Becoming a Shadow in the New World

Seemingly in rebuttal, Natsumi Yase opened a watermelon juice bottle and started drinking it.

"Hey! Xia Yin, you don't need to be in such a hurry."

It was less like drinking and more like guzzling; at that speed, no matter how fast Ye Se Xia swallowed, some water leaked from the bottle and soaked her clothes.

After Natsune Yase finished drinking, not only were her clothes partially wet, but her face was also pale.

If Sid had doubted whether he was seeing things just now, he was now certain: Natsune Yase didn't like watermelon juice.

"Hi... ugh, vomit vomit..."

Xia Yin vomited after saying just one word.

Chapter Ten: The Courage to Be Disliked

"So why not refuse?"

Inside the coffee shop, Sid and Natsune Yase sat facing each other in a secluded spot.

"me……"

Just like before, Natsune Yase didn't know how to answer, but this time, Sid wasn't going to cover it up anymore. He'd already spent the money, so whether it was troublesome or not didn't matter.

My original plan was to just give her a drink to tide her over, so that Natsune Yase would have some sugar, and then I could go buy something to eat myself. It would fit my character and save me money, but...

Damn it, someone actually feels nauseous and even vomits at watermelon juice? What kind of person is that? Now they're too embarrassed to leave.

As a result, after Xia Yin felt better, he still had to spend money to take her to a coffee shop to fill her stomach.

Although the money spent was from Natsume Yase to take care of the cat, once he found an owner for the cat, the remaining money was his, so it was still his money that was being spent.

Sid's eyes were fixed on Natsune Yase.

"I... I don't know how to refuse."

After a long silence, Natsune Yase spoke.

"I don't think so."

Natsune Yase is not someone who can't say no, at least that's what Sid thinks. Natsune Yase's eyes are very clear, but that doesn't mean she's weak or incapable of refusing others. There's self-awareness and courage in her eyes.

and so…

"When you say you don't know how to refuse, you probably mean you don't know how to refuse other people's kindness."

As if he had hit the nail on the head, Natsune Yase lowered her head.

Actually, you only need to think about it to know that Natsune Yase is not someone who lacks the courage to refuse others' malice. So why didn't Natsune Yase refuse? Because it was someone else's good intention.

Hmm, she looks a bit like Sulli.

"Although it's a bit nosy and a bit of worrying unnecessarily, Xia Yin, you need to change this personality trait."

"Yeah, sorry."

"You have nothing to apologize for, Xia Yin."

Looking at the girl bowing her head and apologizing in front of him, Sid sighed inwardly again.

If he could, he wouldn't want to get involved, but if he did, the pair of eyes he loved would eventually be overwhelmed by regret.

This is not an exaggeration, but a fact. It is not difficult to learn to refuse someone's malice, but it is difficult to properly refuse someone's kindness.

Not all good intentions are truly beneficial to the person in question. Just like parents and children, parents may hope their children will become successful, but they may not consider the child's own abilities and wishes at all. In the end, the parents' good intentions may only overwhelm the child.

It's not about rejecting all the goodwill in the world; that will only make you withdrawn. You need to learn to say no properly. Your parents are elders, and they certainly have social experience that you don't have.

Children need to learn to treat their parents' words as suggestions, not commands, and to selectively accept them after thinking about them themselves.

Don't ask him why he knows so much; his sister is the parent who completely disregarded his abilities and intentions.

That's why he doesn't want to meddle in other people's family affairs. He hasn't even sorted out his own family matters, so how could he have the time or inclination to care about others? But...

Sid glanced at Xia Yin.

Consider this compensation for the mental anguish that Natsune has felt these past few days, after-sales service for her sugar daddy, and an expression of her desire to keep such pure eyes from becoming tainted—let me be a therapist for once.

"Xia Yin, I can roughly tell what you want to ask, so let me ask you a question first: Do you hate Itogami Island?"

Natsune Yase shook her head.

"it's OK."

"So, leaving here was your parents' idea, and it was because of you? If so, could you elaborate?"

"Yes, it's my fault. My father said the place I'm going to is very good to me."

"So, do you want to go?"

