However, Shirakawa also keenly sensed that the topic of “family” seemed somewhat heavy for Ran Mouri, and the atmosphere became a bit oppressive.
Just as he was about to find a lighthearted topic to turn the page, Ran Mouri across from him spoke first.
She suddenly realized what she had said; panic and apology instantly replaced the expression on her face as she bowed repeatedly to Shirakawa.
“I’m sorry!
I’m truly very sorry!”
“I…
I don’t know what’s wrong with me today, I accidentally keep talking about my own affairs…”
“It’s only our first meeting, yet I took the liberty of telling you these things.
It’s so rude of me!”
Ran Mouri’s heart was filled with confusion and frustration.
She couldn’t understand why she was acting this way.
She had clearly just wanted to find someone, yet she had been led to a cafe in a daze.
She had clearly just wanted to ask for a name, yet she had unknowingly started talking about her private matters.
She had even poured out her deepest troubles regarding family and feelings to a stranger she hadn’t known for even an hour.
It felt as if her mental defenses were being quietly dismantled by an invisible force, and all her emotions had found an outlet.
Seeing the young girl’s flustered and self-doubting appearance, a gentle, knowing smile appeared on Shirakawa’s face, attributing it to Ran Mouri’s unsettled state of mind.
“It’s alright.”
Shirakawa waved his hand.
“Sometimes, saying things out loud feels much better than keeping them bottled up inside.”
“That you can trust me and confide in me is something I should feel honored about instead.”
Before he could finish his sentence, an abrupt phone ringtone sounded.
Shirakawa calmly took out his phone, glanced at the alarm on the screen, and showed an apologetic expression.
“Excuse me, it seems I have a work call I need to take.”
He rose naturally, gave a slight nod to Ran Mouri, turned to walk out of the cafe, found a corner outside, and pretended to “answer” the call.
Inside the shop, under the warm lights, Ran Mouri sat alone at her seat.
She unconsciously stirred the coffee in her cup which was no longer piping hot, over and over with a small silver spoon, but her gaze uncontrollably drifted through the clear glass window to land on the tall figure standing outside.
In the night, his profile was well-defined, and the halo of the streetlight cast a soft golden edge around him, making him look somewhat surreal.
Ran Mouri’s mind was a mess.
What on earth was wrong with her?
Why would she trust a stranger so easily?
And why would she tell him her heart’s troubles regarding “family” without reservation?
That feeling…
it was as if she had found a harbor where she could lower all her defenses—safe and warm, making her unable to resist wanting to get closer.
This thought made her heart skip a beat, and her cheeks felt a flush of heat once again.
A few minutes later.
Shirakawa returned to his seat in the cafe, deliberately squeezing out a look of disappointment and exhaustion.
He picked up the cup of coffee on the table and downed it in one go.
He set the cup down with a soft “thud,” then let out a heavy sigh, his whole body slumping against the back of the chair as if his bones had been removed.
This series of performances, though slightly exaggerated, hit the bullseye with precision.
“Mr.
Shirakawa?”
Ran Mouri’s clear violet eyes were full of concern.
“Did something happen?
You don’t look very well.”
Here it comes.
Shirakawa thought to himself.
He quickly adjusted his emotions, looked up at Ran Mouri with dimmed eyes, and began his carefully fabricated tragic story.
“I…”
Shirakawa’s voice carried a hint of imperceptible hoarseness, as if the words were hard to say.
“Actually, I’m a new recruit.
Today…
I was just fired by my company.”
“Because an important project went wrong, the company suffered heavy losses, so…”
At this point, Shirakawa paused at the right moment, lowered his head, and let his shoulders tremble slightly, portraying the image of an unemployed man.
Even he felt this acting was clumsily ridiculous, almost like a plot from a third-rate TV drama.
But Ran Mouri clearly didn’t notice anything wrong.
“How could this happen…” The girl’s voice was full of sympathy.
Shirakawa took a deep breath and doubled down, his tone becoming increasingly bitter.
“I thought I’d come to the amusement park to relax and change my mood, but…
misfortunes never come singly.”
“The call just now was from the inn I’m staying at.
