70 – The young lady’s first experience – 4
She certainly seemed to be in a good mood until she came home. Is it because of my mood that I seem to be sluggish right now?
While Shiraishi was talking about various things, he occasionally lowered his head and sipped his tea with blank eyes.
To be honest, I don’t know if I had a proper conversation with Shiraishi.
She talks about her interests, the orchestra performance she recently saw, a story about being invited abroad to a famous event, etc… I heard a lot of things, but none of them made any sense to me.
All I could do was agree and say, “I see.”
“So she was invited to the concert that day and heard a truly beautiful performance.”
“Ah, I see.”
Like this.
“What kind of classical music do you like, Minsu?”
“I don’t particularly enjoy music….”
“Oh my. Okay.”
I was embarrassed because I felt like I had revealed that I was a man with no proper hobbies.
“……… ….”
Should I say that magic pops up between conversations like this from time to time?
In the midst of an uninterrupted conversation, she would quietly drink tea and lose herself in her thoughts.
Is it because of my mood that it looks somewhat dejected?
“…… “It’s Shiraishi.”
“Oh, yes.”
“I lost even if I did it slowly. “Can I just go back now?”
“…… “It’s already that time.”
She followed me and looked out her window.
She stood up and looked at her dark garden.
“Mr. Aiden.”
“…… Yes. Miss.”
When her name was called, she glanced at the owner of the house who appeared as if he had been waiting.
Behind them, there are two maids carrying tea and snacks.
I didn’t see anything like that just a moment ago.
The employees who heard the commotion and gathered around saw the family’s daughter being held by a man. Even after I let go of his arms, Shiraishi was still hugged by me as if he had not come to his senses.
Of course, he fell from me right after that.
Wouldn’t just those few seconds be enough to become a story for them?
I’m sure it won’t be some strange misunderstanding. Although I was worried, I prepared to leave the living room.
“The time has come. “How about having dinner with a friend?”
“…… Yes?”
I raised my head. This butler, how far are you trying to drag me into it?
Even when he looked at me with such bewildering eyes, the head deacon lowered his head in silence. Shiraishi turned to me and asked.
“How do you feel? “The meal is ready.”
“No… Then wouldn’t it be too late….”
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“Oh, do you need to contact your parents?”
That doesn’t matter….
What is the intention of inviting you to dinner? I felt a little uncomfortable accepting it obediently.
“Then, shamelessly….”
I can’t do that. I was anxious, but nothing happened so far. Since I came this far, I decided to accept their kindness until the end.
It was a little uncomfortable, though. Anyway.
“Then come this way.”
“Yes.”
Follow her to her restaurant.
While I was looking at the wide and long table and wondering where to sit, I wondered if there were other members besides me. Shiraishi sat down as if he was used to it. Although she hesitated, she pulled out the chair across from him and sat down.
Looking at the restaurant and the long table that seemed too large for two people to eat together, Shiraishi wondered if he had always eaten in places like this.
She was silent even when the employees came in and put down the dishes.
Is it her manners to keep her mouth shut and eat quietly at a meal? Should we strictly follow such dining etiquette?
No, I don’t think so, but we always talked together during lunch time at school.
Rather than that, it felt like I was thinking about something else and couldn’t concentrate on the moment.
“…… “Shiraishi.”
“Oh, yes.”
When I called her name, she raised her head and looked down at her table.
“Oh, sorry. She invited her guests without saying anything….”
The dinner was already on the table.
“Please enjoy your meal.”
She smiled and held a fork and knife.
“Yes, I will eat well.”
Is the basics a fork or a knife?
She held it awkwardly and looked at it.
All kinds of fancy dishes on the table. And on the other side is Shiraishi.
“……… ….”
I’m taking a small piece of steak and putting it in my mouth.
It was so uncharacteristic of her that the expression ‘crack-crack’ was appropriate.
I have already eaten with her several times, and I have also seen her eat lots of snacks during her festivals.
“……… “Did something happen?”
Even so, he seemed to be in a good mood until after school, so I couldn’t tell if it was just a change in mood or if I had made a mistake.
“Yes?”
Shiraishi opened her eyes wide and looked this way.
“You don’t seem to be in a very good mood. Ah… Or maybe you feel awkward because of what happened just now….”
She smiled bitterly and put into her mouth something that had happened that she did not want to mention.
I hugged Shiraishi tightly like a lover. She also hugged me with her cheeks blushing.
“Ah… no! It was just an accident! “I don’t mind it at all!”
“Then it doesn’t matter….”
There is silence again.
The dishes I was eating were so delicious that nothing was left out. Right now, I was more concerned about her than about that.
“…… Mr. Minsu.”
“Oh, yes.”
I put down the fork. Shiraishi spoke calmly with her head down.
“Do you remember the advice you gave me when you first came here?”
“That’s right….”
There is no way you wouldn’t know. Because she trusts me, and she has been following me all this time.
“It suddenly occurred to me that you told me to give up the name ‘Shiraishi.'”
“Ah… ….”
That’s….
