Laid-Back Life in Tokyo: I Really Didn't Want to Work Hard-Chapter 827 - 490: Departure, Heading to Hokkaido (2)

Chapter 827: Chapter 490: Departure, Heading to Hokkaido (2)

"So it’s not raising affection points, huh? Okay, I got it."

Uesugi Sakura smiled and walked towards the display window.

He ordered a corn syrup Frankfurt sausage hot dog for Hanabi and paid for Aei and Chiaei, the two little girls. After waiting for about five minutes, he got Hanabi’s hot dog.

"Hey~ Please take care, dear customers." The store employee smiled and waved at the two cute little girls.

"Aei, wait, don’t eat it yet."

"Oh, right!" Little Aei looked up and laughed, saying to Uesugi Sakura, "Thank you, nini~"

Chiaei also said sweetly from behind, holding her hot dog: "Thank you, big brother."

"No problem."

Uesugi Sakura really liked them; polite, cute, and considerate.

Apart from Aei being a bit mischievous sometimes, isn’t this the perfect template for a younger sister?

"Here, the corn syrup hot dog you ordered."

Hanamaru Hanabi’s small hand reached out from her coat sleeves and took the hot dog he handed over.

She looked at him, a bit puzzled: "Sakura, aren’t you eating?"

"I’m not hungry."

"But you only had a little bread this morning; I don’t care, you must be hungry." Saying that, Hanamaru Hanabi placed the warm hot dog back in his hand, then went to order another one for herself at the shop.

"A corn syrup Frankfurt sausage hot dog."

Uesugi Sakura stood there, looking at the hot dog in his hand, and then at her back by the display window.

He couldn’t help but feel a bit self-mocking.

Clearly, he wanted to show concern for her, but instead, she ended up worrying about him...

However, precisely because of this, it’s yet another piece of evidence showing that fundamentally, the two Hanabis are no different.

...

Boarding began, and to prevent the two little girls from running around, Uesugi Sakura held Chiaei’s hand, leading her into the cabin.

Before entering the plane, they walked across the boarding bridge. Perhaps feeling the sensation for the first time, Chiaei was quite sensitive to the sounds her steps made. Her eyes peered through the glass wall of the boarding bridge, looking at the distant Tokyo City, filled with the light of innocence.

Over there, lights spread across the sky, unevenly displaying their individual splendor along a black line.

They boarded the cabin, found their seats, and at 6 o’clock, the plane was about to take off.

Soon, the aircraft started taxiing into the take-off lane.

During this time, within the cabin, the sense of the airplane turning direction was noticeably felt.

Outside the square window, the sun was slowly rising, the horizon brightening, and distant sparse clouds were adorned with the colors of the dawn red.

Hanamaru Hanabi sat at the outer spot, her purple eyes gazing towards the far-off skyline.

"Sakura, if Hanabi truly disappeared, would you feel a sense of loss in your heart?"

"If I said I wouldn’t feel it, would you believe me?" Seeing her small hand resting on her skirt, Uesugi Sakura instinctively wanted to hold that dainty little hand, but remembering their affection level was zero, he gave up on the thought.

Hanamaru Hanabi didn’t respond, and because Uesugi Sakura couldn’t see her expression, he couldn’t sense what was going through her mind.

The engines started operating, the captain pulled the throttle, the co-pilot reported conditions, and the plane slowly lifted off during its run.

Outside, the rising sun became even brighter.

"Sakura, this scene is... familiar to Hanabi."

"Hmm? When?"

"It feels like... that time in England, Hanabi was also sitting at a seat by the window, looking outside at the sun growing larger as the plane ascended. Although she was looking at the sun, Hanabi was thinking she wouldn’t see Sakura again."

Silent for quite a while.

"Actually... at the airport, you hoped I’d stop you, right?" Uesugi Sakura asked the question.

"Yes, Hanabi always hoped Sakura could understand what’s in Hanabi’s heart, just like the dream of drawing. Because of Sakura’s encouragement, the little girl fell in love with drawing, and thanks to Sakura’s kindness, she persisted. Although she loves drawing and hopes her skills can improve further, what she truly wants is for Sakura to be by her side."

