Tokyo: My Girlfriend

Shinichi Kitagawa stiffened slightly and turned his head slightly: "Sleep with me? Why? There wasn't any thunder or rain today, and... are you crying?"

Kitagawa Rena walked over barefoot, step by step.

Standing by his bedside, tears streamed down her cheeks as she sobbed:

"I just fell asleep in bed and dreamed that Shin-yi eloped with that woman and never wanted me again. I know that kind of thing won't happen, but I'm still so scared."

She clung to Shinichi Kitagawa: "Shinichi... Shinichi... you won't leave me, right?"

Feeling the fragrance and warmth of Rena Kitagawa's skin, Shinichi Kitagawa frowned, then gently pulled up her bra strap and patted her head. "No, how could I abandon Rena? Haven't I told you so many times? I'll stay with you for the rest of my life."

"I know..." Tears streamed down her face as she hugged Shinichi Kitagawa tightly. "But I still can't help thinking about those terrible things... Can I sleep in your bed tonight? Like that night at the hotel, I want you to hold me..."

Kitagawa Shinichi recalled the words Tamura Kyoko had told him: "Rena's feelings for you are romantic." Then, even the image of Haruna Kasuga appeared in his mind.

He hesitated, but Kitagawa Rena hugged him even tighter and got into bed on her own, slowly slipping under the covers.

She buried her head in his chest, her hands gripping the back of his shirt as if locked to him.

The tender, smooth skin and the unique scent of Kitagawa Rena were clearly emanating from her in his arms. In the past, he wouldn't have thought much about such things.

However, after those events, Shinichi Kitagawa realized that he could no longer believe that Rena was simply seeking comfort from him.

Rena Kitagawa closed her eyes and muttered to herself:

"Ever since that time at the hotel, I've felt like Shin-il and I are drifting further and further apart. I never understood it before, but now I'm starting to get it. It's because we haven't been this close together in a long time... Even back in middle school, when I was ignoring you, we slept in the same bed. Now we have to be apart every day... It feels like our relationship has regressed."

Shinichi Kitagawa grabbed her shoulders: "That's because Rena has grown up a lot since then... You always have to give up something on the way to becoming an adult."

"Have I really grown up? I don't think I'll grow up more as Shin gets further away from me. But I'm trying to be independent, though sometimes I feel a little lonely, like tonight."

She slowly raised her head and gazed at Shinichi Kitagawa with deep affection, as if pleading:

"How about we sleep together once a week in the future? Just holding each other like this is fine, okay? Just holding each other like this will make me more and more independent in the future. I just need this little encouragement."

Shinichi Kitagawa knew this was definitely not right. Was it really something he and Rena should be doing, sleeping together every week?

This will likely only make the relationship more awkward.

"Rena, this kind of thing really won't work. We can definitely try a different approach..."

Kitagawa Rena said aggrievedly:

"There's no better way. How about once every two weeks? Is two weeks enough? Two weeks is already a lot." She seemed to sense Shinichi Kitagawa's resistance: "Or does Shinichi really think that if I don't have any contact with me at all, I'll learn to be independent?!"

Shinichi Kitagawa stared into the other person's eyes.

Rena Kitagawa's reddened pupils trembled. She knew her voice had been a little too loud for the second half of her sentence, and that her emotions had become increasingly unstable since dreaming of that woman. She hugged Shinichi Kitagawa again, like a small animal about to be abandoned.

"I'm sorry, Shin-il. I didn't mean to raise my voice at you... I didn't come here to argue with you... Please don't be angry... I didn't mean it that way..."

Kitagawa Shinichi sensed that she was trembling with fear, afraid that he would be harsh with her, and afraid that their previous relationship would be strained again.

Hina's reappearance was undoubtedly fatal for her.

Shinichi Kitagawa gently patted her back:

"It's okay, I know how you feel. If you still have trouble sleeping like you did tonight, I'll stay with you then, okay?"

