Laid-Back Life in Tokyo: I Really Didn't Want to Work Hard
Chapter 66 Running Against the Night Wind

Chapter 66: Chapter 66 Running Against the Night Wind

The night breeze brought a hint of coolness.

Uesugi Sakura matched the cool breeze, following closely behind Hanamaru Hanabi and Ayaka Rie.

Looking at the black sailor uniforms illuminated under the streetlights, Uesugi Sakura recalled the days spent in recent times.

He suddenly found these fulfilling days particularly interesting.

Recently, Ayaka Rie’s attitude towards Uesugi Sakura had improved, but she essentially remained herself, with no transformation in her personality.

Moreover, she seemed to have discovered something recently.

Ayaka Rie sneakily glanced at Uesugi Sakura behind them, and whispered to Hanamaru Hanabi, who was clutching a single-shoulder bag:

"Hanabi, why have you been secretly watching Uesugi lately?"

"No... no..." Hanamaru Hanabi’s heart tightened.

"You—" Ayaka Rie leaned in, squinting her eyes, "Are you really in a relationship with Uesugi?"

"I... am not..."

Hanamaru Hanabi responded weakly, her voice very soft.

Ayaka Rie sniffed her face, the scent of lilies emanating from her fair neck.

Satisfied, her nose withdrew from next to her, Ayaka Rie looked at her slightly blushing face, frowning:

"Liar."

The tone was firm, like Sherlock Holmes explaining clues to Watson.

"I-I’m sorry....."

Hanamaru Hanabi couldn’t control her blushing and pounding heart; she knew if she continued to lie, Ayaka Rie would certainly expose her.

She saw many small details in the past few days, and this was the third time she asked Hanamaru Hanabi this question.

"So, you really are dating Uesugi?" Ayaka Rie glanced back at Uesugi Sakura, who had already noticed the two, and continued to ask.

Hanamaru Hanabi’s face burned, nodding in agreement: "Hmm....."

Ah, just as expected.

Ayaka Rie looked at her, cautiously guarding against Uesugi Sakura, who was trying to eavesdrop behind, then whispered so only the two could hear: "Can you tell me, what’s it like to be in love?"

As Ayaka Rie spoke, her breath wafted onto Hanamaru Hanabi’s sensitive earlobe, causing her to shiver all over, her body tingling as if it was electrocuted, then she shook her head vehemently, blushing furiously.

Not only was this a subconscious reaction of her body, but also an instinctive response to Ayaka Rie’s inquiry.

"Hanabi... Hanabi doesn’t know....."

Such a violent reaction naturally caught the attention of Uesugi Sakura behind, but under Ayaka Rie’s watchful glare, he had no chance to approach.

"You really don’t know?"

Ayaka Rie continued to whisper, "You always secretly look at him, absentmindedly, are you being led around by his shadow every day?"

"No, no..."

"Aren’t the two of you childhood friends?"

"Hmm..."

"Being together every day, you wouldn’t get tired of it?"

Hanamaru Hanabi shook her head.

"Can’t understand."

Ayaka Rie looked at her blushing face with confusion. In her view, such childhood companions were more suitable for friendships than so-called love.

After all, they’ve become acquainted with each other’s every reaction, and having lost the freshness, it’s hard for their relationship to develop further.

Seeing each other so often over the years, wouldn’t you get tired?

Ayaka Rie pondered again for a long time.

Finally, looking at the utterly helpless Hanamaru Hanabi, she sighed:

"That Uesugi guy has truly tamed you, Hanabi."

...

Tokyo’s night sky always holds the densest blue, with stars drifting on the night sea, the wind-blown leaves rustling, adorning the silent night with the beauty of nature.

This quiet neighborhood wrapped in sakuras is where Uesugi Sakura and Hanamaru Hanabi grew up.

The two walked along the peaceful path home, surrounded by familiar sights.

The sakura trees lining the way, wooden fences, tangled electrical wires, and the clear yellow streetlights...

