Laid-Back Life in Tokyo: I Really Didn't Want to Work Hard
Chapter 251 - 208: Hanabi Festival (1)_2

Chapter 251: Chapter 208: Hanabi Festival (1)_2

This is something unique.

The yukata, originally meant to be eye-catching with its bright colors, was worn by this timid girl in such a lively and adorable way.

Like lilies swaying in the spring days of April, pure and captivating.

In Hanamaru Hanabi’s charming eyes, there was an implicit fragrance of a girl.

"Is it... pretty?" she asked weakly.

Uesugi Sakura smiled, "The fireworks festival hasn’t even started yet, and I don’t really feel like going."

"Why... why?" the girl asked timidly.

"Because the fireworks are far less beautiful than Hanabi."

Complimented, Hanamaru Hanabi blushed, bowing her head, her small hands under her sleeves overlapping on the sash at her waist, the Purple Wisteria hairpin swaying lightly beside her ear, emitting light.

"Tha-thank you, Sakura-kun..."

Uesugi Sakura felt that what he said might have been a bit cheesy.

But little Hanabi seemed to really like it.

Is this the effect of love? Girls indulge in every word from the one they like?

"Hmm... How exactly do you want to thank me?"

Whenever Uesugi Sakura says this, it means he plans to do something naughty.

The naïve, blushing Hanamaru Hanabi knew what he wanted to do.

"Hanabi... can help Sakura-kun get dressed..."

The shy girl became reserved and taciturn.

Hanamaru Hanabi didn’t dare to look at his bare upper body; even a slight glance would make her want to shake her head like a little rabbit.

Then, blushing, she closes her eyes to dress him.

"I’d better do it myself." Seeing her stumbling about, Uesugi Sakura knew he could only rely on himself.

"Yeah, yeah..." Hanamaru Hanabi quickly turned her back, trotting away.

————————

It’s not advisable to go to the Hanabi festival too early, as the fireworks are set off deep into the night, and it can be very hot during the peak of summer.

However, there is also the advantage of going early, which is to secure a spot in advance.

"Is Jiro not going?" asked the old Uesugi lady before boarding the bus to Matsuyama City.

The sound of the sea tide beyond the seawall still echoed in her ears under the blue sky.

In everyday clothes, Uesugi Shio carefully supported the old lady, "Grandma, you’re aware of Father’s condition."

"Can’t really blame him, Shio." said the unadorned Uesugi grandmother, patting her granddaughter’s hand.

"Hmm." Uesugi Shio absentmindedly replied, her long black hair blowing to the left in the sea breeze beyond the seawall.

Today, many people in the town were heading to Matsuyama City to watch the Hanabi festival, and the bus stopped at the station waiting for passengers.

Usually, there aren’t many young people around, but because it’s summer vacation, many students returning home from work have come back.

Many neighbors greeted the Uesugi grandmother warmly.

The crowd gradually gathered in front of the bus, and Uesugi Sakura still recognized some of his peers, but most were not very familiar, so they were at a simple greeting stage.

He noticed that many guys were secretly watching little Hanabi.

"Shio."

"What’s wrong? Grandma."

"You should have worn a yukata today, too." Uesugi grandmother looked at Hanabi, who was dressed meticulously and lively today.

"Grandma, actually... it’s about the same."

Uesugi grandmother folded her sleeves together, shaking her head, "Such beautiful times as you have are very brief. If you don’t wear a yukata at this age, you will never have this feeling again once you grow up."

"I’ve known your grandfather for almost fifty-two years now, and I first met him at the summer festival. I still remember he tried fishing for goldfish thirty-four times without success, looking very upset."

"I also remember that day I sneaked out carefully from my parents to secretly play at the festival and tried to catch a goldfish to keep.

"I was curious and ran around alone at the summer festival until I finally found the goldfish fishing stall.

"At that time, there were many people watching. Curiosity gets the better of you, you know, so I squeezed into the crowd to watch and found your grandfather paying money again and again, trying to get a goldfish again and again."

"I thought he was so silly and stupid. Why put so much effort into catching a goldfish?

