Laid-Back Life in Tokyo: I Really Didn't Want to Work Hard
Chapter 57: A Slightly Exciting Day

Chapter 57: Chapter 57: A Slightly Exciting Day

"Alright, from now on you must be careful, girls have to learn to protect themselves."

Hanamaru Hanabi didn’t hear Ayaka Rie’s words because she had seen something in a blink of an eye and blushed when she looked at Uesugi Sakura.

But she just stared at him eating noodles, embarrassed, without saying a word or asking him anything.

When Uesugi Sakura finished eating and looked up, as soon as his eyes met hers, she quickly lowered her head, clutching the corners of her jacket nervously as if she might break at any moment.

Ayaka Rie noticed all the little details between the two of them and glared at Uesugi Sakura:

"You, I bet you’ve done something weird to Hanabi, right."

"Will you believe me if I say no?"

"No."

"Then there’s nothing more to say."

Hanamaru Hanabi calmed herself, her face red, and whispered to Ayaka Rie beside her:

"R... Rie-chan, it’s just... it’s just that Hanabi forgot... forgot to wear clothes today, Uesugi-kun didn’t seem to have any weird looks."

"Didn’t seem to?" Ayaka Rie sighed, "Hanabi, you’re always like this."

She was very familiar with Hanabi’s way of explaining things, taking the blame on herself and saying it was her own fault, then finding excuses for others.

In the whole situation, apart from her own mistakes, no one else did anything wrong.

Especially Uesugi Sakura, even if he did something bad, Hanabi was willing to believe him.

"You’re just too kind, which is why you always get bullied."

Ayaka Rie’s words sounded very true to Uesugi Sakura; back in middle school, because of her kindness and gentleness, Hanabi often got bossed around by others.

When he went to find her after school, he always saw her cleaning the classroom alone, solitary yet never complaining.

"Is kindness... bad? I think everyone is quite happy..."

"Kindness is a good thing," Uesugi Sakura said to her, "but by complying with their wishes and doing things that don’t belong to you, what you get isn’t their care for you but mockery of your weakness."

"Hmm, Uesugi-kun’s words are surprisingly right this time."

Ayaka Rie seldom agreed with Uesugi Sakura, then looked at Hanabi, who was blushing: "So Hanabi, you must learn to say no, don’t always think whatever others say is right."

Hanamaru Hanabi glanced secretly at Uesugi Sakura and said:

"Uesugi-kun... said the same thing before."

"Oh?"

Ayaka Rie looked at Uesugi Sakura with some surprise:

"Uesugi-kun today is really on point, didn’t expect you to have such a decent side."

"When did I become a villain?"

"You always were."

Uesugi Sakura had heard this tone countless times before.

He knew Ayaka Rie didn’t like to interact with boys.

Any student who tried to get close to her would be ruthlessly refused by her strong personality.

The person she disliked the most in the class was Murakoshi Kojiro.

A tall member of the basketball team, with scandals of three-timing in his first year, a true scoundrel.

Then there was Goto Iwao, followed by himself:

"Ayaka-san, why do I always feel like there’s hostility from you towards me?"

"No need to doubt, there is." Ayaka Rie spoke with seriousness.

"Why."

"Because you’re always lying, you have the potential to evolve into a scoundrel."

"I rarely lie."

"Because you’re always staring at girls’ legs!"

"Every guy likes that."

"Because you’re always hanging out with Goto and hitting on girls!"

"I’m just a mascot, the hitting on is Goto’s thing, and besides, he’s only asking for contact information."

"You’ve added many girls on Line, don’t think I haven’t heard about what you’re doing with that account!"

"That’s Goto’s account."

Uesugi Sakura realized she had so many misunderstandings about him, but why?

Does being handsome make him seem frivolous?

"You—" Ayaka Rie was at a loss for words, her face flushed red, and after a long time finally said, "You always bully Hanabi, using your childhood friend status!"

"I didn’t."

Hanamaru Hanabi noticed Ayaka Rie’s gaze at her and whispered:

"Rie-chan... Uesugi-kun has always been nice to Hanabi..."

Uesugi Sakura took a sip of hot tea, waiting for Ayaka Rie’s next question.

But she pondered for a while and seemed to have nothing more to say.

"So, now can you let go of your hostility towards me? I’m not the scoundrel you think I am."

Could it be... she really misunderstood him before?

Ayaka Rie seemed quite conflicted about this, struggled for a long time, extremely reluctantly, and with a red face finally said to Uesugi Sakura:

"Well... fine! I’ll... I’ll reluctantly believe you! B... but I have one last question!"

"Go ahead."

Uesugi Sakura glanced at her, her stuttering sounded just like a tsundere.

"I might be overstepping, but as Hanabi-chan’s classmate, I must ask."

It was a bit much, but her strong personality had also helped Hanabi many times.

After entering high school, Hanamaru Hanabi, because of her cute looks and weak personality, had often been blocked by delinquents from the neighboring school at the gate.

Ayaka Rie coughed twice, paused for a few seconds, then continued to ask: "Just now, Hanabi wasn’t wearing clothes inside, did you... take a look?"

"..." Uesugi Sakura’s heart skipped a beat.

"Rie-chan..." Hanamaru Hanabi said shyly, hurriedly pulling at her skirt, but she was actually curious about this question in her heart.

"No." This time, no.

"Then, what about before?"

Ayaka Rie pursued, "Hanabi probably had this situation before too, judging from what she just said, it seems like you were there quite a few times."

Uesugi Sakura paused, looked at Hanamaru Hanabi in front of him, who now had her jacket zipped up.

Ayaka Rie seriously awaited Uesugi Sakura’s answer.

Considering whether to lie, Uesugi Sakura, within two seconds, gave his answer, nodding:

"Yes... a few times."

Uesugi Sakura admitted, there was indeed one time.

During their alone time on a summer weekend, Hanabi liked to wear that T-shirt, and when he saw her collarbone, he instinctively followed the line of sight.

Within the wide collar, on her slightly dim chest, he saw something... he shouldn’t have...

It really wasn’t that he didn’t want to control himself, but the body of a teenager really carried that youthful excitement.

The most beautiful thing about a young girl was right before his eyes, and that numbing sense of tenderness stirred a string in his heart that shouldn’t be touched.

And she was completely unguarded, he also had a lucky thought that sneaking a look wouldn’t be noticed.

All these combined made him secretly move back a little, finding a very good angle.

Hanabi was, of course, completely unaware, never noticing.

As a result, after he moved his gaze away, he was left with a lingering sense of guilt, after all... Hanabi was just 14 at that time...