Laid-Back Life in Tokyo: I Really Didn't Want to Work Hard
Chapter 282 - 224 I Will Definitely Do It_2

Chapter 282: Chapter 224 I Will Definitely Do It_2

Uesugi Sakura lifted his head again, looking around with rain-soaked eyes, and realized he had run to an unfamiliar intersection next to a 7-Eleven.

Occasional passersby looked at him curiously, wet from the rain, but only out of curiosity and quickly hurried away.

The loneliness named rain seemed to fill his entire being, and even after a run, it couldn’t suppress the chill.

From the direction of the convenience store came the sound of small footsteps splashing in the water, and a black umbrella suddenly covered his head.

"Senior...?"

Hearing this slightly questioning voice, Uesugi Sakura turned his head and found Chitose Mai in convenience store attire.

She was holding an umbrella, looking at him in surprise.

"Chitose."

"Why is Senior here?" Seeing him stand up, Chitose Mai raised the umbrella higher, "And in this state...?"

"Morning run exercise."

"Morning run exercise...?" Chitose Mai looked even more puzzled at his drenched appearance, "...It just feels like Senior broke up."

Uesugi Sakura realized everyone would say that, "It’s not like that."

"But this..." Chitose Mai glanced at the rainy intersection, "Not many people would come out to run in the rain..."

"Well, I’m the example now, proving someone would do it, and surprisingly it feels good."

"Too strange."

The rain seemed to grow heavier, pounding on the umbrella with a loud noise.

Soaking wet, Uesugi Sakura stepped out from under the umbrella, ready to head back the way he came.

"Hey!" Chitose Mai hurriedly lifted the umbrella over his head again, "Senior, where are you going?"

"Run back home."

"No way..." Chitose Mai looked at his completely drenched clothes, "How far is your home from here, Senior?"

Uesugi Sakura estimated, "About ten kilometers."

"Ten kilometers!? You’re all wet, you’ll definitely catch a cold running back!"

"Then I’ll just catch a cold."

"That’s no good! Hanabi-chan will definitely be worried!"

Chitose Mai lifted the plastic bag in her hand, "I was just coming off the night shift, why not come to my place? It’s nearby, just in the apartment building behind."

After speaking, she turned and pointed to a building not far behind the convenience store.

"..."

Uesugi Sakura felt he should avoid these situations, going to a female classmate’s house seemed too ambiguous, "Forget it, I’ll call a cab myself."

"Drivers refuse to pick up strange people!" Chitose Mai laughed, "My grandma’s at home too, it’s alright, I’ll explain to Hanabi-chan later."

Uesugi Sakura didn’t want her to see him in this state:

"...It’s just a bit of rain, no need to worry her."

——————————

On the third floor of the apartment building, Chitose Mai turned the door lock with a key.

"Senior, please don’t make a sound when you enter, I’m afraid you’ll scare my grandma with how wet you are."

"Got it."

It was Uesugi Sakura’s first time at another female classmate’s home, but it wasn’t anything strange.

Aside from initially being unfamiliar with the room’s layout, there wasn’t much else.

Chitose Mai took off her shoes at the entrance, placed the umbrella in the stand, and turned to quietly speak to Uesugi Sakura, who was slightly taller:

"Senior, wait in the bathroom for a while, I’ll get my brother’s clothes for you to change into."

"You have a brother?"

"Yes, isn’t it obvious?"

Chitose Mai giggled and walked into the room.

Uesugi Sakura stood in the bathroom for now, noticing many skincare products at the sink, mostly the brands Hanabi used.

It seemed like she had asked Hanabi about the brands she used, otherwise, they wouldn’t be so similar.

The voices of Chitose Mai and her grandma drifted in from outside.

"Mai, why are you carrying your brother’s new clothes?"

"A senior of mine accidentally got wet in the rain, and his home is too far, so I let him stay here for a bit."

"I see."

Uesugi Sakura could hear her and the grandma chit-chatting for a while, nothing too significant.

Chitose Mai came in carrying several pieces of clothing and pants, smiling:

"Here, Senior, they’re new and never worn."

"Thank you."

Uesugi Sakura took the clothes from her hands.

