"Taking care of Shiina wasn't anything special. You and Shiina came to Japan from Britain, so you're unfamiliar with everything here, and Rita asked me to look after her... so it hardly counts as taking care of her."
Nanami Aoyama hurriedly waved her hands. Her tone was modest, and even her fair cheeks flushed slightly, as though Mashiro's words had embarrassed her.
She was a simple, down-to-earth girl. From all her past efforts, one could sense her humility and diligence. No wonder Mashiro thought well of her and had spotted her at a glance among the sea of people, sitting on a roadside bench.
Perhaps it was fate. Even in this world... Nanami Aoyama and Mashiro Shiina still got along well. Wanting Mashiro to make more friends, Rita often asked Nanami to look after her at school while she went off to do other things. And Mashiro's complete lack of common sense had stirred Nanami's protective instincts. Aside from Rita... Nanami was Mashiro's first friend in this country.
"Call me Mashiro."
Faced with Nanami's long explanation, Mashiro responded with just four simple yet impossible-to-refuse words. Sometimes, even Rita had to marvel at how Zen-like Mashiro's way of speaking was. If she became a nun, she would definitely have seen through the vanity of the world—provided she could let go of her obsession with manga.
"You should listen to Mashiro, Aoyama. Call her by her name."
Rita spoke with a smile, looking as though Mashiro definitely would not leave otherwise.
"Then, M-Mashiro."
Nanami stumbled over the words. Though she was merely calling another girl by name, she still felt embarrassed.
"Mm, Nanami."
Hearing Nanami address her that way, Mashiro nodded firmly. Though she did not smile, everyone could still feel her happiness.
"Why are you studying here, Aoyama?"
Rita glanced curiously