Laid-Back Life in Tokyo: I Really Didn't Want to Work Hard
Chapter 59 Hanabi Never Gives Up

Chapter 59: Chapter 59 Hanabi Never Gives Up

The promise was made, but besides sitting by her side, Uesugi Sakura really didn’t know what else to do.

The TV was off, and Hanamaru Meiko and Hanamaru Hiroki hadn’t returned.

In the large living room, it was just the two of them sitting quietly on the couch.

Since Hanamaru Hanabi called out to him, there hadn’t been another word, not even a sound.

She kept her head down, hands resting on her fleshy thighs, nervously fiddling with the corner of her jacket.

Her breathing was rapid, her chest rising and falling noticeably.

The rosy tint on her cute, delicate cheeks remained as striking as ever, more tender and captivating.

She didn’t dare look at Uesugi Sakura, still seemingly troubled by what he had just said.

The evening sun was warm, and the sky outside the living room had been painted a bright red.

Inside, the air also seemed to have warmed under the sunlight’s care.

However, this situation had persisted for half an hour.

It was getting a bit awkward.

Uesugi Sakura glanced at his watch.

18:31:56

Dusk is the most beautiful moment when day transitions to night.

Uesugi Sakura wanted to break the somewhat awkward atmosphere between them.

"Has Aunt not come back yet?"

Hearing his voice, Hanamaru Hanabi was startled out of her thoughts, replying softly:

"Mama said... she’s working late today... we should prepare food on our own..."

Her voice was even quieter and gentler than usual, only audible to Uesugi Sakura without him having to move closer.

Yet...

Hanamaru Meiko working late?

Isn’t she a full-time mom? If she’s working late, shouldn’t she be doing house chores at home?

Uesugi Sakura was a bit speechless; the excuse seemed too far-fetched. Saying she went to a community meeting would be better.

It’s just a blatant hint.

Never seen a mother who doesn’t appreciate her daughter so much.

"So... it’s just the two of us tonight?"

"Mm..."

After the short conversation, they fell silent again.

Uesugi Sakura looked at the girl’s face, familiar and cute, a strange feeling flowing within him, neither painful nor warm, incredibly odd.

"Hanabi," he called again.

"Mm..."

Hanamaru Hanabi responded quickly, but still didn’t dare to look at the Uesugi Sakura next to her.

Seeing this, he moved a little closer.

The gap between their bodies gradually narrowed, just barely discernible.

Feeling Uesugi Sakura’s approach, Hanamaru Hanabi’s heart fluttered a few times, but she kept her head down without saying a word, implicitly allowing his presence.

From behind, Uesugi Sakura glanced at her cheek beneath her short hair, his nose just centimeters from her snowy white neck, catching whiffs of her youthful scent.

A bit sweet and a bit warm, mingling together, they flowed into his heart and closely pressed against its rhythm, becoming increasingly distinct and vivid.

Over the twelve years, such close contact had happened countless times, but none had been as ambiguous or as heart-stirring as today.

He suddenly remembered the relationship he had with her before.

He slowly reached out his right hand, passed over her plush thigh, and pulled her hand, tightly gripping the hem of her clothes, into his palm.

Her hand was small and soft.

For Hanamaru Hanabi, this touch was also incredibly familiar.

"Uesugi-kun..." she called out cautiously.

"Hanabi."

"Mm..."

"I have a request."

Upon hearing the word "request," Hanamaru Hanabi’s little face blushed again, somewhat fearful:

"Ue...Uesugi-kun’s request shouldn’t be too excessive, Hanabi... Hanabi isn’t ready yet..."

"It’s not an excessive request; it’s something Hanabi you can accept."

"Mm..."

Hanamaru Hanabi nodded, the warmth from her hand bringing her considerable comfort, before she nervously whispered before Uesugi Sakura could speak, "If... if Uesugi-kun wants to see Hanabi’s... Hanabi... actually... actually..."

Uesugi Sakura gave a helpless smile: "It’s not about that, don’t worry about that issue."

"But... but Uesugi-kun just said he really likes... really likes Hanabi..."

Hanamaru Hanabi took every word Uesugi Sakura said seriously. She wasn’t entirely ignorant, just too innocent to think in wrong directions.

"Do you like me?" Not long ago, Uesugi Sakura had asked this question.

Like a little deer, Hanamaru Hanabi’s heart pounded, her lips biting lightly, a timid voice issuing three words:

"I...like..."

"I have a request now, could Hanabi-chan fulfill it for me?"

Uesugi-kun’s request.

Hanamaru Hanabi made up her mind, gathering her courage, her face burning hot, her voice much louder:

"Please, please say it! Hanabi will agree!"

"Then I...shall I say it."

"Mm!"

Uesugi Sakura held her small hand, slowly moved his face closer to her ear, and said seriously and softly:

"Could Hanabi call my name?"

Hanamaru Hanabi paused in surprise, forgetting the tingling of her ear from the warmth, turned her reddened cheek towards him:

"Ue...Uesugi-kun’s request is this?"

"No,"

Uesugi Sakura smiled, lightly brushed her nose, "Didn’t Hanabi promise Uesugi-kun? Then what should you call me now?"

"Sa...Sakura-kun..."

She called him naturally, but was still a bit amazed inside,

"Is Sa...Sakura-kun’s request just this?"

Uesugi Sakura noticed a trace of anticipation still in her eyes, and with a smile, he asked back:

"Then what did Hanabi think Uesugi-kun’s request was? The one Uesugi-kun liked?"

Hanamaru Hanabi shrank her neck, like a little white rabbit just hiding back not daring to peep out, quickly shook her head saying:

"No... no, Hanabi never thought that way."

Her appearance made Uesugi Sakura feel playful:

"Didn’t expect Hanabi to be such a naughty girl, just now, what did you think of? Can you tell me?"

"Uesugi...Sakura...Sakura-kun knows." Hanamaru Hanabi’s habit hadn’t changed yet, and she was shy about that topic.

"Sakura-kun doesn’t know." Uesugi Sakura continued to smile, wanting to hear what strange things could come out of Hanabi’s mouth.

"You know..."

"Don’t know."

"Know..."

"Don’t know."

"Meanie."

"Hmm...?" Uesugi Sakura didn’t expect she would call him a meanie.

"Big meanie." Hanamaru Hanabi increased her volume, trying hard to sound angry.

But her timid voice, even if cursing, sounded completely unthreatening.

"How did I become a big meanie?"

"Sa...Sakura-kun knows!" Hanamaru Hanabi might seem a bit silly, but she is definitely not dumb, "Sakura-kun clearly knows yet asks Hanabi anyway."

"Just... just a big meanie!"