CHAPTER 509: CHAPTER 347: FOREVER CLOSE BEHIND

"I feel like your Witch Dress looks different today."

"Sakura... why did you call out like that just now..."

"Huh? Is that not okay?"

Hanamaru Hanabi stopped walking, standing under a tree in the Shrine.

"I just feel that... Sakura has been very clingy these past few days."

"Do you hate me?"

"I don’t hate you."

"As long as you don’t hate me, it’s all good."

"Sakura seems like a little kid."

"Being a kid is great, kids always want someone they can depend on, and I’m that lucky kid."

Then Uesugi Sakura looked up at her: "Didn’t Hanabi just agree to go on a date with me?"

When Hanamaru Hanabi thought about everyone laughing, she felt a bit of a grievance:

"Hanabi didn’t agree to a date."

"How can you say that! You clearly agreed, I reached out my hand, and you took it, right under the gods’ witness."

The girl suddenly ran to a rock by the side of the road and stood on it, Uesugi Sakura followed, and at that moment they were finally at eye level.

"No, Hanabi didn’t agree."

"Taking my hand doesn’t count as agreeing?"

"Certainly not!" She puffed her cheeks cutely, "Sakura is so sneaky, inviting Hanabi to a date in front of so~ many people, sneaky! Not a good man."

Graceful, clean Chihaya Feather Cloth, with a golden M a e Tenkan shining on her head, her lightly pursed small lips gleaming with smooth red hue, she stood in front with an angry yet charming and delightful expression.

Uesugi Sakura couldn’t help but smile: "This Witch Dress looks really good."

"Sakura! Hanabi is talking about serious things!"

"Be careful, the stone is slippery, don’t fall."

"Sakura!"

She stomped her foot a little angrily that he wasn’t listening, but just as he warned, she lost balance and fell off the rock.

"See, just as I said."

The girl fell into Uesugi Sakura’s arms, her cheeks flushed, and she scrambled up nervously with his supporting hands.

"Even... even so... Hanabi didn’t agree to Sakura’s date..."

"I saved you, according to tradition, shouldn’t you promise yourself on the spot?"

"How could it be, even in dramas, there’s no outrageous tradition like Sakura’s."

Ever since she was hugged by him, Hanamaru Hanabi seemed to have lost her spirit, her voice quieted down significantly.

"If you’re not promising yourself, then how about going on a date with me as a thank-you gift?"

Hanamaru Hanabi looked up, speaking softly:

"Why did Sakura suddenly come to ask Hanabi out on a date..."

"I don’t know, but these days I’ve been out of sorts, and I feel at ease only by your side."

"If Sakura knows he’s out of sorts, then there’s definitely no problem."

Uesugi Sakura deliberately stepped back, with a look of disappointment: "Hanabi... are you unwilling to agree?"

Hanamaru Hanabi peeked at him, intending to argue a little longer:

"Unwilling."

"Alright then... I’ll leave...." Uesugi Sakura lowered his eyes and turned away dejectedly.

"No, don’t go."

Uesugi Sakura immediately turned back with a smile: "Agreed?"

How could Hanamaru Hanabi not know he was teasing her, but seeing his unhappy look, she couldn’t help but soften, feeling heartache.

Even if he was being deliberate.

"Hmm... Hanabi agrees... but where does Sakura plan to go for the date?"

"I don’t know."

"You don’t know?"

"Yes, but isn’t it great not to know? I feel like we’re on a date now."

Hanamaru Hanabi pouted and offered her small hand to him, "Should we hold hands then?"

"Oh~ of course, my princess." Uesugi Sakura suddenly performed an elegant gentleman’s bow.

"So embarrassing..." Hanamaru Hanabi covered her mouth with her other hand, smiling, "And what about Sakura?"

"I am your loyal servant, my princess."

"Sakura... A servant and a princess aren’t equal."

"But stories of servants and princesses secretly meeting abound."

Uesugi Sakura pulled her hand, whispering close to her ear: "Your Highness, let’s secretly rendezvous."

Hanamaru Hanabi’s cheeks turned crimson immediately, and she nodded gently.

Uesugi Sakura took her hand, avoiding the crowd as they walked towards the woods.

"Sakura, where are we going...? Hanabi has to change clothes first..."

"My Princess, we must avoid the crowd, we can’t let outsiders discover us."

"Then now, this is...?"

"Here will do, my Princess, it’s quiet, with no one around."

Hanamaru Hanabi noticed Uesugi Sakura walking closer, instinctively stepping back, only to find herself against a cedar tree.

The girl looked up, her outline and skin embraced in Uesugi Sakura’s palm reflecting cherry pink of spring, wearing pristine Chihaya Feather Cloth, with the Ma e Tenkan on her head, her delicate face was so perfect it truly resembled an unparalleled princess.

Uesugi Sakura smiled unconsciously.

"My Princess, secretly meeting with me must be quite nerve-wracking."

Uesugi Sakura placed one hand on the trunk behind her, using the other to tilt up her petite chin, lowering his face close to her barely parted soft lips:

"My Princess, may I..."

His nearing breath made Hanamaru Hanabi shrink her neck back.

Hanamaru Hanabi was very tense, both because of his approach and his steady breathing, her wildly pounding heart becoming more apparent as her small hands instinctively clutched the front of her garment.

"Sakura, Sakura... rendezvousing with a princess leads to execution..."

"Then before execution, may I savor the Princess’s beauty."

Uesugi Sakura closed his eyes, tilting his head forward to capture her lips.

...

"The princess tastes sweet."

Hanamaru Hanabi pressed her small hands against his chest, lowering her face shyly: "Sakura, please stop calling me that..."