Laid-Back Life in Tokyo: I Really Didn't Want to Work Hard-Chapter 804 - 478: Endless Devotion

On the way out, I took the tram, but with an extra bag of beer, I had to call a taxi to go home.

At the doorstep, Uesugi Sakura was carrying two plastic bags, and let Aei take the key out of his pocket.

"I’m back!"

As soon as the door opened, little Chiaei rushed into the house.

For some reason, seeing her so happy gave Uesugi Sakura a sense of reassurance.

"Chiaei."

"Huh?" Chiaei seemed a bit flustered when he called her name.

"How do you feel about this kind of life?" Uesugi Sakura asked her while turning around.

"It’s great." Chiaei blinked, the tear mole under her left eye making her look like a delicate little beauty.

"Well, you’ll get used to it... Has your mom come to see you recently?"

"No..."

Chiaei’s voice sounded a bit lost as she answered.

Uesugi Sakura encouraged her, "Is that so? Don’t think too much about it. Just focus on your studies with Aei. You’ll grow up little by little."

"Thank you... brother..."

Uesugi Sakura placed the plastic bags on the cabinet by the entrance, and with one hand on her head, bent down, smiling at his sister, "We’re family now, so you don’t need to say thank you—just keep it in your heart."

"Okay....."

Seeing Chiaei too flustered to say anything, Uesugi Sakura continued:

"Alright, head on inside. We can have dinner soon."

He changed into slippers, took the bags inside, and Hanamaru Hanabi, who was wearing a blue jacket, came out.

Her home jacket was long, and the collar was loosely pulled open a little, revealing her two smooth, white legs. If one didn’t look carefully, they might think she wasn’t wearing pants.

Uesugi Sakura stared for a while before realizing she was wearing shorts.

"What did Sakura buy?" Hanamaru Hanabi walked over, took the plastic bag from him and looked inside.

"Steak, pork, a chicken, and some vegetables and milk and such."

"Hmm, what’s in the other bag?" Hanamaru Hanabi noticed the bag he carried in his other hand.

"This... is beer."

"Beer? What did Sakura buy those for?"

Knowing she didn’t really like those things, Uesugi Sakura evaded a bit, "It’s fruit beer, the alcohol content isn’t high; it can be drunk as a beverage."

"I see."

Hanamaru Hanabi took the bag of beer from him and placed the cans neatly in the fridge in the kitchen.

He thought she might get a little upset, but unexpectedly, she said nothing.

Uesugi Sakura: "What are we planning to eat tonight?"

"Sakura bought steaks, so let’s have pan-seared steaks, and make a little stir-fried pork, a stir-fried vegetable dish, and a vegetable salad." Hanamaru Hanabi replied.

"Okay."

Though it’s just a few dishes, it’s truly tricky to make.

Uesugi Sakura took the initiative to help, and it took an hour to barely finish.

"Hanabi-chan."

When they finished, Uesugi Sakura suddenly remembered something, his tone somewhat lowered.

"Hmm, what’s wrong?"

"It’s nothing," Uesugi Sakura lowered his head, "Just thinking we’ve been through so much together... I always feel sorry for you at times."

"Sakura... Why do you feel that way?"

"Because sometimes I forget a lot of the good things you’ve done for me. It feels like I don’t like you like I did when we first fell in love... But when thinking of all the good things you’ve done for me, the moments you’ve been by my side, it makes my heart ache unbearably."

Uesugi Sakura lowered his head, expressing these feelings because he really had felt this way.

But when Hanabi-chan is truly going to be away for a long time... his heart is filled with reluctance.

Suddenly, he noticed a small hand gently resting over his.

Following that small hand, Uesugi Sakura lifted his head to see Hanamaru Hanabi’s familiar and warm, lovely smiling face.

"Sakura, don’t overthink it. Hanabi knows you’ve always loved Hanabi... Even if one day you don’t, Hanabi will still choose to love you forever."

"Is it worth it?"

Hanamaru Hanabi shook her head, "It’s not about whether it’s worth it or not. If he gets sick and has no one there, Hanabi will take care of him. If he is sad, Hanabi will be by his side, offering words of comfort, helping him heal, and encouraging him continuously. Life is fundamentally a simple process, filled with happiness and sadness. The important thing is not to dwell on things that make us sad, but to pick ourselves up, cheer up, and strive harder!"

The small hand resting on his slowly closed, as if Uesugi Sakura’s heart also felt the warm affection above. Her softly spoken words slowly swayed and etched into his mind, impossible to forget.

Uesugi Sakura never imagined that someone would patiently care for him like this, even cooking for him.

Seeing Hanamaru Hanabi facing him with her fair cheeks, his heart stirred again.

Uesugi Sakura smiled:

"Tonight... I’ll give you a shoulder massage."

"Hanabi can massage Sakura, give him a back massage too if he likes; though there are limitations on romance in games, it’s within the scope of normal boyfriend-girlfriend interaction."

"No, let me," Uesugi Sakura smiled at her, saying, "It’s been so long since I’ve helped you out. You’ve been taking care of me all this time; if I let you help again, I’d feel very embarrassed."

"Is that so... Then alright."

They had a simple dinner, and by nighttime, Uesugi Sakura went to another room to lay out bedding for Aei and Chiaei, and pulled out the quilts from the wardrobe again.