Uesugi Sakura looked at the flickering orange-yellow flames of the campfire and smiled, reaching out to gently add some wood to the fire:
"I vaguely know that you all care about me, but I don't see myself as very important. If I don't find myself important, I feel embarrassed to trouble you too much."
Hanamaru Hanabi, who was turning the grilled steak with tongs, looked over at Uesugi Sakura.
His cheeks were illuminated by the golden glow of the campfire.
The girl stared at him and said:
"Hanabi thinks the old Sakura seemed very lonely."
"Yeah," Uesugi Sakura nodded, admitting, "a bit."
"At that time, Hanabi really wanted to help Sakura, but didn't know how... "
Uesugi Sakura heard her concern, turned to the girl, and smiled as he said: "Back then, you just needed to give yourself to me, and with you, I promise I wouldn't feel lonely again."
"But," Hanamaru Hanabi replied weakly, "even if Hanabi confessed back then... maybe Sakura wouldn't have accepted."
"Not necessarily."
