Renji Kamisaka considered it and ultimately decided not to bring up the age issue. This was the second dimension, the world of anime, a place where the logic of the real world often didn't apply. Honestly, there was no big problem with getting older here, especially for a figure like Chihiro Sengoku. The woman was still incredibly beautiful, with an alluring figure, captivating maturity, and an intellectual beauty that radiated from her.
Of course, her current behavior—as she pounced and sat on Renji's lap, talking passionately about marriage—was no different from a little girl throwing a tantrum. She was a beautiful girl, forever 29, trapped in a unique cycle of existence.
"So, kid? Marrying me is a profitable offer for you. From now on, my car is your car, my house is your house, and we can sleep together!" Chihiro Sengoku exclaimed, her eyes sparkling with temptation, a mischievous smile on her face, slightly flushed from alcohol.
"Teacher Chihiro Sengoku!" Sayu Ogiwara's voice, sharp and warning from behind, instantly made the beautiful 29-year-old girl stiffen. Her mischievous expression vanished, replaced by brief panic. She pretended nothing had happened and quickly got off Renji Kamisaka's lap, trying to look as if nothing had occurred.
"Oh, Sayu-chan, this kid's waist is really good. You'll be blessed in the future," Chihiro chuckled awkwardly, trying to change the subject.
Sayu Ogiwara puffed out her cheeks and couldn't help but roll her eyes at this, her annoyed expression so palpable. "I'm just reminding you that it's time to eat!" She paused, then added in a piercingly cold tone, "Really? Even if you want to, at least go back to your room! Is this what adults do?"
Renji Kamisaka and Chihiro Sengoku both blushed, a comical uniformity. They both fell silent, seized by sudden embarrassment. Awkward. How humiliating. Oh, that's not right. Why am I embarrassed? I'm the victim! Renji thought, quickly regaining his composure. Being thick-skinned was still very useful in situations like this.
When Shiina Mahiru arrived, she saw her cousin Chihiro Sengoku sitting obediently at the dining table, a rare sight indeed.
"Hi, Mahiru, you're here, come and sit here. Sayu's cooking skills are quite good!" Chihiro exclaimed, trying to act sweet.
"Hello, my name is Sayu Ogiwara, I live in 201, it's our first time meeting, thank you for your guidance." Sayu greeted Mahiru politely, a genuine smile blooming on her face.
"Ah, hello, I'm Shiina Mahiru, I live in 203, thank you for your guidance," Mahiru replied softly, a little awkward but sincere.
"Hurry up and sit down and eat!" Sayu exclaimed, her spirits returning.
"Wait for me!" Misaki Kamiigusa appeared just in time, rushing in like a whirlwind, and immediately sat next to Shiina Mahiru, her energy infectious.
"Oh, is this a new person? So cute. Hi, my name is Misaki Kamiigusa, and it's totally fine to call me senpai!" Misaki exclaimed, her eyes sparkling with curiosity and friendliness.
The dinner atmosphere was very harmonious, far from the usual chaos of Sakurasou. At least, Shiina Mahiru thought it was great. As Renji Kamisaka had said, the people in Sakurasou were all very relaxed, far from the formality she was used to. This made Shiina Mahiru feel a special warmth, different from her empty and cold home.
Of course, Jin Mitaka answered the phone and said he couldn't return for some reason, but he still welcomed her with a voice message. As for Ryuunosuke Akasaka, he was indeed a small-bodied resident, so he used a communication device and a small AI helper to deliver messages. Throughout the entire dinner, Shiina Mahiru never saw him, only heard his robotic voice. Well, that was fine.
She noticed that Renji Kamisaka was very popular among them. Sayu Ogiwara kept watching him, her gaze unable to hide her admiration. Senior Misaki Kamiigusa occasionally blushed and secretly looked at Renji Kamisaka, a faint smile playing on her lips. And this cousin Chihiro Sengoku... well, she started drinking again, pulling Renji Kamisaka to her side, saying that if the blind date failed again, she wanted Renji Kamisaka to marry her. A sight that made Mahiru both amused and bewildered.
After dinner, Renji Kamisaka patiently packed the food and sent it to Ryuunosuke Akasaka's door before returning to have dinner with them. Hearing Chihiro Sengoku say that she wanted him to marry her, Renji felt a little amused. In fact, he was willing to do it. It was just about marrying all the girls he liked. Well, this kind of plot development could only appear in light novels. With the Game Life system as a backup, he decided to try it and live the happiest life. If not, it would be a waste of time, Renji thought, a hidden ambition only he knew.
The next morning, after the lively welcome party, Renji Kamisaka carried the drunken Chihiro Sengoku back to the administrator's dorm, then carried Misaki Kamiigusa, who was clinging to Sayu Ogiwara, to her room—a routine task for him. His eyes fell on Shiina Mahiru, who seemed to still be awake.
"No, I'm not drunk. I don't need you to carry me," the girl quickly refused, her cheeks slightly flushed, a defensive expression on her face.
Renji Kamisaka rolled his eyes at her and said, "What are you thinking about? I just wanted to say it's time to clean up." He pointed to the mess left from the party. "Sayu will be cooking today, so let her rest."
Shiina Mahiru smiled and nodded, slightly embarrassed by her misunderstanding. "That should be the case." The two of them quickly packed up, cleaning the remnants of the party.
The scattered beer cans on the ground left Renji Kamisaka speechless. They were tangible proof of the inevitable chaos in Sakurasou.
"Teacher Chihiro Sengoku is really good at drinking," Shiina Mahiru commented, her tone a mix of surprise and amusement. "I guess I have too many worries. Everyone has their own worries." As she tidied up, Shiina Mahiru could only sigh, a sigh laden with hidden meaning.
