Laid-Back Life in Tokyo: I Really Didn't Want to Work Hard Chapter 6 The Hanamaru Family

Seeing Hanamaru Hanabi heading towards the fridge, Uesugi Sakura sat down on the sofa in front of him.

The huge TV directly ahead was playing a variety show, with its unique laughter and enchanting comntary easily capturing people's attention.

But Uesugi Sakura wasn't very concerned about that.

He looked around and asked Hanamaru Hanabi, who had just co from the left holding barley tea:

"Hanabi, hasn't Uncle Hiroki co back yet?"

"Dad said it'll be a while longer, he still has so unfinished business to attend to."

As Hanamaru Hanabi answered, she poured the barley tea in her hand into the cup on the coffee table, then handed it to Uesugi Sakura.

"Thank you."

Uesugi Sakura took the barley tea Hanamaru Hanabi offered with both hands and took a light sip.

The barley tea had a refreshing aroma; the Hanamaru family's barley tea was lightly roasted, with a mild taste, cool and soothing, with a sweet aftertaste.

The pale amber color of the tea clearly showed a few grains of barley settling at the bottom of the cup.

Hanamaru Hanabi cradled a cup of barley tea with both hands and sat down next to Uesugi Sakura.

Once she sat down, he caught a whiff of a scent that belonged solely to a young girl.

Taking a light sip of the barley tea, Uesugi Sakura then carefully observed the clothes Hanamaru Hanabi was wearing beside him.

She wore a pink jacket on the outside, and because the air conditioning was on in the house, she casually wore a light blue T-shirt inside.

The middle of the T-shirt had a cartoon shark design.

Due to the large neckline of the T-shirt, Uesugi Sakura could see her delicate collarbone exposed inadvertently.

Her fair and delicate skin, the beautifully shaped collarbone, all exuded an air that was unique to a young girl.

It seed the variety show on TV had captured her attention, as Hanamaru Hanabi looked on curiously with wide eyes, holding the cup in both hands, unaware of the gaze beside her.

"9 points."

Looking at the enticing curve outlined on her collarbone, Uesugi Sakura silently rated in his mind, with one point deducted because he had seen it so often and was too familiar with it.

Today she's wearing a bra, though.

After that, he turned his head and looked at the TV in front of him with Hanamaru Hanabi.

"I'm back!"

Hearing that bright voice, Uesugi Sakura knew who it was.

"Dad's back."

Hanamaru Hanabi whispered, putting down her teacup and getting up to head toward the hallway.

At the hallway, Hanamaru Hiroki, having just changed his shoes and stepped up, saw his daughter coming out to greet him.

"Welco ho, Dad."

"Haha,"

Hanamaru Hiroki appeared particularly youthful as he smiled happily at Hanabi before him, puffing out his chest confidently, looking as if he had it all figured out,

"So, Hanabi, am I still as handso today? Want to give Dad a hug?"

A particularly delighted Hanamaru Hiroki opened his arms wide, eagerly looking at his daughter.

"..."

Seeing her father's action, Hanamaru Hanabi felt embarrassed and didn't step forward.

"Hey~"

After waiting a while, seeing his daughter still not moving, Hanamaru Hiroki couldn't help but cover his head in disappointnt:

"Hanabi's grown up, doesn't love Dad anymore, back when I ca ho, little Hanabi would run and shout 'Dad, Dad'."

"..."

"Dad... you're making things up again..."

"What a pity,"

Hanamaru Hiroki sighed, shaking his head in disappointnt,

"The good old days have just slipped away like this, I really miss the little Hanabi who used to love to bury herself in Dad's arms."

"Dad... Uesugi-kun is here." Hanamaru Hanabi softly reminded him, looking at her father in front of her.

"Huh? That boy?"

Coming back to his senses, Hanamaru Hiroki finally noticed Uesugi Sakura standing behind Hanamaru Hanabi, then awkwardly yet politely smiled.

"Haha... haha... Little Sakura didn't see anything just now, saw nothing, right?"

Uesugi Sakura imdiately nodded.

In fact, he'd seen it many tis before; there was no need to hide anything.

"Haha."

"Ti to eat." Hanamaru iko's voice ca from the living room.

"Oh! Dinner's right after I co back, not bad,"

Hanamaru Hiroki peeked inside, then smiled at the two of them:

"You two go sit in the living room first, I'll go change upstairs."

With that, he rushed upstairs quickly, leaving the two of them at the hallway.

"Uesugi-kun... Dad's old habit struck again."

"It's okay, I'm used to it."

Uesugi Sakura's gaze followed Hanamaru Hiroki's disappearing figure up the stairs.

In his impression, Hanamaru Hiroki has always been a very reliable person.

He has a handso appearance, a straight posture, and a cheerful outlook, treating family mbers very kindly, although sotis he becos extrely serious and stern, as if he turned into another person.

This might have sothing to do with his profession as a police officer, but in any case, he plays each of his roles very competently.

Though in front of his daughter Hanabi, at tis he shows a childlike side which might be excessive pampering.

Is this called... daughter complex?

At any rate, what Uesugi Sakura knew was that Hanamaru Hanabi's pocket money has always been much more than his, and when he asked her, she always said it was given by her dad.

Uesugi Sakura and Hanamaru Hanabi walked into the living room, where a table full of steaming dishes was set, looking exquisite and sumptuous.

Hanamaru iko, who was washing her hands by the kitchen, said to the two: "Hanabi and Uesugi-kun, sit down first, Dad will be down soon."

Looking at the neatly arranged bowls and chopsticks before him, Uesugi Sakura said to the girl next to him: "Let's sit."

"Mm."

Hanamaru Hanabi nodded lightly, sitting at the lower right position of the table, and Uesugi Sakura followed suit by sitting next to her.

Just by glancing at the dishes on the table, Uesugi Sakura could already faintly taste the flavors of the food.

Having dined here several tis, Uesugi Sakura had beco very familiar with every dish on the table.

For instance, the steaming hot ozoni in the center of the table.

Kelp, dried bonito flakes, carrots, shiitake mushrooms, spinach, yuzu peel, and rice cakes.

The carefully selected and paired ingredients simred together, exuding a rich and fresh aroma; even before taking a bite, it made one's mouth water.

The teriyaki chicken salad, caral yams, and pumpkin pork mince rose with fragrant steam, pleasing to both sight and sll.

However, Uesugi Sakura also noticed one thing, that among this plethora of dishes, there were no chili peppers; he wondered if Aunt iko intentionally prepared it this way.

Uesugi Sakura glanced unintentionally at Hanamaru Hanabi beside him, noticing she was indeed looking around the table for sothing.

After scanning the table, she seed to give up.

At this mont, Hanamaru iko ca over, having seen Hanabi's previous searching actions, and sat down opposite her, speaking softly:

"Hanabi, don't bother looking, there's no chili today either."

"Hmm..."

Hanamaru Hanabi weakly nodded in acknowledgnt, though it was still visible that she was sowhat disappointed.