Laid-Back Life in Tokyo: I Really Didn't Want to Work Hard-Chapter 821 - 487: Newcomer Light Novel Award, Twitter_2

Chapter 821: Chapter 487: Newcomer Light Novel Award, Twitter_2

[Please keep up the good work, Teacher Uesugi.]

Uesugi Sakura carefully read the long message sent by Editor Morisaki three times over.

How should I say this... In terms of pressure, there’s definitely some.

But not too much, primarily because he doesn’t rely on light novels to make a living; he has other sources of income.

As for the pressure... it’s because this novel is a love letter Uesugi Sakura wrote for Hanabi-chan. If no one really reads it, he can’t help but feel a bit sad.

...

After replying with a "thank you," just as Uesugi Sakura was putting down his phone, Editor Morisaki suddenly sent him another message:

[Your illustrator is Teacher Hanamaru, right?]

Uesugi Sakura tapped the screen to reply: [Yes, is there a problem?]

[Not really, just remembered that the light novel that recently exploded over at SG Library, a big part of its success is also due to that Teacher Hanamaru who collaborated with SG Library. Although she hasn’t had many works recently, seeing her artwork really leaves a lasting impression.]

[When I first saw Akatsuki Nana Amami’s poster in the subway, I was thinking, which publisher’s light novel is this? Where did they find the mysterious illustrator?... After seeing the completion of those illustrations today, I have to admit, even if the work itself is excellent, light novels really rely heavily on illustrators, (laugh)]

...

Uesugi Sakura put his phone down.

So, now there’s no need to worry about the light novel side.

Tashiro Yuuri carried coffee over from the bar, while Kobashi Rikai cleaned up her workspace beside him. Seeing Uesugi Sakura putting his phone down, she asked, "Uesugi, are you done?"

"Yeah, just about. The novel I wrote should be published by mid-December."

"So soon?" Kobashi Rikai first expressed surprise, then laughed and said, "Then what’s your Twitter handle, Uesugi? Let’s follow each other. Who knows, maybe when you become a famous light novel writer, I’ll be one of the few people in your followers list."

"Is that really important?" Uesugi Sakura tapped open Twitter and handed her his phone.

"While it’s not very important, it’s still quite fascinating! Yeah, it’s definitely important to some extent."

A strange theory.

Uesugi Sakura took back the phone she handed back to him.

He noticed that his followers list had a new user with the ID: [Aoba].

"New Leaves of Sprouting Buds."

Actually, there’s a hint of ’sprout’ meaning in it, referring to a budding, cute girl.

Uesugi Sakura’s ID was simple, just "Uesugi."

...

By afternoon, somewhere around three or four o’clock.

The business in the coffee shop started to get busy, and ever since Uesugi Sakura became adept at making coffee, each cup took less time to prepare.

This was the time best suited for admiring Hanamaru Hanabi in her maid outfit.

She had small cat ears perched on her short hair, wearing a classic medieval maid outfit. Her cuteness made her the focal point male customers were willing to spend on when visiting this coffee shop.

Several young male customers often commented as she walked away with a tray:

"Dare you?"

"What, you go ask, and if you get it, it’s yours?"

"Talks big, why don’t you go?"

"Chicken."

"Chicken."

In fact, many people were self-aware, knowing it’s enough to come to the shop to see the cute maid girl every day. If one intends to date her, her mere aura keeps everyone at bay.

"Lately, don’t you feel that Uesugi and Hanami seem to have settled down quite a bit?" Towa Rina grabbed Todaka Keichiro, who was trying to make an escape.

"Senpai... please stop pulling me."

"Just a moment, I’m talking to you, don’t you feel Uesugi and Hanami haven’t been active lately?"

"Ah, seems like it. Maybe they’ve just been visiting the coffee shop less?"

Towa Rina: "But that doesn’t quite add up. Why do Hanami and Uesugi often take time off together?"

Todaka Keichiro: "You just stop overthinking things, Senpai. I’m going to tidy up the tables."

Towa Rina clenched her right fist into her left palm: "Could it be due to that movie, letting them know we know about their affair, so... they’re starting to avoid us! No action in the coffee shop, but actually spending time off together at couples’ hotels, the secretive bond between sister-in-law and brother-in-law—"

Towa Rina couldn’t manage to finish her last few words because Hanamaru Hanabi walked into the kitchen with a tray.

She looked normal, not seeming to have heard the two discussing. 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝚠𝚎𝚋𝗻𝗼𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝚘𝐦

Towa Rina continuously gave Todaka Keichiro signals.

Not knowing how long he hesitated, when Hanamaru Hanabi finished putting things away and was about to leave the kitchen, Todaka Keichiro called out to her:

"Um... Hanamaru..."

"Hmm?" Hanamaru Hanabi turned her head, her voice calm and cool, "What’s up."

"I... actually want to ask you a question."

"Go ahead." Hanamaru Hanabi crossed her arms, her violet eyes appearing dimmer than they did in the morning.

"You won’t get mad if I ask this question?" Todaka Keichiro felt his scalp tingling, especially since Towa Rina kept signaling him from behind Hanamaru Hanabi.

"That depends on the question. If it concerns privacy, it’s only right for a girl to get angry."

"Well..."

Todaka Keichiro felt even more afraid, his willingness to believe Hanamaru Hanabi and Hanamaru Hanami were twin sisters stemmed from their completely different vibes.

Hanamaru Hanabi was amiable, giving off a particularly gentle and approachable impression.

Hanamaru Hanami generally ignored strangers, only showing smiles and concern for Uesugi Sakura.

"If there’s nothing else, I’ll be heading out."

"Wait a bit!"

"Then let’s hear the question."

Todaka Keichiro felt the longer he delayed, the harder it would be to ask, so he decided to go for it: "Towa wants to know what kind of person Uesugi is to you, she’s conducting an evaluation survey!"

Even without exhaling, Todaka Keichiro instantly felt much more relieved.

"Evaluation survey?"

"Yes... it’s like evaluating friends, colleagues, etc., she needs it for her college research."

After saying this, Todaka Keichiro felt incredibly lucky to have found such an excuse.

Hanamaru Hanabi glanced back at a fleeing Towa Rina leaving the kitchen, then turned to ask him: "Why didn’t she ask me herself?"

"Senpai, she... haha, actually, she’s a bit afraid of you, Hanamaru."

"Afraid?"

"Well... well... that’s unnecessary, Hanamaru.," Todaka Keichiro tried to make his body language as relaxed as possible, "Actually, I also want to know what kind of person Uesugi is in your mind, since he was also my college classmate, haha, hahahaha..."

Black Hanabi had long understood their intentions.

Last time, taking her and Sakura-kun to see that infidelity-themed movie was due to this reason.

She understood.

However... letting them keep on misunderstanding was genuinely amusing, so she never exposed her true identity, always using her sister’s identity to work here.

"What kind of person, huh," Hanamaru Hanabi’s face seemed reminiscent, or possibly laughing, "My brother-in-law is handsome, he exercises every day, has great abs, I think it was just yesterday, my brother-in-law even took me to Shibuya’s couples—"

Hanamaru Hanabi suddenly appeared flustered and instantly covered her mouth.

"I-I’m sorry, I misspoke."

Though her expression was tense, internally, she was secretly amused, just wanting to see their reactions.

Unfinished... was couples’ hotel, right?

Oh no, totally messed it up.

Hanamaru Hanami actually has some inexplicable relationship with her brother-in-law, Uesugi Sakura... Todaka Keichiro’s worldview was completely shattered.