Chapter 58: An Unexpected Encounter

Shiina Mahiru was stunned when she heard Mashiro's words. "Mashiro, do you mean there was someone named Rita who used to help you choose your clothes and dress you, and even helped you wash your clothes?" Mahiru asked, incredulous.

"Yes." Mashiro nodded innocently, then looked at Renji expectantly, waiting for her owner to take care of her.

Mahiru was speechless, staring at her cousin with a mixed expression. Are you a princess? She was envious... Oh no, what exactly was she envious of?! If she, Shiina Mahiru, became so helpless in daily life, she'd rather die!

Just as she was about to say something, Renji stroked her hair and said softly, his voice soothing, "Alright, don't be angry. I'm sure Mahiru can see that Mashiro didn't do it on purpose." He explained patiently, "She's someone who, without guidance or attention, has no idea what to do. Not wearing clothes after bathing is also because no one took care of her to choose clothes, and she had no idea how to pick them." Renji pointed to the scattered piles of clothes. "That's why she pulled out all her clothes and didn't know how to put them back."

Hearing his words, Shiina Mahiru couldn't stay angry at Mashiro, but she still pouted, a cute expression of jealousy. "You saw a beautiful sight, and now you're speaking up for her." She narrowed her eyes at Renji. "You two just met, and you already understand her so well?"

Renji looked at the jealous Mahiru and said helplessly, a faint smile on his lips. "What are you thinking? I'm just better at observation and deduction, that's all." He pointed to the still-wet Mashiro. "Alright, don't be angry. Look at Mashiro, she's all wet. Let's dry her hair first, otherwise, she'll catch a cold. Should I do it or you?"

"Of course, me! You're not allowed to touch her!" Shiina Mahiru pushed him out of the room, her face flushed. Then she began to take care of her clueless cousin herself.

Initially, she felt quite envious that her cousin could receive affection from relatives, friends, and even her parents thanks to her paintings. However, now she felt no envy at all. What kind of family could bear to raise Mashiro to be so helpless in daily life? Those people must only care about the value Mashiro's paintings could create. They didn't care about her condition at all.

Thinking this, Mahiru's gaze towards Mashiro softened, filled with empathy. Shiina Mahiru was always gentle; she was only angry at Mashiro earlier because of Renji. Now that her composure had returned, she gently held Mashiro's hand and led her to the bathroom.

"Come with me, I'll dry you off and then change your clothes," Mahiru said in a soft voice.

"But Renji is the owner." Mashiro still wanted to protest, her eyes blinking innocently.

Mahiru immediately straightened her face, her tone firm. "With me here, I'm also your owner, listen to me!"

"Oh..." Her little cousin was quite obedient, and soon, with Mahiru's help, she changed into her Suimei High School uniform. Her face was also clean, and she had even applied sunscreen, her skin looking radiant. Mashiro was like a doll, letting Mahiru arrange her.

Mahiru, on the other hand, felt a new sensation. What was it like to dress up a doll? Although her cousin was only a few months younger than her, she never expected that her cousin would turn out to be so foolish. And so helpless in daily life too!

"Alright, let's go. Today, Renji and I will take you to school for registration. In the afternoon, you'll go home with your cousin Chihiro, understood?" Mahiru explained.

"Understood." Mashiro nodded obediently.

"For this room, we'll just ask Sayu to clean it." Mahiru decided. There wasn't enough time. If they cleaned the room, she and Renji would be late.

Opening the door, the sight of two beautiful blonde girls holding hands made Renji's eyes light up. Mahiru was truly a gentle Little Angel. She quickly got along with Mashiro.

Sakurasou was only a few steps from Suimei University of the Arts High School. In less than a minute, the three of them were already standing at the school gate.

So, how were two outsiders supposed to send a transfer student into the school? Renji, stopped by the gate guard, couldn't help but complain inwardly. Teacher Chihiro Sengoku, you con artist! He would have to call her, wait for her to slowly arrive, and then he and Mahiru would miss their train.

Fortunately, Aoyama Nanami walked by, looking sleepy, her shoulders slightly slumped. So Renji immediately called out to her and placed Mashiro's small hand in hers. "Aoyama-kun, this is Shiina Mashiro, a Sakurasou resident and a transfer student to your school. Could I trouble you to take her to Teacher Chihiro Sengoku's office?"

"Ah? I can, but..." Aoyama Nanami began to speak, still a little disoriented.

"Then I'll leave her to you! Thank you very much!" Before Aoyama Nanami could react, Renji pulled Shiina Mahiru and ran, leaving a confused Nanami and Mashiro behind. If they were any slower, they would really miss their train.

Aoyama Nanami stared at Shiina Mashiro, who was holding her hand and looking at her without blinking, her face utterly confused. Now she was finally fully awake. "Uh, your name is Shiina Mashiro? I'm Aoyama Nanami, also a Suimei High student, but I'm in the general studies department. How about you, Shiina?"

"Art course." Mashiro replied simply, her eyes focused on Nanami.

"Oh, so you're in the art department. In that case, your class is in..." Aoyama Nanami enthusiastically explained as she led Mashiro to Chihiro Sengoku's office, a friendly smile on her face.

Back to Renji's side. Seeing the train had already departed, the two looked at each other.

"Mahiru, why don't we just say we have the flu, then ask for a leave from Ms. Hiratsuka, and skip school today?" Renji suggested mischievously. "Let's go on a date!"

"Ah! You idiot, that's absolutely not allowed!" Shiina Mahiru rolled her eyes at him. "I've never skipped school. If I were genuinely sick, it would be fine, but lying to a teacher is wrong!" Her tone was firm, principled.

