Laid-Back Life in Tokyo: I Really Didn't Want to Work Hard-Chapter 881 - 519: Maybe... Hanabi Is Much More Amazing Than Me? (Part 2)

Chapter 881: Chapter 519: Maybe... Hanabi Is Much More Amazing Than Me? (Part 2)

Kitagawa Sakisa glanced up and down at him.

"Hmm, kind of, if you have any difficulties in the future, feel free to come to me, I’ll help."

"Hmm hmm," Uesugi Sakura chuckled, "Thanks for your approval, but I don’t think I’ll need your help."

"What, Uesugi, you’re looking down on me again!"

"I’m not looking down on you, I just think many difficulties are best solved on one’s own."

...

Today’s lunch was simple.

Braised potatoes with meat, mixed rice, stir-fried greens, miso soup...

Uesugi Sakura looked at the steaming, ordinary yet comforting dishes on the table, feeling a sense of nostalgia in his heart.

It’s been almost half a month since he last tasted Hanabi’s cooking, hasn’t it?

Ever since he locked himself up in the art research room, he’s been eating boxed meals, rice balls, and some random fried skewers...

Now, those are gone from sight, replaced by Hanabi’s home-cooked meals.

Uesugi Sakura couldn’t help but feel a warmth in his heart. 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝓮𝒘𝙚𝙗𝒏𝙤𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝒐𝙢

In front of him, there was also a portion of vegetable salad... Although it was meant for everyone to share, Hanabi intentionally moved it closer to him when serving...

Even though she said she hasn’t forgiven him yet, and even though they haven’t talked much, she still cares for him.

Uesugi Sakura looked at the food in front of him, smiled, picked up his bowl, and started eating slowly.

Although he missed the moments when Hanabi would serve him meat, sitting together like this was already satisfying for Uesugi.

...

The afternoon was more monotonous. Uesugi Sakura first discussed the morning’s lessons with Kyujuu Rika, cramming to strengthen his still shaky art foundation.

Not to mention, he can now draw figures with style, understanding lines, perspective, and the detailed key curves of each part of the human body...

Uesugi Sakura still remembers why he left Professor Okuno at Todai to come here.

—To go to and come back from school with little Hanabi every day.

Lately, was he drifting away from this goal?

By two o’clock in the afternoon, he should be heading to work at the coffee shop.

The two tidied up everything, and Hanamaru Hanabi, carrying a small waist bag, bid farewell to Kyujuu Rika and the others.

"See you tomorrow, Hanabi-chan."

"Mm, see you tomorrow."

"Walk slowly."

"Ah! I died again!"

The last sentence was said by Kitagawa Sakisa, who was playing a game and got killed.

Kyujuu Rika’s gaze finally landed on Uesugi Sakura: "Uesugi, you were quite unreliable during school. I hope this time, you can grow through this experience."

"Saying such things..." Uesugi Sakura felt her tone sounded much like his mother-in-law’s.

But upon thinking carefully, she was also the class leader in high school; disobedience wasn’t an option.

Leaving the art research room, Uesugi Sakura walked along the school’s road with Hanamaru Hanabi.

The December wind still swayed the branches and leaves beside the road.

Hanamaru Hanabi’s steps beside him remained unhurried and calm.

Turning his head towards her, he saw the slight movement of hair by her ears and her irresistibly cute face from any angle.

Come winter, her face always bears a rosy hue.

Uesugi Sakura recalled the recent trip to Hokkaido, where she looked at the snowflakes, cheeks rosy, rubbing her hands together repeatedly.

Due to the recent drop in temperature, Uesugi Sakura hadn’t been riding the bicycle he bought for Hanabi anymore.

Speaking of which, Hanabi might know how to drive, but it seems she still can’t ride a bicycle!

Uesugi Sakura suddenly wanted to teach her how to ride a bicycle.

Life is always about finding meaningful things, wanting to accompany her in learning new things, no matter when or where.

