Laid-Back Life in Tokyo: I Really Didn't Want to Work Hard-Chapter 783 - 467: Sometimes, Love is Hidden Between Actions_2

Chapter 783: Chapter 467: Sometimes, Love is Hidden Between Actions_2

But Hanamaru Hanabi’s pouting face is so cute, with her cheeks puffed out, not losing an inch of rosy charm, becoming even more tender and captivating.

Uesugi Sakura felt his head heating up:

"So... Hanabi-chan, can I ask you a question?"

"Mm, go ahead."

"To do ’it’ together, how much affection is needed?"

Hanamaru Hanabi’s already dewy face instantly blushed crimson, but with Kyujuu and Kitagawa on the other side, she could only lower her face and mutter in a voice barely audible:

"Jerk... Big jerk!!"

——————

They didn’t have the Kyujuu Family’s car pick them up; the two chose to take the subway back.

Uesugi Sakura knew why he was so over the top earlier. The indoor swimming pool was warm, and little Hanabi was wearing a school swimsuit that left her arms and legs exposed. Not feeling hot-headed would’ve been strange.

Now that he’s settled on the subway, his head cleared up, and thinking about the current -70 affection rating, he could only regret his decisions.

The subway swayed, and Uesugi Sakura glanced at the girl standing beside him, her neck wrapped in a light scarf, and gently called out to her:

"Hanabi."

Hanamaru Hanabi turned her head and looked at him with her beautiful eyes.

Then...

Then nothing more happened.

This look was a response, yet not a complete response.

Afterward, Uesugi Sakura saw her take out her phone and send him a message on Line.

"Hanabi-chan wifey (note): [Sakura-kun, with -70 affection, we can’t talk together. -70 has already reached the dislike stage.]"

This sentence was followed by a meme of a shark turning its head angrily.

Uesugi Sakura was taken aback. If they couldn’t talk, how could he increase the affection level?

Wouldn’t this mean that he could never restore a friendly relationship with little Hanabi?

Immediately, the message tone chimed again.

Uesugi Sakura glanced at Hanamaru Hanabi, who had just sent him a message, confirmed it was from her, and quickly turned to check his phone screen.

Little Hanabi wifey: [But Sakura-kun was very thoughtful in teaching Hanabi to swim... taught very seriously, and most importantly didn’t touch inappropriately... so, affection increased by 50! Now it’s only -20! (Excited flower-scattering shark)]

Seeing this message on Line, Uesugi Sakura slowly turned to look at the girl beside him, whose lovely half-face was buried in her scarf. She happened to turn her head, giving him an adorable smile amidst the gentle sway of the subway car.

Hanamaru Hanabi smiled warmly, like the early rising sun, soft and comforting:

"So, Sakura-kun can still talk to Hanabi."

...

Many times, Uesugi Sakura didn’t understand why little Hanabi treated him this kindly, but that was just the fact.

She was willing to marry him... never got mad at him... her care was thoughtful to the tiniest detail.

Seeing her smile at him at that moment, he felt no beauty in the world could surpass this.

Uesugi Sakura turned around, lowered his face, doing his best to contain the emotions flowing from his heart, and then looked up at the flashing upcoming station information above the subway car.

"I’ll get off to buy some things for dinner."

"Doesn’t Sakura-kun want to eat the meal Hanabi makes?"

"Aren’t we following the rules of the dating game?" Uesugi Sakura asked, surprised.

Hanamaru Hanabi smiled gently and said, "But, Sakura-kun only said we couldn’t have breakfast together, didn’t say anything about dinner."

Uesugi Sakura looked at her cute face, her sparkling purple eyes telling him "caring" and "concern."

She’s always been concerned about him, even when playing the distance-keeping game.

She is so delicate and only knows how to care for others... and she rarely cares about herself...

Uesugi Sakura smiled inside, thinking if she hadn’t met him but someone worse... she’d probably be the kind-hearted girl who’s taken advantage of tirelessly.

No, she already is.

Fool...

"Hanabi..."

"Mm..."

"Actually, I like you."

"Sakura-kun... confessing doesn’t increase affection, you know? We’re starting a dating game as a couple."

"I know, but I just wanted to say it to you once more."

Hanamaru Hanabi saw his smile, heard him say those words with his head lowered, and for some reason, felt a little moved inside.

She turned her head, lowered her face as well, and looked at her restless hand hidden in her coat pocket.

The subway continued to move, whistling through the tunnel, with only the sound of travel floating constantly in their ears.

The two stood together, heads lowered, yet wanting to be closer, reflected in the flickering window of the subway car.

...

...

Exiting the subway, Uesugi Sakura took a deep breath of the night air.

Fresh, usual, comfortable...

His mood suddenly became brighter.

Uesugi Sakura vividly remembered standing at a similar place to this in his past life, looking at a similar night scene, his mood was bleak back then.

Thinking it was nice to live alone, but every night holding his phone, watching people send messages and make videos, seeking a sliver of solace in their words and shared lives.

Recognition, approval, acknowledgment... these are what people seek.

And now, as Uesugi Sakura looked at the girl following him, a naturally happy smile spread across his face.

"Sakura-kun... why do you keep smiling at Hanabi?"

"Is Hanabi-chan shy?"

"N-no, I’m not..."

"When you’re shy, you should admit it. Like me, I can openly admit I want to do naughty things with Hanabi."

"Sakura-kun... Sakura-kun is talking about that again..." Hanamaru Hanabi stammered, afraid to punch him with her small fists, she could only slow her steps behind him and lower her face.

Uesugi Sakura gazed at the brightly lit street, the people in a hurry, and asked the girl next to him:

"Hanabi, why do you think people feel happy together?"

"Because they remember each other." Hanamaru Hanabi said this while looking at Uesugi Sakura’s back as he walked in front.

"Remember each other..." Uesugi Sakura clearly remembered that Hanabi said this many times... what she most feared inside was being forgotten by him, "So, even if they’re hiding secrets from each other, can they still be happy?"

"Hanabi... knows Sakura-kun has lots of secrets... he’s been smart since childhood... always caring for others, even turns into a cat."

"I have so much going on; aren’t you scared?" Uesugi Sakura stopped under a beech tree, looking back at the girl slightly shorter than him.

"Sakura-kun knows if Hanabi would be scared or not..." Hanamaru Hanabi also stopped walking, her shoes aligned side by side on the pavement.

She clutched her shoulder bag, turning her head, hair blown by the wind, bright eyes looking over the street, "Sakura-kun has had countless chances to bully Hanabi or make Hanabi do whatever he wanted... but the reality is... Sakura-kun has always been Hanabi’s big brother, even unwilling to let her suffer, unwilling to let her shed tears or be affected... although nothing is said openly, Hanabi has long felt his care through Sakura-kun’s actions..."

Uesugi Sakura watched the hair fluttering in the night breeze and was deeply moved: "Have I really done... that much?"

"Well... maybe Sakura-kun isn’t aware, but Hanabi has truly received far more care from Sakura-kun than he realizes..."

"Meeting Sakura-kun is Hanabi’s luck... so Hanabi wants to trust him completely, even if one day he needs to take Hanabi’s life for something... Hanabi would still want to do it for him; Hanabi just hopes Sakura-kun remembers Hanabi forever in his heart."