Laid-Back Life in Tokyo: I Really Didn't Want to Work Hard-Chapter 948 - 554: Warming Each Other as We Move Toward Tomorrow
The first time meeting such a beautiful girl.
Oogami Wataru felt a bit touched in his heart.
He looked at her smiling face and turned away shyly.
"Um, Hanamaru-san, what kind of toys do you like? I’m pretty good at claw machines."
"Oogami-kun can use claw machines? That’s impressive." Hanamaru Yuuki said it quite naturally, making people feel extremely comfortable, "I quite like sharks."
And to what Oogami Wataru said, this was the first time a girl, so close, sincerely praised him.
Every otaku says they like being alone... but truly encountering a pretty girl who understands you so well, you can’t help but be overjoyed.
"Sharks, huh, I think I saw some over there..."
"Then let’s go, let’s go, you take me there."
"Oh..." Oogami Wataru was dumbstruck by her smile for a while, "Okay..."
...
Uesugi Sakura and Hanamaru Hanabi followed behind, watching them play capsule toys and use the claw machines. 𝐟𝚛𝕖𝚎𝕨𝗲𝐛𝚗𝐨𝐯𝐞𝕝.𝐜𝗼𝗺
They seemed quite happy.
Uesugi Sakura no longer wanted to comment on what kind of person Oogami Wataru was; at least for now, he seemed normal.
Hanamaru Hanabi stood at the door, quietly watching their backs. Her exquisite face, with eyes blue and gentle, reflected their images. She said, "Sakura-kun, do you think Yuuki’s classmate can bring Yuuki happiness?"
"That depends on Yuuki’s own choice; we can only give suggestions."
"Sakura-kun."
"Hm?"
"It’s nothing... it’s just that Hanabi feels, as long as I can call out to Sakura-kun, and he’ll respond, it makes me feel at ease."
"Me too."
Uesugi Sakura silently looked at her side profile.
In fact, he had thought for a long time about their future, a happy marriage, a happy life, happily spending every day of married life together.
And then, having children, at that time, Hanabi-chan would probably suffer a lot.
After all, she’s been weak since she was a child...
And then, the child would grow up day by day under their care, with lots of troubles, yet all resolved by their joint efforts.
And then... as they step into middle age, their bodies not as vigorous as before, yet still able to look at each other, happily resting their heads together, slowly smiling.
Finally, there’s old age.
This is the period Uesugi Sakura least wants to face.
He understood that living a life with Hanabi would definitely be happy and fulfilling.
She’s by his side, smiling at him, helping him put on clothes, tidying up the house...
Using her presence to warm him...
In the morning she still smiles and says good morning to him, just as she has for decades, holds his hand and smiles while going out for a walk, makes lunch for him, smiles and watches him eat, and then says good night to him in the evening.
If one day, one day, she suddenly doesn’t get up one night, what should he do?
At night she still says good morning to him, hoping to see Sakura-kun tomorrow.
Yet the next day... she just didn’t get up.
Even the cutest Hanabi-chan would have such a day.
Whenever Uesugi Sakura thought of this, his heart would feel reluctant and uncomfortable.
The feeling of suddenly leaving without saying goodbye makes his heart feel absurdly blocked.
...
At night, Uesugi Sakura returned home.
He stood on the balcony, overlooking the world, the bustling city, the bustling traffic of this city in operation.
"Sakura-kun, feeling down?"
Uesugi Sakura heard the voice, turned around, and noticed a warm cloak had already been placed on his shoulders.
He smiled at the timid girl before him.
"It’s not that I’m feeling down, but I thought of something, and it made me feel uncomfortable."
"Yuuki’s matter?"
"No..."
"Then Sakura-kun should definitely talk to Hanabi. No matter what... we are married... though not for too long, regarding any troubles, Hanabi will share some of Sakura-kun’s burdens."
"The way you speak... makes my heart feel even more uncomfortable."
"Why?"
"Because I am always taking from Hanabi, using Hanabi’s warmth to fill the loneliness of my heart... but I, I can’t give as much to Hanabi as she gives to me; this unequal giving makes me appreciate Hanabi even more, thus making it even harder to let Hanabi go..."
"Then, the other day... Sakura-kun still made Hanabi angry."
