Chapter 649

Most of the time, if Natsume Ruri didn't take her along and help her, she was actually a marginal person in the class who was easily ignored, and basically no one would take the initiative to invite her.

And in the social atmosphere of Japan, actually, many girls don't like being too tall.

Japanese society generally promotes petite body types, and 150-155 centimeters is often regarded as the most "kawaii" symbolic height, while girls who are too tall are sometimes privately nicknamed "monsters," "Tokyo Tower," or "Godzilla."

Not to mention, in the middle school stage, Kaga Reisa already possessed a figure and height comparable to high school students or even adults.

In this age group that is particularly concerned with "synchronization," she appeared too prominent.

Resulting in many girls who were shorter and had figures not as good as hers subconsciously not wanting to stand beside her.

Therefore, although there were no obvious bullying incidents, the situation where she was faintly excluded and treated as a "transparent person" did exist.

Plus, she frequently transferred schools and changed residences due to family reasons.

Resulting in friends who were close before also quickly becoming distant due to distance.

Even the boys in the class, although they knew Kaga Reisa's appearance was outstanding, under this subtle collective atmosphere, and even in the situation where their height was shorter than Kaga Reisa's, they actually didn't dare to have too much contact with her.

Therefore, after coming to this school, if it weren't for Natsume Ruri's active acceptance and help, her situation in the class would likely be a "transparent person" who was always treated as a background board.

Therefore, today, besides Natsume Ruri, there were others who took the initiative to invite her to go out and play, and she actually felt very happy and expectant in her heart.

Kaga Reisa nodded shyly, her eyes shining:

"I... I can. Thank you, Chizuru-chan."

Other classmates around upon hearing this, there were also many who wanted to join.

Because Natsume Ruri and Ando Chizuru both belonged to the "real-life winners" in the class who were very popular and had many friends, and their status was not low.

And activities initiated by people with high status were naturally easily sought after.

"Eh? Going to Shibuya to play? Can I go too?"

"Take me one! I want to go too!"

Izumi Hideaki, who originally couldn't squeeze in, upon hearing that Natsume Ruri was going to organize activities after school, quickly raised his hand high and shouted on the periphery of the crowd:

"Me me me! I want to go too! Add me one!"

Ando Chizuru glanced at Izumi Hideaki, who had an eager face, knowing his secret crush on Ruri.

She had a flash of inspiration and agreed readily:

"Mm-hmm! Of course you can! It's lively with more people!"

Around eleven o'clock in the morning.

Furukawa family mansion.

The wooden corridor in the backyard was clean and spacious.

An exquisite shogi board was placed upright in the center of the corridor.

In the backyard, a maple tree with some years stood quietly, its branches and leaves making a rustling sound in the breeze, and occasionally a few leaves drifted down leisurely.

Furukawa Saio was kneeling on one side of the chessboard, her small face tense, fully focused.

Opposite her was Mido Orihime, whose expression was always calm and waveless.

As Mido Orihime's white and slender fingers dropped the last chess piece.

A cold voice followed:

"Checkmate."

Furukawa Saio stared at the chessboard for several seconds, finally her little mouth pouted, and she drooped her shoulders somewhat annoyedly:

"Woo... Saio lost again..."

"Senior sister is so amazing, how come I can never win..."

Mido Orihime had no response to this.

She just raised her eyes and looked at Furukawa Saio, as well as Furukawa Masahiro, who was always sitting respectfully on the side and appeared somewhat constrained.

She ordered in an unquestionable tone:

"You, leave here for now."

"I have some words that I need to talk to Chikage alone."

"Without my permission, you are not allowed to approach or disturb."

Furukawa Masahiro paused upon hearing this, subconsciously glancing at Natsume Chikage, who had been sitting quietly by the chessboard observing the game without speaking from beginning to end.

A trace of imperceptible worry flashed across his old face, but finally he bowed and replied:

"Yes... this old man understands."

He turned to his granddaughter, his tone gentle:

"Saio, let's go to the living room first, grandpa will get you some juice to drink."

Furukawa Saio blinked her big eyes, looked at Mido Orihime, then looked at Natsume Chikage, and nodded obediently:

"Mm, okay grandpa."

After speaking, she followed Furukawa Masahiro and walked along the corridor towards the direction of the main house.

The footsteps gradually moved away.

At this moment.

In the vast backyard, the maple leaves rustled, and the sunlight sprinkled mottled light spots through the branches and leaves.

On the corridor, only Natsume Chikage, Mido Orihime, and that Konoe Hitomi, who was always expressionless, remained.

Natsume Chikage was silent for a moment.

He looked at Mido Orihime, his eyes carrying obvious confusion:

"Orihime... do you have anything special to tell me alone?"

Mido Orihime didn't explain directly.

She just stretched out her slender fingers and tapped the empty seat beside her gently.

"Come over, sit here."

Natsume Chikage thought she had something important or private that needed to be said close up, so he stood up as told, walked to the position she specified, and knelt down upright.

When he sat down.

Mido Orihime turned her head slowly.

She used those strange and deep eyes that seemed to be able to see through people's hearts to stare at Natsume Chikage beside her at close range, without blinking.

Just like this, she looked at him silently for several seconds without speaking.

Natsume Chikage felt a bit strange being looked at by her, his expression strange, but he still asked patiently again:

"So... what is it you want to say?"

Mido Orihime's gaze seemed to move slowly from his eyes to the outline of his face.

She suddenly opened her mouth and asked a completely unexpected question:

"Can you draw?"

Natsume Chikage was obviously stunned.

He didn't expect at all that the other party would brew for a long time and then suddenly ask such an unrelated question.

"Draw? I can't. Why ask this suddenly?"

Mido Orihime didn't explain the reason, just ordered in a calm but irrefutable tone:

"If you can't, then go learn."

She paused, seeming to be thinking about something, then tilted her head slightly and looked at Konoe Hitomi behind her.

"Hitomi, what was the specific layout of that apartment he is renting?"

Konoe Hitomi immediately took a half-step forward, her voice explaining steadily and wavelessly:

"Young lady, the apartment Natsume-kun is currently renting mainly provides three types of layouts. The most rudimentary is a 3-tsubo single room; the second is a 1-bedroom apartment of about 10 tsubo, both are single-person configurations."

Upon hearing this, Mido Orihime's mouth hooked into a very faint, yet unfathomable smile.

"So that's how it is."

Saying this.

She turned her head back, locked her gaze on Natsume Chikage, and proposed an unexpected suggestion:

"If you can learn to draw well—to the extent that I approve."

"Then, that 10-tsubo apartment, I can continue to rent it to you long-term at the rent price of 60,000 yen for the small single room you are currently renting."

Natsume Chikage was stunned again.

"Such favorable conditions? Why?"

Mido Orihime raised her brows slightly, that smile carrying a trace of playfulness: