Chapter 160 ~ Phone
<span style="font-weight:400">All the memories of her childhood with him, all the blissful recollections, filled her mind the moment Sena recognized Yuuji.
<span style="font-weight:400">At first, she was actually shocked to find such a handsome guy she had never seen before in her living room, talking with her parents.
<span style="font-weight:400">Why was he here…? Who was he? Why did they seem to get along so well…?
<span style="font-weight:400">But after looking at him a few seconds longer, he seemed… a bit familiar.
<span style="font-weight:400">Then, she turned towards the two girls by his side, and her eyes immediately widened in recognition.
<span style="font-weight:400">They were Yuna and Nina, her two childhood best friends that she had missed all so dearly.
<span style="font-weight:400">And only now did it click…
<span style="font-weight:400">Sena turned towards the ikemen, and the figure of her kind, gentle, reliable, and cute childhood friend she had always yed with was juxtaposed against his figure.
<span style="font-weight:400">Was this… really her Yuu-kun…?
<span style="font-weight:400">He changed so much…? He became… so h-handsome!!! How could someone change so drastically…?!
<span style="font-weight:400">Objectively, appearance wise, her Yuu-kun was ordinary. She considered him cute, but to the eyes of others, he was just an ordinary child with an ordinary appearance.
<span style="font-weight:400">But now… they couldn’t be more wrong.
<span style="font-weight:400">He had the appearance of all the prince charming she had always dreamed of!
<span style="font-weight:400">A sense of… happiness, excitement, and pure joy to be reunited with him again filled her heart.
<span style="font-weight:400">But soon, she recalled something that made him… a bit angry.
<span style="font-weight:400">His promise… Didn’t he promise her that he’ll always be there for her…?
<span style="font-weight:400">Didn’t he promise her that he’ll never leave her alone…?
<span style="font-weight:400">But then… he left and never talked to her again…
<span style="font-weight:400">Of course, she knew he couldn’t help it since he had to return to his home. But she’s still upset!!!
<span style="font-weight:400">She could remember crying her eyes out for a week since he left…
<span style="font-weight:400">It was… thest time she had any true friends.
<span style="font-weight:400">And now that he has returned… Although she’s beyond happy, she can’t simply forgive him for breaking his promise so easily!!!
<span style="font-weight:400">He’ll need to make it up to her and win her back!!! Or, she won’t ever forgive him!!!”
<span style="font-weight:400">“Hmph!”
<span style="font-weight:400">“...?”<span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">The moment Sena came, Yuuji noticed the look of recognition in her eyes, and the happiness he also felt when he finally saw her again.
<span style="font-weight:400">But… in just a few moments, she suddenly red at him, pouted her lips, and averted her face away from him.
<i><span style="font-weight:400">‘Eh…? What just happened…? What did I do…?’</i>
<span style="font-weight:400">It all happened in a matter of seconds… She looked so happy to see him. But the next moment, she was throwing a tantrum… What is going on in her mind…?!
<span style="font-weight:400">Yuna, Nina, and Aika, who saw her change in expression, also seemed confused. Even Tenma, her father, didn’t know what caused her sudden swing in mood.
<span style="font-weight:400">Only Estelle and Mira giggled as they quickly saw through the little, adorable, tsundere.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Oh my~ Sena-chan,e and take a seat~!”
<span style="font-weight:400">“Y-Yes… m-mom.”
<span style="font-weight:400">Sena meekly walked towards the couches and bowed her head towards Mira and Aika.
<span style="font-weight:400">“U-Uhm… I-It has been a while since we’vest met, Aunt Mira, Aunt Aika. P-Please take care of me.”
<span style="font-weight:400">“Ufufufu~ Long time no see, Sena~ You’ve grown into such a beauty~”
<span style="font-weight:400">“Mm, I’m also d you’re doing fine.”<span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">Sena’s lips curled into a shy smile, before her attention turned towards Yuna and Nina, who were waving and smiling at her respectively. And she waved back at the two.
<span style="font-weight:400">Although she couldn''tpletely remember everything from her childhood, she remembered how close they were then.
<span style="font-weight:400">Along with Yuuji, the four of them were inseparable and they would always be together night and day, until they returned home.
<span style="font-weight:400">So now… Although a long time has passed since, she still felt some sort of closeness to them.
<span style="font-weight:400">She felt extremely happy… Friends… She has friends now…
<span style="font-weight:400">Her years of being alone and surrounded only by boys who wished to court her was over!!! Now, she can proudly tell everyone that she has friends!!!
<span style="font-weight:400">Then, her eyes met with Yuuji, who smiled ever so warmly at her.
