Ch 15. Drink Some Milk and Nourish Your Body
Hoshimi raised his eyebrows slightly and continued, "Yukinoshita, since you're not feeling well, why don't you ask for leave?"
He knew that Yukinoshita must have stayed home for a while to alleviate the dizziness in her head.
But if that's the case, why not just ask for a day off?
Yukinoshita is different from him. Since he hadn't been to school for some time, his attendance rate this semester was already in jeopardy.
Although due to his family background, the attendance rate wouldn't affect his further studies, if it really dropped too low, his teacher might inform his guardian...
To avoid such embarrassing situations as much as possible...
But good student Yukinoshita is different; her attendance rate is impeccable, and asking for a day off wouldn't affect anything.
So why didn't Yukinoshita ask for leave?
"It has nothing to do with you," Yukinoshita replied coldly.
"Okay..." Hoshimi sighed helplessly, giving up on probing further and turning the conversation to breakfast.
"Yukinoshita, since you're already running late, would you like to have breakfast before heading to school?"
"Do you intend to be late for first period?" Yukinoshita asked coldly.
"No, no, I meant grabbing a quick breakfast from a convenience store and eating on the go, not going to a restaurant."
Since arriving in Japan, he hadn't visited a convenience store.
He was a little curious to see if the items sold in Japanese convenience stores were really as comprehensive and magical as depicted in Japanese dramas and light novels.
"A convenience store?" Yukinoshita frowned slightly, considering the feasibility of Hoshimi's suggestion.
"Eh? There's a FamilyMart just across the road, let's go take a look."
Before she could decide whether to agree, Hoshimi pulled her towards the convenience store across the street.
Looking at the enthusiastic Hoshimi ahead, Yukinoshita was a little puzzled.
This guy is really strange. In dreams, he always appears as a mature person, confident and capable.
But in reality, he turns into a curious child, finding everything around him novel.
It's even odd because early morning self-study is common among high school students.
Something feels off...
Yukinoshita frowned deeply in thought.
"Traveler."
Suddenly, the word "traveler" came to Yukinoshita's mind.
That's right, in reality, Hoshimi behaves like a "traveler" exploring a new place, finding everything around him fascinating.
But why? Why does Hoshimi act like this?
"Yukinoshita, what are you thinking?"
Arriving at the convenience store entrance, Hoshimi turned back to Yukinoshita, noticing her deep in thought, and leaned in, asking with a smile.
"Hoshimi, haven't you lived in Japan before?"
"Hm?" Hoshimi raised his eyebrows and unconsciously narrowed his eyes.
He stared at Yukinoshita, pondering.
In an instant, Hoshimi guessed why Yukinoshita asked such a question.
I've been too relaxed... I completely exposed my emotional ups and downs in front of Yukinoshita...
Although this sharp-tongued girl is a bit careless, her observational skills are quite sharp, noticing such subtleties.
Lesson learned... I can't let my guard down like this anymore...
Indeed, spending a whole year at home without contact with outsiders or socializing had left its mark.
I need to be more vigilant and reintegrate into this complex society.
"Heh~" Hoshimi smiled, straightened up, tilted his head slightly, and said, "Yukinoshita, why do you ask?"
"..." Yukinoshita stared at Hoshimi silently, as if waiting for his response.
"Forget it, I'll tell you if you want to know." Hoshimi shrugged nonchalantly. "I have lived in Japan before."
Yukinoshita's eyebrows slightly furrowed.
No, it shouldn't be like this. Hoshimi is definitely hiding something.
His behavior isn't what someone who has lived in Japan for a long time would exhibit.
"However..." Hoshimi continued, "I stayed home for a year for some reason. Specifically, I stayed home from the end of spring break after graduating from junior high until the day before yesterday."
"So, yesterday was my first day at high school. I didn't expect to meet you. It's quite... a coincidence."
Seeing Hoshimi's slightly melancholic expression, Yukinoshita's eyebrows gradually relaxed.
So, it's because he found novelty in returning to society after a year at home?
Thinking about it carefully, Hoshimi and she were of the same age, so it made sense for him to find the outside world fascinating after being away from society for a year.
But what was the reason for Hoshimi staying at home? Was it because of his strange dreams?
With doubts in her heart, Yukinoshita asked directly, "Hoshimi, why did you stay at home?"
"Hehe~" Hoshimi chuckled, squeezed Yukinoshita's tender left hand, and smiled, "Yukinoshita, you didn't answer my previous question."
"If you tell me why you didn't ask for leave, I'll tell you why I stayed at home. How about that?"
"..." Yukinoshita glanced at Hoshimi and pulled him into the convenience store. "It's getting late. Let's hurry and finish breakfast."
Why didn't she ask for leave?
Because if she did, Sensei Hiratsuka Shizuka would definitely inform her sister.
Then her sister would surely come to her apartment to "check up" on her.
Then the several bags of trash she hadn't disposed of at home might reveal the problem! If her sister found out, it would cast a shadow over her life that would never fade!
So, she would never ask for leave!
The answer to that question involved her older sister and the bags of trash she hadn't thrown out.
If she told Hoshimi, he might exploit it, so she couldn't tell him the answer!
"Yukinoshita, why don't you tell me? Let's exchange answers. I promise my answer will surprise you."
Sensing Yukinoshita's desire to keep it a secret, Hoshimi continued with a smile.
In doing so, he redirected her attention away from his own issues, ensuring she wouldn't delve deeper into the issues he had shown earlier.
"Hoshimi, are you in a hurry? Let's buy breakfast quickly and leave. Don't we have enough time left? I don't want to be late with you."
"Eh? Aren't we already late?"
"I mean for first period! Can you hurry up?! We don't have time!"
"Oh, okay. What would you like, Yukinoshita? Today, it's my treat, and I'll make up for this morning."
Yukinoshita gestured slightly with her index finger, turned her head, and said indifferently, "A rice ball will do."
"Okay, anything else besides rice balls? I recommend you drink some milk for nourishment."
"Hoshimi! What do you think you're doing!"
"Cough~ It's nothing. It's fine if you don't want milk. Let's quickly buy breakfast and go."
"Hmph!"