CHAPTER 388: CHAPTER 285 TEACHER HANAMARU_2

"That’s too cheap! Sixty-six drawings, over a million, they’ll definitely find it too little," Kawaichi Saburo sighed, "Previously, a gaming company in the industry hired her for character illustrations, one drawing was 1 million yen."

Hearing about millions of yen, Shinomoto Yasuhiko felt a bit suffocated: "Then should I still ask Teacher Hanamaru to draw...?"

"Of course, why not? As a new author’s second book, if the illustrations of a light novel aren’t attractive, who would buy it? Even if the editorial department always acknowledges you, by the time you become popular, the resources given to you will have already been exhausted!"

"But... it’s so expensive... even if I pay out of my own pocket, it’s not feasible..." Shinomoto Yasuhiko really wanted to fulfill his dream.

"It’s better to have more illustrations for a new novel; for now..." Kawaichi Saburo thought for a moment, "Reduce the number of illustrations in a single volume, and have her do a really good cover, only then we won’t lose too much."

——————

On the lower floors of the office building, the two walked together, the tender leaves of the beech trees in the tree beds still held droplets, shining under the sway of the breeze.

Uesugi Sakura smiled and said: "Hana-chan, you’re going to earn more money again!"

Hanamaru Hanabi, carrying a handbag, walked beside him, speaking softly: "Sakura-kun... why use that term..."

"Don’t like it?"

"It’s not that I don’t like it, it just feels strange, like a sudden change in the way of addressing."

"There’s nothing strange about it, rather you...."

Uesugi Sakura stared intently at her profile, thinking about the earlier incident, "Sometimes, I always feel that Hanabi becomes unlike herself when in front of outsiders."

"What...?"

"Just not that shy, becoming more composed."

"No way..."

"How could it not be?" Uesugi Sakura said with a smile, "You heard them calling Teacher Hanamaru, Teacher Hanamaru, weren’t you mature? Completely unafraid of strangers."

"Hanabi... isn’t like what Sakura-kun said...."

Uesugi Sakura continued talking to himself: "Poor me, the little assistant, still has to be exploited for labor by Teacher Hanamaru. Didn’t you notice, that Mr. Shinomoto kept sneaking glances at me for no reason."

"He... why would he look at Sakura-kun?" Hanamaru Hanabi asked in confusion.

"To verify, of course!" Uesugi Sakura said, "Confirming our relationship, I sensed it when you first appeared at the door, a certain electric feeling in the room."

Uesugi Sakura held her small hand, placing it in his pocket, then leaned in close to her soft, sweet side and said:

"Hana, you’re just too cute, attracting men is unavoidable, so you must always be careful. Try not to take the train, and if there’s any issue, call me immediately."

Walking on the left side, Hanamaru Hanabi nodded: "Yes... I will... actually, Hanabi is also worried about those things... there was a weird uncle staring at me during the last train ride with Sakura-kun... a very strange gaze..."

"Just ignore them, turn your face away, and don’t make eye contact with such people."

Hanamaru Hanabi nodded obediently: "Okay."

Walking around the area as though on a stroll, they unknowingly arrived in Akihabara, Chiyoda.

"A claw machine?" Uesugi Sakura asked the girl.

"Okay..." Hanamaru Hanabi agreed to play together.

"How about we visit a maid café? What do you think?"

"No, no! There, there..." Hanamaru Hanabi spoke in a small voice, as if trying to find a reason to say, that if you eat there, they first perform some ’girl magic’... and require customers to speak in a strange tone...."

Uesugi Sakura understood it was otaku culture, but noticed Hanamaru Hanabi’s anxious little hands, realizing it wasn’t that simple.

So, he smiled and asked at the side of her face:

"If I go to a maid café, will Hana get jealous?"

"No, I’m not jealous..." Hanamaru Hanabi moved a small step to the left, acting evasive.

Of course, Uesugi Sakura shamelessly got closer to her again, inhaling her fragrance, and said with a laugh:

"There’s a sour scent, I think Hanabi is jealous."

