Muzi said this while looking at the hot blonde girl walking slowly over.
Sayu also reacted to the latter's unintentional words, lowered his hands demurely in front of him, bowed and said hello.
Asami looked at her from head to toe without leaving any trace, and then turned her gaze to Muzi's face.
"Xiao Muzi, is this girl your friend?"
"No, this one is here to see Xiaoxiang, she is... uh..."
"This is the first time we meet. My name is Sayu Ogiwara. Please give me your advice."
Sayu helped Muzi out of trouble with a discerning eye, and took the opportunity to introduce himself, making Muzi smile happily.
"That's it. Nice to meet you, Sayu-chan. I'm Muzi. I'm currently running away from home and I'm being rescued here. Please give me some advice."
"Uh, yes...Eh-??"
"Ah~ Is it my turn next? I'm Asami Yuuki, and I'm currently working as a volunteer for the association. Please give me your advice, Sister Sayu."
"Sayushi-san...um, ah, yes, Ms. Yuuki."
"That's funny, why are you so polite? Just call me Mami and it's OK~"
"Ah, okay...ah, um."
Seeing Sayu nodding her head repeatedly, Asami grinned with satisfaction and turned her attention to Muzi again.
"By the way, Xiao Muzi, I'm back from buying ingredients. Sorry to keep you waiting for so long, I'm going to help you prepare delicious dishes now~"
"Well...because I'm not qualified to be picky, I'm sorry to bother you. I will silently cheer for you, Asami."
"Hey, don't you think that my craftsmanship is very poor?"
"No, I'm very grateful to have free food. I'm sorry for causing you so much trouble. Even if I get the same 'food' as yesterday, I will eat it all with gratitude."
"They say what happened yesterday was just an accident! I'm fully prepared for today, so don't worry."
"Thank you, I will look forward to it for the time being..."
Muzi showed an expression that was half suspicious and half worried, and said: "Then I will go back to the room first... By the way, Sayu-chan, do you want to come in and sit down?"
"Ah, Xiaomuzi, you can go alone. I have something to ask Sister Sayu, so I borrowed her first."
"Huh……?"
"Well, I understand. Let's see you later, Sayu-chan."
"Okay... see you, Miss Muzi."
After Muzi returned to the house, Asami led Sayu up to the second floor and took her into room "202".
"Come on, please come in. Although this is someone else's room, the owner said you can use it as you please, so don't be formal."
"...Thank you for bothering me."
"Saya, what do you want to drink? There is water, oolong tea and apple juice here. Choose one."
"Well, I'll just ask for some water."
"Understood. Then sit down for a moment. I'll put the things I bought in the kitchen and pour water for you."
"OK, thanks."
Only then did Sayu have time to observe his surroundings.
This is a single apartment about the same size as the one downstairs.
There is a faint girl's fragrance floating in the air.
There is a pink single bed, a desk with folders and notebooks, a black sailor suit hanging on the wall, and a bedside table with photo frames.
"ah……"
Sayu made a sound unconsciously.
The photo above is a photo of two girls.
One is Shintōka who looks disgusted, and the other is a girl who is smiling very happily.
"Oh~ That's Xiao Xi, who is also the owner of this room."
"……Huh?"
"I'm talking about the girl on the right in the photo, aren't you staring at me Sayu?"
"Ah, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to pry into other people's privacy."
"It's okay, it's okay, Xiao Xi won't care about this."
Asami waved her hand and said, sitting down cross-legged carelessly, "Here, I'll give you some water."
"OK, thanks……"
Sayu politely took the glass and drank it in small sips, gradually moistening his dry throat.
She rushed here from the coffee shop in a hurry, and after chatting with Muzi for so long, she was actually very thirsty.
It was just because of the concern in her heart that she temporarily ignored her physical discomfort, and it was only now that she relaxed.
"So, Sayou, what's your relationship with Xiaoxiang? You're a classmate at school... maybe not, right?"
"Ah, no, I was just taken care of by Miss Shinjo before. We are not classmates. It's time for me to go to college..."
"Huh? You are a college student??"
"Well...but I just took the exam, so I still have to wait for the results to come out."
"What? It's so funny, haha!"
"Uh...is that funny?"
Sayu kept smiling awkwardly.
This was her first time meeting such a hot girl, and she didn't know how to react.
Asami pointed at herself and expressed in an exaggerated tone:
"Yes, because I have just finished taking the college exam. So, are we both the same age? How old are you, Sister Sayu?"
