Laid-Back Life in Tokyo: I Really Didn't Want to Work Hard
Chapter 297 - 233 Uesugi and Hanabi

Chapter 297: Chapter 233 Uesugi and Hanabi

Early the next morning, sunlight filled the room, and occasionally you could see a dove flying outside the window.

Uesugi Sakura gently caressed Hanamaru Hanabi’s tummy.

"Feeling better?"

"Hmm~ A little better..."

The girl’s tummy was soft, and the gentle motions felt even more comforting.

"Then no coffee for you today."

"Why?"

As Hanamaru Hanabi felt his hand gently caressing her stomach, a warm sensation soothing her slight abdominal pain quietly emerged.

"Coffee is invigorating and promotes blood circulation. A little is fine, but I’m worried if you drink too much, you’ll bleed heavily."

Heavy, heavy bleeding...

Uesugi Sakura spoke casually, but as a girl, Hanamaru Hanabi felt deeply embarrassed.

She used her paws, like those of a milk kitten, to push his body away.

"Not rubbing anymore?"

"No, no more rubbing..."

Uesugi Sakura felt a bit reluctant to stop, as the sensation of the girl’s tummy yielding under his touch was like smooth morning milk, quite comfortable.

"Sakura... Sakura-kun...?"

The reason Hanamaru Hanabi called out was naturally because his hand had slipped back inside her thin clothing.

"You’ve gained weight recently," Uesugi Sakura commented while feeling her warm, soft tummy.

With her face flushing hot, Hanamaru Hanabi was momentarily stunned:

"Gained weight?"

"Yes, have you weighed yourself recently? I guess you’ve put on about five pounds."

In Japan, "pounds" are rarely used as a unit; they usually use grams or kilograms.

Hearing "gained weight," the young and concerned Hanamaru Hanabi misheard and thought she had gained five kilograms instead.

"No, that’s not okay!!"

"What’s wrong?"

Uesugi Sakura watched her sit up quickly from the bed, the strap of her undergarment slipping down her arm, creating a chaotic look.

"Sakura-kun can’t feed Hanabi anymore."

"Afraid of gaining weight?" Uesugi Sakura said indifferently, "But I haven’t fed you that much."

"French fries, fried chicken, pizza, apple pie, chocolate mousse, butter toast, and little cakes." Counting on her fingers, Hanamaru Hanabi listed what he had fed her over the past few days.

Uesugi Sakura chuckled, "Quite a variety, isn’t it?"

"They’re all high-calorie!"

"But didn’t I see you enjoy eating them sweetly?"

Hanamaru Hanabi felt embarrassed to admit it was because he fed her, so she found it hard to refuse.

Of course, there was also the reason that he constantly tempted her.

"It’s all... all Sakura-kun’s fault..."

"This Hanabi isn’t being honest, obviously can’t control her own mouth."

Touching her tummy, Hanamaru Hanabi mumbled, "Before Sakura-kun came... there wasn’t all this fat..."

In the morning light, the girl’s freshly risen appearance was more captivating.

Perhaps influenced by Hanamaru Hanabi’s charm, Uesugi Sakura propped himself up from the bed, placing his hands on her shoulders where her slipping strap was.

Pushing her head onto the pillow, the slanting bright sunlight from the head of the bed lit up the girl’s shimmering violet eyes until they sparkled brightly.

"Sakura-kun...?"

Uesugi Sakura leaned down, speaking slowly into her ear: "It’s okay, it’s just a bit of a tummy, Hanabi is still in a healthy state."

Uesugi Sakura then propped himself up again, placing his hands on either side of her.

"Besides, I want to apologize to you for forgetting something so important when we were young."

"It’s okay... Sakura-kun... Sakura-nii-chan remembered..."

Until last night, when Hanabi spoke those words, Uesugi Sakura finally understood what Uesugi Shio meant by "sometimes a dream isn’t just one person’s thing."

More than ten years ago, Hanabi had already shared the dream she constructed with him.

The paintings she created were all to avoid those insincere praises and forced encouragements.

