Chapter 542: Chapter 361 Sumida River Hanabi Festival (2)
"Brother, brother!"
"What’s up?"
"Why were you daydreaming just now?"
"Can you see my expression even when you’re on my neck?" Uesugi Sakura paused for a few seconds then asked.
"Yes, I can," Aei said, "Brother hasn’t answered me yet. Just now, like everyone, you were staring at Sister Hanabi, but only you were daydreaming."
Uesugi Sakura looked up at the stage, his eyes reflecting the dazzling lights, the solemn yet agile and graceful dance of the witches.
He murmured, "Sometimes, I worry that I’m dreaming. Occasionally I feel like I’m watching her, she’s in the spring, amidst flying cherry blossoms, her petite silhouette gently drifting, like cherry blossoms swept away by the wind, if I’m not careful, she’ll vanish in the blink of an eye."
"I don’t understand," Aei shook her head.
"It’s okay if you don’t understand. Do you know, Aei? Sister Hanabi is most afraid of being lonely. If one day, no one remembers her goodness, she will be very sad, very sad."
"What about brother?"
"Brother too, originally thought the thing he feared the least was loneliness, even thinking it didn’t matter living a life alone. But now..."
Uesugi Sakura looked at Hanamaru Hanabi dancing with bells on stage.
"Now I want to help Hanabi remember, help her remember her goodness, remember how beautiful her smile is, so she knows there’s someone always thinking about her, and she won’t be sad."
"I also won’t let her hide in the corner crying out of self-pity anymore."
Uesugi Sakura said softly, almost inaudible.
...
The trees around the stage were adorned with lights of varying heights; among the swaying leaves, shadows of lights overlapped.
People who came to the park to watch the shrine festival were dense as ants.
Ring ring~
At the center of the stage, the witches’ bell rings were crisp and clear, they gently closed their eyes, dancing to the ancient tunes.
The white Chihaya garments swayed, appearing near and far amid the lights, the synchronous ringing of bells like an ancient prayer crossing millennia, mysteriously beautiful.
Chiaei asked beside him, "Does brother want to take a video of Sister Hanabi?"
"Sure."
Though Hanamaru Hanabi was not in the most noticeable position on stage, she attracted attention from the tourists because of her delicate appearance under the Ma e Tenkan headdress.
Indeed, everyone prefers watching pretty girls.
...
The time for the divine prayer was not too long. After the end, Uesugi Sakura made his way through the crowd and found Hanamaru Hanabi bidding farewell to the witches.
"Has work ended?"
"Hmm," Hanamaru Hanabi sneaked a glance at the witches behind her, they were giggling, while she felt a bit shy looking at Uesugi Sakura.
Uesugi Sakura figured it was because last time he openly invited Hanabi on a date in front of them.
Girls would always talk about such things.
Uesugi Sakura walked up to Hanabi, flashed a charming smile at everyone:
"My name is Uesugi Sakura, Hanabi is my fiancée, my childhood sweetheart, we’re engaged, you’re welcome at—"
Hanamaru Hanabi quickly interrupted him, "Sakura-kun..."
The witch sisters didn’t expect Uesugi Sakura to introduce himself so boldly, they all covered their mouths and laughed.
They were quite tactful, knowing that Uesugi Sakura was there to pick up Hanamaru Hanabi, they waved goodbye accordingly.
"Sakura-kun..."
"If you hadn’t interrupted me, they wouldn’t be laughing at you," Uesugi Sakura reminded the blushing Hanamaru Hanabi, then said, "Showing it off openly, instead, people wouldn’t find it very surprising."
"As if..." she muttered softly.
"But it’s true, if you’re shy, they’ll find your shyness very cute. Be generous, they can’t laugh at you." Uesugi Sakura continued, "But, well, it’s okay for Hanabi to be like this, I find it cute too."
"Cute... Sakura-kun is always saying cute..." Suddenly, Hanamaru Hanabi lifted her head, her two small hands posed like claws, with a fierce expression, "Rawr! I’m fierce, not cute at all."
Uesugi Sakura secretly laughed in his heart, his face remaining calm.
"Alright, little tiger."
Hanamaru Hanabi lowered her paws, pouting her face, "Doesn’t Sakura-kun have any reaction..?"
"I’m very surprised." Uesugi Sakura pretended to be surprised.
Hanamaru Hanabi saw through it, "As if! Sakura-kun didn’t react at all... Do you think Hanabi isn’t fierce enough?"
"Then be fiercer."
"Be fiercer....."
Hanamaru Hanabi gazed at the lamps on the trees in the park, as if there was something there she liked.
"Why are you spacing out?" Uesugi Sakura waved his hand in front of her eyes, calling her, "If you can’t think of it, then don’t."
"Oh."
Suddenly, Uesugi Sakura couldn’t even tell what animal sound it was.
But what does that matter? After all, she’s his wife, if she thinks she’s fierce, then she is.
"Hmm, quite fierce."
"Really?"
"Really."
"Feels like Sakura-kun is being perfunctory..."
How did thoughtful become perfunctory?
"Little tiger, come out again and let’s see?"
"Rawr~"
"Hmm, very fierce, very fierce." Uesugi Sakura deliberately took a step back, as if a bit scared.
Hanamaru Hanabi was amused by his exaggerated actions, lowered her claw-like little hands.
"Sakura-kun... Are you treating Hanabi like a little kitten?"
"A tiger is a cat too, a golden tabby," Uesugi Sakura wrapped his arms around her slender waist, whispered in her ear, "Big kitty, are you sleeping with me tonight?"
"Sakura-kun sleeps with Hanabi every day... and secretly touches my belly and chest..." Hanamaru Hanabi whispered.
"By the way, today is the Qixi Festival, it happens to coincide with today’s fireworks festival."
"Sakura-kun is changing the subject again. Where are Aei and the others?"
"They went to get the picnic mat and snacks, we’ll sit by the river and eat together."