When her grandfather said those words, Shiina Mahiru's heart had completely gone cold.
There was no way, absolutely no way, she would agree to her grandfather's words and go back home to become a tool for political marriage.
And her parents.
Ha!
Neither of them would possibly choose to take her in—what would be the point of her going to them?
Shiina Mahiru hadn't even called her parents yet, but they had each called her back one after the other.
Both of them told Shiina Mahiru not to come looking for them, and each had already transferred 100,000 yen into her card.
So Shiina Mahiru had now become a complete orphan.
After understanding the reason, even Saiki couldn't help but feel that Shiina Mahiru was truly pitiful, ending up with this kind of family and parents.
(Yare yare, 100,000 yen—to live on that, she won't be able to afford school anymore unless she gets a part-time job.)
Shiina Mahiru chopped vegetables while thinking about what she should do from now on.
Shiina Mahiru [I… I can't go to school anymore. I don't have a home now.]
Shiina Mahiru thought of "home" and couldn't help but give a small, bitter smile, as if she'd never really had one to begin with—the previous so-called "home" could no longer be called a home.
Shiina Mahiru [Going to school is impossible now. I can't pay the tuition at Sobu High School. I need to find a job somewhere, and I can't stay in this house anymore either—it's too expensive. I have to find a cheaper place to live, I…]
(Is that so? She's going to leave…)
Saiki felt the turnaround was too sudden. Just earlier he had been thinking about how to make Shiina Mahiru keep her distance from him, and now after one trip outside, she was the one planning to leave on her own.
Shiina Mahiru thought about leaving this house and didn't know how to tell Saiki.
Shiina Mahiru [I… how should I tell Saiki-kun? I can't possibly tell him I've become an orphan, but…]
Saiki silently watched Shiina Mahiru in the kitchen, his gaze carrying a trace of pity.
Shiina Mahiru would absolutely never tell Saiki something like that. If she said it out loud, she could already picture Saiki looking at her with pity—but what would that accomplish? It would only make others worry more.
That extremely refined little face, a face as enchanting as floodwaters, had lost its usual smile, and those calm pupils were like dead still water.
Shiina Mahiru [Am I really going to leave? So unwilling, so unwilling. I've only just recently started feeling warmth and vitality in life, but now I have to leave Saiki? I won't dare meet him anymore after this. If I really have to go, and if I tell Saiki, will he be sad?]
Even having become an orphan, Shiina Mahiru didn't regret it—she didn't regret refusing the two choices her grandfather gave her. If time could rewind, she still wouldn't choose to go back for a political marriage.
She only regretted that she should have cherished the recent days more, cherished the time spent living with Saiki. At least during that period, she had lived very fulfilled.
But now everything had changed.
"Bang." The sound of something breaking rang out.
Saiki saw that Shiina Mahiru had accidentally smashed a plate in the kitchen.
"Crap… crap."
Shiina Mahiru hurriedly squatted down to clean up, her hands quickly picking up the fragments without even caring if she cut herself.
A layer of mist filled the bottom of Shiina Mahiru's eyes. [What is this? How can I not even do this right? You're so stupid, Shiina Mahiru.]
While Shiina Mahiru was picking up the pieces, a hand suddenly reached out to help her. Before she even looked up, a familiar voice came over.
[Be careful. If you cut your hand, it'll be bad. Let me help you!]
"Saiki-kun…"
Shiina Mahiru didn't lift her head, still keeping it lowered.
"Sorry, I'll handle it!"
Shiina Mahiru frantically cleaned up, but Saiki grabbed her hand.
[It's fine.]
After hearing Saiki's voice, Shiina Mahiru's body unconsciously began to tremble.
Saiki seemed not to notice anything unusual. He let go of Shiina Mahiru's hand, took the fragments from her, continued picking up the pieces, and threw them into the trash.
After the two finished cleaning, they stood up. Saiki stayed in the kitchen, watching Shiina Mahiru who showed no movement.
Shiina Mahiru was still keeping her head down, her eyes dim and unfocused as if lost in thought.
Saiki looked her up and down, his usual gaze now carrying an inquiring tone.
[What's wrong? Did something happen? You don't look quite right.]
Saiki was asking despite already knowing—he was trying to guide Shiina Mahiru into saying it herself. Of course he knew she was unlikely to reveal what happened at home; she would probably only mention that she was going to leave!
So this was just prompting. As for what would happen after she said it, Saiki hadn't thought that far yet.
Shiina Mahiru's fists unconsciously clenched. [He noticed I have something on my mind? So someone actually pays attention to me. But telling Saiki-kun that I've been abandoned—I can't say it.
Still, I have to say that I'm not going to school anymore and that I'm leaving. Whether I say it now or later, I have to say it. Might as well say it now!]
Shiina Mahiru paused, opened her mouth wanting to say something, but it felt extraordinarily difficult, bitterness spreading through her mouth.
In the end she lifted her head and simply said, "Thanks for worrying, Saiki-kun. I'm fine. Sorry about earlier, hehe."
(She still didn't mention anything about her family in the end? Well, whatever—with Shiina-san's personality, that's to be expected. But she was supposed to mention leaving and still didn't say it. Is she still hesitating? Or does she not want to?)
(Such a strong Shiina-san, is she planning to adjust her mindset first before saying it later? To me it doesn't make a difference, and the thing I was worrying about earlier is being resolved—she's going to leave me… but why, why do I find this expression so hard to look at, Shiina-san!)
After meeting Shiina Mahiru's gaze—which no longer tried to avoid eye contact—Saiki's pupils shrank.
Shiina Mahiru's face still wore that gentle and refined smile, but to Saiki, this smile looked especially forced, as if hiding something, making even Saiki feel a little uncomfortable.
[Is that so? Good if you're fine. If something's up, you can tell me. I'm going to the balcony to get some air. Call me when dinner's ready.]
"Mm, okay."
Shiina Mahiru nodded in agreement. Saiki turned and slowly walked away, heading leisurely to the balcony.
After watching Saiki leave, the smile on Shiina Mahiru's face instantly collapsed. She bit her lip tightly, her hands clenched until they turned white, and a single clear tear slid down from her eyes.
Shiina Mahiru admitted that Saiki's unique presence had captivated her, making her unable to look at his back. Clearly she was the one leaving, yet the thick reluctance felt like being abandoned.
Shiina Mahiru [I couldn't say it… I'll say it after dinner. I don't know why, but the moment our eyes meet, I… I just want to pour out all the sadness and grievances, but I can't!]