The girls, led by Yumiko Miura, gathered around Shiina Mahiru. "Shiina-san,you seem very... accomplished," Yumiko said, her tone revealing a hint of displeasure at being outshone. But Shiina Mahiru just smiled shyly and shook her head. "Not at all,Miura-san. I'm just a normal high school student like everyone else. I hope we can all get along well from now on."
These words made Yumiko Miura's eyes light up. "Alright! Please take care of me from now on!" Although she had intended to be a bit prickly, Shiina Mahiru's immediate display of goodwill completely disarmed her. This was probably because Yumiko wasn't a bad person to begin with, and combined with Shiina's overwhelming amiability, it created a surprisingly harmonious scene.
Asagi's side seemed quieter. Hachiman Hikigaya quietly walked over. "I didn't expect you to be second in the grade. From your self-introduction, I thought you were a slacker otaku like me." Asagi rolled his eyes."You are a slacker otaku. Your self-introduction was a carbon copy of mine." Hachiman Hikigaya gave an awkward smile.He had been too nervous and just blurted out the same hobbies Asagi mentioned. How many high school students don't like light novels and anime? It's just that some think it's too childish once they reach high school and hide their interests to fit in. Those who openly admit it get labeled as otakus.
"Hello, Asagi. I'm Hayama Hayato. Thanks for stepping up as the male class rep. I would have been in a difficult position otherwise," Hayama said, approaching with his characteristic friendliness. Asagi smiled and waved his hand."It's fine. I also wanted to challenge myself and gain some experience." Hayama's initiative to strike up a conversation instantly made the atmosphere more friendly. Other boys who were annoyed with Asagi also reined in their displeasure a bit.
The day's classes quickly ended, ushering in club activity time. Asagi and Shiina Mahiru teamed up and went to the staff room. During this time, Asagi did not initiate conversation. If I act too eager, I'll just be treated as another NPC admirer of the 'Angel.' Playing it cool is the right move.
Upon arriving at the staff room, Shizuka Hiratsuka had them arrange the student duty roster. Then, she carefully explained the duties of a class representative before letting them go.
On the way back, Shiina Mahiru finally couldn't help but speak. "Um,Asagi-kun... do you dislike me?"
---
Shiina Mahiru originally hadn't wanted to ask. But from the moment they left the classroom to receive the teacher's guidance and then left the staff room, the boy next to her hadn't even tried to talk to her. Logically speaking, with her appearance, she should be popular, right? As the female class representative, she would definitely have to interact with Asagi, the male class representative. They would need to work together, dividing tasks and managing class affairs. So, Shiina Mahiru still couldn't help but ask if he disliked her.
After speaking, she bit her lip, looking at Asagi nervously, her small fists clenched slightly.
In response, Asagi shook his head. "No. With Shiina-san's appearance and excellent grades, it's unlikely any boy would dislike you."
That was true. Shiina Mahiru pursed her lips and said plaintively, "But Asagi-kun has been ignoring me from the very beginning. You haven't even discussed class representative matters with me."
"Well, actually, I was just thinking about something and wasn't intentionally ignoring you." "Moreover,I don't have any experience as a class representative. I planned to learn from Shiina-san first and then offer suggestions once I'm familiar with everything." "I apologize.I didn't expect my cautious approach to make you think I disliked you. That's a huge misunderstanding."
Hearing this, Shiina Mahiru breathed a sigh of relief. "So that's it. I thought it was because I suggested you for class rep, and it bothered you, making you dislike me." "Not at all,"Asagi waved his hand. "Although I do find it a bit troublesome, generally speaking, for a boy to team up with a beautiful girl as class reps and work together... that should be something to be happy about, right?" "So...you are happy?" Shiina Mahiru tilted her head, her aqua-blue eyes seriously scrutinizing him. "I can't tell at all that you're happy or excited."
Asagi's lips curved into a smile. "Shiina-san, how do you know I'm not excited about it inside?" "Perhaps I just wanted to leave a good impression on you,so I hid my excitement and didn't try to talk to you?"
