CHAPTER 499: CHAPTER 342 THE BEGINNING OF EARLY MORNING_2

He walked back to the bedroom and answered the phone.

"I apologize for calling so early. Is this Uesugi Sakura?"

"Who is this?"

Uesugi Sakura didn’t recognize the voice.

"I’m Officer Isomaki Yukiyoshi from last night. I’m calling to inform you of our latest findings."

Uesugi Sakura became a bit interested.

"Did that Yakuza from last night confess?"

On the other end of the line, at the police station, Officer Isomaki Yukiyoshi quickly bowed and apologized: "I’m very sorry, he still hasn’t confessed anything useful. However, from his underlings, we found out that yesterday’s action was a targeted attack on you, and the root cause seems to involve a woman."

A woman?

Uesugi Sakura didn’t think he had offended any woman.

Lately, he was either at the dojo or at home.

Besides occasionally turning into a cat to visit the shrine, he hadn’t interacted with or offended any woman at all.

Officer Isomaki Yukiyoshi continued on the phone:

"We are still investigating and handling the situation. Please rest assured; we will resolve this matter. However, for the time being, please stay at home as much as possible for your safety."

Uesugi Sakura didn’t respond; he was pondering what had gone wrong.

"Is there anything else you would like to ask, Mr. Uesugi?"

"No, thank you."

"You’re welcome. It’s what we should do. In fact, we should apologize to you."

"It’s nothing."

Afterward, he hung up the phone.

Uesugi Sakura put his phone away and walked to the open kitchen next to the living room, finding Hanamaru Hanabi making breakfast.

He inquired: "Hanabi, have you been working at the shrine lately?"

Hanamaru Hanabi didn’t turn around, responding while busy: "Yeah, it’s been very hectic."

Uesugi Sakura smiled: "That’s good then."

Hanamaru Hanabi looked at him, puzzled; his questions seemed random and disconnected.

Once breakfast was ready, the four of them sat around the table together.

"Aei, you need to eat the yolk yourself."

"Aei only likes the whites; sister eats the yolk."

"You can’t be picky." Chiaei took on a sisterly tone, though slightly gentle.

Watching the two little girls bicker, Uesugi Sakura decided to explain the previous situation to them.

"Aei, and Chiaei."

Both little girls looked at him.

Uesugi Sakura swallowed the bread in his mouth, then continued:

"How about you both change your surname to Uesugi in the future?"

Little Aei asked: "Why would we have the same surname as brother?"

Uesugi Sakura explained: "Because, legally speaking, you’ll be my real sisters."

"What does that mean? Aren’t we sisters now?"

Chiaei understood these matters a bit better and the meaning of changing their surname.

"Does it mean... we’ll all be considered one family?"

"That’s right."

Uesugi Sakura nodded, then continued: "In the future, you will also be considered my mother’s daughters. You’ve met her; she really likes you... I mainly want to ask if you’re willing to do this. The specific steps have been explained to me by Hanabi’s father; there’s no major issue as long as you agree."

Their identities were a bit complicated, being children born out of wedlock.

Gaining guardianship required some maneuvering.

Courts typically favor biological mothers in custody battles, but if the biological parents don’t fulfill their duties,

they’ll consider the guardians’ work nature, work environment, income status, living conditions, education level, and character, highlighting favorable aspects through comparison.

If guardianship is sought, the Hanamaru family would be more suitable.

Because Hanamaru Hiroki graduated from Tokyo University and is a government official, the court would favor a highly educated and well-off family.

Given how her parents are currently acting, gaining custody shouldn’t be too difficult.

Because they are children born out of wedlock, their household registration currently has the word "illegitimate," which is necessary.

If their surname changed to Uesugi or Hanamaru, "illegitimate" would change to "adopted."

Hanamaru Hanabi remained silent on the side, and the two little girls also stayed quiet for a moment.

Finally, Chiaei nodded first, softly saying:

"Of course..."

