Laid-Back Life in Tokyo: I Really Didn't Want to Work Hard
Chapter 191 - 174: Qixi Festival, and the Night of Qixi_2

Chapter 191: Chapter 174: Qixi Festival, and the Night of Qixi_2

Then the innocent little girl kept nodding her head, completely believing it.

After all, how could such a handsome and amiable older brother lie to a child?

Uesugi Sakura leaned back on the sofa, taking a small sip of tea, watching the little girl continually bother her mother.

Uesugi Shio came and sat beside him, her vacant eyes also gazing at the little girl.

This made her think of herself.

"Sakura."

"Hmm."

"Don’t you think you’re cruel?"

"Am I?"

"When that little girl finishes everything and finds there’s no so-called divine power, what do you think she’ll feel?"

"Children’s fantasies will shatter someday, I’m just letting her grow up early."

"Divine power exists." He added seriously.

"Divine power..."

Uesugi Shio held the glass with both hands, staring into the rippling clear water, murmuring, "If only there was really divine power back then."

Uesugi Sakura joined her silence and then said, "How is Uncle doing?"

Shio turned her head and smiled, "Sakura, are you starting to care about your sister again?"

"No, I’m just asking about Uncle and Grandpa’s situation."

"You and Hanabi have something in common, that is, sometimes you’re not straightforward enough."

Shio’s slender fingers traced the rim of the cup, following up on his words, continuing, "A large piece of the orange trees on Grandpa’s side has been cut down, Father was knocked out while guarding the orchard at night, and they couldn’t even see his shadow during the day.

"But everyone knows who did it."

"Me... I don’t know?" Uesugi Kenichi hadn’t even mentioned this to him.

"It’s not just you, I only found out after repeatedly asking Takizomi." Uesugi Shio said, "Grandpa... doesn’t want us to worry and doesn’t want to trouble us anymore."

"Summer break, shall we go back and take a look?" Uesugi Sakura said.

"We’ll see," Uesugi Shio gently swirled the water in the cup, "Grandpa must also know about us going back, otherwise he won’t see us."

Stubborn old man, Uesugi Sakura lightly sighed in his heart.

But it’s precisely because of this stubbornness that the Uesugi family hasn’t fallen into decline and has been able to flourish.

He truly cares for the younger generation.

Uesugi Shio: "Don’t worry too much, Grandpa will handle everything well."

"Hmm."

——————

At seven o’clock on Tanabata, the Shinto wedding ceremony held at Meiji Shrine officially began.

This traditional wedding originates from Shintoism, but does not strictly adhere to ancient forms.

Relatives and close family friends are allowed to wear suits and follow at the back of the procession.

The two ladies, being friends, were invited into the procession.

In the night, the Meiji Shrine was solemnly quiet within its temple grounds.

Bright bonfires and lanterns were arranged in varied heights,

with the temple surrounded by forest, the shadows of trees were dark and the lights deep, the majesty of the procession in the cloistered temple illuminated only the blue stone path with splendor.

Four priests clad in hunting garments, accompanied by witches in witch dresses, took the most composed and graceful steps at the front, leading the procession.

A mother, wrinkles upon her face, held the hand of the bride dressed in Shiromuku, guiding her beside her husband, walking towards Fusai Hall.

Guided by her mother’s hand, as she walked under a red umbrella with a happy demeanor, each step struck the blue stone, becoming a treasured memory of the past.

The bustling noise of the city couldn’t reach here.

Bystanders flanking onlookers gazed at the pure, untainted color.

On this Tanabata, they all cast envious and blessing glances.

Hanamaru Hanabi intertwined her small hands over her chest, her twinkling eyes witnessing the smile of vow between the bride and groom.

The pulsating heart of the young girl was filled with warmth.

If... one day she could also be like this, exchanging smiles with the one she loves at a wedding amidst the blessings of family and friends, how wonderful it would be.

Hanamaru Hanabi turned her head to look at Uesugi Sakura standing by her side, looking up and calling out:

"Sakura-kun..."

Uesugi Sakura, who was lost in thought, heard her soft voice and snapped out of his reverie.

He turned around, offering a smile, "What’s up?"

Hanamaru Hanabi extended her small, intertwined hands from her chest towards him, asking:

"Can... I hold your hand...?"

"Of course."

Uesugi Sakura smiled, holding her timidly outstretched hand, glancing at the bride in Shiromuku under the red umbrella.