<span style="font-weight:400">Her heart skipped a beat. Her face reddened.
<span style="font-weight:400">But before he could even wave, Sena snapped out of her daze and averted her face away from him with a <i><span style="font-weight:400">hmph</i><span style="font-weight:400">, leaving him speechless and confused…
<span style="font-weight:400">“Fufu~ Ah, I’m so happy that we can gather like this again~ It’d be even better if Noel and Hana could also join us, but they’re unfortunately busy…”
<span style="font-weight:400">Estelle cupped her cheek with a hand and leaned towards it, letting out a disappointed sight.
<span style="font-weight:400">The four of them and their family used to be so close with each other. But now, they’ve gone on separate paths life took them on.
<span style="font-weight:400">“I agree. But don’t worry~ I’m sure we’ll have other opportunities in the future~”<span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">“Mm~!”
<span style="font-weight:400">Estelle then turned towards Ste, the daughter of her “sister” Noel, and asked with a soft smile.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Ste, is lunch ready~?”
<span style="font-weight:400">“Yes. It is ready.”
<span style="font-weight:400">Ste answered with a bow.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Great~! Then, let’s have an early lunch after you’ve all settled in your rooms~! I’m sure you’re all hungry from the trip~! After that…”
<span style="font-weight:400">Estelle then turned towards her daughter.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Sena, can you show Yuna, Nina, and Yuuji around our house~?”
<span style="font-weight:400">“S-Sure.”
<span style="font-weight:400">“Great~!”
<span style="font-weight:400">--------------------------------X--------------------------------
<span style="font-weight:400">Silently following them from behind while Sena led them around her home, Yuuji walked with a soft smile as he watched Sena slowly opening up to his sisters.
<span style="font-weight:400">At first, Sena was still visibly nervous when Yuna and Nina talked to her. Having not seen each other for almost a decade, it was only natural for her to not be able to immediately get along with the twins just as she did in the past.
<span style="font-weight:400">Thankfully, with Yuna’s natural cheerfulness and Nina’s attentiveness, Sena was able to slowly open up and rx.
<span style="font-weight:400">Or at least… She was beginning to join in the conversation.
<span style="font-weight:400">Now that he recalled more of his childhood memories with her, Sena was very tough to befriend at first.
<span style="font-weight:400">She was proud, in addition to being shy, thebination of which caused her to put up a high wall first before slowly lowering it. And when she fully epted them as friends, she was the cutest and sweetest little girl.
<span style="font-weight:400">Yuuji didn’t expect their rtionship to return to the way it was during their childhood. But at the very least, he hoped they could get along with her again.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Ah! I’m sorry, Sena-chan~ Can you show me where the bathroom is…?”
<span style="font-weight:400">“Me too… I’d like to go to the bathroom.”
<span style="font-weight:400">“Ah, it’s the second door to the end of this hallway… Here, let me guide you!”
<span style="font-weight:400">“It’s fine~ We’ll be quick~ In the meantime, you should apany Yuu-kun~!”
<span style="font-weight:400">“Thank you for the direction. We’ll be back soon.”
<span style="font-weight:400">“W-Wai-!”
<span style="font-weight:400">The twins left quickly, heading to the bathroom as indicated by Sena, leaving her and Yuuji alone in the hallway.
<span style="font-weight:400">Her face blushed, and her heart began to thump nervously as awkward silence filled the air…
<span style="font-weight:400">Yuuji stood silently, secretly ncing at Sena, who was averting her gaze from him and refusing to talk.
<span style="font-weight:400">“...Uhm, it has been a while since we’vest talk hasn’t it, Sena…?”
<span style="font-weight:400">“...”
<span style="font-weight:400">“...How have you been…?”
<span style="font-weight:400">“...”
<span style="font-weight:400">Completely ignored, Yuuji couldn’t help but sighed inwardly… Why was she ignoring him…?
<span style="font-weight:400">He had been silent all this time since he didn’t want to disturb his sisters when they’re talking with her.
<span style="font-weight:400">But now that they’re alone, she’s… ignoring him.
<span style="font-weight:400">“...Sena? Are you… ignoring me…?”<span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">“...Hmph.”
<span style="font-weight:400">Sena snorted through her nose and crossed her arms under the breasts, and continued ignoring him.
<span style="font-weight:400">She was… definitely ignoring him for some reason… Did he do something…?
<span style="font-weight:400">Yuuji began racking his brain… Going through everything he did towards her starting from the present, and slowly going to the past…
<span style="font-weight:400">And soon, he noticed something that might answer why she was upset with him.
