Chapter 643: Chapter 404 Dream Shared Solution
The advantage of Hokoku Temple is its scarcity of tourists; the whole afternoon, only a couple of scattered visitors came to appreciate the bamboo forest.
Uesugi Sakura stood there with a guitar on his back, and as he inhaled the fresh bamboo fragrance, an artistic aura seemed to surround him.
"Uesugi, take a seat and rest for a bit. They might come here later," said Todaka Keichiro, who was sitting on a bench under the bamboo grove, to him.
He turned his head.
"Should I play a song first to warm up?"
Todaka Keichiro had no objections: "Yeah, it’s probably for the best."
Uesugi Sakura didn’t want to say much, so he directly sat down beside Todaka Keichiro.
He took out his newly bought guitar from the case, placed the guitar body snugly on his thigh, put on the strap, and adjusted the guitar’s position.
He plucked the strings a couple of times to check the sound, feeling it was too relaxed, so he tuned the pegs.
Todaka Keichiro watched him handle the guitar skillfully, remembering that his guitar skills were quite good, but he rarely showcased them.
"Uesugi, when did you start learning this?"
As Uesugi Sakura plucked the strings and tuned the guitar, he replied, "Two years ago, I guess."
"Two years ago? I thought you played well during the May Festival, so why don’t you showcase it often? I haven’t seen you join any guitar or music clubs."
"Because I’m not really passionate about the guitar," Uesugi Sakura answered.
"...? But I think your level of skill isn’t easily achieved without considerable passion to reach a professional standard."
"Me? My level is average."
"Ha~ You’re being modest!"
Todaka Keichiro said.
"I remember a classmate in high school who had a sudden interest in the guitar. He practiced day and night for a year, and by graduation, he still played off-key and needed his phone or a tuner to adjust the sound. He wasn’t like you, who can do it by ear."
"...Do you want to know why I learned to play the guitar?"
"Go ahead, tell me. Anyway, we have time."
Uesugi Sakura, holding the tuned guitar, explained, "I learned the guitar just for my wife’s birthday. I wanted to play her a song on her birthday, to thank her for being with me all these years... The reason... is just that simple. I learned the guitar for her, so I usually only play for her."
"...I didn’t realize... Uesugi, you’re quite sentimental!"
"I’m not really sentimental, it’s just a feeling of gratitude. Maybe you can’t understand, but she has always been so good to me. This uncontrollable emotion of being moved is also one of the reasons I came to love her."
After speaking, Uesugi Sakura gazed at the new guitar for a few seconds, then began strumming familiar tunes.
In the serene bamboo grove, as the music played, he seemed transported back to Hanamaru Hanabi’s childhood when they celebrated birthdays together.
...
The afternoon sun was still bright.
The essence of this trip to Kamakura was a co-ed group tour of scenic spots, and nearly every boy had the chance to interact with a girl.
For this meet-and-greet, the presidents of the two schools were quite dedicated.
But Hanamaru Hanabi was married, the flower had an owner.
At the gathering, this was well known, so no one disturbed her.
Today, without Uesugi Sakura by her side, Kitagawa Sakisa saw her walking alone and seemed quite lonely, so she accompanied her, claiming no interest in those boys.
Kyujuu Rika, being the eldest daughter of the Kyujuu Family, was in the mixed, powerful network of the University of Tokyo, so many boys knew her, and inevitably, some tried to ingratiate themselves with her.
Thus, she didn’t have the leisure to tour the mountains and waters with Hanabi.
...
The bamboo grove of Hokoku Temple obscured the sky, not too large but very tranquil.
Walking alongside the clear springs and on the path among the green bamboo, every step seemed to sway the heart along with the rustling bamboo leaves above.
Every two steps, there’d be a stone lantern or two spaced apart, staggered just right. If the time reached dusk, these stone lanterns on either side of the bamboo path would light up, creating a scene that might make one imagine it as a mysterious serene place.
Upon entering, Kitagawa Sakisa heard from a monk here that there’s a small hut deep within the bamboo grove that offers matcha tea.
At this moment, they were heading deeper into the bamboo grove.
"Hanabi-chan, aren’t you upset because Uesugi didn’t come with you?"
"No, Sakura-kun is sick and should rest."
"What illness did he suddenly get?"
"A cold."
"Hmm... I don’t think so. Could he be pretending to be sick?"
"No... Hanabi went to the hospital with Sakura-kun in the morning."
In fact, Hanamaru Hanabi didn’t know what illness Uesugi Sakura was diagnosed with that morning in the hospital.
He didn’t want to say.
To say she wasn’t disappointed would be a lie. Hanamaru Hanabi really wanted to go out with Uesugi Sakura, see the scenery, visit the temples, enjoy some sweets, and occasionally chat.
A sweet and cozy married life.
Today was just such an opportunity, but coincidentally, Uesugi Sakura fell ill today.
Thus, Hanamaru Hanabi was somewhat distracted.
...
There were only a few couples playing in this bamboo grove, with more people further back.
A young couple walking in front suddenly stopped, blocking the path of Hanamaru Hanabi and Kitagawa Sakisa, so the two also had to stop.
"What’s wrong?" Kitagawa Sakisa asked the girl in front.
The boy next to her turned back and replied, "I think I faintly hear some guitar music."