CHAPTER 440: CHAPTER 313: SHALL WE SQUEEZE IN AND SLEEP AT THE HOSPITAL TONIGHT?

After saying a long string of words, it felt like I had spoken all the love lines of my life.

These words were Uesugi Sakura’s apology to Hanabi, and also words spoken to himself.

After saying them, his heart felt much lighter.

Taking her on a trip was meant to relax her, yet it only made her worry for a week.

As he ate the bento she patiently fed him, his feelings were both sweet and bitter.

Hanamaru Hanabi held the bento box, gripping chopsticks with one hand, her vibrant purple eyes gazing at him.

"Thank you..."

"Thank you for what...?" Having just said a long paragraph, Uesugi Sakura couldn’t understand.

"Thank you, Sakura-kun, for being willing to say so much to Hanabi..."

Uesugi Sakura smiled softly, "I’m apologizing to you, how could you thank me instead?"

"To Hanabi, this is also proof, Sakura-kun, that you care for Hanabi."

Hanamaru Hanabi gently pursed her lips, her delicate face like a dream.

"From childhood, only Sakura-kun has always told me ’Happy Birthday’, whether I’m alone or with many people, Hanabi always feels that as long as there is a ’Happy Birthday’ from Sakura-kun on that day, it’s completely enough."

"For fifteen years, Hanabi is really grateful, Sakura-kun... Thank you for being Sakura-kun’s childhood friend..."

"Thank you, Sakura-kun..."

"Thank you..."

Behind her is the soft sunlight, the gently fluttering curtain fabric.

If this were a movie, the camera would gradually pull away at this moment.

The movement of the train, the flow of traffic, the hustle and bustle of Tokyo, all gradually darkening under the soft and weak thanks of the young girl, until the last ’Thank you, Sakura-kun’, the final line of a beautiful prologue drifts to the center of the screen:

TheEnd.

Wanting her smile to stay, but worrying that the girl Hanamaru Hanabi represents might not continue forward.

Remembering again and again her countless smiles towards me, finally understanding what truly mattered when watching her beauty anew.

The beautiful girl in the sakura rain, her cuteness long engraved in memory.

Uesugi Sakura was touched, droplets of crystal tears unwittingly falling from the corners of his eyes amidst the smile he only showed to her.

"Hanabi."

"Here... Sakura-kun."

"Even in the simplest life, can we continue to walk together, okay?"

"Of course we will."

"That’s good... To me, no matter how ordinary life is, without you, losing you, I... I..."

As he spoke, Uesugi Sakura, sitting on the hospital bed, suddenly placed his right hand on his head, showing a pained expression.

Hanamaru Hanabi hurriedly put down the bento box in her hand, calling his name repeatedly: "Sakura-kun, Sakura-kun, Sakura-kun."

"Sorry... my head hurts a bit..."

"Sakura-kun just had surgery recently... don’t talk anymore."

Uesugi Sakura nodded, barely holding onto his fading consciousness.

...

Soon after, he was taken to the radiology unit for an MRI examination.

Hanamaru Hanabi stood by, holding the bento box he only ate a few bites of, watching him slowly enter the circular MRI scanner with his eyes closed.

Beep beep beep.

Hanamaru Hanabi took out her phone from her waist bag, walked out, and sat on a bench in the hospital corridor.

"Dad."

"Hmm, how’s little Sakura?"

Hanamaru Hanabi lowered her head, answering the phone: "Doctor Nasu said it’s a rare complication and needs another check-up."

"Complication? I’m sorry, I’m very busy today and couldn’t accompany you to see him."

"It’s alright."

"Is his illness hereditary?"

Hanamaru Hanabi shook her head, "I’m not sure... neither Sakura-kun’s father nor grandfather had this condition..."

There was a brief silence on the other end of the line.

"Hanabi, there is something I must tell you."

"Okay."

"Your grandfather, after hearing about little Sakura’s situation, actually doesn’t quite agree with your marriage anymore."

"W-why?"

"Because little Sakura’s illness is incurable and could potentially relapse at any time. This illness has many symptoms, including confusion, paralysis, seizures, and limb numbness. He doesn’t want you to spend your life taking care of a patient. Your grandfather believes it’s not good for you, suggesting you dissolve the engagement once he’s discharged."

"..." Hanamaru Hanabi lowered her head even more, her voice weakening, "Then... what’s Dad’s opinion?"

"Father’s opinion is biased. I support you and little Sakura. Although I’m deeply reluctant to face this situation, I believe even if little Sakura were paralyzed for life, you would still be willing to take care of him. That’s the reality."

"Stay with him well, he’s quite a lonely person. I have to get back to work, talk to you later."

"Okay, goodbye, Dad."

Hanamaru Hanabi put away her phone, picked up the bento box he’d just eaten from, and quietly watched it for a long time.

In the hospital corridor, nurses walked by continuously, weak patients in hospital gowns, elderly people in wheelchairs pushed by family members, with the dissonant noise of the resonator sounding from behind, and the air filled with the smell of disinfectant.

Tapping sound, tapping sound, like a construction site drill, annoying and grating.

"Sister Hanabi."

Hanamaru Hanabi looked up, immediately putting a smile on her not-so-happy face: "It’s Aei, huh."

Two ladies had brought four little ones with them.

Chiaei heard the constant noise from the medical room and asked with concern: "Is brother alright?"

"It’s fine... still being examined."

——————

Half an hour of check-ups, listening to half an hour of noise.

Afterwards, being helped out, he really felt a bit dizzy.

During, he heard Doctor Nasu saying ’It’s nothing serious’, ’mood is too agitated’, and similar phrases.

Hanamaru Hanabi helped him into a private room at the hospital, genuinely feeling a bit drowsy, so she fell asleep first.

Recently, she often had dreams, frequently dreaming of the yandere Hanabi she used to dream about.