What she wanted was merely a genuine compliment from Sakura-nii-chan.

"Shio-nee once told me: ’Sometimes just one sentence can give someone direction in life.’"

Uesugi Sakura smiled at Hanamaru Hanabi beneath him, "Now I understand what that sentence truly means."

"Sakura-kun..."

Hanamaru Hanabi turned her head, her blushing cheeks reluctant to meet his gaze, "Hanamaru was hated by everyone back then, and her paintings were ridiculed... But only Sakura-nii-chan never despised her... and encouraged her to keep going.

"But Hanabi was still very foolish, slow in mind, clumsy with hands, even after three months could only draw that kind of Sakura-nii-chan. Hanabi thought Sakura-nii-chan would despise her... but he still encouraged Hanabi wholeheartedly... and carefully kept that very poor painting in his favorite book.

"Hanabi didn’t have a dream, but following Sakura-nii-chan, grabbing the hem of his clothes, she vaguely understood what the teacher meant by saying a dream is a kind of feeling."

Speaking of this, Hanamaru Hanabi’s voice grew even softer.

"Sakura-kun... is Hanabi useless... even her dreams are stolen from Sakura-nii-chan..."

"No, not at all," Uesugi Sakura caressed her cheek, smiling as he spoke, "This is Hanabi’s own longing, just no one expected she would always admire someone like this."

"How long has our relationship lasted?" he asked.

"Twelve years..."

"No, it’s almost thirteen years."

"Back when I first saw that tearfully hiding little girl behind her mom, she’s all grown up already."

"Sakura-kun... doesn’t hate her?"

Uesugi Sakura shook his head:

"During the time you disappeared, Ehime and Tokyo were continuously raining, the weather was cold, the air humid, without you by my side, I, who had no goal, lost direction even more; I even ran out for a jog in the rain, trying to ease my long-accumulated feelings.

"You’ve asked this question many times, but no matter how many times, my answer remains the same, no, I believe by now there’s already a familial bond between us, neither can part from the other.

"Hanabi, I like you, I want you to live with me.

"By now, haven’t we each occupied a vast forest in each other’s hearts? If forcibly cut and separated, it would only leave behind a desolate wasteland."

"..."

Hanamaru Hanabi turned back, in their eye contact, she muttered in her soft voice:

"Sakura-kun... Hanabi’s answer is the same... Hanabi will always keep the promise made with him... will always wish to stay by his side..."

"That’s enough."

Uesugi Sakura lifted her up, kissing her moist cherry lips before Hanabi could react, gently laying her back on the bed.

The petite Hanamaru Hanabi lay on the bed, feeling the taste between their lips, her whole being spinning dizzily in sync with the warmth clinging to her.

The weather was clear, tender leaves lush, and the gentle morning light warmed the bright sky.

Outside the door, Hanamaru Yuuki, who was planning to call Hanabi to go eat at Uesugi’s, covered his little face with his hands, looking shocked at the two inside through the crack of the door.

’Kissing! They’re kissing!’

--------------------------

A few days ago, while visiting the Hanamaru residence, Uesugi Sakura found an old, short diary in Hanabi’s drawer.

The handwriting was very childish, like a child who had just learned to write.

January 14, Monday, Weather: Sunny.

Today is Hanabi’s first time writing a diary.

Hanabi doesn’t really know how to write, but Hanabi will do her best!

Sakura-nii-chan and dad have been encouraging me like this.

Hmm... but Hanabi doesn’t know what to write today.

Is Hanabi really dumb.....

——————

January 15, Tuesday, Weather: Heavy rain

The sound of the rain is so loud.

Today, for some reason, Sakura-nii-chan is in a bad mood.

Chino Granny didn’t bring any potatoes today either.

Is it because it’s raining?

Hanabi wants to make Sakura-nii-chan happy, but Hanabi doesn’t know what to do.

Sakura-nii-chan doesn’t like snacks, Sakura-nii-chan likes to read books.

Hanabi wants to buy him a book.

