Laid-Back Life in Tokyo: I Really Didn't Want to Work Hard
Chapter 198 - 178: Is There a Need to Continue the Hanabi Support Group

Chapter 198: Chapter 178: Is There a Need to Continue the Hanabi Support Group

That bespectacled president often looks at me. Uesugi Sakura can read a look of jealousy in his eyes.

Back in the classroom, he glanced at the phone before turning it off, then sat down in his seat.

"All sorted?" Tsubokawa set down his phone and asked.

"Sort of."

The reborn Hanabi fan club disbanded once again.

Tsubokawa Takahiro was the mole in the group, infiltrating and pulling Uesugi into the group chats.

"Though these guys are a bit unethical, they’re still fans of Hanamaru, some of them are quite nice," he said.

"Hmm."

Uesugi Sakura didn’t really care about this fan club that suddenly appeared, but some of them were just too strange, even taking sneak photos.

It was truly "the limit of tolerance has been reached."

Tsubokawa flipped through his thin English book aimlessly, clearly unable to focus.

He said, "Actually, I think they’ll show up again."

Uesugi Sakura looked over at him, "This president of whatever fan club, can there be a third generation of them?"

Tsubokawa glanced at Uesugi and said,

"Don’t underestimate Hanamaru’s charm! As her childhood friend, you surely can’t understand how cute girls like her attract them."

Tsubokawa meant that childhood friends see each other as ordinary, no matter how attractive, familiarity breeds indifference.

This was the conclusion he came to after reading many light novels and watching anime.

Childhood friend girls—ninety percent of them are losers.

No matter how proactive they are, the main character acts like they don’t see it.

"So, what’s your point?"

Tsubokawa adjusted his glasses, his lenses reflecting his serious gaze: "Instead of passively peeking, it’s better to take initiative, let’s form a fan club for Hanamaru!"

"Who’s going to be the president?"

"Who else could it be?" Tsubokawa Takahiro retorted irritably.

"But I couldn’t be bothered managing it."

"How can you be lazy about this? A fan club can play a significant role."

"For example?" Uesugi Sakura was expectant for his answer.

"For instance, this fan club can help everyone get to know Hanamaru better, understand her artistic level."

"Doesn’t she frequently participate in art competitions? Yet, why has she only won first place once for a landscape painting despite entering so many?"

"Because of popularity and fame."

Tsubokawa self-answered: "Uesugi, in art competitions, popularity and fame can add a lot of value to a painting, affecting its standing in the competition."

"Like Van Gogh, the one who painted ’Starry Night,’ he had no fame while alive, bartering his paintings for coarse grains which were often rejected, living in poverty and relying on his brother for support.

"Even now, many don’t appreciate his paintings, but anyone knows his work is excellent, he’s a master.

"They wouldn’t, and don’t dare to deny his technique; they’d instinctively consider him remarkable."

"Why? Simply because of fame." Tsubokawa Takahiro pushed his glasses with his middle finger, "So, a fan club is necessary for someone like Hanamaru."

Sometimes, what Tsubokawa said made some sense.

Hanamaru Hanabi used to be an adorable little nobody, due to her introverted nature and reluctance to show her face, her works weren’t very popular.

Even though they were very well done.

In the art world, reputation is crucial.

For instance, young Hanabi is now working as an original artist, but no matter how good her work is, as a newbie, she can only get that kind of pay.

Only taking some not-so-easy and demanding outsourcing jobs.

Eighty thousand yen a month.

With this salary in Tokyo, she could only stay in internet cafes to survive.

Making budget meals of cup noodles every day, and even begrudging train rides.

However, a well-developed fan club could really attract many people.

A Hanabi fan club under proper management is indeed feasible.

Besides, with the support of fans, young Hanabi’s insecurities could be eased a lot since her childhood.

Uesugi Sakura cast an appreciative look at Tsubokawa adjusting his glasses: "Alright, I understand this matter now."

.....

For the past few days, Hanamaru Hanabi seemed down, possibly due to lack of sleep, and had no appetite for meals.

She even talked less with him.

After taking the nutritional supplement, she shouldn’t fall ill, right?

——————

Friday afternoon, none of the clubs had activities.

But with next week’s joint sports festival approaching, everyone in the sports clubs was keeping up high spirits.

Of course, there were also those otakus who disliked sports and had no choice but to participate.

Uesugi Sakura was doing well in the Kyudo Club, shooting arrows leisurely, when Uesugi Shio called him to the Kendo Department.

Covered in sweat, the Kendo Department was filled with the sound of bamboo swords and fierce Qi Union roars like gorillas.

Why do they have to shout like that?

Uesugi Sakura couldn’t yell that way.

