CHAPTER 377: CHAPTER 280: THE SILVER WATCH

The morning freshness never disappoints.

The air works in the lungs, wind whistling past the ears, and the soles feel the solid ground.

Uesugi Sakura returned home from running and coincidentally ran into two ladies coming from the direction of the train.

"Little Sakura!" Mrs. Hanamaru extended her arms, waving him over.

"Mom, Aunt." Uesugi Sakura jogged over to greet them, with sweat still on his forehead.

"Out for a morning run so early." Mrs. Hanamaru looked at him with a smile, while the chubby Hanamaru Hanami in her arms reached out to be held, babbling.

Meanwhile, his own sister was still asleep in their mother’s arms.

"Got up early today, had nothing to do on a Saturday, so I went for a run." Uesugi Sakura glanced at his little cousin and said.

"Why didn’t you take Hanabi with you?" Mrs. Uesugi asked as she handed Hanami to him, "If little Hanabi doesn’t get some exercise, she’ll surely put on weight."

"She’s still asleep, better not disturb her; otherwise, she’ll be groggy all day." Uesugi Sakura took the little cousin, and once she settled on his arm, she nuzzled against him.

Children’s body temperature is indeed a bit higher, constantly radiating warmth like little glowing suns.

"Indeed, Hanabi gets silly if she doesn’t sleep well; she’s always in a daze when she just wakes up," Mrs. Hanamaru laughed, lifting the box in her hand, "Nobuko and I made breakfast, let’s eat while it’s hot."

"Okay."

Walking back all the way home, Uesugi Sakura took out the keys at the door.

Just about to open the door, he suddenly remembered the Chiaei sisters were still asleep downstairs.

These two little girls... what would the two ladies say when they see them?

Seeing him pause, Mrs. Uesugi asked, "Sakura, what’s the matter?"

"Nothing."

After a moment’s thought, Uesugi Sakura opened the door right away.

Just two little girls added to the household, what could be said?

Holding onto his little cousin who was trying to wiggle free and crawl around, Uesugi Sakura waited at the entrance for the two ladies to change shoes.

As they turned the corner to the living room, the drowsy-faced Aei bumped into the two ladies; her hair was still loose but silky, not sticking up.

Uesugi guessed she was trying to go to the bathroom.

...

Aei lifted her small face and said in a still sleepy voice:

"Good morning."

Mrs. Hanamaru saw the child in front of her and blinked in confusion. After exchanging questioning glances with Mrs. Uesugi, she turned her head and asked Aei:

"...Who are you?"

"I am... who?" A lethargic Aei was also unclear.

Mrs. Hanamaru: "Yes, who are you?"

"Um—"

Rubbing her eyes, Aei tried hard to think of who she was.

To be precise, she and her sister Chiaei weren’t related to Uesugi Sakura at all.

"Mooching food and drink!"

"..."

Truly an excellent explanation.

Just as Uesugi Sakura was about to speak, he was silenced by his mother-in-law’s gesture.

"Sakura, don’t speak, I want to ask myself."

Mrs. Hanamaru smiled and asked, "What’s your name?"

"Aei."

"So, Aei-chan, can you tell me what your relationship with Hanabi is?"

"My sister and I call her sister."

A sister, huh, Mrs. Hanamaru thought, as she examined her nose:

"What’s your dad’s name?"

Aei shook her little head, "I don’t know."

Don’t know the father’s name?

Mrs. Hanamaru was a little stunned, "What about your mom?"

"Mom’s name is Aihime." After saying this, Aei rubbed her eyes again and yawned sleepily.

Mrs. Hanamaru didn’t recognize this name, "Then, Aei-chan, do you know any characteristics of your dad?"

Aei said, "Tall, wears a silver watch."

Uesugi Sakura noticed his mother-in-law’s expression and sensed trouble upon hearing this. His father-in-law indeed wore a silver watch and was tall as well.

Sure enough, Mrs. Hanamaru’s face fell immediately.

Given Aei and Chiaei’s looks, how to put it... the nose was very like his father-in-law’s, and on closer inspection, even the face shape seemed a bit similar.

The more you look, the more it’s worth pondering.

Even at this moment, Uesugi Sakura began to wonder; could it really be his father-in-law had an outside...

Based on just a tiny clue, it’s wrong to accuse anyone; since Aei indeed had no recollection of her father, all Mrs. Hanamaru could do was to ask Uesugi later.

"Aei goes to Shirooka Elementary, yes, it’s the school where Hanabi and I studied as kids, in the same teacher’s class too."

Mrs. Hanamaru thought for a moment and asked, "Do you know the child’s family situation?"

The real situation should be told to my mother-in-law, but Uesugi Sakura had promised Chiaei not to talk carelessly.

He could only mention it’s a single-parent family; they came because they were guests last night, and it was too late for the two little girls to return home.

His mother-in-law was understanding and didn’t feel any discontent about the two little girls’ presence, even chatting warmly with them.

Even though his mother-in-law and mother didn’t mind, Chiaei probably didn’t think the same.

After finishing breakfast, when saying goodbye to Uesugi Sakura at the door, she repeatedly thanked them.

"It’s nothing, just a couple of simple meals."

Aei lifted herself slightly on tiptoes behind her sister: "Brother, you’re wrong; it was the world’s most delicious cake."

This is the only time you tell the truth.

Chiaei: "Alright, Aei, quickly say thank you to brother and sister."

Aei: "Eh, are we leaving already?"

Chiaei: "Why do you only ask this at the entrance...."

Aei: "I thought we were going out with brother and sister; it’s Saturday, isn’t it time for a walk."