——————

January 16, Wednesday, Weather: Heavy rain

Dad gave Hanabi a lot of money, but the heavy rain hasn’t stopped.

Hanabi is afraid to go buy a book alone... can only sit by the window, watching the window of Sakura-nii-chan’s house.

——————

January 17, Thursday, Weather: Light rain

The heavy rain has reduced a lot, finally giving Hanabi a chance to buy a book! So happy!

I wonder if Sakura-nii-chan will like Hanabi’s gift...

If Sakura-nii-chan dislikes it... then besides mom and dad, no one else will like Hanabi...

Hanabi really wants to make a few more friends.

——————

January 18, Friday, Weather: Light rain

Hanabi... so foolish, really foolish...

Hanabi dirtied Sakura-nii-chan’s book... it fell onto the very wet ground, and Hanabi just cried.

I promised Sakura-nii-chan I wouldn’t cry, Hanabi is so useless...

——————

January 19, Saturday, Weather: Cloudy

Today was a holiday, mom and Aunt Nobuko took Hanabi and Sakura-nii-chan to the park, but Hanabi didn’t dare talk to Sakura-nii-chan.

Sakura-nii-chan’s book is in Hanabi’s little drawer, very dirty.

Only Sakura-nii-chan and mom and dad are willing to help Hanabi wipe her tears, Hanabi doesn’t want him to see.

Everyone... doesn’t like Hanabi, only Sakura-nii-chan...

——————

January 20, Sunday, Weather: Sunny

Sakura-nii-chan truly loves reading books; when Hanabi went to play with him, he just kept sitting on the bench reading.

Hanabi knows not to disturb Sakura-nii-chan when he’s reading, so she just sat quietly by his side.

——————

February 21, Thursday, Weather: Overcast

Hanabi knows she’s not beautiful... and cries too much...

But why doesn’t everyone like Hanabi and throw things at her...

——————

February 22, Friday, Weather: Cloudy

Sakura-nii-chan told dad about what happened yesterday.

Dad seemed very angry and brought Hanabi to school, talking with Teacher Kotera for a long time in the office.

Hanabi could hear Teacher Kotera apologizing.

Why?

It’s clearly not Teacher Kotera’s fault.

Everyone should have just accidentally thrown things at Hanabi...

After all, it wasn’t the first time.

——————

February 25, Monday, Weather: Cloudy

Hanabi... transferred schools...

Teacher Kotera, Director Nakatani, Sakura-nii-chan... all disappeared...

Everyone is looking at Hanabi, but Hanabi doesn’t know them; she’s very scared...

——————

February 26, Tuesday, Weather: Sunny

Hanabi is too scared to play with them, Hanabi just wants Sakura-nii-chan to tell her stories.

Thinking about not being able to see Sakura-nii-chan in the future, Hanabi wants to cry, really wants to cry.

——————

February 28, Thursday, Weather: Overcast

Hanabi... hasn’t made a single friend...

Tomoko-chan, Nozomi-chan, and Ritsu-chan all say Hanabi cries too much, is ugly, and don’t want to play with me...

Hanabi... is hated by everyone again.

Hanabi is really useless... doesn’t have a single friend...

——————

March 4, Monday, Weather: Sunny

Today, there was an art class, but Hanabi draws terribly, and everyone laughed around Hanabi.

Why... clearly everyone’s drawing is similar to Hanabi’s....

——————

March 5, Tuesday, Weather: Light rain

Hanabi is very sad, very sad... doesn’t want to write in the diary anymore...

Hanabi wants to go find Sakura-nii-chan...

——————————————

March 6, Wednesday, Weather: Sunny

Today, we all went to the park and saw Sakura-nii-chan.

Should I strive to draw the best things in my heart...?

Hanabi will hold on a bit longer, both for writing in the diary and drawing.

Yes, definitely!

...

Uesugi Sakura read the final part.

But from then on, Hanabi stopped writing here, as this is just Hanabi’s unhappy memories, hoping that Sakura-nii-chan doesn’t see it...