Laid-Back Life in Tokyo: I Really Didn't Want to Work Hard-Chapter 319 - 246 Morning

At seven in the morning, a young girl in a white shirt stood on a stool in the kitchen.

She wore a string of colorful knots on her hand, a man’s shirt, shorts, bare feet, and her face was cute and delicate, her short hair neatly trimmed and shoulder length.

She stood on her tiptoes, trying to reach the butter jar at the top of the hanging cabinet.

But no matter how she straightened her body and stretched her arm, she couldn’t reach the jar.

She stopped to look around, found a wooden low stool in the hallway, stepped out of her slippers, and brought the stool back to place it on top of the chair she was using.

Once again, she looked up at the daunting butter jar, removed her slippers, stepped her fair feet onto the stool, and started reaching up like she was climbing a cliff.

Her fingers stretched as far as possible forward, her tiptoed feet reaching as high as they could go.

Finally, her index finger touched the jar, but the butter jar wobbled, rolled down, and hit her forehead.

With an "ouch", the girl covered her forehead, closed her eyes in pain, and the stool slipped forward, making her lose balance and fall backward...

...

She must have been injured, at least before someone came over, as the girl could only slowly hold her foot and let out a light whimper.

"Hanabi, are you okay?" Uesugi Sakura, who just got up to wash up, leaned against the wall and peeked into the kitchen.

"Sakura-kun..." Hanamaru Hanabi lifted her head, with the butter jar still lying quietly beside her.

Seeing the girl sitting on the floor, he hurried over to meet her eyes, which were glistening with tears.

It seemed to hurt quite a bit.

"Where does it hurt?"

"My foot..."

Uesugi Sakura looked carefully at her small white feet but couldn’t find any external injuries other than slight redness.

"Did you sprain it?" he asked.

"I-I don’t know... but I can’t stand up..." Hanamaru Hanabi tried several times but failed.

"Don’t move, that will only cause further damage."

Uesugi Sakura wrapped his arm around her waist, "I’ll carry you to bed so you can rest first."

"But... breakfast for Sakura-kun isn’t ready yet..."

Hanamaru Hanabi looked at the butter jar that had fallen to the floor; she had intended to make buttered toast and fried eggs for Uesugi Sakura.

"You sprained your foot, and you’re still thinking about breakfast."

He supported her waist with one hand and lifted her legs with the other, carrying the petite girl in his arms like a princess.

He had always been able to carry Hanabi around easily, so doing so now was effortless.

As the entirety of her weight rested on him the moment she was lifted, Hanamaru Hanabi’s heart started racing, her breathing became uneven, and she instinctively averted her gaze from his face, her eyes shining and drifting.

He walked into the bedroom.

Uesugi Sakura gently placed the girl on the bed, propped a pillow behind her back, and took another look at her small foot:

"It does look a bit swollen and red, it’s a sprain. Does it still hurt?"

Hanamaru Hanabi weakly replied, "A little..."

Uesugi Sakura quickly went to the washroom to fetch a damp towel and then looked for some ice cubes in the fridge to wrap.

He returned to the bedroom and gently applied it to the girl’s ankle.

He then used a pillow to prop up her foot for added comfort.

"If the ice doesn’t relieve the swelling and pain, we’ll have to go to the hospital," Uesugi Sakura said.

"Sakura-kun... isn’t angry at Hanabi?"

"Angry? Why would I be angry at you?"

"For not making breakfast and making Sakura-kun do all this..."

Uesugi Sakura occasionally took the ice pack and towel off for a moment so she wouldn’t feel too cold:

"You’re a bit silly, if you couldn’t reach, you could’ve called me. No need to do it by yourself."

"..."

"Sorry..." Hanamaru Hanabi heard him call her silly and didn’t protest.

"Sorry isn’t enough."

"Sakura-kun... is there something you want to eat?"

Uesugi Sakura just smiled, "We’ll talk about it tonight."

Hanamaru Hanabi stretched her slender legs, wearing a loose white shirt with a slightly open collar, subtly revealing a snow-white neck.

Uesugi Sakura recalled this shirt, which he had looked for at home for some time:

"Why is Hanabi wearing my clothes?"

