Laid-Back Life in Tokyo: I Really Didn't Want to Work Hard-Chapter 872 - 514: Night Wind by the Street

The vehicles moved through the narrow street beside them, bringing faint sounds and the cold evening breeze.

Uesugi Sakura gazed at the girl’s silhouette at the end of the street and slowly walked toward her.

Just as Hanamaru Hanabi saw the little green man on the other side of the crosswalk light up again, Uesugi Sakura called out to her:

"Hanabi..."

The girl’s step, just about to be taken, halted noticeably; she withdrew her foot, her back facing him.

The short hair falling on her shoulders glistened softly under the lights.

"...I know... Hanabi, you saw the photo I posted and were willing to take a half-hour ride from Shinjuku to find me... Actually, you weren’t angry... You just feel I should take myself more seriously."

After listening to his words, Hanamaru Hanabi slowly turned her head; her violet eyes appeared mysterious and beautiful under the night lights.

"Sakura-kun... should realize that you’re married to Hanabi now."

Uesugi Sakura smiled at her:

"I’m used to living alone, feeling that how I live doesn’t matter."

Hanamaru Hanabi turned around to face him: "Then, Sakura-kun, how have you been with living alone these past few days?"

"Totally not used to it. Without you beside me, without that girl who sleeps in every day... without the person who sits at the dining table with me every day... I always feel an emptiness inside."

Uesugi Sakura smiled at her again.

"When I go to the bedroom to change clothes and see the neatly arranged shirts, jackets, and clothes you organized for me, I can picture you busy with housework at home, and then I think... without Hanabi, my wardrobe must be a mess."

"But what you’re saying, Sakura-kun, is contradictory."

"It’s not contradictory... I just haven’t fully transitioned from living alone... After all, it’s been less than two months since we got married and began living together in the true sense..."

Hanamaru Hanabi was silent for a moment: "Hanabi still won’t forgive Sakura-kun now... Sakura-kun should go back home and sleep first..."

"Then at least let me walk you home... It’s not safe for you to go home alone at night."

"No need..."

"Hanabi..." Uesugi Sakura took a step forward, softening his voice, "Like you told me, Hanabi, you also need to take yourself seriously... Let me accompany you home..."

Hanamaru Hanabi’s eyes flickered, seemingly moved by his words; she looked up to meet his gaze.

Uesugi Sakura quickly continued to ask, "Let me walk you home, alright?"

...

...

Hanamaru Hanabi remained silent, only nodding lightly after a long silence, as if agreeing to his request.

Watching her hair blown gently by the wind, Uesugi Sakura smiled and walked over:

"Then let’s go, I’ll walk you home."

However, Hanamaru Hanabi stood still, showing no intention of leaving.

"What’s wrong?" Uesugi Sakura turned back to look at her.

"Sakura-kun must have been anxious when coming to find Hanabi, did you pay the money?"

Only then did Uesugi Sakura recall the oden vendor from earlier.

"Seems like I almost forgot, haha."

...

"Young man, you got your girlfriend back, huh?" The oden vendor saw the girl standing behind him and gave him a thumbs up.

"Not completely yet." Uesugi Sakura smiled as he paid.

"Had a fight?" The oden vendor handed him some bills mixed with a few coins.

"Kind of." Uesugi Sakura pocketed the change, feeling genuinely happy that his relationship with Hanamaru Hanabi had slightly improved. "Due to my past..."

"It’s normal for young couples to quarrel; just coax her a bit more and buy her small gifts. That’s how I’ve managed, haha! Your little girlfriend is really pretty; I’ve been in Tokyo for many years and this is the first time I’ve seen someone like her."

The oden vendor spoke with a heavy Osaka accent, his voice robust. "I’ll spare you the ’cherish what you have’ talk which you’re probably tired of hearing, haha. I wish you both good luck."

"Thanks." Uesugi Sakura said to the vendor, smiling.

"No problem at all!" The vendor waved his hand nonchalantly.

As they left, Hanamaru Hanabi and Uesugi Sakura both thanked the vendor from the little window, and then walked back down the path they came from, waving goodbye.

Throughout the way, Hanamaru Hanabi walked quietly by his side, the hem of her skirt swaying gently.

Uesugi Sakura glanced at her hands clasped in front of her and felt a familiar urge to hold them.

But since they hadn’t officially reconciled, he had to suppress this feeling in his heart. 𝙛𝒓𝒆𝙚𝒘𝒆𝓫𝙣𝓸𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝒄𝒐𝓶

Is this the kind of experience you get from liking someone—this longing and desire held within?

Uesugi Sakura could almost comprehend how Hanabi used to feel about him.

Truly liking someone... yet fearing loss, concealing emotions silently within...

...

In the deep night, the first trains had long since stopped running.

The two of them hailed a taxi by the roadside and sat together in the backseat.

The night breeze swept through the slight gaps in the car windows from the street. Uesugi Sakura kept gazing at her profile, watching as the neon lights, like floral fireworks in the Tokyo streets, flickered across her cheeks.

She rested against the window with her eyes closed, as if in a sweet slumber.

After the half-hour ride, Hanamaru Hanabi had indeed fallen asleep, and when they got home, Uesugi Sakura was reluctant to wake her.

"13240 yen, please."

"Here you go."

Uesugi Sakura took two ten-thousand-yen bills from his wallet and handed them to the driver. After collecting his change, he pocketed his wallet, glanced at the girl beside him who had fallen into a sound sleep, and exited from his side of the car to circle around to hers.