Laid-Back Life in Tokyo: I Really Didn't Want to Work Hard
Chapter 46: The Misunderstanding Behind the Platform

Chapter 46: Chapter 46: The Misunderstanding Behind the Platform

The atmosphere shifted slightly.

Under Uesugi Sakura’s questioning, Hanamaru Hanabi nodded, then shook her head.

"Uesugi-kun... is indeed like a brother... although I don’t have a brother... Uesugi-kun always gives me a sense of safety, like being protected by a brother. Whenever I’m with him, I feel inexplicably at ease.

"I always feel that Uesugi-kun can protect me well and give me tasty little snacks... If Uesugi-kun always sees me as a younger sister... then I..."

Hanamaru Hanabi’s voice grew weaker and gradually disappeared.

Is this why she has been following me since we were small?

I can give her a sense of security and treat her like a real sister.

But she doesn’t seem to like this role much.

Suddenly, Uesugi Sakura felt the rain’s pitter-patter in the sky turn somewhat dull.

They both walked down the overpass, slowly moving through Tokyo’s narrow streets in the rain.

On rainy days in the past, they have experienced walking under the same umbrella like this.

The air gradually solidified amid the chaotic tapping of the rain.

The conversation between them abruptly stopped.

Uesugi Sakura glanced at the silent, head-bow Hanamaru Hanabi beside him, opened his mouth, and suddenly closed it, ultimately saying nothing.

He didn’t know what he should say at this moment.

So, they walked into Waseda Station together, waiting for the morning train on the Tozai Line.

Strictly speaking, the Tozai Line belongs to the subway, but in reality, most subways in Tokyo run above ground and are powered by electricity, not much different from regular trains.

The platform was already crowded with people, and the thick crowd blocked them in the back, leaving only rows of crowded backs.

Most people wore suits and carried briefcases, the "corporate slaves," while others were high school students in uniforms from various academies.

Many people were nibbling on bread they bought from convenience stores, filling their morning hunger without breakfast.

In Japan, the morning has no breakfast shops; restaurants open at noon and only offer food at noon.

Even ramen shops and snack bars don’t open at this time.

As a result, those without parents or wives at home to make breakfast can only pick something from convenience stores to stave off hunger.

Loneliness reveals itself everywhere in this bustling metropolis.

On rainy days, more people take the train, and it takes an extra train to squeeze in.

Uesugi Sakura shook off and tightened the transparent umbrella, fastening the strap, looking at Hanamaru Hanabi quietly gazing ahead.

The previously silent atmosphere still lingered.

"Hanabi, are you angry?"

After hesitating for a while, Uesugi Sakura finally asked the question.

"Hanabi... is not angry." Hanamaru Hanabi’s head remained lowered, with that soft and cute voice.

Is it because of struggling with the "sister" identity?

Uesugi Sakura also started to tangle, thinking about how to proceed with the topic.

"Uesugi-kun."

After a long silence, Hanamaru Hanabi suddenly turned to him and said, "Actually, I think being Uesugi-kun’s sister would also be very happy.

"So, Uesugi-kun can just see me as a sister."

As a... sister? No plans to date?

Uesugi Sakura paused, looking at her uplifted face.

Is this a breakup?

Compared to romantic partners, does being childhood friends and treated like a brother feel more comfortable and safe?

"But," Uesugi Sakura frowned and asked, "aren’t we in that kind of relationship now?"

"What?" Hanamaru Hanabi’s small face showed puzzlement.

"Didn’t you agree that day...?"

"Yes."

Hanamaru Hanabi understood Uesugi Sakura’s meaning, promptly responded, "Though it’s the first time for me and I don’t understand these things... but I already agreed with Uesugi-kun..."

Now it was Uesugi Sakura’s turn to be confused.

Did not reject the girlfriend role.

So being a "sister"—

Does it not mean rejecting the couple’s role and returning to the "brother-sister" state?

A bit perplexed, he immediately asked, "Hanabi, when you said ’as a sister,’ didn’t you mean it as a rejection?"

"Huh?"

Hanamaru Hanabi tilted her head adorably, very confused, "Why would Uesugi-kun think that?"

Realizing he might have misunderstood, Uesugi Sakura slightly frowned and explained:

"Because earlier, you seemed unhappy, not talking, and didn’t answer my last question. I thought you didn’t like me seeing you as a sister."

"U-Uesugi-kun... it seems like you misunderstood."

Hanamaru Hanabi smiled, explaining, "I was just reminiscing about the past when Uesugi-kun fed me, and Uesugi-kun... used to be really like my brother."

"Uesugi-kun, do you still want to see me as a sister?"

"..."

Uesugi Sakura suddenly understood that they had both misunderstood each other’s intentions.

Hanamaru Hanabi thought he preferred her previous "sister" identity, yet because of dating, she became a "girlfriend," causing distress.

And he, due to her silence and that strange phrase, twisted it into a breakup meaning.

The small misunderstanding resolved, Uesugi Sakura felt speechless and realized he’d been a bit sensitive recently, often overthinking things about Hanabi:

"Hanabi, you overthought it."

"Eh?" Hanamaru Hanabi’s pretty face seemed a bit disappointed.

"But, but, I heard from Rie-chan that boys without sisters really want a sister and even treat her as their girlfriend, especially kind guys like Uesugi-kun..."

That’s perverted.

Uesugi Sakura instantly knew what kind of things Ayaka Rie would say.

Filling Hanabi’s head with strange knowledge all day long.

Thinking of this, he couldn’t help but hold his head and shake it.

"Uesugi-kun doesn’t... like Hanabi being in the sister role?" Hanamaru Hanabi’s bright eyes sparkled, lips slightly parted in a questioning and sweet manner.

The Tozai Line train had already passed by once, and the crowd in front of them had thinned significantly.

"No, it’s not that I don’t like it, just..."

"Kai... Onii-chan."

This calling caused Uesugi Sakura to pause for a second, instantly recalling her past appearance, the little girl once holding onto the hem of his clothes pitifully behind him.

The girl’s cheeks were a little rosy, also quite embarrassed, "If Uesugi-kun likes the childhood name, I can also return to it, as long as it makes Uesugi-kun happy.

"Hanabi doesn’t know what lovers do, or what I should do, I’m clumsy, can’t answer Uesugi-kun’s earlier question.

"All I can do is try to make Uesugi-kun as happy as possible, I’m sorry..."

At this moment, the girl lowered her head, not daring to look into Uesugi Sakura’s eyes.