"This one?"

Hanamaru Hanabi raised her hand; the white shirt was indeed a bit too long for her, "Sakura-kun left it at my place before and forgot to take it back. When Hanabi found she had no clothes to wear after a bath, she put on Sakura-kun’s shirt instead."

At home, she usually dressed casually, at least this shirt’s buttons weren’t fully done up, revealing a glimpse of her white belly through the gaps.

"Is this shirt comfortable to wear?"

"Yeah, it’s quite comfortable."

"Has Hanabi ever done anything like secretly smelling it?"

"No..." Hanamaru Hanabi froze for a moment and answered weakly.

Uesugi Sakura leaned closer, placing his right hand on the wall behind her.

"Sakura-kun... too, too close," Hanamaru Hanabi blushed and turned her small head.

"Can we be too close?"

Hanamaru Hanabi nodded like a pecking chick.

"Is it about that day..."

"Sakura-kun, don’t say it!"

"Why not? I saw Hanabi that day..." But before Uesugi Sakura could finish, he was quickly pushed away by the girl’s small hands.

Hanamaru Hanabi curled her small hands on her chest, closed her eyes, and said softly, "Sakura-kun... you shouldn’t..."

"Does your foot still hurt?"

"Not as much now... Sakura-kun, don’t you have class today?"

"Skipping a day occasionally isn’t a big deal. I just want to spend time with you today and help you organize your things."

Uesugi Sakura removed the ice pack from her ankle and placed it aside, then sat a bit closer to her.

With both hands resting on her waist, even through the white shirt, his mind was instantly filled with the delicate and soft sensation.

"Is it alright?"

"No."

...

...

Alright, seeing Hanabi respond like this, Uesugi Sakura understood she didn’t want it now.

"Sakura-kun..."

"Hmm?"

"Actually..."

Seeing Hanamaru Hanabi so hesitant, Uesugi Sakura rested his left elbow on the bed, staring at the girl’s flushed face as if she had a fever, and instead smiled, "Why did you suddenly want me to play guitar at the cake shop yesterday?"

"Sakura-kun, why are you asking this out of nowhere? Weren’t we talking about..."

"Ah..." Uesugi Sakura reached to tug lightly on the sheet covering her legs, "I know Hanabi wanted to accommodate me and fulfill my idea, but come to think of it, Hanabi has always been like this."

"Isn’t that precise, isn’t that what Sakura-kun likes?"

"It’s not that I don’t like it, but Hanabi, you’re always giving me so much, it’s a bit much."

Hanamaru Hanabi focused hard, speaking haltingly, "Hanabi... Hanabi feels doing this for Sakura-kun is pretty nice."

Uesugi Sakura flicked her forehead, Hanamaru Hanabi held her head, closing her eyes tightly.

He continued, "So Hanabi needs to change that mindset. It’s not always about someone doing everything for someone else. Hanabi, you should do what’s best for yourself, and have your own thoughts."

"Even for Sakura-kun, is that not allowed...?"

"Yes, even for me, it’s not allowed. It’s actually right if I annoy you and you sulk."

"But..."

Uesugi Sakura then took her hand, smiling, "But Hanabi, you wouldn’t actually sulk at me, and that’s what makes you special and lovely..."

Hanamaru Hanabi earnestly gazed into his eyes, feeling the coldness from the ice pack on her foot.

She simultaneously sensed the pain from her ankle and his words whispered at her ear, his actions on her behalf.

Sakura-kun always does this.

Sometimes he’s awful, annoying.

Other times, he’s so right, gentle, and reasonable.

He’s always there when she needs someone, willing to share quite a bit of the burden.

This feeling, condensed on the face of the person in front of her, reminded Hanamaru Hanabi of their current relationship.

"Sakura-kun."

"Hmm? Why are you calling so softly?"

"We’re engaged, right?"

"Of course, our parents witnessed it."

"In the future, can I be a good wife?"

Uesugi Sakura chuckled, "Why wouldn’t Hanabi think that I might not be a good husband?"

"That’s because... because..." Hanamaru Hanabi thought for a while but couldn’t say it.

