June certainly lives up to being the rainy season.
Today’s rain is even heavier than yesterday’s, forcing the cancellation of the tournament originally scheduled for today.
For Uesugi, it’s a welcome chance to relax and take it easy.
A shark plushie rests on Hanamaru Hanabi’s thigh, keeping her skirt in place as she bashfully extends her foot, whispering, "Is it really... necessary to do this?"
"Just helping you put on some stockings, that’s all."
The girl’s foot, small enough to be held in one hand, is delicate.
A single hand can cradle it in the palm.
The thin white stocking slowly covers the soft, pale foot, slips over the tiny ankle, and moves gently up her slender leg, caressing the tender skin.
The stocking outlines her leg in soft, graceful curves like a brush stroke in a painting.
Hanamaru Hanabi closes her eyes, too shy to watch, clutching the shark plushie for comfort.
"Sakura... this feels so weird..."
"Is it really that strange?" he asks, brushing her snow-white leg as Uesugi leans closer to her face.
His breath warm, leaving a gentle trace.
Her lips, soft and tender, mixed with the sweet scent of a young girl.
"Am I too close? Does this bother you?"
"Not at all..." she says weakly, pressing her cherry lips, lingering with his taste.
"Sakura... do you only like Hanabi?"
Beneath her words is a lack of confidence born of self-doubt.
He kisses her again—this feeling is truly addictive.
The sweet, tender demeanor of a young girl is heart-stirring.
"Oh? Little Sakura and Little Hanabi are wearing those rings?" Madame Hanamaru smiles knowingly.
"My dad... won’t be angry, will he?" Hanamaru Hanabi lowers her head, stirring her milk with a spoon.
A bright silver ring rests on her ring finger.
"What can he do? We told him about it long ago; it’s just a matter of whether he accepts it or not."
Madame Hanamaru’s face bears a mother’s gentle smile.
"Besides, I was pregnant with Little Hanabi when I was in college."
Uesugi understands the implication of this statement.
Madame Hanamaru is 34, and Hanamaru Hanabi is 15.
This indirectly proves that his future father-in-law was also a bit wild in his youth.
"So, it’s safe then?" Uesugi Sakura helps himself to breakfast at the Hanamaru house.
"I wouldn’t call it safe. It will take time for your dad to accept it because he used to be quite a stubborn man," Madame Hanamaru reminisces, her violet eyes glancing upward.
"It’s not pleasant to say, but if you two are too close, you need to take measures."
"What... measures?" Hanamaru Hanabi still hasn’t caught on; her mind is preoccupied with thoughts of kissing.
Madame Hanamaru smiles at her daughter. "Does Little Hanabi want to give Mama a grandchild?"
A grandchild... that means...
Her cute face flushes red instantly.
Uesugi Sakura gets it—everyone in the Hanamaru family, except Hanabi, is a bit wild.
"There’s one more thing I want to tell you both."
"But before that, I must explain my perspective on you two."
Madame Hanamaru pauses briefly, then continues in a measured tone:
"Little Hanabi has grown up, and as her mother, I have seen her grow step by step, feeling gratified."
"I know she wasn’t very popular when she was young, and because of this, she might have become very dependent on Little Sakura."
"From kindergarten to elementary and middle school, I know."
"This society’s schools have many faults, and these faults persist—if nobody encouraged Little Hanabi at school... she might not be as healthy as she is now; there might have been worse outcomes."
"We parents couldn’t do much for her at school because children always have to grow independently."
Madame Hanamaru looks at Uesugi Sakura:
"Therefore, as her childhood friend, your existence means a lot to Little Hanabi."
"You have helped her so much, it’s natural that she would like you... My husband and I saw this coming years ago."
"You always say Little Hanabi is like a sister, but as elders, we can see the truth."
Madame Hanamaru glances at Hanamaru Hanabi beside him.
"Perhaps you just haven’t transitioned from consistently protecting her, but as you both enter adolescence, the naturally intimate connection you share will escalate quickly, making it inseparable."
At this point, she smiles knowingly like a mother.
"Little Hanabi is the most obvious; she often stayed dazed in her room for a long period."
"Companionship is the longest confession, and being each other’s faithful partners for twelve years gives you a foundation to continue."
"That’s why I don’t want to restrict Little Hanabi too much, and I even intentionally or unintentionally help you both."
"That’s what I, as a mother, want to convey to you two."
Just finished speaking, Madame Hanamaru smiles again.
"You two can rely on each other now, but this housewife here is a little bored without Little Hanabi, so—"
She doesn’t finish her sentence, but Uesugi Sakura understands her meaning.
"What... do you mean...?" Hanamaru Hanabi waits patiently for her mother to finish.
Madame Hanamaru keeps smiling but doesn’t elaborate.
The girl grows increasingly confused, while Uesugi leans in to whisper in her ear, "You’re going to have a sibling."
She remains silent for a moment.
Hanamaru Hanabi blinks her eyes, as pretty as her mother’s.
"It’s been over a month already."
Madame Hanamaru casually says, "Let’s hope it’s a boy; I’ve wanted to raise a boy for a while now."
"A brother...?" Hanamaru Hanabi asks curiously, her face lighting up with a new smile.
The concept of a brother makes Uesugi Sakura feel a sudden tension deep within.
This guy won’t vie with me for her attention, will he?
Thinking more about it, he realizes the truth.
The guy will surely rely heavily on his sister, who is 16 years older, sticking to her more in the future.
Always sticking around!
No more private space for the two of them!
Watching Hanabi embrace him with a smile brings a little discomfort.
He opens a system to find the inventory page.
[Description: You might possibly maybe or probably use this tool.]
Uesugi lets out a sigh of relief; his future father-in-law is quite reliable after all.
"Sakura, Hanabi is going to have a brother."
Hanamaru Hanabi looks very happy.
"Maybe there’ll be two?" Uesugi laughs and says.
"Two brothers would be great too."
"Don’t you prefer a sister over a brother, Hanabi?"
"Sisters or brothers are both fine." Hanamaru Hanabi suddenly freezes, "Sakura, do you prefer sisters?"
Madame Hanamaru smiles, putting a stop to them: "All right, all right, you two are flaunting your love even to me, the mom."
"I do prefer a boy, but their father wants a girl. But for us, whether it’s a boy or a girl makes no difference since we already have Little Hanabi."