Laid-Back Life in Tokyo: I Really Didn't Want to Work Hard-Chapter 839 - 496: Private Travel Diary (Part 2)

Moreover, he really wants to see what Hanamaru Hanabi usually records on her phone.

Finding the "memorandum" icon, Uesugi Sakura tapped it open, scrolling through the screen, his eyes reflecting many notes and words.

Most are some painting techniques, and Uesugi Sakura scanned them briefly, seeming like things Hanamaru Hanabi had told him.

The memorandum doesn’t contain anything important.

Uesugi Sakura then opened her Twitter, which had her private diaries not shared with the public, not even with Uesugi Sakura.

They could be some moods recorded daily.

He soon flipped to the most recent entries.

[Location: Tokyo Haneda Airport, November 23, 6:30 AM, Weather: Clear]

The accompanying photo is an aerial view of Tokyo taken from the plane; the city in the night, with lights illuminating more dazzlingly than in the day.

Above the picture is a piece of mood text in a diary-like style:

[Heading out; the destination is Hakodate in Hokkaido. They say the night view of Hakodate Mountain is one of the world’s three most beautiful night views. You can see the lights shining brightly like stars at the foot of the mountain, and Lake Toya reflecting the city’s curves... I hope this journey goes smoothly and happily.]

Very normal.

Uesugi Sakura thought as he saw the night view picture on the phone.

However, reading Hanamaru Hanabi’s recorded words adds a unique flavor.

[November 23, 8:00 AM, Weather: Overcast]

No photos, just one line of text.

[From the moment I got off the plane, the air started to feel colder, but that’s expected, right? This is Hokkaido. I’ve boarded the express train; soon, I should be able to see the snow country, which must be beautiful with everything covered in pristine snow... However, snowy days always remind Hanabi of childhood snowy days. Without Sakura accompanying... Hanabi actually doesn’t know if I can still see such beautiful snowy days now...]

Uesugi Sakura, reading this, already recalled the little girl who used to lean against the window looking at the snow.

Her image always leaves a deep impression.

[November 23, 10:00 AM, Weather: Clear Snow]

[As the train advances, snowy and sunny days begin to appear alternately. The white snowflakes outside the window also melt and refreeze with the occasional peeping of the sun... It’s a truly magical phenomenon... Right now, Sakura is asleep on Hanabi’s lap. He looks like a child; Hanabi never imagined Sakura would display such an appearance before...

[However, should this be a sign of boys "liking"? After marriage, Hanabi truly felt happy every day, and I wish such days could continue forever. Just... he always acts mischievously! Hanabi isn’t sure whether to describe the feeling with "dislike," in my heart there’s resistance, but simultaneously extreme joy...]

[Dislike Sakura! (Large red letters)]

[Hmph, anyway, Sakura can’t see this diary, so I’ll talk about him this way!]

Below is a picture of Uesugi Sakura lying on the girl’s lap, sleeping soundly while hugging a thigh.

This text was recorded while asleep, wasn’t it?

Uesugi Sakura looked out the window, trying to imagine Hanamaru Hanabi staring angrily at him sleeping.

Perhaps she even pinched my face a bit?

[November 23, 10:30 AM, Weather: Clear Snow]

[Sakura is still sleeping on Hanabi’s lap, not sure why I want to write so much today... Perhaps it’s the reluctance to leave this world... Though not completely leaving, just returning to my true self, sinking into a state of slumber... When I realize I’m about to disappear, even the snowflakes outside the window can be quietly gazed at for a long time...

[In addition, Hanabi really likes the way Sakura relies on me when sleeping, wishing to see him more often in these few days...]

Uesugi Sakura found it somewhat unbearable to continue reading at this point.

Since Black Hanabi is Hanabi herself, naturally what she reveals upon disappearing is Hanabi’s reluctance to leave this world.

Knowing you’re still present, yet not completely present.

This kind of feeling... is hard to understand, yet seems entirely recognizable...

Click, the hotel’s door opened.

Uesugi Sakura looked up and found Hanamaru Hanabi, dressed in a knitted sweater and scarf, carrying a small plastic bag, walking in from outside.

He quickly hid Hanabi’s phone behind him.

"Sakura, you’re awake already. Hanabi brought you breakfast. Later at 10 o’clock, we’re meeting mom to climb Hakodate Mountain covered in snow."

Hanamaru Hanabi spoke, changed into slippers, walked in, and sat on the sofa beside the coffee table, taking breakfast items one by one out of the plastic bag:

"Milk, sandwich, egg, knowing Sakura likes steak and fruit salad, Hanabi specially got a portion too. Breakfast shouldn’t be too much, so I only took one."

Watching her busily and thoughtfully preparing breakfast for him, then recalling how she wrote in her diary wanting to take more looks at him, Uesugi Sakura couldn’t help but lean closer to her.

"Alright, Sakura, hurry and eat."

Hanamaru Hanabi just finished speaking, noticing his gaze was somewhat unusual, "What’s wrong?"

"Nothing, just at night something seemed to burrow into my arms."

"That must be Sakura’s imagination! Hurry up and eat!"

Despite the commanding tone, Uesugi Sakura only read "cute" in her slightly flushed face.

Just by watching her hair tips and eyes, he could understand her concern for himself.

"As long as affection reaches 50 points, Hanabi won’t disappear, right?"

"Of course!" Hanamaru Hanabi nodded as a matter-of-factly.

"Is it that only by giving you the belief support, you won’t disappear?"

"Yes," she nodded, then showed a somewhat angry expression, "Sakura only realized now? Time’s already halfway gone!"

Uesugi Sakura started to eat the breakfast she brought, though she spoke with certainty, but he still had a lingering unease slowly wandering in his heart.

What exactly is it?

...

The sky is an endless azure, watching it for a while often makes people think of the equally vast sea.

Today is sunny, the sky isn’t snowing.

However, because of last night’s wind and snow, the ground is already piled with thick layers of snowflakes.

Snowplows working by the roadside, at the ramen shop we went to yesterday, the old lady’s grandson is sweeping snow at the entrance.

The poles’ wires, electronic boxes, sidewalk trees, shop signs, house roofs, all are pristine white and refreshing.

Aei wanted to build snowmen early on, yesterday afternoon she hadn’t played enough with her sister, but since they had to rush to the mountain, Hanamaru persuaded her to have fun on the mountain.

Aei particularly obedient, unlike ordinary children who would clamor for the things they want.

This is one of their differences from typical children.

Having lived without adults, they understood some things aren’t attainable just by desiring them.

As children, they only need to be obedient.

In other words, it’s to the extent of being sensible that evokes sympathy.

Walking along the street, Uesugi Sakura holding Aei’s hand, waiting for the two mothers and Hanamaru Hanabi to buy things needed on the way.

This road was called Hachiman Zaka, a long slope extending from the hill to the seaside, with lush woods atop the hill, and a serene blue Lake Toya below, cars and leafless sidewalk trees scattered along both sides, covered in snowflakes, shimmering bright and fresh in the sunlight.

"nini~"

"What?" Uesugi Sakura bent down to look at little Aei, speaking as warm breath mingled with the wind.

"nini feels, after marriage, has become happier?"

"That’s for sure," Uesugi Sakura gazed downhill, his sight following the road’s end, stretching to the bright blue coast, he laughed, "Moreover... marriage is also a challenge, it’s a commitment to uphold love’s agreement. If possible, I hope the days remain happy forever.

"Although little Aei might not understand now, some things are embedded in the heart."