CHAPTER 703: CHAPTER 429: MAINTAINING A STRANGE RELATIONSHIP WITH MY SISTER-IN-LAW?_2

"So, how is it?"

"Not quite right yet, the taste is slightly bland. I remember I said it should have a bitter Japanese flavor." Uesugi Sakura put down the cup and calmly commented as he watched the ripples inside.

"Try lowering the water temperature a bit, not too much, five to six degrees should be about right."

"Oh, is that so... Thank you, Uesugi-san."

"You’re welcome."

Another customer entered the shop, and Uesugi Sakura greeted him.

After Uesugi Sakura asked what the customer wanted, Kobashi Rikai stood beside him, hands behind her back, tilting her head as she asked:

"Need some help?"

"No need, I can handle this myself. Making an Irish Coffee with alcohol is a bit challenging."

"Actually," Kobashi Rikai said, noticing his slightly tense demeanor, "I’ve always wanted to call you my mentor, Uesugi-san, since you’ve taught me so much."

Uesugi Sakura was not much affected by her tone or expression, focusing on the timing to warm the liqueur glass:

"Whatever."

"Really? Can I call you mentor from now on, Uesugi-san?"

"Yeah, you can... Mentor?"

For some reason, Uesugi Sakura’s heart suddenly tightened, and he instinctively looked in a certain direction, spotting Hanamaru Hanabi holding a tray in a corner of the shop, watching him with a gentle smile. Her body was half-hidden by a vase, but it did not stop Uesugi Sakura from noticing her.

She mouthed something.

It seemed like she was calling: "Sakura-kun~~"

Uesugi Sakura hurriedly coughed a couple of times to cover up the momentary tension that arose:

"Ahem... Being called mentor is not necessary, you can call me Uesugi-san or Uesugi-kun, since I’ve only been teaching you coffee-making for a brief while."

Is it because they haven’t spent enough time together?

Kobashi Rikai didn’t find anything amiss with this, nor did she find it strange.

"Alright."

It was seven in the evening.

At the end of the workday, Uesugi Sakura started tidying up the counter’s tools.

Using a cloth, he wiped away the coffee dust that had accidentally fallen on the workbench.

"Let me do it."

"Eh!"

Hanamaru Hanabi suddenly appeared beside him, taking over his work.

Uesugi Sakura watched her, dressed in a cat-eared maid outfit, helping him, and felt that Kuro Hanabi was still just as kind to him.

The wife’s other personality stems from the things she wishes to do but dares not do herself.

If it were normal little Hanabi, she would first ask if she could help and only proceed with his permission.

Unlike Kuro Hanabi, who would just grab the task from his hands.

How to put it, he never found it annoying.

Because their intention was always to care for him.

After finishing the last of the work and bidding farewell to everyone, Uesugi Sakura led Hanamaru Hanabi, who had changed into a black dress, to the place where they parked their bicycles downstairs.

"Sakura-kun."

While feeling for his keys in his pocket to unlock the bike, Uesugi Sakura turned around, only to be pinned against the wall by the much shorter Hanamaru Hanabi. Still puzzled by her surprising strength, he suddenly felt her grip his chin and pull it downwards.

The girl simply gazed into his eyes without saying much, but in the next moment, she stood on tiptoe and kissed him directly.

Uesugi Sakura was caught off guard.

Her body felt soft in his embrace, and her mouth had a faint fresh scent.

...

After they parted, Uesugi Sakura could still smell the sweet aroma on her.

"What’s with you? Why the sudden move?"

"I just felt like kissing Sakura-kun suddenly. Isn’t that allowed?"

"... Could it be, were you... jealous just now?"

"Hanabi would never get jealous, Sakura-kun’s heart and soul are entirely Hanabi’s."

Hanamaru Hanabi’s eyes dimmed noticeably:

"Does Sakura-kun think Hanabi’s kisses are worthless? No feeling when we kiss?"

"..." Uesugi Sakura remembered this was the question Hanabi had asked during their date in the morning.

"Hanabi knows, Sakura-kun must like it more thrilling, just kissing can no longer satisfy Sakura-kun."

As Hanamaru Hanabi said this, she took his hand and guided it under her shirt, letting it roam upwards, before lying in his embrace, gazing into his eyes.

"Sakura-kun, a little higher, can you feel it? That’s Hanabi’s heart, pounding excitedly because of your touch. If Sakura-kun wishes, Hanabi can take it out, let you feel the pulse in your hands, raw and beating."

Uesugi Sakura stared into her amethyst eyes for quite a while, confirming that she was indeed jealous.