They said a thief broke into my room, and all my luggage, including my wallet and identification, has been stolen.”
As he said this, Shirakawa himself felt it was a bit outrageous and overly coincidental.
“Now, not only am I penniless, but even my passport and ID are gone.
I’m afraid I can’t even afford a plane ticket back home.”
His performance wasn’t great; he even looked a bit stiff in some micro-expressions, exposing his nature of not being good at lying.
However, in Ran Mouri’s eyes, all of this became a true depiction of “forcing a smile after suffering a huge blow.”
The girl’s face was written with sympathy and worry.
Looking at her pure, unadulterated gaze of concern, Shirakawa felt a hint of guilt for the first time about exploiting her kindness.
But to survive in this strange world, he had to do it.
As it turned out, as soon as he finished his sob story…
“Mr.
Shirakawa, if you don’t mind, you can come and stay at my house for the time being!”
Ran Mouri spoke immediately, almost without thinking.
Ah, this.
The plan went so smoothly that even Shirakawa was a bit stunned.
Inviting a strange adult male to live in one’s home—one should at least hesitate and consider it for a while, right?
To think Ran Mouri would agree so quickly…
As expected of an ‘Angel’!
“Then…
then thank you so much…”
Shirakawa immediately stood up from his seat and gave a bow common in Japan to express his gratitude.
To be honest, he had wanted to symbolically decline first, but he was worried that the simple Ran Mouri might take it seriously.
To avoid ending up on the streets at night, it was better to settle the matter first.
“Ah…
oh…”
Ran Mouri blanked for a moment, only then realizing what she had said, and a blush uncontrollably rose to her cheeks.
Why did she want to help without even thinking when Shirakawa expressed his difficulties?
She even directly invited him to live in her home…
No matter how she thought about it, this was too over the line for people meeting for the first time, wasn’t it?
Would she be misunderstood as…
having…
ulterior motives toward Shirakawa?
The more she thought about it, the redder Ran Mouri’s face became.
Her brain was already a bit overloaded as she quickly lowered her head:
“That…
there’s no need to thank me.
After all…
Mr.
Shirakawa is a good person…”
“So…
it should…
be fine…”
Mr.
Shirakawa is a good person…
Is a good person…
Good person…
Suddenly receiving a ‘Good Person Card,’ Shirakawa couldn’t help but be stunned for a moment.
Looking at Ran Mouri’s lowered head, Shirakawa quickly realized that she had likely averted her gaze specifically because she was worried he would misunderstand something.
Shirakawa knew his own worth and considered himself a very ordinary person.
It was impossible for a super beautiful girl like Ran Mouri ,with a good personality, great figure, diligent in housekeeping, and devoted in feelings , to suddenly appear and say something like ‘I think I like you~’ with a blushing face.
Therefore, Shirakawa also straightened his attitude and said seriously, “Of course, I won’t stay for free.
I’ll do my best to find temporary work to earn money.”
If he remembered correctly, the Mouri Family was a bit tight on living expenses.
Giving him a place to stay was already good enough; if he also wanted free meals, it would be a bit too much.
“If there’s anything I can help with, please don’t hesitate to ask.”
This was the maximum extent to which Shirakawa could repay this kindness right now.
“Mr.
Shirakawa…”
Ran Mouri suddenly looked up and stood, quickly grabbing her bag.
“That’s right!
It’s getting late, let’s go home early.
I still need to tidy up your room!”
After saying that, Ran Mouri turned quickly and walked toward the cafe door without looking back.
She seemed really concerned about his ‘bedroom’.
As expected of an ‘Angel’.
Shirakawa couldn’t help but sigh inwardly with emotion.
While Shirakawa took out his wallet to pay for the coffee…
At the shop entrance, Ran Mouri covered her face with both hands.
Her fair cheeks were as red as if they were on fire, glowing with a heart-stirring blush.
The young girl murmured in a voice only she could hear:
“Let’s go home early…”
“It’s clearly such a simple phrase, so why did my heart suddenly feel so happy…”
“Oh no, I forgot to settle the bill…”
“Ah, how embarrassing.
Mr.
Shirakawa already didn’t have much money left, and I actually…”