Laid-Back Life in Tokyo: I Really Didn't Want to Work Hard
Chapter 300 - 235: To love is to live ordinarily._2

Chapter 300: Chapter 235: To love is to live ordinarily._2

On the topic of what gifts to give a girl on her birthday, it is an eternal subject.

Waking up to the sound of birds in the morning, Uesugi Sakura started playing an easy version of "Ode to Joy" on his newly bought guitar.

Maybe "Ode to Joy" really has a joyful atmosphere, as even a pigeon with white glasses stopped on his window.

By the window, there was a pot of asparagus fern, swaying gently in the reflection of the clear blue sky.

In this leisurely atmosphere, after finishing "Ode to Joy," Uesugi Sakura went downstairs to take a stroll outside.

The morning air was still a bit chilly, but even in autumn, the trees lining the street were lush and green.

Passing by several gift shops, Uesugi Sakura spent a long time trying to find a fitting gift but couldn’t pick one.

The shop assistant suggested giving a necklace or bracelet, items with a more expensive feel.

Understanding that Hanabi doesn’t like things that are too expensive, he had to give up and left the store.

This street is called Mochiduki Street, and it’s said that at nine in the evening, you can stand on the street and see the moon directly.

A characteristic of British streets is having many bookstores, restaurants, and coffee shop tables and chairs set outside.

This would bring them close to the street, welcoming the outdoor air and sunlight.

On weekend afternoon tea times, many people can be seen leisurely sipping tea under shop signs adorned with vine flowers.

After a morning stroll, the faint morning mist hadn’t entirely dispersed.

When Uesugi Sakura skipped over a fountain and opened the door to return to the small villa, Hanamaru Yuuki was already sitting on a lace chair.

Hanabi and Mrs. Margaret were busy preparing breakfast in the kitchen.

With the need to prepare lunch bento for him, Hanamaru Hanabi was even busier.

"Yuuki, what gift do you plan to give?"

"What gift?" Hanamaru Yuuki asked, peeking out from behind her phone.

"For your sister’s birthday."

"Isn’t my sister’s birthday in October..."

Hanamaru Yuuki glanced at her phone, then with a sudden realization, smiled and said, "Oh, it’s already October."

"So, brother-in-law, what gift are you planning to give?"

"I was asking you," Uesugi Sakura reminded her.

"I honestly haven’t thought about it yet," Hanamaru Yuuki said.

"How about giving her a surprise party or something?" Uesugi Sakura tentatively asked.

"Do you want me to help play wingman and stick by her side?"

Hanamaru Yuuki smiled, understanding what he meant, "But no, no, that’s too cliché. Plus, my sister surely knows her birthday is coming in a few days, and giving her a surprise would just make it awkward, forcing her to act surprised."

Speaking of which, surprise birthday parties are indeed too cliché.

It requires more careful thinking.

"Alright, now it’s your turn to tell me what gift you prepared."

"Is this kind of thing worth being so curious about?"

"Curiosity is a girl’s nature, and I also need inspiration and material for my drawings."

Uesugi Sakura glanced at Hanabi’s busy figure in the kitchen, "Honestly, I haven’t prepared a gift yet."

"How about giving stockings?" Hanamaru Yuuki grinned playfully.

In Japan, giving socks carries a very intimate meaning, mostly exchanged between close couples.

Uesugi Sakura could give them, but Hanabi might feel too embarrassed to wear them.

"Something more proper."

"Why aren’t stockings proper? Stockings are essential for every girl."

Hanamaru Yuuki thought for a moment, "Since no gift seems right, giving flowers can’t go wrong."

As Hanamaru Hanabi walked out from the kitchen with a tray of breakfast, they had to break off their conversation.

Questions filled the day, as Uesugi Sakura asked everyone what gifts they’d give to someone they fancy.

Mr. Blaise would give a handmade dessert, while Miss Anna went for a gold necklace.

You could probably infer their attitudes toward life from this.

By evening, Uesugi Sakura was in the kitchen helping Hanamaru Hanabi chop vegetables.

When it comes to cooking, he’s an Alchemist; when chopping vegetables, he’s a kitchen master.

He noticed that throughout the day, Hanabi was eating nothing but vegetables, even drinking only a tiny cup of coffee.