He instinctively turned his head, about to speak, but upon seeing Hanabi’s shoulder a few steps away, he closed his mouth again.

Even though their relationship had slightly thawed recently, she hadn’t actively sought him out to talk in the last few days; maybe she really hadn’t calmed down...?

No!

He was overthinking again.

His mother-in-law was right; since Hanabi didn’t come to him, he should take the initiative to talk to her.

Uesugi Sakura cleared his mind, allowing his words to brew in his heart before finally calling out to her:

"Hanabi..."

"Hmm?"

Hanamaru Hanabi turned around, a white beret quietly resting atop her head, making her shoulder-length short hair look petite and adorable.

The moment her gaze turned towards him was tense.

Even after looking at her for so long, meeting her eyes still made Uesugi Sakura’s heart flutter.

"Hanabi-chan, it seems you still can’t ride a bicycle...right?"

"Bicycle?" Hanamaru Hanabi turned her head, raising her gaze to think for a bit, "Hmm... Father taught Hanabi for a while before, but Hanabi never learned..."

"Then... would you like me to teach you?" Uesugi Sakura unexpectedly felt nervous, a rare sensation barely experienced since childhood.

The breeze swayed beside the girl’s hair, as fresh as spring’s green wind, stimulating the eyes.

"No!"

Hanamaru Hanabi smiled, softly rejecting him.

Hanabi...refused...

But Uesugi Sakura wasn’t saddened; instead, he felt content that she refused with the demeanor a girl should have.

First, he was astonished, then relieved.

Yes, Hanabi-chan is always growing...

After Hanamaru Hanabi smiled at him, she continued to walk slowly by his side.

Her dress swayed gently, her white silk thighs beneath stepping light and brisk.

Uesugi Sakura spoke again: "Then may I...ask why?"

"Because Hanabi hasn’t forgiven Sakura-kun yet, it’s that simple."

Uesugi Sakura felt she must have forgiven him, but lacked a reason to let go of her lady-like dignity and completely throw herself into his embrace.

He should take the initiative, but directly holding her hand now wouldn’t obtain verbal forgiveness.

Even though he wanted her to lean against his shoulder, using a gentle, tender voice, laughingly say how much she likes Sakura-kun...but now wasn’t the time.

Strong emotions can’t just rely on a tough stance to express.

Hanamaru Hanabi: "Does Sakura-kun remember what Hanabi said to Sakura-kun?"

"Wants to be pursued by Sakura-kun?"

"Yes, even now that we’re married, Hanabi still wants to feel pursued, so the previous suggestion is passed!" Hanamaru Hanabi laughed, making a big "x" sign with her hands.

Uesugi Sakura watched her charmingly cute actions and laughed.

Hanamaru Hanabi lowered her hands, crossed behind her back, leaning slightly forward, speaking to him across:

"Hanabi’s affection for Sakura-kun is 5 points now. Remember, on December 14th, Hanabi’s affection for Sakura-kun is 5 points. If Sakura-kun wants to hold Hanabi’s hand today, he needs to work hard!"

Sunlight filtered through the tree’s shadows, both standing along the school’s path, Uesugi Sakura met her radiant smile and also smiled: "What kind of girl reveals game progress like that! Knowing the result of today’s effort is holding hands, there’s no anticipation left!"

"No, no, quite the opposite," Hanamaru Hanabi smiled, shaking her head. Her face wrapped in a scarf hid half within it, "Told him he could do that, but not having held hands yet, that’s anticipation!"

"Even though I’ve already obtained it?"

"Sakura-kun, it’s the feeling of obtaining yet losing it that’s the most uncomfortable, which is why Sakura-kun came to England to find Hanabi."

Hanamaru Hanabi smiled subtly, hands resting on the skirt behind her, her light footsteps slowly treading imprint after imprint on the stone path.

Uesugi Sakura watched her from the side, as if seeing his life’s future.

Just as he said during the marriage, she is his sun, illuminating the only path ahead this life.