<span style="font-weight:400">“...Is it because of the promise?”
<span style="font-weight:400">While slight, Yuuji didn’t miss the flinch Sena did the instant he mentioned about the promise…
<i><span style="font-weight:400">‘Ah… So that’s it…’</i>
<span style="font-weight:400">He let out a deep sigh of relief… having finally realized what made her upset.
<span style="font-weight:400">“...I’m sorry I couldn’t fulfill my promise… I’m sorry I couldn’t stay with you just like how I said I would…”
<span style="font-weight:400">Yuuji apologized sincerely…
<span style="font-weight:400">Although it couldn’t be helped… he still apologized for having brought up her hope of not leaving her alone, even though he knew he needed to return home.
<span style="font-weight:400">Yuuji knew Sena didn’t have any friends before them… And them leaving must’ve caused her great sadness. Moreso when he gave her hope in the form of a promise that he won’t leave her alone.
<span style="font-weight:400">The thoughtless promise he made when he was a child ended up causing her even more sadness.
<span style="font-weight:400">“...It’s… It’s fine. I-It can’t be helped, anyway! You had to go…”
<span style="font-weight:400">“...”
<span style="font-weight:400">Sena stopped crossing her arms, and instead began hugging herself as she slowly turned her head forward, no longer averting it away from Yuuji.
<span style="font-weight:400">Inwardly, she knew it couldn’t be helped that Yuuji had to return home. But, she was just a bit upset at him and wanted to teach him a lesson!
<span style="font-weight:400">B-But… W-Who would’ve expected that he’d apologize so quickly and ruin all her ns…!
<span style="font-weight:400">He also apologized with such sincerity and such… gentle, soothing voice…! She couldn’t keep being upset at him!!!
<span style="font-weight:400">“But still… I’d like to make it up to you now.”
<span style="font-weight:400">Yuuji brought out his phone and showed it to Sena, causing her to finally turn her face towards him and look at his phone.
<span style="font-weight:400">“How about we exchange contacts? Then, we can talk with each other whenever we want, even after I return home. We can even send each other pictures, videos, or even do a video call.”<span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">Her eyes immediately widened as they shined in excitement. Her lips parted slightly in awe as she looked at Yuuji’s phone in reverence.
<span style="font-weight:400">But soon, she deted once more.
<span style="font-weight:400">“...have.”
<span style="font-weight:400">“Hm?”
<span style="font-weight:400">“...I don’t have one.”
<span style="font-weight:400">Sena pouted her lips as she looked down, her hands clutching the ends of her skirt in frustration.
<span style="font-weight:400">“You… don’t have a phone?”
<span style="font-weight:400">Yuuji couldn''t believe it when Sena nodded to his question.
<span style="font-weight:400">In this day and age… How could a teenage girl not have a phone…?
<span style="font-weight:400">He looked at her, and saw the frustration, sadness, and embarrassment disyed entirely on her face.
<span style="font-weight:400">“I see… Did your dad prohibit you from owning a phone…?”<span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">“...No. I simply never needed one… Ste would always pick me up on time at school. And if I need to call papa from school, I can always use the school phone to do it. And… I… I have no…”
<span style="font-weight:400">“...”
<span style="font-weight:400">Perhaps out of embarrassment or sadness… Sena couldn’t finish thest bit of her sentence. But with context clues and knowing Sena’s personality, Yuuji could easily guess what she meant to say…
<span style="font-weight:400">Especially when Sena seemed about to burst into tears…
<span style="font-weight:400">He sighed inwardly and revealed a small, soft smile.
<span style="font-weight:400">“I see… Then, shall we go to townter and buy a phone? I saw a prettyrge department store on the way here, so they might sell some phones.”
<span style="font-weight:400">Sena immediately looked up to him, her beautiful sky blue eyes regaining her luster as her pink, luscious lips curled into a bright smile.
<span style="font-weight:400">“R-Really? You’ll go with me…?”<span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">“Mm. Let’s all go together! Yuna and Nina can also rmend which phones are good!”
<span style="font-weight:400">“Y-Yes!!! I-I’ll go!!! I wanna go!!! I-I’ll go ask dad!!!”
<span style="font-weight:400">Sena immediately dashed past Yuuji, presumably going to find her dad to ask for permission.
<span style="font-weight:400">And just as she left, Yuna and Nina returned from the restroom, and saw Sena running away in a hurry.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Hm…? What happened?”
<span style="font-weight:400">Yuuji smiled and answered.
<span style="font-weight:400">“We’ll be going shopping tomorrow.”