Laid-Back Life in Tokyo: I Really Didn't Want to Work Hard-Chapter 814 - 484: Longing, Light Novels

Spring breeze and early light accompany.

Hanamaru Hanabi adjusted the beret on her head and looked at the entrance of Tokyo Art University, which felt more like a park.

Surrounding her were students coming in and out of the campus, holding breakfast buns, wearing wired earphones, slowly walking while fixated on their phone screens.

Sakura, he should be at school today too, right?

Hanamaru Hanabi looked up at the teaching building hiding behind the crown of the locust tree, her thoughts a bit uncertain.

A gentle breeze blew her hair across her face, also lifting the hem of her lightly swaying dress.

Though they’ve been apart for less than a day...would Sakura miss Hanabi?

Probably not, after all, it’s just been one night...

At that moment, Hanamaru Hanabi didn’t know what she was thinking; she always felt chaotic inside when about to meet Uesugi Sakura.

Just like before, whenever she thought of calling him to go to school together at the Uesugi Family’s door in the morning, she couldn’t help but take out a mirror to check if her outfit looked good today, if her bow was crooked, or if her hair was messy.

Always wanting to leave a good impression on him.

Hanamaru Hanabi freed one hand from holding her shoulder bag and placed it on her chest, pausing for a moment.

Sometimes, even a brief separation feels like parting for a long time.

It was the same long ago when she went to England. She sat on the plane, watching the view rise bit by bit, observing the shrinking map below her, thinking of Uesugi Sakura, longing for him to decisively rush over and stop her from leaving...

This hollow feeling, the more she thought about it, the more it surged, like a tide swelling from her heart.

Hanamaru Hanabi took a deep breath, then slowly exhaled as she held a bag decorated with a shark plushie, looking at the school building.

Cheer up, Hanabi.

Sakura definitely still likes you!

...

Perhaps sensing something inexplicable, Uesugi Sakura in the classroom had been unable to resist glancing out the window, hoping to find a familiar shadow under the trees.

Though the path beside the teaching building had many passersby, Uesugi Sakura seemed like a machine with markers, automatically ignoring those irrelevant pedestrians.

This feeling of continuous hope, yet constant disappointment, was truly dispiriting.

He had been gazing out for quite a while now.

Could it be that Hanabi won’t really come to school today?

Thinking he wouldn’t see his wife this morning made Uesugi Sakura lean dejectedly, hand on the windowsill, absentmindedly fiddling with a small cement chunk.

Perhaps this is what it feels like to like someone yet feel unfulfilled.

Uesugi Sakura didn’t expect to feel this way again after getting married.

"Sigh..."

He sighed, using the professor’s absence to steal a moment, continuing to look outside, hoping for a miracle of hope to appear.

Yet he didn’t realize Hanamaru Hanabi was already standing at the classroom door, watching the melancholy Uesugi Sakura by the window.

Kitagawa Sakisa, sitting in front of the drawing board, clearly noticed Hanamaru Hanabi at the doorway and discreetly eyed Uesugi Sakura before secretly running over:

"Hanabi, good morning!"

"Good morning," Hanamaru Hanabi replied in a melodious voice, craning her neck to glance at Uesugi Sakura’s back, "What’s up with Sakura?"

"Well," Kitagawa Sakisa said, "I don’t know, really. But he’s been a bit distracted since half-finishing his painting. Why didn’t he come with you today?"

Hanamaru Hanabi didn’t know how to answer, as it was quite embarrassing, "Oh, nothing really..."

Kitagawa Sakisa had some guesses, her eyes opening wide: "Did he argue with you, Hanabi?"

"Well...no..."

"If you fought, it must be Uesugi’s fault. No way it could be Hanabi’s fault. Uesugi even played boyfriend to someone else last time! Total jerk! Um... You’re not mad at me for saying this, right, Hanabi?"

In truth, Hanamaru Hanabi wasn’t angry over this; she knew what to listen to and what not to: "Not angry, just curious about what Sakura is watching."

"Then go ask him yourself, Hanabi. He barely acknowledged me when I tried talking to him. So frustrating!"

"Mmm."

Hanamaru Hanabi nodded, quietly approaching Uesugi Sakura with soft steps.

Then, across from him, she followed his gaze out the window.

"What are you looking at, Sakura?"

"Hanabi?!"

Uesugi Sakura was startled by the familiar girl in a beret standing before him, her familiar look and gentle voice.

"Sakura, did I surprise you?" Hanamaru Hanabi said smiling before him.

"Well, a bit," Uesugi Sakura also smiled, feeling noticeably uplifted by his wife’s arrival, "Let’s complete today’s assignments quickly. Though you skipped a class, the professor knows it’s fine if you listen or not. As long as you pass the finals, he won’t mark you absent."

Hanamaru Hanabi extended her response, "Then...did Sakura think of Hanabi today?"

Uesugi Sakura replied naturally, "That goes without saying."

"Does Sakura recall his likability score?" 𝑓𝑟ℯ𝘦𝓌𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝑐ℴ𝓂

"-10."

"What can you do with a likability score of -10?"

Absolutely nothing!