The Hikigaya couple's youthful love story is definitely not a problem.

Since Yukino had already said she could read the letter, Haruno naturally wouldn't stand on ceremony.

After removing the blood-red seal, Yang Nai quickly began reading under the not-too-dim indoor light.

However, the more Yang Nai read, the more complicated her feelings became.

If Hachiman saw a letter like this, he would probably react the same way as Haruno.

After all, Yukino was expressing her feelings for Hachiman from a completely distorted perspective.

At first glance, the contents of the two letters are almost identical. They both fully express the grievances of the past few years, as if gently rebuking Hachiman. However, they stop talking about those past events at the end, completely showing that they do not dwell on the past and are looking forward to the future because they are doing well now.

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Chapter Twenty-Seven: Items to Accompany Drinks

Hachiman strolled hand-in-hand with Komachi down the street. The air was very humid after the morning rain, and Hachiman even had the illusion that his pores were rejoicing under the moisture in the air.

The rain in early April did not bring the bone-chilling cold of midwinter that makes you want to drape a kimono over your body.

Having eliminated the harmful influences of heaven and earth, strolling through the streets with close friends, feeling the gentle breeze from the sound of bicycles, the ease that welled up from the heart even made Hachiman, who usually dislikes walks, feel that the day had passed by too quickly.

There must be a lot of people here today, the weather is so nice.

She said with great regret that if there were fewer people, Komachi could have spent a wonderful afternoon with Hachiman and Rumi.

Judging from the current number of visitors, even though it's a weekday, there are probably still quite a few people at Chiba Park admiring the cherry blossoms.

High foot traffic.

Naturally, all sorts of problems will arise.

What's needed for cherry blossom viewing is just the right amount of crowding—a state where you can see many people in your field of vision, yet your surroundings aren't invaded by others. That's what Hachiman likes best.

No, perhaps the weather today seems perfect to us, neither too hot nor too cold, with a gentle breeze, but in some people's eyes, whether it's a downpour or a drizzle, it's not suitable for going out.

Moreover, now is the golden season for cherry blossom viewing, and even if you can't come today, there's still plenty of time, so there's absolutely no need to worry about those things.

Carefully savoring the warmth and softness in his hands, Hachiman casually chatted with his sister.

The weather is perfect; this kind of rain is just right. If it were any heavier, we probably wouldn't be able to come by boat to admire the cherry blossoms.

Judging from the current trend, the rain will probably stop completely by the time we reach the park.

Holding an umbrella, Hachiman curiously surveyed his surroundings. Bustling cities are always like this: new shops open every day, while old shops close for various reasons. Even tall buildings that have stood for a long time may be suddenly demolished one day.

Therefore, every time he returns to his hometown after a long time, Hachiman wants to carefully observe the streets of Kanba when he goes out. After all, it is the place where he grew up. If someone he knows comes here to play in the future, and Hachiman, as a local, doesn't know which places are fun, wouldn't that be too embarrassing?

A light drizzle is what makes it special. Those sightseeing boats aren't without roofs, and they're very easy to pedal. Rowing a boat with a close friend while admiring the cherry blossoms must be a wonderful experience.

Then it cost a lot of money. Now, during this peak tourist season, those people never honestly charge the price that was originally agreed upon.

He complained rather uninterestingly that boating is very cheap as long as it's outside of cherry blossom season.

But nowadays, the price is two or three times higher.

Furthermore, since the locals of Kanba City are already thoroughly familiar with Kanba Garden, during each cherry blossom season, if it were any other time, few shops in Kanba would be able to withstand such a loss of customers.

Unfortunately, when supply falls short of demand, the buyer becomes the relatively weaker party.

At this time of year, there are countless groups of tour guides from other places.

Therefore, the saying "no business for three years, but once business starts, you can live off it for three years" can be fully applied to these businesses last year.

What are you thinking about? These things seem to have nothing to do with us, don't they? Xiao Ding frowned, looking at Hachiman with great displeasure. On a day like today, no matter what, we shouldn't be talking about these kinds of topics.

Yes, it's related. Your brother is actually considered one of the poorer groups now.

So in the future, we should try to be as thrifty and frugal as possible.

I originally thought my salary would be enough for the two of us to live comfortably every day, but so far, I've underestimated the cost of living in Japan.

