Chapter 21 Let’s Go, Let’s Go Home

Words : 1839 Updated : Sep 18th, 2025

Chapter 21 of "Laid-Back Life in Tokyo: I Really Didn't Want to Work Hard" opens presenting: Chapter 21: Chapter 21 Let's Go, Let's Go HomeUesugi Sakura couldn't figure out where Ayaka... Don’t stop now!

Chapter 21: Chapter 21 Let's Go, Let's Go HomeUesugi Sakura couldn't figure out where Ayaka Rie's confidence came from, so she leaned over to take a look at her masterpiece. "Hey! What are you doing!" Unexpectedly, Ayaka Rie moved her sketchpad away immediately, looking quite alarmed. In the classroom, a few classmates curiously glanced over to see what was happening. People are always curious; it's instinctual. Uesugi Sakura understood and cleared her throat before saying: "I just wanted to see what's special about Ayaka's work." Many classmates quickly withdrew their gaze after hearing this, as if it was something quite ordinary. Kyujuu Rika, who was on the other side of Hanabi, remarked: "Uesugi, it's not easy to see Ayaka's work; after all, we haven't seen it many times ourselves." It seemed like she wasn't that angry anymore. Quit the club tomorrow? "What!" Ayaka Rie began to show her tsundere nature, "I'm just worried I might crush you all, leaving you ashamed and helpless. I was being considerate, but you just don't understand. It's hopeless, humph!" "I admire your confidence." Ayaka Rie raised an eyebrow: "Hmm? Uesugi! What do you mean by that? Are you doubting me?" She glared at Uesugi Sakura, waiting for an answer. "Of course not." "Yes, you are!" "No, I'm not." "You are!" "I wouldn't." "High-level creatures aren't worth trusting, don't think I don't know about your mischief." After speaking, Ayaka Rie turned back around, picked up the pen from her sketchpad, and started dramatically working on her drawing. Mischief? Aside from slacking off, does she think I do bad things? Alright, Uesugi Sakura admitted that she indeed didn't believe her just now, but that was a kind deflection to avoid a prolonged dispute, without any other intentions. But come to think of it, a girl's drawing shouldn't look too bad. As the clock ticked to 6:30, Uesugi Sakura and Hanamaru Hanabi bid farewell to Kyujuu Rika at the school gate and started on their way home with Ayaka Rie. The young girls were always filled with youthful energy, sweet and refreshing. The two beautiful girls in black sailor uniforms walking side by side were just like that, with black pleated skirts complementing their fair legs, paired with small leather shoes. Hmm... a perfect match. After getting off the train together, it was just Uesugi Sakura and Hanamaru Hanabi on their way home. "See you tomorrow, Hanabi!" Ayaka Rie waved her hand at Hanamaru Hanabi with a smile, a moment of sunshine on her face. Unfortunately, Uesugi Sakura had only seen her being difficult with him this semester. "Uesugi-kun, please don't take it to heart. Rie-chan is just assertive and doesn't mean any harm to you." "Yes, everyone has different personalities. There's nothing to be bothered about. Let's go." Upon hearing Hanabi's soft voice, Uesugi Sakura nodded reflexively and walked with her on the way home. They crossed the street and climbed the stairs of the pedestrian bridge. "Come to think of it, we haven't walked home together after school for a while, have we?" "Well, Uesugi-kun isn't in any clubs and has important studies to focus on every day," Hanamaru Hanabi brushed a strand of hair from her cheek, "Uesugi-kun has always been very diligent." Studies. Upon hearing that word, Uesugi Sakura felt a peculiar emotion rise in his heart. Normally, by this time, he'd already be sitting at his desk at home, looking at boring textbooks, memorizing English words he didn't like. His only current goal was to live more comfortably as a lazy person later on. He looked forward, the vast pedestrian bridge sparsely populated. "Hanabi, do you think I'm very introverted?" Hanamaru Hanabi glanced at Uesugi Sakura beside her, not expecting him to ask such a question. She shook her head. "No... Hanabi thinks Uesugi-kun is already very good, having your own thoughts and working hard to achieve them is already amazing." "It's just... nobody knows it..." Uesugi Sakura looked to the side, the sunset over Tokyo and the busy street below spoke of the city's hustle, flaming red clouds under which skyscrapers loomed, tinted with color but exuding no warmth. They all moved toward their predetermined path, without deviation. He recalled his past life, living robotically. Going to work, leaving work, returning to his cheap, lonely rental, eating cheap takeout, playing bland games, repeating the cycle. Finding no motivation to move forward, no purpose to life. No romantic experiences in his twenties, even holding hands was just left hand holding the right. Nothing changed except for increasingly worn spirits. "Hanabi, should I change myself?" "Uesugi-kun," Hanamaru Hanabi, with her cute, delicate face, held her purse in front of her waist, her eyes sparkling with lively light, "I've known since we were young that Uesugi-kun was very different from everyone else. The things that troubled others, Uesugi-kun always handled with ease, though it went unnoticed. "While others played, Uesugi-kun quietly worked hard from unseen places, but everyone assumed it was just your talent... "Hanabi has always admired Uesugi-kun's strong determination and greatly respects Uesugi-kun's efforts. In my eyes, Uesugi-kun has always been a very mature, dependable person!" Hanabi's firm voice contrasted