CHAPTER 456: CHAPTER 320: LOVE THAT’S HARD TO ENCOUNTER_2

Uesugi Sakura was at a loss for words.

"From the very start, I found you particularly charming, Uesugi," Todaka Keichiro sneered.

"Thanks, but my charm wasn’t meant for elementary schoolers to confess to me." Uesugi Sakura was holding a flag, stopped at the red light, and as he stopped, the small students behind him stopped too.

"Being able to get confessions from elementary schoolers is also a kind of charm!"

Hearing this, Uesugi Sakura shivered: "Hard to accept."

The red light had 47 seconds remaining.

"Where are we going? I think our work ends at 4 PM, right?" Uesugi Sakura wanted to go home early; volunteering seemed to leave him exposed to the sun too long.

He looked at the red light in front of him. Though no cars were crossing, pedestrians were still obediently waiting by the roadside for the green light.

Yet, a person boldly stepped out in front of everyone’s eyes.

He almost didn’t recognize him at first glance; it turned out to be the Tokyo University professor who once taught his astronomy class.

"Uesugi, you’re leading the way but don’t know we’re going to the art gallery?" Todaka Keichiro also noticed that Tokyo University professor but didn’t recognize him, merely assuming he was a passerby without much thought.

"Yayoi?" Uesugi Sakura asked.

"It’s the art gallery over by Ueno Zoo."

"Ueno Zoo... over there..." Uesugi Sakura mumbled and then raised his head to ask tentatively, "The Tokyo Art University one?"

"Yes, and what’s with the Tokyo Art University?"

"My fiancée is studying at Tokyo Art University." Uesugi Sakura recalled mentioning it before, but he might have forgotten.

Todaka Keichiro patted him on the shoulder: "Haha, what a coincidence, maybe you’ll run into her."

...

It takes about 20 minutes to walk from Tokyo University.

Not sure if the school arranged it on purpose, with the aim of strengthening the little students’ physiques.

Although Uesugi Sakura had a bump on his head, he was in good shape, making walking a trivial matter, whereas Todaka Keichiro beside him felt soreness in his legs and feet.

Hot and sore, he was panting like a cow.

"Ha~ Uesugi, didn’t you have surgery recently? How come you’re walking so vigorously?"

Uesugi Sakura didn’t answer directly, glanced at him, and asked back: "Such poor stamina, can’t even keep up with the kids?"

"I’m just tired and weak." Todaka Keichiro’s forehead was sweating as he spoke with a tone of resignation.

"If you’re weak then—"

Uesugi Sakura hesitated to speak, suddenly remembering he had a girlfriend, and gave him a weird look.

"Hehe..." Todaka Keichiro showed a mischievous smile.

If Uesugi Sakura remembered correctly, his girlfriend looked pretty and fresh.

...

Halfway through, Uesugi Sakura took out his phone to check if Hanamaru Hanabi was at the library near Ueno, but after typing out his message and preparing to send it, he suddenly felt it might be better not to ask.

If she was there, it would be luck, a coincidence, and appearing without prior notification could give her a surprise.

If she wasn’t there, it wouldn’t matter much.

——————

Tokyo Art University Art Gallery.

The four were sitting in the café chatting.

The café was adorned with many handmade origami pieces, in various forms, and had a minimalistic decoration style.

"Hanabi-chan, the holidays are coming, do you have any plans to travel together?" Kitagawa Sakisa’s tone was as though tempting Hanamaru Hanabi.

"No..." Hanamaru Hanabi held the coffee cup with her small hands; she liked drinking milk coffee, especially the ones saturated with milk.

"What about you and Uesugi?"

"Also no..." Hanamaru Hanabi shook her head and said.

Kitagawa Sakisa seemed puzzled, looking at her left and right: "Why do I feel like Hanabi-chan you seem out of sorts? Do you have something on your mind?"

"Yes, it seems Hanabi has been quite silent lately." Ayaka Rie added from across the table.

Kyujuu Rika: "Are you sick? We’ve seen you busy every day recently, Hanabi seems to have a lot of work?"

