CHAPTER 443: CHAPTER 314: THE BRIGHT SUNSHINE AFTER DISCHARGE_2

Fragrant, sweet, fresh, lips like budding flowers blooming wonderfully and refreshingly.

His hands couldn’t help but hold her tighter.

The warm breeze blew, and the banyan trees in the park swayed freely.

"Not... kissing anymore...?" Hanamaru Hanabi opened her beautiful eyes, filled with a pinkish glow of romance.

"Beautiful things can’t be indulged in for too long." Uesugi Sakura smiled and continued eating the ice cream that was placed aside earlier.

The lively girl in a sky-blue short skirt under the banyan tree leaves was his fiancée.

Only after interacting with her can one understand that falling in love with one person for a lifetime is more than enough.

After a while, the empty ice cream boxes piled together, lying quietly on the bench.

"Let’s take a walk. Just got out of the hospital, I want to enjoy the sun more." He turned and said to the girl.

"Mm..."

Hanamaru Hanabi held the hand he extended, and together they walked along the park path. The silhouetted couple of differing heights glowed brilliantly under the sunlight that fell on their shoulders.

——————————

Spent a few days idling at home after being discharged.

The immediate priority for Uesugi Sakura is to get his head treated.

The remaining tumor is on the sigmoid sinus of his brain, at the top side of the middle line of the brain.

This benign tumor of his cannot be completely removed.

Although currently, the condition will not recur and does not affect the brain, the remaining tumor can still grow.

Once the residual tumor grows again, various problems will follow one after another.

He does not want to be bedridden, relying on little Hanabi to take care of him for a lifetime.

It’s not good for her; he would be dragging down her happiness instead.

As for the treatment methods.

Modern medicine seems ineffective, and the success rate of complete removal isn’t high, so he can only rely on the system.

System...

He doesn’t particularly like doing tasks; although there are many rewards, there’s always a feeling of being led by the nose.

As of now... there’s no other way...

Uesugi Sakura sat up from the bedside and picked up a pair of gold-rimmed glasses next to Hanamaru Hanabi’s hair tie.

He took a deep breath and chose to accept the task.

[Beep... beep...]

[Jade of the Little Cat]

[Task Introduction: The Red Hook Jade obtained two years ago should have served its purpose, but you seem to have deviated from it. Now, you need to unearth the relationship behind it, which originates from an almost forgotten member of the Uesugi Family...]

[Task Tip: Walk in the Shrine with the image of a white-scarved orange tabby cat, perhaps... you will find some clues...]

[Task Reward: Skill Points × 5]

...

What is this supposed to mean?

Uesugi Sakura scanned the text several times to confirm the task requirements.

Does this mean he has to turn into an orange tabby cat, wear the Hook Jade and wander around the Shrine?

There isn’t even a set condition for completion?

How to find clues in a bustling Shrine... Besides, it doesn’t even specify which Shrine.

Trap, as always.

The only comforting point is that the task is easy and simple, with no pressure at all.

This is a good thing for Uesugi Sakura.

Thinking carefully, to cure the illness, it’s still worth trying to complete it.

Uesugi Sakura put on slippers, walked to Hanabi’s computer, and searched for nearby Shrines.

Asakusa, White Mountain, Togo, Azure Dragon, Akechi, Meiji.

He never really studied Shrines, but in terms of visitor flow, Asakusa Shrine and Meiji Shrine have more people.

Little Hanabi is still in class, and he’s idling at home anyway.

He might as well go out and try his luck.

Uesugi Sakura stood up and closed the curtains, sat on the bed, and opened the skill card in the system.

...

The curtain fluttered gently.

Before long, an orange tabby with white fur on its chin crawled out of the loose clothing.

He arched his body, straightened his tail, and stretched forcefully on the bed with his paw pads.

"A little uncomfortable."

Of course, this was a thought.

Whenever Uesugi the cat wanted to speak, it turned into "meow meow meow."

What’s bad about being a cat?

Uesugi the cat squatted at the edge of the bed, looking at the plain-expressed cat in the mirror, his tail swaying incessantly.

