Tokyo Sick Girlfriend

Chapter 93 Agreement
After dinner, Saori, as usual, insisted on washing the dishes. Normally, to finish quickly, Shiratori Seiya would probably wash the dishes with her.

But after hearing Saori's inner monologue, I felt it would be good to let her do something.

To be honest, this is the first time I've known that Saori actually thinks this way.

Although she didn't say it directly, a careful reading reveals that she seemed to be intentionally or unintentionally comparing herself to Shione and Mio.

Shiratori Seiya had always felt that, given her innocence and purity, she wouldn't think about such things.

But now it seems I underestimated the subtlety of women's minds.

Shiratori Seiya narrowed his eyes and couldn't help but wonder how to arrange Saori's future path in order to erase the inferiority complex in her heart?

I won't let her ideas hold me back, so I'll either give Saori psychological counseling to help her accept the situation, or I'll help her become famous.

I mentally went through all the developments related to kendo: physical education teacher, kendo instructor, police officer...

Besides that, it seems like all that's left is to open a temple.

However, opening a temple doesn't make money; it's good enough if you don't lose money.

Conversely, to gain fame, a considerable amount of money is needed for promotion and cultivation...

After roughly calculating the required funds, Shiratori Seiya smiled helplessly.

The task is arduous and the road ahead is long...

Sitting on the sofa, Shiratori Seiya ran his fingers through the detailed notes filling his photographic record, looked up at the ceiling, and couldn't help but sigh inwardly:
Mio, you have to do your best!

The forced smile on the girl's face as she got off the bus that afternoon flashed through his mind, and Shiratori Seiya unconsciously frowned.

To be honest, he hadn't figured out how to deal with Takahashi's old-fashioned father yet...

'Whoosh.'

Just then, Saori, having finished washing the dishes, pushed open the sliding door and saw Shiratori Seiya sitting on the sofa, lost in thought. Her clear eyes flickered twice, and then she sat down next to him, asking with a puzzled look:
"Kiyoshi, does your hand still hurt?"

Feeling her move closer again, Shiratori Seiya immediately snapped out of his daze, glanced at her, and shook his head, holding his hand between his books:
"It doesn't hurt anymore, it's okay."

Upon hearing this, a look of disappointment flashed in Saori's eyes, and she pursed her lips as if she wanted to say something more.

However, Shiratori Seiya looked at her profile, lowered his gaze, thought for a moment, and asked:

"Saori, I have a question for you."

"Even if you ask a thousand times, Saori still likes Kiyoya."

"..."

Shiratori Seiya paused for a moment, then couldn't help but say:

"Where did you learn all these sweet nothings? Did you read military strategy books?"

"Well……"

As usual, she pressed her lips together and remained silent, as if her brain had shut down.

Seeing this, Shiratori Seiya narrowed his eyes warily, pondered for a moment, and then asked:

"Actually, Saori, you're not an idiot, right?"

Upon hearing his words, Saori tilted her head, her loose hair slipping down her shoulder, and said blankly:

“Saori isn’t stupid.”

"Actually, you're trying to win me over, aren't you?"

"Strategy?"

She blinked her clear eyes and asked a question, puzzled:
"What strategy is there? Saori only has true feelings for Kiyoya..."

"..."

Upon touching the girl's moist eyes, Shiratori Seiya felt the conversation was about to veer off course again, so he reached up and rubbed his temples, saying:

"Okay, but I wanted to ask you, Saori, what if your aunt and uncle hadn't agreed when you started practicing kendo?"

"..."

After he finished speaking, a silence fell over the air, as if a pebble had been thrown into a swamp, causing no ripples.

"Saori?"

Seeing that Saori seemed to be in a daze, Shiratori Seiya nudged her shoulder.

The girl looked up at him and said, "Saori is thinking."

"Thinking about what?"

"Why would you disagree..."

She paused, then continued:

"Kiyoshi clearly intended to make it into a garment, and Mom and Dad both know that, so why do they disagree?"

indeed.

Thinking back to Saori's family situation at the time, it wasn't even her turn. She went home and told her parents about it, then joined the kendo club and started training with me every day.

But now the situation seems completely different.

Shiratori Seiya also speculated about Saori's parents' mindset at the time, estimating it to be something like, "Well, the child is already like this, let her do whatever she wants," and he didn't think she would treat this as a profession...

After thinking for a moment, he continued:
"What if your uncle and aunt really disagree? For example, if they discriminate against kendo, or don't like you learning kendo from me?"

"Then let's elope, have the baby, and come back. Then Mom and Dad won't be able to object."

"..."

Shiratori Seiya rubbed his brow, feeling that no matter how the conversation went, it always ended up talking about marriage and having children.

It seemed he wouldn't get any useful ideas from the other party, so Shiratori Seiya decided to think about it on his own first. He glanced at the time and said:

"Saori, it's so late, you should go home."

"Oh."

Upon hearing this, Saori glanced at the time and saw that the hands pointed to eight o'clock. She obediently nodded and dawdled toward the entrance.

The reason she was so obedient was because on the first day she ate at Shiratori Seiya's house, they made a promise that she must go home on time, otherwise she shouldn't come again.

His words were rather harsh, and Saori didn't dare to test him. Besides, she seemed quite content with this, leaving on time every day.

However, unlike before, this time she stopped at the door after putting on her shoes, placed her hand on the doorknob, and as if remembering something, turned to look at Shiratori Seiya and said:
"Kiyoya, Saori's match starts next Monday, but it's Wednesday at 4 PM when it's her turn."

As she spoke, Saori pursed her lips and asked timidly:

Will Kiyoya come to cheer Saori on?

Looking into the girl's bright eyes, Shiratori Seiya remembered that she had participated in the national tournament.

Come to think of it, it's been several years since I last went to watch her compete.

Moreover, this seems to be the first time she has invited me to watch her match.

In a way, this is the first time.

Shiratori Seiya went through his plans for next week in his mind, not expecting anything to conflict with them.

The only possibility is that I might have to go home with Mio, but it could also be changed to Thursday...

Thinking this, he nodded in agreement:

"Will go."

"Thank you, Kiyoya."

"Saori will win."

"..."

Standing at the door, watching the girl leave, Shiratori Seiya glanced at the direction of his neighbor around the corner of the corridor.

There was silence.

It's obvious they've already moved out; it seems they even cleaned up before leaving, leaving not a trace.

The other person didn't come over to say hello like in the TV dramas.

Shiratori Seiya felt no regret, but rather a sense of relief.

He wasn't particularly sociable, but he quite liked these quiet, unassuming neighbors.

Hopefully, my next neighbor will be the same.

He thought so.

…………
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(End of this chapter)