He said it with a slight embarrassment, but that's just how it is. After losing his scholarship and his parents' support, Hachiman gradually realized the hardship of making money. However, today is not the time to talk about these things. If he is not satisfied with his income, there will be plenty of opportunities in the future to adjust his mindset and be able to face more work with a better attitude in order to earn the salary he wants.

Slowly, Komachi and I arrived at the Dry Leaf Park. Rumi, also wearing a kimono but with her three strands of black hair tied up, stood there proudly like a flower. For some reason, Komachi suddenly squeezed Hachiman's palm and blinked a few times, as if she was talking to Hachiman.

However, Hachiman could only sigh helplessly. Although he could understand what Komachi was trying to express, he did not make the decision according to Komachi's wishes.

Unfortunately, Komachi wouldn't let her brother succeed, and repeatedly urged Hachiman to open the gates.

cough.

How long have you been here?

He coughed lightly to cover up the awkward atmosphere, and then, as if he had caught a signal, Hachiman took the initiative to ask Rumi.

Not long after, I realized that since I had made an appointment with someone, it was fine, and being late for no reason was ultimately not a good thing.

After testing the weather with her hand, Rumi simply put away her oil-paper umbrella and leisurely stared at Hachiman. Rumi was extremely happy to have been invited by Hachiman to come and enjoy the cherry blossoms.

This can also be seen from the details of Liu Mei's body. Whether it is her cheeks with an unhealthy blush or her toes, which should be fair and serene but are now tinged with a light pink and wobbling from time to time, they all show that Liu Mei is in a very good mood.

Tsk, did you hear that? You should spend more time studying in the US. You're such a grown man, yet you're still acting like a slacker all the time. If you continue like this when you start working, people will start complaining about you sooner or later.

She teased her younger sister, but this step only achieved its purpose: to prevent the cute little Rumi from being so nervous that she couldn't even speak.

My brother is making a mountain out of a molehill again. I've never been late for work before, and being a few seconds late for an appointment isn't a frequent occurrence. Besides, this isn't even a problem.

For close friends and family, a few seconds is probably not a big deal.

If a family can't even tolerate these ten seconds, there will probably be a lot of trouble in the future. Komachi said this with a straight face, after all, she doesn't have many friends nowadays, and she basically goes out with Hachiman every time.

Even though he was naturally comfortable with Rumi, Hachiman didn't feel awkward at all when he was close to her, as if they were old friends with a deep bond.

Alright, being punctual is always a good habit. Today, it was Komachi and I who were late, making you wait a while, so consider it an apology. Today, you can tell me if there's anything you're interested in lately.

With a probing gaze fixed on Rumi, Hachiman could easily see that although Rumi herself claimed she hadn't taken up too much time, the girl had actually been standing there for quite a while.

It's great that we can all come out and have fun together. I just arrived today, only a few minutes ago.

Rumi quickly waved her hand to decline Hachiman's suggestion. No matter what, Rumi still felt that being able to go out and have fun with Hachiman like today was already a very lucky thing.

Alright, let's go inside first, and we'll talk about it after we find a good spot and set things up.

Nodding, Hachiman felt that since Rumi herself had said she didn't need it, continuing to insist on this point was rather unsettling.

But wouldn't it be better to come here at night? Back then, there were also rainbow lights at night, which I heard were especially beautiful.

Rumi followed Hachiman very obediently, half a step behind him, just like Komachi—two very well-behaved maids on either side of him.

Really? Well, I guess I'm just ignorant. But even though there are neon lights at night, the cherry blossoms probably won't be very clear, so there's always a difference between the two. As for whether it's important or not, that's a matter of opinion.

Anyway, for me, I still prefer to watch the cherry blossoms slowly fall from the branches during the day. If it's just for a different kind of lighting, then it's not worth it. As Suneo and Hachiman said noncommittally, when Rumi introduced this garden, Hachiman somehow had the illusion that he was not a local of Kanabashi.

Honestly, I also think the neon lights at night are a bit too noisy, and the crowds are almost frightening every night.

He immediately dismissed his previous opinion and nodded in agreement with Hachiman's statement.

However, Rumi's adorable appearance did indeed make Hachiman laugh, especially the way the girl pecked at rice like a chick; the cuteness contained within was something that could not be expressed by deliberate actions.

As he walked slowly with the two little girls, Hachiman was a little dissatisfied with several patches of grass. Just as the boy was about to give up, a virgin patch of land that had never been set foot on immediately caught Hachiman's attention.