Renji Kamisaka remained silent, choosing not to respond, an unusual decision for him.
Shiina Mahiru frowned, confused by Renji's silence. "Shouldn't you be asking me what's bothering me right now?"
Renji Kamisaka stepped back two paces and covered his crotch, a dramatic reaction. "I'm afraid if I ask you, you'll think I have feelings for you, then use physical means so I can't get up again."
"Pfft, are you stupid?" Shiina Mahiru chuckled, her small laugh like a bell, cutting through the silence. "As long as you don't do anything bad, I won't do anything terrible like that." She looked at him with her watery blue eyes, an innocent yet knowing gaze. This person really likes to tease others, she thought. But he doesn't play by the rules. She was so amused she couldn't stop laughing heartily, a genuine and infectious laugh.
Renji Kamisaka looked at her with a charming smile, then smiled back. "As expected, Shiina-san looks most beautiful when she smiles. Even the cherry blossoms around her look pale in comparison. Frowning doesn't suit you." His words were gentle, a sincere compliment, yet they touched the core of Mahiru's anxiety.
Shiina Mahiru looked at him in surprise. Has this been noticed? A question arose in her mind. Just as she was about to say something, Renji Kamisaka had already snatched the garbage bag from her hand, "I'll throw it away, Shiina-san, you should go to bed early."
Watching his back recede, Shiina Mahiru touched her hot cheek, a blush she didn't realize was there. Her mood became incredibly complex. "Do I look most beautiful when I smile?" She mumbled to herself, unsure. She couldn't help but pout. "Even before, you said my smile was the same as the smile I gave to passersby, exactly like a typical waiter's smile facing customers." Although she complained, there was a faint smile on her lips. She was in a good mood. Even though she had just moved in, everyone in Sakurasou was very nice. Of course, except for Senior Jin Mitaka who had six girlfriends at once. She really couldn't imagine someone could be so fickle.
And at the same time.
The philandering Jin Mitaka was lying in bed in a hotel with a gloomy face, his expression filled with resentment. That day, Misaki Kamiigusa sent him an animation plan, saying it was made by his junior, Renji Kamisaka. What did this mean? It was a slap in his face!
Jin Mitaka knew that his level wasn't enough to be paired with Misaki Kamiigusa. That's why he thought of applying to another school, and after studying for a few years, he would return to Misaki Kamiigusa. A long-term plan to become worthy. But, would Misaki Kamiigusa not wait for him?
Jin Mitaka remembered his six girlfriends again—oh, now only five, because the married and mature Mieko was gone. Jin Mitaka felt he was unworthy of Misaki Kamiigusa, so it was better to bless her. But, it seemed Renji Kamisaka already had a girlfriend, Sayu Ogiwara, so he wasn't worthy of Misaki either! If Renji Kamisaka knew what Jin Mitaka was thinking, he would definitely punch him.
Jin Mitaka took out the plan he had painstakingly worked on from the drawer and couldn't help but throw it into the trash can. He had to admit that all his proposals so far were not as good as the magic girl Renji Kamisaka's. If Misaki Kamiigusa and Renji Kamisaka were together, what was the purpose of all his efforts? Jin Mitaka really wanted to go back and ask Misaki Kamiigusa if she liked Renji Kamisaka, but he was afraid of getting an answer he didn't want to hear.
However, as he thought about his own efforts, he forgot that the effort he showed Misaki Kamiigusa was just partying every night and spending time with his girlfriends 6 days a week. Misaki Kamiigusa urged him to submit the plan, but he wasn't in a hurry and always submitted it on the last day. It was still a plan that disappointed her. It was okay if it happened once in a while. For someone he liked, especially his childhood sweetheart, Misaki Kamiigusa would definitely forgive him and be willing to give him a chance to improve. But Jin Mitaka always did this, giving Renji Kamisaka the best contrast and successfully taking advantage of the opportunity.
Ah, that's not right either. His mind drifted. It was clearly the drunk Misaki Kamiigusa who did that to Renji Kamisaka, so it was just a coincidence that she opened her heart and Renji Kamisaka naturally entered it. A fragile self-justification.
Back to the topic. Jin Mitaka planned to return to Sakurasou tomorrow to check on Misaki. No matter how nervous you are, you still have to face what you have to face.
The next morning. Jin Mitaka returned to Sakurasou, his steps hesitant. He knocked on Misaki Kamiigusa's door but got no answer. He opened the door but found no one inside.
"Not here?" he mumbled, shaking his head. He headed for the stairs, about to ask others about the situation.
Then... that sight. He saw Misaki Kamiigusa with a flushed face, wearing a somewhat messy men's shirt, tiptoeing out of Renji Kamisaka's room. A bitter shadow enveloped his heart. Jin Mitaka felt his heart being pierced hard, a sharp pain shooting through his chest. He quietly returned to his room, trying to disappear. When he realized what had happened, tears were already streaming down his face, warm and salty. Seeing a sight like that, did he still need to guess?
Renji Kamisaka must have gotten Misaki Kamiigusa. Misaki Kamiigusa was still wearing Renji Kamisaka's shirt. So, should he leave?
At noon, Chihiro Sengoku received a set of keys and a check-out form from Jin Mitaka. Seeing Jin Mitaka's gloomy face, she didn't say much, just nodded, as if understanding. After collecting the rent, she returned the excess rent to him, a cold formality.
Jin Mitaka left Sakurasou, carrying a broken heart and shattered dreams.
And Renji Kamisaka also got his hint.
[Sakurasou clean-up mission complete!]