Crossover: I Took In a Runaway High School Girl

Chihiro Sengoku's request was to pick up the cute Shiina Mashiro at the airport, and Renji Kamisaka was, of course, happy to oblige. His current residence was named Sakurasou. The heroine from the anime "Sakurasou no Pet na Kanojo" is indeed Shiina Mashiro. However, in the original story, Mashiro only arrived in the second semester. He hadn't expected such a change here, her arrival at this very moment felt as if destiny itself had arranged it.

Shiina Mashiro was quite different from Shiina Mahiru, who had felt unappreciated by her parents. From a very young age, Mashiro had demonstrated an extraordinary talent for painting, a truly rare gift. She was cultivated to become an international painting genius, a title she rightfully earned. In her world, there were only paintings, with the canvas as her closest companion and colors as her language. Perhaps it was because she had dedicated herself solely to art for over a decade that she became such a renowned genius painter.

However, this singular focus also highlighted a curious lack of personal development. This girl could only draw, and everything beyond that felt utterly foreign to her. Her family had even gone so far as to specifically surround her with a group of other artistic geniuses to ensure she wouldn't be bothered by trivial matters. In the end, only a girl named Rita Ainsworth remained steadfastly by her side, a friend who was more than just a companion. As Mashiro's "owner," Rita meticulously cared for Mashiro, ensuring all her needs were met. This allowed Mashiro to concentrate on producing world-renowned masterpieces that captivated the art world.

The unfortunate consequence of this upbringing was that Shiina Mashiro lacked even the most fundamental common sense. After leaving Rita Ainsworth's care, she was essentially incapable of looking after herself. Astonishingly, she even required assistance to put on her own clothes.

Renji Kamisaka, in a slightly teasing tone, had once remarked that he could take on that task. But with Mahiru now by his side, it seemed he wouldn't need to. Hmm, was this a misfortune or a blessing? Perhaps more of a blessing. Since Shiina Mashiro would be moving into Sakurasou, Renji Kamisaka certainly wouldn't let her go. In short, as long as she lived there, Mashiro was his! Just imagine, Shiina Mashiro and Shiina Mahiru, both beautiful, cute blonde girls, like angels descended from heaven. If they were brought together... No, he couldn't dwell on that thought. He'd get too excited.

Renji Kamisaka suppressed the burgeoning excitement in his heart and immediately took the train to the arrival gate of Kyoto Airport. He waited for a long time but couldn't find anyone who matched the description. Surely, Teacher Chihiro Sengoku hadn't mistaken the time, had she? He muttered to himself, then quickly activated the Game of Life System to provide an arrow indication, a magical clue. When you had a cheat, you naturally had to use it. When facing a situation, you couldn't just sit there and wait for things to unfold!

Following the guidance of the golden arrow, Renji Kamisaka arrived in front of a shady tree. On a long bench beneath its branches, a blonde girl sat quietly, a suitcase resting beside her. She had fair skin, and her phoenix-shaped eyes, while possessing a hint of maturity, radiated an undeniable innocence. Her delicate face was devoid of expression, making her appear both subdued and adorably doll-like, almost like a living porcelain figure. She was dressed in a blue Suiko High School uniform, with a purplish-red school skirt. Beneath the skirt, a pair of beautiful, slender legs were encased in white socks, and she wore brown leather shoes. The girl's waist was remarkably slender, and while her chest wasn't large, it suited her lithe figure, giving her a well-proportioned appearance.

Renji retrieved the photo Chihiro had given him and compared it with the girl before him. He confirmed she was indeed Shiina Mashiro, the person he was meant to pick up. The photo from Teacher Chihiro Sengoku had been of Mashiro as a child, yet her pretty face and slender body had changed very little. She truly looked like a naturally naive beauty, a character stepping right out of a manga page.

Renji Kamisaka deactivated the arrow guide and slowly approached her, a friendly smile gracing his lips. "Miss Mashiro Shiina, I'm Renji Kamisaka. Teacher Chihiro Sengoku asked me to pick you up."

"Chihiro?" Hearing the voice, the girl mumbled a single word, then unconsciously looked up at Renji. "What do you mean, Renji Kamisaka?"

"Yes, I am Renji Kamisaka," Renji confirmed, his smile widening.

"Hi, Renji Kamisaka, what color do you want to become?" The girl suddenly asked this peculiar question, her eyes staring at him with pure innocence.

Renji Kamisaka offered a small smile, surprised yet intrigued by the odd inquiry.

"I've never thought about it before, but if I had to become a color, I'd want it to be white."

He gazed at the girl, his eyes gentle. He appreciated beauty. He liked sweet girls.

Perhaps it was because he felt so tainted by his own "bad things" that he admired the color white—a symbol of cleanliness, purity, and unsullied innocence. He wanted to dye that white with his own color.

Or perhaps his desire to be white stemmed from a deeper hope, a quiet wish that the girls around him could maintain their original, pure hearts and live happy lives.

