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

Uesugi Sakura reacted, quickly expressing her gratitude: "Thank you."

The uncle smiled: "It's no problem. Let's get her inside first."

Inside the cabin, a female clerk was attending to customers. After Uesugi Sakura helped Hanabi inside, the clerk had her sit down next to the oxygen machine.

With the oxygen tube on, Hanamaru Hanabi's lips, which had turned purple, began to regain their color shortly after.

Though she remained unconscious.

"First time climbing a mountain?"

Uesugi Sakura looked up and realized it was the same uncle from earlier.

"Yes."

"It's normal to experience this the first time. No need to worry."

"Thank you." Uesugi Sakura thanked him once again.

"Haha, if you're to thank me, how about buying a few cups of coffee while you're at it?"

"Coffee...?"

Only then did Uesugi Sakura realize the identity of the uncle.

"Alright..."

"What would you like?" The uncle asked with a smile.

"Just the simplest mocha will do."

"Then, young friend, just stay with your girlfriend for a while."

"Uesugi, is Hanabi-chan alright?" Kitagawa Sakisa lifted the curtain and entered the inner room with Kyujuu Rika.

"She's fine, she just needs to rest a bit." Uesugi Sakura observed Hanamaru Hanabi's complexion gradually improving.

"Is she really alright?... That's good. I was really scared just now."

Kitagawa Sakisa gestured with her hands and facial expressions to show how pale Hanamaru Hanabi looked earlier.

"She's never been very strong physically since she was young..." Uesugi Sakura held Hanabi's cold hand.

"Did she have any illness before?" Kyujuu Rika asked.

"No," Uesugi Sakura shook his head, "it's just her constitution isn't very good..."

"By the way, do you guys want some coffee? You can order from that uncle earlier."

"Uncle?"

"He's the owner of this cabin."

"I see."

All three of them ordered a cup of hot coffee to warm up.

The uncle, named Kanzaki Jun, sat down and chatted with them for a while.

Uesugi Sakura felt a strange sense of familiarity with this uncle.

"Mr. Kanzaki, do you know Kanzaki Goda?"

"That's my brother... Are you guys... students of Kanzaki Togoshi?"

Uesugi Sakura understood.

It seemed... the uncle was the elder brother of the former principal.

"We used to be, but we've already graduated from high school now."

"Graduated, huh."

Uncle Kanzaki was very enthusiastic, chatting with them about many school topics.

Uesugi Sakura and the others sipped their coffee while hearing about many of the old principal's amusing mishaps, such as losing his pants during a sports day and dreaming of the bathroom at night and wetting the bed when he was fourteen.

Kitagawa Sakisa laughed heartily, surprised that the serious former principal had such stories.

They stayed in the cabin for a long time, waiting for Hanabi to regain consciousness.

Uesugi Sakura noticed a guitar at the counter and pointed at it, asking Uncle Kanzaki, "Can I use it?"

"No problem." Uncle Kanzaki agreed readily.

The sun was about to set, and more climbers gathered in the uncle's cabin.

Most were sitting inside chatting, while some uncles clustered together playing cards.

Many had booked rooms there to rest for the night, aiming to reach the summit at dawn to see the new sunrise.

Uesugi Sakura, with the guitar in hand, walked out of the cabin.

In his other hand, he picked up a small stool, choosing a spot with the broadest view to sit.

Uesugi Sakura continuously strummed the guitar strings, tuning it to his liking with his right hand turning the metal pegs on the headstock.

At sunset, the twilight haze spread at their feet, with the golden horizon bringing the crimson sun closer than ever before.

Uesugi Sakura sat on the small stool, gazing at the sunset scenery of Mount Fuji, his face and eyes reflecting the summer atmosphere.

"Sakura-kun..."

Uesugi Sakura heard a voice and turned around, seeing Hanamaru Hanabi standing at the doorway of the cabin.

The warm light inside the cabin silhouetted her, making her already rosy cheeks look incredibly cute.

