She was indeed very tired.
The surface of the bathtub was filled with freshly rising milky white bubbles.
Although her chest was wrapped in a bath towel, the hazy lines and the vaguely visible gap in the middle offered a dreamy allure to the eyes.
The girl’s belly, hidden by the water, was very smooth, so it naturally drew attention downward.
Hanamaru Hanabi let out a soft hum reflexively, her cheeks flushed with a rosy hue, and she quietly murmured in a dreamlike state, "Brother Sakura..."
It seemed like she didn’t dislike it.
In the evening, the air was filled with the stifling atmosphere of a July summer day.
The sound of a key turning in the lock.
Uesugi Shio, with lazy, deep blue eyes, opened the door to the Uesugi Family’s house.
She was too lazy to shout things like "I’m home," having visited five convenience stores before finally finding some hamburger steak bentos at the furthest large supermarket.
She even suspected that Uesugi Sakura had deliberately sent her on such a long errand.
After casually placing the bentos in the living room, Uesugi Shio was about to head to the staircase to call the two for dinner when the entrance door opened again.
She saw Uesugi Nobuko, dressed in a suit, placing her briefcase on top of the shoe cabinet.
"Aunt, you’re home from work so early today?" Uesugi Shio asked.
"The restaurant didn’t need me for anything today, Yakei was covering,"
Uesugi Nobuko brushed aside the hair on the left side of her face, changed out of her high heels, and sighed, "Mainly, I didn’t really want to continue there, so I guess I’m training a successor."
"Isn’t aunt’s work going smoothly?"
"Just a small manager of a restaurant, what’s there to be smooth or not smooth about? I think Meiko managing things at home every day is quite relaxing, she even gets to go out for walks in the afternoon."
After putting on her slippers, Uesugi Nobuko raised her head.
"Shio, what do you think about me having another child?"
"Aunt, on such matters... I don’t think it’s my place to comment."
"It’s just a casual chat, it doesn’t matter."
"Uh... if you ask me, aunt is still young, and Sakura is grown up, so having another child... wouldn’t be a problem."
Uesugi Nobuko smiled, "Then I’ll go with what you said."
"Shouldn’t you ask uncle and Sakura’s opinion on these matters...?"
"I did, uncle agreed, and Sakura doesn’t mind."
"..." Uesugi Shio remained silent.
"I’m just undecided myself, but since no one has any opposition, it seems there’s no controversy on the matter."
Uesugi Nobuko suddenly remembered something, "Oh, Shio, what if I have another girl and Meiko has another boy; wouldn’t they be two kids growing up together again?"
If that were the case, the Uesugi Family and the Hanamaru Family would be quite close.
"What about the other way around?"
"The other way around..."
Uesugi Nobuko thought for a moment; the first thing she recalled was Hanamaru Hiroki’s not-so-happy face at the second wedding.
"It would also be a kind of fate."
Uesugi Shio thought to herself, Hanamaru’s father is truly resigned.
"By the way, have you guys eaten?" asked Mrs. Hanamaru.
Uesugi Shio pointed to the living room, "I bought bentos."
"Bentos, huh, then we won’t need to cook today."
Uesugi Nobuko peeked out at the table in the living room, "Is Sakura with Hanabi?"
"Yes," Uesugi Shio said, "Hanabi is sleeping upstairs, and Sakura, though I haven’t seen him since he got back, should also be upstairs."
Uesugi Nobuko didn’t ponder any further.
"Then could you take the bentos to the kitchen, Shio? I’ll go wash my hands in the restroom and heat the bentos afterward."
Uesugi Shio went to the living room and picked up the four bentos again.
"It’s good I bought an extra one."
The gentle evening sunlight poured into the transparent house as Uesugi Shio walked to the kitchen, and she casually plugged in the microwave.
And also washed her hands.
After washing, Uesugi Shio still didn’t see Uesugi Nobuko’s figure.
Yawning at the evening, she casually pulled out a lollipop she’d just bought from the supermarket and popped it into her mouth, heading to the restroom.
She found Uesugi Nobuko not by the sink washing her hands, but sneakily pressing her ear against the tightly closed bathroom door.