Laid-Back Life in Tokyo: I Really Didn't Want to Work Hard-Chapter 831 - 492: Snowy Day in Hakodate (Part 2)

Her steps were very natural, almost making people forget the so-called sense of distance.

The long-haired woman seemed to like Chiaei a lot, and at Chiaei’s request, she took Hanamaru’s phone and, as they stood in front of the tram, helped capture the first family photo of the six of them on this journey.

"Done."

"Thank you, big sister."

"It’s just a small favor." The long-haired woman looked at Chiaei, crouched down, ruffled her little head, and gave her a smile as warm as melting snow.

Probably due to her unique temperament, Uesugi Sakura observed her a bit more.

"Sakura~~"

By chance, those couple of glances were caught by Hanamaru Hanabi.

Uesugi Sakura turned around and looked at the girl’s face, which was just as, if not more, exquisite compared to that of the long-haired woman.

She was smiling very cutely.

"I was just observing a bit more."

"Even observing isn’t allowed; men are the most forgetful creatures." Hanamaru Hanabi said.

Uesugi Sakura seemed to understand, "Hanabi, are you feeling jealous because of this?"

"I am jealous." Hanamaru Hanabi’s violet eyes sparkled as she looked at him, "Although marriage is blissful, it can also be the most insecure time."

"Why do you think so?" Uesugi Sakura asked.

"Because marriage means a girl has given everything to that man. She’s like a worn toy from a shop window. I believe no one thinks a new toy isn’t better than an old one, right?"

This remark made Uesugi Sakura recall Hanabi’s dream.

In that dream, Uesugi was much like Hanamaru Hanabi’s current description.

Abandoned because she became boring.

Though only a dream, it was also Hanabi-chan’s deep-seated fear.

Uesugi Sakura knew that sometimes Hanabi portrayed a strong demeanor because she lacked security. Without security, she would take the initiative to fight for it.

"Does Hanabi-chan need me to prove something?" 𝘧𝓇ℯ𝑒𝓌𝑒𝑏𝓃𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘭.𝒸ℴ𝓂

"Yes."

"Alright."

Uesugi Sakura took off his backpack, squatted down, wrapped one arm around her upper body, and placed the other arm under her legs, lifting her whole body up.

"Princess carry?"

"Yes."

Hanamaru Hanabi lay in his embrace, blinking at him above.

Not far away, Hanamaru and Uesugi’s mothers noticed the commotion between them and saw Uesugi Sakura carrying Hanamaru Hanabi in the princess carry style.

"Where is the hotel we’re staying at?" Uesugi Sakura asked.

"Get out of the station first." Hanamaru Hanabi stared into his eyes, speaking without looking away.

"Should I carry you while running or walk slowly while holding you?"

Hanamaru Hanabi’s clear eyes reflected his face, and the girl reached out her two small hands tucked under the coat, wrapping them around his neck.

"Sakura... what do you think?"

No more words were needed, and Uesugi Sakura started to run.

Holding her in his arms and supporting her petite shoulders, he moved with determination toward the station’s exit.

His body gradually adapted as the speed slowly increased.

Step by step, with every run, the vibrations transmitted through Uesugi Sakura’s legs to both of them, as he ran under their mothers’ calls, into the hallway, down the stairs, across the street, out of the station.

The sky was still snowy, and the cold wind blew against his face, Uesugi Sakura smiling, breathing out large puffs of warm air, feeling the weight of the two pressing down, crunching the thick white snow beneath.

The faster he ran, the tighter the girl in his arms clung to him.

Though somewhat strenuous, Uesugi Sakura felt an intense warmth in his heart, a feeling of running straightforwardly with determination while holding a precious treasure, sensing the snowflakes melting coldly on his face, experiencing the cold wind’s howl past his ears.

Snowflakes were filling the sky, the cold wind rushing beside him freely, yet there wasn’t a trace of coldness felt.

"Huff~ huff~~"

"Sakura... put Hanabi down."

"Why... what’s wrong?" Uesugi Sakura replied, exhaling hot air as he looked across the snow-covered street, noticing the wide road extending far, with passersby wrapped in coats moving like shallow shadows.

"I’m afraid you’ll get hurt." Despite the subtle words the girl seemed to convey a lot of indescribable tenderness and care.

"Really, need to stop...?"

"Stop." Hanamaru Hanabi said to him in a melodious tone, but her hands tightened around his neck even more.

