Crossover: I Took In a Runaway High School Girl

Everyone carries their own burdens in life. And a beautiful high school girl with long, silver pigtails and a captivating tear-shaped mole at the corner of her eye, Saki Kawasaki, was currently under immense pressure.

She still had the one million yen of hush money Renji had given her tucked away in her bag. Originally, she had planned to speak with him that afternoon and return the money. After all, in her eyes, this wasn't hush money. It was the cost of keeping a mistress, her own payment for "prostitution." Saki Kawasaki was also a girl of integrity. Otherwise, the original book wouldn't have had her hiding her age and working night shifts at an upscale bar. She wanted to work hard to earn enough money for her own college tuition and lessen her family's burden. So she wouldn't accept dubious money like this.

What's more, in her eyes, Renji was a very dangerous and womanizing man. She didn't intend to get involved with someone like that. So it was better to return the money, as soon as possible.

However, right after class that afternoon, Renji was pulled away by Yumiko Miura and four others. She didn't have a chance to speak with them. Helplessly, Saki was forced to nervously carry her school bag, containing one million yen, home. Hopefully, no one would find out. Otherwise, it would be very difficult to explain the money. If her parents knew, they would definitely think she went on a paid date. Oh no, paid dates cost a lot of money. They might even think she stole it.

Saki blamed Renji in her heart, cursing silently. She was nervous all day and seemed to lose her strength when she returned home, her shoulders slumped. When she thought she was being targeted by a terrifying playboy, she became even more depressed. So, how could she make Renji lose interest in her? She couldn't think of a solution, no matter how hard she tried, her brain felt blocked.

Meanwhile, on Renji's side. He had returned to Sakurasou Dorm, a warm and slightly chaotic ambiance greeting him. Just as he reached the door, he saw Shiina Mashiro run up, her blonde hair fluttering, and held out her snow-white palm to him, her innocent gaze full of demand.

"Uh, Mashiro, what are you asking me for?" Renji asked, confused.

"Cookies," Mashiro replied curtly, her cheeks puffed out, her protesting gaze unwavering. Renji was still thinking about it, he had already bought a whole bag of Baumkuchen when he brought her back. In the end, he only gave her two pieces. Just thinking about it makes me angry.

Renji raised his hands helplessly and touched Mashiro's soft cheek. "They're in my room, come with me."

Shiina Mashiro followed him obediently, her steps light. After taking the Baumkuchen from the bag, she immediately sat on Renji's bed. She held the wrapped Baumkuchen in her small white hands and ate it in tiny bites, her large blue eyes radiating pure satisfaction. That satisfied expression, coupled with her petite body, blonde hair, and pretty face, was truly adorable. Renji felt like he was feeding a pet. Seeing her sitting helplessly on his bed, he shook his head.

Renji looked at the side table in the room, where an ancient box lay, dark brown with faint carvings. Perhaps it was an item gifted by the system, a mysterious treasure chest. This item's ability was to throw something into it, and it would spit out other items. It was just like opening a blind box. There was also a 1% chance of opening a monster treasure chest, and that monster treasure chest would yield abundant item rewards.

Renji was instantly intrigued. So, he took the remaining tree ring cake he had bought earlier, opened the box, threw it in, and then closed the box.

One second later, the box trembled, a subtle vibration that felt magical.

[Ding, the mysterious treasure chest has produced a reward.]

"Oh," Renji mumbled. There was also a system prompt. This was convenient. With the prompt, it proved that he could open the box. If a real monster treasure chest were opened, wouldn't he be scared? But he also knew that he wouldn't be lucky enough to get a monster treasure chest if he threw in a tree ring cake.

Taking a deep breath, Renji grasped the treasure chest's lid with both hands and opened it. A golden flash appeared, and something shimmering emerged within. A closer look revealed a bottle of potion, a clear liquid swirling inside.

[Ding, reward obtained, a potion that can only dissolve clothing.]

Renji heard the prompt, and the corner of his mouth twitched. What was the use of this thing? Didn't he know that clothes also cost money? Why would you dissolve clothes with a potion if you didn't have anything better to do? However, a tree ring cake could yield a bottle of magical potion, and that wasn't a loss. So he added another tree ring cake.

[Ding, reward has been generated.]

He opened the box again.

[Ding, reward obtained, perspective potion.]

"Perspective potion?" Renji read the potion's name softly.

[Perspective Potion: After drinking it, you can see the target's body through clothing.]

Great! A benefit for men. Renji stored the potion in a drawer, his eyes twinkling mischievously.

Shiina Mashiro blinked curiously, her eyes widening. "Renji, what's this?"

Renji smiled and touched her head. "This is my heirloom. As long as you put something in it, you can get other things. Mashiro, do you want to try it?"

"Okay." The girl nodded seriously, then in front of him, her hands fumbled with the skirt of her school uniform. Holding the sides of the thin fabric, she pulled it down along her slender legs, with a casual motion.

"Ah! Mashiro, what are you taking off?" Renji yelped, startled.

"Underwear," Mashiro replied innocently, pointing to her underwear.

"I know it's underwear! So I'm asking you why you're taking it off in front of me?" Renji was speechless, his expression a mix of confusion and slight panic. You look helpless, aren't you afraid I'll turn into a wolf?

Mashiro didn't understand why he was so distressed, so she explained in a cute way. "Because this isn't cute."

Renji: "..."

Without waiting for him to say anything, Mashiro had already walked to the treasure chest and claimed what was rightfully hers. Shiina Mashiro threw the underwear she had chosen for him that morning into the box. The treasure chest trembled again, emitting a small creaking sound.

