Laid-Back Life in Tokyo: I Really Didn't Want to Work Hard-Chapter 858 - 506: Uesugi Makes Another Mistake

Got it.

Uesugi Sakura finally understood what it meant to get something for nothing.

It turns out she first dragged me over, and then used the excuse that I would come anyway to try to get Hanabi here as well.

Uesugi Sakura held her forehead: "So, is this dance of yours really that important?"

"Super important, okay? This is about the reputation of our school, and since you’re now part of Tokyo Art University, you also have an obligation to help us out!"

"If that’s the case, why didn’t you just tell me directly?"

"No way, how would I know if someone as lazy as you would come participate?" Kitagawa Sakisa looked him up and down, "For you, socializing is probably the most annoying thing, right?"

He couldn’t deny it; just as she said, Uesugi Sakura had that kind of personality.

"So, I just had to use Hanabi’s name to get you here first and see, and if you stay, Hanabi is bound to agree."

"Uh huh."

Uesugi Sakura kept nodding, indicating he was indeed listening.

"So, where’s Hanabi?"

"Will you agree?" Kitagawa Sakisa still wasn’t willing to give up.

"Tell me where she is first; I haven’t seen her for a couple days now."

"Huh? You haven’t seen her either?"

"What do you mean? You haven’t seen her either?" Uesugi Sakura frowned, "I thought she was with you guys every day."

"I don’t know, Hanabi has been mysterious these days. Occasionally when I see her, she doesn’t answer when I ask questions."

"..."

"..."

The two exchanged information, feeling the situation becoming more and more mysterious.

"Should we go look for Hanabi?" Kitagawa Sakisa suggested.

"Isn’t the dance really important?"

"Nothing’s more important than Hanabi, at least for the year-end event, it can’t go without her..."

"Let me call her first."

Uesugi Sakura took out his phone, dialed his wife’s number, and after waiting for half a minute, he put the phone back in his pocket, saying: "No good, can’t get through."

"You can’t get through either..."

"Where did you last see her?" Uesugi Sakura asked.

"Yesterday, by the pond in our school’s back garden, I saw her sketching watercolors there, looking a bit gloomy. I went to talk to her, and she just agreed with me. She seemed really reluctant, so I didn’t bother her further."

"Then let’s go, to the back garden."

Tokyo Art University’s back garden, several white swans swim across the pond, willow trees grow on both sides, green leaves fluttering in the breeze.

The scenery here is nice, though not many students are around.

The main reason is that it’s too cold, December in Tokyo, the temperature is below ten degrees.

Even Uesugi Sakura, who usually tolerates cold well, couldn’t help but put on a coat and scarf.

"She’s not here." Kitagawa Sakisa stood on tiptoe and looked around, "She isn’t here."

Uesugi Sakura gazed at the pond area with only a few people, falling into contemplation.

With Hanabi’s personality, it’s impossible for her to disappear without contacting him.

He saw many missed calls this morning and returned them.

But no one answered.

Even if she’s avoiding him, she wouldn’t drag Kitagawa Sakisa and the others into her plans.

Then, aside from being kidnapped, there’s only one possibility.

She’s secretly doing something, keeping it from everyone.

Uesugi Sakura roughly understood the situation, but he didn’t have a clue as to what Hanamaru Hanabi was actually doing.

"What are Kyujuu Rika and the others up to?"

Kitagawa Sakisa replied: "They’re preparing for the year-end celebration with Waseda University."

"Is it that Night Dance?"

"That’s right."

Uesugi Sakura: "Did you ask them where Hanabi is?"

"Of course I asked! I’m not dumb!!"

"If that’s the case, let’s go then."

"Where to?"

"To Waseda, staying here won’t give us any information."

...

Waseda University, its landmark building is a lecture hall located on the Nishiwaseda campus, serving as a symbolic structure of Waseda University alongside the statue of Okuma Shigenobu.

Uesugi Sakura led Kitagawa Sakisa through the campus, asking for directions from passing students, until they reached Waseda’s club building.

Kitagawa Sakisa glanced up: "Rika’s here, that’s correct, but Hanabi too? Didn’t she say Hanabi wasn’t with her?"

"Just go in."

On the fourth floor, second classroom right turn, Uesugi Sakura knocked on the door.

"Who are you?" The one who opened the door was a bespectacled girl he didn’t know.

"We’re here to find someone."

Out of courtesy, Uesugi Sakura didn’t look directly into the room.

Meanwhile, Kitagawa Sakisa was already peeking in, standing on tiptoe.

She shouted, seeming to spot their target:

"Hanabi!"

Uesugi Sakura followed her gaze, seeing Hanamaru Hanabi dressed in a colorful traditional outfit, holding a mizutama clapper, practicing dance moves under the watchful eyes of Kyujuu Rika and Waseda students.

"Ah! You lied to me!"

Kitagawa Sakisa was very upset, she walked in quickly.

She went straight to Kyujuu Rika and Hanamaru Hanabi, crossing her arms.

"Explain yourself!"

Kyujuu Rika glanced back, asking her: "Why did you bring Uesugi along?"

"Is that the point? The point is you kept it from me, practiced dance secretly! And even came to Waseda! Is that necessary?!"

"Coming to Waseda wasn’t to avoid you, it was to learn night dance from the students here; they’re much more experienced than us. They perform at the annual Magnolia Festival," Kyujuu Rika covered her head, "don’t forget, at our school, I’m the Dance Club president, I have to take responsibility for this."