The way to deal with this was to be assertive, letting her feel his affection.

Uesugi Sakura embraced her waist, pulled her body into his embrace, then swiftly switched their positions against the wall, pressing her back against it as he kissed her fervently.

She closed her eyes, her breathing quickly turning fervent.

"Sakura-kun, Hanabi’s Sakura-kun..."

Uesugi Sakura initially intended to kiss her briefly and then coax her home, but unexpectedly, she grew more excited, even wrapping her small hands around his shoulders, holding tightly not to let him go.

...

When Uesugi Sakura was about to give up and pull away from her lips, she immediately leaned back in before a moment even passed.

It took a full five minutes before she was satisfied.

"Is that enough now..." Uesugi Sakura wasn’t surprised since he knew Hanabi had such cravings.

"Not, yet, enough."

Hanamaru Hanabi suddenly squatted down in front of him.

"No! Let’s talk at home." Uesugi Sakura quickly stopped her.

"Sakura-kun, are you scared?"

The bicycle parking area was a corner of the stairwell where the manager usually allowed staff to park their electric bikes and bicycles. Although it couldn’t be seen from outside, it also had no door, making it rather insecure.

"Yes, I’m scared, let’s go home."

"Hehe, alright, let’s continue at home then."

Seeing her stand up, Uesugi Sakura let out a sigh of relief, then unlocked the bike and pushed it outside.

On the streets at dusk, Uesugi Sakura mounted the bike with Hanamaru Hanabi sitting sideways behind him.

"Here we go."

"Faster, please."

What was supposed to be a simple trip home turned out to be quite a surprise for Towa Rina, who was standing at the stairwell corner. She seemed to have caught a glimpse of Hanamaru Hanami kissing Uesugi Sakura forcefully.

She wasn’t entirely sure because she only caught a glimpse before hurriedly stepping back in shock.

Is this... the little sister taking advantage while the older sister is away, secretly claiming the brother-in-law?

Should I tell Hanabi? Her sister...

No, no, perhaps it’s better not to.

Tomorrow, maybe ask Uesugi what he thinks?

How does he feel?

From that one glimpse, he seemed to be quite enjoying it.

This surely counts as a betrayal of marriage!

Could the affection between twin sisters be strong enough to break over liking the same man?

Towa Rina was both curious and conflicted, knowing she had stumbled upon a very uncomfortable secret.

Indeed, such a handsome guy, who is also a childhood friend, made it hard for Hanamaru Hanami as the younger sister to reconcile losing to her sister.

Towa Rina sighed, picking up the helmet hanging on her small electric scooter, placed it on her head, and while pushing the bike, muttered to herself:

"Better not to talk about this too much."

...

The next day, they all clocked in for work as usual.

It was late October, and the weather was a bit chilly, so Uesugi Sakura and Hanamaru Hanabi came with scarves around their necks.

Towa Rina, who arrived at the shop before them, looked at Uesugi Sakura with somewhat odd eyes.

"Is there something on my face?" Uesugi Sakura asked calmly.

"No." Towa Rina watched him and shook her head.

Ignoring her, Uesugi Sakura began his usual prep work, while Manager Yanagi, who had already noticed Hanamaru Hanabi’s talent for making desserts the previous day, pulled her into the kitchen to help with the oven.

Occasionally, it made them wonder why Hanamaru Hanami’s speaking tone sounded so much like her sister’s when she was making desserts.

The manager didn’t know, but Uesugi Sakura did.

Kuro Hanabi couldn’t cook, so she needed Hanabi’s help.

Of course, if Hanabi dozed off, she’d be left helpless.

"Hey," Uesugi Sakura placed a freshly brewed coffee on the front counter’s tray and asked Towa Rina, who was looking at him with her hands on her face, "why have you been staring at me all day?"

"Uesugi-san, don’t you feel guilty?" Towa Rina said, staring at the beautifully crafted latte art on the coffee.

Indeed, sweet on the surface, yet bitter inside.

"?"

Uesugi Sakura looked puzzled, "What did I do?"

"Saying it outright will only make someone more embarrassed."

"?"

"Actually, I think it’s best for Uesugi-san to end this matter soon; it’ll hurt both in the end."

"??"

Uesugi Sakura was even more confused, "What are you talking about?"

Towa Rina lifted her head, her cat-ear headband perched on top, looked seriously at him, and said: "Uesugi-san, be a good man, don’t waste that exceptionally proper handsome face of yours."

With that, she picked up the tray and proceeded to deliver it to the customers in the shop.

Leaving Uesugi Sakura somewhat baffled.