It Was Just Mai-chan's Assignment, That's All

Shuya shrugged. "But I thought all that work was your mom's idea. I didn't expect you to actually enjoy it?"

Why bring up my mother?

Mai looked a little unhappy. She and her mother hadn't reconciled and hadn't been in contact for a while.

But she still replied, "I can't say I really like it. It's just... I've gotten used to it without even realizing it, and I feel uneasy when I'm not busy."

You're absolutely insane.

Shuya didn't take it seriously; for him, resting whenever possible was the best option.

People cannot be generalized.

Mai answered.

She then paused for a moment, focusing intently on savoring the cake.

After a while, she spoke again, "Shuya, what are your goals for the future?"

"What's wrong with you all of a sudden?" Shuya said listlessly, "I don't have any goals, I'm just going with the flow."

Have you ever thought about a real comeback?

"I hadn't thought about it, but I'm working now, so it's all the same."

Shuya answered her questions with a bored expression.

Mai said, "Haven't you thought about what you want to do in the future?"

"Future?"

Shuya Mai this question, Shuu had no idea how to answer.

The future, ideals, dreams... he once had them, but they're all in the past.

It doesn't matter anymore.

Right now, he's just getting by each day... just like most people.

He lacked nothing, had no ambitions, and certainly no ideals.

"Can't answer? That's why you're so lazy. I think you should find a goal to strive for."

Mai said.

"I can't think of any goals I could have. Money, fame, and women are probably the ideals of most people, but I seem to have all of them. What more could I possibly want?"

Shuya countered, "If we go a step further... emmmm, you want me to run for Speaker of the Federal Parliament?"

"How did it suddenly become so big?"

Mai retorted, "Besides, you've already said it's your own ideal, why do you expect me to tell you what you want?"

Shuya spread his hands. "So, starting today, my ideal is to find my ideal? What a nesting doll!"

"Then let's change direction. What do you want to do after graduating from high school?"

Mai asked while eating cake, Shuya couldn't tell if she really wanted to talk about ideals or was just chatting casually.

Shuya shook his head. "Never thought about continuing to slack off?"

Why is it a question?

Mai frowned. "You were definitely cuter when you were little. I don't like your current attitude."

"I feel like Yukino- chan has said something similar." Shuya disagreed. "Why do you guys always say these things? Aren't you tired of it?"

"Because we're worried about you. Can't you even figure this out, Shuya?"

Mai gazed at Shuya, who was resting his Shuya on his hand in boredom, her eyes filled with tenderness, and her tone warm.

Shuya felt extremely uncomfortable. "Sorry, that's a bit disgusting."

Moment.

A gentle, kind person transforms into a fierce, wrathful warrior.

"I was worried about you! What kind of attitude is this!"

Shuya leaned back strategically. "I don't need your concern, I'm doing just fine, aren't I?"

"Anyway, you're just too lazy... How about this, I'll set a small goal for you. I'll definitely go to university, so you should try to get into my university."

Mai, hands on her hips.

Shuya tilted his head. "Is it just my imagination? I have a feeling that you have ulterior motives behind this suggestion..."

Mai blushed slightly. "You, just tell me if you agree or not?"

"Can I think about it? I don't even know which university you want to go to."

"You're not going to concentrate on class anyway! It doesn't matter where you go, right?"

Mai's rebuttal was so sharp that Shuya was left speechless.

I'll consider it.

In the end, Shuya didn't give her an answer. After all, such a major life decision requires careful consideration, and one shouldn't make a hasty decision, lest they regret it later.

... He explained all these profound principles to her.

Then Mai asked suspiciously, "I mean, you're not thinking about which university Yukino or Hyakka will apply to, and then going to the university with the most girls, are you?"

Shuya: "..."

Oh no! I've been found out.

His smile gradually became awkward.

"Ugh, you're so annoying! I never thought about anything like that. I definitely didn't intend to go to whichever university had the most girls and then live a rosy campus harem life with beautiful girls, hehehe!"

