Laid-Back Life in Tokyo: I Really Didn't Want to Work Hard-Chapter 786 - 469: Forbidden Love

November 7th, clear skies, a bit cold.

Hanamaru Hanabi was wearing more and more layers, with a scarf, a knit sweater, and a coat, even her tights were the thickened version.

This was bad news for Uesugi Sakura.

The two had just walked out from the train station platform, and Hanamaru Hanabi started rubbing her little hands in front of herself, blowing warm air into them.

"Do you want me to warm them up for you?"

Hanamaru Hanabi turned her head and noticed his smile right next to her.

"Sakura, what are you planning to do?"

"Warm them up, you know, by putting your little hands in my pocket or something."

"Put... put them in your pocket..." The street ahead was crowded, and Hanamaru Hanabi took a while to process what he meant.

"What? You don’t agree?"

"Not... exactly... but Sakura, you’re somewhat of an inadequate boyfriend right now." 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝒆𝔀𝒆𝙗𝓷𝒐𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝓶

Hanamaru Hanabi mumbled in a small voice, then looked at his outstretched arm, motioning for her to take it, hesitated for a while.

In the end, she gently linked her arm with his, placing her right hand into his coat pocket.

"After all... my affection level is at -40."

Uesugi Sakura immediately felt a cold little hand slip in, very cold, yet soft, with a hint of shy hesitation. He quickly grasped her inside his pocket, prying open her curled up palm, holding her little hand together with his.

Hanamaru Hanabi felt his embrace, her face blushed even more.

The two of them set off from the train station, slowly approaching the gate of Tokyo Art University.

With her hand tightly held, Hanamaru Hanabi slightly lowered her head beside him, her face a bit red, and when she spoke, warm air puffed from her mouth: "Sakura... Don’t you think Hanabi’s hands are really cold?"

"There’s a saying, something like your girlfriend’s hands are your own, even if they’re cold, you have to work hard to warm them."

"Definitely something Sakura just made up..." Hanamaru Hanabi dared not look at him.

"Hm? Hanabi, what are you saying?"

"Nothing, nothing..."

Hanamaru Hanabi tried to lift her head, looking at the variously dressed people in coats during the autumn season ahead.

Walking along the roadside with him, linking his arm, hand gripped by his...

It was... a little bit warm...

Seizing an unguarded moment, Hanamaru Hanabi sneaked a peek at him, and upon catching a glimpse of his profile, she quickly buried her face back down.

Thinking to herself, maybe... she should give him an extra 10 points of affection...

They had walked most of the way, from the train station to the campus area, with many students passing by.

Hanamaru Hanabi didn’t particularly enjoy being watched by others, so she naturally snuggled closer to Uesugi Sakura beside her.

Uesugi Suzuki didn’t mind enjoying her slightly shy demeanor beside him, understanding that many male students adored her pure and lovely appearance.

A while back, a talent scout even said she resembled a young Nakamori Akina and wanted to invite her to become a star, following a path of purity and cuteness.

This path was not easy at all, as exemplified by the talent scout’s mention of Nakamori Akina.

Even as she became a diva-level star, because of a scumbag, she lost everything, repeatedly used and discarded, eventually becoming disheartened to the point of using a razor to cut her left wrist in a suicide attempt.

Since the suicide incident, her career began to decline, becoming dispirited.

Innocent girls are easily deceived by scumbags, with the intention of playing, while the girl regards them as her only life partner.

Uesugi Sakura looked at Hanamaru Hanabi, thinking she was that kind of pure person, and wondered how she might get deceived if she entered the entertainment industry.

"How about I stand on the left side?"

"Huh?"

"I mean, switch hands and warm the other one."

By the time Uesugi Sakura moved to her left side, Hanamaru Hanabi hadn’t reacted, and she just dazedly stretched out her other hand toward him.

Uesugi Sakura took hold of her soft, cold little hand and tucked it into his coat pocket, trying hard to warm it up.

"Sakura..."

"What is it?"

"Don’t... squeeze too hard."

"Did I squeeze too hard?"

"Mm..."

...

The hand-warming session continued until they reached the classroom, at which point it had to end. Hanamaru Hanabi was too embarrassed to be held by him in front of acquaintances.

"Do you have any classes today?"

"Still-life sketching." Hanamaru Hanabi stood in front of him, her little hands interlocking, still feeling the remnants of his warmth in her palms.

"Ah? Didn’t we just do figure drawing yesterday? What about after the sketching class?"

"Perspective study."

"That... should be a bit easier to learn, right?"

"Yeah, that’s the case."

...

Perspective study, not easy at all.

Uesugi Sakura spent the entire morning absorbing new knowledge points, nearly relearning it from scratch, he had to muster twelve times the energy not to fall behind.

Studying is exhausting.

Even though the morning only had a brief twenty-minute break, Uesugi Sakura felt it was the happiest time.

During the break, he could pull Hanabi to the vending machine downstairs to buy drinks, or take her for a slow stroll in the scenic school park, looking at swans in the lake, and lazy cats hanging on the trees.

She was always quiet, quietly walking beside him, answering questions when asked, responding when spoken to.

She was like a simple girl who followed him around, pure and beautiful, merely being with her made his mood much better.

After class, Hanamaru Hanabi stopped her pen and suddenly asked him:

"Sakura, why did you suddenly come to school to study with Hanabi today...?"

"Who said I came specifically for you?" Uesugi Sakura smiled at her face.