Blissful [Shinazugawa Sanemi]

Chapter 5

"What a strange turn of event, Shinazugawa falling in love with someone else's lover..." Uzui muttered.

"I can't relate since I have never been in your position." He shrugged and Obanai gave him a side eye.

"Ignore Uzui for a moment." Obanai said to Sanemi. "She looks happy with her fiance. It's wrong to ruin someone else's relationship for your own sake."

"Tsk. You don't know anything..." Sanemi muttered.

Sanemi still remembered the look on her face that day. She was scared of her own fiance. Sanemi knew but he couldn't do anything.

He's an outsider after all.

"She's not happy with that man." Sanemi said.

"What makes you say that?" Obanai asked.

"... Why would she be happy with someone who abuses her?"

•••

Sanemi stared at the decorative plant on his table. Shiori gave it to him and he couldn't possibly refuse it after she said she's going to be scolded for going to a festival. But whenever he looks at it, her face popped into his mind.

Is he cursed by her? Should he throw it away?

Sanemi shook his head furiously. He's frustrated that he hasn't stopped thinking of her for a week. He had to bang his head to the wall to stop him from thinking of her.

With his forehead red, Sanemi left his house to get some fresh air. But he should've known, after how many times he met the girl in the streets, that he's living in such a small village.

Sanemi had to rub his eyes harshly when he saw the very girl he was thinking about.

"I shouldn't have taken a walk." Sanemi groaned.

On cue, Shiori saw Sanemi from the corner of her eyes. Sanemi froze on the spot, as if he just got caught doing something bad. Shiori acknowledged his presence with a small nod.

Back to being rude again? Sanemi thought.

Sanemi saw Shiori's little sister peeking from behind her legs. Her small face lit up when she saw him and he could feel his chest getting warm.

"Hello, mister!" She jumped a few times, waving both hands at Sanemi.

He had to bite the inside of his cheeks to prevent from smiling. Ever since the festival, Sanemi has taken a liking to Sayu, whom he found adorable. Adorable when she's not annoying him.

Sayu ran up to him and asked, "What were you doing, mister?"

"Uh..." Sanemi trailed off, feeling a little awkward. He placed his hand on top of her head, ruffling her hair. "It's none of your business, kid."

"What about you?" He asked back. A rare occasion where Sanemi actually kept a conversation going.

"We're going to the hot springs tomorrow night!" Sayu chirped happily. "Sis and big brother Izuru are buying some things."

At the mention of Izuru, Sanemi raised a brow.

"You talk too much." Shiori suddenly appeared behind Sayu and lightly pinched her cheeks.

"Good afternoon." Shiori said to Sanemi. The little girl hugged her sister's legs happily, a big smile on her face. Sanemi knew how much Sayu loves her big sis.

"You're not with Mitsuri today?" Shiori asked.

"Why would I be with her?!" Sanemi replied almost immediately. He was dumbfounded at her question. Who in their right mind would ask that to him?