Laid-Back Life in Tokyo: I Really Didn't Want to Work Hard
Chapter 60 Because there is love, is it okay to go against one’s conscience?

Chapter 60: Chapter 60 Because there is love, is it okay to go against one’s conscience?

Several soft white clouds drifted across the clear blue sky.

Uesugi Sakura joyfully ran along the path, the roar by his ears and the breaths that drilled into his mind made his lungs exert all their strength to absorb oxygen.

His blood circulation gradually sped up, and his body felt increasingly light.

[Constitution Lv6 (0/20)]

[Speed Lv5 (1/10)]

The area around the Kanda River was filled with cherry blossoms, most of which were late blossoms.

The spring was lush, and the cherry blossoms were in full bloom.

This was a sight that all local residents could enjoy in the slightly chilly April.

The umbrella-shaped flower clusters and notched petals filled this quiet residential area with the sweet scent of cherry blossoms.

Pedestrians strolled leisurely on the narrow paths sprinkled with falling petals, and ordinarily plain figures became romantically blurred amid the cherry blossoms falling at a speed of five centimeters per second.

Fwoosh fwoosh fwoosh~

The sound of hurried, rhythmic breathing came from afar to near, growing from soft to loud along the cherry blossom path, gradually stabilizing after passing a few pedestrians.

A delicate figure and handsome appearance, although his cheeks were slightly blue, it did not affect his charm at all.

Sakura, who had just stopped, looked up at the "7-11" sign above the convenience store, wiped the sweat from his forehead with the towel around his neck, and walked in.

"Welcome."

The shop assistant greeted the incoming customer with the common phrase.

After all, it was the store manager’s requirement. After working here for so long, it had become a conditioned response.

"Uesugi-san? Are you on a morning run dressed like this?" The shop assistant, Tang Dongyun, at the checkout counter, looked surprised at Sakura in his hooded jacket.

"Is it that strange?"

"It is strange," Tang Dongyun was somewhat bewildered. "I’ve never seen you on a morning run. You usually walk in leisurely, so I thought you didn’t like exercising."

"There’s nothing strange about it."

Sakura said casually, glancing at the dazzlingly displayed products around. "There’s a saying ’people judge by appearances,’ meaning that everyone has their own perspective; some see a goose, others see a duck."

"They all believe they’re right, each holding their ground, and none can persuade the other."

Sakura walked to the beverage section and picked out a bottle of milk.

Tang Dongyun understood that Sakura was implying his perception was biased and laughed somewhat embarrassedly:

"Uesugi-san’s Chinese proficiency is truly humbling."

Sakura shook his head. "Don’t overthink it, Tang-san. I was just giving an example, nothing more. I also came across this saying by chance in the library."

"Haha, not at all," Tang Dongyun laughed heartily, "but your Chinese is excellent, without any accent. I wonder how you learned it."

"Could you share some tips with me, a struggling senior, so I can improve my Japanese too?"

Sakura walked to the dessert section and, looking at the various cakes in warm tones, calmly said two words:

"Innate talent."

He wasn’t lying. This knowledge was indeed natural, and even if asked to summarize, he couldn’t articulate it well.

Tang Dongyun was left speechless, realizing some people’s efforts come more easily than others’.

Coming from studying in China to Japan, he had met many better than him and had deeply felt this.

"Check out, Tang-san."

As Sakura spoke, having chosen a milk and two desserts, he paid and left.

A sliver of weak morning light shone on his face, with the fragrance of flowers and sunlight accompanying him.

Along this cherry blossom-scented street, Sakura performed a few relaxing stretches on his way back home.

Once home, he changed into fresh clothes.

Sakura glanced at the time.

8:20:12

It was time to tutor Hanabi, so Sakura took the two small cakes he had just bought and went to the neighboring Hanamaru house.

Opening the door wasn’t the hurriedly arriving Hanamaru Hanabi but her father—Hanamaru Hiroki.

"..."

Sakura saw Hiroki standing at the doorway in formal attire, not looking pleased.

He hesitated for a second, then greeted:

"Good morning, uncle."

Hanamaru Hiroki didn’t respond to his greeting; instead, he stared intently into Sakura’s eyes with a sharp gaze:

"Yesterday, it seems you spent a long time alone with Hanabi. I heard you came home at 11:30 PM, which is a bit late."

Hanamaru Hiroki squinted his eyes: "You didn’t do anything strange, did you?"

"No...not at all." Sakura opened his mouth, feeling a bit uneasy under his gaze.

Lately, he always felt a lot of pressure in front of Hiroki, probably because he was always suppressed by him in Sword Dao practice.

"Good."

Hiroki’s expression returned to normal. "I know you’re a mature kid, so just keep things in control yourself."

Hiroki walked past him, patting Sakura on the shoulder:

"Though I still find you annoying, there’s nothing to be done. Hanabi has liked you since childhood."

"..."

The air fell silent for a second, and just as Sakura was about to speak, he gently shook his head.

"Never mind, go inside. Hanabi isn’t up yet. Just sit in the living room for a while."

With that, Hiroki’s tall figure slowly disappeared around the corner.

Perhaps tonight, he won’t get beaten up?

For some reason, this thought arose in Sakura’s mind.

Changing into slippers at the entrance, Sakura came to the living room, and saw Hanamaru Meiko busying herself with breakfast.

"Good morning, aunty."

Hearing his voice, Meiko looked up. Her long hair draped over her shoulders, her violet eyes eerily similar to Hanabi’s.

Her smile exuded maturity and warmth:

"Welcome, little Sakura. Have you had breakfast?"

"Not yet."

Having only drunk a bottle of milk after his run, with his father working late at the office and his mother still asleep from a night shift, Sakura wasn’t about to make his own breakfast, given how terrible it would turn out.

"Then let’s eat together."

Meiko quickly went to the dining table and cleared away the empty dishes, smiling at Sakura as she turned:

"Not sure what’s up, but Hanabi hasn’t gotten up. Little Sakura, could you go upstairs and wake her up?"

As she spoke, she returned to the cupboard with utensils, leaving Sakura no room to refuse.

To wake Hanabi from her sleep?

Watching Meiko make breakfast as usual without any signs of unusual behavior.

Sakura was in a dilemma.

Should he?

Or shouldn’t he?

Early in the morning, going to Hanabi’s room didn’t seem appropriate, especially since she was still sleeping.

Entering her room without Hanabi’s consent seemed highly improper, by any measure.

He couldn’t do it.

As her childhood friend, it was even less acceptable—he couldn’t betray her trust.

This was a matter of conscience!

The culmination of three million years of human evolution—morality—was also telling Sakura not to do it; it was too childish!

So, he headed up to the second floor.

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