Laid-Back Life in Tokyo: I Really Didn't Want to Work Hard-Chapter 899 - 529: Light Novels and Yuuki

The date lasted a long time, until the sky truly turned dark and the snow diminished...

"Is the date... coming to an end?" Hanamaru Hanabi cupped a mug of milk tea he bought for her, squeezing the lingering warmth from the cup’s edge.

"Hmm... let’s leave it at that for today," Uesugi Sakura glanced at her small face, reluctantly answering, "It’s not early, we should head back."

"Then, Sakura-kun."

Standing by the vending machine, Hanamaru Hanabi slowly lifted her head, gazing at him with gentle, luminous violet eyes under the night lights, brimming with affection.

"Hanabi is still looking forward to our next date, always expecting it."

She touched the crystal earrings bought today on her right ear, smiling at Uesugi Sakura, a very genuine smile.

As if the whole night could be lit up by that radiant smile.

This smile left Uesugi Sakura with a lump in his throat; there were so many things he wanted to say to her, so much affection he wanted to express, yet Uesugi Sakura chose not to, knowing those words couldn’t convey his feelings.

He looked at her for a long time, simply extending his hand to hold her little hand, already long familiar to him.

Still that gentle touch, that softness mingled with familiarity.

The two exchanged a smile, seamless as a married couple.

The streetlights elongated their shadows, on the downhill path of the Tokyo streets.

"Would you like to come home with me today?"

"I will... but."

"But?"

"But Sakura-kun must sleep on the couch."

"Just having you come home with me, I’m satisfied, how could I ask for anything more... Yet, it’s been a while since we’ve properly slept together, hasn’t it?"

"Oh, Sakura-kun! You just said you’d be satisfied if Hanabi went home with you, but already you’re reneging on that!"

"Haha."

"Untrustworthy man! A jerk!"

"Haha."

"Sakura-kun, stop laughing, it’s not funny at all!"

"Haha."

"You rascal!"

Hanamaru Hanabi, holding his hand, glared at his laughing face, annoyed.

"Alright, alright, Hanabi, don’t be mad, I’ll give you a back massage when we get home."

"Really?"

"Just kidding."

"Indeed, truly a rascal!"

"Haha."

The two silhouettes in the night slowly grew distant, playfully bickering until they disappeared at the end of the street under continuous streetlights.

...

...

"Wake up, wake up!!"

Uesugi Sakura bent down to rub cheeks with Hanamaru Hanabi, who was still lazing on the large bed.

Her face always had that utterly relaxing, soft texture that put one’s mind at ease.

However, this simple wake-up call clearly had no effect; with his wife still asleep and breakfast uneaten, today’s ten-kilometer morning run indeed felt unfeasible.

Uesugi Sakura, still in pajamas, simply crawled into her little blanket.

Then he hugged her small back, pulling her into his arms.

The feeling of holding her was wonderful; his chest and body warmed, surrounded by a warm current... yet, with goodwill lacking, he could only resort to such sneak attacks.

Thinking how he couldn’t even cuddle his own wife to sleep, surely was his mistake.

Uesugi Sakura reached into the blanket, squeezed her arm, her small hand, her thigh; given the recent snowy, freezing days, with no indoor heating, Uesugi Sakura, as he squeezed, resisted leaving this warm space.

Resolutely, he snuggled into her arms to nap a bit longer.

The feeling of snuggling his wife brought so much joy.

But during the snuggle, accidentally, a small flame could be sparked inside.

Uesugi Sakura peeked out of the blanket, gazing at her exquisite sleeping face, nodded twice, then smilingly burrowed back into the blanket.

...

...

As though sulking, yet appearing shy, Hanamaru Hanabi ate breakfast, thinking only "rascal" gazing at Uesugi Sakura’s face opposite her.

"Rascal!"

"What is it?" Uesugi Sakura smiled knowingly.

"How could you wake a girl like that! Rascal!"

Hanamaru Hanabi was gentle, saying a few words before stopping; even though he was a rascal earlier, upon awakening, she hadn’t refused... was it because of too much distance?

Thinking of her recent scratchy voice, Hanamaru Hanabi blushed furiously...

No matter how many times, still embarrassing...

"Before marriage... Sakura-kun wasn’t like this..."

"Like what?" Uesugi Sakura ate the breakfast Hanabi freshly prepared.

"Like, H....."

"Whatever, before marriage, I thought Hanabi was a girl who didn’t enjoy the naughty stuff, but after marriage..." Uesugi Sakura flashed her a smile, leaving his sentence incomplete.

"Seems like, before marriage... Hanabi’s been restrained by Sakura-kun too long, huh?"

"Of course not, before marriage, we often helped each other, didn’t we."

"So... why..."

"Because love requires some connection to be shown."

No, no!

Too embarrassing!

Hanamaru Hanabi buried her blushing face, eating breakfast in small bites.

Today being the weekend, there’s no need for work or school.

Uesugi Sakura intended to genuinely teach Hanabi some knowledge about adult films, but she shook her head strongly, firmly opposed to it.

Whether out of fear or something else, she didn’t say.

Having spoken a lot, little Hanabi clung to yesterday’s newly bought light novel and retreated to the bedroom to read, leaving Uesugi Sakura alone in the bedroom watching TV.