Hanamaru Hanabi’s gaze remained fixed outside the window, never turning back.

As the cabin lights dimmed, the distant dawn became the only source of light within the cabin.

Her side profile was illuminated by this red light, her hair shimmering beautifully.

For what she said, Uesugi Sakura found himself at a loss for words.

At that time, he was wrong, thinking that Hanabi couldn’t give up her dreams because of him, so he sent her to England.

But actually... her true dream was just to stay by his side, always has been.

He could no longer imagine the kind of emotions Hanabi had when she boarded that plane back then.

Uesugi Sakura only remembered that thin, frail figure pulling a suitcase disappearing at the boarding bridge, never looking so fragile before.

If you don’t lose something, you’ll never realize how precious the current beauty is.

Uesugi Sakura reached out his hand and held Hanamaru Hanabi’s small hand.

Hanamaru Hanabi turned her profile back to him, looking at him.

"Hanabi... is it only at this moment that you feel at ease?"

"Sakura-kun, do you know?"

"I know, I know." Uesugi Sakura tightened his grip on her hand, her petite form, like a dandelion in spring, could easily be blown away by the wind if not careful.

Hanamaru Hanabi saw his expression and didn’t mind about the fact they’d shaken hands with a favorability rate of zero, she smiled at him:

"Before disappearing, if I can feel this warmth in Sakura-kun’s hand, Hanabi... will have no regrets."

"Don’t say those things," Uesugi Sakura smiled at her, "no matter what kind of Hanabi, she’s still Hanabi, none of them should disappear, I won’t let her disappear, and once the favorability reaches 50 points, wouldn’t you have a reason to stay? I will try my best, just to let you feel warmth."

Hearing his words, Hanamaru Hanabi was first stunned, then gradually, a smile blossomed on her adorable face:

"Hanabi is also willing to believe in him."

"Alright, let’s take a nap on the plane, you stayed up late at night, keep up your energy, so you can have more fun."

"Mm..."

The plane stopped its turbulence, beginning a smooth flight.

Uesugi Sakura closed his eyes, leaning back in his seat, still holding the petite hand of the girl beside him.

"Sakura-kun."

"What’s up?"

"Those words just now, favorability +10."

Uesugi Sakura smiled: "So, we’ve just set off and already reached 20% of the goal?"

"That’s right."

"Then, to reach fifty favorability, it shouldn’t take too long, right?"

"Yes."

Uesugi Sakura instantly felt a wave of relaxation, "When we reach Hokkaido, where do you want to go?"

"Sakura-kun, let’s decide when we get there."

"Alright, let’s decide then, but for now, let’s sleep."

After saying this, they still hadn’t let go of each other’s hands.

...

After about five minutes, when Uesugi Sakura was completely asleep, Hanamaru Hanabi opened her eyes. She turned her head, her amethyst eyes reflecting his figure, the light in her eyes revealing an expression of reluctance.

————————

In November, Hokkaido had already entered winter, and the temperature dropped below 5 degrees, accompanied by a heavy snow of goose feathers.

From Tokyo Haneda to Sapporo New Chitose for a transfer, and then taking the snow country train from Sapporo to Hakodate, to and fro, from gathering at 5 o’clock to setting off, it was almost 11 now.

The sun hung low on the horizon.

The train passed through a narrow tunnel, greeting them was a snow country, a vast expanse of white under clear skies.

While different from "Snow Country" at night, the scene in front of them was similar, as if being immersed in it.

Uesugi Sakura sat inside the train, listening to the sound of the track, and gazing out the window, the small white snowflakes endlessly drifted from the colorless and transparent sky, swirling and dancing amidst the bright beams of light breaking through the clouds, beauty beyond words.

"I never thought that a rare snow would fall on Hakodate City so early this year."

Speaking of snowy days, Uesugi Sakura always remembered that snowy day when he met Hanabi-chan.

The moving company’s vehicle drove past, on the opposite street, a frail little girl timidly clung to her mom’s clothing, hiding behind her mom.

She stood under the swirling snow, so fragile then, so endearing.