Laid-Back Life in Tokyo: I Really Didn't Want to Work Hard-Chapter 866 - 510: Striving to Get Closer to Hanabi (Part 2)

Chapter 866: Chapter 510: Striving to Get Closer to Hanabi (Part 2)

Hanamaru Hanabi:"Thank you, Sakisa-chan."

"No worries! I’m way more reliable than that Uesugi at your house!"

On the other side, Uesugi Sakura suddenly sneezed.

Did the expired cake upset his stomach, weakening his immunity and making him catch a cold?

It was around 9:30, and everyone in the dance studio was gradually heading home.

"See you tomorrow."

"See you tomorrow, Hanabi, Rie, and Rika."

"See you tomorrow."

A few minutes passed, and Kyujuu Rika and the others had also packed up their things and were ready to head home.

As they were about to leave together, they intentionally glanced at Uesugi Sakura, who was still practicing in front of the mirror.

"Still here, huh."

Kitagawa Sakisa leaned in and whispered: "Should we say something to him before we leave?"

Ayaka Rie:"I’d say no need now. Let Uesugi feel a bit lonely; he might realize Hanabi-chan’s kindness towards him."

Kitagawa Sakisa raised a hand: "I agree!"

"You two, don’t meddle too much in this. It’s better to see Hanabi-chan’s opinion on such matters," Kyujuu Rika looked at Hanamaru Hanabi, who was quietly standing still.

But Hanamaru Hanabi had already looked towards Uesugi Sakura’s back.

She paused her steps, grasped the handbag at the front of her skirt tightly with her small hands, and softly called out:

"Sakura-kun."

On the other side, upon hearing the familiar voice, Uesugi Sakura also stopped.

His shoulders slumped for a moment.

Then, he turned around, smiling at the girls on the other side of the dance studio:

"Are you going to leave?"

"Yeah..." Hanamaru Hanabi said softly, "Sakura-kun... you should head home early too; it’s not good to practice alone for too long."

The girl’s voice had been pressed flat enough, but Uesugi Sakura could still hear the concern in her gentle tone.

Yes, even if he saddened her, she was still paying attention to him.

A wife is indeed a wife.

Uesugi Sakura said to her across the distance: "You go ahead; I’ll practice a bit more and then head home. Murata gave me the keys, so I’ll lock up later."

Hanamaru Hanabi hesitated briefly: "Well... Hanabi will go first then..."

"Mm, go ahead." Uesugi Sakura said.

"Let’s go, let’s go."

"Homeward bound!"

Hanamaru Hanabi followed the group to the door and didn’t forget to bow her head to him to signify her departure.

As their footsteps faded completely in the corridor, Uesugi Sakura also stopped his already fatigued hands from dancing.

Actually... if Hanabi and the others had left the dance studio without saying a word, Uesugi Sakura wouldn’t have said anything.

Although he really wanted Hanabi to accompany him home, he understood that now was not the time.

Uesugi Sakura glanced at the pair of Mizutama in his hand, dampened with sweat.

At this moment, he seemed to understand a feeling called pursuit.

Through sweat and a weary body, he could feel his own efforts.

Being treated indifferently, he could sense his shortcomings.

Perhaps the loneliness of being ignored is what it feels like to be rejected by a girl.

But there’s one difference, and that is he still has hope.

Hanabi promised him that with effort, he could have a birthday party that wasn’t held.

Uesugi Sakura looked at his hands as if envisioning the end of the year when Hanabi smilingly holds a cake in her hands, weakly congratulating him with a "Happy Birthday".

Since he made a mistake, he should go to great lengths to make it up...

Not just for his peace of mind, he wants her to feel his intentions.

Uesugi Sakura looked at himself in the mirror, and grasped the Mizutama again, raising his arms.

....

Two days later, December 5th.

That’s the date Uesugi Sakura saw on his phone.

Compared to a few days ago, the dance department’s vice president Murata remarked: there’s been significant improvement.

Uesugi Sakura woke up early today, folded the blanket on the sofa, hung the clothes from last night on the balcony, and began preparing breakfast.

Started the stove, poured oil, lit the fire, cracked eggs, then poured the mixed eggs into the pan.

Soon, he made a serving of slightly burnt and hard egg fried rice with a bit too much salt.

"Failed again."

He sat at the table, pondering for a moment.

He felt he might never improve his culinary skills in this lifetime.

Uesugi Sakura got up, fetched a glass of water, and placed it by his side.

Seeing the empty seat across, an indescribable feeling arose in his heart.

He went over, pulled out the chair opposite, and placed a life-sized plush shark there.

Then he set down a plate, bowl, chopsticks, and cup...

After doing these things, having someone opposite him made him feel a bit more at ease.

Uesugi Sakura sat back in his chair, hands placed flat on the table, staring at the smiling shark opposite, then lowered his head, closed his eyes, and folded his hands:

"Let’s eat."

He paused for a second, as if waiting for the shark’s silent response.

Then, he picked up his bowl and chopsticks and started eating his overly salty fried rice.

After finishing, he said quietly: "Thanks for the meal."

He took the bowl, went to the kitchen to wash the dishes; as cold water brushed over his skin, he realized sometimes he’s the one worst at enduring loneliness.

It’s not entirely true; he lived alone for over a decade without any unease.

But why is it that now... he feels this way?

With this question lingering, Uesugi Sakura finished tidying up, grabbed his computer, and left his room.

He took the train to Tokyo Art University, swaying and wobbling, and started studying again today.

All the while, he pondered why he had become so intolerant of loneliness.

But it wasn’t until Hanamaru Hanabi arrived at school, sat down at her drawing board, and nodded at Uesugi Sakura like a greeting, that he understood.

It’s a simple question...

All the reluctance stems from her.

That afternoon, Uesugi Sakura arrived at the dance studio as usual, where Murata was the only one present.

"Oh, Uesugi, you’re here, good afternoon."

"Good afternoon."

Uesugi Sakura noticed he was wearing somewhat thick clothes.

Beneath the yukata of the Night Dance, he even wore an extra warm vest.

"This," Murata explained while tying his yukata sash, "it’s cold outside, and we’ll be rehearsing outside with the girls today. Since it’s a group dance, practicing alone is definitely not possible."

"With whom?"

"With many people. For this year-end event, at least one hundred and fifty people will be participating, half from Waseda, half from us. Can you grasp the difficulty of rehearsing together?"

Murata walked over to him, smiling and nudged him with an elbow.

"I heard that the girls want your wife to represent our school as the lead dancer; I’d say it’s totally appropriate. Since she came, I’ve never seen anyone as serious and so beautiful in outside clubs."

Uesugi Sakura just gave him a mild glance:

"Anyway, you’re definitely wearing female attire for this event."

"That’s not certain at all!"

"In any case, you’re sure to lose this bet."

Uesugi Sakura knew well what Murata was thinking, but well... it makes sense; it would be odd if Hanabi wasn’t liked.

A beautiful appearance always takes someone’s first impression.

A girl like Hanabi, it’s impossible for men not to have favorable feelings towards her, right?

But that’s precisely why Uesugi Sakura needs to seize every opportunity where being earnest means he definitely won’t lose.

The novel will officially be released in a few days; he hopes that little Hanabi catches the sincerity within it...