When Uesugi Sakura finally put down the girl in his arms, he noticed that both of them were covered with large patches of white snowflakes.

Hanamaru Hanabi stood in the snow, wearing a blue scarf and a not-so-warm winter outfit. Even though there wasn’t much light from street lamps nearby, her eyes still shone brightly like flickering lights.

"Doesn’t this seem a bit silly?" Uesugi Sakura asked the cute-faced girl in front of him with a smile, noticing the tips of her hair had quietly been dusted with some white snowflakes.

"It is a bit silly." The girl smiled.

"But it surprisingly puts you in a good mood, doesn’t it?" Uesugi Sakura spoke, exhaling a burst of rising white mist as he talked.

"It does make me feel much better. But you have to promise me, Sakura-kun, not to look at other women." Hanabi said.

"Huh? Then how come it was fine when I looked at Towa and the others earlier? Is it because that woman just now was kind of pretty, and you felt threatened, Hanabi?"

Hanamaru Hanabi pouted and stomped on his shoe.

"Hiss~" Uesugi Sakura’s chin raised, closing one eye, showing a pained expression.

"Sakura-kun, quickly promise! You must promise!"

"I can promise... but..." Uesugi Sakura sneakily glanced at the slightly angry Hanamaru Hanabi.

"But what? No buts!" Hanamaru Hanabi’s black silk-clad leg applied some more pressure.

"Hiss~ I can promise, but... could you stomp on me a little longer?"

Hanamaru Hanabi was visibly stunned. Just when Uesugi Sakura thought she’d scold him for being a pervert in a cute voice, she instead gave a playful smile and said in an even cuter voice, "Sure."

Then, she naturally increased the force on his shoe.

Uesugi Sakura took a sharp breath of cold air, realizing then that dealing with little Hanabi’s antics was useless against the black Hanabi.

"Sakura-kun, do you want to hear Hanabi say something else?"

"No, nothing else."

"Then quickly promise."

"Alright... alright, I, Uesugi Sakura, promise not to look at other women in front of Hanabi-chan."

"And in private too!"

"And in private too!" Feeling the increased weight on his foot, Uesugi Sakura’s body instinctively responded.

Hanamaru Hanabi withdrew her foot, and after exchanging glances for a while, the two started walking back.

"Sakura-kun is indeed a pervert."

"That’s a normal thought. I’d be happy for a cute beauty to stomp on me. Some people might even feel extremely honored."

Hanamaru Hanabi stopped, turned her head to look at him, and said, "Well then, Sakura-kun, would you like to be stomped on again?"

"It would be an honor."

Their eyes met.

But in the end, Hanamaru Hanabi gave up on stomping him.

"Are you feeling sorry for me?"

"I wouldn’t feel sorry for a perverted Sakura-kun."

"Little Hanabi is just being tsundere."

Hanamaru Hanabi decisively turned her head away, ignoring him further.

Returning not far, at the station’s exit, they met two madams and two little girls.

"Little Sakura, where did you go off to?" asked Hanamaru Madam.

"Oh, Hanabi-chan suddenly said she wanted to play the princess carry game, so I..." Uesugi Sakura explained earnestly, secretly checking Hanamaru Hanabi’s expression as he spoke.

As for Hanamaru Hanabi, in front of the two mothers, she acted like she wanted to speak but couldn’t, as if something was holding her back.

She looked so aggrieved, so pitiful.

Uesugi Madam felt Hanamaru Hanabi was quite upset and looked at her son, "Sakura, sometimes, don’t push the responsibility onto the girl. Little Hanabi isn’t really outspoken. You’re bullying her, and she’s still defending you. How could she possibly speak up?"

"Huh?"

"Didn’t you understand? It means you shouldn’t push the responsibility onto Hanabi-chan and own up to it yourself."

"That’s right." Hanamaru Madam also didn’t notice anything off about Hanamaru Hanabi’s expression, just thought Uesugi Sakura was deliberately bullying her.

"I..."

Uesugi Sakura’s words stuck in his throat.

"Alright, let’s get going. Hanabi’s suitcase will be handled by you, Sakura, as compensation. You can pull two on your own, right?"

"No problem..."

Walking behind his mother and pulling two suitcases, Uesugi Sakura caught a glimpse of Hanamaru Hanabi’s face, looking incredibly pleased and adorably happy.