CHAPTER 426: CHAPTER 306: ENCOUNTER, DINNER PARTY

"Hello, Uesugi-kun," Sekine Sagara smiled as he extended his hand, exchanging a few pleasantries, "It’s really quite a coincidence to meet here."

"Yes, quite a coincidence." Uesugi showed no intention of extending his hand, "I didn’t expect to run into Sekine-san in this small place."

Sekine Sagara used a nonchalant smile to hide his embarrassment, retracting his hand suspended in mid-air, "I’m just accompanying my father for business talks, learning some business conversational skills in the process, and came out for some fresh air."

Uesugi Sakura observed his attire, a blue suit, a floral tie, a silver watch... all very proper.

This outfit indeed signified he was on business.

"Sigh, Uesugi-kun, I actually don’t enjoy these things, but I can’t help it because of my father’s demands, it’s not an option not to come."

Sekine Sagara shook his head, making a helpless gesture, then promptly smiled and extended his hand to Umezu Nana beside Uesugi Sakura courteously:

"Hello, I’m Sekine Sagara, you can call me anything, just call me Sekine-san."

"Oh, hello, Umezu Nana." Umezu Nana snapped back to reality and returned the gesture.

"Hello, Umezu-san," Sekine Sagara withdrew his hand, a slight smile on his lips, "May I ask who just left—haha, please don’t mind me asking so much, it’s just that I saw a car model I like, you understand, it’s rare to find like-minded people, just wanted to satisfy my curiosity a bit."

"Those were my parents."

"So it’s your parents, a pity they’re elders; I feel a little constrained before elders, it’s hard to openly discuss shared hobbies." Sekine Sagara glanced at Uesugi Sakura beside her.

Umezu Nana noticed this subtle glance and quickly explained, "Sekine-san, don’t misunderstand, Uesugi-kun and I are just classmates."

"Haha, no, no misunderstanding." Sekine Sagara swiftly shifted his gaze onto her.

The more polite he was, the more Uesugi Sakura found his intentions questionable.

Whether he happened to come to Matsukawa Cuisine for a meal or not was still uncertain.

This guy probably saw him talking to Umezu’s parents.

But even if he saw it, so what, he had already discussed this matter fully with Hanabi, and was currently just sitting inside the restaurant.

Regarding Uesugi Sakura’s attitude toward Sekine Sagara, it was difficult to say.

He was aware that he had intentions of pursuing Hanabi, but Sekine Sagara hadn’t made any moves or bothered Hanabi.

Uesugi Sakura merely disliked the guy a little.

"Umezu, are you still going to have a meal?"

"No need, no need."

"Alright then, you must be heading home, right? Well, I won’t disturb you any further." Uesugi Sakura wanted to head back to the restaurant.

"Uesugi-kun, you still need to take this money..." Umezu Nana grabbed her clutch bag from her waist.

"It’s fine, I already said it’s my treat," Uesugi Sakura gave a handsome smile, then finally turned to Sekine Sagara, "Sekine-san, if you’ll excuse me, I’ll be taking my leave."

"Haha, no worries, let’s chat more next time.

Uesugi Sakura no longer looked at the smile frequently on his face, turning around to walk into the hallway leading to "Matsuyama" inside the restaurant.

Only the two of them were left outside.

"Sekine-san and Uesugi-kun are...?"

Sekine Sagara explained politely, "We weren’t related before, but we’ve had a connection since encountering once."

"Friends?" Umezu Nana didn’t understand why he had to make it sound so mysterious.

"No."

A ringtone suddenly rang, Sekine took out his phone and glanced at the screen, then tucked it back into his pants pocket, apologizing to her, "Sorry, my father is calling me back."

"Then you should go quickly."

"Umezu-san, let’s chat again when there’s an opportunity." Sekine Sagara smiled and then strode back into the restaurant.

——————

"Uesugi," Todaka Keichiro noticed Uesugi Sakura entering while pushing the door, put down his chopsticks, and turned to look at him, "You’re done over there? What about Umezu?"

"All set," Uesugi Sakura shut the door to the private room and said, "Umezu is heading home first."

"Oh right, let me introduce someone."

Todaka Keichiro pulled over the girl sitting next to him, "This is my girlfriend, Sakado Shoko, Shoko-chan, this is my classmate, Uesugi, he’s the one treating us today."

The well-mannered girl with gentle eyes greeted him politely, "Uesugi-kun."

"Yes, hello." Uesugi Sakura didn’t expect Todaka Keichiro to be into good-natured girls.

"Senpai." Seisa Takeshun also greeted him.

"Hmm." Uesugi Sakura also turned his head to look at him, "Just enjoy the food."

"Come, come." Kitagawa Sakisa sitting with Hanabi gestured to him.

Uesugi Sakura walked over, and everyone shifted to the right by one seat, leaving the leftmost seat by the wall for him.

"You haven’t finished eating?" He noticed the chef responsible for the food was still working behind the bar.

Kitagawa Sakisa glanced at him past Hanabi, "Hanabi-chan felt you weren’t full, said you would come over, asked the chef to slow down the serving speed a bit. Look, Hanabi-chan didn’t forget about you and thought so considerately."

Uesugi Sakura felt that Hanamaru Hanabi’s face beside him looked even more adorable and smiled, "Thank you."

He indeed hadn’t eaten his fill.

"It’s alright, Sakurai-kun, no need to say thanks..." Hanamaru Hanabi lowered her little head in front of him.

The chef, finishing his work, had a kimono-clad waitress serve each of them several lidded small bowls, gesturing please before clasping her hands at her waist and withdrawing.

An upscale restaurant, with its thoughtful service, provided customers the utmost freedom.

Uesugi Sakura took a bite of the crab meatball in the clear bowl, the faint fragrance smelled quite delicious.

"Uesugi, you weren’t recognized?" Kitagawa Sakisa drank a sip of water, clamping a piece of snow-white shrimp meat with chopsticks.