"Feeling better?"

"Mm..." Hanamaru Hanabi seemed a bit downcast, clasping her hands in front of her, "I'm sorry... Sakura-kun, it's been all about you taking care of Hanabi today..."

"Don't say that," Uesugi Sakura smiled, placing another small stool by his side and patting it, gesturing to the girl at the door to come over and sit.

Once she sat down beside him, Uesugi Sakura held onto the guitar, smiling as he asked her, "What would you like to hear?"

"Whatever Sakura-kun decides is fine..." Hanamaru Hanabi's voice was still a bit soft.

Uesugi Sakura turned back, looking at the golden-hued twilight not far below.

"How about 'Sakura Song' by Takahashi You, Hanabi, you should listen carefully."

"Mm..."

"This posture isn't good, try something cuter."

Hanamaru Hanabi sat up straight beside him, resting her chin on her hands, gazing at his face flushed by the sunset.

"This is good."

Uesugi Sakura smiled, turning back to close his eyes, inhaling the fresh air of Mount Fuji, recalling the melody of "Sakura Song."

Soon, his fingers began plucking the guitar strings, his pinky rhythmically tapping the guitar's body, a slow and steady melody of Sakura Song unfolding from his fingertips.

After a lingering final note, Uesugi Sakura, with a gentle voice, looked at the mountain scene as he sang: "We always talk about trivial everyday things, smile at each other, each day in the past glimmering, the words of laughter linger as you said we would eventually grow up, are you now working hard somewhere for life? It's suddenly spring this year without realizing it."

Originally sorrowful lines, now burst out like a withered tree coming to life.

"Arriving gracefully, the scent of flowers wafts, like cherry blossoms dancing with vivid petals in full bloom on the branches..."

As Uesugi Sakura sang, he searched in his mind for memories of the past, scenes replaying vividly in his mind like cherry blossoms dancing with a beautiful, lingering aftersound.

When Uesugi Sakura finished singing, he held the guitar in his arms and, smiling, asked Hanamaru Hanabi, who was listening beside him:

"Was it good?"

Hanamaru Hanabi wiped the corner of her eye and smiled, saying: "It was good..."

"Good, I'm glad... If you wish, I'd play for you every day... Besides, I originally learned the guitar for you."

Uesugi Sakura looked into the distance.

"Speaking of which, how's Yuuki doing in England? Miss Anna, Mr. Blaise, and Mrs. Margaret, how are they?"

Hanamaru Hanabi said: "Yuuki is doing well... recently even won an award... Miss Anna and Mr. Blaise are still working at the coffee shop there, but Mrs. Margaret, she..."

Uesugi Sakura turned to see Hanamaru Hanabi's face drooping.

"I remember the first day I came to England, she prepared breakfast for me... with bread, eggs, milk, and peanut butter..."

Uesugi Sakura recalled Mrs. Margaret smiling and offering her well-wishes to them as they left.

Mrs. Margaret had infertility, which is cruel for a woman.

But her husband loved her dearly, not choosing to divorce her because of her condition.

Her husband didn't smoke or drink.

He worked three jobs to afford those expensive medications for Mrs. Margaret...

They often sat by the streetlight at night, watching the city filled with lights, sharing dreams, confiding in each other, supporting each other, striving together for the future.

Yet, before they could fulfill their shared dreams, Mrs. Margaret's husband passed away prematurely.

After that, Mrs. Margaret lived another fifty years alone, using that time to fulfill the dreams they had as a couple, making up for the regrets.

Uesugi Sakura still couldn't imagine the strong-willed and independent old lady leaving this world so simply.

"Did Mrs. Margaret say anything before she left?"

Hanamaru Hanabi shook her head.

"In that case... I'm sure she had a lot she wanted to say to her husband..."

The western sky was adorned with a vast sheet of twilight, lit by the setting sun with smoky halos, shining with an intensity so rich and breathtaking.