Lin Xi, despite feeling a pang of guilt and shame, couldn't help but appreciate the soft touch of Shiina Mahiru in his arms.
He shrugged off the feelings of guilt and shame, muttering to himself.
“Sayu, don't leave.”
He tightened his embrace, holding her even closer.
He was enveloped in her warmth and fragrance, his heart pounding.
It was Shiina Mahiru, the angelic girl he had always admired.
As a normal boy, Lin Xi's natural instincts took over.
But he insisted that this was a passive “Golden Grab” reaction, not an intention to bully her.
It was simply a natural response.
Shiina Mahiru was taken aback by his actions, her face flushing with embarrassment.
She wanted to push him away, to tell him that she wasn't Sayu and he couldn't hold her like that.
However, his grip was strong, and she found herself unable to break free.
On the other hand, Lin Xi had gotten sick after going out to fetch her an umbrella.
Thinking of it as a form of compensation, she subconsciously stopped struggling.
Moreover, his embrace surprisingly felt warm and comforting.
Did Sayu always experience such warmth?
She felt a pang of envy.
But…
Why was he getting hotter and more alarming?
Lin Xi wasn't overstepping his boundaries.
He was only creating an opportunity for unexpected intimacy with Shiina Mahiru.
If he went too far and she discovered his act, she might dislike him, which would be a loss.
So he mumbled, “Sayu, no matter what made you run away from home, Sakura Manor is always your home.”
With that, he released his hold on the girl's slender waist.
Shiina Mahiru was startled, quickly pulling away from his embrace.
She reached out to touch his forehead, her brow furrowing.
“You're burning up!”
“Is he having another fever?”
“He’s still delirious but remembering to comfort Sayu. They’re really close.”
With a slight pout, a tinge of jealousy filled Shiina Mahiru’s heart.
She quickly returned to her room, fetching a fever-reducing tablet from her medical kit and feeding it to Lin Xi.
Then she sat beside him, wiping his sweat.
It was no wonder they say pretending to be sick is a skill.
It must be tough to constantly sweat.
However, if one wants to do something thrilling and heat up their body, it wasn't impossible.
The only issue was maintaining an upright position.
It looked quite indecent.
Shiina Mahiru, blushing profusely, deliberately avoided looking.
But occasionally, she would steal a glance.
She always ended up covering her mouth in surprise.
It was too alarming…
An hour later, Shiina Mahiru observed Lin Xi, his fever subsided, his body returned to a relaxed state, a smile gracing his lips.
She felt a strange sense of accomplishment.
Yet, her gaze towards the door made her feel guilty.
Shouldn't this task of caring for a boy be entrusted to Ogiwara Sayu?
Why did she volunteer?
Shiina Mahiru couldn't help but recall Lin Xi's previous words in his sleep.
［Sayu, don't leave, no matter what made you run away from home, Sakura Manor is always your home.］
The sweet, playful Ogiwara Sayu, who seemed so gentle, had actually run away from home?
She looked about the same age as Shiina Mahiru.
Harboring a high school girl, wouldn't that be illegal?
It seemed Lin Xi genuinely cared for Sayu.
But why did Ogiwara Sayu run away from home?
Was she leaving Lin Xi and Sakura Manor now?
That was why she didn't object to Shiina Mahiru taking care of Lin Xi, hoping someone else could distract him after Sayu's departure?
Shiina Mahiru’s heart grew heavy with complexity.
She didn't want to be a replacement!
But thinking of this man who rushed to deliver an umbrella during her time of despair, thinking of the warmth of his embrace, Shiina Mahiru’s heart was in turmoil.
After wiping Lin Xi's face and neck with a towel, Shiina Mahiru tiptoed out of his room.
She entered the living room, where Ogiwara Sayu, having finished her chores, was resting on the sofa.
Upon seeing Shiina Mahiru, she asked.
“How is Lin Xi?”
Shiina Mahiru replied honestly, “He had another fever, but he's fine now.”
Hearing about the fever, Ogiwara Sayu's heart tightened, but hearing he had recovered, she breathed a sigh of relief.
Shiina Mahiru observed her expression and, after some hesitation, decided to ask.
“Sayu, did you run away from home?”
“Eh, how did you know?”
Ogiwara Sayu feigned surprise.
Shiina Mahiru sat beside her, her heart filled with a mix of emotions.
“Lin-kun was talking in his sleep, and I accidentally overheard.”
“He told you not to leave, saying Sakura Manor is always your home.”
Ogiwara Sayu was taken aback, then a sweet smile curved her lips.
“I won't leave. This is my home.”
Shiina Mahiru furrowed her brow, “But secretly harboring a high school girl is illegal. What if your family comes looking for you? What will you do then?”
Ogiwara Sayu’s face fell, a look of disappointment clouding her features.
“He won't come looking for me. If he truly cared, why hasn't he shown up yet? Hey, Shiina, do you know why I ran away from home?”
Shiina Mahiru shook her head, “I don't want to know. If you're willing to share, I'll be the best listener.”
“Besides, we're in similar situations. My mother didn't approve of me leaving that [home] either, and she scolded me for moving to Sakura Manor.”
“It's ironic, really. I strived for excellence, maintaining my perfect image, hoping to gain my parents' approval. But yesterday, I was told my birth was a mistake from the start.”
“So I'm essentially a runaway too.”
Hearing this, Ogiwara Sayu’s eyes lit up.
No wonder she felt that Shiina Mahiru's flawless smile hid an unspoken secret. It turned out she was also a child unloved by her family.
Taking a deep breath, Ogiwara Sayu said, “Hey, can I tell you my story, Shiina-san?”
“Of course, I'm willing to listen.”
Ogiwara Sayu smiled, “But you have to promise not to tell Lin Xi. I'm not ready to tell him yet.”
Shiina Mahiru nodded vigorously, “In return, I’ll tell you my story too. You can't tell him either.”
Then, they exchanged their personal histories and current situations.
Afterward, they looked at each other with different eyes.
Although their circumstances varied, their experiences were remarkably similar.
But there were still differences.
Sayu experienced the betrayal of her best friend who committed suicide in front of her, blaming Sayu for everything. Later, she was hurt by her mother's distrust.
Her brother didn't care for her either, just gave her 300,000 yen and told her to go have some fun.
As a brother, he didn't realize that what she needed wasn't money, but just a little care and attention. Otherwise, she wouldn't have run away from home.
Shiina Mahiru, on the other hand, was exceptionally successful. She didn't maintain a cold demeanor and wasn't isolated because of her beauty.
Instead, because of her approachable attitude, she had gained many “friends.”
But all her efforts were rendered meaningless by her mother's truthful words yesterday.
Her mother clearly stated that she was an unwanted child.
Her parents didn't care for her.
Her existence was the reason why her parents couldn't get a divorce.
All she had to do was stay in that “home”, accept the money provided by her parents, finish high school, go to college, and become independent.
Then those two would immediately divorce.
By then, she would have absolutely no connection to them.
After recounting her story, Shiina Mahiru's tears flowed uncontrollably.
Ogiwara Sayu instinctively spread her arms and embraced the girl who was so similar to her.
Her own eyes were wet with tears.
It was embarrassing to be crying.
However, confiding in someone made her feel a sense of relief, a strange kind of comfort.
Mainly because Shiina Mahiru acknowledged her, understanding that the events were not her fault.