Laid-Back Life in Tokyo: I Really Didn't Want to Work Hard
Chapter 42 The Moonlight is Pleasant

Chapter 42: Chapter 42 The Moonlight is Pleasant

"Ha~"

The mist swirled around, and the warm light of the bath heater became more shadowy at this moment.

Lying in the bathtub, the temperature of the hot water soaked into the skin, enjoying the rare leisure time of the day.

Uesugi Sakura turned his head, picked up the dial next to him, and wiped the water vapor off the top.

22:43:23

It has been half an hour.

Touching his somewhat sore cheek, he could still recall the bamboo sword swipes that Hanamaru Hiroki delivered along with his loud shouts.

"He really shows no mercy at all."

Sighing, the helpless Uesugi Sakura stood up from the bathtub.

He walked to the washstand and used a cloth to wipe the water vapor off the mirror.

Uesugi Sakura looked at his own face.

Hmm...

Quite handsome, quite handsome.

He couldn’t help but nod to himself.

However, there was already a bruise on the right cheek, surrounded by a slight purple.

"Why aim for the face?"

Uesugi Sakura couldn’t comprehend it, and after drying off the water droplets from his body, he put on his clothes and walked out.

His own living room is quite spacious, a standard single-family home in Tokyo, with a small lawn yard.

The Hanamaru household next door was the same, but the interior decorations differed, theirs being more exquisite while his was more minimalist.

Looking at the charming moonlight outside the living room, Uesugi Sakura put on his shoes and walked out.

The courtyard flowers were still yearning for his care today.

Ding dong...

The doorbell suddenly rang outside the house.

"Not working overtime tonight? That’s rare." Uesugi Sakura turned and walked towards the entrance, somewhat puzzled, "But why not use the key to open the door?"

There was a click.

"Welcome back... Hmm? Hanabi? Isn’t it too late for you? Weren’t you going to rest?"

Standing at the door in a light-colored trench coat, Hanamaru Hanabi surprised Uesugi Sakura.

"Uesugi-kun, my mom asked me to check on you, saying that my dad was too heavy-handed."

She lifted the small box in her hand and looked up at him.

"Come on in, it’s so late. Is it okay for you to come to my house alone?"

Uesugi Sakura picked up a pair of plush slippers from the shoe cabinet nearby, which were Hanabi’s special pair, always prepared.

"Yeah, Mom said Hanabi didn’t have to go back tonight."

Hanamaru Hanabi tip-toed off her little leather shoes, revealing slender ankles under her white knee-high socks.

"..."

Not knowing where to start with his complaints, Uesugi Sakura could only say to her, "You still have to go back, a girl shouldn’t stay overnight at a guy’s house alone."

Hanamaru Hanabi looked up and smiled at him, "Dad said the same thing."

The smile was utterly pure, unaware of the deeper meaning.

Indeed, a pure 15-year-old girl who would even help count money for a scammer.

Looking at her slender figure, Uesugi Sakura again had that peculiar feeling within.

Come to think of it, wasn’t he the con artist?

Alright, since he agreed, let it be.

After all, he’s just a 16-year-old boy too, no need to overthink.

A high school romance he never experienced in a previous life, isn’t that just great?

"Come on in and have a seat, I was just about to water the potted plants."

"Okay."

Hanamaru Hanabi followed Uesugi Sakura to the small stand outside the living room, sitting on it, with the small wooden box placed aside, quietly watching Uesugi Sakura water the plants.

The vibrant Silver Emperor and Silver Queen looked lively under the moonlight, with silvery-gray fan leaves covered with dark green spots.

The leaves were large and glossy.

"Why doesn’t Uesugi-kun water them every day?"

"Because that’s not good for their health. There’s a trick to cultivating these plants."

Crystal water droplets continuously fell from the watering can, slowly sliding down the broad leaves onto the dry soil.

"Plants grow with their own rhythm. The experience of watering plants can be summed up in a simple phrase: Don’t water until dry, and when you do, water thoroughly."

Hanamaru Hanabi listened curiously, swinging her slender legs.

"Do you think the plants I’ve grown are quite healthy?"

"Yes."

"When plants dry, their roots are in an extremely tense state, desperately craving water. They will strive to find water, grow, and extend outward."

Uesugi Sakura patiently held the watering can, evenly pouring water.

"When dry, let them dry completely, and when watering, water them thoroughly, allowing the roots to fluctuate between extremes. In such a challenging environment, their roots will grow exceedingly strong."

"But, wouldn’t that be too cruel for the plants?" Hanamaru Hanabi tilted her head and cutely asked.

Uesugi Sakura chuckled, "That’s the benefit of being ’cruel.’ If you keep them soaked in water, their roots would soon wither, and the outer leaves would never grow so large.

"Losing the thirst for what they need, they would become decadent.

"Then just cut off the watering for a while, and their leaves will soon get sick, withering small and lifeless.

"Even after watering again, it would be nearly impossible to restore them to their former state."

After watering the row of potted plants in the yard, lowering the watering can and clapping his hands, Uesugi Sakura sat next to Hanamaru Hanabi.

The night sky tonight was cloudless, with a deep blue density, making the moon hanging above stand out.

"I feel like what you said about plants sounds like people too."

"Yes, plants are also a form of life, just less complicated."

Uesugi Sakura turned to look at Hanamaru Hanabi, and he found that she was also looking at him.

A pair of sparkling violet eyes, filled with curiosity, held a trace of affection.

"Uesugi-kun... Does your face hurt... Let me apply some medicine for you."

As she spoke, she opened the small wooden box beside her, taking out an ointment and squeezing some onto her palm.

Hanamaru Hanabi faced Uesugi Sakura’s bruised cheek, naturally reaching out her right hand, carefully applying it.

The girl’s hands were fair and soft, and even though it was a sore spot, Uesugi Sakura could clearly feel it.

The delicate, serious little face, the familiar youthful scent.

Made his heart feel warm.

"I’m sorry, Uesugi-kun... Dad was too heavy-handed earlier..." As her right hand gently soothed the aching cheek, Hanamaru Hanabi’s soft voice was full of apologies.

"It’s alright, Hanabi, you don’t have to worry."

Speaking of Hanamaru Hiroki, today his demeanor indeed gave Uesugi Sakura a new perspective.

"I just didn’t expect Uncle Hiroki to have such a stern side. I used to think he was always a ’particularly cheerful’ person."

Actually, Uesugi Sakura wanted to say ’happy-go-lucky uncle,’ ’henpecked husband.’

But it’s better not to mention these words in front of Hanabi, after all, Hanamaru Hiroki has always been a good father figure to her.

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