"Want to marry me?"

Hanamaru Hanabi looked at him with her quivering purple eyes, her soft-spoken words as meek as ever:

"Hanabi... has always been subdued...

"Hanabi isn’t like other girls who can bring Sakura-kun happiness and joy, or make exciting things happen.

"The only thing Hanabi can do... is quietly stay by Sakura-kun’s side, but Hanabi feels useless, unable to make him laugh happily, and over time... Sakura-kun might find her annoying."

"But Hanabi has always liked Sakura-kun, since a long time ago, she’s dreamed of what it would be like to marry him."

"So..."

Hanamaru Hanabi looked at him, her soft voice growing fainter.

"Hanabi really wants to be with Sakura-kun all the time, graduating, working, marrying, and finally living together until the very last moment of life."

"Hanabi hopes... Sakura-kun could like such an annoying her..."

Many people find her gloomy and tend to avoid her, unwilling to offer even a tiny bit of care and concern.

So, they don’t know that she is a girl willing to respond wholeheartedly to those who care about her.

Even the smallest seed can take root and grow wildly in her kind but closed heart.

Uesugi Sakura knew he just happened to meet her very early on.

He smiled, and at this Tanabata wedding ceremony, while holding hands, he said to her:

"Ever since I saw you being bullied, tucked away alone in a corner, our bond was already destined."

With her heart palpitating, Hanamaru Hanabi’s face slowly blossomed into a smile, just as innocent as twelve years ago:

"Thank you, Sakura-kun."

Uesugi Sakura also offered a smile that was reserved only for her.

Compared to the time she looked up at him before, her smile was less bitter and forced.

A girl like her needed patience and tenderness to cherish.

——————

At the end of Tanabata, amid the cold night wind, the last train of the Doutoku Arakawa Line traversed the crossing.

Neon lights painted the green leaves of the Sakura Tree red, moonlight spilled over the shimmering water, with the lights and bustling voices of people enveloping this residential area.

They arrived at the banks of the Kanda River, surrounded by Sakura Trees, sitting at the shore bearing their childhood memories.

Beneath her skirt, Hanamaru Hanabi’s bare little feet alternately swayed over the water, creating ripples as they lightly touched the surface, lively and untouched by a speck of dust.

Looking up at the bright moon, full of gentleness, care, and cuteness.

Holding her hand, gazing at her face.

Unknowingly, the lanterns carrying children’s wishes already covered the entire river surface.

"The Weaver Girl sure is tired."

"What’s Sakura-kun talking about?"

Uesugi Sakura looked at the extraordinarily romantic Tanabata river surface and smiled, "Obviously just a woman weaving cloth, who waits agonizingly each year for a day to meet the Male Prostitute, yet she still takes the time to fulfill everyone’s wishes."

"If Hanabi were the Weaver Girl, what would happen?"

"Hanabi..." Hanamaru Hanabi didn’t know how to answer the question.

Today, many people gathered at the Kanda River, the light-shadow-dappled thin bamboo, adorned with colorful tied paper slips.

Filled with people’s wishes and hopes.

"What did you write?"

Hanamaru Hanabi hid her hands behind her back, the orange light casting her delicate, blushing profile: "No, I can’t let Sakura-kun see."

Uesugi Sakura held the string of a blue paper slip: "I’ll show you mine if you show me yours, an equivalent exchange."

Hanamaru Hanabi turned her head away and said, "Although Hanabi really wants to see Sakura-kun’s wish... Hanabi can’t let Sakura-kun see her wish, so... Hanabi declines the exchange."

Mrs. Hanamaru and Mrs. Uesugi bought two extra popsicles from the street vendor and were waving, calling them over.

"Really can’t?"

"Can’t..."

Sometimes, she’s just this stubborn.

"Then can I at least help you hang it up?"

Hanamaru Hanabi stared dumbly at him, then nodded: "Okay..."

As the breeze fluttered, the wish-filled colorful paper slips swayed among the bamboo leaves, with delicate handwriting vaguely visible above.

——————

Hanabi hopes Sakura-kun will always like her while she’s still around.

And... only... likes her...

Though selfish, Hanabi will keep her childhood promise and always stay by Sakura-kun’s side.

Hopefully, the Weaver Girl can take a moment from her busy schedule to see Hanabi’s message, please! (hand-drawn emoji).