The setting sun had completely disappeared, and the last trace of deep blue in the sky was gradually swallowed by the depths of the clouds. Everything on the street cast blurred shadows.
Hoshino Miru turned around and noticed the girl had stopped walking. Her shadow on the ground appeared particularly thin.
"No, I can't understand what you mean. Today is only our second meeting. Even if it's about being happy to help, there shouldn't be a reason to help to this extent, right?"
Toyokawa Sakiko clutched her arm, speaking in a very small voice, her gaze not focused on anything in particular, as if just avoiding Hoshino Miru's eyes.
Being happy to help was indeed a good reason, but it couldn't explain why Hoshino Miru would help to this degree.
Yesterday's umbrella delivery she could understand and accept, but normally no one would go to such lengths for a stranger, right?
What she understood even less was that she had actually been willing to come along and accept the kindness from Hoshino Miru and Sumita Mana.
Toyokawa Sakiko needed to know the reason - a reason that could convince herself - otherwise she didn't know how to face Hoshino Miru or how to repay him.
Although someone had asked this question earlier, Hoshino Miru still thought seriously for a moment.
"Have you ever helped others before?" Hoshino Miru asked. "For instance, if a classmate behind you accidentally dropped their eraser, would you help pick it up?"
Toyokawa Sakiko nodded. Of course that had happened.
"Before picking it up, would you think you needed a special reason to help them pick it up?" Hoshino Miru tilted his head to look at her. "You'd probably just see it and pick it up in passing, that's all, right?"
"It's different. I don't have anything to repay you with." Toyokawa Sakiko was equally serious. Hoshino Miru's help had already exceeded the scope of strangers.
"When you help others pick up their erasers, do you think about repayment?" Hoshino Miru smiled. "Generally, you'd just receive a thank you, right?"
"Thank... thank you." Toyokawa Sakiko was first stunned, then seemed somewhat at a loss, lowering her head as her voice became a bit soft and sweet.
"You don't need to do that. I don't deserve such thanks from you." Hoshino Miru looked away. "Because I do have a special reason for wanting to help you."
Toyokawa Sakiko was dazed. His sudden turn left the girl almost unable to react.
"When I saw you getting soaked in the rain on the street, I thought it was too pitiful. I couldn't bear to watch, so I thought about whether I should help this idiot."
It was the first time anyone had called her an idiot, and Toyokawa Sakiko's expression was quite colorful.
She wanted to defend herself. Too many terrible things had happened these past days, especially yesterday's experience, which had made her momentarily think she was the only person left in the world, which was why she couldn't help crying.
However, Toyokawa Sakiko felt saying this would be even more embarrassing, so she obediently kept her mouth shut.
"Also, I think you're very good-looking, and beautiful girls crying look very cute." Hoshino Miru said matter-of-factly. "If I helped you, maybe I could use that to become friends with you."
Toyokawa Sakiko's eyes widened. What did that mean? Why would he say her crying looked cute?
To be able to say such things directly to a girl's face - this boy's personality was indeed somewhat wicked.
But why did he want to be friends with her?
"You mean... you approached me with ulterior motives?" Toyokawa Sakiko stood in place, just looking at Hoshino Miru with confusion. What about her was worth approaching?
She had nothing now - not only had she left her former home, but she had also quit the band she was familiar with.
Every day she had to think about her future life and find ways to help her father pull himself together, while carrying billions in debt. She didn't know what kind of friends someone like her could make, and probably wouldn't even have time to make friends normally.
Hoshino Miru didn't deny it and sighed lightly: "Yes, ulterior motives. I'm not some perfect good person. You can take back that thank you from earlier."
Toyokawa Sakiko looked at him for a while, as if observing what he was thinking inside, then suddenly said: "If you have ulterior motives, why don't you ask me?"
"Ask you what?" Hoshino Miru asked, puzzled.
"Why I need to find work, why I've become like this now - shouldn't you ask? You didn't ask anything but still want to help me. Isn't that strange?"
He had just thought she was an idiot; now Toyokawa Sakiko also thought he was an idiot.
"Everyone encounters trouble sometimes. Why should I care too much?" Hoshino Miru asked back. "Even if I asked, would you definitely answer?"
"How would you know without asking?" Toyokawa Sakiko looked away. She knew she wouldn't have been able to say it.
"So I didn't ask." Hoshino Miru had long seen through this girl's thoughts.
Toyokawa Sakiko was a bit angry. Even if she wasn't planning to say it, wasn't Hoshino Miru's attitude too decisive?
However, looking at this boy's face, Toyokawa Sakiko couldn't stay angry.
"Is just being friends enough?"
"Does that mean I can make more demands?"
"At least let me repay you somehow."
Hoshino Miru looked at the girl's somewhat unwilling and stubborn appearance. Even when facing a stranger she'd only met twice, she was working hard to protect her sensitive heart, not wanting to owe anyone any favors.
"Alright, since we're friends, can we shake hands now?" Hoshino Miru extended his right hand.
Toyokawa Sakiko hesitated for a moment, then gently grasped his palm.
This wasn't Hoshino Miru's first time touching a girl's hand, but her small hand was somewhat soft, giving him the urge to play with it carefully.
"And then?" Toyokawa Sakiko looked at him puzzledly.
"There's no 'and then.' This is the repayment I'm asking for." Hoshino Miru said seriously. "Taking advantage of you."
"It's that simple?" Toyokawa Sakiko found it somewhat unbelievable.
Hoshino Miru was silent for a moment, then asked uncertainly: "Shouldn't you be calling me a pervert now?"
"I... I don't have any dislike toward you." Toyokawa Sakiko let him hold her small hand, instead gripping his palm slightly with force. "I don't know what you mean by ulterior motives, but you wanting to shake hands with me definitely isn't to take advantage of me."
"Why?" Hoshino Miru found it strange. Wasn't he being obvious enough?
"If this counts as taking advantage, then I'm also taking advantage of you." Toyokawa Sakiko felt her palm gradually warming up and became somewhat embarrassed.
Hoshino Miru subtly looked away. This girl was suspiciously too innocent - she didn't know how many people wanted to touch a beautiful girl's hand.
"But thank you for being willing to help me." Toyokawa Sakiko suddenly smiled. "No matter what senpai says, I'll consider senpai as my first new friend today."
Before Hoshino Miru could savor this dazzling smile, her status panel also changed.
[Target: Toyokawa Sakiko] [Intimacy: 15] [Status: Trying to become strong, beginning to have expectations for life...]
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