Laid-Back Life in Tokyo: I Really Didn't Want to Work Hard
Chapter 31 Above the Sky Bridge

Chapter 31: Chapter 31 Above the Sky Bridge

This question....

Hanamaru Hanabi turned her head, her face flushed, burying her head deeply, her eyes fixed on the small hand clutching the bag in front of her pleated skirt.

Her bright eyes fluttered under the light, seemingly too embarrassed to bring up the topic, as quiet as a snail crawling on a leaf in spring.

She gently tucked her hair behind her ear and said in a soft, weak voice:

"That classmate... is named Terai Hidekazu, he’s in the second-year third class. He has been putting notes in my shoe locker for a long time. I’ve never seen him before, and I didn’t know anyone would like me..."

"Hanabi... has always been so awkward..."

Her words came to an abrupt stop, and Hanamaru Hanabi fell silent again. The evening’s cool breeze blew over both of them, making Uesugi Sakura’s weary mind a bit clearer.

"Was it Ayaka who helped you reject him before?" Uesugi Sakura asked as the two of them stepped onto the narrow footbridge.

To his surprise, Hanamaru Hanabi shook her head:

"No, that time... I rejected him myself..."

Uesugi Sakura looked at her with some astonishment. Refusal was something she rarely did; it always took a great deal of courage for her to say the words "I’m sorry".

"But... I didn’t expect him to come to the club today." Hanamaru Hanabi added.

So that was the scene that happened in the afternoon.

Uesugi Sakura understood what she meant.

Repeatedly rejecting someone also made her position clear. However, for someone like Hanamaru Hanabi, with her timid nature, it was still very difficult to clearly reject someone in front of so many people.

In the past, when classmates asked for her help, she would politely agree, regardless of whether it was something she should do, she would try her best to complete it.

Suddenly, Hanamaru Hanabi turned her head to look at him, revealing a smile: "Uesugi-kun, I remember the words you said to me when you were a child."

"Uesugi-kun said Hanabi should learn to say no, so she would know not to be afraid of people disliking her because of it."

The surprise gradually disappeared from Uesugi Sakura’s face. He looked at the steps illuminated by the lamp before him and broke into a slight smile.

This was indeed something he had encouraged her with before.

How long ago was it?

It must have been in elementary school. No one would have thought that Hanamaru Hanabi would still remember every word clearly.

Back then, they were even teased by a bunch of primary school classmates as a couple, because she always liked to follow him around.

Speaking of that, there was also an unpleasant memory.

When they walked into the classroom together, classmates would always grin broadly, make faces, and let out a continuous chorus of howls.

Their innocent faces would shamelessly mock, yelling their names in unison.

They wrote their names on the blackboard, on the desks, even scribbling little wobbly figures holding hands on their textbooks.

Taking advantage when they went outside.

Uesugi Sakura really disliked those guys.

That’s how children are, with both a kind side and a cruel side. As long as they think it’s fun, they will try their utmost to realize it, fully displaying their cruel side.

No matter how the other person feels, no matter if they are sad or not.

After all, it’s not themselves, they can’t empathize.

No matter how precious something might seem to others, they could easily trample on it, even if that shadow accompanies the other person for a lifetime.

Because of this, Hanamaru Hanabi became extremely self-conscious and sensitive during that time, especially afraid of others disliking her, wanting to do everything to satisfy the other’s wishes.

The more he thought about those kids’ smug expressions, the more annoyed he became.

They were just a bunch of little brats.

Reflecting on this, Uesugi Sakura’s smiling face gradually faded, and he fell into silence.

"Uesugi-kun... did you remember something unpleasant?"

Seeing the change in his expression, Hanamaru Hanabi realized she might have reminded him of something bad.

At that time, he almost dropped out of school because of it...

Hanabi turned her head back and said softly in self-reproach:

"I’m sorry, Uesugi-kun... I reminded you of that again..."

Her soft voice was filled with deep apology.

"No, it’s nothing,"

Uesugi Sakura replied and immediately thought of Hanabi’s troubled and dejected appearance back then, "it’s not your fault, you don’t need to blame yourself, and you don’t need to apologize to me, I’m not upset about it."

"But at that time... I made Uesugi-kun worry for so long..."

Hanamaru Hanabi’s eyes returned to her small hand holding the bag, "Hanabi has always had no chance to properly apologize to Uesugi-kun..."

Apology...

Uesugi Sakura had heard this word many times from her; no matter how familiar they were, she’d always say those two words.

He couldn’t help but divert his gaze to the side.

From the overpass, they could see the endless stream of cars below, and the towering buildings around radiated bright lights. Although the night sky was dim, under these layered lights, one could feel the city’s hustle and bustle.

Passersby came and went, each with their unique gait and emotions, searching for their own place in this city.

Uesugi Sakura turned back to look at the girl beside him.

Her eyes, nose, lips, and face, all appeared familiar yet unfamiliar at this moment.

Never sparing apologies or gratitude, she could only express her emotions well in circumstances like this.

So, shouldn’t he also face his feelings sincerely?

His usually calm heart was at this moment stirred slightly.

He called out to the girl beside him:

"Hanabi."

"Yes." Hanamaru Hanabi nodded, just like she normally would.

"We’ve known each other for twelve years now, right?"

"Yes."

"In these twelve years, have you ever felt vexed?"

"No."

"In these twelve years, do you think I’ve changed?"

"Uesugi-kun is still Uesugi-kun."

"In these twelve years, will you continue to walk with me?"

"Hanabi said she would always be with Uesugi-kun, please don’t worry."

"I understand."

Upon hearing these words, Uesugi Sakura’s face naturally broke into a heartfelt smile.

He stopped walking on the footbridge as people slowly passed by, gazing at the girl who looked back. His throat moved, and with a complex feeling in his heart, he earnestly spoke the words:

"Hanabi, after accompanying me for twelve years, are you willing to be with me now?"

Hearing these words, Hanamaru Hanabi widened her eyes and looked at the figure standing in the light with surprise.

The cool evening breeze made her black pleated skirt sway lightly, and her little hand holding the bag unconsciously drew inward.

In the distance were towering buildings, cars were passing below, pedestrians walked by, the neon lights illuminated the entire city, gradually making her outline more distinct and vivid.

Uesugi Sakura waited for her answer. He thought she would shyly lower her head.

But after a moment, she seemed to have been prepared, and she smiled radiantly:

"Sure."

At this moment, Hanabi’s smile was like the brilliantly blooming fireworks in the summer night, lighting up the distant, dark sky and illuminating everything.

"Sure"... such a light and airy word, yet it made Uesugi Sakura feel an overflowing warmth from the bottom of his heart, filling his whole being.

Among the myriad swirling, chaotic thoughts, and an indescribable sense of gratitude.

Grateful for the twelve years she had been by his side, grateful that she could accept his request so easily.

This peculiar feeling compelled him to subconsciously open his mouth, his throat moving, and among countless words, he condensed only two:

"Thank you."