Laid-Back Life in Tokyo: I Really Didn't Want to Work Hard
Chapter 45: The Way to School on a Rainy Day

Chapter 45: Chapter 45: The Way to School on a Rainy Day

Glistening drops of water slipped from between the umbrella, disappearing in a hurried, even rhythm on the stones under the eaves.

Uesugi Sakura looked at Hanamaru Hanabi’s gentle face, holding a transparent umbrella with his right hand, and invited her with a smile:

"The rain is still heavy. Shall we walk together?"

Hanamaru Hanabi looked up, saw his perfectly timed expression, smiled, and happily nodded:

"Yes!"

...

The road to school was their long-cherished time alone together,

Under the transparent umbrella, the two walked side by side, well-acquainted with each other’s rhythms, even the sound of their footsteps splashing through puddles was remarkably synchronized.

Uesugi Sakura held the transparent umbrella with his right hand, positioned in the middle for both of them.

The constant patter of raindrops on the umbrella, mixed with a slight breeze, seemed to add to its weight in his hand.

The red neckerchief lay quietly against her chest under the black sailor suit, subtly rising and falling with her even breaths.

Her nasal cavity was filled with a girlish scent, mixed with a hint of lily fragrance.

This sweet aroma hadn’t been noticed before but had become more obvious in recent days.

So he asked aloud:

"Hanabi, have you changed your shower gel recently? I always feel there’s a faint lily scent."

"Yes, I changed it a few days ago. Does Uesugi-kun not like this scent?"

"Not at all, it actually feels quite subtle and refreshing."

"That’s good... If Uesugi-kun doesn’t like it, I can switch back to the old one...

"But is the scent that obvious on me? You always seem to know exactly what kind it is."

"It is quite obvious. You girls seem unaware because you’re used to it, but besides the shower gel scent, you also have a real lily fragrance about you."

Uesugi Sakura turned to look at her.

"Does your family grow some lilies at home?"

Upon hearing this, Hanamaru Hanabi nodded quietly, replying:

"Mom bought two pots from the flower market a few months ago, and they happened to bloom a few days ago, so we placed them in my and mom’s bedroom. The blooms and scent are quite wonderful."

Upon hearing this, Uesugi Sakura suddenly furrowed his brow and continued to ask:

"Have you been sleeping particularly late these days?"

Hanamaru Hanabi looked up at him, her expression full of surprise, and said:

"How did Uesugi-kun know... Mom seems to be the same way."

Uesugi Sakura looked up at the overcast sky, filled with fine rain, remembering today’s date, April 4th.

It’s precisely when the earliest lilies bloom.

"Hanabi, perhaps you should move the lilies outside."

"Huh, but..."

Hanamaru Hanabi looked puzzled, about to say something, but quickly understood Uesugi Sakura’s meaning, tentatively asked, "Uesugi-kun, could it be... The sleeplessness at night is due to that pot of lilies?"

Uesugi Sakura looked at the hurried passersby with umbrellas ahead and calmly said:

"Lilies, with their pure appearance and pleasant scent, are adored by many who are enchanted by their fragrance. Though the aroma isn’t toxic, within its fresh, mild scent lurks a subtle stimulant.

"Over time, this scent can induce a subtle case of [Drunken Flower Syndrome], making people excessively awake, causing sleepless nights, followed by slight fatigue in the morning.

"Your late nights are likely due to this."

"Ah! How... how could it be..."

After hearing Uesugi Sakura’s explanation, Hanamaru Hanabi was utterly shocked. She hadn’t expected the simple and beautiful white flowers would harbor such a frightening element.

"Don’t worry," Uesugi Sakura turned to her with a reassuring expression, "smelling the scent for a long time doesn’t have significant side effects, just some sleeplessness at night. It’s fine if you keep it in the study, it can help keep you alert.

"When you return home tonight, just remind Aunt Meiko."

Uesugi Sakura’s calm and soothing voice settled Hanamaru Hanabi’s initial panic.

"Uesugi-kun... You’re so knowledgeable... Knowing so much about these things."

"It’s nothing, just things I’ve learned while tending to flowers regularly."

In the rain, most people walked alone with umbrellas, office workers, white-collars, elderly, students, all seemed hurried and lonely.

Occasionally, someone would pass by, casting envious glances at the two walking to school under the same umbrella.

Uesugi Sakura noticed this.

He turned his attention to Hanamaru Hanabi’s small hands, holding a shoulder bag in front of her.

Her hands were fair, delicate, with distinct joints like white jade.

Under her gently swaying pleated skirt was a pair of slender legs, straight and graceful.

The black knee-high socks, from ankle to knee, outlined the exquisite curves unique to a girl’s legs, wrapping around her thighs in a perfect, fleshy line.

As the youthful hormones surged, Uesugi Sakura couldn’t help but swallow.

The adorable little sister next door had now grown into a graceful young woman.

This made Uesugi Sakura nostalgic about the past and more eager to cherish the present moments.

Yet, being romantically clueless, he didn’t know what to do to foster their developing feelings.

What should a couple do?

Walking up the steps of an overpass with Hanamaru Hanabi, Uesugi Sakura called to her:

"Hanabi."

"Uesugi-kun..." Hanamaru Hanabi responded quickly, as if prepared.

He didn’t expect such a quick response, paused for a moment:

"We are... dating, right?"

Hanamaru Hanabi blushed, cautiously nodding:

"Yes."

"So, we are in a... boyfriend-girlfriend relationship... right?"

"Yes." Hanamaru Hanabi’s voice grew softer, the blush on her cheeks deepening.

Uesugi Sakura was too shy to keep looking at her reddening face, so he organized his thoughts, focused on the damp steps ahead, and continued:

"We are childhood friends. We’ve shared over ten years of growth. We both have little secrets about each other. Though I’ve always considered you a sister, now I want to ask.

"What should lovers do?"

Hanamaru Hanabi had buried her head into the scarf around her neck, breathing into it. Her cheeks grew hotter, continuing to warm, causing her petite body to heat up.

But she didn’t hear his later question.

Her purple irises gently trembled, the highlight fading slowly, and after a long silence, she spoke:

"So Uesugi-kun... always saw Hanabi... as a sister..."

"Hanabi, you... didn’t know...?" Uesugi Sakura unexpectedly felt a wave of disappointment and desolation in those words.

Hanamaru Hanabi still had her head buried in the scarf, freeing one hand to pull the scarf higher, covering her flushed, hot cheeks.