CHAPTER 363: CHAPTER 271: TRAVELER AND THE LITTLE RABBIT_2

The light enters the small bed, outlining the contours of the girl’s face more clearly.

At Uesugi Sakura’s urging, Hanamaru Hanabi continues the little story:

"Along the way, the traveler and the little rabbit went through many things, times of tiredness, laughter, companionship, and warmth, experiencing many stories they encountered on the journey, just like real family.

"The traveler, old and sickly, was very weak most of the time but was always very kind to the little rabbit, sharing the best food and giving any apples picked along the way to the rabbit first.

"The little rabbit always felt grateful in its heart, thinking of the traveler as its true family.

"Yet...

"When they crossed mountains and marshes, it took much longer than anticipated, and when the traveler emerged, he looked just like the rabbit first saw him, too tired to move, even falling ill again from the cold night wind, exhausted in spirit...

"The little rabbit also wanted to help him, but there was nothing it could do... As the rabbit anxiously contemplated ways to help, it realized it could only chat with him, having done nothing to truly aid the traveler along the way but instead added to the weight on his shoulders, so... it had no choice but to jump into the fire. "

Here, Hanamaru Hanabi stopped speaking.

She just looked towards the person in front of her.

Uesugi Sakura roughly understood who the rabbit and the traveler referred to.

"Is this considered cheesy love talk?"

"Hmm..." Hanamaru Hanabi softly responded.

Uesugi Sakura embraced her, warmth together with her softness nestled in his arms:

"Rest assured, I won’t let you jump into the fire."

Hanamaru Hanabi did not resist his embrace, instead buried her head in his chest, pulling at his clothes.

"Actually... Hanabi is already a roasted little rabbit."

"Half-done, not fully cooked yet."

Uesugi Sakura skillfully moved closer, lifting her chin, pressing against her soft lips.

The sweetness lingering between their lips was increasingly enchanting, and the youthful scent from the girl made him restless, involuntarily extending his tongue... wanting to grasp more of her presence...

Sweet and soft, long-lasting, without realizing it, Uesugi Sakura was now above her, the blanket slipping down to his waist, arms propped beside her little head, gazing intently at her tender expression on the pillow.

The light flickering in his eyes seemed to express attachment or perhaps dissatisfaction.

"Do you... want to continue?" He asked unsurely.

Perhaps because they were pressed too closely together, Hanamaru Hanabi’s neck was slightly sweaty, her strap slipping down her snowy shoulder, hanging loosely on her white arm.

Hanamaru Hanabi shyly turned her head, her hands protecting her chest:

"Still... should have breakfast first..."

Uesugi Sakura wanted to continue, but was still willing to listen to her.

...

When getting up, Hanamaru Hanabi didn’t want him to watch her change dresses, blushing as she urged him several times before he finally left the room.

Uesugi Sakura sat in the living room outside, with only the TV and coffee table in front of him, he felt there was a lack of greenery, maybe he should check out the flower market?

The little nest for two surely made it cozy for a couple.

But Uesugi Sakura always felt something was missing, plants could be brought in, and having Hanami’s little sister, so cute, could also be a great addition.

He quite enjoyed when that little one crawled all over him.

Unfortunately, he and Hanabi both had school, couldn’t borrow Hanami and sister to raise as daughters.

Thinking like this, maybe both mothers could move in too?

Uesugi Sakura believed they wouldn’t disrupt his and Hanabi’s two-person world, even sometimes pretending not to hear strange sounds.

Sitting here for a long time.’

Uesugi Sakura finally understood he wanted to feel at home.

The door creaked open.

Hanamaru Hanabi emerged dressed, cautiously peeking out into the hallway, finding him watching TV on the sofa, she stepped out.

Thinking of what to make for breakfast today, she headed to the sink to freshen up.

Uesugi Sakura just leaned against the sofa, scrolling through his phone to wait for breakfast.