After changing in the bathroom, Uesugi Sakura followed Chitose Mai to meet Chitose Grandma, who was sitting on a small Japanese tatami mat.

Chitose Grandma was very friendly and seemed to be in better spirits than other elderly women.

"Mai, make two cups of tea for little Sakura, he’s also your senior in the Kyudo Club."

Though it was an apartment, the Chitose Family had a large home, a four-bedroom, two-living room, two-bathroom space.

No surprise, those attending Kamigoe would come from at least moderately well-off families.

"Little Sakura must be popular at school." Chitose Grandma smiled.

"Quite average, in the middle," Uesugi Sakura was reasonably popular but too aloof for most to approach directly.

"Does little Sakura have any hobbies?"

"Reading, I suppose."

"Oh? Which writer do you like?"

"I wouldn’t say like, but I respect every writer who can put their thoughts on paper and share their ideas and stories with the world."

Chitose Grandma smiled approvingly.

"You’re right, everyone deserves respect, and we can all learn something from each other."

"Little Sakura must be doing well in school; I can tell from your manners and expression. Where’s your home? Maybe my old self has passed by during my walks, and we could greet each other sometime."

"In the Kanda River neighborhood by Waseda Station, it’s a single-family house with Uesugi written outside."

"At Waseda Station, that’s over ten kilometers from here, not too far."

Chitose Grandma looked towards Chitose Mai by the kettle, holding a phone and waiting for the hot water, and sighed:

"Speaking of which, Mai has had a hard life."

Chitose Grandma sighed again, her eyes blurry and hazy, looking at Chitose Mai’s profile resembling her father’s.

"Perhaps it’s the will of the gods; the Chitose family can’t escape the fate of car accidents."

"Her grandpa, father, or uncle... all taken on the road. For over a decade, it’s been Mai and Takashi supporting me, this frail old lady."

Uesugi Sakura understood the elderly wanted to talk when around people.

"What about Chitose’s mother?"

"She ran off when Mai was three, didn’t even want the house, went off with a wealthy guy, but at least she had some conscience... She didn’t take all the money meant for the kids’ survival."

Chitose Grandma spoke not with regret but a sense of acceptance.

"Even though Mai didn’t show it, I know she was persevering during those times, but hardship has an end. It’s all thanks to her brother...."

After bringing the tea, Chitose Grandma chatted with Uesugi Sakura about family matters.

Uesugi Sakura felt Chitose Grandma seemed to like him.

"Little Sakura... have you been having thoughts lately? I can see it from your eyes, you’re hesitating."

Chitose Mai looked at him while holding tea in her hands.

"..."

...

"Sorry for the disturbance, it’s getting late, and I should head home."

"Are you sure you don’t want to stay for lunch?" Chitose Grandma offered, smiling.

"No trouble."

Uesugi Sakura once again politely declined Chitose Grandma’s kindness, then turned to the standing Chitose Mai, "I’ll return the clothes, thank you for today."

"No problem, don’t bother returning the clothes, I’ll just have my brother buy another pair," Chitose Mai smiled as well, "You’ve been kind in the Kyudo Club, it’s a small token of thanks."

Uesugi Sakura thought, it wouldn’t be polite to return clothes he had worn, he’d find another way to repay them later.

He could only thank them again a few times.

"Well then, I’ll take my leave, thank you for the care."

After exchanging a few more polite words at the entrance, Uesugi Sakura left the Chitose residence with a borrowed umbrella and a bag of clothes.

In the corridor, Uesugi Sakura took a glance at the vague Tokyo Skytree in the rain, then descended the stairs.

Before he made it to the second floor, Chitose Mai hurried over, stepping down the stairs to him.

"Senior, Grandma wanted me to see you off," she called out with a smile.

"There’s really no need to see me off," Uesugi Sakura continued down the stairs.

"Grandma said you have something on your mind and told me to relay; make sure not to make any decisions you’ll regret."

Walking beside him, Chitose Mai asked, "What a strange message; what’s Senior thinking about?"

Instead of answering, Uesugi Sakura stood at the stairway mouth and looked up at the sky:

"I haven’t yet figured out what excuse to use, but I will definitely do it."

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