Laid-Back Life in Tokyo: I Really Didn't Want to Work Hard-Chapter 922 - 540: Christmas Eve Reunion (Part 2)

Getting off the Doutoku Arakawa Line together, Uesugi Sakura followed behind the two girls.

Snow was falling under the night sky, and the leaves of the Sakura trees along the Kanda River had turned a withered yellow.

Uesugi Sakura looked at those lonely, yellowed leaves, thinking to himself that in two months, these cherry blossoms would start budding and growing leaves again.

"Brother-in-law, brother-in-law." Hanamaru Yuuki came up behind Uesugi Sakura from beside Hanamaru Hanabi in the front.

"What’s up?"

"Just now, I asked my sister why she likes you so much. Guess what she said?"

"Of course, she said it’s because I’m handsome."

"Haha, I didn’t expect my brother-in-law to be so narcissistic... Unfortunately, that’s not it. My sister isn’t the kind of girl who likes handsome men."

"What if I’m really ugly?"

"In terms of looks, at first contact, one’s impression would definitely be influenced... it would be much harder than the norm, but if suddenly you became ugly now, my sister certainly wouldn’t dislike you."

Hanamaru Yuuki said with her hands behind her back.

"The world keeps saying looks don’t matter, true beauty lies within. But how many people in the world can really achieve that?"

Uesugi Sakura: "That’s why, liking a really ugly person requires immense courage."

"Exactly, so with my sister being like that to you, you should cherish her more."

"I do love her, truly love her."

"Hmph, back to what we were discussing earlier, do you know what my sister likes about you, brother-in-law?"

"No idea." Uesugi Sakura was actually too lazy to guess.

"Then lean in, brother-in-law, and I’ll tell you!"

Uesugi Sakura leaned in, wondering what tricks she was up to.

"Brother-in-law~ my sister said you’re really good at night~~ she likes it a lot~~"

After saying that, Hanamaru Yuuki dashed ahead and clung to Hanamaru Hanabi’s arm.

Leaving Uesugi Sakura alone at the back.

He felt a bit puzzled.

Hanabi... would she really say something like that...?

...

Back at the Hanamaru house, it was Uesugi’s wife who opened the door for the group.

"Hello Auntie!"

"Ah, it’s Yuuki, I haven’t seen you in so long." Uesugi’s wife smiled at her, "I heard you were coming, so I prepared extra steaks for you, eat as much as you like!"

"Thank you, Auntie!" Hanamaru Yuuki responded with a smile.

"Alright, alright, come on in, Hanabi-chan, you come in too." 𝘧𝘳𝘦ℯ𝓌𝘦𝒷𝘯𝑜𝑣𝘦𝓁.𝒸𝘰𝓂

After exchanging pleasantries for a while, Uesugi’s wife left Uesugi Sakura outside alone.

"Do you know why I specifically held you back?"

"Uh-huh..."

"Little Sakura, you’ve been a sensible child since you were young... Actually, I don’t even know what to say to you now. So, has Hanabi-chan forgiven you?"

"She has... but not completely."

"Does she let you touch her?"

"Well... it depends on her mood... but mostly, she doesn’t refuse..."

Uesugi’s wife sighed with relief: "That’s good, it’s probably just a girl’s mouth saying no when the heart says yes. Little Sakura, I only have this one daughter-in-law."

"Mom... you only have one son too."

"What I mean is, you can only have this one daughter-in-law... Hanabi won’t do anything to wrong you, so if there’s a mistake, it’s yours. Haven’t you done plenty wrong by her?"

"Um... that’s true." Uesugi Sakura replied.

"And the end result?"

"It’s always Hanabi forgiving me."

"Right, it’s always Hanabi-chan forgiving you... Honestly, I feel like, even if you did a lot wrong, even cheated, she would forgive you... Because girls inherently lack a sense of security, and have no one else to rely on, what else can she do but rely on you?

"But even so, do you know why I’m still saying these things to you?"

Uesugi Sakura understood, of course: "To prevent her from being hurt."

"Sigh, you’re married now, and saying such things seems small-minded. It’s good she’s forgiven you, for now," Uesugi’s wife laughed, "Alright, come in, it’s snowing outside, it’s cold."

"Okay."

After his mom’s lecture, Uesugi Sakura changed his shoes and entered the living room of the Hanamaru house.

The lights in the living room were a warm yellow. Two tables were combined together, covered with all kinds of delicious food, turkey, sushi, salad, chicken drumsticks, steaks, lamb chops, fruits...

In the middle was a large pot of sukiyaki.

Hanamaru Hanami and Uesugi Shin were playing with toys on the sofa, while the first to arrive, Hanamaru Hanabi and Hanamaru Yuuki, sat together chatting and laughing over their phones.

Father and father-in-law were sitting outside on the balcony, drinking and watching the snow. Uesugi’s wife and Mrs. Hanamaru were busy in the kitchen preparing dinner just inside the door.

Cousin Uesugi Shio sat on a single sofa watching TV.

Aei and Chiaei, the little girls, were reading books beside the coffee table.

Inside the small living room filled with warm light, everything was lively.

Standing at the entrance, Uesugi Sakura was somewhat dazed by the scene before him...

The sound of the TV, the aroma of food and drink, the sounds of conversation, and the people in front of him... all made him stand there and reminisce about many things from long ago.

From high school to now, although it has only been two or three years, to Uesugi Sakura, it felt like a lifetime.

A dreamlike sense of happiness enveloped him in this small house...

He still remembers when he was little, how Hanabi-chan gave him her cherished toy right here, remembers how they did homework together by that coffee table, remembers how, after his confession, Hanabi asked him to stay with her, and remembers how they would feed each other after school.

What mom said is true...

She has given him so much, so many experiences and memories...

How could he possibly let her down.

Foolish Uesugi, you foolish Uesugi, with someone like you... if not for meeting Hanabi, would you ever find true love?