CHAPTER 484: CHAPTER 335: CITY NIGHT BREEZE, SWEPT IN WITH THE LIGHTS_2

The wind of the night blew as I followed my uncle to where he parked his car.

Unexpectedly, I saw a familiar figure by the car.

She stepped out of the car and looked at me from beside it.

"Hanabi?" Uesugi Sakura was a bit surprised.

Sakura looked at his father-in-law again, and by his expression of nonchalance, he realized he already knew about Hanabi’s arrival.

"You two have a chat while I go buy some things," he said.

Only the two of them were left in the parking lot.

Sakura faced her, "Why did you come? Didn’t I ask you to have dinner with Aei and the others at home?"

"Hanabi..."

Hanamaru Hanabi looked at his face, lowered her head weakly, and clasped her hands in front of her.

After a long while, she continued in a soft voice, "The electric train you were on caught fire... Although you said you’re fine... Hanabi just... wanted to see if you were really okay..."

Her hair fluttered gently in the night breeze.

Sakura suddenly felt.

That somewhat reprimanding question just now shouldn’t have been spoken.

Her intention was simple, just like she said, she just wanted to see if he was hurt.

The train caught fire, and there was a culprit who injured dozens inside.

Hanamaru Hanabi, upon hearing this, surely felt worried in her heart.

Previously, when he was sick in the hospital, she stayed up all night caring, drawing while being by his side, until she fell asleep from exhaustion by the bed.

Her presence, against the backdrop of the city’s bustling lights, seemed lonely.

Hearing her frail voice, Sakura also inexplicably felt a sense of guilt: "I’m not blaming you."

"Hmm..." Hanamaru Hanabi chuckled lightly, her voice still soft.

"Have you had dinner?" Seeing her smile, Sakura’s mood improved a lot.

"Hanabi let Aei and the others eat first... As long as you’re okay, Sakura..."

"Thank you."

Sakura truly appreciated her, appreciated her concern for him, appreciated her coming out looking for him without having dinner, appreciated her smile, appreciated her existence.

Sakura admitted that he was moved by her coming out to find him.

Her gentle nature, yet always caring about him...

"Sakura... no need to say thank you..."

"Then can I call you ’wife’ once, okay?" Sakura smiled at the beautiful girl, wanting to make her happy.

"Still, still can’t call me that..."

"Then you call me ’husband’, but softer."

"Also, also can’t..." Hanamaru Hanabi was clearly shy.

Sakura moved closer and coaxed her with sweet words for several minutes, barely getting her to agree.

"Only, only once, you can call me that..."

"Alright."

Hanamaru Hanabi’s little hands, placed on her skirt, twisted nervously, her cheeks turned crimson with shyness, and after preparing herself, she softly called out:

"Husband..."

Her voice was soft and gentle, tinged with a sweet girlish charm, and Sakura felt his heart skip a beat, becoming tingly all over.

Right after she called, she hurriedly withdrew her face, embarrassed to let him see it.

That call was just wonderful.

It made him elated, wanting to pull the girl in front of him into a tight embrace and give her a couple of kisses.

Sakura’s intention was to make her happy, but it ended up making himself happy instead.

Wanting more, wanting more of her adorable expressions.

So he smiled slightly, repeatedly calling her "wife" in front of the shy girl.

Of course, Hanamaru Hanabi was getting more and more embarrassed, burying her flushed face completely out of sight.

"Wife, call me ’husband’ again." Sakura felt only the sweet flavor of love surrounding him.

"No, can’t... We agreed only once..."

"Wif—"

It wasn’t "wife," not Hanamaru Hanabi, but Hanamaru Hiroki.

He stood behind them at some unknown time.

Hanamaru Hiroki, holding a plastic bag, glanced at his blushing, somewhat evasive daughter, then at the boy standing in front of her.

"Quite a happiness there."

"Yes... yes." Sakura felt a bit awkward, unsure how to respond.

What’s the scariest thing in a relationship?

