Laid-Back Life in Tokyo: I Really Didn't Want to Work Hard-Chapter 941 - 549: Sakura’s Birthday Party (Finale) (Part 2)

Chapter 941: Chapter 549: Sakura’s Birthday Party (Finale) (Part 2)

"Didn’t I just say? Because you’re cute."

Uesugi Sakura gazed at her, looking at the bright reflection in her eyes.

His body, intentionally or not, moved downward, closer to her face.

Hanamaru Hanabi saw him getting closer, her expression slightly moved, feeling his breath approaching. Her eyes dodged for a moment, but soon returned, looking at him.

"Just... just for a moment..."

"Yes, just for a moment." Uesugi Sakura said, watching her close her eyes and tilt her small face upwards.

Her lightly pursed lips also had a full, moist shine.

Uesugi Sakura gazed at her like this, approached lightly, and gently touched.

Then he hugged her slender waist, pulling her body into his embrace.

...

When he closed his eyes, it felt like everything went quiet; in front of the house, under the night sky, with the trains whistling in Tokyo... it seemed only white snowflakes fluttering under the streetlights were visible.

Uesugi Sakura returned his gaze, with the taste of her lingering between his lips and teeth.

Seeing her in front with a scarf, breathing warm air, her small face flushed... Uesugi Sakura couldn’t help but laugh. The December chill seemed to disperse suddenly in this moment.

"Sakura-kun... come in quickly, everyone’s waiting."

"Yes, let’s go in together."

Uesugi Sakura reached out to her, seeing her, and suddenly seeing her as she was more than ten years ago.

And Hanamaru Hanabi met his gaze.

The response she gave was the same as the one she had given for the past decade or so.

She raised her little hand, placing it over his palm.

Just as she did as a child, reaching out to the hand offered by that boy.

Uesugi Sakura smiled slightly again, leading her to the door, took out the key, and opened the door.

Creak...

With the sound, the door opened.

The entrance and the corridor leading to the living room were pitch black.

It was silent inside, making one curious why there were no lights turned on.

Uesugi Sakura held Hanamaru Hanabi’s hand as they entered the Hanamaru household, and before they took two steps, the lights suddenly turned on with a click.

Bang bang bang bang!

Immediately afterward, several small party poppers sounded, and countless colorful decorative flowers danced in the narrow hallway.

"Happy Birthday!"

"Happy Birthday, brother!"

"Happy Birthday, brother!"

"Happy Birthday, brother-in-law!"

"Yee-ah~ Yay~~"

The whole family crowded in the hallway, all smiling, clapping their hands toward Uesugi Sakura standing at the entrance.

The atmosphere immediately warmed up.

Under the warm lights, a colorful banner hung above saying "Happy 19th Birthday, Sakura," and the corridor was filled with colorful balloons.

Aei, Chiaei, Yuuki, Shio sister, the two ladies holding Hanami and Shin, even the father-in-law and the old man stood behind, looking at him.

Everyone was crowded into this small corridor.

Uesugi Sakura’s feet froze on the spot, looking at everyone in front of him, listening to them wishing him a happy birthday, as the warm colors filled his heart with unspeakable words.

Being cared for by everyone, being blessed by everyone, being specially gathered at the door to be welcomed by everyone.

In this small house impenetrable to the wind and snow, Uesugi Sakura deeply understood that he was happy... truly very happy...

Uesugi Sakura unconsciously held Hanamaru Hanabi’s hand, her hand was soft and reassuring...

Ahead, the warm light revealed everything, all things beautiful named "home."

Uesugi Sakura also started to smile, his eyes shimmering with tear droplets, smiling as he held Hanamaru Hanabi’s hand, saying:

"Thank you, everyone..."

"Brother-in-law, you’re nineteen today! Do you have any thoughts?"

"Haha..." Uesugi Sakura reached out his other hand to gently wipe the shimmering tears at the corners of his eyes, "What thoughts could I have... It’s just another year of happiness passed."

"Huh? Didn’t brother turn nineteen a long time ago?"

"Silly Aei, today we’re celebrating an overdue birthday for my brother."

"Oh, I see, then let me wish him a happy birthday again!"

Uesugi Shio crossed her arms and said, "Nineteen years have passed, and it feels like Sakura is still the same as when he was a child."

Mrs. Hanamaru, holding Hanamaru Hanami who was eager to crawl down, smiled at the two people in front of her, "So late returning, how long did you two go on a date?"

