CHAPTER 362: CHAPTER 271: TRAVELER AND THE LITTLE RABBIT

Life always continues, and even though Uesugi Sakura is not a nostalgic person, he is often awakened by dreams of Hanabi’s childhood likeness.

The clock ticks beside his ear, sounding like the chime of a classic pendulum clock.

With each tick, a second of time quietly slips away.

Few people care about this passing of a single second, but when these irretrievable moments accumulate, the past is born.

The first thing Uesugi Sakura does upon waking is to reach out and touch the little forehead of Hanabi beside him.

She always sleeps so peacefully, carefree as if forgetting everything.

"Thank goodness, the fever’s gone down."

Uesugi Sakura’s hand leaves her little forehead, pulls up the blanket, and lies back down on the bed.

He gazes at the ceiling, muttering softly Hanabi’s names for him: "Sakura brother, Sakura-kun, Uesugi-kun, Sakura-kun..."

As he calls out, he imagines the sweet and tender tone in her voice, and warmth fills his heart.

He turns his head, looking at Hanamaru Hanabi’s serene, cherry-pink face as she sleeps, and reaches out to brush the strands of hair from her ear, caressing her cheek.

Her hair is fine and soft, probably taking five strands to match the thickness of one of his.

The sensation in his hand is soft and tender... with a sweet, girlish fragrance wafting through her hair.

Hanamaru Hanabi’s sleeping face is exquisite, her small hands clasped in front of her chest in a very girly gesture.

Uesugi Sakura gently caresses her cheek, seriously appreciating the smoothness of her skin, a little reluctant to stop.

Now, as long as he wants, he could keep touching her cheek like this all day.

"Sakura-kun... are you awake?" The girl’s voice breaks the silent morning, as if warmed by the sun, heating up his heart.

"Mm," Uesugi Sakura responds, pinching her cheek to ensure she senses his reply, "The fever’s gone down."

"Really?"

"Mm, really."

Hanamaru Hanabi blinks her eyes and, after a while, says:

"Do you have class today, Sakura-kun?"

"Do you want me to go?" Uesugi Sakura smiles back in question.

"No." Hanamaru Hanabi smiles as he caresses her face.

Her smile seems to be painted with rainbows, beautiful from every angle.

"Even if we stick together all day, we should find something to do." Uesugi Sakura withdraws his hand from her face.

"How about cleaning up together?"

"Of course not."

Uesugi Sakura pulls the blanket over their heads, covering them both.

The light sneaking in from outside is instantly dimmed, and the dark little space quickly fills with a youthful fragrance.

"No..." Hanamaru Hanabi curls back, as if to escape.

"Don’t move." Uesugi Sakura wraps his left arm around her head from behind.

"Sakura-kun...?"

Their eyes meet, and despite the dim light, Uesugi Sakura can still see the glistening luster in her violet eyes.

In this small space, the girl exudes a fresh fragrance, a scent detached from the mundane world.

The air, running out, apparently can’t sustain both their breaths, growing slow and heavy.

Uesugi Sakura rests his forehead against her little one and says, "This way, we can clearly feel each other’s presence; besides the darkness, all that’s left is you in front of me."

"..."

"Isn’t this a bit mushy?" Uesugi Sakura hurriedly adds.

Hanamaru Hanabi laughs and says, "Mm, a bit."

"Mushy or not, even great writers will speak in vulgar words."

Uesugi Sakura feels she doesn’t dislike this somewhat embarrassing sentiment, perhaps because it’s like a young girl’s romance, or maybe because it comes from his mouth.

"Sakura-kun, how about listening to Hanabi tell a story too," Hanamaru Hanabi whispers.

"Sure."

"Have you ever heard a story, Sakura-kun?"

"What story?"

"A story about the traveler and the little bunny."

"No, I haven’t."

Hanamaru Hanabi slowly says:

"A long time ago, a traveler crossed the sea, crossed the desert, and crossed the forest alone. When he emerged from the forest leaning on a branch, he collapsed from exhaustion.

"A little bunny carrying a bundle happened by, curiously poking its head out and asking him, ’What’s wrong?’

"The weak traveler said it was nothing, then struggled to stand up alone using the branch.

"The little bunny asked again, ’Where are you going?’

"The traveler replied, ’To see a world I’ve never seen.’

"The little bunny asked, ’Is that important?’

"The traveler gazed ahead: ’Without a home, this is all I have left in my heart.’

"The little bunny looked at its bundle, then raised its head and said to the weak traveler, ’Can I go with you?’

"’Of course you can,’ said the traveler, ’but don’t you have any family?’

"The little bunny shook its head: ’No, I’ve never met them. A big grey wolf arrived not long ago, and it’s been trying to eat me, so I have to keep moving.’

"’I see!’ The weak traveler crouched down, extending his hand for the little bunny to hop onto his shoulder, ’Climb up, I’ll carry you; you won’t be able to keep up with me.’

"The little bunny politely thanked him, hopping twice onto the traveler’s shoulder. Never having been close to humans before, it felt warmth and asked, ’Does this mean we’re family?’

"The traveler, looking at the road ahead, softly told the shoulder, ’Yes, a family.’

"And so, the traveler, with a branch picked up from the road, embarked on a journey with the little bunny."

"It’s... over?"

Uesugi Sakura felt it wasn’t long enough, as Hanamaru Hanabi told the little fairytale vividly, deliberately lowering her voice for the mature traveler and using a soft, cute tone for the little bunny.

Moreover, she was right in front of him, her gentle voice as if whispering directly into his ear.

"Of course not."

Hanamaru Hanabi says, lifting the blanket covering them both slightly at the top to let in air and light.