CHAPTER 508: CHAPTER 346 HAZY_2

"Don’t you think we look like a couple?"

Hanamaru Hanabi stared at the mirror, looking at his face.

No matter what appearance it is, there’s really no need to say anything. When he smiles, in her heart, he is the most handsome person.

"Hmm..."

"As long as Hanabi remembers that I will always remember you, it’s enough."

"Okay..."

This morning, Uesugi Sakura helped her put up her hair.

Eating the breakfast she made, listening to Aei and Chiaei chatting across the table.

Just an ordinary daily life.

Yet Uesugi Sakura felt something brushed across his heart, an indescribable reason, a sadness for the possibility of losing such days, a moved feeling of holding Hanamaru Hanabi’s small hand freely.

More like... the joy and gratitude when something lost is regained.

...

This feeling continued for several days.

Uesugi Sakura didn’t even go to the dojo, just wanting to become a cat, guarding her and watching her busy with her shrine maiden work.

"Sakura-kun should probably be busy with his own things now."

"Meow."

Uesugi the cat circled around her, licking the fingers she had just fed.

"It tickles." Hanamaru Hanabi laughed, bending down, propping her chin with both hands, seeing eye to eye with him, "If someone strange found out you could become a cat, they would definitely take you away for experiments."

Uesugi the cat sat with its tail curled on the tatami, gesturing with its paw to reassure her.

"So Hanabi will help Sakura-kun keep the secret."

Uesugi the cat moved its paw again.

"Uh-huh, Sakura-kun doesn’t have to say thank you."

Hanamaru Hanabi sat upright again, pulling him into her arms for a hug, gently grasping his fur and head with her small hands.

"Isn’t this comfortable?"

Indeed it was.

...

It was hard to leave the sweet tender embrace of Hanabi.

Uesugi Sakura went to the dojo the last day before the competition.

"Ah Sakura, why do you seem off?"

"I’ve been thinking about some things lately."

"You’re competing tomorrow."

"I know, but Shio-sister, entering the contest is just a stepping stone for me... My idea is, after winning the money, to marry Hanabi, open a café together, and by then hopefully have Aei and Chiaei’s guardianship. Living simply and nicely like that."

"Such a life isn’t bad, but why does it feel like you’re a bit gloomed?"

Uesugi Sakura looked at the wooden sword in his hand and said, "I feel like I’ve lived a long time, but I’m still scared it’s not enough, scared of losing it after aging, this ordinary daily life."

Uesugi Shio looked at him, "You’re only 18, you’ll be 19 by the end of the year, why are you thinking about this?"

"People are greedy, aren’t they? I seem uninterested... but I actually dislike loss and change the most. Sometimes I think about returning to high school or middle school, even elementary school... to see what Hanabi was like when she was little, she’d call me brother just like Aei, with an extra word."

"Feels like... you have an old soul."

"Yeah, old soul."

Uesugi Sakura picked up the wooden sword again, taking steps forward and backward while swinging it.

Uesugi Shio watched his mature and stable steps, really seeing in these simple movements the steadiness and robustness usually seen in the older generation:

"How about you try dating Hanabi again?"

"We’re together every day."

"Being together isn’t the same as dating, is it?"

"Dating is dating, daily life is daily life. Dating is part of daily life, but not daily life... Anyway, I think you need a change of mood now. Kagami and Kubomaru came to me earlier, saying your mental state seemed off today. They couldn’t really explain it, but you’re the lead of the champion team of five tomorrow, aiming for another championship, to be the lead of a three-peat champ team."

"Go on, don’t come to the dojo today, ask Hanabi for a date, change your mood."

...

Thus, Uesugi Sakura went to Shayu Shrine again.

He walked along the approach with other worshippers.

Didn’t see Hanabi sweeping, nor working outside.

The witches weren’t around.

Uesugi Sakura wandered around the shrine, passed by several halls, and finally heard the sound of bells near Kagura Hall.

The main doors of Kagura Hall weren’t open, so Uesugi Sakura sneaked around to the side.