"Hmm," Uesugi Sakura nodded, answering for her, "Because Hanabi is willing to believe in me?"

"Sakura-kun..."

"Haha, no need to show that ’why do you understand me so well’ look... after all, how many years have we known each other? Regarding that question, I believe we’ll keep growing together in the days ahead—I want to make Hanabi happy, and Hanabi wants to make me happy—that’s love. As for marriage... Hanabi really doesn’t need to worry too much. Just as you believe in me, I also believe in you, Hanabi, and I think you can do it."

Hanamaru Hanabi watched him silently for a long time under his words.

...

Uesugi Sakura let her rest for the day and began sorting her clothes.

The bedroom TV was playing Fuji TV’s morning drama, with Hanabi sitting on the bed, hugging the shark plushie he gifted her, engrossed in the show due to her immobile leg.

The wardrobe had scented bags, and opening the closet let out a whiff of fragrance.

He moved the box to the wardrobe and started organizing her dresses one by one, putting them inside.

Dresses, skirts, long skirts, short skirts... all kinds of colorful little skirts.

Come to think of it, Hanabi doesn’t seem to like wearing trousers or jeans.

She just prefers skirts, with the difference being the length and thickness of her tights throughout the seasons.

As he sorted through them, Uesugi Sakura found an intimate item, a camisole.

He was curious about something and took out the camisole, calling out to Hanabi, who was watching the morning drama.

"Hanabi."

"Hmm..." Hanamaru Hanabi was absorbed in watching TV.

"Look over here." Uesugi Sakura held up Hanabi’s camisole.

As she heard him, Hanamaru Hanabi turned and panicked instantly: "Sakura, Sakura... Sakura-kun..."

"Sakura-kun, what are you doing with Hanabi’s thing?"

"Just curious," Uesugi Sakura glanced at the pink lace-trimmed camisole, "Hanabi, what’s your cup size again?"

"A?"

The shy girl stammered, glancing down at the small hills under her shirt, "No-not that small..."

Uesugi Sakura used his hand to measure, finding it just the right size to hold, then compared between the camisole and his palm.

Suddenly, Hanamaru Hanabi shouted, "Sakura-kun is strange!"

"Just curious, not strange." He took the camisole off the hanger, folded it neatly, put it into a clear plastic bag, and finally placed it in the box.

Hanamaru Hanabi suddenly regretted letting Uesugi Sakura help... because he always handled some of her very personal clothing.

"Sakura... Sakura-kun."

"What’s wrong?"

"Perhaps... perhaps Hanabi should do it herself."

"What’s the big deal," Uesugi Sakura was putting away a cute pink pair of panties in the box, "I’m just helping out."

"But... but..." Hanamaru Hanabi felt uneasy seeing him handle some of her frequently worn panties, feeling an itchy sense of embarrassment in her heart that made it hard to stay still.

"Feeling shy again?" Uesugi Sakura sorted through the wardrobe with his back to her, "Weren’t you doing fine just now?"

"Just now... just now..." Hanamaru Hanabi put her hands tightly between her thighs, too embarrassed to say more.

"How about I help you every day from now on?"

"E-every day..." Hanamaru Hanabi’s head lowered further, her voice getting smaller, "Sakura-kun... pervert..."

Uesugi Sakura suddenly noticed a pillow flying towards him while organizing clothes. He turned around, caught it, hugged it, and asked with a smile, "What’s wrong?"

"Ann-annoying!"

"That’s not right, little Hanabi; you’re playing hard to get." Uesugi Sakura squeezed the pillow.

"It’s clearly, clearly Sakura-kun!!"

"Wrong, wrong, it’s obviously little Hanabi enjoying it." Uesugi Sakura smiled at her puffed-up face, "Remember tonight, okay?"

"Tonight, what...?"

"Didn’t you just apologize to me? Apologizing needs to be sincere."

"Sin...sincere...?"

Uesugi Sakura mouthed a word to her.

"..."

Hanamaru Hanabi tossed another pillow at him forcefully, then clenched her eyes shut and cried out, "Hanabi, hates, hates Sakura-kun!"

Visit freewe𝑏(n)ovel.co(m) for the b𝘦st novel reading experience