"No, I’m not." Hanamaru Hanabi kept insisting, but the explanation was weak and not believable.

"Still not?"

Uesugi Sakura moved away from her side, pretending to distance himself, "Then I might go to a club, and conveniently, Akihabara station can directly reach Shinjuku, Kabuki-cho there is quite nice."

"No, you can’t!"

Hanamaru Hanabi stepped forward, extending her two small hands to pull him back, not letting him leave.

"Why not?"

"Sakura-kun... if Sakura-kun goes to strange places, dad would be angry."

"He would be angry? Even if father-in-law is angry, there’s nothing that can be done, because he spoils you so much, and you really like me."

"I... I wouldn’t..."

Unfortunately, there aren’t small alleys or nooks on such a busy street, otherwise, Uesugi Sakura would pull her into a dim corner, then give her a wall slam, finally pinching her chin to look into her eyes and kiss her.

Falling in love makes one constantly daydream about such cheesy things.

It’s not appropriate to take your girlfriend to a maid café, but in Akihabara, there are countless capsule and claw machines.

Tall buildings with billboard-like neon signs, colorful electronics stores, model toy stores, anime product stores, all stand here one after another.

The view is filled with tourists from all over the world, anime character prompts, and small merchandise, toys, and figures of anime protagonists.

The street was still wet with rain, and shortly after the rain stopped, the place naturally bustled with activity once more.

Walking along the street, passing several transparent display windows, the delicate and charming plush toys attract many people to stop and look.

Little Hanabi clearly took a liking to a plush keychain, unable to resist stopping to look a few more times.

"Another shark...?"

"Yes..." Hanamaru Hanabi nodded continuously at the cute shark raised by a metal base within the glass.

"Do you like it that much?"

Numerous passersby walked by Uesugi Sakura’s side.

"I like it..."

If he remembers correctly, there are already seventy-three shark-related items and plush toys at home, piled all over the bed.

The life-size shark he once gave her is placed in the most conspicuous place, easy for her to hug at any time.

Of course, there is also a pile of big chili peppers.

Now the two sleep together, the bed is filled with sharks and peppers.

First thing in the morning, it’s either her or the sharks and peppers.

Her handbag even has a shark charm hanging on it.

"We have a lot of sharks at home, we can’t fit any more." Uesugi Sakura tried to persuade Hanabi’s desire to purchase with words.

Firstly because there are indeed too many, secondly because she always hugs the sharks and not him while sleeping.

"But...." Hanamaru Hanabi looked up at him with her small face, saying nothing more.

"Alright."

After a quiet moment, Uesugi Sakura agreed helplessly, he saw in her amethyst eyes the expectation of ’I want that.’

"Mm! Thank you, Sakura-kun."

In his sight, Hanamaru Hanabi gave him a very beautiful smile.

Why she likes sharks, Uesugi Sakura couldn’t understand, but he could only accompany her to the queue outside this gift shop.

After lining up for more than 10 minutes, just reaching the store entrance, they spotted a familiar figure.

"Hanabi-chan!" Kitagawa Sakisa also noticed the two and happily ran out from inside the store.

"Sakisa." In response, Hanamaru Hanabi also smiled right away.

When the two girls met, they held hands and started chatting about old times, Kitagawa Sakisa excitedly narrated what she’s been up to these past few days, sharing them like interesting daily routines.

Wondering that they see each other every day on campus, is this necessary?

Or perhaps this is just how girls are.

After they finished talking, Kitagawa Sakisa chuckled, and her eyes glanced back and forth between the two, then she mysteriously asked: "Is Hanabi-chan and Uesugi on a date?"

Uesugi Sakura candidly admitted: "Yeah, and I’m buying her a present, didn’t expect to run into you."

These words somewhat imply that she’s being a third wheel.

Kitagawa Sakisa raised Hanabi’s hand towards him, "If I’m interrupting, I’m interrupting Hanabi-chan, I was originally planning to invite you, Uesugi, to a tea party, but if you don’t want to be disturbed, then never mind!."