"You don't have to pay attention to others or wait for their validation. As long as you believe that you are doing the right thing, anything anyone else says should not matter."
Shelly looked like she had gained a new understanding from Rin's words. Her eyes were filled with determination, and that determination made Rin hope she wouldn't end up lost like she did in the novel.
"Alright. I understand what you said, and I will engrave these words into my heart."
…although, maybe she needed to lighten up and gain more friends. That way, she would be able to expand her world a little more.
And she made her first attempt not long after.
Rin wanted Shelly to have more female friends she could feel comfortable around. As much as she liked Rin and wanted to be friends with him, there were things that could only be shared with other girls.
So naturally, Rin encouraged Shelly to approach the girl. But Shelly showed unexpected shyness.
"I-I don't think it's a good idea for me to go out. I-I don't know what to talk about with her…"
Shelly looked nervous and tugged Rin back toward the classroom. Her shyness could become an obstacle in her future, and Rin wanted her to overcome it before it was too late.
But since Shelly did not want to take the first step, he decided to go out and help her make friends his own way.
"Hmm, if you feel shy, then you can stay back for now. if she wants to be friends-"
"N-No, I will do it. I want to do it myself."
Shelly suddenly gathered her courage and stepped out toward the girl. Rin watched them meet, and a relieved smile spread across his face.
'Finally, Shelly will have another friend who will help her gain confidence…'
Things were going well…until they suddenly weren't. Shelly was talking to her, but the girl in front of her suddenly looked ready to cry.
Rin watched as that girl stood up, looking at him, then back at Shelly, and spoke up.
"I don't want to see you or that guy again in my life. Stay away from me."
With that, the girl ran away, leaving Rin and Shelly behind.
"Shelly, did you say something mean to her? Why did she run away?"
Rin wanted to shake Shelly and ask her what she had said. But Shelly looked shocked by what happened (actually, she was shocked that Rin was getting angry at her), and tears filled her eyes.
"I-I don't know why she ran away. I j-just asked if she wanted to be f-friends…that's all…"
Was that truly all Shelly asked? It did not seem like anything offensive enough to upset a kid like that.
But since it was just a one-off, Rin decided not to look too much into it. It was possible that the girl he had chosen as Shelly's friend was having a bad day and decided to do this.
'It must be a one-time thing…the next time should be better…'
At least, Rin hoped it would be better. But the more time he spent with Shelly, the more he became convinced that making female friends just wasn't working out for her.
No matter who they approached or what they did, the people who talked to Shelly usually ran away. So they moved on to male friends.
And once again, the same thing happened. After the tenth time, even Rin had to give up. As much as he wanted to get Shelly another friend, he did not want to break her confidence.
"Shelly, I am sorry, but I think we should stop for today and try later."
Rin hoped Shelly wouldn't be too discouraged by all this, and thankfully, it did not look like Shelly minded what had happened.
"Oh-! It's alright. I don't need anyone else but you. As long as I have you with me, I know I am going to be alright. Isn't it the same for you?"
Shelly asked while beaming at Rin, and he smiled back at her.
"Yeah. I am going to support you, so you should support me in the future as well."
And hopefully, the situation would resolve itself quickly. He looked around, hoping to distract himself, and that was when his eyes fell on the new transfer student in their class. He looked like he wanted to be friends with them, so Rin wanted to approach him first.
Unfortunately, the second he tried to walk toward the transfer student, Shelly grabbed his arm and tugged him toward the outside garden.
"Rin, can you play with me today?"
Shelly asked sweetly, and Rin decided that his opportunity to ask the transfer student to be their friend would have to wait until tomorrow.
Unfortunately, the transfer student was no longer in their class when he came to school the next day.
Their classroom teacher looked uncomfortable as she announced that the kid who transferred yesterday didn't want to come anymore for 'personal reasons.'.' She looked uncomfortable, and Rin swore he could feel it lingering on him and Shelly before it moved past them.
'Hmm, this whole situation must be a misunderstanding on my part. The reason the teacher must have stopped to look at Shelly is because she looks so striking. I must be looking into it too much.'
Most of the novel Rin was currently reincarnated into was set during the apocalypse. The journey before that was supposed to be mostly uneventful for Shelly.
So he was sure this was all his misunderstanding…
Still…
It was better if he kept an eye on Shelly's well-being and made sure his future golden-egg-laying bird did not fly off too far.
__________
Rin's butler dropped Shelly back at her home. It was a pity she had to part from Rin because they had different families. But it was only because she was young right now.
She had read a lot about liking someone, and she was sure she liked Rin. She liked Rin in the way her mommy liked her daddy, and she wanted to have the same kind of love her parents had.
However, the only difference was that she wanted Rin alive, while her mother kept her father's body preserved to make sure he wouldn't be able to go to anyone else.
Shelly opened the door to the cold room where her mother had preserved her father's body. She was usually not allowed in here, but today was a special day.
Her father's cold, sleeping body lay before her and Shelly walked closer without fear.
She reached out…
…and gently held his cold hand.
"Daddy,"
She said softly, her voice light and cheerful, as if she were sharing a secret.
"I like someone."
Her fingers tightened slightly around his hand.
"His name is Rin. And I like him the same way Mommy likes you."
She tilted her head, smiling faintly.
"But I don't want him to become like you."
Her voice remained gentle and innocent, but her eyes held a hint of madness.
"I want him to talk to me…to look at me…to stay with me."
The room remained silent but Shelly didn't mind.
She leaned a little closer, her expression softening even more.
"Do you think I should keep him somewhere safe? Somewhere no one else can find him?"
She asked quietly.
Her grip tightened again just a little.
"But Mommy says things like that take time. She said I need to be patient…to prepare everything properly."
A small giggle escaped her lips.
"I'll wait, then."
She straightened up, her eyes shining with quiet determination.
"I'll grow up first. I'll become strong…so no one can take him away from me."
Her smile widened.
"Because Rin belongs with me."
She gently placed her father's hand back down.
Then, after one last look, she turned and walked out of the room, leaving the cold silence behind her.