Shiina Mahiru actually didn't want to ask. From the moment they were appointed class representatives, went to the teacher's office, received instructions from Shizuka Hiratsuka, until they walked out of the office, Renji Kamisaka hadn't spoken to her at all, not even a single word. A peculiar silence crept into her mind.
Logically, with her almost perfect looks and popularity, she should never be ignored. As the female class representative, she knew she would interact intensely with Renji, the male class representative. They would have to work together, divide tasks, and manage the class collaboratively. This unspoken tension finally made Shiina Mahiru unable to resist speaking. The discomfort gnawing at her heart finally burst out in a question laden with doubt: "Um, Renji, do you hate me?"
After uttering those words, Mahiru bit her lip, her clear aquamarine eyes staring nervously at Renji Kamisaka. Her small hands unconsciously clenched, a subtle gesture that showed deep apprehension.
In response, Renji Kamisaka gently shook his head, a faint smile playing on his lips. "No, with your looks and your good grades, no boy wouldn't like you, Shiina-san." He said, his tone straightforward, yet with a hint of teasing.
"That's true," Mahiru murmured, but she pursed her lips, a faint hint of annoyance in her voice. "But Renji has ignored me from the start and never discussed being class representative with me."
"Well, actually, I was just thinking about something, I didn't mean to ignore you." Renji Kamisaka explained, the look in his eyes softening slightly. "Besides, I don't have any experience as a class representative, so I plan to learn from you, Shiina-san, and then give my own suggestions after I understand the process." He let out a short sigh. "I'm sorry, I didn't expect my careful thoughts to make you think that I hate you. This is a big misunderstanding."
Hearing the explanation, the burden in Shiina Mahiru's heart immediately lifted. She felt relieved, her shoulders, which had been tense, now relaxed slightly. "So that's how it is. I thought I was the one who proposed you, Renji, to be class representative, and that made you feel annoyed and start disliking me." Her tone was now more cheerful again.
"Not really." Renji Kamisaka waved his hand, his expression relaxed. "Although I find it troublesome, generally, for a boy to work with a beautiful girl and become class representatives, and act together, this should be something to be grateful for."
"So you're happy?" Shiina Mahiru tilted her head, her aquamarine eyes staring seriously at him, scrutinizing every expression on Renji's face. "I don't see you happy or joyful at all." There was a challenging tone in her voice, as if she was reading something beneath Renji's words.
Renji Kamisaka's mouth curved upwards, a playful smile appearing on his face. "Shiina-san, how do you know I'm not happy about this?" He raised an eyebrow, a gesture he often used to test his interlocutor. "Perhaps I just want to make a good impression on you, so I'm hiding my joy and not approaching you?"
Shiina Mahiru rolled her eyes, her expression cute and slightly exasperated. "Now you're leaving a bad impression on me. I think you're a bad person. You made me think I was hated."
"Haha, sorry, sorry," Renji chuckled softly, realizing he had successfully teased her. "My intuition tells me that if I were too enthusiastic towards Shiina-san, you might treat me like a stranger."
"A pedestrian? What do you mean?" Mahiru asked, a little confused by the term.
"It's like a waiter in a restaurant," Renji explained, his eyes narrowing slightly in thought. "Treating everyone with a polite smile, regardless of who they truly are."
Shiina Mahiru's body trembled subtly. A flicker of realization passed through her golden eyes. Did he see it? Does he know that I smile intentionally at everyone, as a mask? She suppressed the sudden strangeness that arose in her heart, trying to hide the shock she had just felt. She then cutely rolled her eyes at Renji Kamisaka, trying to appear casual.
"You're thinking too much. I wouldn't view my classmates like that. Anyway, please give me more advice in the future, Class Representative Renji," she said, her tone softer and more sincere now. As she spoke, she extended her small hand, inviting a handshake.
Renji Kamisaka, of course, wouldn't refuse her. He extended his hand, squeezing the small, pure white, and soft hand, feeling its softness for a moment, then quickly releasing it. "You too, thank you for your guidance, Class Representative Shiina."