Graceful stride, lithe steps, capable of weaving and leaping through the city at will.

At night, he could curl up on the rooftop to enjoy the blue moon.

Not worrying about food, being a cat was unexpectedly pleasant.

Uesugi the cat jumped down from the bed with agility, landing on the front paws, and tiptoed across the floor to the swaying curtain before leaping out the window.

...

Uesugi the cat wandered Tokyo City’s streets, stopping and starting, countless people taller than him brushed past.

Occasionally, a few girls showed great interest in him, wanting to pet him.

Is it permissible to pet just any cat?

He immediately started running away.

Today was as hot as ever.

Uesugi the cat, donning the Red Hook Jade, crouched on top of a vending machine, gazing at the intersection ahead, deciding which way to go to hitch a ride while resting.

Meiji Shrine was nearly 16 kilometers from where he was.

A 16,000-meter journey; he, a lazy cat, didn’t want to run under the blazing sun.

Clatter.

The sound of a falling drink can.

Uesugi the cat looked down and found a little girl in front of the vending machine.

The little girl’s hair was fine and transparent, wearing a school uniform, most importantly... she wore a familiar hat.

It’s Aei...

"Ah! Kitty!" Little Aei also noticed Uesugi the cat and raised her little head with the hat.

This child, shouldn’t she be in school?

Uesugi the cat’s expression remained calm, with just the long tail swaying persistently behind him.

"Kitty, come down!"

All children love cats. Uesugi the cat planned to investigate whether this child had snuck out of school.

He aimed at the ground, took a leap, and landed lightly on the ground.

He wrapped his tail around his front paws, looking up to the little girl above.

This perspective is truly unfamiliar; he used to pat Aei’s head easily, but now she was several times taller than him.

From a cat’s view, humans are really quite intimidating.

Aei saw the orange tabby squatting quietly on the ground, neither escaping nor frightened.

She then crouched down to pat his head.

Uesugi the cat didn’t like having his head touched, so he got up and dodged.

Aei pouted and lunged forward, trying to hold him directly.

The thought was good, but his response was quicker.

Dodged again.

"Oh."

"Meow."

Uesugi the cat, with his tail swaying elegantly, stood aside, watching the falling Aei with a calm expression.

Usually, she didn’t seem so clumsy.

Or is it that her mind turns off upon seeing a small animal?

Seeing the student uniform with dust on it, he knew Hanamaru Hanabi would have to clean it for her again.

Aei was quite a mischievous child.

After a fall, she could stand up just by brushing off the dust.

"Does the kitty not like me?"

Uesugi the cat shook his head.

Aei saw he actually understood the words, which made her even more curious: "Does the kitty understand what Aei is saying?"

Uesugi the cat nodded again.

He actually understood again, and Aei’s cheeks were full of excitement: "So amazing!"

"Hey, why are you wearing Sister Hanabi’s Hook Jade?"

That’s your brother Sakura’s.

She must have confused the direction, with Uesugi Sakura’s crescent on top, the opening pointing to the left.

Because they’re a pair, Hanamaru Hanabi’s is the exact opposite.

Aei pondered for a while, thinking that Sister Hanabi accidentally dropped it, and then it was picked up by the orange cat.

But why wear it around the neck?

This thought remained unresolved for a long time.

Uesugi the cat stood by waiting, and after pondering for a long time, Aei turned her attention back to him.

"Kitty, do you want to come with Aei?"

Go with you?

He was on his way to the Divine Palace, and with her mischievous nature, he might get carried somewhere else.

But not accompanying her, Uesugi Sakura feared she might encounter some miscreant in the streets.

Tokyo isn’t safe at all; if Hanamaru Hanabi wandered alone in Shinjuku District, especially on the crowded streets, she’d be approached by more than ten people.

For the sake of this little girl’s safety.

Let her hold him for a while, and he would see if any police officers were around. He could guide Aei to them to ensure she returned to school or home safely.

"Meow."

Uesugi the cat called out to little Aei, looking up at her.