95 – Secret Love Affair – 2
Senior’s lunch box was decorated as neatly and beautifully every day as Haruna’s. I was told that her mom is an office worker and that it is her dad, a stay-at-home mom, who prepares her lunch every day.
“…… “That’s a big deal.”
The senior said after putting an octopus-shaped red sausage with eyes and nose in her mouth.
“I’m worried about Shiraishi, who keeps missing school, but are the preparations for the cultural festival going well?”
“…… Actually, that’s a problem too.”
Yuki grumbled as she mumbled her egg roll.
“You have to have a partner to get your acting skills right. “It wasn’t easy for me without Shiraishi.”
“Yu-kun, shouldn’t you memorize the script properly before that?”
“Well, you have to work together with Shiraishi to get the script…” !”
I thought about her as I listened to Yuuki’s excuses, constantly forgetting her lines and making noises.
Shiraishi, who I met that night, did not look that sick.
Of course she looked a little down, but she didn’t seem to have a bad cold, so she was off school for a long time.
Despite this, Shiraishi continued to be unable to come to school.
“Is it not possible to contact you?”
“Yes…. When I call home, Elena or another employee answers the phone… “I’m worried.”
Haruna muttered worriedly as she put the chopsticks in her mouth.
“I can’t contact you and I don’t even show up… La.”
The senior spoke calmly as if something had occurred to him, but he did not dare to mention the guess. The senior’s guess was probably correct.
However, since she couldn’t hastily make someone else’s family history a topic of discussion, she seemed to just keep it to herself.
“Shall we all visit together? Gather all the kids in the classroom.”
“Yu-kun, doing something like that is a nuisance even to Shiraishi.”
“I know. “I just tried it.”
I could understand Yuuki’s feelings when she said that.
Our play was being prepared with Shiraishi as her central point.
However, at some point she took a long break from school.
It must be frustrating.
However, it would have been the same for her as well.
***
That night, looking up at the wall of the Shiraishi residence, I smiled bitterly.
“I shouldn’t get used to this….”
Something about being a small citizen who must live by following laws and principles… In other words, feeling my conscience becoming dull, I placed my hand on the crack in the wall.
Well, the time to consider things like conscience has long passed.
It was a long time ago when wiretaps were installed in the athletics department’s advisor’s office to prevent his tyranny.
As I climbed the wall, I thought about Shiraishi, who would be trapped alone at home.
She was more crowded than I expected.
Some people would feel the same way if they were stuck at home all day without being able to go out, but Shiraishi was a person who was much weaker-hearted than others and broke down easily.
How could he have rushed to me, expressing his joy with all his might when I suddenly fell through the balcony without warning?
She was very anxious and nervous that day.
Because she was that kind of person, she may have obediently told me the story of her past and her true feelings.
I don’t know what she might do when she becomes so weak.
That was what I was worried about.
If it were the original story, Shiraishi and Yuuki, who were so mentally concentrated, would see eye to eye and end up leaving alone.
What happened as a result was not what I wanted.
I have to take care of her as she struggles again.
That was the reason why I climbed the wall in the middle of the night, not me.
I felt like I really wanted to be a cat or a bird, so I jumped over the inside of the wall.
Land under the grass and slowly raise your body.
“Phew……… Hmm… !”
At that moment, I was so shocked that I almost fell backwards.
“…… It’s a good night.”
Elena was standing right in front of me, as if she had expected me to come.
No, it was definitely expected.
Unable to run away again as she approached her slowly, she froze in place.
“However, I cannot tolerate people coming over the wall like this every time.”
Oh my.
Did you mean to only look at it once?
Would it have been tactless of me to presumptuously try to visit it secretly the next day?
Elena extends her hand towards me.
I expected her to be tied up and have her arms ripped out, but when she was frozen in place, unable to do anything other than close her eyes.
“Next time, please come through the door.”
“……… Yes?”
I opened my eyes again to that unexpected request.
“Even my clothes get dirty…” “If you land wrong, you could hurt your ankle.”
She was dusting off my clothes.
He bends down and rubs my shoulders, back, and pant legs.
“……… Do you understand?”
Finally, he took the leaves off my head.
“……… Yes.”
She fell from me.
“Come here.”
While saying that, I follow her as she moves.
“Well, coming through the door…… How….”
“…… “Try crying.”
