CHAPTER 725: CHAPTER 440: LIFE BETWEEN HUSBAND AND WIFE

"Sakura... Sakura, what do you want to do?"

"Hmm? Wasn’t it during the pinky promise earlier that I promised to give you a shoulder massage?"

"That’s true, but... you don’t have to take off all your clothes." Hanamaru Hanabi had just finished bathing and was only wearing a simple robe, with a belt that would completely loosen with just a pull.

"It’s definitely better without them, so I can touch your shoulders and get a better feel."

"H..."

"What?"

"Sakura... you’re definitely thinking naughty thoughts again!"

"I really wasn’t."

After much coaxing, Uesugi Sakura finally got Hanabi to agree to taking off clothes for the shoulder massage, though she only exposed her shoulders, leaving the robe hanging just above her chest.

To be honest, that looked even more beautiful.

Uesugi Sakura sat cross-legged behind the girl and placed his hand on her delicate shoulders before him.

Warm, you could feel the tiny bones.

The girl’s shoulders were soft, not as firm as his own.

"I’m starting now."

"Mmm... hmph..." A soft, drawn-out hum.

"?"

Uesugi Sakura even paused for a second the moment he touched the shoulder. What was going on here?

Hanamaru Hanabi flinched slightly at his touch, and Uesugi Sakura glanced at her to make sure she was okay before gently massaging and kneading both sides of her collarbone with his thumb and forefinger.

Her shoulder lines were distinct, yet not too bony, and there was still some flesh to pinch.

Most importantly, the girl’s shoulders were soft, small, and delicate.

"How does it feel?"

"A bit... painful..."

"Should I lighten up a bit?"

"Yes."

Uesugi Sakura’s massage technique was actually learned from Hanabi; she used to give him shoulder massages all the time.

Now as he touched her small and delicate shoulders, thinking of how she always carefully cooked for him, a unique emotion surged in his heart.

"Hanabi."

"Mmm..." Hanamaru Hanabi closed her eyes, indulging in his massage while letting out faint nasal sounds.

"We’re married now, right?"

"Married..." Hanamaru Hanabi opened her eyes, wanting to turn around and look at him but seeing his hand on her pale shoulders, she shyly refrained from turning back.

"Do you feel any different than before?"

"More... happy..."

"Yes, happier, closer to each other. Now, wanting to hold your hand is no longer awkward as it was before, you know? Every time I held your hand, I’d think to myself, this is a girl’s hand, a girl I like. Her small hand is shy, yet seems to want to hold onto me."

"Then I’d think, god is really kind, to let me meet such a girl that tugs at my heartstrings. I really want to cherish her."

"If we didn’t have destiny, didn’t have the process of slowly getting to know each other from childhood, I feel we’d be very different from how we are now."

"Sakura... are you confessing to Hanabi?"

"Confessing?" Uesugi chuckled, his fingers gently massaging the back of her fair neck, "Hanabi-chan, your interpretation is so cute. Yes, I am confessing to you, I like you."

"Sakura... if the first confession had been a bit earlier... Hanabi would have been happier..."

"Confessing early so you could hide under your blanket at home stuffing your face with your own bliss every day?"

"Not, not at all..."

"You told me yourself; when I confessed, you buried your head under your blanket, almost suffocating yourself."

Hanamaru Hanabi blushed, recalling past times:

"Sakura, did you really see Hanabi as a little sister before?"

"Not sure..." Uesugi Sakura’s eyes began to reflect memories. "Say little sister, it didn’t feel like that because I could see a girl’s charm in Hanabi. When holding your hand, I thought a girl’s hand was so soft, oh, and your face was always red, so endearingly cute, I always wanted to pinch it but feared that if I did, you’d shy away and avoid me."

Hanamaru Hanabi secretly laughed and said, "Sakura, you’re a pervert."

"How did your dear husband suddenly become a pervert?"

"Because Sakura liked young Hanabi, when she was still a child."

"That’s what you call a pervert? It’s the purest kind of affection for a child."

"Then why does Sakura still like to hold Hanabi’s hand and pinch Hanabi’s face now?"

"That’s called the elevation of love, you understand? It’s evolved from affection to a lover’s affection."

Hanamaru Hanabi turned around, her shoulders leaving his hands, facing him:

"Such a pervert!"

"Pervert? You said I’m a pervert, such a good guy like me, fine! I’ll let Hanabi-chan see the prowess of a big pervert!"

Seeing the situation, Uesugi Sakura pretended to get up and lunged forward, attempting to pounce on Hanamaru Hanabi, but she instantly rolled over to the other side of the large bed and, laughing, threw a bunch of shark plushies at him as he advanced.

Uesugi Sakura smiled, nimbly catching each shark she threw and placing them aside.

"That won’t work, hehe, little lady, slip, the big pervert is coming." As Uesugi Sakura spoke, he mimicked the voice of a pervert, sticking out his tongue.

"Pervert... ah!! Sakura, Sakura, Sakura, don’t, don’t come over!"