Why Are You Asking So Many Questions? - Part 2: Unexpected but Expected

The room fell silent for a moment. Saya had regained her composure, and her spirits seemed to have lifted slightly.

"Okay, Mika, what else do you want to ask?" she said with a curious but slight smile.

"Right, your supporters? Did anyone else accompany you during this time?"

"What do you mean?" Saya asked, surprised.

"You know, like relatives or someone else..."

"Well, yes, there were some. Why are you asking?"

"Just wondering if there was anyone else."

"Mika, who are you talking about?"

"What? I just wanted to ask that."

"No, there's something else. Go ahead and tell me."

Mika thought to himself: 

How did she figure it out...

"You know, I saw you with a guy a while ago."

"What? What are you talking- oh, you mean my cousin, Taro?" Saya surprised

"The one who went abroad?"

"Yes."

"He looked pretty young."

"Well, he's not that much older than us. He's more like an older brother to me, actually."

"I see." Mika's confusion cleared, and he realized that if Saya hadn't mentioned it before, there was probably no problem.

"Hmm, Mika, did you perhaps think something else about him?" Saya approached Mika with a smile.

"What do you mean?" Mika said straightforwardly. Even though Saya had probably expected that answer, she felt embarrassed when he said it so suddenly.

"W-what? Who says something like that! Besides, I already told you I don't have a boyfriend," Saya said, her voice trembling with embarrassment.

"Did you tell me? Well, I think you did," Mika replied.

"Stupid Mika," Saya squinted her eyes and playfully teased.

"Why don't you have a boyfriend?"

"W-what?"

"I mean, you're beautiful and sweet. Don't you want to have a boyfriend, be happy, and live a fulfilling life without any regrets? If you had a boyfriend, he could be there for you in many ways."

Mika and Saya stared at each other silently for a while. Saya's face started to blush. Suddenly, she turned her back.

"WHAT ARE YOU SAYING, STUPID MIKA?" Saya's voice trembled with a mix of anger and embarrassment. Mika didn't understand her reaction and wondered why she was suddenly upset.

Saya turned her head back again. She took a sip of her tea and took a deep breath. "You really don't understand, do you? What you're saying and all... Anyway, I guess you can think of it as me looking for someone more innocent and kind-hearted. I don't want temporary relationships that could harm me."

"What do you mean?"

"I-I mean, what part don't you understand? Ugh, never mind, just think of it like I'm looking for someone who is more pure hearted. In high school, there were like twelve- WAIT, WHY ARE WE TALKING ABOUT THIS?" Saya suddenly got angry.

"W-what-"

"Change the subject!" Saya demanded, feeling both angry and embarrassed.

"Okay. By the way, won't your mother be worried since you're here? How is she doing?"

"Her condition, well... Actually, she handled it pretty well. But I believe she only acted that way; she must be suffering a lot on the inside. She didn't cry because of me being here, so that's why I came today. I wanted her to have some relief," Saya said.

"Relief? Does crying provide relief?"

"Ugh, sometimes I feel like I'm talking to a robot," Saya said as she was about to take a sip of her tea.

"I'm sorry, anyway. What about you? Didn't you go to school today? How were your exams?"

"Well, I didn't go for two days, but it's not a big deal. I had already taken my exams, wait a minute... How do you know I had exams?"

Mika was completely caught off guard 

"Uh, I-I talked to Rin and Eirin as I mentioned before, and they told me," Mika replied.

"Oh, yes, right, sorry," Saya said. After that, there was a brief silence.

"Well, uh-" Mika was about to ask another question when Saya's phone rang.

"No way." Saya is looking at her phone. She appears to be in a state of panic.

"What happened?"

"It's Rin and Eirin."

"Why? What for?"

"They must be worried about me. They kept calling all the time."

"What should we do then? They're calling through video."

"I found an excuse. Don't say anything, I'll make something up. Actually, why don't you just go somewhere else?"

"What?"

"QUICK!" Saya said in a panic.

"Okay, fine." Mika got up to take their empty tea cups to the kitchen.

"Hello? Saya?" Rin asked with curiosity. Eirin was also there with her.

"Hey, girls. I see you're together," Saya said with a smile.

"Are you... smiling?" Eirin asked, surprised.

"How could you smile? Are you okay?" Rin asked, completely astonished.

"I-I'm okay, I guess..." Saya replied with a forced smile.

"I can tell you're not fine at all. Your under eyes are swollen," Rin pointed out.

"W-WHAT? REALLY? NO WAY!" Saya exclaimed, feeling embarrassed.

"Calm down. It's okay, it happens," Rin said understandingly.

"Ugh, fine..." Saya took a deep breath.

"I was going to ask how you are, but I guess we're tired of asking the same question every time," Rin said.

"You can ask; I really don't mind," Saya smiled.

"We're worried, okay? There are people here who care about you," Eirin said.

"Yes, I know. Thank you, girls, really."

"Don't feel sorry for anything, okay?" Rin said with a serious expression.

"Should I really feel sorry for this?"

"Ugh, what are we going to do with you? Anyway, hearing your voice really relieved us," Rin said with a deep breath.

Meanwhile, in the kitchen, Mika accidentally dropped a plate, and it shattered. "Ah!" He made a sound as a piece of it hit his leg, causing him pain.

Upon hearing the noise, Saya forgot the ongoing conversation and called out worriedly, "Are you okay?" She rushed into the room. One of the broken plate pieces had scratched Mika's leg.

"I'm fine, it's nothing," Mika assured her.

"How is it nothing? Your leg is bleeding!" Saya looked at him with concern and fear.

"That's not the issue, Saya."

"What's wrong?"

"Your phone."

A sudden silence fell upon the room. With wide eyes full of astonishment, Saya had entered the room holding her phone in her left hand, completely forgetting about the ongoing call with Rin and Eirin. 

Moreover, she had just called Mika's name aloud. Now, in disbelief, she turned the screen of her phone towards herself. Rin and Eirin, who were still on the call, were shocked and didn't say anything. Eirin, with fear and astonishment, finally asked:

"What are you two doing?"