On a Saturday in mid-June, the rainy season finally stopped here for a day.
To stay fit, Uesugi Sakura would always drag Hanamaru Hanabi out for a morning jog, running two laps around the alleyways surrounded by single-family homes, which marked the completion of their primary daily task.
"Ha~ Ha~ Sakura... Sakura-kun..."
Uesugi Sakura, who was ahead, turned around to look at Hanamaru Hanabi, who was bent over with her hands on her knees under the shade of the trees, and walked over to ask with concern, "Can’t run anymore?"
Hanamaru Hanabi, short of breath, felt the ground in her vision swaying, but when she heard his voice, she still responded with a feeble tone:
Soon after her reply, a hand came to support her shoulder.
Uesugi Sakura saw her eyes slightly unfocused, panting heavily, and sweating on her forehead, realizing she was truly exhausted.
She had been forcing herself to keep pace with him for the last 500 meters and finally couldn’t hold on any longer and called out to him.
"If you can’t run anymore, take a break first. Don’t push yourself too hard."
Hanamaru Hanabi leaned on his supportive hand and sat down on a bench outside the nearby park.
Seeing her so tired, Uesugi Sakura felt as if he had betrayed the original intention of bringing her out for a morning jog.
"Do you want to eat something? I’ll go buy it for you."
"No, no need... troublesome for Sakura-kun..."
"Oh dear, Hanabi, you’re so beautiful now, why don’t you use it to your advantage?"
Seeing her puzzled and unable to understand, Uesugi Sakura laughed and explained, "I mean you should make me work a little more. With such a cute face, if it were on another girl, there would already be countless people revolving around her."
"Are you saying Hanabi is cute...? " Hanamaru Hanabi lowered her delicate, rosy face, "Sakura-kun... is the same."
"Sakura-kun is also very handsome."
"You’re a natural beauty." Uesugi Sakura noticed that every time he complimented her, her face seemed to light up with the glow of dawn, occasionally tinged with the peach blossom color unique to spring, something especially adorable on a girl.
"As long as Sakura-kun likes it..."
... Uesugi Sakura inexplicably wanted to tease her, to see her act coy and shy before him.
The more he looked, the more enamored he became, marveling at how she could be so adorable.
Unable to resist, Uesugi Sakura leaned his head closer and gently pecked her flushed cheek.
Hanamaru Hanabi was momentarily stunned and turned her head to look at him, "Sakura-kun, didn’t you say not to kiss outside..."
"Anyway, no one saw it."
"What if someone did..."
"Don’t worry, nobody saw it, and I can’t bear to let others see you ."
"Then... Hanabi will only let Sakura-kun see..."
Uesugi Sakura smiled gently, "You say it like a child."
"Then... will Sakura-kun forget about Hanabi?"
"Even if everyone forgets you, I will still remember."
"Really, I remember every smile you brought me."
Hanamaru Hanabi lowered her head on the bench, with the morning light filtering through the tender leaves and dancing on her hair, "Sakura-kun, everyone will forget many things, and might not feel emotions after dealing with something for a long time. I am willing to trust Sakura-kun’s words, that Sakura-kun will remember Hanabi, will remember her smile."
"Rest assured, ’a person’s true death is when he is forgotten by everyone’, and as long as I am here, you will always be the most beautiful person."
"Yes, it’s still nice with Sakura-kun by my side..."
"Let’s go home first. Just buy some food for breakfast, don’t you have work to do today?"
This time Hanamaru Hanabi did not agree with him, "Still, Hanabi will cook breakfast so there’s no need to buy from the convenience store."
"You don’t mind being tired?"
"You don’t mind being tired, but I mind you being too tired—always busying with breakfast and dinner so much that I’m afraid I’ll lose my wife."
Cooking is something you only understand how troublesome it is when you actually do it to make a delicious meal.
Just preparing a dish can easily take one to two hours to finish.
Then there’s the washing of plates, kitchen utensils, and dishes.
Just thinking about it feels troublesome.
Hanamaru Hanabi laughed, "I’m not Sakura-kun’s wife yet."
"Whether now or not, if you’re gone, I wouldn’t have my wife."
The subtext being—no one else could be my wife but you.
Hanamaru Hanabi understood the meaning in his words.
Looking at each other, they exchanged smiles and walked hand in hand along the familiar path, under a morning sun that seemed a bit warmer.
After breakfast at home, Uesugi Sakura took responsibility for cleaning up the dishes.
Hanamaru Hanabi was perfect in every way, just too fond of taking on responsibilities, willing to do everything herself.
There was nothing wrong with that, it just made him feel a little guilty.
Other people’s girlfriends and fiancées were there to be pampered, only his Hanabi was willing to spoil him.
She never enjoyed any comfort, letting him end up lazing around.
After the jog, Hanamaru Hanabi said she must take a bath.
That’s how girls are, always wanting to keep themselves clean.
Approaching the bathroom, there was already a faint fragrance in the air.
Thanks to this, Uesugi Sakura could smell the fresh floral scent on her every day and had thought about what that scent was.
It was somewhat that, but more importantly, it was the scent of pheromones on her body.
Seeing someone who makes one’s heart flutter, the fragrance on her body was first a psychological effect, and then a physiological one.
Being close, Hanamaru Hanabi’s sweet scent was always attracting him; no wonder sleeping together was so hard every day.
Asking her for help always resulted in her shy resistance.
When she had finished her bath, gotten dressed, and groomed, it was around 9:30.
Today, Hanamaru Hanabi dressed quite formally—a white formal dress, a cobalt blue handbag, and a small sun hat for shade.
Uesugi Sakura thought a White Lily or Hydrangea on her hat would be exceptionally nice.