The scariest is being caught by the serious father-in-law.

Too embarrassing.

Fortunately, Hanamaru Hiroki knew he wasn’t bullying his daughter, so he didn’t say anything.

He handed Sakura the plastic bag, took out the car keys:

"Let’s head home, I’ll have dinner at your place tonight."

With that, he got into the driver’s seat and started reversing the car.

Sakura held Hanabi’s shy hand, standing to the side.

At this moment, even the wind blowing across his face couldn’t describe the embarrassment he felt now.

"Call me ’husband’ one more time, okay?"

"Then... in front of dad, Hanabi will call you Sakura once more..."

"No need for that."

——————

Riding back home in his father-in-law’s car.

This was the first time Hanamaru Hiroki visited where the two started living together; normally, their mothers dropped by to chat.

Aei and Chiaei were still awake.

In the living room watching TV.

Hanamaru Hiroki was familiar with them and wasn’t surprised to see two little girls.

Sakura made a cup of coffee in the kitchen for his father-in-law to drink, while Hanabi reheated some dishes.

"Your skills aren’t bad."

Hanamaru Hiroki set down his cup, glanced at the bedroom where he knew was a shark plushie, his daughter’s favorite item.

He asked Sakura, "You and Hanabi, living in one room now?"

More than just living in one room, only lacking the ’shy’ stuff hasn’t happened yet.

But Sakura wouldn’t dare say that in front of his father-in-law.

Fortunately, Aei came to the rescue.

"Hanabi sis and sis live with Aei; big brother sleeps alone!"

Hanamaru Hiroki evidently believed the kid’s words, glanced at Sakura, and didn’t question further.

"How are the lessons with Sakihara at the dojo lately?"

"I go every day."

"Participating in competitions too?"

"Yes, I am."

"In two months, Hanabi will be marrying you, kiddo."

"I’ll shoulder the responsibility."

"Just keep that in mind," Hanamaru Hiroki took a sip of coffee, "As for Aei and Chiaei’s guardianship, you could try to take it if you truly want to."

"Can I?"

"How long has it been since their mother last came?"

"Almost a year."

"And their father?"

"They’re illegitimate, he doesn’t want to be involved."

Hanamaru Hiroki pondered for a moment: "Go find your uncle, have him help you look into the procedure. Naturally, you need to consider the girls’ opinions on this matter."

"Understood."

Hanamaru Hanabi finished heating dinner.

After dining with his father-in-law, he asked a few more caring questions before driving home.

After seeing his father-in-law off, Sakura pulled Hanabi’s small hand at the door.

Warm, soft.

"Wife."

"Sakura... still can’t..."

"Because of shyness?" Sakura looked at her.

"Yes..."

"See how close we are now."

"Still no, we have to wait until after we’re married."

The girl’s shy look was indeed cute, and Sakura suddenly hugged her, lightly touching her soft lips, then met her eyes.

"Does Hanabi know that after I kiss you, your eyes become moist and glowing?"

"Do they...?"

"Of course. At that moment, I feel you’re too beautiful."

"Then, if Hanabi leaves, would Sakura be sad?"

Sakura caressed her cheek’s line, "There you go with those thoughts again. Even if you give me a gift, I’ll be happy for a week, and seeing it would remind me of your smile. When that cute smile suddenly disappears or isn’t seen anymore, staring at the gift you gave me, I’d only feel a hollow inside, forever incomplete."

"Once, when Hanamaru left by plane and looked at the knot Sakura gave, I felt the same way."

Sakura pinched her bouncy cheek and smiled: "You know, I really want you to keep smiling brightly like this beside me."

"Yes, Hanabi also wants to stay by Sakura’s side like this."

Sakura pulled her into his arms, standing at the entrance, watching the faintly visible moon: "The moon is beautiful, isn’t it?"

The moonlit night was beautiful, but Hanamaru Hanabi closed her eyes, uninterested in admiring it, only lying in his embrace, softly calling Sakura, Sakura...

...