Honestly, it was a bit of an overstatement, but I now realize that. She simply said she wanted to give her her shock treatment. Her first appearance was much more extreme than I expected, and her relationship with Yuuki inevitably soured.
I want to quickly change Shiraishi’s direction. She seemed a little strong in her words.
However, she has been raised in this environment ever since she was born.
There is no way in the truest sense of the word that it would be possible for her to abandon the name ‘Shiraishi’. Her past growing up in this family is also a big part of who she is.
“Sorry. I spoke too much back then. “I apologize.”
“…… Yes?”
I don’t know why I suddenly felt down, but if I was paying attention to what was said at that time, I had no choice but to quickly explain.
“What I meant was that there was a problem with the radical methods at the time. Appealing to the family, charging at Yuuki in a way only you can… Something like that.”
Attack in a helicopter or wait in front of the house in a limousine. Surprisingly, it all happened on the first day Shiraishi and Yuuki met.
It is worthy of rejection as it creates a stir.
“I mean… It meant that a more ordinary way would suffice. “It doesn’t necessarily mean that you should abandon your family.”
Should I say
? Isn’t it enviable to live alone in such a huge mansion and enjoy a dinner like this every day?
I am sitting now, but it may be Yuuki who will take over this seat later.
No, it is my job to help make that happen.
“…… Okay.”
Shiraishi quietly raised the corners of his mouth and muttered.
Nevertheless, it did not seem like her emotions were relieved.
Only after dinner was I able to get my bag back. When I was dealing with Aiden who handed me my bag and said, ‘I’m looking forward to seeing you again,’ I laughed dryly because it seemed like it meant the opposite.
Shiraishi came out the front door and saw me off.
It bothered me to see that listless figure until the end, but I did what I could. Right now, I couldn’t think of any other way to take care of her.
Her
Her husband walked out of her garden along her yard, separated from her countless times.
There was a car sitting in front of the gate. Before I could squeeze myself through the car door that the driver opened, I was startled and stopped.
She clearly seemed to be in a good mood until she was invited into the house.
However, as she went on, the corners of Shiraishi’s eyes drooped and her voice lost energy.
She did not know the detailed reason. However, such an unpleasant ending did not even make me feel refreshed.
It was always like this. In genres I dislike, the protagonist and heroine always grow apart in this way, leaving an unpleasant aftertaste.
These minor differences gradually caused them to separate, ultimately leading to an unfortunate ending.
Of course, I am not the main character.
“…… Oh really.”
I threw my bag into the car. Scratching my head, I looked back at the Shiraishi family residence.
***
‘Learn to control your emotions more’
‘It’s not a good habit to act only on how you feel.’
My father often said that to me.
Even after today’s phone call and my emotions became strong, it was not uncommon for me to think of my father’s advice and blame myself.
I was aware that I was rude to that person, but I couldn’t even apologize.
At dinner, I just kept eating with my mouth shut.
Even when he was leaving, I couldn’t hide my feelings and slowly shook his hand.
It shouldn’t be like this.
I was lost in thought the whole time while listening to him say that he did not mean to abandon the name ‘Shiraishi’.
I lived under that name and spent empty, gray days, but even after I turned away from my parents and ran away from that environment, my heart would sometimes be caught by something unknown.
If I throw away that name, what will be left for me?
As my father said, what could I have done on my own?
What was possible for me, who decorated myself with that name but was slowly falling apart?
I threw the cell phone, but I felt guilty for not being able to be an honest person in front of my father.
Out of the contradictions and pain that clung to me, I kept silent in front of him.
But starting tomorrow….
Starting tomorrow, I will return to my energetic self again.
Please let me remain immersed in this swamp tonight….
Thinking like that, I looked at the dark garden for a while.
“Lady. “It’s cold, so please come in now.”
“……… Yes.”
Turn around and enter that large mansion. Just as I was about to slip into the gaping darkness, I was stopped in my tracks by the sound of hurried footsteps behind me.
“………… Oh, it’s not in yet. Phew….”
At the end of my gaze, I saw Minsu, who had returned, looking in this direction, out of breath.
“Mi, Minsu? Even if I left something behind….”
“No, not that.”
Minsu slowly walked up the stairs and stood tall in front of me.
And then he looked straight into my eyes
“Shiraishi.”
“……… Yes.”
“You’re doing really well right now.”
“Yes?”
You said something out of context.
My eyes widen.
However, he looked at me seriously and spoke again.
“I just have to do it like this. “If you keep working hard like this, you can achieve it.”
His arm was suddenly grabbed.
Minsu shouted confidently, waving his arms.
“It will work out well.”
“……… ….”
The arm I let go fell without strength.
“So… “I just wanted to say that.”
“……… ….”
“I’ll go. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
Minsu turned around and walked away as if he had finished his business.
The door was open, but for a while I looked in the direction where he had disappeared.
Was that what I wanted to hear all along?
The agony and suffering that filled my heart dissipated like waves. Still, I knew it would come back.
Right now, I feel other unknown emotions filling me. I stood there for a while.