Laid-Back Life in Tokyo: I Really Didn't Want to Work Hard-Chapter 761 - 456: Camping After Work_2

It’s simply the perfect spot for a barbecue at home without having to step out.

Unfortunately, that kind of courtyard is too expensive.

It’s just nice to think about it.

"Sakura, get in the car, let’s go!"

"Okay."

Uesugi Sakura walked to the left side and sat in the front passenger seat.

Hanamaru Hanabi, on the other hand, took the driver’s seat on the right, fastened her seatbelt, and held the steering wheel with one hand, looking ahead.

To be honest, seeing her drive made Uesugi Sakura feel a bit anxious.

"Are you sure it’s okay?"

"Don’t worry, Sakura."

Hanamaru Hanabi turned the key to start the ignition, and the unique sound of the car engine reached Uesugi Sakura’s ears. Her left hand moved to the gear lever, and just as Uesugi Sakura thought she was about to shift gears, she hesitated, turning her head to look at her own hand gripping the control stick.

"What was the first step again?"

"..."

Uesugi Sakura unbuckled his seatbelt and stood up.

"What are you doing, Sakura?" Hanamaru Hanabi looked puzzled.

"I feel like my life is in danger." Uesugi Sakura had his hand on the car door latch, ready to make an escape.

"Sit down, Sakura, Hanabi will be ready soon."

Hanamaru Hanabi spoke in a cute voice, fiddling with the controls twice, seemingly getting it right.

"Isn’t your dad’s car automatic?" Uesugi Sakura asked with some concern.

"Sakura, you’re silly," Hanamaru Hanabi looked ahead, "Even with automatic, you have to shift to drive to start."

As she spoke, she pressed the gas pedal, and the large car began to move under her control.

The car turned a corner, merging into the city streets.

Hanamaru Hanabi drove very steadily, and Uesugi Sakura, sitting in the front passenger seat, felt his heart finally relax a little.

However, the seat usually occupied by his father-in-law now had Hanamaru Hanabi in it, which still felt unfamiliar to Uesugi Sakura.

It was a bit surreal, a delicate girl actually driving?

He remembered that little Hanabi usually got car sick, which was why she didn’t like riding in cars.

"Doesn’t this make you car sick?"

"Not at all," Hanamaru Hanabi said as she turned the steering wheel with one hand.

Uesugi Sakura wasn’t looking at the road ahead; instead, he was watching his wife beside him, driving.

Hanabi driving, how to put it... had a bit of a cool vibe.

Looking at her cute face, her serious expression, he wanted to hug her and give her cheek a kiss.

"Where’s our destination?" Uesugi Sakura remembered to ask.

"Um, Hanabi remembers it’s called Sagami Lake."

...

The lake is 40 kilometers away from Tokyo City.

It’s considered the suburbs, in Kanagawa Prefecture.

This place is full of crimson leaves, backed by forest, with large expanses of grassland, a lake view, and quaint cabins on the opposite shore. Many people come here for camping and outdoor barbecues, making it quite a lively spot.

Hanamaru Hanabi parked the car and smiled at Uesugi Sakura, who was sitting in the front passenger seat:

"How do you feel about Hanabi’s driving, Sakura?"

"Very steady."

Uesugi Sakura wasn’t lying; it was genuinely steady, calm and smooth, without any worry about speeding or the thrill of brushing by neighboring cars.

"There’s one more thing." Uesugi Sakura gazed at her face.

"What else?" Hanamaru Hanabi asked.

Uesugi Sakura glanced around with his peripheral vision to ensure there was no one else, unbuckled his seatbelt, and leaned over towards her, "Hanabi-chan is so cute."

"Would Sakura like a kiss?"

"Of course."

Uesugi Sakura gently bit her upper soft lip, his head slightly turning, slowly enveloping the upper part with his gradually opening mouth, releasing it slowly when she started to respond, and repeating the process.

The scent of a young girl filled his nostrils, and Uesugi Sakura unknowingly wrapped his arms around her soft, tender waist, intending to venture further, but she pushed him away unkindly.

"What’s wrong?"

Hanamaru Hanabi’s eyes sparkled like crystal-clear water droplets:

"Not yet."

"Not in the car?"

"No, not yet, let’s have lunch first, then the date you promised?"