Renji looked heartbroken, his lips pursed. "You don't want to go on a date with me?"

"Idiot, it's not that I don't want to, but... do you have to be so impatient?" Mahiru replied, her cheeks slightly flushed.

Renji held her small hand. "It's not that I'm impatient, but we're going to miss the train."

"Being late is better than skipping!" Mahiru insisted. "Anyway, no. Don't forget we're both class representatives. If neither of us goes, it will be a dereliction of duty."

"Alright." Renji sighed, giving in. Actually, Renji had only said it casually. He had also agreed to try the lap pillow with Sumireko, so of course, he couldn't afford not to go to school. And certainly, seeing Mahiru's joyful expression, it was evident she was very pleased at being coaxed.

While waiting for the next train, a captivating aroma wafted into his nostrils, a faint floral scent. "Hey little brother, we meet again!"

A beautiful woman, fair-skinned, with short hair, wearing a purple off-the-shoulder camisole and denim shorts, walked closer, giving him a brilliant smile. Her body was perfect, and her charming smile combined with her sweet face made her very approachable.

Shiina Mahiru immediately felt immense pressure and looked at this incredibly friendly older sister with caution. She was very familiar with that intensely social smile, a smile that could hide many things.

"Hehe, this must be the young lady of the Shiina Family. No need to be so wary of me. I won't steal your boyfriend... Hmm, not for now, anyway?" The woman said, winking playfully, a deliberate tease.

"Uh, who are you?" Renji asked, though he already had a guess in his heart. This cute face, 90% similar to Yukinoshita Yukino...

"My name is Yukinoshita Haruno. Shiina, who rarely attends parties, might not know me, but I know you." Haruno smiled widely. "Yes, your cousin Shiina Mashiro is more famous."

"Yukinoshita Haruno? You're Yukinoshita Yukino's older sister from Class J?" Shiina Mahiru immediately guessed and said, a little surprised.

"That's right. Seeing you two, it seems you missed your train. Coincidentally, I have business at Soubu High. Would you like to ride in my family's private car?" Haruno offered, her tone calculated. "If you wait for the next train, you'll be late."

Shiina Mahiru looked at Renji. Instinctively, she didn't want to accept such kindness, but she valued Renji's opinion more, relying on him. Unconsciously, Mahiru had come to regard Renji as her backbone.

Renji held Mahiru's hand and smiled at Haruno, showing amiability. "Then, thank you, Haruno-onee-san. Please allow us to hitch a ride!"

"Hehe, such sweet words. Big sister likes that address!" Haruno giggled, her smile widening.

Shiina Mahiru couldn't help but pinch him secretly on the waist. Idiot, don't flirt with beautiful older sisters! I'm still here!

However, Haruno observed them both for a moment, then took out her phone and called her family's driver. Actually, her meeting with Renji wasn't a coincidence. Renji wouldn't expose her either. Since there was a ride, why not take it?

Sitting in the back seat of the luxurious car, Yukinoshita Haruno glanced at their clasped hands and deliberately leaned closer to Renji. "Hey, hey, are you two dating?"

"No!" Shiina Mahiru immediately let go of his hand, her beautiful face turning crimson, embarrassed.

"Not dating, but still holding hands? Shiina, you're not being honest," Haruno teased her.

"Not really, Haruno-onee-san. Renji and I just accidentally, accidentally held hands!" Mahiru tried to defend herself.

In that case, this coincidence is too intimate, isn't it? Yukinoshita Haruno muttered inwardly, then smiled and hugged Renji's arm, leaning against him. "Really? Then I won't be polite, big brother. Last time, my car almost had an accident at the school gate, and it was Renji-kun who prevented it. Big sister has always wanted to thank you." Haruno looked at Renji with sparkling eyes. "How about it? My big sister doesn't have a boyfriend right now. Do you want to try dating your big sister?"

"Uh, don't tease me, Haruno-onee-san. A beautiful woman like you must have many admirers," Renji tried to deflect the question.

"Hehe, that's true, but big sister is serious. Do you want to consider it?" Haruno insisted, a mysterious smile on her face.

"No, no!" Renji tried to pull his arm out of Haruno's soft embrace, but Haruno held him very tightly. Renji was speechless, caught in the middle. Mahiru is glaring at me, and my waist is being pinched by her small hand! Haruno, don't cause trouble!

"Pfft, how interesting. Shiina, you actually like Renji-kun, don't you? Stop pinching, if you hurt him, you'll be heartbroken yourself," Haruno said, noticing their interaction.

Shiina Mahiru's cheeks felt hot, and she immediately withdrew her hand. Renji pretended to be tense, staring straight at the scenery outside the window, as if he didn't care about Haruno's embrace on his arm, a convincing act. Haruno also had no intention of letting go. She continued to hold onto him until they got out of the car in front of the school.

Glancing at the crowd, she quietly released him and smiled at both of them, saying, "Renji-kun, consider this a debt I owe you. Big sister will repay you." At that moment, she suddenly leaned in and kissed Renji's cheek, a fleeting kiss. "Alright, see you later." Haruno waved goodbye and then walked away, a meaningful smile on her lips.

Renji also noticed the stiff, golden-haired man not far away, Hayato Hayama's rigid expression. He immediately understood. It turned out Haruno was using him as a shield to attack Hayato Hayama. Well, he didn't mind. He only looked at Shiina Mahiru, whose cheeks were puffed out, her face red with jealousy and embarrassment.