“Yes?”
What is that noise all of a sudden?
I didn’t understand for a moment, but then I remembered what she said before and made a small noise.
“…… What… Meow.”
“…………….”
She stopped and looked at me quietly. With that characteristic expressionless expression.
“……… Meow?”
I thought something was wrong, so I tried imitating the cat’s cry once more.
She slowly approached me and stretched out her hand.
And then he stroked my head once.
“…… Yes. “It is like that.”
I followed her again, pressing the top of her head that she suddenly touched.
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Although she was still an unknown woman.
I went under the pavilion in her garden, following her as she sometimes helped her.
“Miss, it will take some time.”
“……… “Did you know I was coming?”
I saw her eyes as if she was wondering what on earth she was talking about.
After meeting him several times, I felt like I could now understand the flow of emotions in that expressionless expression.
“…… “I have received new instructions from my family.”
Instead of giving an obvious answer, she brought up a story that made me curious.
“The message is that the young lady should recuperate quietly at this house until the adult owner returns from his overseas business trip.”
“That’s… ….”
“Yes. “It’s a kind of probation.”
She said that without any sign of hesitation.
“……… “From the beginning, this mansion was a villa for the Shiraishi family built for generations to come for vacations and recuperation.”
“……… ….”
This place is now Shiraishi’s prison.
I have never seen such a large and luxurious prison.
She must feel that way, not being able to go to school, meet her friends, or do the things she wants to do.
“Boy.”
Me and Elena sitting in her pavilion waiting for her, and Elena standing with her back to us.
“Yes.”
“Miss….”
Elena asked calmly, looking straight ahead of her.
“What do you think?”
There was no easy answer to that question.
She couldn’t figure out much, but at least this woman cares about Shiraishi.
She was skeptical at first, but she could tell that this maid also cherished her, just like her Mr. Aiden.
The method was different, though.
Elena is also watching Shiraishi warmly.
I could only vaguely feel that.
“Just…” ….”
That’s why I also said it as it is, without any embellishment.
“I just…” … “I hope he smiles.”
“……… ….”
“You have that unique lively laugh.”
When I thought about it, I also felt tired and the corners of my mouth went up.
“I like Shiraishi who smiles so confidently and loudly.”
“……… ….”
“Oh, I don’t mean it in a rational sense…” It just means that it looks good.”
I have to add an explanation hastily.
However, Elena did not interrogate me.
Rather
“…… I…… “Mr. Elena.”
“Yes.”
“I’ve been curious about this for a long time.”
He turned around, looked at her, and was stroking her head.
As if you saw a cat or dog while walking down the street.
“What does this stroking mean?”
“……… ….”
I received it several times.
I still don’t know what it means.
“It has multiple meanings.”
“……… ….”
No, I mean… ….
“It’s not that I don’t particularly like having my head touched, but… If you have something you want to convey, say something… At least the facial expression….”
If you expressed it that way, I would be able to understand.
“Expressing emotions is a luxury.”
“……… ….”
“I have lived in such an environment.”
Former bodyguard… Or the rumor that he was from special forces….
Yes, I heard it, but what kind of life have you been living? This woman.
“So you’re stroking it?”
“Yes.”
So you are showing it with actions instead of words?
This is a person who seems to have a lot of trouble communicating.
“……… “If I had to explain it, the current stroking carries the meaning of ‘thank you.’”
“Is that so?”
“In addition, pride, cuteness, stress relief… “I wonder if it will be around that amount.”
What is the latter?
It is said that when you touch someone, a substance called oxytocin is secreted in the brain, making you feel comfortable… Is this behavior based on neurology?
“……… “Are you under a lot of stress?”
“Yes, quite a bit.”
“…… Okay.”
I didn’t have anything to say so I just quietly received the petting.
In the meantime
“Oh~~~ Hohohoho!!”
At night, a loud laughter rang out that would have even scared a bird of prey to fly away.
“Welcome~!! “I’ve been waiting for you!”
A long rolled-up red carpet spread out toward the pavilion. Shiraishi, wearing a purple dress, slowly walked over it.
I stood up wondering if I should be an escort.
Because I’ve gotten used to her now.
She reached out to her and held out her hand to her.
“…… Hi. “Shiraishi.”
Looking at me, Shiraishi gently placed his hand on top of mine.
“……… Yes. “I missed you.”