feverish cheek, tracing down the face, teasing the soft strands of hair by her ear. The young girl was pinned to the bed, and Hanamaru Hanabi could only keep her eyes tightly shut, responding to his actions with weak whimpers. "Sakura... it’s not... not a dream..." she said fearfully, her thighs wrapped tight in white silk, subtly revealing a faint hint of flesh color. Uesugi Sakura tilted his head slightly, aiming at her eyes that dared not open: "If it’s not a dream, then why does Hanabi appear in my room again?" She was wearing a clean white shirt, the same as yesterday, with a red bow tied at the collar. The bow was a bit crooked, the shirt a bit messy. Her flat stomach, under the wrinkled thin clothing, revealed white and delicate skin, so soft it looked touchable. With a sob in her whimpers, Hanamaru Hanabi said, "Hanabi... Hanabi is here to make breakfast for Sakura... Hanabi... Hanabi wants to thank Sakura for being so good to Hanabi yesterday..." "Make breakfast?" Her words cleared up Uesugi Sakura’s mind a bit, and he also noticed the string of rainbow cord wrapped around her wrist. He realized the quilt was in disarray. A moment later, he sat dazed on his bed, looking stiffly towards the doorway where Uesugi Nobuko stood in shock. If his mother had a bowl in her hand at the time. It would have definitely crashed to the ground with a thud. —————— The incessant drizzle always carried with it a faint chill. The sound of raindrops hitting the roof always seemed to amplify one’s thoughts, making the anxious more anxious, and the contented more at ease. Eating the breakfast prepared by Hanabi and his mother, Uesugi Sakura felt the atmosphere shrouded by the light rain was a bit awkward. "Ahem." Glancing at Hanamaru Hanabi beside him, who hadn’t looked up or spoken, Uesugi Nobuko assumed her motherly role and said seriously, "Sakura, although I shouldn’t meddle in such matters, your actions need to be corrected." The name Sakura was a childhood nickname, indicating his mother placed importance on the matter. Slurping a mouthful of udon, Uesugi Sakura remained silent. "Sakura." Uesugi Sakura put down his chopsticks, the red soup in his bowl rippling with seaweed: "I don’t know how to explain this matter." His mother’s words were heartfelt: "You don’t need to explain anything to me, but you must sincerely apologize to Hanabi." "I’m sorry." He said decisively. However, the lack of emotional buildup, the easily spoken words "I’m sorry," would make the apology lose its weight. The atmosphere remained awkward as expected. Hanamaru Hanabi also pursed her lips, head down, her face unseen. "..." Uesugi’s mother attempted to ease the tension, gently patting her shoulder: "Hanabi, you see, Sakura has already apologized... if possible, just forgive him for now..." Uesugi Nobuko looked at the unmoving udon in front of her. "At least... finish the breakfast..." After saying this, she turned back to gaze unwaveringly at Uesugi Sakura sitting opposite her. Uesugi Sakura understood his mother’s message: look at what you’ve done, now quickly think of how to comfort her. Under his mother’s urging gaze, he propped his hands on the table, fingers interlocked crossing over the steaming udon, inviting Hanamaru Hanabi: "Please come with me outside." —————— Folding the umbrella and lightly shaking off the raindrops above, Uesugi Sakura and Hanamaru Hanabi stepped into Waseda Station. Hanamaru Hanabi walked evenly behind him, turning her head to look at him: "Sakura... where are we going?" Actually, she was just a bit absent-minded just now. "1-16 Kanda Suda-cho, Chiyoda District, Tokyo." Uesugi Sakura said as they waited together for the morning Chuo Line. "What are we going there for..." "To buy kyudo equipment." Hanamaru Hanabi knew he had been very keen on kyudo recently, although she hadn’t seen him shoot an arrow. "Then today... what about the study session with Rie-chan?" Study session? Uesugi Sakura paused for a second, he had indeed forgotten. "I caught a cold." He said. "Did you catch a cold, Sakura?" She turned her head to look at his face, which wasn’t red at all. "Tell Ayaka that I have a cold." Hanamaru Hanabi understood what he meant and gently advised against it: "Sakura, you shouldn’t lie." "Things that were promised and not done are also lies." The subway rolled into the station, carrying Waseda Station’s unique chimes with the breeze it stirred. In Tokyo, each subway station had its distinctive chime. Seated on the left side of the train, Uesugi Sakura noticed a little girl staring directly at him. Hanamaru Hanabi still hadn’t thought of how to refute Uesugi Sakura’s words. "In any case... anyway... Sakura, you shouldn’t say that, lying is wrong." "Lies that are meant to deceive others serve a purpose, and their benefits can’t be completely denied." Uesugi Sakura continued to stare back at the little girl. "For instance, if I use a cold as an excuse to deceive Ayaka, then in her understanding, this affair will be labeled as ’It’s just because I am sick, nothing can be done about it’." The little girl’s gaze was stubborn, undaunted by his stare. "In this situation, she would casually treat it as a special case, that is—to be regarded as nothing happens." Their tussle was locked in stalemate, Uesugi Sakura suddenly widened his eyes, exuding an aura while continuing: "However, if I tell Ayaka the truth, if she knows I stood her up, then with her personality, she would be extremely angry, languishing in anger the whole day." The effect was notable, the little girl was startled into submission. "If whether you lie or not, it’s still standing them up, then why not allow Ayaka to have a pleasant day instead? This is the best solution among the few of us." "You’re happy, I’m happy, she’s happy, everyone benefits, why not do it?" The confrontation ended with Uesugi Sakura’s victory. The little girl crossed her arms, turned her head angrily, and her father beside her curiously inquired what was wrong. Uesugi Sakura’s sophistry could easily mislead people; if it were Goto or Tsubokawa, they would undoubtedly agree completely. "Sakura... you shouldn’t do that..." The train swayed back and forth, Hanamaru Hanabi insisted on her standpoint, though her voice had softened, "Lying... is wrong..." Seeing her small hand tugging at the corner of his clothes, Uesugi Sakura sighed, took out his phone, and told her: "I’ve lost, I understand, I will apologize to Ayaka." "Okay." Under her watchful smile, Uesugi Sakura opened his phone and flicked to LINE. At this moment, Ayaka Rie had already sent him a message: "Where are you??" It seemed she had already arrived at Hanamaru’s home... Uesugi Sakura: With my sincere regards, I’m very sorry, Ayaka, due to personal reasons today’s study session is temporarily canceled, I apologize sincerely for having you make the trip in vain. A moment later, the message showed as read. Unexpectedly, Ayaka Rie didn’t seem angry, her reply was calm. Ayaka Rie: Is Hanabi with you? She hasn’t replied to my messages either. Uesugi Sakura: Yes, she’s right here beside me. Ayaka Rie: (suspicious expression sticker) You’re not on a date, right?