Chapter 139: Morning With The Angel
As Shido heard the door to Mahiru's apartment close behind him, he continued down the hall toward the apartment next to hers. He had to say, he was glad to know that she was his neighbor. Still, he couldn't help but let out a heavy sigh thinking of her life.
In the original series, Mahiru's parents had abandoned her, neither of them showing any care or concern. Despite her relentless dedication to both academics and sports, striving tirelessly to earn their approval, her efforts had all been in vain. They hadn't even acknowledged the lengths she went to.
As a result, Mahiru became a lone flower, a beauty too distant for anyone to reach. 'At least, that's how the students at her school saw her', Shido thought. Admired from afar, yet untouchable. Her personality shaped into a more strong version of herself, becoming independent rather than relying on others.
She had also become the kind of person who hid her true feelings from the world, concealing all the pain she carried inside.
Fortunately, there had been her caretaker, the one who gave her the love of a parent, the kind of affection that Mahiru had longed for. But even that connection had been severed when her mother had removed the caretaker from their household.
"Why would her parents abandon such a lovely girl?" Shido muttered to himself, shaking his head in frustration. His heart ached at the thought of Mahiru's past, and a resolve began to form within him. 'I'll do what I can to make her happy. I want to support her, even if just a little.'
As Shido continued to think, he eventually reached the next apartment. Without hesitation, he pressed the doorbell. He didn't have to wait long, the door opened just a few seconds later.
"Um, you are?" A young man, about Shido's age, stood in the doorway, looking slightly puzzled.
He had an above average height, with a slightly disheveled appearance that made him look a bit plain at first glance that people might overlook him. His bangs partially obscured his face, giving him a more unremarkable vibe.