CHAPTER 446: CHAPTER 316: SUDDEN INCIDENT

The leaves swayed irregularly above with the wind.

They rustled, blending with the bright sun, cicada cries, and blue sky, weaving the July summer atmosphere together.

This was the time to lie on the couch at home, eating chilled watermelon, yet he was perched on the branches for quite a while, yawning continuously.

Hanamaru Hanabi walked out from the residence with his father-in-law, piquing his curiosity.

But after watching for a long time, he still couldn’t make sense of it.

After joining Hanamaru Yasushin, the two didn’t say much, but turned and left the entrance of the Japanese-style residence.

The people left, but the cat remained.

What were they here for?

Uesugi Cat straightened up on the branch, watching them leave along the shaded path.

Not understanding, not clear.

For such inconclusive incidents with scant information, Uesugi Sakura wouldn’t jump to conclusions.

If he wanted to know, he could ask Hanabi tonight after going back.

Thinking of this, Uesugi Cat yawned again, crossed his front paws on the branch, and drifted into sleep, eyes closed slowly in drowsiness.

——————

The iris flowers of the Meiji Shrine are truly beautiful.

Uesugi Sakura couldn’t help but take out his phone to snap a picture and post it on social media.

The first to like it was Kitagawa Sakisa, less than ten seconds after the post was uploaded.

It seemed she was truly bored.

She commented below: "Is your illness better?"

Uesugi Sakura replied to her: "It’s better, but not completely. Thank you for visiting me and bringing flowers, even though they were Dendrobium orchids."

"Dendrobium orchids? Is there something wrong with them? I found them nice at the shop and bought them."

Uesugi Sakura realized she didn’t even know what kind of flowers she had sent.

When sending flowers, one would usually look up the meaning they represent.

Only someone as carefree as Kitagawa Sakisa, this oblivious heiress, would send flowers so casually.

She really didn’t know their meaning.

"It’s nothing bad, just that Dendrobium orchids are called ’Father’s flowers,’ usually given to fathers. Hanabi gave a bunch to her dad on Father’s Day before."

"Oh, you Uesugi, taking liberties with me! I’m going to tell Hanabi-chan."

Followed by an angry emoji, Uesugi Sakura chuckled for a second, and while walking along the shrine’s stone path, replied further:

"I didn’t take liberties with you; you gave them to me yourself."

"I came to see you out of kindness, and you target me like this!"

"I still appreciate you remembered to visit me."

With that reply, Uesugi Sakura put his phone back in his pants pocket.

Given her extreme boredom and nothing better to do, she would likely keep asking why he ran off, if he was scared.

Not replying to her would be enough; once she realized there was no point, she would stop pestering.

What a pity for the photo just taken; beneath it were only Kitagawa Sakisa’s messages of tattling to Hanabi, detracting from the splendid feeling of the irises.

In the afternoon, Uesugi Cat napped for half a day on the wishing box at the Meiji Shrine, without any special occurrence apart from a few girls feeding him.

Without any discoveries, it was time to head home.

Originally, Uesugi Sakura had thought to pick up Aei along the way; they were BBQing in Yoyogi Park next to the Meiji Shrine.

But on second thought, the school would have arranged for the pupils to return together, and picking her up midway seemed unreasonable, so he let go of the idea.

In the evening, Uesugi Sakura bought some coffee beans and groceries from the supermarket to take home.

Though he wasn’t good at cooking, he wanted to help Hanabi with the prep before cooking, a sort of collaborative effort.

Feeling guilty towards her, he wanted to do everything he could to help her.

Such a wonderful girl, he wanted to treat her with all his heart.

Uesugi Sakura took out his key, turned the lock, and even before stepping into the living room, he heard the sound of the television playing.

Hanamaru Hanabi and Hanamaru Hiroki were both at home.

"Uncle?"

"Yes," Hanamaru Hiroki sat on the sofa, noticing the supermarket bags in his hand, "put things down first, I have something to discuss with you."

He then turned off the television.

The living room suddenly went quiet.

Uesugi Sakura’s gaze shifted to Hanamaru Hanabi beside his father-in-law and found her also looking at him.

He could even see her calling his name from her bright and clear eyes.

She was calling "Sakura-kun..."

After putting the things down and sitting in front of the two, there was a moment of silence before Hanamaru Hiroki spoke first:

"Is your illness okay?"

"It’s okay now, it won’t relapse for years."

"That’s good."

After another silence, it seemed Hanamaru Hiroki was contemplating how to begin.

"I’ve been thinking about how to tell you, let’s make it simple, I’ll be straightforward; because of your illness, many in the family have opposing opinions."

"Opposing opinions?"

"Meaning they oppose your engagement to Hanabi."

Upon hearing this, Uesugi Sakura glanced at Hanabi again, but he wasn’t too surprised internally.

Indeed, he was, after all, someone who might have his disease relapse at any time and be bedridden.

How many people would want to marry someone like that?

Even though he didn’t mind his illness and was confident in curing it, in their eyes, he was an unstable individual.

"Is it that Hanabi’s grandfather disapproves?"

"Not sure," Hanamaru Hiroki said, "Hanabi’s uncles and aunts don’t really approve."

"But it hardly concerns them, does it?" Uesugi Sakura found it amusing; aunts and uncles butting into their niece’s marriage?