“Yes?”
“Sorry I didn’t tell you.”
“What? Your relationship began right after the sports festival, right?
Both of you two were probably busy flirting together. I guess you’d also
rather talk in person, so this was to be expected.”
The realization of them “busily flirting” made Amane feel a little
complicated, but it’s true they practically spent all day together yesterday.
Moreover, as Chitose said, Amane received a lot of support from her
and the others and hoped to tell them face-to-face. Chitose realized that and
teased him about it, but she understood Amane’s intentions.
“Thank you.”
“No problem, hmph~ I’m just tying the red string of fate between our
two main characters here, so worship me more~”
“Alright, I’ll buy the crêpes you like in front of the station, Chitose-
sama.”
“It’s not that big a deal~”
Chitose was joking around, and Amane followed along. While
chatting, they entered the classroom.
“Ah, good morning, Shiina… huh?”
The first thing they saw was a small group of girls gathered near the
door of the classroom.
They were sitting at the tables and looked to be chatting
enthusiastically. The girls looked up as they saw Mahiru entering the
classroom… and then noticed Amane holding her hand.
Their eyes moved up from their hands to Amane’s face.
Curious, their expressions were showing one of “Who’s this?”
This was natural, as Amane had never dressed himself up in front of
his classmates before.
It’s possible a classmate saw him dressed up outside of school, but he
had never attended class with this getup as Amane Fujimiya. In the eyes of
others, Amane was seen as a stranger.
Last week, Mahiru had told everyone that Amane was important to her,
and many students still remembered the scene. Amane also admitted he was
the man seen during Golden Week.
With just a little thought, it was easy for them to equate the man
holding hands with her with Amane.
Before they deduced this, however, Amane promptly released
Mahiru’s hand and went to put his items in his seat.
This was to make his identity clear.
After this, the classroom became quieter than usual. Even the
classmates who usually talked expressively were also watching Amane.
“Fujimiya, good morning.”
In an embarrassing silence, Kadowaki and Itsuki walked toward
Amane with the usual smile shown on their faces.
The two were familiar with Amane and would still greet him like
normal, which made Amane very grateful.
“Morning, you two.”
“What’s up, have you finally seen the light?”
“What… well, she’s got me, and now I’ve got her too.”
Amane had discussed with them many times, with Itsuki being the first
of the two to notice that Amane liked Mahiru. Since they saw Amane walk
in holding hands in such a fashion, they immediately understood they
started dating.
“Um, Fujimiya, congratulations. I only just got on better terms with
you recently, but still. Well, I didn’t wait that long, but feeling anxious to
death really dragged out the time.”
“Yuuta, what are you saying? I had to wait half a year. I’ve never
wanted to be that anxious, and it’s all thanks to this coward.”
“Shut up, it’s my bad, alright?”
After watching Amane and Mahiru interact over the past six months,
Itsuki probably felt quite satisfied with himself now. He nodded with
emotion and whispered, “I’ve waited so long.”
For better or worse, Itsuki had pushed- no, kicked Amane a lot from
behind. The latter was very grateful, and even though Itsuki was way too
much of a busybody at times, he was cheering them on earnestly.
Among the people Amane knew, Itsuki had the sincerest blessings for
their relationship.
“So, you made up your mind to dress up like this?”
“Yeah.”
“Ah, it feels strange, I’m not used to it.”
“I agree. I haven’t seen it since that one time we went out.”
The last time Kadowaki saw him dressed up was back during Golden
Week, about a month ago. It was no surprise the two boys weren’t used to it
just yet.
Right now, only Mahiru herself was accustomed to his new look.
As for her, Chitose was diving in for some skin-ship with her while
surrounded by classmates. Although the group stayed at a distance, it was
easy to hear what they were asking Mahiru. Of course, Amane knew
without even listening in.
“Um, Fujimiya-kun!”
Amane peered over and thought, “Must be tough…” but it was
actually him being called.
Turning his head and looking back, he found several girls looking at
him, forming a circle around his desk. They made no secret of the curiosity
shining in their eyes.
Amane wasn’t good at dealing with girls and was a little
uncomfortable with the situation. However, he was somewhat expecting
this, and he looked at them while replying calmly.
“…What’s up?”
“Wow, it really is Fujimiya-kun! You’re completely different from
usual, it startled me!”
“My impression changed quite a bit, after all.”
“That’s the thing! You looked boring before.”
“Hey, it’s rude to say that, right?”
“Ah, I’m sorry, Fujimiya-kun.”
“It’s okay, you aren’t wrong.”
Although Amane was almost swallowed up by the girls’ aura, he tried
his best to keep from being brought into their rhythm and smiled wryly at
the same time.
They were just telling the truth, so Amane did not want to deny it, nor
was he angry either. It was his own choice to remain invisible before since
he didn’t want to stand out, so he built the image of a useless, harmless and
honest boy in the class.
Since that image suddenly shattered, it was understandable for them to
be confused.
“You really look a lot different.”
“Yeah. Is it weird like this?”
“No no, I think it’s a lot better.”
“It’s better to say that seeing you so handsome was shocking.”
“If you say that, I guess my efforts weren’t in vain.”
Being highly praised in person made Amane feel embarrassed, but it
didn’t make much sense to deny it here. Amane knew that being humble
wasn’t always a good thing, so he gratefully accepted the praise.
Amane paid attention to making his expression as soft as possible. He
nodded, and the girls laughed happily.
“Well, can I just ask one thing?”
“Sure, as long as I can answer it.”
“I’m just wondering; but, was Fujimiya-kun the boy who walked with
Shiina before?”
(Ah. This question is finally here)
Since someone would ask sooner or later, he intended to answer it
clearly here and express his thoughts about it.