"And how about you, Miss Mashiro Shiina, what color do you want to be?" Renji asked, curious. He pondered, his gentle gaze fixed on the girl in front of him, and their eyes met.

The girl blinked, thinking for a moment before replying, "I don't know, I haven't thought about it." She lowered her head, then raised it again. "I didn't know what color I wanted to be before, but now... I like white, just like Renji Kamisaka."

"What a coincidence, Miss Mashiro Shiina. Come with me, it's time to go home." Renji Kamisaka took the initiative to pick up the suitcase beside her, then extended his palm, an unspoken invitation.

The girl stared at him blankly, then nodded lightly. "Okay." Mashiro Shiina's soft, snow-white little hand naturally slipped into his palm, and he held it tightly. Renji Kamisaka led her across the pedestrian crossing and out of the airport.

They boarded a train and soon arrived on the street near Sakurasou. As they continued walking, a sudden "guruguru" sound emerged from the girl's body—her stomach rumbling. He looked back to see Mashiro Shiina covering her small stomach, her delicate eyebrows slightly furrowed, an adorably pained expression on her face.

"Are you hungry? Let me take you to eat something," Renji asked, a note of concern in his voice. "Miss Mashiro Shiina, I heard you're from England. What's your staple food there?" he inquired with a smile.

Mashiro Shiina's eyes lit up, and she uttered a single word without changing her expression, as if it were an absolute truth: "Baumkuchen."

"Huh? What did you say?" Renji frowned.

"My staple food in England is baumkuchen," Mashiro repeated, her eyes fixed seriously on Renji.

"Are you kidding me?" Renji Kamisaka quirked the corner of his mouth, disbelieving. "Even though baumkuchen is a delicious dessert, it can't fill your stomach." He tried to explain patiently. "Besides, eating too much isn't good for your health. How can anyone possibly use this as a staple food?"

"Miss Mashiro Shiina, tell me honestly, do you just want to eat baumkuchen, that's why you said that?" Renji asked, a little amused.

"My staple food in England is baumkuchen." She blinked and continued to insist without changing her expression, as if she were a robot programmed to say just that.

Renji Kamisaka looked utterly helpless, finally giving in to Mashiro's stubbornness. "Alright, I'll buy you baumkuchen, okay? But you can't eat too much. There will be a welcome feast waiting for you when we get back to Sakurasou," he tried to persuade her. "You have to save some room for hot pot."

Hearing this, the girl tilted her head and looked at him with a cute, curious expression, much like a puppy. "Sakurasou?"

"That's where you'll be staying," Renji replied.

"Oh... then what about baumkuchen?" Mashiro asked, her eyes once again sparkling.

"There's a shop next door that sells it, but you have to use money to buy it. By the way, do you know that you need money to buy things?" Renji asked, a little worried.

Upon hearing this, she looked at him questioningly, utterly bewildered. "Money?"

"Alright, I understand," Renji sighed. She was clearly a princess from England, the type who had servants for everything. She didn't even know that you needed to spend money to buy things. She truly had no grasp of common sense.

He led Mashiro to a convenience store and went to the shelf where the baumkuchen was displayed, then picked out a dozen of them. Mashiro Shiina tried to instinctively reach out and grab one, tearing open the packaging, but Renji Kamisaka gently yet firmly intercepted her restless little hand. Under Mashiro Shiina's eager gaze, he guided her to the cashier.

"Aoyama, please help me check these out," Renji greeted the girl at the counter.

"Okay!" Nanami Aoyama immediately tore her gaze away from Mashiro Shiina and observed Renji Kamisaka, a little surprised but also curious. Indeed, Renji Kamisaka came to the convenience store where Nanami Aoyama worked.

After paying, he led Mashiro out of the convenience store and took a baumkuchen from the bag, handing it to her. "Here, eat this."

She immediately reached out to take it, deftly opened the packaging, then held it with both hands and carefully put it into her mouth, much like a kitten savoring its meal. As she ate the baumkuchen, a joyous expression spread across her face, her eyes narrowing in delight.

Renji Kamisaka couldn't help but gently touch her hair, feeling its softness. Seeing her narrow her eyes and look at him, he took a banknote from his pocket and held it out for her to see. "Did you see what I just did? To buy something, especially if you want to eat baumkuchen, you have to pay. This is money."

The girl nodded cluelessly, then put the banknote into her pocket, and after finishing the baumkuchen, she held out the bag in her hand, silently asking for more.

Renji Kamisaka gently took the hand that was reaching for more baumkuchen, took out one, opened the packaging, and handed it to her. "Here, you can only eat one more. There's a big meal waiting for you later."

Mashiro Shiina was a little dissatisfied, but seeing her small hand still held in his, she didn't object. Instead, she nodded obediently. In her eyes, Renji Kamisaka had given her baumkuchen and held her hand. Therefore, he would be her owner from now on! And since he was her owner, she still had to listen to him and show him respect.