CHAPTER 734: CHAPTER 444: HANABI’S PROBLEM, POACHING STAFF

By November, the air temperature was noticeably cooler.

Everyone had switched to long sleeves for fall; if it was evening, those who feared the cold would wrap a scarf around their neck.

After breakfast, Hanamaru Hanabi sat on the entryway carpet, bending down to put on a pair of pink sneakers.

She was very meticulous in her actions, slowly untying the laces first, then slipping her little feet in white socks into the shoes, and finally tying the laces again before repeating the process with the other foot.

Uesugi Sakura stood in front of her, watching her actions, inevitably comparing himself to her.

When it comes to putting on sneakers, he would never retie the laces.

He would simply shove his foot in forcefully, squat down to straighten the heel, and be done with it.

Hanamaru Hanabi stood up, feeling a bit uncomfortable. She tilted her head and looked down at her foot to make sure there was no strange feeling in her shoe by tapping it against the floor of the entryway, and only then did she look back up at Uesugi Sakura, who was much taller than her:

"All set, Sakurakun."

"It seems girls are really meticulous," Uesugi Sakura remarked, appraising Hanamaru Hanabi’s outfit today—black autumn sweatshirt, zipped up to the collar, light-colored shorts that didn’t reach the knees, and the pink sneakers she had just put on.

"Really?" Hanamaru Hanabi wasn’t sure what he meant.

"No, nothing."

They took the elevator down, and Uesugi Sakura started jogging through the city with Hanamaru Hanabi.

They jogged from their doorstep to the base of Tokyo Tower, then to Hibiya Park, running along the Moat of the Imperial Palace, catching sight of the tightly shut gates of Nijubashi, and continued to Meiji University.

Uesugi Sakura looked up to the sky, the morning wind brushing against his neck.

Every time he runs, Uesugi Sakura could clearly feel the air surging through his lungs. The fresh air reminded him of seeing leaves bedewed with water droplets in the morning.

His strides were long and steady, his calves absorbing the impact from the ground, and it seemed like both legs, in the alternating movement, thoroughly enjoyed the taste of running.

Uesugi Sakura glanced at Hanamaru Hanabi up ahead, who was trying hard to maintain her pace, smiled slightly and sped up to catch up to her:

"Do you need a break?"

Hanamaru Hanabi’s forehead was covered in sweat, her hair flying back, signaling the roaring wind, her voice had become breathy from running:

"I’m... I’m fine..."

"Alright, keep it up!"

Uesugi Sakura smiled as he encouraged the girl, then sped up ahead of her.

Hanamaru Hanabi saw herself gradually falling behind, clenched her teeth, and picked up her pace to catch up.

As a couple, they kept up their morning jogging routine along this route every day, eventually becoming a unique sight. Quite a few fellow morning joggers would greet them as they passed.

Of course, Uesugi Sakura felt that Hanabi’s youthful appearance captured everyone’s attention more.

Who wouldn’t like an adorable sporty girl?

Everyone would want to get to know her.

Without missing a step, the two of them ran through the Moat of the Imperial Palace, past the iconic Martial Arts Hall, and reached the vicinity of Meiji University. Although this was a highly urbanized residential area, the alleyways were lined with many old buildings and Western-style churches and mansions; there were several parks around, frequented by many young morning joggers.

"Phew~"

Under the pine trees of the park, the sweat-drenched Uesugi Sakura inserted a 200-yen coin into a vending machine and pressed for two bottles of mineral water.

At this moment, Hanamaru Hanabi sat on a bench, her pink sneakers on what looked like a red-bricked pedestrian path. She lowered her head and was breathing heavily.

"Take a longer break." Uesugi Sakura sat down beside Hanamaru Hanabi with the bottles of mineral water, looking at her sweat-dappled profile, smiling as he encouraged her, "We ran ten kilometers today; you did great."

"But I couldn’t keep up with your pace, Sakurakun." The cold morning air seemed to fill her lungs; Hanamaru Hanabi felt the dizziness in her head lessen considerably.

"Don’t always try to keep up with me; you’ve only been training for a short while." Uesugi Sakura handed her one of the bottles of mineral water.

"So, was Hanabi’s performance acceptable?"

"Instead of acceptable, I’d say it was amazing. Not many girls can keep up with a ten-kilometer run."

Uesugi Sakura chuckled, unscrewed the cap, and took a sip of water. Leaning against the bench, he was shaded by the pine tree above, the morning sunlight filtering through leaves, casting shadow patterns on Hanamaru Hanabi’s sweaty profile.

Bathed in the sunlight, Uesugi Sakura couldn’t help but close his eyes, taking a deep breath to enjoy the refreshing air woven from sunlight and green leaves, exhaling deeply with a cheerful spirit, he asked the girl beside him:

"Don’t you feel everything’s become much fresher after the run?"

"Yes."

"Then keep it up; your body will only get better."

Hanamaru Hanabi held the bottle of mineral water, which she had only drunk a quarter of, in her hands, resting it on her legs. Her gaze was fixed on the bottle, where the clear water reflected a radiant golden light from the sunlight:

"Actually..."

Hearing her voice, Uesugi Sakura turned his attention to her without lifting his head.

"Actually, Hanabi really wants to have a baby." Her fingers tightened around the bottle, her voice soft, gentle.

"Hanabi-chan wants one?"

"Yeah... I think our baby, yours and mine, would be very well-behaved, very cute, calling you daddy, and calling me mommy."

Listening to the girl’s conflicted yet hopeful tone, Uesugi Sakura felt his heart soften.