Chapter 98: The First Step

Chapter 98: Chapter 98: The First StepUesugi Sakura: "I’ll say it again, I’m just standing here, fulfilling Goto’s promise as a tool." "I know," Ayaka Rie said, her head down writing, "Haven’t you noticed I’ve been nicer to you lately?" "Not really," said Uesugi Sakura. Ayaka Rie didn’t answer him. "What are you guys talking about?" Haneda Kimu walked over to the podium, put down the book in her hand and asked with a smile. "We’re discussing how to get along with the opposite sex." "Oh?" Twenty-six-year-old and still single, Haneda Kimu showed great interest, "Thinking about dating?" Ayaka Rie remained silent, meaning she absolutely did not want to. Hanamaru Hanabi quietly drank her milk. The young female teacher’s gaze moved back and forth between Uesugi Sakura and Hanamaru Hanabi, and she laughed: "I remember Uesugi and Hanamaru were childhood friends, right?" "We weren’t born in the same ward, but we’re still childhood friends." Uesugi Sakura placed the empty box at the corner of the desk, picked up a pen and glanced casually at the problem, writing an "A." Haneda Kimu looked at the correct answer and continued to ask, "The teacher is actually curious, since you are so familiar with each other, you should be very close, aren’t you dating?" "Of course—" Uesugi Sakura was about to speak, suddenly remembering his father-in-law’s inexplicable request, he changed his tone and said: "As long as Hanabi confesses to me, I’ll agree to date her." Hanamaru Hanabi held the milk carton in her small hands and stared at him dazedly. Haneda Kimu also noticed Hanabi’s expression and teased Uesugi, "Letting the girl confess first?" "Nothing wrong with that," Uesugi Sakura said, "In this era, gender equality is advocated, having only males confess obviously isn’t equal." "Equality implies being unable to find a partner." Haneda Kimu’s young face openly smiled. "Unless the person is exceptionally excellent," Uesugi Sakura casually glanced before writing down another problem, "Why doesn’t Haneda-sensei find a boyfriend?" "No suitable one." Haneda Kimu replied earnestly, then thought for a while, "Actually, the teacher recently has some thoughts about this, can Uesugi give some advice?" Would this count as not being ashamed to learn from your juniors? The thought inexplicably popped into Uesugi Sakura’s mind. "Sorry, sensei, I only know how to reject girls, not pursue them." "Oh?" Haneda Kimu looked him up and down, "Has Uesugi not dated before?" "I have," Uesugi Sakura did not hide it, "But my way of pursuing is too simple, not worth referencing." "In junior high?" Haneda Kimu asked, then said, "Sharing the experience with the teacher would be fine too." "Just a direct confession." Hanamaru Hanabi, who was head down but not focused on her homework, bit her lip. The topic of the study group was getting more and more off track, while other students wrote homework and listened to the chat between the teacher and students. Haneda Kimu laughed, her business attire giving off the image of a successful woman: "Indeed, Uesugi has the bearings to do that." Uesugi Sakura was puzzled, "Logically, a pretty teacher like Haneda-sensei should be pursued." "Sigh," Haneda Kimu sighed, "It’s hard to say, I tried dating once during my time at Todai but... it didn’t work..." Her words always carried a faint sadness. ——— The study session today, aside from doing a set of problems, had no progress. Walking in the bustling district, Hanamaru Hanabi and Uesugi Sakura waited for korokke under two gently swaying lanterns. "Sakura... why can’t Haneda-sensei find someone to date?" The two korokkes sizzled in the oil pan, about to come together, only to be mercilessly separated by the small spatula. "Why is Hanabi interested in this?" Uesugi Sakura smiled, watching her profile under the dazzling lights. Hanamaru Hanabi turned her head, her silhouette outlined by neon lights like dazzling fireworks: "Because Sakura and Haneda-sensei were talking so much, I couldn’t concentrate on my homework." After taking the two korokkes handed by the vendor, Uesugi Sakura paid, then said to Hanamaru Hanabi: "It’s a simple thing." "Simple?" Hanamaru Hanabi was drawn to the korokke in his hand. "Because Haneda-sensei, as a woman, is too impressive." When Uesugi Sakura turned, he noticed Hanamaru Hanabi’s small head was following his movement. "Too... impressive?" Clearly wanting to eat the korokke, Hanamaru Hanabi hadn’t seriously thought about the phrase. Seeing this, Uesugi Sakura smiled and didn’t rush to give her the korokke, continuing to walk ahead. Hanamaru Hanabi quickly stepped in her little shoes to catch up with him. The two sat on a bench under a zelkova tree, the black bow bag by their side. "When there’s a large gap between a partner and oneself, it naturally creates a sense of inferiority, it’s quite a simple thing." "Thank you, Sakura-kun." Hanamaru Hanabi nodded, wanting to reach out and take the golden korokke from Uesugi Sakura’s hand. Uesugi Sakura dodged her small hand, smiling at her, "I’ll feed you." "Hanabi can eat by herself..." "It’s different this way." As they spoke, Uesugi Sakura had already brought the korokke to her mouth. The aroma of potatoes and meat filled her nostrils, the rising steam teasing her taste buds was an irresistible temptation. Hanamaru Hanabi couldn’t help but swallow, sneaking a glance at Uesugi Sakura’s smiling face. In the end, the little mouth gently bit into that soft and crispy sensation. "Is it good?" Uesugi Sakura asked with a smile. "Delicious..." Hanamaru Hanabi answered a bit shyly, reminding her of the past. In kindergarten, he used to feed her like this. But it wasn’t a meal, and without that feeling, Uesugi Sakura handed the korokke to her. "Thank you, Sakura-kun." Holding the korokke with both hands, Hanamaru Hanabi slowly ate, her small mouth occasionally blowing out hot air. Uesugi Sakura gazed at the long narrow street ahead, watching one silhouette after another pass by: "Does Hanabi remember why you wouldn’t eat when you were little?" "Hanabi... used to cry a lot..." "Why though?" Hanamaru Hanabi shook her little head, she really couldn’t remember. Thinking of her timid appearance as a child, Uesugi Sakura couldn’t help but smile: "Because your mom wasn’t there, you always wanted me to feed you; when the teacher touched your bowl, you’d cry." He looked at her well-lit face under the lights. "You cried loudly, your tear-streaked face was also ugly, and your clothes were covered with your tear stains." "Was it very ugly?" Hanamaru Hanabi raised her head to look at him. "Not as pretty as now, anyway." Uesugi Sakura smiled, "But you were very cute back then, wiping your tears and always wanting to play with me, calling me ’big brother’ in that sweet voice." Hanamaru Hanabi lowered her head, her voice small: "Back then, everyone called Hanabi a crybaby, and nobody wanted to play with me." "Only Sakura-kun didn’t mind Hanabi crying all the time, would wipe Hanabi’s tears, share tasty food, and tell Hanabi stories from books." "Every day, Hanabi could only play with Sakura-kun..."