Actually, yelling Qi Union sounds doesn’t matter, but some people prefer strange calls, thinking it can inspire strength and dominate opponents.

In truth, beginners practicing kendo without shouting Qi Union might even hurt themselves, because Qi Union isn’t a loud scream but a voiced breathing through the abdomen.

The key is the "Qi" not the "sound."

So Uesugi Sakura preferred not to shout out loud, as long as he could maintain control of his breathing.

During the previous training camp, Ogasawara Shikyo taught them a breathing method, unexpectedly applicable to kendo as well.

Hanamaru Yugetsu was instructing the kendo club members while training.

"Akai, you can also use this breathing technique?" Uesugi Shio removed her helmet, revealing her forehead glistening with sweat.

Uesugi Sakura stood in the doorway in his pristine kyudo uniform, seeing Goto train enthusiastically in the dojo.

This guy seems to have been trained well.

"I do, but that’s not the point. The point is, why did you call me here?"

"To explain the sports festival arrangement," Uesugi Shio said.

Uesugi Sakura wanted to turn and leave quickly: "Yeah, I know I’m the General. You don’t need to tell me the arrangements, just call me over to play a few matches when it’s time, then it’s done."

Uesugi Shio: "You’re not participating in the individual competition?"

Typically, kendo and kyudo competitions are divided into men’s individual, women’s individual, men’s team, and women’s team events.

But the school’s mini kendo competition is at that level, which can’t compare to district competitions.

That’s what Uesugi Sakura thought.

"Participate, how can I not if I’m registered," he said, "Don’t worry, I’ll be there when the time comes."

Uesugi Shio was skeptical of his casual tone, knowing individual competition prize money was much less, he might withdraw last minute.

The school indeed favors their kendo department.

All equipment was newly purchased, and the principal personally asked her to achieve a good result.

Other schools, however, are quite formidable.

Unfortunately, she can only participate in the women’s individual competition.

Currently, the kendo club barely has enough female members.

How could they recruit more women?

Uesugi Shio watched as Uesugi Sakura’s silhouette faded away, falling into thought.

——————

After school, the first thing Hanamaru Hanabi did upon arriving home was head to her room and start her computer while sitting on her chair.

Uesugi Sakura placed his backpack on her bed, pulled over a seat to sit beside her and noticed her somewhat tired eyes after a busy day.

"Why not, just give it up for now? Being this tired every day isn’t worth the little money," he suggested.

Hanamaru Hanabi took off her small leather shoes, curling her legs clad in black long socks on the chair.

"But...it’s the only way for Hanabi to make money..."

Uesugi Sakura: "Actually, it’s not necessary."

Glancing at her chair where her little feet in black socks rested, she looked down and said, "Kai-kun can compete in matches and earn a lot of money, but Hanabi, Hanabi has always been useless."

"Hanabi... can’t even support Kai-kun anymore..."

Hanamaru Hanabi was suddenly lifted by her chin, her clear eyes wide, staring blankly at him as he gazed into her eyes.

Then, her soft cherry lips were bitten again.

The sudden kiss caused the girl to resist initially, with her small hands pushing against his chest.

But as he gently nibbled, warmth spread through their touch, Hanamaru Hanabi gradually released her defenses, hugging his back.

The kiss deepened, her hands clutched tighter, and his boy’s uniform was wrinkled from her grip.

When they parted, his taste lingered on her lips and tongue.

"Kai-kun..."

Hanamaru Hanabi looked at him with affectionate eyes, her once empty heart filling with tender love, her weak voice softly containing tender beauty.

Sometimes, a heartfelt kiss is all that is needed between lovers.

"Feeling better?" Uesugi Sakura asked, looking at her hugging him.

"Hmm..."

Hanamaru Hanabi nodded quietly, her heart filled with the fragrant sweetness of spring lilacs.

Back when she secretly kissed him while he slept, she felt the same heartbeats pounding.

Uesugi Sakura grasped her little feet on the chair, lowered himself onto the chair’s back.

He was close, and the touch on her feet tingled, Hanamaru Hanabi felt shy again, turning her head away.

Uesugi Sakura straightened her small head, pressing his nose against hers.

In a little animal-like whimper, Hanamaru Hanabi heard him slowly saying:

"From now on, don’t trouble yourself too much, your health is most important, got it?"

Uesugi Sakura could feel her shy little feet wrapping inwards over the black socks.

Hanamaru Hanabi, intimidated by his pressure, shrank into a small bundle on the chair, answering him in a weak voice: "Mm..."

Her adorably cuddlable small feet curled fearfully inside his palm.

With a delicate blushing face, it was hard to refuse.

She was... too cute...

...

When Mrs. Hanamaru returned from grocery shopping, seeing the ribbon around little Hanabi’s neck, she couldn’t help laughing.