I don't know if it's because it's a little far from the cherry blossom trees, or because no one wants to be here alone to enjoy the cherry blossoms, but this lawn, which is neither too big nor too small and is connected to the surrounding area, is definitely something that Hachiman is particularly satisfied with.

Why don't we stay here and have lunch, then go boating to see a different kind of cherry blossom? If you're staying in the US and want to, you can stay until evening and go back after watching the lantern festival.

It's a pity there's no fireworks display right now, otherwise the day would be practically perfect.

He sighed with great regret, but Hachiman was just saying it casually. There are very few perfect things in this world. As long as the expected effect is achieved today, it can already be considered perfect.

My brother is being far too greedy.

After carefully smoothing out the blanket while wearing wooden clogs and tabi socks, Komachi knelt down first.

Human beings keep moving forward because of all kinds of desires, and sometimes being a little greedy is not a bad thing.

Although he no longer lets his thoughts run wild like he used to, and doesn't wantonly speculate about or guess what others are thinking, Hachiman still remembers the principles he learned in the past very clearly.

Hey hey hey, anyway, my brother is always like this, with endless reasons.

Rolling her eyes in exasperation, Xiao Ding was no longer willing to argue with Hachiman about this matter.

Komachi patted the blanket beside her with her slender, delicate hand, gesturing for Hachiman to sit down as well and enjoy this rare moment of leisure.

It's a pity that Yise didn't have time to come today, otherwise I wouldn't be here alone, feeling like I'm drinking alone in silence.

Hachiman is very sorry. For the Japanese, cherry blossom viewing is a great way to relax. Whether it's an inner admiration for cherry blossoms or an appreciation for their beautiful but short-lived life, once the date for cherry blossom viewing is set, it's normal for adults to drink until they're slightly tipsy.

If you want to drink, Rumi and I are happy to keep you company. Although you can't drink too much because you're young, you don't want to get completely drunk and then have Rumi and I carry you home, do you?

As she spoke, Komachi kept her eyes on Rumi, as if waiting for her to respond.

Ah... well, if Hachiman wants me to drink, that's fine, but I can't drink too much, otherwise you'll have to carry me back.

With her eyes lowered, Rumi spoke shyly. Although she usually appeared aloof and elegant, she was actually the type of person who got drunk very easily.

After one cup, the face starts to turn red, and after three or four cups, even the eyes probably start to become blurry.

Although girls can be cute when they're drunk, you two are still young, especially those of you studying in the US. Your bodies aren't fully developed yet, and you're both sensitive to alcohol, so don't push yourselves too hard.

The saying goes, "A feast for the eyes."

The cherry blossoms were already beautiful enough, but I didn't expect you two to be even more beautiful than the flowers. Just looking at you two makes me feel like I can have a better appetite.

With two petite women in kimonos, their youthful faces yet undeniably graceful, surrounding him, Hachiman was undoubtedly in a great mood. Even his manner of speaking was different from usual.

What's more, Rumi came barefoot today. The girl's delicate feet, wet with dew, might not be able to make Hachiman eat a whole serving of Shirasaka, but getting him to drink a few cups of Yu wouldn't be too difficult.

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Chapter Twenty-Eight: Changed

Hachiman is very happy today. He hasn't felt this relaxed in a long time since the end of his annual leave.

Hachiman's good mood was naturally due to the occasional giggles from Rumi and Komachi. Seeing the beautiful women around him, their silvery laughter ringing out, and his face filled with satisfaction, who would bother to put on a grumpy face and be disliked for no reason?

It's a pity that although life in the city is indeed very convenient, it always feels like something is missing at this time of year.

I remember when I went to the countryside, I could hear katydids chirping every night. Although I found it a bit noisy at first, I now think that there should be some vibrant life in the night.

But here, once night falls, you can't even hear dogs barking, except for some people on night shifts or those who don't do their jobs properly.

Sometimes when I wake up in the middle of the night and my brother isn't home, I feel a little anxious.

Komachi didn't know how she and Rumi got to this point in conversation. Judging from the expression on Rumi's face, Rumi did seem to like the countryside. But Hachiman knew that this was just Komachi's side of the story. After she actually spent some time in the countryside, her fair and smooth body was covered with mosquitoes. However, Hachiman could easily show indifference to Komachi, but Rumi was different.