"18 years old."
"It's so funny! It's really the same! It means you are dressed like a high school student, so I almost misunderstood you."
"Hmm...is Ms. Asami also a candidate for this year's exam?"
"That's right, that's right~ Then, which schools did you apply for?"
"It's Hayao University and Aoyama Gakuin University..."
"Zaoying and Qingxue! Are they real or fake?"
Asami suddenly stopped moving, widened her eyes and asked.
"It's true."
"It's true, it's so cool! Sister Sayu, you are so cool."
"……is that so?"
Sayu unconsciously shrank her body and echoed vaguely.
Asami immediately came up to her, patted her shoulder enthusiastically, and kept nodding.
"Oh, maybe we will become classmates in the future. What a coincidence! Sister Sayu."
"Eh...classmate?"
"That's right! After all, two of my preferred universities are the same as yours, and the exam questions at Tokyo University this year are really tough, so I'm probably out of luck."
"Eastern University..."
"Yeah~ That's my first choice. Ah, you seem surprised. Despite my appearance, I'm actually pretty good at studying."
"Ah, uh... I'm sorry."
"There's no need to apologize. It's a rare opportunity. Sister Sayu, why don't you stay for dinner? I'll make preparations."
"No...how can this be allowed? That would be too embarrassing."
"Okay, okay, I said you don't need to be so polite. Anyway, I have to help Muzi prepare dinner. It's just a matter of convenience that there is an extra person. Let's chat for a while~"
Asami said without explanation, giving no chance to refuse at all.
However--
When Sayu watched her striding to the kitchen, taking out the beef curry and chicken curry food packages from the plastic bags in the supermarket, and enthusiastically asked her what flavor she liked...
"Uh... Asami, could this be the delicious dish you told Miss Muzi before...?"
"Ahaha, Muzi complained about the cooking I made yesterday, so I had to choose this safe option today. Don't you like curry?"
"No, it's not that I don't like it..."
Sayu smiled bitterly and shook his head, thought for a while and said, "Well, actually I know a little bit about cooking. If you don't mind, let me help?"
"Oh~! Is that okay?"
"Yes, it's okay. I was the one who interrupted you in the first place, so I'm really embarrassed to sit like this."
"Okay~ Then please help me."
…
Ever since, Asami saw the amazingly skilled knife skills.
"Okay, so awesome...!"
"No, anyone can achieve this level as long as they practice for a while."
"Young girl Sayu, you are really humble. I have absolutely nothing I can do to help you."
"There's nothing like that. Without the ingredients you bought, Asami, I wouldn't be able to do anything."
"You don't need to comfort me. Speaking of which, Sister Sayu, you said you came to see Xiaoxiang, right?"
"Yes, but because I didn't contact her beforehand, it seemed like she wasn't here."
"Yes, they just went to stay together in Chino City yesterday, and they won't be back until the day after tomorrow. It's such an unlucky time for you to come."
"It seems so..."
"So, what do you want to do with her?"
Sayu's hand movements paused slightly, and he said vaguely: "Well... I have a little private matter that I want to ask Miss Shinjo."
"That's it."
Asami responded noncommittally and did not ask further questions. Instead, she smiled and said, "Well~ Anyway, thanks to Sayu, my work seems to have been completed smoothly today."
"Work……?"
"Yeah! It's just a volunteer job, didn't I tell you?"
"Volunteer...you mean cooking for Miss Muzi?"
"That's right~ This is part of the association's work, and there are other recording tasks as well."
【association】
Hearing this word again, Sayu couldn't help but ask.
"Well, Asami, what do you mean by association?"
"Well - to put it simply, it is an organization that provides help to girls who encounter difficulties, right?"
"What……?"
"You mean you've also met Xiao Muzi downstairs, right? She is the one we are helping now."
"Uh...but didn't Miss Muzi say that she ran away from home? Aren't you friends?"
"No, we just took her here and provided her with food and accommodation."
"Huh……?"
Sayu couldn't help but was stunned, and unconsciously blurted out: "Isn't it illegal to take in something like that?"
Asami laughed and kept waving her hands.
"Generally speaking, that's the case, but because our place is recognized by the government, it's legal~"
"Sorry, I still don't quite understand...Is there such a custom in Tokyo?"
"Ah haha, no, no, this has nothing to do with Tokyo or anything. Didn't Xiaoxiang tell you?"
