How many times have I recalled her in dreams... thinking about the softness of her hand in mine... thinking about her shy and captivating demeanor before me...
Uesugi Sakura fought back the tears that blurred his eyes, fought back the urge to cry his heart out.
Yet, at this moment, hearing her voice once more, Uesugi Sakura did not dare to look up and see her again.
Uesugi Sakura still pressed his forehead against the hands leaning on his cane, eyes tightly shut, and asked the girl standing beside him with a slightly choked voice:
"Me...? My name is Hanamaru Hanabi... Grandpa... are you alright...?"
Uesugi Sakura heard the concern in her words, and her gentle voice made him miss even more uncontrollably.
He was yearning, after a strong inner struggle, he put away his emotions, lifted his head to look at the girl’s face beside him.
Standing beside him, Hanamaru Hanabi had lavender-colored eyes, a delicate, blushing face, with actions carrying the youthful innocence and cuteness of a girl...
She was wrapped in a scarf, wearing a light-colored trench coat.
Just like... completely just like in memory...
"Grandpa... are you alright...?"
"I’m fine..." Uesugi Sakura lowered his head, wiped his eyes, and said chokingly, "It’s just that I remembered my wife who passed away long ago... we used to come here to enjoy the sakura every year... the year we fell in love, after watching the sakura... I took her to eat ramen... I remember it cost 2280 yen then..."
Now, at 35 years old, his lifespan was equivalent to that of an 85-year-old man.
An old man crying in the midst of tourists in the Imperial Garden.
"I... didn’t scare you, did I?"
Hanamaru Hanabi looked concerned, carefully sitting down by his side.
"Grandpa’s wife isn’t here anymore...?"
Uesugi Sakura was stunned for a long time upon hearing this, unsure of how to describe his current feelings, he could only suppress the impulse in his heart and feign calmness.
The girl still looked cute, while the old man beside her was already weathered and worn.
Uesugi Sakura knew that he shouldn’t disturb her now.
He came here just to see.
To take a look at her...
His gaze shifted to the silver watch on his wrist, "This was a gift from my wife when I was young... she bought it with her salary... I still remember her smile when she gave it to me... she also liked spicy food... loved shark toys... often helped me with laundry... thinking about these... I feel so sorry for her..." Get full chapters from N0v3l.Fiɾe.net
Speaking of these, Uesugi Sakura couldn’t hold back his emotions and began to recount past stories to the girl.
Hanamaru Hanabi sat by his side, patiently listening to every story he told.
From confession... to holding hands... from holding hands... to accompanying each other... from accompanying each other... to marriage...
Sakura petals floated all around.
"Grandpa, when did you come here?" Hanamaru Hanabi asked cautiously.
"Grandpa’s wife must have loved you very much." Hanamaru Hanabi said with a bright smile.
Uesugi Sakura glanced at her smile, then lowered his head and muttered, "Yes... she loved me very much..."
Hanamaru Hanabi turned her head towards the sound when she heard someone calling her.
Uesugi Sakura watched her, there was a reluctance in his eyes, and his hand subconsciously reached out to her: "Are you leaving?"
Hanamaru Hanabi’s gaze returned to Uesugi Sakura’s wrinkled face, she nodded slightly:
"Yes... my sister is calling me."
Uesugi Sakura forced a smile on his face:
"Then... go on... don’t worry about me..."
Hanamaru Hanabi was a little worried about him: "Grandpa... are you really okay? You won’t fall asleep here again, will you..."
"Don’t worry... I’m fine... I won’t fall asleep again."
"Then... Grandpa, Hanabi will leave first, okay, don’t sleep here."
Uesugi Sakura watched her departing figure, his hazy eyes gradually dimmed.
It was enough... enough...
Besides... wasn’t this something he had prepared for a long time?
Now, he no longer had the right to disturb her...
What he possessed was already more than enough.
Without her... his entire life was lonely...
With her by his side in the first half of his life, with all those little smiles and companionship, with so many beautiful memories...
It was enough... more than enough...
Now, it was only himself repaying her kindness...
The sakura petals all over the sky were so beautiful...
Uesugi Sakura looked up, just like when he was sixteen, looking up at the sakura petals scattered across the sky.
Then, he was immersed in the sea of flowers, enjoying the beauty of youth.
Seemed to see Hanamaru Hanabi standing under the Sakura Tree ahead, shyly burying her blushing face in the scarf, her fingers interlaced, placed between her legs, softly calling his name:
Just like when he was sixteen, and she was fifteen.
Uesugi Sakura closed his eyes deeply, taking in a deep breath of sakura fragrance, recalling Hanamaru Hanabi’s smile.
Everything was so beautiful....
He gradually relaxed his body, and his consciousness slowly faded away...
Hanamaru Hanabi’s beautiful smile gradually blurred in his memory.
He forever indulged in dreams, forever dwell in that golden wheat field...
Hanamaru Hanabi’s beautiful back, her beautiful white dress, swayed in that golden horizon.
"Hanabi, where are you going!?"
"Sister, I’ll be back in a while!" Hanamaru Hanabi shouted to Hanamaru Hanami behind her.
"This little sister, really." Hanamaru Hanami put her hands on her hips, angrily watching Hanamaru Hanabi disappear with a lunch box from her sight.