Hanamaru Hanabi had both hands propped on the bed. She arched her back and slowly leaned towards Uesugi Sakura, her delicate hand caressed Uesugi Sakura’s cheek, tracing his ear, and sliding down to his chin, her slender fingers repeatedly scraping below:

"Sakura-kun... do you know how much Hanabi likes you?"

Uesugi Sakura was being gazed at by her purple eyes.

"Sakura-kun... do you not believe it?"

"No... of course I believe it."

"But, Sakura-kun, you seemed to like another me more just now."

Another me...

"..." Uesugi Sakura was silent for half a second, "Looks like Hanabi-chan knows..."

"Shh~" Hanamaru Hanabi, with a playful smile, put her index finger on his lips, "Of course, Hanabi knows, not only does Hanabi know, but the other me also knows."

Up to this point, Uesugi Sakura seemed to have heard a very important piece of information.

"She not only knows this, but she also knows we went shopping together this morning." Hanamaru Hanabi buried her head in his chest.

Uesugi Sakura tried to go along with her whim, holding her:

"Then, can Hanabi-chan let her come out?"

Hanamaru Hanabi looked up at him and smiled: "Sakura-kun... why make such a clear distinction? I am her, and she is me."

Her fingers drew circles on his chest.

"Earlier, it was actually Hanabi-chan in front of Sakura-kun."

Uesugi Sakura immediately looked at the girl in his arms: "Earlier, that was really Hanabi-chan?"

"Sakura-kun," Hanamaru Hanabi issued a slightly pouting tone, "Didn’t Hanabi just say? I am her, and she is me. Whatever she feels, knows, I know it too. Whatever I know, feel, she knows it too."

"Hanabi... just thinks that sometimes the other me doesn’t seem to make an effort, even though she can hold Sakura-kun more firmly, she doesn’t. Why is that? Even though we both like Sakura-kun so much, if it were me, Hanabi, I would definitely not let Sakura-kun get away."

Hanamaru Hanabi stroked his face with both hands, saying: "So... Hanabi decided to help her, to make her more proactive, so Sakura-kun will like her more."

"...?"

Just as Uesugi Sakura was about to ask, the door outside the bedroom was knocked on.

Hanamaru Hanabi lightly smiled, taking advantage of the opportunity to pull over the hotel-supplied white cotton blanket, and covered herself underneath it.

Uesugi Sakura realized something.

...

"Hanabi-chan, I’m coming in."

The door was pushed open, and Kyujuu Rika entered. As soon as she stepped into the room, she found that Hanamaru Hanabi was not inside but rather Uesugi Sakura was sitting on the bed watching TV, still wrapped in that thick blanket.

Kyujuu Rika looked around the room and asked him:

"Isn’t Hanabi-chan here?"

"No...not... here..." Uesugi Sakura hadn’t expected Kyujuu Rika to suddenly come over, "Do you need something from her?"

"Ah, Hanabi-chan said the clothes I bought in the morning are with her, so I said I’d come over later to get them." Kyujuu Rika suddenly said to him, "Why does it feel like you are speaking strangely."

Uesugi Sakura’s speech sped up: "No.. the clothes Hanabi bought in the morning are on the sofa over there, check if your clothes are among them."

Kyujuu Rika felt his tone was a bit strange, but she didn’t think too much about it, and followed his words to look on the sofa by the TV. She saw a canvas bag full of clothes.

She went over and searched, indeed finding the clothes she had bought in the morning.

She picked up her clothes and said to Uesugi Sakura, who was sitting on the bed:

"Are you coming to the fishing later?"

"Mm, will go... once Hanabi gets back, we’ll head over."

Why have such long pauses between words?

Kyujuu Rika was even more puzzled, but since she doesn’t like to pry into not-so-important matters, she nodded and reminded him:

"Later there might be some game activities, maybe some guys will try to hit on Hanabi, you should pay some attention."

"A mixer, I know."

"Alright then."

Uesugi Sakura watched her leave the room, closing the door after her.

The sound of footsteps in the corridor completely faded away into the air.

Uesugi Sakura let out a long sigh of relief, as Hanamaru Hanabi poked her head out from under the white blanket, her cheeks flushed as if she had a fever.

Seeing her eyes, Uesugi Sakura knew she was the Hanabi he was most familiar with.

What was that all about?

"I’m sorry..."

Hanamaru Hanabi, still with her head lowered, her face adorably crimson, bit her lip in embarrassment and didn’t dare look at him:

"It’s alright... it’s not Sakura-kun’s fault..."

...

After a long silence.

Hanamaru Hanabi lifted her still red face.

Uesugi Sakura could tell she was just shy, so he reached out to hold her just as he was about to apologize, Hanamaru Hanabi covered his mouth with her small hand.

Hanamaru Hanabi’s small hand rested on his chest, her small face looking at him and said: "Sakura-kun... don’t overthink it. Hanabi actually doesn’t mind..."

After saying that, she shyly lowered her head again.

"Really?"

"Mm... Sakura-kun... what do you think?"

Uesugi Sakura felt she was really embarrassed right now, perhaps she mustered up the courage just then?

"Want to hear the truth?"

"Mm..."

"Great."

"That, that’s good then..."

Hanamaru Hanabi nestled in his embrace, her face flushing with shy redness, her violet eyes always locked on him.

"Sakura-kun..."

Uesugi Sakura exchanged glances with her for a while, understanding, he immediately stood up.

"Wait a moment, I’ll go lock the door."

Hanamaru Hanabi pulled his hand, quietly asked, "Sakura-kun... wasn’t it just now..."

"No worries, there’s plenty more."

——————

By the seaside, the sky was clear and sunny.

The ocean has tides rising and falling, high tide bringing abundant organic substances and fish to the shore.

And during the calm sea surface of morning and evening, it’s suitable for fishing.