Aei asked Chiaei: "What about mom and dad... they haven’t come to see Aei and sister yet..."

"..."

The air was somewhat quiet, with only the light streaming in through the curtains from outside.

Chiaei’s small birthmark under her left eye seemed a bit forlorn: "They won’t come to see us again..."

Aei fell silent once more and finally nodded gently toward Uesugi Sakura, saying:

"Aei also feels that brother and Hanabi sister are very good to Aei and sister..."

This seemed to be an eternal topic.

Aei still harbored some feelings for her parents.

But after spending these days with Uesugi Sakura and Hanamaru Hanabi, they knew where they truly felt at home.

They didn’t like living in the cold apartment of the DINK community.

Uesugi Sakura: "Then it’s settled."

"Okay!"

The two little girls nodded in agreement.

After breakfast, Hanamaru Hanabi took them to play at the shrine once more.

Having a witch as an older sister, they were very intrigued to learn about a witch’s daily life.

Uesugi Sakura headed to the Mushindo Dojo in the Chiyoda District.

The match was in 5 days, and he still didn’t know who his opponent was.

Even Tachibana Youko in the dojo couldn’t help but ask why he was so calm.

To fight a match... isn’t it necessary to know and understand who your opponent is?

"Junior brother."

As soon as Uesugi Sakura reached the Sakihara family’s entrance, someone called out to him.

He turned around and saw it was Kusunoki Kubomaru, whom he had taken the train home with last night and encountered the Yakuza together.

He nodded and greeted:

"Senior Brother Kusunoki."

"Ha, why do you seem in such high spirits today?"

"Just normal." Uesugi Sakura looked at himself, finding nothing unusual.

"Not at all, today you look radiant, surely you’re lucky in love."

In Japan, there’s also the saying of being lucky in love, considered a calamity.

Kusunoki Kubomaru stroked his chin, "By the way, who did you offend last night, did the police find out?"

"No." Uesugi Sakura shook his head, "Just a clue, it’s said to be because of a woman."

"A woman?"

Kusunoki Kubomaru laughed, "Hahaha! With your looks... hmm~ picking up any JK or JD wouldn’t be too difficult, would it? Tell me! Did you hook up with the Yakuza boss’s daughter, then ruthlessly dump her, making her angry, and that’s why they wanted to finish you off last night?"

"I’m a pure-hearted guy, I would never do such a thing." Uesugi Sakura said with a calm expression.

"You, never had a girlfriend? Impossible!"

Kusunoki Kubomaru was quite surprised.

From his acquaintances, those who were good-looking were all flirts.

Always at bars, changing partners every night.

Uesugi Sakura raised his left hand, showcasing the diamond ring on his ring finger: "I’m engaged."

"Oh, you’re engaged. Your fiancée must be quite formidable." Kusunoki Kubomaru glanced at the big diamond and then withdrew his gaze.

"Why do you say that?"

Uesugi Sakura inexplicably thought of the little kitten sleeping on his chest that morning.

A strong-willed kitten?

It did have moments of fierce adorability.

Kusunoki Kubomaru patted his shoulder with one hand: "You say you’re pure-hearted. For such a handsome pure-hearted man like you, unless she’s a dragoness, she wouldn’t be able to stop a handsome guy like you from going out."

Then, he raised a corner of his mouth and added with a smile:

"Of course, not as handsome as me."

Uesugi Sakura: "..."

"Senior brother, do you have a girlfriend?"

Kusunoki Kubomaru quickly looked toward the dojo behind him: "Hey! Junior Brother! Fujimaki, who was squeezed out of position by you today, has arrived. He’s very dissatisfied with you. Come on, let’s go inside. I won’t let him bully you. Just because we’ve been through life-and-death together yesterday!"

"..."

As Kusunoki Kubomaru pulled him in, Uesugi Sakura thought to himself.

Thinking, does yesterday’s situation also count as a life-and-death bond?