Her voice became very low: "Mmm... I'll listen to everything you say... I'm going to sleep... Hold me tighter... I want to hear your heartbeat."

Shinichi Kitagawa unconsciously clenched his fists and hugged Rena Kitagawa tightly.

Over the next week, Rena Kitagawa seemed to have returned to normal.

It seems that Haruhi's arrival really doesn't matter to Kitagawa Rena. As long as Kitagawa Shinichi ignores her, Rena herself won't feel any fear or dislike towards her.

But outward composure does not equate to inner composure; Shinichi Kitagawa clearly saw Rena Kitagawa every time she attended an English class.

When Haruhi Hina walks past Kitagawa Rena, or when she calls on her to read aloud from her textbook.

The disgust in Kitagawa Rena's eyes was palpable, even when Kasuga Hina said in a teacher's tone, "It's okay, Rena-san, read it again."

She seemed to be deliberately going against Hina: "I'm sorry, teacher, I can't read it. Otherwise, I'll go stand outside as punishment."

Haruhi Hina knew she was doing it on purpose, because Rena's English grades weren't bad to begin with, so it wasn't to the point where she couldn't even read the textbook.

If it's like this during class, then it goes without saying after class. Forget about Kasuga Rena having a chance to talk to Kitagawa Rena or become friends; they just happen to bump into each other in the crowded corridor between classes.

Rena Kitagawa would quickly leave this woman's side and not say a word to her.

Kitagawa Shinichi witnessed all of these things.

It was another break between classes, and a group of girls with a sexy style were gathered together in a corner of the corridor by the window.

Akemi Aoki sat among the group of people, listening to music with her headphones on.

The girls who were originally friends asked curiously, "Mingmei, you've been acting a bit withdrawn lately, haven't you? It's been so long since you went out with us."

Akemi Aoki took off one earphone: "Not fitting in? When have I ever fitted in? I've been very busy lately, you guys just do your thing, there's no need to worry about me."

The sexy girls in stockings crossed their arms and laughed: "Akemi is still Akemi, still so carefree. You've been dating Shinichi Kitagawa lately, haven't you? You're always together, I'm so envious. He's a handsome mixed-race guy from Tokyo who just transferred here."

"Yeah, Akemi. She always said she wouldn't date or anything, but when she did, it was something like this. Were you deliberately trying to create this persona? What a green tea b*tch."

Seeing the person who was criticizing her, Aoki Akemi smiled and threatened, "If you say anything bad about me again, believe me, I'll slap you. Is your mouth that asking for a beating? But you're lucky you didn't say anything bad about Kitagawa Shinichi just now, otherwise I would have already slapped you."

The other hot girls were used to it: "Here she comes! Akemi's started getting angry again. She's really someone no one dares to mess with."

Akemi Aoki stood up: "Alright, alright, I'm not chatting with you guys anymore. I have lunch with Shinichi-kun, so I'm going back to class."

She had just taken a step when her sisters behind her suddenly reminded her:

"Hey Akemi, you're not actually developing feelings for Shinichi Kitagawa, are you? Dating and sleeping around are fine, but don't actually fall for that guy. Falling for someone as sought-after as Shinichi Kitagawa doesn't end well, especially since we can all tell he doesn't like you. That's all based on our experience with men."

Akemi Aoki stopped and turned back with a smile:

"It doesn't matter, as long as I like him. Also, do you guys want to come over to my place for the next few weekends? I don't need any of my old cosmetics and clothes anymore, so I'll give them all to you. There are several boxes of them. I've changed my style recently."

Everyone was overjoyed: "Really! Thank you, Mingmei! We love you! We'll definitely go!"

Akemi Aoki waved her hand: "You're welcome. We're all sisters. Thank you for your advice, but I never regret what I've done."

The women looked at her, and no one doubted her words. Mingmei's simple and straightforward personality was something they all envied, even though they were all in the same circle.