Laid-Back Life in Tokyo: I Really Didn't Want to Work Hard
Chapter 39 On the Way Home, Hanamaru Hiroki

Chapter 39: Chapter 39 On the Way Home, Hanamaru Hiroki

The neon lights at night always cling closely to both sides of the street, and the two continued walking on their way home. The conversation just now had warmed the atmosphere around them quite a bit.

Hanamaru Hanabi followed Uesugi Sakura into a 7-Eleven convenience store.

"Welcome."

The store clerk, flipping through his phone at the checkout counter, habitually said as he looked up, smiling slightly at the two:

"Oh, it’s Uesugi and Hanamaru. Good evening to you both."

"Hmm." Uesugi Sakura responded casually and went in to choose goods, while Hanamaru Hanabi waited in front of the checkout counter.

"Good evening, Tang."

Hanamaru Hanabi also nodded at the clerk, politely greeting him.

Noticing Tang Dongyun was still on duty today, there was some confusion, "Isn’t Ms. Tabuchi on duty today?"

"Haha, nothing I can do," Tang Dongyun replied with a bitter smile. "Tabuchi-senpai seems to have caught a cold recently, so I have to cover for her a few more days."

Tang Dongyun is an international student in Japan, wearing black glasses and with a slender build. He’s easy-going, and he’s been working part-time at this 7-Eleven for more than a year now.

Gradually, he and the regulars, Uesugi Sakura and Hanamaru Hanabi, have come to know each other’s names.

"...Is Senpai Tabuchi alright?" Hanamaru Hanabi asked with concern.

"She should be fine in a few days," Tang Dongyun said. "No need to worry about her, she’s quite sturdy as she’s a senior at the store."

Uesugi Sakura came out with his chosen goods from the convenience store and overheard their conversation: "It’s best not to let Tabuchi hear that, or you’ll definitely get an earful from her."

"Haha, of course I know, that’s why I’m only saying it now,"

Tang Dongyun said as he scanned a Nissin cup noodle and two bottles of Calpis across the counter,

"That’ll be 425 yen. Would you like a bag?"

"No need." Uesugi Sakura fished out a 1000 yen bill from his bag and handed it over.

"Thank you for your patronage."

After receiving 575 yen in change and hearing Tang Dongyun’s thanks, the two bade him farewell and continued walking in the direction home.

"Here."

Uesugi Sakura handed the bottle of Calpis he had just bought to Hanamaru Hanabi.

"Thank you."

Hanamaru Hanabi didn’t rush to drink like Uesugi Sakura. Instead, she looked at the cup noodle he put in his backpack,

"Uesugi, my mom asked me to invite you over for dinner today..."

Going to the Hanamaru’s for dinner?

Uesugi Sakura roughly understood what this meant.

"Is it to discuss the matter between the two of us?" Uesugi Sakura opened the Calpis in his hand, took a sip, and enjoyed the smooth taste of lactic acid, it was quite delightful.

After all, it’s considered a national drink.

"It should be... yes... Dad also said it’s necessary for you to come."

Hanamaru Hiroki...

Is this going to be an interrogation of sorts? Uesugi Sakura couldn’t help but think to himself, but he wasn’t afraid.

Hanamaru Hiroki’s police officer status suddenly reminded him of something, so he asked Hanabi, "By the way, Hanabi, does Uncle Hiroki practice Sword Dao?"

Hanamaru Hanabi nodded slightly and said:

"Yes, Dad is a Police Chief. I remember him mentioning that he’s Seventh Rank in Sword Dao, which is supposed to be very impressive, though Hanabi isn’t clear on these things, and Dad never talks to me about his work."

"Seventh Rank? That’s impressive." Uesugi Sakura remembered what Tsubokawa had said, that even the national Sword Dao champion was at most Seventh Rank.

But Hanamaru Hiroki was already promoted to Police Chief?

The Police Chief is akin to the head or deputy head of a police station, equivalent to a local criminal investigation department head, ranking just below the chief in the district police station.

It’s already a core police position, since Police Chiefs only make up 2.5% of the national police force.

Even though Uesugi Sakura didn’t know how this position ranked in Tokyo, it clearly wasn’t low.

Hanamaru Hanabi looked up at Uesugi Sakura, and they were not far from home at this point, "Are you coming for dinner tonight, Uesugi? It’s okay if you don’t want to; Hanabi can explain for you."

"I’ll come. Today, I want to practice some Sword Dao with Uncle Hiroki."

"Huh?! But aren’t you practicing Kyudo, Uesugi?"

Uesugi Sakura smiled as he looked at her surprised little face: "Who said you can’t practice both Kyudo and Sword Dao at the same time?"

"But, but," Hanamaru Hanabi said anxiously, a bit worried, "Won’t you be too tired? Kyudo, Sword Dao, and Professor Haneda’s study sessions, these all take a lot of time."

"Maybe it wasn’t possible before, but now it’s fine. Don’t worry about me, Hanabi."

Hanamaru Hanabi wanted to say more, but seeing Uesugi Sakura’s confident expression, she chose to trust him in her heart.

If it’s Uesugi, then it’ll be alright.

She nodded obediently,

"Okay, Hanabi understands."

Under the quiet black night, the two walked under the moonlight and soon reached the gate with the "Hanamaru" sign.

Uesugi Sakura stood behind Hanamaru Hanabi, looking at the small yard next door, waiting for her to open the door.

Click,

The door opened, and the rich aroma of food wafted out immediately.

"I’m back." Hanabi tried to raise her soft voice as much as possible.

Soon, Hanamaru Meiko’s voice came from inside, accompanied by hurried footsteps, "Welcome home, Hanabi-chan."

Hanamaru Meiko soon poked her head out from the inner room and smiled at Hanamaru Hanabi at the door:

"Did you bring little Sakura today?"

"Yes..."

Hanamaru Hanabi nodded, cautiously holding onto the door frame, turned back to look at him, and said:

"Uesugi, please come in."

At the entrance, after taking off his shoes and changing them, Uesugi Sakura entered Hanabi’s home once again.

"Little Sakura, have a seat in the living room and wait a bit. I still have some dishes to finish cooking in the kitchen."

"Alright."

"Mom, do you need any help?" Hanamaru Hanabi glanced at the chopping board behind her, where the chopping was half done.

"No need," Hanamaru Meiko said with a smile, unfortunately, her hands were still wet, or else she would have patted her head, "you should go upstairs and change out of your uniform first."

Under her mother’s words, Hanamaru Hanabi headed to the second floor.

Hanamaru Meiko was very pleased as she looked at Uesugi Sakura, her expression full of joy, "Go sit in the living room first, little Sakura."

"Alright." Uesugi Sakura responded casually as usual, without much difference.

In the living room, the large TV was broadcasting NHK’s evening news, and Hanamaru Hiroki was leaning against the couch in front of the TV.

However, he wasn’t looking at the cluttered news broadcast on TV, but instead turned his head with an intensity Uesugi Sakura had never seen before, focusing sharply on him.

Under such a sharp and serious gaze, Uesugi Sakura instinctively paused.

The Hanamaru family... seems to be a police family...

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