Living in Tokyo, starting with a lifestyle-related job

Mizuno Maki secretly glanced at Kamishiro Hakufu beside her and noticed that he was silent, as if he was thinking about something.

Although Shiro Shiro remained silent, his deep, thoughtful gaze possessed a unique charm, drawing the attention of others like a magnet.

She looked at him.

An indescribable feeling quietly grew in my heart.

The sky was gray, and cool rain streamed down.

Her thoughts, like water droplets falling into a shallow puddle, rippled outwards.

However, a person suddenly appeared and interrupted her thoughts.

Shiina Shoko, holding an umbrella, appeared behind Kamishiro Hakufu.

Maki Mizuno just watched her, watching her reach out and tug at his sleeve, hiding under his umbrella, easily doing something he himself couldn't do.

Mizuno Maki felt inexplicably suffocated, and slightly parted her cherry-red lips as if she wanted to say something.

But when she tried to speak, she couldn't bring herself to say it.

"Who is it?" Shiro Shiro felt someone tugging at his clothes, turned around in confusion, and saw Shiina Shoko. He said helplessly, "Oh, it's you. Good morning."

Upon seeing that it was her, Bai Feng didn't say anything to complain.

Because it's come close like this two or three times already.

Bai Feng knew about her social anxiety and was worried that too much complaining might scare her into fainting again, so he let her be.

"Good morning, Kamishiro-kun." Shiina Shoko folded her umbrella and timidly hid behind Shirafumi.

She practically pressed her head against Bai Feng's back, glancing left and right every now and then, as if checking if anyone was paying attention to her.

When she noticed that Mizuno Maki was looking at her, her delicate body trembled, and fear showed in her eyes hidden under her long bangs. She almost buried her head in the back of Bai Feng, not daring to meet Mizuno Maki's gaze.

Seeing that even though the girl was doing this, Shiro Shiro didn't change anything, nor did he let the girl leave him. Instead, he seemed to let the girl do as she pleased. Mizuno Maki felt a pang of sadness in her heart and couldn't help but ask:

"Who is this girl, Kamishiro-kun?"

Shiro Shiro was stunned.

Didn't he explain this to Mizuno Maki?

I think that's what they said.

Oh, right.

Although it was mentioned before that Shiina Hirosuke asked him to take care of his daughter.

The girls from the Literature Club didn't know Shiina Shoko, and even if she stood right in front of them, they probably wouldn't recognize her.

So Shiro Shiro explained it briefly.

After hearing Bai Feng's explanation, Mizuno Maki looked at Shiina Shoko with a strange expression.

Generally speaking, isn't social anxiety about being afraid of all strangers?

Although these types of people don't usually appear to be particularly socially anxious when facing their close friends and family.

But ultimately, only family members who spend every day together can do that.

If she remembered correctly, Shiina Shoko only started attending school this week, right?

It's only been a few days, how come he's already being so affectionate with Kamishiro-kun?

She was actually standing so close to him?

Generally speaking, you wouldn't be this close even to your family, right?

Maki Mizuno wasn't sure if her idea was correct.

After all, she did see a timid and fearful demeanor in Shiina Shoko.

I could tell that this girl was indeed socially anxious.

In that case, it's no wonder that Kamishiro-kun didn't stop Shiina Shoko from getting so close, just like he did with the other girls.

I guess they figured this girl didn't know many people at school, and since she happened to be the daughter of an acquaintance, they might as well take care of her?

That should be the case.

Shiro Shiro also felt that Shiina Shoko's timid demeanor and her constant clinging to him wasn't a good solution.

We should encourage her to make more friends and interact with her to help her become more outgoing.

So he decided to introduce Mizuno Maki to her:

"Shiina-san, this is Mizuno Maki."

Knowing that Shirafumi was taking care of Shiina Shoko, Mizuno Maki greeted him politely:

"Hello, Shiina-kun."

"My name is Mizuno Maki. I'm in Class A and I'm a first-year high school student just like you."

Shiina Shoko gripped Bai Feng's clothes tightly with her hand and said somewhat shyly:

"My name is Shiina Shoko."

"Hello, Mizuno-san."

After she finished greeting him, she secretly glanced at Bai Feng, as if to say that she had already tried her best.

Noticing the expectant look in her eyes, Shiro Kaede sighed and ruffled her hair, praising her:

"You had a great day!"

"I've made a new friend."

Shiina Shoko's eyes narrowed happily beneath her long bangs; she clearly liked Bai Feng's praise and was also pleased that he was rubbing her head.

When Mizuno Maki witnessed this scene, her brows furrowed.

On the road afterwards.

Mizuno Maki's expression was even colder than usual, and she showed no intention of saying anything more.

Shoko Shiina is socially awkward, so not speaking is the norm for her.

Kamishiro Shirofumi's thoughts were still on making money and gaining professional experience, and he had no intention of starting a conversation.

So even when the three of them reached the shoe cabinet, they remained silent.

Since Shiro Kaede's shoe cabinet was the closest, he walked over and opened it directly.

As usual, a bunch of love letters fell down from above.

Shiina Shoko looked completely bewildered.

(′_ゝ`)

Haven't many people already sent love letters before?

It's been a day or two, and the number hasn't decreased at all.

Is there some kind of game bug in Kamishiro-kun's shoe cabinet that makes it automatically refresh love letters every day?

For Mizuno Maki, this was the first time she had seen Shirakaze Kamishiro's shoe cabinet filled with love letters.

She remained silent for a long time.

In the end, he said nothing, but silently walked quickly to his shoe cabinet to change his shoes.

Although there were a few love letters inside when the shoe cabinet was opened.

But Maki Mizuno seemed distracted, her mind not on the subject at all.

She stood there, head down, taking a few deep breaths, trying to calm her strange feelings.

Only after she calmed down a bit did she start changing into indoor shoes.

As for those love letters, she didn't touch them at all, nor did she intend to read them.

After changing into her indoor shoes, Mizuno Maki didn't wait for Kamishiro Shirokaze, but walked back to the classroom alone.

She skillfully opened the textbook and, as always, reached out her left hand to support her cheek as she quietly read it.

Even though she heard someone in the classroom greeting Shiro Kaede.

Even though she could hear the chair behind her being pushed.

Even though she could sense that Shiro Kaede was already sitting behind her.

She showed no intention of raising her head.

In this period of time.

Even textbooks that she could usually immerse herself in instantly could not form images in her mind at this moment.

Maki Mizuno didn't even know what she was thinking.

I just feel suffocated and extremely frustrated.

"Mizuno-san?"

"Mizuno-san?"

Chitanda Mirai's sudden words brought Mizuno Maki back to her senses. After a moment of silence, she turned around and asked:

"Chitanda-san, what's wrong?"

Chitanda Mirai asked with a curious expression:

"I heard that Mizuno-san is planning to work at Kamishiro-kun's coffee shop?"

Mizuno Maki glanced at Bai Feng, and when she realized that he was also looking at her, she immediately looked away and nodded silently.

"I see." Chitanda Mirai's eyes crinkled into crescent moons as she turned to look at Kamishiro Shirokaze with great delight. "Now that you have a part-time worker at the shop, Kamishiro-kun, do you have a uniform at your shop now?"

Shiro Shiro was stunned for a moment, then laughed awkwardly:

"I didn't even remember if you hadn't mentioned it."

"There are no work uniforms in the store at all."

"At most, it's just an apron."

"But what you said also reminded me that we should find someone to customize some work uniforms."