That said, attending Sobu High was a scheme orchestrated by Shizuka Hiratsuka, Shuya had no choice in the matter. But as for university, he could still choose for himself.

In fact, he had long considered whether or not to go to university.

The conclusion is positive.

The reason wasn't complicated: he didn't have anything he wanted to do, so he just wanted to go to university first—it was a pretty common reason.

It doesn't matter which university you go to. The main thing is to see which beautiful girls around you choose, and then go to the university with the most harem---he means best friends---and that's it.

Unexpectedly, Mai actually sensed his thoughts; she truly is his childhood friend.

But Mai didn't get angry as Shuya had expected.

Instead, she calmly said, "What you said... seems to make some sense. I should ask Yukino and the others which university they want to go to before making a decision."

That's it, that's all I wanted to say!

Shuya slammed his hand on the table. "Wouldn't it be wonderful if we all went to the same school?"

"Go to the same school...?"

Mai was deeply moved by those words. She imagined going to school with her friends, and her eyes gradually filled with longing.

How pitiful.

I'll probably, should, possibly, or have a chance to rest tomorrow.

Section 568, page 529: It's just Mai- chan's task.

"Mai- chan, do you really want to go to school with someone?"

"W-what's wrong? Is it not allowed?"

Mai looked a little embarrassed.

But she immediately glared at Shuya: "It's all your fault for not choosing the school I went to!"

"Go tell that to the Gorilla; I got tricked too."

Shuya skillfully shifted the blame.

But what he said was true... Well, even if the Gorilla hadn't tricked him, he still wouldn't have chosen Mai's school.

They are a year apart in school, so if he really had to choose, he would choose the school that Hyakka and Yukino. So, from that perspective, Sobu High is still within his options.

But from beginning to end, Mai's school was never an option, Shuya Xiu didn't mention this, thinking it was best not to upset her.

Mai imagined the days when she might go to school with everyone, and then she didn't talk to Shuya about life or ideals anymore.

She became a ruthless cake-eating machine.

The cake was quite large; after Shuya and Mai finished eating it, there was still half left, so they put it back in the refrigerator to be given to the officials to handle when they came to work the next day.

"So you're going back now?"

Shuya asked.

"I don't want to go back yet. Shuya, I want to listen to music!"

Mai said to him.

Her tone carried a hint of coquetry; in short, she was very cute.

Shuya took out his phone. "What song do you want to listen to?"

He has a lot of songs saved on his phone, which should be enough for her.

"You did this on purpose, didn't you?"

Mai kicked him in annoyance and said:

"I want to hear you sing, not just play songs on your phone! Like when we used to work out at the gym as kids, or like when you sang for me at school."

"Gym? You really brought out a word that brings back fond memories."

Shuya recalled his innocent age when he knew nothing of the truth.

Those were his last peaceful days...

He shook his head without thinking it over and said, "Then I'll go find some musical instruments."

I'll go with you.

"Good."

Mai, with her hands behind her back, followed Shuya out of the dining hall.

Shuya glanced at her, who seemed to be in a good mood and was smiling, and said:

"I remember that our Little Senior Sister's studio should have some musical instruments. Let's go borrow them."

"Hmm~"

Mai responded.

Shuya led her through the deserted corridor.

Because many employees had already left work, the lights weren't all on, and many parts of the company were in darkness.

There were lights in the hallway, but not elsewhere.

Walking with the beautiful girl in the company late at night, Shuya felt a special atmosphere.

Hmmmm, does this sound like they're having an affair in the office?

All sorts of lewd scenarios flashed through Shuya's mind, but Mai was different; she seemed to be enjoying it.

He simply won't say it and ruin the atmosphere.

He followed his memory to his Little Senior Sister's studio. Although it was locked, it was no problem for him.

He easily opened the door and went inside.

Shuya's eyes could see clearly, and he spotted a wooden guitar at a glance.

Mai turned on the light while he went to get his guitar.

She discovered that the studio lights were adjustable, and she turned them up slightly, making it very dim, just enough to barely see.