"No, nothing, don’t worry everyone..."

"The more you say that, Hanabi-chan, the more I feel like you have something weighing on your mind." Kitagawa Sakisa hugged her arm coquettishly, "Tell us, please? Have you indulged Uesugi too much, and now he’s bullying you?"

"Sakura-kun is very good."

Kyujuu Rika poked the ice cream in front of her with a spoon and then looked up to ask, "Hanabi, who was that uncle asking about your whereabouts this morning?"

"Uncle, what uncle?" Kitagawa Sakisa also turned to Hanamaru Hanabi, showing a cautious expression.

"He’s my uncle..."

Ayaka Rie seemed to recall something; she seemed to have seen that person before: "So that person is Hanabi’s uncle."

Kitagawa Sakisa said grumpily: "No visit without cause, why is he coming over now if not usually concerned about Hanabi-chan?"

"Hanamaru-san."

Just as the four were discussing, a sudden voice caught their attention and they looked towards the male who appeared in their sight.

"Hello everyone."

Sekine Sagara dressed in stylish casual wear, greeted everyone with a smile; being classmates, no one was unacquainted, though having male and female cliques resulted in little intersection.

The three of them weren’t fond of him due to his previous pursuit of Hanabi for a period,

despite knowing about the engagement.

"Seeing you is far from pleasant," Kitagawa Sakisa lifted her chin, signaling unwelcoming, "Why are you here? Bringing gifts again?"

"Haha, of course not, having failed so often, I’ve come to know my reality."

"That’s good, otherwise I’ll toss out anything you bring!"

Her words were overbearing, but everyone knew Kitagawa Sakisa was like a spoiled young lady, her tone haughty towards outsiders, which... was special treatment for Sekine Sagara.

Sekine Sagara laughed, turning a blind eye to her targeting, or perhaps not taking it to heart, he simply said to Hanamaru Hanabi:

"Hanamaru-san, would it be possible to speak in private?"

"Wait," Ayaka Rie stopped him, "Why are you looking for Hanabi, what for?"

"Haha, it’s nothing significant, just a little personal matter." Sekine Sagara’s mannerisms seemed very elegant, with an air of a gallant gentleman.

Hanamaru Hanabi was about to speak, Kitagawa Sakisa crossed her arms and directly refused him sternly: "No·way!"

Sekine Sagara, not wanting to provoke her, maintained a subtle smile as he said, "Kitagawa-san, it’s only a minor personal matter."

"You hardly ever interact with Hanabi otherwise, what personal affairs could there possibly be? There’s just no such thing as a personal matter."

"I’m not lying, there really is—"

"If there’s something, say it here." Kitagawa Sakisa interrupted him once again.

Sekine Sagara’s smile did not wane.

With Kitagawa Sakisa blocking him here, he really couldn’t approach,

he instead said to Hanamaru Hanabi: "Hanamaru-san, the matter concerns your uncle, is it convenient to discuss it here?"

Sekine Sagara wanted to get closer to her, it was known to her.

Hanamaru Hanabi remained silent for a while, then answered: "Let’s step out to the balcony to talk..."

Kitagawa Sakisa looked around, quickly lowering her voice to ask: "Hanabi-chan, what’s going on?"

"It’s about my uncle..."

"Your uncle, and what does he have to do with him?"

"The company of Sekine’s family has significantly helped my uncle’s hotel management..."

Kyujuu Rika overheard this; although she and Kitagawa Sakisa were both like young ladies, she knew much more, and she asked:

"Is it the hotel near Haneda Airport owned by the Hanamaru family?"

"Rika, you know about this?" Kitagawa Sakisa asked in shock.

"No," Kyujuu Rika said, "I just know Hanamaru’s family has a well-known large hotel, and recently a fire caused changes... I saw it on the news, so I paid a bit of attention."

Sekine Sagara’s smile seemed ingrained on his face, never fading, he glanced at everyone and then politely inquired: "So, can you all let me speak with Hanamaru-san privately? This is important."