Laid-Back Life in Tokyo: I Really Didn't Want to Work Hard
Chapter 234 - 198: The Scent of Oranges in the Sea Breeze

Chapter 234: Chapter 198: The Scent of Oranges in the Sea Breeze

Leaving the restaurant, before heading to Uesugi’s grandfather’s orange orchard, we needed to buy some gifts on Silver Sky Street.

The old man’s gifts were a few eels and two bottles of sake, while the old lady’s was some regular bitter tea.

This was recommended by Uesugi Shio, saying that rural folks aren’t that particular, and it’s enough to give what they like.

No need to tear off the price tags on the items either.

In Japan, generally, this kind of thing must be torn off, or if it can’t be, the price must be blacked out with a marker.

Otherwise, the other party might think you deliberately left the price for them to see, so they have to return a more expensive gift next time.

Of course, this is usually the case in casual friendships, very close people have no such concern.

Matsuyama City, Matsuyama Station.

Five people with suitcases got on the bus back to the small town.

Uesugi Sakura leaned against the window, watching Matsuyama Castle tower in the city fade into the distance, and kept recalling the scene from this morning.

Hanamaru Hanabi hadn’t spoken to her again since then.

She lowered her head, sitting silently beside her.

Not a sound, nor any movement.

The swaying bus, even in the bright daytime, made one slightly drowsy.

The pure white summer dress highlighted the clearer young girl’s skin, giving her an ethereal beauty.

Though the lovely girl was now silent.

"Hanabi." Uesugi Sakura tried to talk to her.

After a long silence, Hanamaru Hanabi weakly nodded her response:

"Mm..."

"Are you okay...?"

"I’m fine..." said Hanamaru Hanabi.

Uesugi Sakura felt she was more cautious when speaking to him compared to yesterday.

"I was so out of line—"

"Sakura-kun, don’t say something like that..." Hanamaru Hanabi’s fair and tender little hand could only clutch at her skirt, "Hanabi knows Sakura-kun likes Hanabi... her... chest..."

The passive and soft-spoken manner made the girl seem fragile and small.

"I’m sorry." The strange sense of guilt prompted Uesugi Sakura to apologize to her.

Hanamaru Hanabi looked into his eyes for a long time before lowering her head again and saying shyly:

"It’s okay, as long as it’s Sakura-kun... Hanabi won’t get angry."

"After all, Hanabi... doesn’t have much she can do to help Sakura-kun..."

"..." Uesugi Sakura understood he had bullied her, bullied her too much.

Again with these words lacking confidence.

Hanamaru Hanabi often, intentionally or unintentionally, lowered her position.

This could be comforting to others, but it surely wasn’t beneficial for the young girl herself.

Because it meant she rarely had expectations for herself.

She only wished for the other person to be well, even if it was uncomfortable for herself, she would quietly endure.

This was also why she buried many things in her heart.

To her.

As long as the person she liked was well, she was already satisfied.

Uesugi Sakura didn’t want her to look down on herself too much, as it wouldn’t help heal the deep-seated inferiority she held from childhood.

"Hanabi, you can scold me a bit."

"W-Why?" Hanamaru Hanabi slowly asked.

"Scumbag, pervert, bastard... all are fine."

Hanamaru Hanabi just stared at him, "Sakura-kun... don’t say such things about yourself..."

The bus moved into the forest, where the foliage shyly sheltered the sun.

"For doing something so out of line to you, aren’t you angry?"

Hanamaru Hanabi clutched her hands together, her thumbs restlessly fidgeting:

"Just... just touching... the chest... that’s all, Hanabi was prepared for that... a long time ago."

"..."

She said that, and it reminded Uesugi that she indeed seemed to have said something like that before, that it was okay to touch her chest.

Hanamaru Hanabi continued, one word at a time: "Just, Hanabi hopes that if Sakura-kun wants to touch... he should talk to Hanabi... Hanabi will probably agree..."

"..."

She would most likely agree, yet not entirely, because even touching her little feet would make her shy to no end.

If she was unwilling, it would take Uesugi Sakura a long time to coax her.

The mountain forest was cool and quiet, and the afternoon sun spilled through the leaves, casting a cradle-like effect in the swaying bus, lulling one to sleep.

Uesugi Sakura asked several times, realizing Hanamaru Hanabi really didn’t seem angry.

She was just too shy to speak since morning after finding herself being touched.

Even so, Sakura still found it difficult to face her, sneak attacks were thrilling.

But afterward, there was a deeper sense of guilt.

Reflecting on how wrong it was, Uesugi Sakura tried to compose himself and said:

"Do you want to... lean on me and take a nap? It’ll be an hour before we reach grandpa’s place."

Though Hanamaru Hanabi wasn’t angry, the more serious Uesugi was, the more she felt like he was going to pick on her.

She cautiously probed and asked:

"Sakura-kun... you won’t secretly touch my chest while I’m asleep, right?"

"No." Uesugi Sakura pulled her tender little hand over.

Hanamaru Hanabi felt his hold and was afraid he’d suddenly tease her again.

But after a moment’s hesitation, she relaxed and slowly leaned her head into his embrace.

Uesugi Sakura wrapped his arms around her sweetly scented petite body.

"You really should be a bit angrier."

Her little head started becoming drowsy in the afternoon light, nestled in his embrace, feeling the warmth and breath from his chest.

Quiet words, murmuring like in a dream: "Hanabi... doesn’t want to leave Sakura-nii..."

The bus swayed towards the little town, rolling over loose branches on the road, and the tail-like fallen leaves, progressing steadily onward.

—————————

The bus drove into the sunny coastline.

Ehime Prefecture is rich in mandarins.