[Ding, reward obtained, angel's blessing.]

"What's that?" Renji mumbled, confused.

Just as he was bewildered, Mashiro had already opened the treasure chest, and soft white underwear appeared inside. "This one's cuter." Mashiro put it on her legs and wore it.

Renji: "..." Underwear, also called angel's blessing? Is it cute? While complaining inwardly, Renji still checked the information.

[Angel's Blessing (underwear): This is underwear that has been granted magical power by angels, and the wearer has a chance to instantly travel anywhere.]

Seeing this, Renji was speechless. Somehow he was reminded of an angel named "Gabriel." She was the only one who could use walking magic with underwear. But wouldn't it be wasteful to give this ability to Mashiro? Alright, since she exchanged it with her own underwear, let her wear it.

Mashiro got cute underwear and was immediately interested, but the treasure chest couldn't be opened again. Renji saw this and explained, "It can only be used three times a day, and I've already used it twice." After all, it was just a prop, not a universal exchange platform. It was natural for there to be limitations.

"Try again tomorrow, but Mashiro must not tell anyone about the box. It's a secret, got it?" Renji emphasized, his gaze serious.

"Yeah, Mashiro won't tell." She nodded obediently, then looked at him blankly, waiting for further instructions.

Renji smiled and asked, "I haven't asked. What did Mashiro want to do after coming all the way from England?"

"Comics," Mashiro replied succinctly.

"Comics? You draw comics? Can I see what Mashiro drew?" Renji asked, curiosity beginning to stir.

"Sure." The girl took his hand and ran to the third floor, towards her room.

They arrived at Mashiro's room. It had been restored to tidiness, and clothes had been put in the closet, all neatly arranged. This was organized by Sayu Ogiwara. Shiina Mashiro pulled out a notebook and handed it to him.

Renji took the comic and began to read, his brows furrowed. "Well, a man and a woman meet on the street, then accidentally meet again, and then... fall in love? Then... the male supporting character appears to snatch the female lead, wait, how can they get married? Where's the male supporting character?" Renji was speechless, a sigh escaping his lips.

The characters in Mashiro's comic looked incredibly beautiful, the lines smooth and detailed. That meant her drawing skills were excellent. After all, she was an internationally renowned painter, so her drawing abilities were naturally very good. It's just that the plot had a big problem, a very big one. After all, she had no common sense, so she didn't know how the plot would develop after a man and a woman got together.

Seeing Renji's thoughtful expression, Shiina Mashiro rarely showed frustration, but this time it was clear on her face. "It doesn't look good, does it?"

"The drawing is excellent, but the plot is too problematic," Renji replied honestly.

"The editor also said so." Mashiro lowered her head, her voice quiet. "The comic submission has been rejected many times."

Seeing her frustrated expression, but unable to figure out what the problem was, Renji's heart immediately softened. He raised his hand and gently touched Mashiro's hair, smiling and saying, "It's okay, it's not a big deal. There's nothing wrong with Mashiro's drawing ability. It's better to say that the drawing is too beautiful. Only the plot is wrong."

"You must have copied other manga artists and wanted to draw a love-themed book, right?" Renji continued, trying to analyze. "By the way, Mashiro, do you know what men and women do when they're dating?"

"Rita said they'd kiss," Mashiro replied, her head tilted slightly upwards. "That's already drawn."

"Uh, I mean, besides kissing, what exactly is the dating process like?" Renji tried to explain, a little awkward.

"..." Shiina Mashiro was silent, her mind blank. She only heard Rita talk about it. But she didn't know anything at all.

Renji looked at the pure girl, as pure as a blank sheet of paper, and smiled happily, an idea sparking in his mind. "How about this, Mashiro? You just draw our daily lives, and I'll check it later." A mischievous idea emerged. "Maybe you'll be able to publish your comic soon, for example, you can also draw the treasure chest in my room."

Hearing this, Shiina Mashiro pursed her lips, considering, and finally nodded excitedly. "Okay. Renji, you have to help Mashiro."

"No problem, but you have to promise me one thing. Mashiro, next time don't take off your underwear in front of other people, or else I'll get really angry and won't help you anymore!" Renji said, his tone firm, but his eyes twinkling with amusement. "I won't give you Baumkuchen either."

Hearing such serious consequences, Shiina Mashiro frowned tightly, thinking hard. After a moment's thought, she looked up at Renji, "Can't I take it off in front of Renji?" Her face was innocent. "But you seemed very happy."

"Uh... it's okay if we're alone, but not in front of other people, absolutely not, do you understand?" Renji explained, blushing slightly.

"Understood," Mashiro nodded.

"Not just underwear, but clothes too, you're not allowed to take them off in front of other people," Renji added.

"Yes, only Renji can take them off," Mashiro retorted, as if it were a fact.

"Ahem, you didn't ask me to take them off..." Renji wanted to say something else, but seeing Mashiro's confused expression, he stopped himself, a small smile forming. Raising his hand and touching her small head, he said gently, "Start drawing from today, draw what you've experienced today, and gradually, you'll know how to form a storyline."

"What's called a plot comes from life, and a story is also adapted and polished from life." Renji continued, his tone like a mentor. "I won't disturb you, remember to come down for dinner later."

"Okay."

Seeing her nod obediently, it was so cute that Renji couldn't help but lean in and kiss her cheek, a brief peck. He ruffled her small head again then left, leaving Mashiro with her new thoughts.

Shiina Mashiro touched her cheek, feeling the warmth from the kiss, and placed her hand over her heart. "It feels strange." A question popped into her mind. Renji kissed my cheek... Does he want to date me? Rita said that only boys and girls who are dating will kiss.