Laid-Back Life in Tokyo: I Really Didn't Want to Work Hard
Chapter 83 Sakura, striving towards Saturday.

Chapter 83: Chapter 83 Sakura, striving towards Saturday.

"Of course, this is just my advice as an ordinary person." Chitose Mai nodded confidently, attracting the attention of the boys in the baseball club behind the fence.

Baseball is undoubtedly the most popular and well-liked sport in Japan, with many girls often standing outside the wire fence, secretly watching the boys in the baseball club.

The feeling of being in the spotlight is great, and the common mentality of high school boys makes them feel particularly handsome... For all these reasons, the members of the baseball club have an inexplicable confidence.

Hearing the enthusiastic discussions of his classmates nearby, just thinking about joining hands with that beautiful girl and charging into Koshien, Terai Hidekazu gathered all his strength.

Wearing his white sports uniform, he wanted to hit a grand slam that he had never achieved before.

There’s nothing like having a pretty girlfriend cheering you on during the most passionate time of your youth—that’s the true pinnacle of life.

He decided that the next time he saw that beautiful girl outside, he would give his all to pursue her.

He failed last time, but this time he definitely wouldn’t fail!

Bam...!

Sweat flew with the baseball, spreading beneath the sky.

Uesugi Sakura recognized him; he was the guy who confessed to Hanabi before.

The gaze that turned here just now was completely unabashed.

I thought he was an innocent boy, never expected he’d move on so quickly from being rejected.

Ignoring their bare and overly confident eyes, Chitose Mai continued speaking to Uesugi without looking back, "Next, it’s my personal advice."

Uesugi Sakura’s gaze, which had just looked at Terai Hidekazu, was noticed by him, but he clearly didn’t recognize him. The way they exchanged glances was like passing by a stranger while crossing the street—it ended with just a brief glimpse.

But soon, Terai Hidekazu, having put the baseball down, glanced at him again, with a gaze seemingly treating him as an adversary.

"Senpai? Are you listening?"

Chitose Mai waved her hand in front of Uesugi Sakura’s face, as she also noticed his gaze at that baseball club boy.

Plain and unremarkable, why would senpai look at that guy?

"I’m listening, please continue." Uesugi Sakura refocused his gaze straight ahead.

Chitose Mai straightened her back, placed her hands behind her, and stepped forward in a relaxed pace.

"Well, in my opinion, going out to have fun together after apologizing is the best."

"A date?" The word inexplicably popped into Uesugi Sakura’s mind.

"Who said going out with a female friend is a date?" Chitose Mai responded, "Can’t men and women have pure friendships?"

Passing the locust tree, there was the ancient banyan tree over three hundred years old, and its expansive leaves sheltered the two people walking beneath.

"Extremely rare, most turn sour," Uesugi Sakura said.

Chitose Mai disagreed with that point, "Senpai is the first male friend I’ve made at this school, and it’s nice to just chat and hang out at times like this, isn’t it?"

"When did we become friends? Besides, do you think just because we’re friends, I would spend the weekend out having fun with you?"

"You probably would, right?" Chitose Mai tilted her head and looked at Uesugi Sakura, appearing as if she was making a "lifelong request."

"No, I wouldn’t." Uesugi Sakura mercilessly rejected.

"Eh!" The girl’s voice suddenly heightened, "After all I’ve helped senpai with so much."

"That was your way of thanking me."

Uesugi Sakura looked up towards the classroom, as he already made plans for this weekend in his mind.

"How could this be..."

Chitose Mai hung her head down. If this were a game, she could almost see the words "affinity +1" above Uesugi Sakura’s head.

——————

"Ah, it’s you, Sakura, welcome."

The next day, Saturday morning, Mrs. Hanamaru said with a smile at the door.

The weather today was still plain and unremarkable, neither cold nor hot, and if it was like before, it would definitely be the kind of day forgotten after a few days.

"Good morning, Auntie, I’m here to see Hanabi." Uesugi Sakura noticed Mrs. Hanamaru looking at him with a strange expression.

Mrs. Hanamaru gave a motherly smile, but her eyes grew increasingly curious, "Aside from seeing Hanabi-chan, is there anything else Sakura is here for?"

Uesugi Sakura was just blocked at the door by her, unable to move further.

"Auntie?"

Mrs. Hanamaru, with warmth in her voice, said, "Sakura, tell Auntie secretly, did you do anything naughty to Hanabi-chan that night?"

Though she was a gentle mother, there was a teenage mischief hidden in her brows.

Naughty?

No.

Does squeezing her soft belly in a dream count...? And...

Could Hanabi have already told Auntie about it?

Before Uesugi Sakura could sort out a response, Mrs. Hanamaru continued with a smile, "Although I don’t approve of such actions, if it’s done, please make sure to pay more attention next time, even if for now there isn’t any."

Mrs. Hanamaru seemed well-prepared for such matters.

"Sigh, Auntie actually understands you two. After all, both Sakura and little Hanabi have just entered adolescence, being so close and alone often, it’s natural for something to happen."

Mrs. Hanamaru was truly understanding, and this was the first thought Uesugi Sakura had after hearing this.

He even blurted out an irrelevant question, "Is Uncle at home?"

"Sakura~~~"

Mrs. Hanamaru maintained her previous smile, squinted her eyebrows, and firmly flicked Uesugi Sakura’s forehead with her finger, "What are you saying in front of Hanabi’s mother?"

"Nothing, just concerned about Uncle’s work," Uesugi Sakura said, nursing his pained forehead and changing the subject, "Is Hanabi still sleeping?"

"Hanabi isn’t up, her dad’s busy with work and not home either, don’t worry, you two have all the time this weekend," Mrs. Hanamaru switched topics, "But before that, there’s something I need to tell you, Sakura."

"Please go ahead, Auntie."

"It’s nothing major; it’s Hanabi’s mood, which hasn’t been great since yesterday. You probably noticed, right?"

"Yeah."

From Mrs. Hanamaru’s subtle facial expressions, Uesugi Sakura firmly believed: it was his fault.

"Seems you know," Mrs. Hanamaru nodded, then stepped aside at the door, "I won’t say more, come in."

"Sorry to intrude, Auntie."

"You’re always welcome."

Then, Mrs. Hanamaru watched Uesugi Sakura walk towards the second floor, shook her head with a smile, and went into the kitchen to start preparing breakfast.

Knock knock...

Two soft knocks on the door.

Before directly opening the room door, just to be safe, Uesugi Sakura knocked to prevent any protagonist-esque scenario of accidentally seeing someone changing clothes.

"...Mom?"

A muffled, soft voice came from inside the room, sounding a bit confused and dejected.

"It’s me." Uesugi Sakura said softly.

"Sakura... Sakura-kun..." After a brief silence inside, Hanamaru Hanabi spoke, "Please don’t come in yet, Hanabi’s changing clothes...."

Her voice was small and weak, like the stuffy feeling of a cold and fever.

Is it still the same as last night with no changes?

"Okay."

Hearing Hanabi’s uncomfortable voice, Uesugi Sakura no longer felt in the mood for jokes, and waited quietly outside.

After a short while.

"Sakura-kun... you can come in now..."

Her voice still revealed her unhappy mood.

In the past, at this moment, she’d be shy and a little flustered.

With an anxious heart, he pushed open her door.