The shrine master’s daughter, Sahaya Ling, was swinging the Kagura Bell, accompanying the dance on the upper part of the great hall.

They were wearing white robes, juban, red hakama, draped with a garment called "Chihaya", and a bright Ma e Tenkan crown, gracefully dancing.

The ethereal bell sounds, coupled with their dance steps, mysterious yet elegant and beautiful.

A few sharp-eyed witches noticed Uesugi Sakura watching them from outside Kagura Hall.

Some shyly diverted their gaze, focusing on their dance.

Some, more excited, confident, and spirited knowing they were watched by a handsome guy.

Some shared with close friends, jokingly whispering about the handsome guy watching outside.

"Hey, Hanabi-chan, there’s a handsome guy outside!"

"Huh..?"

"Quiet."

Sahaya Ling, leading the dance, heard the commotion behind her, aware of someone watching outside, but simply reminded the witches behind her with a stern tone.

The reminded witches immediately adjusted their attitude.

However, still secretly happy being watched, they danced lightly.

...

In the Witch Dress, Sahaya Ling was composed, detached, and strict:

"Alright, today’s practice ends here. Not long from now, there will be a Fireworks Festival, and our shrine has been invited for a ritual dance performance, I hope everyone is prepared."

"Ah? It’s Oudan River’s Fireworks Festival?"

"Yes."

The witches were clearly surprised, having not considered performing ritual dance on such a grand stage.

"No need for anyone to worry, practice regularly as planned, everything will be fine."

"Now let’s take a break."

Outsider Uesugi Sakura, seeing the witches pause the dance, seemed like a break began, stepped forward.

"The handsome guy from earlier has come!"

"Don’t make such a fuss~"

"Who do you think he’s here for? Waiting in the sun... Especially with that sunny smile, you think... could he be a Sword Qi Beast?"

"Come on, what are you thinking about all day! I don’t know you."

"He must be here for me~"

"How could he be looking for you, if he was he’d be mesmerized by Hanabi."

"Who is the most beautiful? You?"

"It should be... Hanabi-chan..."

Chattering and laughing continuously.

Uesugi Sakura peeked between the witches, spotting petite Hanamaru Hanabi squeezing out from the crowd.

He quickly steadied her swaying body:

"Watch your crown, don’t knock it off, it’s shiny and probably expensive."

Hanamaru Hanabi held her head, a bit dazed: "Oh..."

...

"He really is looking for Hanabi-chan, huh?"

"I said so, he couldn’t be here for you, once he sees Hanabi he wouldn’t look away."

"Damn it, how come all the handsome guys get snatched away first?"

"Why hasn’t a handsome guy snatched me away?"

"Later, let’s ask Hanabi-chan... Ask if he’s really a Sword Qi Beast... hehe..."

"Drool! Gonna start drooling!"

...

Uesugi Sakura’s good hearing picked up on the witches’ chatter, a bit curious.

He asked Hanamaru Hanabi in front of him, "What are they talking about?"

Hanamaru Hanabi was a little embarrassed to explain, continuing to adjust her golden crown: "Sakura-kun... better if you don’t know...."

Uesugi Sakura vaguely heard them mention, it couldn’t be a Sword Qi Beast, not matching Hanabi-chan’s traits.

What is that supposed to mean.

Completely incomprehensible.

"What brings you here, Sakura-kun?" Hanamaru Hanabi put her hands down, her Witch Dress was fresh, sacred, immaculate; the white garment purely beautiful, especially on her.

Seeing her like this, Uesugi Sakura’s mood immediately lifted.

He smiled, extending his hand:

"I’ve come to ask you on a date."

The eavesdropping witches immediately broke into a commotion.

Some snickering, some covering their mouths, some clapping....

"Sakura-kun!"

From Hanamaru Hanabi’s slightly complaining eyes, it was clear what she was saying.

She was saying, we’re already planning to get married, why make it feel like a first confession...

In front of everyone... she’d be so embarrassed...