Some things have changed and disappeared over time, but the feeling of walking here together since childhood remains.

They strolled slowly on this path filled with sakura petals.

Hanamaru Hanabi stepped out in her rounded-toe little leather shoes, walking in even strides, the shadows under the streetlights lengthening and shortening together with the one beside it.

The sound of footsteps, clear and bright.

"Hanabi."

For some reason, Uesugi Sakura wanted to call out the girl’s name, though he didn’t know what to say next.

"Hmm."

After Hanamaru Hanabi quickly responded, the silence re-emerged in the air.

Failing to find the next words to speak, Uesugi Sakura, and Hanamaru Hanabi as well, fell into silence.

The atmosphere became a bit peculiar.

Uesugi Sakura searched for topics in his mind and after a moment’s contemplation, he said:

"Ayaka already knows about us, right?"

At that moment, Uesugi Sakura even felt the urge to thank Ayaka Rie.

Hearing this, Hanamaru Hanabi felt guilt surging through her.

"I-I’m sorry, Sakura," she said with her head down, "Hanabi couldn’t keep the secret."

Yet another apology.

With a sigh in his heart, Uesugi Sakura looked at her with some reprimand: "Silly, didn’t I say that you don’t need to apologize to me?"

"I’m sorry..."

Hanamaru Hanabi instinctively said again, then suddenly realized, quickly covering her own mouth, looking nervously at Uesugi Sakura.

In her trembling eyes, a faint glow seemed to express the words "I’m sorry."

Her appearance couldn’t help but bring a smile back to Uesugi Sakura’s face.

He adjusted the book bag on his shoulder to a more comfortable position: "Alright, if an apology makes you feel better then, but remember, you don’t always have to apologize."

Hanamaru Hanabi gave a small nod, barely acknowledging Uesugi Sakura’s words.

"Exactly," Uesugi Sakura looked ahead, "It’s this personality that makes Hanabi this way, and it’s precisely this Hanabi that’s so endearing."

Uesugi Sakura faced her with a smile, his gentle, familiar face making her heartbeat quicken:

"Right?"

Hanamaru Hanabi pursed her lips, cautiously asking:

"Sakura, do you like this kind of Hanabi?"

"I do."

Uesugi Sakura replied without hesitation, looking intently into her beautiful eyes, "Little Hanabi has always been the same in my eyes."

The same...

Hanamaru Hanabi suddenly recalled Ayaka Rie’s question earlier, fearfully asking:

"After all this time, don’t you ever get tired of this Hanabi? Hanabi... is always so useless....."

Uesugi Sakura was momentarily stunned, then laughed: "Silly girl, always saying silly things."

He extended his hand, gently rubbing her little head:

"These things I don’t need to explain, Hanabi will know in time."

"Hmm..."

Hanamaru Hanabi looked down at her small hands, though she didn’t understand why Uesugi Sakura said that, she just felt the warmth of him rubbing her head.

Patting her obedient head, Uesugi Sakura continued smiling at her: "Let’s hurry, your dad and mom are waiting for us to go back for dinner."

After speaking, he held her not knowing what to do little hand tightly.

"Sakura!?"

"Follow me!"

Uesugi Sakura smiled slightly, pulling her along, gripping her right hand, and stepping forward.

"Sakura!"

The slender figure of Hanamaru Hanabi was pulled forward by him, stumbling, her left hand clutching the single-shoulder bag swinging backwards.

With an expression of panic, her pleated skirt fluttered in the wind, the little black shoes creating a clatter as they struck the ground repeatedly.

"Keep up!"

Uesugi Sakura looked back at her with a warm smile.

Hanamaru Hanabi felt the smile in front of her, felt the night wind whistling past her face, felt the warmth coming from her right hand.

Gradually, she matched her steps.

She began to run hand in hand with the person pulling her gently in front, along the silent path.

Under the beautiful night sky, the anxious figures of the two, stirred a flurry of scattered sakura petals beneath their feet.

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