It was late, and the rain had begun to ease. By the time Mori Shinra and Sakurajima Mai were ready to leave, it had turned into a drizzle, almost to the point where an umbrella wasn't necessary.
However, just in case, Shinra still brought one as insurance.
"Only one umbrella?"
"I live alone. What would I do with so many umbrellas?" he replied as if it were a matter of course.
She asked, "Speaking of which, you live alone?"
While putting on his shoes, he answered, "Yeah, is there a problem? Isn't it common for high school students to live alone now? For example, Mai-san, you probably live alone too, right?"
"I have special reasons," she said. Before that incident, she had actually been living with her mother.
"I have special reasons too," he said, standing up and pressing the elevator button in the hallway.
She followed closely, still carrying the trash she had placed by the door earlier.
"Bad relationship with your family?"
"It's pretty good, I guess."
He thought of his grandfather, who kept sending him messages, wanting him to return to the country for school.
Going back was impossible. Although he had all of the original owner's memories, their habits were worlds apart. To avoid unnecessary trouble, he planned to stay abroad for a while longer.
After a long time, the differences in his lifestyle could just be attributed to a young man's natural changes.
It could be said that his current situation was equivalent to having the lives of two people. It was just that because he had more memories from the other world, he had taken the dominant role, but he had also retained some of the original owner's habits.
If one had to put it a certain way, he could also be seen as a brand-new personality formed by an accident.
He had a very clear understanding of himself. He was who he was, without any philosophical or physiological issues.
"So you just wanted to live independently," she said, showing her understanding. Little boys, when they reach a certain age, always think about breaking away from their parents and having their own independent space.
"Your parents are quite open-minded," she said with sincere admiration. Not only did they trust him to live alone, but they also rented such a high-class apartment for him.
In comparison, her family relationship was much more complicated. First, her parents divorced, and her mother became her manager. Then, that incident happened.
Her current state could be described as an orphan whose parents were both alive.
The actual orphan, Mori Shinra: ...
Seeing the strange look on his face, she asked, a little puzzled, "Did I say something wrong?"
"No, nothing's wrong. They were indeed quite open-minded when they were alive," he said. He wasn't lying. His parents were indeed quite open-minded. Even during holidays, they wouldn't make too many arrangements for him.
Yes, because they would go on vacation themselves, without him.
But even if they didn't take him, his allowance was always sufficient. When he went out with his classmates, he could even get a full reimbursement.
"Were... wait, when they were alive?" Mai had just started to say that she was quite envious of his family relationship, but the words had barely left her mouth when she realized something was wrong.
Shinra remembered that this should be the third time he had mentioned his parents recently.
Did this mean that every time he met a new girl, he had to bring up his parents again?
What kind of rule-based horror story was this?
"They've already passed away," he said, without joy or sorrow, as if he had completely accepted this reality.
"I'm sorry, I didn't know..." She was also a bit flustered. Had she just poked a sore spot?
"Ignorance is no crime. Besides, it's all in the past," he said, shaking his head and telling her not to mind.
To be honest, if he had just snapped at her a bit, she might have felt better. But instead, he was comforting her, telling her not to mind.
How could she not mind?
She didn't know what to say. Compared to him, at least her parents were still alive. Although they didn't contact each other often, her monthly support payments were always deposited into her account in excess.
"How about you scold me a bit?" she asked tentatively.
"A masochist?"
"I'll hit you!"
"If you're really that concerned..." Shinra looked her up and down, making her feel a little flustered.
"Wh-what is it?"
He recalled with a hint of regret, "I remember that whenever I left the house, my mom would always give me a loving hug."
Sakurajima Mai: ...
She understood.
She looked around to make sure no one was there. She put the trash on the ground, then opened her arms and hugged him from behind.
Feeling the soft touch on his back, he didn't even have time to savor it before it was gone. He took the opportunity to add, "And a loving kiss."
Sakurajima Mai: ...
She didn't say anything, but pursed her lips and walked in front of him.
Watching the girl get closer and closer, he couldn't help but swallow.
Could it be...
Then, the pain from his right cheek directly dispelled his unrealistic fantasy. He saw that she was pulling at the soft flesh of his cheeks with her left hand. The force wasn't great, so the pain wasn't very obvious.
And according to science, appropriate pain helps the brain secrete endorphins, which can relieve pain and help the body relax.
Rounding it up, it could be said that she was giving him a massage.
It was a reward. (Happy)
"Don't push your luck. This is a warning," she said, then let go of his face and picked up the trash bag again.
Wait, did she wash her hands before pinching his face?
"Um..."
"Hmm?"
"Did you wash your hands before you pinched my face, Mai-san?"
"Is there a restroom nearby?" she asked back.
"Then..."
"Don't worry, I used my left hand just now."
He breathed a sigh of relief and said with sincere admiration, "As expected of the mature and reliable Mai-senpai. You're so considerate."
Downstairs, she threw the trash into the garbage room.
There happened to be a staff member inside sorting the trash. In Japan, especially in urban areas, there are very strict regulations for garbage disposal. Different types of garbage even have different disposal times.
However, the luxury apartment he lived in was not subject to these restrictions. He could throw his trash downstairs at any time, and the staff here would help him sort it.
This was the charm of money.
However, when she walked up to the staff member with the trash, and the other person didn't even glance at her, she knew she was still in an unobservable state.
After a moment of thought, she chose to hand the trash in her hand to Mori Shinra.
The moment he took the trash, the staff member immediately noticed him and said proactively and friendly, "Sir, you can just put the trash at your feet. I'll take care of it later."
Since she still couldn't be observed, she began to wonder if she should find a hotel to stay the night.
Then she heard Mori Shinra say speechlessly:
"You might as well sleep at my place than go to a hotel. You need an ID to get a hotel room. In your current state, I'd still have to be the one to get the room for you."