Laid-Back Life in Tokyo: I Really Didn't Want to Work Hard
Chapter 82: Apologies Must Be Sincere

Chapter 82: Chapter 82: Apologies Must Be Sincere

"Senior, senior."

Just as Uesugi Sakura left the Kyudo Club, she was followed by Chitose Mai, who ran out after her.

Uesugi Sakura glanced at her: "Aren’t you supposed to be working at the convenience store? Why are you following me?"

"No rush, I have a night shift at eight today," Chitose Mai said cheerfully, walking with a light bounce in her step. "I mainly wanted to thank you for sharing your kyudo experience with me."

She placed her hands on her waist and bent slightly forward, smiling as she bowed to Uesugi Sakura: "Thank you, senior!"

Her expression, tone, and actions were all very sincere, but there was a girlish charm to it.

"Don’t you think I’m very cold?" Uesugi Sakura’s tone softened slightly, similar to Ogata Asaka’s. "You’re still willing to thank me with such a tone."

"You are a bit cold, but it’s true that you taught me, right?"

Chitose Mai stood upright, now dressed in the school’s standard sailor outfit, "It’s just your personality, isn’t it? Everyone is different... what’s that saying again, um... there are a thousand... somethings in a thousand people’s eyes? I can’t quite remember, but I’m not too bothered by it. I just remember that you helped me and it’s only right to thank you."

"A thousand Hamlets." Uesugi Sakura added, then continued walking forward, "Although I don’t know why you approached me in the first place, your words are nice, and I should thank you in return.

"Thank you for having such a relaxed view, not hating something because it’s different, having your own thoughts and opinions. As a senior, my impression of you has improved quite a bit."

So, it turns out I’m not disliked by all the girls I know apart from Hanabi.

Although it seems Hanabi doesn’t quite like me today either...

"Hehe," Chitose Mai laughed playfully, "Seniors like you, who are cool and handsome, are best admired from a distance. If you’re too close, you’ll get frostbite. I bet you don’t have any female friends, right?"

Female friends.

A vision flashed before Uesugi Sakura’s eyes, showcasing the faces and names of the girls in his class: "Indeed, I don’t."

Except for Hanabi, who has been my companion since childhood.

However, platonic friendships between opposite sexes sometimes transform as adolescence arrives.

The feeling of love is intoxicating.

Every time I recall her sweet smile, my heart warms up a little.

She was adorable when we were little, and is still adorable now. Her shy demeanor sways my heart, unforgettable.

In order not to let her continue disliking me, Uesugi Sakura must take some action.

During this moment, Chitose Mai noticed the unusual look in Uesugi Sakura’s eyes and took the opportunity to ask: "Seems like you have something on your mind today, senior."

"You noticed?"

"The seniors all said your shot was problematic."

A pause.

"It was."

"Can you tell me about it?"

"Why?" Uesugi Sakura asked in return.

"Maybe I can help you, just as a thanks for the experience you shared with me." Chitose Mai smiled.

Uesugi Sakura didn’t turn to look at her, but letting her brainstorm was a feasible option.

After all, she and Hanabi are both girls. Even if their personalities are completely different, there might be some similarities.

Just like earlier when I asked Tsubokawa Takahiro for advice; referencing it proved to be useful.

"A girl hates me, and I’m thinking about how to apologize to her," Uesugi Sakura said naturally.

But Chitose Mai’s eyes sparkled with curiosity: "Senior, a girl dislikes you? Why?"

Why?

Can I say it’s because in a dream I secretly touched her chest and she somehow knew from the dream?

"No deep reason, just ordinary dislike," Uesugi Sakura didn’t want to randomly make up a lie. "I want to restore the previous relationship; any good solutions?"

"Hmm~~"

Chitose Mai didn’t immediately answer Uesugi Sakura’s question but instead propped her chin and scrutinized him, "Girlfriend?"

"Hmm... "

He wanted to admit it but suddenly remembered his future father-in-law’s strange words.

Don’t make your relationship known to everyone at school.

Why? Having a girlfriend is quite normal?

His future father-in-law can be absurd sometimes.

But he’d better listen to his future father-in-law.

"Sort of... a female friend." Uesugi Sakura said haltingly, but his tone was calm enough to not give anything away.

Chitose Mai was obviously confused by his words: "But you just said you didn’t have any female friends, senior."

"Hated, now she can’t be considered a friend." Uesugi Sakura looked toward the nearby school building.

The ancient and vigorous, yet life-filled pagoda tree below was very conspicuous.

"Alright then," Chitose Mai reluctantly accepted this explanation, "but how do you plan on apologizing to her, senior? Any clues?"

"Give a gift." Uesugi Sakura unexpectedly found these three words coming out of his mouth to be quite cliché.

But it was cliché, to begin with.

To his surprise, Chitose Mai didn’t object at all: "That could work. As long as there’s sincerity, it’s easy to be accepted."

"Won’t it be too ordinary?"

"The act of giving a gift is ordinary, but what’s not ordinary is the person giving the gift."

Chitose Mai displayed a satisfied expression, nodded with her eyes closed, "After all, there are so many couples in the world. No matter how novel a gift is, there will always be overlaps. For me, novelty is not as valuable as sincerity. If the other person genuinely wants to apologize, sincerity is key, and no matter how humble the gift, I would accept it."

Uesugi Sakura appreciated her perspective and looked forward to her next suggestion, "What kind of gift would be considered sincere?"

Perhaps confident in her own viewpoint, Chitose Mai reached into her pocket for a piece of gum and popped it into her mouth, continuing with a small sense of pride: "Action."

Uesugi Sakura listened intently to her explanation.

"By action, I mean the process leading to creating that gift, like baking a cake yourself, knitting a scarf, or giving her a favorite handmade object, and it’s best to include a sincere apology letter."

"Hmm... "

Uesugi Sakura pondered over her words.

Baking a cake or making food is out of the question for him. He fears Hanabi would force herself to eat it despite its taste.

Is that an apology? That would be coercion.

Giving a shark or chili plushie?

Hanabi cuddling a plushie the same size as her would definitely be adorable.

The idea is great, but Hanabi already has those at home.

A lot of them were bought by Hanamaru Hiroki, and some were caught from claw machines during past shopping trips together.