Laid-Back Life in Tokyo: I Really Didn't Want to Work Hard
Chapter 156 - 148 What Can You Do? What Are You Capable Of?

Chapter 156: Chapter 148 What Can You Do? What Are You Capable Of?

In June, the weather is sultry, with brilliant sunlight in the afternoon and sudden drizzle at night.

These past few days have been fine, but once the rainy season starts, it brings prolonged, damp, cloudy days.

Many sun-loving plants suffer issues like waterlogging, root rot, and mildew due to the high humidity.

Gardening requires watering, fertilizing, repotting, and pruning. As you care for their daily needs, they naturally bloom beautifully for you.

Uesugi quite enjoys this quiet and subtle interest.

He relishes the crisp sound of snipping away unnecessary branches.

Evergreen shrubs cover the arbor in the small courtyard, while roses, competing in beauty under the moonlight, gently sway, with raindrops accumulating on the wetted petals.

The bluest density of rain reflects off the roses, vibrant and elegant.

Recently they have been growing particularly vigorously. Uesugi Sakura had planned to help trim their branches tonight.

—However, for now, this will have to wait.

"Outside... it seems to be raining." Hanamaru Hanabi said softly with her head turned, eyes tightly shut.

"Yes, I can hear the rain." Uesugi Sakura lowered his head to look at the white tiles of the bathroom.

The small window in the bathroom allowed moonlight, disturbed by the rain, to sneak in, revealing a few discolored white roses.

Hanamaru Hanabi’s vision was filled with white cotton bubbles, enveloped in misty steam, as a wet towel, tightly clasped in her small hands, glided over the slender lines of her back.

"Sakura, Sakura-kun... it’s time to turn on the hot water..." she reminded softly, a faint blush on her cheeks.

"Okay."

Her fair little feet stepping on the wet tiles, Hanamaru Hanabi nervously stood up to grab the showerhead in front of her.

Turning the hot water valve, water gushed out, pounding the ceramic edge of the bathtub, cloaking the room in steam.

She tested the water temperature with her hand, blushing as she continued her next actions.

Girls are always meticulous and gentle; Hanamaru Hanabi’s soft little hands felt tender and comforting.

Her slender hands slid across his back, the hot water flowing over his body, making the day’s fatigue slip away.

"Can I turn around?"

"No, you can’t!"

Uesugi Sakura was a bit puzzled, "Aren’t you wrapped in a towel? Why can’t I turn around?"

Hanamaru Hanabi’s small hands retreated to her chest, fingers curling below her exposed collarbones.

"Just, just no..."

The girl neither understood why his gaze caused her heart to flutter, but she instinctively desired to prevent him from turning to see her.

"Alright."

Uesugi Sakura probably understood she was shy, though he himself was just shirtless, not really a reason for such resistance.

After a while, her soft little hands resumed helping him wash his back.

"By the way."

"...Ah!?" Hanamaru Hanabi’s startled voice.

She seemed to be taken by surprise.

Uesugi Sakura closed his eyes, unable to turn back, unclear of her current expression.

"Are you alright?"

"No, no problem..." she whispered shyly.

Uesugi Sakura continued, "Does this count as a date? A bathroom date."

Her small feet turned inward slightly, Hanamaru Hanabi stammered, her lips like sticky rice:

"Bathroom date, date... Sakura-kun is saying weird things..."

Lately, Hanabi had been saying he was "weird." Was he really that strange?

Completely normal, he had merely awakened to a small part of normalcy.

That’s what Uesugi Sakura believed.

"We started dating on April 2nd, right?"

"Yes..."

Hanamaru Hanabi saw he hadn’t turned around, slowly sat back on the small stool, like a kitten cautiously testing food.

"63 days, and my newly-dating girlfriend became my fiancée."

"Sakura-kun... Do you think it’s too fast?"

"Not at all, isn’t twelve years of acquaintance long enough?"

"But just dating... is really short."

"Our feelings should be rather bland, actually."

Hanamaru Hanabi reached out with a small towel, hands pressing against the defined lines of his back, quietly saying:

"It’s because Sakura-oniisan is too familiar with Hanabi... that’s why you never wanted this plain relationship to change..."

"I’ve never, been able to say it to Hanabi."

"Didn’t I ask back then if Hanabi liked me? Little Hanabi always stuttered, and I thought you..."

Hanamaru Hanabi’s soft, weak voice hinted at adorable obedience as she murmured: "When Hanabi hears Sakura-kun say ’like,’ I get very nervous."

"Okay."

Uesugi Sakura propped his hands on his knees.

"I like you."

Air and small hands paused for a moment, only accompanied by the clear sound of the running shower.

"Thank you, Sakura-kun..." Her voice as sweet as sticky rice, softly spoken.

"So can I turn around to look at you?"

"No..."

The tone seemed somewhat relaxed.

"I want to kiss little Hanabi."

Hanamaru Hanabi bashfully pursed her lips: "You were clearly just kissing me."

"It’s not enough."

"Hanabi... will be beside Sakura-kun tonight... You’ll have plenty of time."

"That’s the time for holding you to sleep, it’s different."

"How could it be... Sakura-kun is clearly quite un—"

Before she could finish, Hanamaru Hanabi’s entire body was pulled forward by his arm.

Her bare little feet stepped into the flowing hot water, making a loud splash, causing little droplets to fly.

"Mmm..."

Her mouth was sealed, unable to make a sound, as Hanamaru Hanabi’s small hand lay flat against his chest.

Their closeness grew inseparable.

The reassuring warmth of his body seeped from his palm, invading her heart.

Kissing always inevitably quickens the heartbeat, and his breath made her throat parched and feverish, desiring even more.

The deep kiss led the girl from timid resistance to a dazed relaxation.