Similarly carrying baby Uesugi Shin, Mrs. Uesugi teased, "Meiko, you know every time they go on a date, they stay out for a long time. Haha, really now, they’ve dated so many times, aren’t they tired of it yet?"

"Well, Nobuko, you wouldn’t understand. It’s called love."

"Love?" Hanamaru Hiroki crossed his arms, with a serious and earnest expression, "If it’s love, we wouldn’t have to step in to throw them a birthday party now, and he wouldn’t have ignored Hanabi all night... I wasn’t quite in favor of them getting so close back then, and now look, they’re inseparable."

"Kids’ dad, if you’re going to give blessings, then give blessings. Why speak in contrast?"

Uesugi Dad chuckled on the side, "He’s just like this, his daughter gets bullied and he doesn’t know where to vent, haha, of course, he can only do this."

"Kenichi, you guy, well, it’s not your own daughter, right?"

After saying those words, Hanamaru Hiroki sighed, looking at the two he watched grow up, especially Uesugi Sakura:

"Since Hanabi has forgiven you, I have nothing to say. This Christmas birthday party was her suggestion that everyone should organize together. For this, I pushed all my work aside."

"Thank you, Father-in-law."

"You little brat! You remember to call me father-in-law. As a husband, you should be more spirited! Hanabi has entrusted her whole life to you! Do not underestimate my daughter!"

Faced with his father-in-law’s sternness, Uesugi Sakura held Hanamaru Hanabi’s hand even tighter, and still somewhat choked, nodded: "Hmm... I know."

Mrs. Hanamaru couldn’t help but tease her husband from the side:

"You dare to call out Sakura, but on Hanabi’s wedding day, weren’t you the one secretly crying alone with us? So men’s dignity, is really hard to set down."

"As a father-in-law, I must have the demeanor of a father-in-law," Hanamaru Hiroki relaxed his voice and looked again at Uesugi, "Anyway, happy birthday to you again today. Hanabi has prepared so much for you, never asking anything in return. Her entire life is imprinted with your shadow. If you forget her again, I won’t forgive you!"

"I understand."

Uesugi Dad mediated with a smile, saying, "Alright, alright, everyone get away from the entrance and welcome the two inside; standing outside just now must’ve been cold."

"Let’s keep drinking!"

"No drinking..." Hanamaru Hanabi suddenly interjected.

Hanamaru Hiroki was stunned for a moment, looked at his daughter’s slightly blushing face, and smiled, "Alright, no alcohol today, just food, let’s go, to the living room."

As everyone returned to the living room in scattered pairs.

The entrance was left with only two people.

The atmosphere quieted down once more.

"Sakura."

"Yes, I’m here, always here."

"Besides marrying Hanabi, there are other places where Sakura is happy, right?"

"Yes...but it’s all because of Hanabi...that happiness exists...my life is truly worthwhile."

"Hanabi... is the same... Nevertheless, in the days to come, she wishes to hear Sakura’s voice, to see his mischievous looks..."

"Hanabi-chan...so do I, always, wanting to hear little Hanabi call ’Sakura’ in her soft-spoken voice by my ear."

Two people held hands, intertwined together.

Two pairs of eyes met, smiling in mutual gaze.

"Sakura, let’s go inside, today is your birthday, you must be happy."

"Hmm... I certainly will...because I have not only Hanabi...but everyone who cares about us."

Uesugi Sakura and Hanamaru Hanabi smiled at each other again, finally understanding between them as they touched their foreheads together, closed their eyes, feeling each other and smiling warmly...

In the candle-lit living room of the Hanamaru house, Uesugi Sakura listened to Mrs. Hanamaru leading everyone in singing the birthday song, blowing out the candle.

"Happy Birthday Uesugi Sakura!"

"Hooray!"

"Brother! Come cut the cake! Aei wants some."

"Silly Aei, shouldn’t the brother have the first bite?"

"Seems like it should be..."

"Haha, it’s okay, okay, brother-in-law wouldn’t mind such details."

"Yes, it’s fine as long as you all enjoy it, there’s dinner later, don’t eat too much."

"Yay~ yay~" 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝙬𝙚𝓫𝒏𝓸𝓿𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝙤𝓶

On the suddenly dim snowy night, listening to the enthusiastic applause and blessings from everyone, Uesugi Sakura continued to hold Hanamaru Hanabi’s small hand, turned, and showed her a smile, one that’s only for her in her vibrant purple eyes.

His mood at this moment, just like it always has been—will always love you, my Hanabi-chan...