"Is Hanabi trying to lose weight?"

"Hmm..."

Compared to before, Uesugi Sakura felt she had indeed grown a lot.

"I wouldn’t mind if you gained a little weight."

"Sakura-kun... doesn’t understand..."

"How could I not understand?" Uesugi Sakura deftly chopped the cabbage and placed it in a bowl for Hanabi to rinse again.

"Being chubby isn’t attractive..."

"But Mr. Blaise’s chubby blue short-haired cat is very cute."

"But Hanabi is not a cat..."

Uesugi Sakura dried his hands, stood behind Hanamaru Hanabi, and hugged her:

"I think, many times, little Hanabi is like a little cat."

The sound of water washing cabbage continued in the kitchen, as he kissed Hanamaru Hanabi’s fair neck, inhaled her scent through his nose, and nibbled her soft, red ear lobe.

"Sakura-kun... stop... it tickles... Hanabi is still washing vegetables..."

Uesugi Sakura refrained from going any further, simply wrapping his arms around her waist and resting his head on her shoulder, asking:

"Can we sleep together tonight? Come to my place."

Hanamaru Hanabi’s cheeks turned crimson from his actions: "Sakura-kun... Hanabi has to attend classes tomorrow..."

"Isn’t it possible if you have classes?"

"But every time with Sakura-kun... every time it takes so long..."

So long?

Uesugi Sakura paused for a moment and then chuckled: "I just want you to stay with me longer, what were you thinking of?"

Blushing even more, Hanamaru Hanabi quickly freed herself from his embrace and focused on washing the vegetables.

"Did you misunderstand?" Uesugi Sakura asked as he looked at her side profile.

"No, it’s not Hanabi’s fault."

"Is it my fault?"

"Well..."

Remembering that summer, Hanamaru Hanabi’s shy words took a long time to come out, and she muttered softly: "So annoying..."

....

After dinner, the next morning, Uesugi Sakura sneezed as he got up.

Pinching his nose, he half-opened his eyes to a dim light and found that all the quilt was being tugged over by the girl beside him.

Stealing the quilt from me again?

During the summer, it was fine, but in the autumn chill of London, it was a bit cold.

Continuing like this would surely lead to a cold.

Seeing the time was only past five, Uesugi Sakura lay back on the pillow, extended his hand into the quilt, and tugged back the part belonging to him.

In the process of pulling, the drowsy Hanamaru Hanabi shifted to face him in her sleep.

"Did I wake you?"

The half-asleep girl replied with an almost unconscious nasal sound before returning to sleep.

"Asleep?"

Uesugi Sakura had no resistance to seeing her asleep.

She was growing more adorable by the day, her body perpetually exuding the sweet scent of youth.

He worried that at the academy, many would pursue her.

Unable to resist, he hugged her, nibbling on her lips, while his right hand slipped under her clothes to rub her little stomach.

The warmth diffusing between his fingers was as soft and sweet as marshmallows.

...

The morning light was not yet bright, with vague mist lingering on the street outside the window.

In her sleep, Hanamaru Hanabi opened her eyes, only to blush suddenly.

She looked at the person opposite who was still asleep and shyly whispered:

"H."

Then she reached under the cover to remove his claw-like hand from inside her top.

Everything was messy right after getting up.

Hanamaru Hanabi put on her slippers and walked to the wardrobe to get the dress she took out yesterday.

Holding the dress up against the sliding straps, she compared it in the mirror.

It looked really nice.

The girl’s face was flushed as she glanced at Uesugi Sakura, still sleeping soundly on the bed.

She started to take off her clothes to change into her dress and puffy shorts.

"Do you want me to help you put on socks today?"

The sudden question startled Hanamaru Hanabi, causing her to quickly and awkwardly pull up her puffy shorts:

"No, there’s no need to trouble Sakura-kun..."

Would this be troublesome?

Uesugi Sakura didn’t voice it; if she was shy, it was fine.

"Hanabi, you gave me a scarf before, right?"

"Sakura-kun... still has it?"

"I still have it, didn’t bear to wear it, even though back then we weren’t dating yet. But it was the first time a girl was willing to give me a scarf, so I preserved it well."

Facing away from him while dressing, Hanamaru Hanabi softly said with blushing cheeks:

"Thank you."