"Miss Shinjou?"
Sayu tilted her head in confusion, looking confused.
She remembered clearly that the last time that person brought her here, he said this was the place where Shinjo incense was sold.
The latter did not explain to her later, and she was immersed in a sad atmosphere at the time and had no extra thought to ask these trivial matters.
Because of this, she always regarded this place as Shinjoka's apartment.
However……
"Well! Our "OSY" association is an organization that specializes in providing help to girls with divine needs."
Asami explained carefully:
"Xiaoxiang and Xiaoxi are official members of the association, I am a volunteer who just came here not long ago, and Muzi is the one being helped. Do you understand?"
This string of words, which is awkward to pronounce and meaningless, sounds both serious and funny, exuding a somewhat magical atmosphere.
'It's like writing my name...'
She couldn't help shaking her head in amusement and took a small breath.
"Thank you for your explanation, Asami, I understand."
"It's just a small matter, you're welcome."
"Excuse me, can I ask another question?"
"Problem? Well, just ask."
"Since it's to help Miss Muzi prepare dinner, wouldn't it be more convenient to actually cook at her place?"
"——That won't work."
"Eh?"
For some reason, Asami, who was smiling just now, suddenly became serious, and her slightly slender eyes showed a bit of solemnity.
"Actually, Xiao Muzi's situation is a bit special, so she can't cook downstairs...or, in other words, there are no conditions for cooking there."
Sayu remained silent and let her continue.
"It's about Xiao Muzi. Although she looks ordinary on the surface, she has actually been psychologically traumatized by her family relationship. She will do things that hurt herself from time to time, so we took away all the knives and the like.
Already."
"What……?"
Sayu was stunned by the unexpected statement, while Asami raised her hands and pointed at her forearms on both sides, her tone becoming deeper.
"Have you seen the long-sleeved dress that Xiao Muzi wears? The scars hidden under her sleeves are like centipedes with long legs. She made them all by herself."
"Liar...?"
Sayu said in shock, her amber pupils slightly widening.
She tried to imagine that scene, but she felt a chill suddenly run through her back, and she tightened her body unconsciously.
Seeing her nervousness, Asami patted her shoulder gently.
"Don't worry, Xiaomuzi is normal most of the time, and we also hired a doctor to treat her regularly, so it's okay."
After comforting her, Asami continued:
"Anyway, I'm leaving it to you. I'm going to sort out today's purchase receipts. If you need any help, just call me."
"Ah...ok."
Shad nodded in agreement, watched the other person walk to the desk, sit down, and pulled out a binder to start working.
'It turns out this is also work...'
She couldn't help but think, and then she also focused on cooking.
…
Half an hour later, dinner was successfully prepared.
After giving Muzi a portion, the two of them started eating together.
"It's delicious! What the hell is this? It's so delicious! Sister Sayu, are you a chef? It's so wonderful!"
After taking a bite of food, Asami's eyes widened in shock and she chattered like a machine gun.
Sayu responded slightly cautiously:
"I'm sorry, because I don't have many kinds of ingredients at home, so I only made omelette rice. Is that okay?"
"Awesome, this is really delicious! It seems to be better than Xiao Xi's cooking! You are so strong!"
"is that so?"
"Of course! This omelette rice is the most delicious food I have eaten today, I am so happy!"
Asami slapped her thighs exaggeratedly, and did not hesitate to praise her, which made Sayu feel a little embarrassed.
Although she couldn't explain why, she unexpectedly didn't dislike the other person's character and felt vaguely nostalgic for him.
The two chatted while eating. The same age and status made them feel naturally close to each other.
When she heard Sayu say that she had stayed downstairs for a night before, Asami asked curiously.
"Hey, Sister Sayu, have you ever run away from home? Is it because you have a bad relationship with your family?"
The warmth of the other party's questions was strange. It wasn't that he was full of interest in her, nor was it that he was still asking questions despite his lack of interest. It felt like "although he was interested, he would ask questions in a moderate way".
Sayu thought so, a natural smile appeared on her face.
"It's not like that. I haven't done anything so rebellious. It's just that there were some special reasons at the time, so someone brought me here to stay for one night."
"Is that so? Since you said "others", it means it's not Xiaoxiang and Xiaoxi, right?"
"Well, it's not them."
"Hey~ In that case..."
Asami snorted, paused and said, "The person who brought you here can only be Katozai?"
