XXXXX residential complex.
"I will be waiting for your answer in three days," said Akira as he left Yukino in the elevator and got off on the sixth floor where his apartment was, which he shared with a close relative, and where Mashiro lived on the same floor.
"Hmm..." Yukino nodded with a serious face, but it was clear she was embarrassed as her ears were flushed red.
"So, in three days, I will be waiting for you on the school roof after classes," Akira said, leaving Yukino alone in the elevator and heading to apartment 502.
Although he lived in apartment 501, this time he was visiting his neighbor who always took care of him and was also a distant relative, like Mashiro.
"I wonder if she is awake now..." Akira mumbled, taking out his phone to send a message.
{Akira: Are you awake?}
"... " After sending the message, Akira stared at the phone screen for a full minute with no response and was about to turn off the phone when...
{Mahiru: I am awake. Did something happen, Akira-kun?}
Seeing the message, Akira couldn't help but smile slightly, feeling a bit bad for moving to Sakura-sou and leaving Mahiru alone here.
{Akira: I am in front of your apartment door. Do you have some time?}
Although Akira didn't receive a reply, he could clearly hear the noise and hurried footsteps from inside.
Ting*
Before Akira's eyes, the door of apartment 778 quickly opened, and he saw Mahiru rushing towards him, hugging him with tears in her eyes.
Mahiru was a beautiful girl with long golden hair and eyes of the same color. She had milky white skin and was very gentle, looking as if she could break with the slightest touch, but she was surprisingly strong.
Akira and Mahiru had been living next to each other for over two years and were very close, especially since Mahiru was Mashiro's sister, although they shared only the same father and had different mothers.
"I missed you, idiot," Mahiru said softly, hugging Akira tightly, afraid he might disappear to a place she couldn't reach.
"I missed you too," Akira whispered, inhaling Mahiru's soothing and pleasant scent.
_
Apartment 502.
Akira was sitting on the couch, and Mahiru was lying on his lap while he patted her head.
The apartment was quiet except for the occasional purring sound Mahiru made, clearly enjoying Akira's head pats.
"So, are you ready to tell me where you've been all this time and why you haven't returned to your apartment?" Mahiru asked quietly, in the manner of a submissive wife who wouldn't pressure her husband for an answer. "Although I tried talking to you at school after classes, you always left before I reached your classroom."
"I moved to Sakura-sou," Akira said, not stopping his gentle stroking of Mahiru's beautiful golden hair. "Do you want to go there too? If you do, I can arrange it easily."
"By the way, Mashiro came to Japan and is also living in Sakura-sou now," Akira said, aware of the complex relationship between the sisters due to their broken family, hoping they could reconcile and get along well.
Although Akira was sure Mashiro had no issues with Mahiru, he knew Mahiru held some grievances against Mashiro, who could get anything she wanted, while Mahiru could not.
"That's..." Mahiru mumbled, feeling a pain in her heart as she realized the depth of Akira's love for Mashiro. She had hoped to win his heart before Mashiro's return, but it seemed she couldn't, as Mashiro was always first in Akira's heart.
Realizing that Mashiro once again got what she wanted while she couldn't, Mahiru couldn't stop the tears flowing from her eyes and cried silently on Akira's lap.
"... " Although Akira could have comforted her, he didn't, knowing Mahiru was the type to endure everything in silence. This was a good opportunity for her to let it all out, and he would share his thoughts with her after she finished crying.
With this in mind, Akira continued to gently pat Mahiru's head as she silently wept on his lap.
After 30 minutes.
After half an hour of crying, Mahiru's tears dried up, and she decided to enjoy Akira's warmth, knowing this might be the last time they could spend time together like this.
"Mahiru, there's no need for this sadness..." Akira said gently, continuing to stroke Mahiru's beautiful blonde hair as he began explaining his thoughts to her.
"... " Mahiru couldn't believe her ears for a moment, but she kept listening, knowing this might be the only way for everyone to be happy.
Although Mahiru held some grievances against Mashiro, she knew deep down it wasn't Mashiro's fault but rather their useless parents who cared only about work and money.
Because of Akira's words, Mahiru was able to let go of these grievances, even if not entirely, and decided to go along with Akira's plan, knowing the path would be filled with thorns and needles. She didn't mind if it meant she could stay with the love of her life.
...
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