Laid-Back Life in Tokyo: I Really Didn't Want to Work Hard-Chapter 780 - 466: Strange, So Strange

Afternoon, in the sketching class.

The old man lay down once again on the cylindrical podium in the middle of the classroom and began his afternoon work as a figure model.

Many students gathered around the classroom, continuing to complete the sketch assignments from the morning.

Hanabi had only taught for a little while in the morning, and Uesugi Sakura hadn’t learned anything at all.

Sketching was still just a few strokes and a moment of hesitation.

Very quickly, Uesugi Sakura completely lost his train of thought.

How was he supposed to draw this arm and hand?

He leaned over and found that Hanamaru Hanabi didn’t seem to be working on the figure drawing assignment but was sketching something else.

"Did you finish drawing, Hanabi?"

"Yeah." Hanamaru Hanabi nodded.

"So fast?! Even Kitagawa hasn’t finished yet."

"It’s pretty simple." Hanamaru Hanabi replied.

On the other side, Kitagawa Sakisa put down her pencil and chimed in, "Uesugi, how dare you doubt your wife’s drawing skills? She’s famous for her talent at her other school."

Having said that, she continued to bury herself in her work.

"So Hanabi, can you continue teaching me?" Uesugi Sakura said somewhat reluctantly. After all, he’d already asked for her help that morning, and now he needed her assistance again. If it were any other girl, she would likely refuse outright at this point.

Uesugi Sakura felt a bit embarrassed.

"Sure."

Hanamaru Hanabi nodded, put down her pen, moved a stool next to Uesugi Sakura, and sat down beside him.

She first scrutinized the line work of Uesugi Sakura’s sketch and, seeing no major problems, moved on to looking at his principles of perspective.

"Hmm, Kai-kun, your perspective on the arm is still not right. Things closer to us should look larger; therefore, the hand placed in front should be bigger than the hand in the back." Saying this, Hanamaru Hanabi took the pen and eraser from his hand and made corrections little by little.

"Oh, so that’s how it is." Uesugi Sakura looked at her operations, feeling like he understood, yet not quite.

The girl was very close, her face and expression intensely focused.

As Uesugi Sakura studied, his gaze gradually shifted from the drawing to her face.

"Hanabi."

"Yes, did you understand what I explained, Kai-kun?" Hanamaru Hanabi had just finished explaining a lot of knowledge to Uesugi Sakura.

"You smell nice."

Hanamaru Hanabi’s hand, which was holding the pen, froze for a moment, then with slight embarrassment, she placed her hand on her lap. Looking at him with a blush, she softly said, "Kai-kun... Kai-kun should focus on learning how to draw, not saying such things right now..."

Her words seemed less like she was angry and more like a gentle reminder for him to be serious.

She resembled a young teacher trying to be strict but utterly unable to because of her own temperament.

Uesugi Sakura really wanted to concentrate, but she was so close, and her fragrant scent wafted around.

His eyes often started to study but then drifted toward the origin of that scent as he caught it.

"Kai-kun, did you listen to what Hanabi was saying?"

"Uh... yeah... yeah..." Uesugi Sakura nodded repeatedly, "I’m here."

He was looking at those delicate and fair little hands, holding the pencil and resting on her skirt, so fine and supple that they made people want to cradle them in their hands.

"Now, about this arm, you should handle it like this... for example..." Hanamaru Hanabi continued instructing him.

"What if we..."

Uesugi Sakura suddenly closed his mouth, abruptly recalling the dating rules between him and Hanabi: No holding hands—holding hands meant they’d have to be apart for a day and wouldn’t be able to even see each other.

"We... what?" Hanamaru Hanabi put down the pen, sat up straight, and asked with a curious little face.

Seeing her soft, small face, Uesugi Sakura took a deep breath, then exhaled it and said with great difficulty, "No, nothing..."

"Kai-kun, you’re acting weird."

"Not weird, not weird at all." Uesugi Sakura smiled at her and tried to change the subject, "What’s your goodwill score toward me right now?"

"Zero."

"Huh? That low?"

"Yeah, because Kai-kun didn’t listen carefully when Hanabi was teaching this morning, so Hanabi had to explain it all over again this afternoon. Hence, zero."

"But sketching can’t just be learned in one morning; you can’t entirely blame me for that."

"As long as Kai-kun remembers some of the techniques Hanabi taught, plus the drawing skills learned in high school, you should at least pass this class."

"So what should I do to improve Hanabi’s goodwill toward me? And how much goodwill is needed for holding your hand?"

"Listen carefully and also... you shouldn’t directly ask someone about how to win a girl’s heart... you’re supposed to figure it out yourself, right?" Hanamaru Hanabi murmured softly beside him, "To hold hands... you need a goodwill score of at least 70."

"That high?!"

"That’s normal," Hanamaru Hanabi’s little hands fidgeted restlessly on her skirt, "After all, to be holding hands means a girl really likes someone very much. If Kai-kun wants to play the dating game, you have to follow the rules."

"Anyway... holding hands is currently prohibited."

"My wife is so cute."

"It’s prohibited to call me wife! And... goodwill score -1, hurry up and study, Kai-kun! It’s almost time to submit the assignment."

"I’ll study, I’ll study right away." Uesugi Sakura chuckled.

By three o’clock in the afternoon, it was time to officially stop work.

All students who took Professor Ebitani’s course had to submit a side-lying figure sketch.

Uesugi Sakura’s half-finished piece was submitted, too.

Upon leaving the classroom, Hanamaru Hanabi and Kitagawa Sakisa, along with Kyujuu Rika, were standing together.

Kitagawa Sakisa looked at Uesugi Sakura, who had just stepped out, and asked, "Did you submit that half-finished piece?"

"Yeah, I submitted it."

"You’re finished, you’re definitely going to get a scolding."

"I’m a freshman, Professor Ebitani will understand."