"I, I’m sorry... truly, I’m very sorry."
Hanamaru Hanabi placed her hand on his lips, "Hanabi said... she wouldn’t completely forgive Sakura-kun, but in her heart, she’s already forgiven 99.9%... the main reason being, Hanabi can’t forget the goodness Sakura has shown her..."
Uesugi Sakura laughed: "Sometimes, I feel like if Hanabi didn’t treat me so well, I’d feel a bit more comfortable."
"Why? That’s strange."
"Because Hanabi’s goodness is overwhelmingly heavy, it feels like something I can’t bear." Uesugi Sakura said, pulling the cloak on his shoulders, and his body seemed to warm up a bit more.
He turned back and looked at the night sky again.
The cold air at year’s end brushed against his face, feeling like ice shards cutting into the skin, causing pain.
"Sakura-kun... let’s sleep together tonight." In a moment of silence, Hanamaru Hanabi said to him, in her timid face, there was a resolve previously absent.
Uesugi Sakura saw this and couldn’t help but sigh in his heart.
Hanabi... has grown up.
"Not letting me sleep on the couch?"
"After all, since Sakura-kun isn’t feeling well... when Hanabi feels down, she also wants to find Sakura-kun... Hanabi thinks Sakura-kun probably feels the same way..."
...
Yuuki went to rest in his room quite early today.
Hanabi-chan was the second to go to the bathroom for a bath, Uesugi Sakura was the third.
Once he got dressed and pushed open the bathroom door, entering the bedroom.
Hanamaru Hanabi was already lying in bed.
That timid appearance, with her sparkling eyes in the dim bedroom light.
It’s hard not to feel her adorableness...
Uesugi Sakura smiled and walked over...
"Just so you know, Sakura-kun, don’t linger too long..."
Her voice was very shy.
Yet it also had a hint of youthful naivety.
Hanabi, no matter her appearance, always brought forth the old feelings...
Uesugi Sakura thought of when they just started dating, even holding hands brought a happy smile to their faces.
He pulled back the covers and snuggled into Hanabi-chan’s warm, fragrant bedding.
Two pillows, one for each side.
"Who said I come to sleep with you just for that... cough, cough... though normally I’m a bit flirtatious, I truly, truly like Hanabi-chan very much."
Uesugi Sakura said, moving his body closer.
He came to the girl’s front, resting his head in her embrace.
"Sakura-kun, you’re like a child again..." Hanamaru Hanabi looked at him pressing against her petite and smooth shoulder, slightly embarrassed.
"Hanabi, men are just like this... needing a harbor to stay in, where there’s no cold, no pain, only fragrance, softness, warmth... a utopia-like dream world."
Uesugi Sakura said, with his eyes closed.
"Even though it sounds selfish... I still somewhat hope Hanabi-chan won’t have children... one, because I’m afraid you’ll suffer, can’t bear it, two, I’m afraid Hanabi’s love will be divided, I’d have to stand strong like a father... even hiding in your arms to act spoiled would feel more of a concern."
"Sakura-kun, do you like things as they are now?"
"I like it, truly like it... and I hope Hanabi can come closer to me..."
Hanamaru Hanabi’s small hand caressed his cheek, brushing aside his hair and smiling: "Clearly, Sakura-kun is a boy who fears nothing..."
"To be precise, all my fears are tied to Hanabi... Hanabi is the only person in the world who truly understands me."
"Sakura-kun is too..."
The two shared a knowing glance, then smiled together.
Uesugi Sakura couldn’t remember how many times such a warm scene had occurred.
But every time he saw Hanabi... receiving her care and warmth in her arms, he couldn’t help but reminisce about the past and savor the present.
Each time, never growing weary.
The "click" of the lamp switching off.
Uesugi Sakura once again nestled into Hanamaru Hanabi’s embrace, this timid girl’s arms.
Her small hand caressed his cheek, allowing one to indulge in an unreachable dreamland.
"See you tomorrow, little Hanabi... I still hope to see you again."
"Mm, see you tomorrow, Sakura-kun, sleep well."
The night sky shifted far away, vast and inducing a chill in the heart, but the two within the small bedroom embraced each other, warming their bodies for one another, continuing their journey towards tomorrow.
...
