Chapter 67: Their First Deep Understanding
"It's okay."
Listening to Shiina Mahiru's thanks, Aragaki Takiya didn't have any other thoughts. In his view, Shiina Mahiru might have suffered some grievances. Given their acquaintance, it was only natural for him to help. However, precisely because of this relationship, he couldn't directly ask questions. Offering a cup of hot cocoa was probably the limit of what he could do.
"Um, did Kaede cause any trouble for you today?"
After a few minutes, once Shiina Mahiru's emotions had stabilized, she slowly began to ask Aragaki Takiya about Shiina Kaede's performance today.
"No, Kaede was very well-behaved. Not just me, even Moeha likes her a lot."
Listening to Shiina Mahiru's question, Aragaki Takiya's thoughts were stirred at that moment. After all, Shiina Mahiru knew Shiina Kaede's identity. Her asking this way simply meant she wasn't aware of what had already happened today.
"I see..."
Hearing Aragaki Takiya's response, Shiina Mahiru felt a bit better, but she stopped asking questions and fell silent. The Living Room sank into this quiet atmosphere.
"Drip~"
"..."
"Drip~"
"?"
"What's that sound?"
Just as the Living Room fell into silence, Aragaki Takiya heard a strange noise.
"I must have misheard..."
Looking around, Aragaki Takiya didn't notice anything unusual, but when he shifted his gaze back to Shiina Mahiru, he spotted tear stains lingering on her face.
"..."
Seeing this, Aragaki Takiya didn't say a word. He simply silently pulled out two tissues and handed them to her.
"Huh?"
Noticing the new items in her line of sight, Shiina Mahiru realized she had unknowingly shed tears. But as she reached to take them, she suddenly stopped.
"What's wrong? Does she think my hands are dirty?"
Watching Shiina Mahiru's actions, even Aragaki Takiya couldn't help but feel a bit awkward. Fortunately, he could understand this behavior. He silently placed the two tissues on the table and then brought over the tissue box nearby.
"No, that's not what I meant..."
Seeing Aragaki Takiya's actions, Shiina Mahiru finally understood that her earlier movement had caused a misunderstanding. In her panic, she hurriedly tried to take back the two tissues, but she forgot she was still holding a cup. And so... "Crash!"
With a crisp sound, along with the sacrifice of the cup and the remaining half-cup of hot cocoa, Aragaki Takiya's pants also became a casualty.
"I'm sorry, I... I..."
Seeing how her attempts to help only made things worse, Shiina Mahiru's recently calmed emotions instantly became unstable again. Having just returned from her mother's, her emotions were already fragile. Combined with her relationship with Aragaki Takiya, the layers piled up until she felt an urge to cry.
"It's fine, it's fine. These pants were going to be washed anyway..."
Seeing Shiina Mahiru's flustered state, Aragaki Takiya was actually more panicked than she was. After all, there were two children in the Bedroom. If Shiina Kaede came out and saw this scene... Aragaki Takiya was almost certain it would become even more chaotic.
"Because it's all my fault..."
Shiina Mahiru looked at Aragaki Takiya's pants, determined to explain, while Aragaki Takiya worried the commotion might disturb those inside. And so... "It's okay. You rest first. Leave everything here to me!"
Stimulated by his panic, Aragaki Takiya erupted with more intensity than ever before. He firmly placed his hands on Shiina Mahiru's shoulders, stopping her from trying to help.
"But..."
Shiina Mahiru didn't sense anything inappropriate and still wanted to say something, but Aragaki Takiya interrupted her.
"It's fine. Just leave it all to me."
Seeing Aragaki Takiya so assertive, Shiina Mahiru gave up on explaining. However, her gaze remained fixed on Aragaki Takiya, lost in thought.
Seeing Shiina Mahiru didn't get up again, Aragaki Takiya breathed a sigh of relief and began cleaning up the mess—picking up the cup fragments, mopping the floor, and, oh yes, changing his pants.
"I'm sorry, it's all because of me..."
Remembering what her mother had just said and her own actions, Shiina Mahiru couldn't help but feel her eyes sting again.
"Uh, honestly, it's really fine. After all, our relationship is that of friends. There's no need to dwell on these things..."
Noticing Shiina Mahiru's expression, Aragaki Takiya didn't know what she had been through, but he knew he had to say something—and not just as the friend he claimed to be.
"Aragaki, you really don't blame me?"
After a minute of silence, Shiina Mahiru quietly asked.
"Not at all. It's just a cup. And being able to serve someone as beautiful as you, I think it has fulfilled its purpose."
Seeing Shiina Mahiru still fixated on that incident, Aragaki Takiya really didn't know what to do, so he followed his instincts and blurted out a line.
"No reaction? Does she think I'm being too frivolous?"
After he spoke, Shiina Mahiru didn't respond, leaving Aragaki Takiya awkward. Heaven knows he had no talent for conversation. Even that line was just something he said randomly. Not only did it not help, but it seemed to have the opposite effect.
"Thank you, but it really is my fault. I was lost in thought earlier..."
Just as Aragaki Takiya couldn't hold back and was about to apologize, Shiina Mahiru spoke up again.
"Whew~ As long as everything's okay..."
Aragaki Takiya thought this to himself while explaining aloud.
"It's just a cup, Shiina... You really don't need to worry about it... How should I put it? I'm not good at expressing myself, but just think of this place as your friend's home. Don't worry about those things..."
"Is that so..."
Listening to Aragaki Takiya's explanation, Shiina Mahiru's heart calmed slightly, but then she remembered what Shiina Kaede had told her. Her heart couldn't help but start racing again.
"Perhaps, in another world, this is how we met..."
Watching Aragaki Takiya struggling to explain, Shiina Mahiru stopped her sadness. She thought of Shiina Kaede in the room and finally couldn't help but smile.
It seemed she was needed here...
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