Hanabi had taken extra days off due to a cold, while Sakura simply didn’t want to go.

Ever since the professor who could handle him went on a business trip, he practically let himself go as a Todai student.

No redemption.

"Sakura-kun." Hanamaru Hanabi called out, poking her head from the wall behind him.

"What is it?" Uesugi Sakura lying on the sofa, not taking his eyes off the TV.

"What do you want for breakfast?"

"What to eat? Whatever’s fine." He’s not picky.

"Ramen?"

"Change it."

"Sakura-kun... didn’t you just say whatever?"

"Whatever is whatever, but not really in the mood for ramen."

Hanamaru Hanabi was puzzled, was it really ’whatever’?

"How about salad, omelette, and hamburger steak?"

Uesugi Sakura turned over, both hands on the sofa back, looking at her: "How about a bowl of porridge?"

"Can do," Hanamaru Hanabi said, "What kind would Sakura-kun like?"

In Japan, porridge is actually for the sick, rarely prepared by typical families for breakfast.

It used to be popular, but not so much nowadays; Japanese breakfasts often feature rice as the main part with grilled fish and pickles.

In Japan, there is also something called porridge rice.

It’s essentially white rice porridge poured over cold rice.

Uesugi Sakura simply couldn’t understand how such a combination could be eaten, all plain rice with no hint of salt.

"Century egg and lean meat."

Hanamaru Hanabi said: "That, but there’s no century egg or pickles at home."

This dish is fairly famous in Japan, Uesugi Sakura even specifically had her learn to make it.

"Go out to buy?"

"Won’t find any," Hanamaru Hanabi said, "There’s nowhere nearby that sells it."

Indeed, century eggs are like natto, those who like them love them greatly, while those who dislike them avoid them like the plague.

The majority dislike them, calling them devil eggs, shunning them.

Uesugi Sakura also thought century eggs only tasted good in porridge.

After much discussion, it still ended up being salad and hamburger steak.

But eating her cooked meals, he always felt a unique, love-like thing within.

A warm sense of happiness filled with each bite.

At the table, Uesugi Sakura watched Hanamaru Hanabi sitting opposite, eating slowly, picked up his bowl and moved next to her.

Then he picked up a piece of salad and brought it to her mouth.

Hanamaru Hanabi ate it naturally, closing her red lips, chewing slowly, then quietly asked him:

"Does doing this make Sakura-kun happy?"

"How to put it? Yes, feeding, perhaps a joy akin to feeding goldfish together yesterday." Uesugi Sakura picked up another cherry tomato to feed her.

Sometimes she seemed silly, but was actually very attentive and sensitive.

She cared deeply for many minor things.

For example, she dressed very prettily, wearing white stockings under her skirt, showing a subtle skin color, even though they didn’t leave the house today.

Uesugi Sakura sometimes really wanted to be proper, but sitting so cutely by him, so enticingly young, and there were just the two of them.

This heart, under the girlish fragrance from her, became wildly restless.

Uesugi Sakura picked up another cherry tomato from the bowl, biting half, then called to the quietly eating Hanamaru Hanabi:

"Hanabi."

Hanamaru Hanabi, hearing him call her, immediately turned to look at him.

Then, a half-bitten cherry tomato was suddenly pressed against her mouth.

"Mmm..." Too abrupt, Hanamaru Hanabi was a bit flustered.

Lips met, soft and sweet, Uesugi Sakura held her head, pressing the cherry tomato deeper into her mouth.

Hanamaru Hanabi resisted a little, but in the end could not withstand his firm kiss, blushing as she swallowed the cherry tomato he offered.

Uesugi Sakura lingered long on her lips before reluctantly pulling away.

When he looked at her again, he saw the affectionate eyes of the shy girl before him.

"How does it taste?"

Hanamaru Hanabi bashfully bowed her head, quietly saying: "Sweet, cherry tomato..."

"And...?"

"Sakura... Sakura-kun’s taste..."