You Are My Future

8. Our friendship finally sprouted!

As tomorrow passed, the day after tomorrow passed, and even the day after tomorrow passed, and there was no progress in the relationship between Mika and Airi.

Of course, when Ren woke up from the two and a half days of sleep, the relationship between Mika and Airi had not changed. He knew that the last time at the Inari Shrine, their relationship suddenly improved. That was when Ren and Mika were getting along, not Airi and Mika. Airi had no memory of that.

Ren knew that no matter how much he controlled Airi's body, he could not improve their relationship. He was helpless and could only wait and see and act accordingly.

So the next day, Mika ate her lunch box alone. The next day, Mika still ate her lunch box alone. The third day, Mika again still ate her lunch box alone.

You must be wondering, what about Takumi? Didn't Takumi go to Inari Shrine with Mika that day?

Yes, Mika and Takumi made up, but Takumi was a careless person. He didn't even notice that Mika was eating lunch alone. Or rather, he didn't think there was anything wrong with eating lunch alone, so he didn't do anything.

Ren was sensitive. He saw it with his own eyes and felt the pain in his heart. He wanted to take Airi's body and sit next to Mika. Eating broccoli with her, talking about this and that; bragging while gnawing on a chicken leg; or chatting about everything under the sun while biting an egg.

Mika, ah Mika, the noisy and lively lunch time in Malaysia is so different from the quiet lunch time in Japan.

On the fourth day, there was finally a change.

"Mika-san, can I sit next to you?" A kind voice sounded in Mika's ears.

Mika looked up and was met with a pair of burning eyes.

"Of course!" Mika agreed readily.

"Have you been anywhere lately?"

"No, the cheerleading club is enough to keep me busy."

"Not getting along with everyone again?" It's another thoughtful person.

"How do you know?"

"These past few days, it's just you and your lunch box at lunchtime. Other people would have noticed that everyone is avoiding you."

"What about you? Why are you talking to me?"

"Because I am not like other people! I am the free and unrestrained Yusuke who is not controlled by others."

"You make yourself sound so great!" Mika said disdainfully, "I think that most people nowadays live in the judgement of others and have no opinions of their own. They think things that others are used to are good, and they also think things that others think are wrong are inappropriate."

"I'm not that kind of person, that's why I came to have lunch with you!"

"Thank you." Mika whispered, "I still miss Malaysia."

"Tell me, what do you miss most about Malaysia? The weather, the people, the food?"

"I miss everything - but what I miss most is the language." Mika stared at the mountains and forests in the distance and said quietly, "In the end, what I miss most are those familiar voices, those voices that make people feel close, that kind of casual and unfocused tone, which can only be found in Malaysia. You can't recall it through any movie or TV series in the world, because it only exists in that corner of the world. Just like the precious but difficult to grow truffles, you can only go back to the deep mountains and forests to find them."