"--Eh?"
Sayu's heartbeat suddenly skipped a beat. He raised his head suddenly, pursed his lips and asked, "That... this name..."
"Name? Ah, you mean Katozai? That's my neighbor, a super handsome guy, and the founder of this organization. You may have heard of his name, his name is -"
"——Kato Yusuke."
The loud shouting echoed through the room, making Asami's shoulders tremble.
"Wow, it's scary. It scares me to death. Why are you so excited? Are you also a fan of his?"
"...Well, Asami, although it's a bit presumptuous, can I ask?"
"what?"
Sayu took a deep breath and sat upright, "I want you to tell me what I should do if I want to stay here as a volunteer?"
"Volunteers..."
Asami narrowed her eyes slightly, pondered for a moment and then said:
"Well, actually I didn't encounter any obstacles when I came here. I just met Xiaoxiang and Xiaoxi and passed it smoothly, so I think I have to contact Xiaoxiang for this kind of thing."
"Is that so...I'm sorry, I'm going to make a phone call outside."
"OK~ Remember to put on your coat, it's freezing outside."
"OK."
Sayu nodded gratefully, rushed to the entrance with his cell phone and coat, then put on his coat and shoes and walked out the door.
After confirming that the door was closed, she dialed Shintiao Xiang's number.
…
By the time she ended the call and returned to the room, Asami had already finished her omelette rice and was lazily leaning against a cloth sofa to eat.
"How's it going? Have you contacted Xiaoxiang?"
"Yeah... I've contacted you."
Sayu breathed a sigh of relief, a smile appeared on her face that was slightly red due to the cold wind, she sniffed and said, "Miss Shinjo said it's okay."
"That's it, that's good."
Asami nodded indifferently and pointed to the plate on the table.
"By the way, because you were on the phone for so long that the omelette rice got cold, so I heated it up in the microwave for you and eat it quickly~"
"Huh? Ah, um, thank you."
"You're welcome~"
Sayu walked to the table and sat down, looking alternately at the omelette rice in front of her and the other person's face, and couldn't help but say: "Um... Asami, don't you even ask me why?"
"Reason...? Are you referring to why you want to join the association?"
"..."
Sayu nodded silently and said nothing.
Asami glanced at her thoughtfully and grinned, "There's nothing to ask about that kind of thing, right?"
"……Huh?"
"Anyway, you're probably doing it because of Katozai, right? Do you want to get the moon first by getting closer to the water?"
"Ah, well, I am actually..."
"Okay, okay, I was just joking. You don't need to be so nervous. Just calm down."
"oh……"
"Besides, I don't really care whether you're doing it for Katozai or something else. Just do what you want to do, Sayu-chan."
"That's it..."
Asami raised her body with a "Hey~" and said with a smile:
"Oh, I don't know why, even though Sayu and I met for the first time today, I still feel very nostalgic, as if we have known each other for a long time."
Sayu tilted her head slightly, thought for a moment and said, "You mean feeling like old friends at first sight?"
"Yes! That's it! We felt like old friends at first sight~!"
Asami laughed heartily and stretched out a hand.
"I always feel like we might become good friends, let's get to know each other again ~ I'm Asami Yuuki, please give me more advice in the future, Sayu-chan."
Sayu looked at the hand stretched out in front of him, blinked his eyes cutely twice, and couldn't help but burst into laughter.
"Hey, what's up? Did I say something strange?"
"Aha... No, it's not like that..."
Sayu laughed so hard that her shoulders trembled, then she raised her head and covered her mouth and said, "I just thought it was funny that Asami you suddenly spoke in such a serious tone."
Hearing what she said, Asami couldn't help but show a terrible expression on her face, her cheeks became visibly red, and she immediately slapped her shoulders in anger.
"Idiot! Why are you laughing? You're so annoying!"
"Sorry sorry~"
Sayu couldn't help but wave his hands, trying to calm down his emotions, then put away his smile and stretched out a hand.
"...I'm sorry, let's do it again. My name is Sayu Ogiwara. Nice to meet you. Please give me your advice in the future, Asami."
Asami scratched her hair with a look of displeasure and muttered, "Really, it would have been better if you had just said that earlier."
At the age of 18, this winter at the end of my senior year of high school.
The two hands were held together.
…
(Backlog progress 7/9)
Thanks to [book friend 20181227174222216] for the reward.