She was clearly trying to change the subject on purpose, and Renji Kamisaka had no intention of continuing to probe the girl's deepest thoughts, so he stopped there. In short, it was enough to make her feel that he was a special person and leave that impression—an interesting beginning to the dynamic of their relationship.
"Now that I think about it," Renji continued, changing the subject, his eyes on Mahiru. "Shiina-san, you actually know my entrance score?"
"Yes, I remember the top few," Mahiru replied with a small smile, a little proud of her memory.
"You really love to study," Renji sighed, slightly impressed by Mahiru's dedication.
In response to his sigh, Shiina Mahiru smiled faintly, a smile that wasn't entirely cheerful, concealing something. "Maintaining excellence is also a manifestation of responsibility towards oneself, isn't it?" There was a faint bitter undertone in her voice, almost imperceptible, as if she were talking to herself.
Even so, beneath her smile and words, there was a hidden wound. Mahiru worked hard to maintain good results, striving for perfection, but she felt she failed to achieve her goals at all. Thinking about this, Shiina Mahiru felt a little depressed, an invisible burden she always carried. A simple desire that was never fulfilled.
She was the result of a one-night stand between her parents who had no feelings for each other due to a family marriage. A bitter reality. Because her parents didn't get along, neither of them liked her or cared for her. She was raised by an aunt's maid since she was little, growing up in deep loneliness and emotional emptiness. Striving hard to be outstanding, remaining outstanding, and being a good child in everyone's eyes was only to win the love of both parents. She only wanted a complete and warm home, a family that truly cared, a warmth she had never felt.
However, she was accepted into Sobu High School as the top student, a remarkable achievement, proof of her hard work, but she received no smiles or a single word of support from her family. The perfection she achieved felt hollow, like a beautiful flower without fragrance.
Renji Kamisaka, of course, noticed Shiina Mahiru's frustrated expression. Although she hid it well, Renji's sharp eyes caught her slightly furrowed brows and the smile that didn't reach her eyes—a small crack in Mahiru's mask of perfection. However, he had no intention of comforting her directly. They had just met, and he didn't know Shiina Mahiru deeply. Suddenly showing concern for others would only cause wariness and disgust, Renji thought, a pragmatic thought that always guided his actions. After all, he and Shiina Mahiru were both class representatives, so they would have plenty of opportunities to spend time together.
However, he couldn't let Mahiru remain depressed. There was a thread of destiny he could pull, a bridge to the past that could connect them.
"Um, Shiina-san, do you know Shiina Mashiro?" He suddenly asked this question, his tone casual, yet calculated, awaiting Mahiru's reaction.
Shiina Mahiru's eyes widened, genuine surprise flashing across her face, like a light suddenly illuminating the darkness. "She's my cousin and she's in England now. Do you know her?"
"Oh, for now I don't know her, but Sengoku Chihiro once told me about her." Renji watched Mahiru's reaction, realizing he had touched something important. "She said she had a talented painter cousin named Shiina Mashiro. I saw your name was very similar to hers, so I asked out of curiosity."
After Renji Kamisaka finished speaking, Shiina Mahiru's eyes widened further, her jaw slightly agape. She took a deep breath, trying to process this surprising information, and managed to calm herself. Her face was now filled with astonishment, mixed with a glimmer of hope.
"Wow, Renji, I didn't expect such a coincidence. Actually, Chihiro Sengoku is my cousin." She paused, a question in her eyes, "But you called my cousin a teacher, what happened? How did you two get to know each other?"
"Oh, well," Renji replied casually, as if it were common. "I'm Sengoku's landlord, and she lives in my Sakurasou."
"Sakurasou!!" Shiina Mahiru unconsciously raised her voice, looking extremely surprised, as if the name was a strong echo from the past, or perhaps a hope that hadn't faded.
"What's wrong?" Renji asked, a little amused by Mahiru's dramatic reaction, but also a little curious.
Shiina Mahiru pleaded earnestly, her tone now full of urgency, her eyes welling up. "Renji, please stay and wait for me after school. Please!"
Renji Kamisaka: "Huh?" He was slightly taken aback by the urgent request, not understanding what had just happened.
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