Shiina Mahiru looked over at Saiki Kusuo, who was carrying instant noodles and coffee jelly.
"Saiki-kun, hello. Sorry about yesterday. I never expected we'd be so fated—my neighbor turns out to be my classmate."
...
Saiki Kusuo nodded, then walked back home, opened the door, and went inside.
Ring ring ring~ Saiki Kusuo picked up his phone, glanced at it, and answered the call.
[Moshi moshi.]
"Kusuo, how are you? Today's your first day starting school outside—did anyone bully you? Did you make any friends?" A woman's concerned voice came from the other end of the line.
This was Saiki Kusuo's mother.
[I'm doing fine. No need to worry.]
"Oh, that's good. I heard Shizuka is at that school too. A few days ago, I called her and asked her to take good care of you."
[Yeah, that's right. She's taking really good care of me.]
"Great, then I'm relieved."
"Hahaha, see? I told you so. With Shizuka looking after Kusuo, you still weren't at ease?" A middle-aged man's voice suddenly cut in from the other side—it was Saiki Kusuo's father, Saiki Kuniharu.
"Kusuo, don't worry. Shizuka is a really good person. I told her so much about you. I know she'll take great care of you."
[Yeah, that's right. I'll remember that well, D—Dad.]
[Actually, I don't really need taking care of. Having a teacher look after my school life might actually make it harder to live normally.]
"Originally, when you transferred to a school where you didn't know anyone, we only asked because we heard Shizuka was there. Otherwise, we'd have had to get your brother to look after you again."
[Yare yare, being looked after by Sensei is the best. I actually prefer having Hiratsuka-sensei take care of me. It lets me enjoy school life even more.]
"…"
"By the way, at that high school you're at now, your former fiancée seems to be attending there too."
[Fiancée? Well, yeah, there was someone like that. What was her name again? I've forgotten.]
(Back then, Grandpa was worried I'd be lonely, so he secretly arranged a fiancée as a surprise. Later, I "accidentally" found out and rejected it, and the engagement was called off.)
Saiki just found it ridiculous. What kind of grandfather arranges more than one fiancée for his own grandson? Good thing Saiki put a stop to Grandpa's plans.
(Well, even if she's at the same school, so what? The school's huge. It's not like it'll be someone I know, and even if I run into her, nothing will come of it.)
"After all, you two used to be... but you probably won't run into each other anyway. The school's so big. Originally, if you hadn't broken off the engagement, I was thinking if you met, you could look after her a bit. Her name seems to be Shiina Mahiru or something."
(...)
After chatting a bit more, the call ended. Saiki finally walked to the kitchen and started preparing two packs of instant noodles.
Three minutes later~
Saiki Kusuo held his instant noodles, enjoying the meal while watching TV.
(A former fiancée living right next door? Even novels wouldn't dare write a plot twist like this.)
(What is this, "My Beautiful Neighbor Is Not Only My Classmate But Also My Fiancée"?)
While Saiki was still thinking, a voice suddenly rang out. "Why? Why does seeing you always irritate me? Why do you look so much like that person? You shouldn't have been born!"
The voice came from next door—that is, Shiina Mahiru's home.
(Sounds like family business. Better not get involved. It's best to stay out of it.)
Five minutes later, Saiki was walking down the hallway with his coffee jelly, eating it slowly and unhurriedly.
"Jerk!" With a loud shout from the door, a woman with long brown hair stormed out, slamming the door behind her. As she headed toward the elevator, she glanced at Saiki.
This woman had the air of a strong career woman, both in appearance and demeanor.
Next door instantly fell silent.
[Yare yare, all done. Time to head home.]
Saiki sat on the sofa, thinking about what had just happened.
The inner voice from next door started up. [Why? What did I do wrong?
No matter what I do, it's never enough. No matter how hard I try, will I never get any approval?]
Saiki Kusuo listened to the girl's nonstop inner monologue and gradually pieced together her past. Shiina Mahiru's parents hadn't married for love.
They were only together for practical reasons, and neither had wanted children. Yet in that situation, Shiina Mahiru was born. She wasn't the fruit of love—in her father's and mother's eyes, she was just an accident. So,
aside from providing some material things, they never gave her any paternal or maternal love.
As a child, Shiina Mahiru had tried to be obedient and hardworking to win her parents' attention, and as a result, she became the perfect beautiful girl in others' eyes—the untouchable flower on the high mountain.
But in reality, she was just someone whose parents had ignored her since childhood, who had never felt family warmth, and who felt unwanted.
[Yare yare, family issues, huh? Looks like you've had it pretty rough too.]
...
The next morning, after Saiki Kusuo finished making his bento, he leisurely ate breakfast while watching TV, then slowly headed out. As he passed Shiina Mahiru's door, he noticed it was already locked. Right, she had left early in the morning.
[She sure wakes up early.]
Then, on the way to school, he walked leisurely, enjoying the breeze blowing in his face.
[Hey! Stinky brat, yesterday you dared treat me like that, nya! Hurry up and give me food as compensation, nya!]
Up ahead, Amp was sitting in a cat-like pose with his chest puffed out, speaking arrogantly.
Saiki Kusuo quickened his pace a little.
[What? You stinky brat, walking so fast! Give me food already!]
Then Saiki casually tossed the leftover fish bones from breakfast right in front of Amp.
Amp looked at them, then chomped down. [To think you'd give me something like this... Mm~ It's actually pretty good.]
...
"Saiki-kun, good morning!" Izumi Yuu came running over with a leaf stuck on top of his head and his hair a bit messy.
[Good morning! You've got a leaf on your head.]
"Ah, don't worry about that. The wind blew it, hahaha."
The two of them walked along the road, chatting back and forth, though mostly it was Izumi Yuu doing the talking.
Just as they were about to pass through a traffic light, a pink figure jumped out. "Good morning, Saiki-kun! What a coincidence!"
Shikimori [I left early this morning and waited here for 20 minutes, pretending it was a chance encounter. Finally got to meet him. Since Saiki-kun isn't great at socializing, I'll be his first female friend and help him change himself!]
(Since you left so early, just go to school early.)
Saiki nodded. "Good morning, Shikimori-san." Izumi Yuu, standing beside him, said happily.
He also wanted to become good friends with this cool girl. If he hung out with Saiki and her, it felt like it would really help him train his manliness.
Shikimori paused for a second. "Hi, Izumi-kun."
(Yare yare, so lively right from the morning.)
=====
New Story posted:
One Piece: Collective Viewing of the Future, Starting from God Valley