wonderfully with her soft-spoken tone. Uesugi Sakura didn't expect to be held in such high regard by her; he just didn't want to get unnecessarily entangled with others. But this speech made him smile lightly and say: "Thank you." "Uh-huh," In response, Hanamaru Hanabi just shook her head, "Hanabi knows that sometimes Uesugi-kun might seem lonely, but please never force yourself, no matter what, just be yourself. No matter what form that takes, it will be your best self." Hanamaru Hanabi suddenly looked up, and under the fading sunset, she flashed a radiant smile: "If Uesugi-kun ever feels lonely, Hanabi, Hanabi will always be by your side, cheering you on forever!" "..." The gold-and-red sunset still loomed above, and the girl's smile before him, so innocent and within reach, seemed to knock gently on the door of his heart. An otherwise calm heart fluttered for no reason. Uesugi Sakura stopped walking, gazing at the brilliant smile on the girl's face beside him, the glow dancing across her cheeks, seeming both dreamy and genuine. If it were her... perhaps they could quietly spend a lifetime together... He smiled at her and said: "Let's go home." "Uh-huh." ... A brief moment of silence. "Before that, do you want to eat something?" "Uesugi-kun can decide." The girl's familiar warm smile lingered longer than the shadows cast by the sunset. Tokyo's streets were quite narrow, marked by a series of barriers at the sides, leaving a path just wide enough for three people to pass. There were many bicycles piled up next to restaurants and clothing stores on the side of the street, along with a mix of unruly greenery and billboards, giving a crowded feeling. Sitting at a small food stall at the edge of the street, lanterns with "Oden" written in orange hung on either side of the stall. Uesugi Sakura watched attentively as Hanamaru Hanabi ate. In the rising steam, her beautiful eyes sparkled in the light, her delicate face tinged with a soft cherry red. The oden in front of her was still bright red. Uesugi Sakura always thought she was cute. "Why can Hanabi eat so spicy?" he asked again after a long time. "Because... it makes me feel happy..." Hanamaru Hanabi turned her head and met his gaze, her violet eyes especially lively, she murmured, "Thank you, Uesugi-kun..." Uesugi Sakura knew that no matter how well she got to know him, she'd still say the words "thank you." "How does Hanabi plan to thank Uesugi-kun?" he asked with a smile. Hanamaru Hanabi slightly lowered her head, her voice still soft: "Hanabi... will make a bento for Uesugi-kun tomorrow." "Don't worry about it, I was just joking." Uesugi Sakura knew she liked to sleep in in the morning, making a bento would take a lot of time. "Uh... huh..." Hanamaru Hanabi seemed distracted, not immediately eating the super spicy oden she had just prepared. Meanwhile, Uesugi Sakura had already eaten three pieces of chikuwa. "Why aren't you eating, Hanabi?" noticing her strange behavior, Uesugi Sakura asked. Hanamaru Hanabi clutched her skirt, her eyes reflecting the broth swirling in the oden, avoiding his gaze: "Uesugi-kun... joined a club today." "Hmm, so what?" "No... nothing..." Hanamaru Hanabi hesitated for a while, still not voicing her thoughts. She had seen the two in the courtyard this morning because she was with Ayaka Rie all the time. She paused, organizing her thoughts, ready to tell him: "U... Uesugi-kun, today... today, Hanabi found a letter in my shoe locker." Her voice was very small. Uesugi Sakura wasn't dumb; he knew what it was. He put down the meatball he had just picked up, "Is it a love letter?" "Uh-huh..." "What do you think, Hanabi?" "Hanabi thinks..." Hanamaru Hanabi, who had just lifted her head, suddenly lowered it again. She had made up her mind, and her voice grew softer and slower: "The letter... was well-written... Hanabi wants... to accept... the... confession..." Upon hearing the word confession, Uesugi Sakura turned to her, and the first thing he saw was her restless little hand on her skirt. He understood that an uneasy hand signified anxiety within her heart. She clearly just said she'd always be by his side. She really can't even lie well. He didn't continue the topic and instead picked up an uneaten oden in front of her. Chopped scallions traveled the carefully brewed broth, yet drowned unable to escape. Hanamaru Hanabi's gaze followed the oden that was picked up, seeing him as he lifted the bowl. "U... Uesugi-kun?" She hadn't expected this kind of reaction. Uesugi Sakura smiled at her timid face and said, "It'll get cold if you don't eat. Here, let me feed you." The rich steam already filled the air. Hanamaru Hanabi fixed her eyes on his charming face through the blurred steam, blushing as she reluctantly said, "U... Uesugi-kun, don't you mind...?" "I do." Uesugi Sakura showed a careless smile, then speared a soft, steaming meatball, bringing it to her delicate lips: "Come on, open your mouth, just like when I used to feed you as a child." Caring... his heart was as heated as the meatball before her lips. Hanamaru Hanabi's face slowly blossomed with a delightful smile, sweet and intoxicating. She happily agreed, saying, "Okay." With eye contact, Hanamaru Hanabi opened her petite mouth, lightly biting into the spicy meatball, a challenge for most people. The broth flowed from her lips, carrying a soft texture, preserved within the rich flavor. He really liked this ordinary girl in front of him.

Chapter 21 Let’s Go, Let’s Go Home

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