"The paper is very fragile. Too silly, too silly, I stood behind watching him curiously to see when he’d give up, but he never did."

"As those who mocked him gradually left, it was just me foolishly watching him trying to get a goldfish."

"When I saw him on the sixty-seventh attempt and still not give up, I couldn’t resist going up to teach him."

"At the time, he even said I was meddling.

Uesugi grandmother couldn’t help but laugh at this point.

"He was just so stubborn, putting too much strength even into fishing for goldfish, so impetuous."

"Even now, I can recall the colors of the lights from that day. He didn’t have much in the way of a family, yet he worked so hard. I didn’t realize until long after knowing him how I could like such a silly and stubborn person."

Uesugi grandmother looked up, gazing at this small town and those faintly visible orange trees on the distant cherry hill.

"To have run off here with him, and just like that, decades have passed."

"Shio."

Uesugi grandmother patted her hand again.

"Grandma."

"I’ve told you so much just hoping you won’t worry too much about Chigako and enjoy today’s festival. Beautiful time isn’t as long as you think."

"Hmm..."

——————————

The bus heading to Matsuyama City began its journey along the coastline.

Hanamaru Hanabi gazed out of the window, looking at the rolling waves.

The Purple Wisteria hairpin swayed with the motion of the bus.

Uesugi Sakura looked at the snow-white collarbone and neck of her yukata, with the sea and window reflecting her appearance, making her profile appear even more beautiful.

"This is our third time attending the Hanabi festival here."

"Want anything special as a gift?" Uesugi Sakura is not very good at giving gifts.

To be honest, directly asking a girl what kind of special gift she wants is very straightforwardly male.

It also indirectly proves that he truly struggles with romance.

Hanamaru Hanabi turned back, her Purple Wisteria hairpin reflecting a pale purple light.

"As long as it’s from Sakura-kun... Hanabi will like it... but nothing too expensive..."

"Now we have six million saved up."

"We...?"

"Forgot? It’s from Grandma and from when I won the competitions."

"But... isn’t that Sakura-kun’s money?"

"Little Hanabi considers, what am I earning money for? I’m the kind of person who’d be content as long as I can eat well and have a coffee in the afternoon."

Hanamaru Hanabi understood what he meant, slightly lowering her head.

"Thank you, Sakura-kun..."

Yet, a simple ’thank you’ always feels inadequate.

Hanamaru Hanabi originally wanted to say she wasn’t worthy of his actions, but remembering what he said yesterday about being each other’s sun, she refrained from voicing out her insecurities.

She never took his kindness for granted.

Every time he treated her too well, Hanamaru Hanabi would feel a strong sense of guilt, thinking about doing something more meaningful in return.

Uesugi Sakura noticed the shift in her mood; whenever she accepted something from him, she’d become slightly uneasy.

He reached out, wrapping an arm around her petite shoulder.

"Sakura-kun..."

"Take a nap, you’ll be there soon."

Hanamaru Hanabi leaned on his shoulder, his scent carrying memories of vibrant colors from childhood.

Long, long ago, he held her like this.

"Sakura brother..."

"What is it?"

"Hanabi... is so useless..."

"No, never, even if Hanabi is still that crybaby from childhood, I’d be happy to take care of her."

"What if Hanabi remains like this forever?"

"Sakura-kun knows Hanabi lacks self-confidence, but she’s trying her utmost, always giving her best."

Hanamaru Hanabi’s inferiority complex was a persistent cycle.

She was aware of her issues but was also more insecure because of them.

Uesugi Sakura understood, only time can ease her problems.

So, he never once hated her for mistakes arising from her insecurities.

Always maintaining his best encouragement.

Perhaps this was his greatest tenderness to this weak girl.

Hanamaru Hanabi leaned on his shoulder, feeling twelve years of his consistent warmth and reassurance, slowly closing her bright eyes, gradually drifting to sleep.

"Hanabi... always grateful to Sakura-kun..."

The bus heading to the Hanabi festival in Matsuyama City, Ehime Prefecture, kept driving on the azure coastline road.