The conversation had already turned into an interrogation, but there was no way around it. For someone like Natsune Yase, who only kept things to herself, she wouldn't say anything unless you were firm.

"No, I don't want to leave here. How could I possibly want to leave this island where my friends are, where there are a bunch of kittens that need my care, and where you, Sidge, are."

It seemed like a long time had passed, yet it also felt like only a few seconds, before Natsumi Yase's voice, choked with sobs, rang out.

"Have you discussed your thoughts with your parents?"

There's really no need to ask this question; given Natsune Haze's personality, she would never object.

"No, no."

See, it was exactly as he expected.

"Xia Yin, have you heard of a very interesting theory?"

"When faced with two choices, flipping a coin is always effective."

It's not because it always gives the right answer, but because the moment you toss it into the air, you suddenly know what you want.

He flips a coin not because he can make the right choice, but because in the moment it flies into the air, he knows what he's looking for.

"Similarly, when you come to me and ask me questions, your heart has already told you the answer."

"You could even say that you know what you want from the beginning, and under that premise, there is only one real problem."

Do you have the courage to resist?

"The courage to resist!?"

Natsune Yase's face showed both surprise and confusion.

"You can also understand it as adolescent rebellion."

“I don’t quite understand, Sid.”

"To put it bluntly, Xia Yin, if one of your cats suddenly didn't want you to feed it anymore and wanted to leave, what would you think?"

"Teach it how to survive?"

Xia Yin's answer was a little uncertain. It wasn't that she was unsure if she would do it, but that she was unsure if her answer was correct. Sid could tell that.

“…I’m sorry, Xia Yin, I shouldn’t have treated you like a normal person. Are you sure you’re not some kind of angel?”

Now, when it came to Sid's turn to be silent, looking into Natsume Yase's eyes, Sid felt ashamed for the first time of the filth in his heart.

"Did I say something wrong?"

"No, it's my heart that's too dirty, it has nothing to do with you, Xia Yin."

"Xia Yin, when a normal person encounters this kind of situation, their first thought wouldn't be to appease the kitten, but rather to feel angry."

"anger?"

"Yes, anger. I'm angry that I gave them a better living environment, but they didn't want to stay and chose to die."

As for whether the kitten was actually capable of surviving on its own, they didn't think about it; they only believed what they saw.

Xia Yin, it's not that you can't face other people's malice, it's that you can't face the anger that arises when someone's good intentions are rejected, especially when that person is your father.

"..."

Facing Xia Yin, who had lowered her head again, Sid reached out and placed his hands on both sides of Xia Yin's cheeks, lifting her head and forcing her to look him in the eye.

Sid could feel Xia Yin tremble when his hand touched her face, but as he had said before, Xia Yin knew that he was doing this for her own good, so she would not resist.

"Xia Yin, you need to know that this is your business. My approval is not important to you. What's important is what you want to do."

So…do you have the courage to rebel?

"I don't know, Sid, I really don't know what to do."

A trembling voice, tinged with sobs, escaped Xia Yin's lips. The palms of Xia Yin's hands, pressed against her sides, also felt the flow of liquid. At this moment, Xia Yin's large eyes were filled with tears, and pearl-like teardrops slid down Sid's palms.

Looking at Xia Yin, who was crying softly in front of him, Sid sighed helplessly.

Natsune Yase's answer was exactly what he expected; after all, offering help and asking for help are two different things.

He didn't want to pressure Xia Yin like this if he could, but if he wanted to help Xia Yin, he had to help her make up her mind. Otherwise, if Xia Yin suddenly backed down when he went to Xia Yin's house to persuade her father, not only would the problem remain unresolved, but her eyes would also be filled with guilt and regret for the rest of her life.

Of course, he could also learn from anime protagonists and say things like he'll take the blame and let him solve the problem, but putting aside the fact that it conflicts with his supporting character persona, well, in his opinion, that would be a bit irresponsible.

So it's up to Xia Yin to get through this on her own and make up her mind. At most, he can offer some advice, but deciding a friend's life is not something a friend should do.

Ah, it's gotten so late without me realizing it. Xia Yin probably needs some time to think, so I'll leave now.

Sid stood up and walked towards the store entrance, but was stopped by a waiter as he passed the front desk.