You call this a love game?

Bai Yu didn't hesitate either. He blinked and took the opportunity to lean his head against the girl's thin, feather-like shoulder, and began to sob softly.

"Mami-nee... my mom and dad are never coming back, they... sob... what should I do..."

As if specifically to confirm his grief, there was a sudden knock on the door, and a thin policeman poked his head in from outside.

"Excuse me for interrupting, but I have something important to announce to you."

As if he had something urgent to attend to, the police officer flipped through his notebook with a rustling sound, not waiting for their response, but simply reading the words on the page like a machine.

"Our preliminary investigation into the accident has determined that the truck driver was fully responsible for the accident. He was charged with drunk driving, speeding, and overtaking over a solid line on a curve. The compensation will be in place soon, and our police department will temporarily cover the medical expenses. Please rest assured and focus on your recovery."

After saying this, the policeman turned to leave, unable to even look the two men in the eye.

"Wait... Officer, can you tell me what's going on with my mom and dad?"

Mami quickly stopped him and asked him about something she was very concerned about.

“Um…” the police officer said in a low voice, “Ms. Tomoe Mami, your parents have just been out of danger and are still receiving treatment.”

What?! He's still alive?!

Before Bai Yu could even react with surprise, Mami Tomoe suddenly sat up, causing the IV stand to sway violently. She was both happy and worried.

"Really?!"

"It's true." After saying that, he glanced at Bai Yu beside him, hesitated for a moment, and then told the truth: "Mr. Bai Yu, your parents... I'm sorry, they had already passed away when we arrived. Please accept our condolences..."

He bowed to Bai Yu, as if to give him space to grieve and not want to disturb him, and then the thin policeman closed the door and left the ward.

Mami Tomoe, who was initially happy that her family was temporarily safe, suddenly froze as soon as the corners of her mouth turned up in a smile.

She secretly glanced at Shiraha beside her. The boy was looking up at the ceiling at a 45-degree angle, his melancholy profile showing a strong determination to hold back his tears. Mami bit her lip, sat back down, gently pulled the boy's head close, and buried it in her shoulder.

"It's alright, Bai Yu-jun, everything will be alright..."

While gently stroking the boy's head, she whispered words of comfort to soothe his soul, as if afraid that the taut string of his heart would snap and he would do something bad.

However, Shiraha remained silent, as if seeking comfort, burying his head even deeper into Mami Tomoe's neck, savoring the fragrance emanating from the girl.

Mami Tomoe was so stunned by the action that she almost froze into a statue, even her breathing became shallow, and her hand hovered in mid-air, unsure whether to slap it down.

After a long while, she finally heard the boy utter a sentence.

"Sister Mami, you smell so good."

Chapter 57 The Rotating World Line

"Eh?"

Mami Tomoe's ear tips instantly turned as red as ripe cherries, and her hand, which was suspended in mid-air, froze.

"Bai... Bai Yu-jun!" she stammered in protest, but fell silent as the boy suddenly tightened his grip on her arm.

Bai Yu took advantage of the situation and nuzzled the stray hairs around her neck. "Is it the smell of shampoo? It even smells like black tea."

As he spoke, he deliberately took a deep breath, the warm breath causing the girl to tremble slightly.

"No, don't do this..." Mami Tomoe hurriedly tried to push his head away, but accidentally pulled the IV tube and hissed in pain.

Bai Yu immediately released his grip, slipping away from the girl's fragrant neck. He lowered his head, feigning humility, and spoke cautiously.

"I'm sorry, I just wanted to tell you that I'm actually fine."

But the more Shiraha said that, the less Mami Tomoe could believe it. If she were in Shiraha's position, how could she not be heartbroken at the death of her biological parents? She would probably burst into tears the moment she heard the news.

Unless the boy is an ingrate who has no feelings for his parents and will not feel sad even if he dies.

But the girl often helped stray animals in the neighborhood. Before she left, she saw the other person chatting and laughing with her parents and even politely greeting them. She couldn't believe that such a kind and gentle person would be so cruel.

So you must have been so heartbroken that you became numb and couldn't cry.

Having figured out her doubts, Mami Tomoe took Shiraha's hand again and said softly, "If you're feeling stressed, Shiraha-kun, just come to me. Don't keep it all bottled up inside, okay?"

She feared that the boy would either erupt from silence or perish in silence, dying quietly on a dark and stormy night in a deserted corner, unnoticed by anyone—something she didn't want to see.

"I know, I will."

He wanted to pretend to explain that he had already cried, but seeing how concerned Mami was about him, he had no choice but to swallow his words and obediently respond to the girl.

"So..." Mami Tomoe gripped his hand tightly, her gaze fixed on his face, "What are we going to do next?"

“I don’t know. My grandparents passed away from illness a long time ago. I don’t have any other relatives. If nothing unexpected happens, I’ll probably end up in an orphanage.” Bai Yu shook his head sadly. “But I don’t want to go to an orphanage. It’s so lifeless there, not nice at all.”

Seeing the confusion in the boy's eyes, Mami Tomoe couldn't help but feel a pang of heartache.

"Then how about... coming to my house?" As soon as the words left her mouth, Mami regretted them. They were too abrupt, so abrupt that she felt they were somewhat inappropriate.

Putting aside the question of whether the boy would agree, getting past her parents alone would be difficult.

Although she is only in the first year of junior high school, Mami Tomoe is already able to understand some of the rules of how society works.

Trouble. Most people are afraid of trouble, especially a living, breathing person like this. The trouble that will bring in the future is countless. Although she is very confident in the gentleness and kindness of her parents, they are not her biological parents after all, so there will always be some reservations.

"Really?!" Bai Yu didn't give her a chance to regret it or explain, and immediately asked, "Can I really come to Mami's house?!"

“Uh…” Mami hesitated for a moment, but when she saw the boy’s originally dejected face instantly brighten up, her mood was also affected and improved. For a moment, she could no longer say no.

"I guess so? But I have to ask my parents first. If they agree, we can live together."

"Thank you so much, Mami-nee!"

He was so excited he almost jumped for joy. Not only was he no longer going to the orphanage, but he was also thrilled to be able to live with Mami Tomoe and deepen his relationship with her.

Under Japanese law, children his age don't need to go to orphanages or even be adopted if they have a relative or someone willing to act as their guardian. If they don't have a relative, any other person willing to act as their guardian will do. Mami Tomoe's initiative undoubtedly helped him a lot.

Although there was an element of his deliberate guidance, it was ultimately the girl's kindness that gave him the opportunity.

Bai Yu pulled a crumpled piece of paper out of his pocket. "Look, do you want to sign your name on this cohabitation form?"

Mami Tomoe snatched the note, only to find it was just a doodle—two stick figures holding hands standing in front of a crooked house. Seeing this abstract painting, she couldn't help but burst out laughing, her blonde hair slipping off her shoulder as she shook it.

"Idiot, what kind of application form is this?!"

"Hehe..." Bai Yu chuckled twice, then asked, "What about this one?"

Sunlight streamed through the clouds, illuminating the ward. Bai Yu reached out and caught a ray of light that fell into Ba Ma's hair. She opened her hand, revealing a glittering silver button in her palm, which had fallen from her clothes.

"Thief!" Mami Tomoe tried to grab it, but he nimbly dodged her. The two wrestled on the hospital bed, the IV stand swinging in an exaggerated arc, until the nurse pushed the door open and entered.