Chapter 143: The Real Adventure Begins
After finishing up in the private areas of his apartment, Shido returned to the living room to help Mahiru with the cleaning.
He couldn't help but smile wryly as he watched her moving around, completely focused. She had insisted so strongly on helping that he hadn't been able to refuse, but seeing her so energetic and determined, he figured it was best to just let her be.
"Where should I put this, Itsuka-san?" Mahiru asked, holding up a vase she had found while tidying up.She glanced over at him as he crouched by the floor, sorting through a pile of miscellaneous items that didn't have a place yet.
"Hmm, just put it beside the TV," Shido replied, glancing up briefly before returning to his work.
"Alright," Mahiru said with a nod, carefully walking over and setting the vase down by the television.
However, as Mahiru took a step forward, she failed to notice a bottle of cleaning detergent left on the floor. Her foot landed on it, causing her to slip backward with a small gasp.
Startled, Mahiru instinctively closed her eyes, bracing herself for the inevitable fall while trying to protect the vase in her arms.
Mahiru, expecting the harsh impact of the floor, realized a few seconds had passed, and yet she felt no pain. Slowly, she opened her eyes. She was leaning back, close to the ground, but somehow she hadn't hit it.
"Are you okay, Shiina-san?"
Then she heard a deep voice from behind. Turning her head carefully, Mahiru's eyes widened in surprise. Shido was there, supporting her gently. One of his arms was securely wrapped around her waist, preventing her from falling. In his other hand, he held the vase she had almost dropped.
"U-Un, I'm fine. Thank you, Itsuka-san," Mahiru replied, her voice a little shaky. Even though she managed to keep a calm expression, a soft pink blush was clearly blooming on her cheeks, betraying how flustered she actually felt from their closeness.