Uesugi Sakura paused, wanting to sit back in his seat: "Okay, I got it."

Then Hanamaru Hanabi grabbed his shirt and pulled him towards her:

"Sakura, make sure to keep Hanabi happy. Hanabi will take a nap first, can you set up what we need for camping?"

Uesugi Sakura looked at her face and agreed without much thought: "No problem."

...

Hanamaru Hanabi fell asleep.

Uesugi Sakura figured that it was probably because little Hanabi came out for the date herself that she suddenly felt sleepy.

It’s strange though, as she would switch directly before, but now she needs sleep to switch back.

He couldn’t quite grasp the pattern.

Uesugi Sakura took the car key, got out of the car, opened the trunk, and took out the items one by one.

He slung a backpack over his shoulder and carried two canvas tote bags in his hands.

Uesugi Sakura walked out of the parking lot to the lakeside.

The twilight scenery in front of him gently rippled in the breeze, with the lake waters shimmering with layers of golden fish scales.

There were a few scattered tents around the lakeside, each spaced out as if not wanting to disturb each other’s families.

Across the lake was an old-style commercial street, where whatever you needed could be purchased from there.

Uesugi Sakura set down the backpack and took the 980 yen self-supporting tent from it.

A self-supporting tent is one that can be set up using just poles and ropes.

It’s the most widespread and the most convenient.

Uesugi Sakura first took out the pole frames and, along with the fabric, constructed a basic structure. Then, using six ground stakes, secured the tent tightly, so it stood firmly on the grass.

"All done."

Uesugi Sakura was quite satisfied.

He also took out two mummy-style sleeping bags from the other two backpacks and tossed them into the tent.

All of this took Uesugi Sakura nearly half an hour.

Satisfied with the result, Uesugi Sakura got up, ready to head back to the car to fetch the remaining items.

"Hanabi?"

He had just turned back when he saw, not far away, Hanamaru Hanabi, with a backpack on her back and two tote bags in her hands, teetering with difficulty toward him, taking a step and then stopping.

Uesugi Sakura hurried forward, meeting her and taking the things from her hands:

"Let me handle it, don’t push yourself too hard."

"Phew~"

Hanamaru Hanabi smiled joyfully, "It’s okay."

Uesugi Sakura was a bit surprised because even after her nap, she was still little Hanabi.

Did she just feel sleepy earlier?

"Let me take the backpack, it has a folding grill in there, which is quite heavy." 𝙧𝙚𝙚𝔀𝒆𝓫𝓷𝙤𝓿𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝙤𝓶

"Alright."

Hanamaru Hanabi set down the two tote bags and helped him take the backpack off.

They walked together to the campsite they had set up, the twilight still shimmering over the lake.

Swans, fish, red leaves, and mountain reflections—all were incredibly beautiful.

After placing down the items, Uesugi Sakura, standing near the lakeside with Hanamaru Hanabi looking out at the water, asked:

"Shall we go for a walk or eat first?"

"Let’s walk first." Hanamaru Hanabi turned back and said.

"Alright, let’s leave the stuff in the tent for now."

The place to stroll, naturally, was the red leaves forest backed by the lakeside grassland.

They specifically opened up trails for walking to attract visitors, making the twilight reveal the red leaves as even more dazzling.

Hanamaru Hanabi walked under the trees with Uesugi Sakura, pacing slowly, feeling quite at ease.

She plucked a leaf off a branch, twirling it between her fingers, and said to Uesugi Sakura in front of her:

"Every time I’m with Sakura, Hanabi feels relaxed."

"Really?" Uesugi Sakura smiled at her.

"Yes, it’s been like this since I was little. Long ago, Hanabi didn’t know what it meant, but as I grew up and learned more, I realized that I liked Sakura."

"So, my dearest Hanabi, do you remember when you started liking him?"

Hanamaru Hanabi’s gaze moved from the spinning leaf to his face: "Hanabi remembers telling Sakura before."

"Hmm?" Uesugi Sakura was puzzled by the question, trying to recollect his memories.

He discovered he actually couldn’t remember.

"Sakura, you’re so mean." Hanamaru Hanabi pouted.

"No, no, actually, from the day we met, Hanabi fell for me, right?" Uesugi Sakura tentatively asked.

Hanamaru Hanabi’s expression remained unchanged initially, then she nodded after a few seconds:

"Yes."