Shiina Mahiru rolled her eyes. "Then you've left a bad impression on me now. I think you're quite mean, making me think I was disliked." "Haha,my apologies. It's just that my intuition told me if I were too enthusiastic towards Shiina-san, I might be treated like a passerby." "A passerby?What do you mean?" "It's like a restaurant server—giving polite,professional smiles to everyone, but no real connection."
Shiina Mahiru's delicate body trembled. He saw through me? He knows my smile is deliberately put on? She suppressed the strange feeling in her heart and gave him a cute eye-roll. "You're overthinking it. I wouldn't look at my classmates that way. Anyway, please take care of me from now on, Class Rep Asagi." Saying that, she extended her small hand.
Asagi naturally wouldn't be impolite. He also extended his hand, briefly clasping her soft, snow-white hand, then quickly letting go. "You too, please take care of me, Class Rep Shiina."
She was clearly trying to change the subject, and Asagi had no intention of continuing to probe the girl's true feelings. Just enough to make her feel I'm a bit different. Leaving that impression is sufficient.
"Speaking of which, Shiina-san, you actually knew my entrance exam score?" "Yes,I memorized the top few scores." "You really like studying,don't you?"
Facing his exclamation, Shiina Mahiru smiled slightly. "Maintaining excellence is also a way of being responsible for oneself, isn't it?" That being said, her efforts to maintain excellence had not achieved her deepest goal. Thinking of this, Shiina Mahiru felt a little dejected.
Shiina Mahiru was the product of her emotionless parents' arranged marriage and a one-night stand. Because her parents didn't get along, neither particularly liked or cared for her. She was raised by her maid, Aunt Koyuki, from a young age. Her efforts to become excellent, to remain excellent, and to be a 'good child' in everyone's eyes were only to gain a shred of affection from her parents. She only wanted a complete, warm home. But even though she got into Soubu High School with the top score, she couldn't get a smile or a word of encouragement from her family.
Asagi naturally noticed Shiina Mahiru's flicker of dejection. Although she hid it well, he still caught the slight frown of her willow-like brows. However, he had no intention of comforting her. They had just met, and he wasn't familiar with her. Suddenly showing deep concern would only invite wariness. Anyway, we're both class reps now. There will be plenty of opportunities. However, he couldn't let her continue to be downcast.
"Um, Shiina-san, do you know a Mashiro Shiina?" he suddenly asked.
Shiina Mahiru's eyes widened. "She's my cousin! She's in England right now. Do you know her?" "Oh,not yet. Chihiro-sensei just mentioned her to me once." "She said she had a genius artist cousin named Mashiro Shiina.I saw that your name was so similar, so I was curious and asked."
As Asagi finished speaking, Shiina Mahiru's eyes widened even further. Taking a deep breath, she barely managed to regain her composure. "Um,Asagi-kun, I didn't expect such a coincidence. Actually, Chihiro Chitose is my cousin too!" "But...you call my cousin 'Sensei.' What's going on? How did you two meet?" "Oh,well, I'm Chihiro-sensei's landlord. She lives in my Sakura Dormitory."
"Sakura Dormitory!!" Shiina Mahiru subconsciously raised her voice, her expression one of utter shock. "What's wrong?" Shiina Mahiru earnestly pleaded with him:"Asagi-kun, please, please wait for me after school! I beg you!"
Asagi: "Huh?"
---
"Shiina-san, is this all your luggage?" Standing at the entrance of an apartment building later that day, Asagi looked at Shiina Mahiru, who was carrying a single suitcase, and asked curiously. "This is enough for now.I've packed everything else in cardboard boxes; the courier will deliver them," Shiina Mahiru replied with a smile. "Courier?"Asagi frowned slightly. "Is something wrong with couriers?" "No,I just remembered last time all the courier company's vehicles broke down, and I had to go to the branch office myself to pick up my school uniform." "Something like that happened?"