The other students seemed to be carefully listening in on his
conversation. If he declared it now, it would end up spreading throughout
the entire school.
“Yeah, it was me.”
“Then, are you two dating? I saw you two holding hands before…”
“Yep. Thanks to everyone’s support, we started dating last week.”
After Amane clearly affirmed it, a high-pitched scream sounded. He
then heard the despair and terror of the boys behind him, but he just ignored
them for now.
Either way, the boys would definitely interrogate him later, so Amane
could just respond then.
“Hey, how did you and Shiina…”
“An incident happened last year, and our relationship naturally
progressed from there. Right, Mahiru?”
“Yes.”
Maybe because Mahiru’s interrogation ended, or likely because a
proper conversation would clear things up faster, Mahiru walked over to
Amane with a smile. She stood at a distance almost touching him and
smiled beautifully at the girls who were asking Amane their questions.
“It’s not that easy to explain, we only started dating after a lot of other
things happened. I was in unrequited love before we started dating, so I was
too excited this morning… I felt like showing off back when we were
holding hands.”
Just like when they arrived at school, Mahiru grabbed Amane’s hand.
Amane smiled bitterly and held hers back.
“No, I think I fell in love with you first.”
“Is that so? Well, Amane-kun wasn’t willing to confess.”
“Sorry, I have to reflect on that. I’ve confessed now, so please forgive
me.”
“…I think it was me who took the first step.”
“Then next time, I will be the one to do that.”
“What are you going to do next time?”
“…You can take a guess.”
As for a couple’s next step, there was only one possibility. Mahiru
should’ve understood what he was getting at… but she just felt puzzled.
Amane felt that he shouldn’t say those words out loud yet, so he placed
them into his heart since he wasn’t yet old enough to take responsibility.
Amane was confident his feelings would remain the same for many years to
come. At the right time, he intended to say it properly to her, so he will bide
his time for now.
Due to Amane’s joking around, Mahiru gazed up at him looking a little
dissatisfied. After Amane caressed her head, she calmed down.
“…You’re trying to fool me again.”
“I’ll talk to you about it later, so just let me go for now.”
“…Really?”
Mahiru spoke of her unhappiness, but she looked very content.
However, she seemed to notice something and hurriedly covered her
face while immediately starting to blush. Confused, Amane didn’t know
what was happening. Looking around, he noticed the palpable silence of his
classmates.
Their eyes simply gathered on him and Mahiru.
(--I messed up.)
Truthfully, Amane intended to show their good relationship and
stabilize his position as Mahiru’s boyfriend. However, he wasn’t planning
to talk to her like he usually did at home.
Amane had stroked Mahiru on her head without realizing it. However,
once he did that, it was obvious what the surrounding students would think
about it.
“…Amane, you’re showing your affection inadvertently, please be
aware.”
Even Itsuki, who firmly occupied the title of “The first-gen idiot
couple” had to remind him. Amane hurriedly took his hand away from
Mahiru’s head, biting his lip tightly to avoid showing the heat that rushed to
his cheeks.
The news that “Amane and Mahiru have started dating” spread across
the school immediately.
Thanks to his classmates who, for better or worse, loved to gossip, and
thanks to the people that saw them walking to school together, everyone
knew it wasn’t just a rumor. Whenever there was a change in periods or
they needed to leave the classroom, there would always be people
whispering nearby, which made Amane particularly uncomfortable.
“The commotion will subside in a few days, right?”
Makoto stood a certain distance away from the center of the noise
and looked at the scene. Kazuya nodded in agreement.
“Well, people don’t talk about the same thing for too long, so it’ll be
overwritten by other topics soon enough.”
“I hope so. If this happens every day, I really will start to have a
headache.”
Even during class, Amane could hear someone whispering a distance
away from him. To be honest, he was in a little bit of a bad mood.
Incidentally, during the last class break, the boys questioned him for a
long time, cutting his strength in half. Fortunately for him, there was no
physical education class today.
“I think there will be fewer people questioning you in the future, but
you will be surrounded for another reason.”
“Another reason?”
“There’ll be some that think you aren’t that bad of an object to have.”
“But I already have someone I like.”
Amane’s whole life was already dedicated to Mahiru. Even if he was
asked to look elsewhere, he definitely wouldn’t be able to. After all, even if
there was someone better than Mahiru, he would never choose someone
else.
Anyone else looking for Amane’s love would only trouble him.
There’s no way someone would think Amane was such a frivolous boy.
“Sometimes, being in love is unreasonable like that.”
“Wow. It sure is rare to hear something like that coming from
Makoto.”
“So rude. However, even though you’ve already got a lover, their
feelings can’t be suppressed so easily. After all, love is just an impulse.”
Makoto added, “You’re right, but they can’t act on their impulses
here, though.” He looked at the girls gathering to chat and sighed lightly.
“No matter what, no one will be able to get between you two. That’s
how I see it.”
“I agree. Your displays of affection should’ve taught others the
meaning of restraint, but even so, I wasn’t expecting you to do that in front
of everyone.”
“Forget that already…!”
Amane thought of his actions earlier, his shame starting to rise up.
He did want to show off their intimacy to help ward people away, but
caressing her head so lovingly as he did was akin to a confession. Beyond
that, what Amane said afterward sounded like he was planning to propose
in the future. He wasn’t intending to let his classmates know that much
about them.
Fortunately, Mahiru succeeded in throwing everyone off, but Itsuki
and Makoto seemed to catch it, dumbfoundedly saying, “They’re
so affectionate.”
“Well, now everyone knows Shiina only shows that expression to
Fujimiya. From that point of view, it’s not so bad, right?”
“…You could say that, but what’s embarrassing is still embarrassing.”
“You say that after holding hands together on the way to school.”
“That was different.”
Intentional and unintentional displays of affection had different levels
of shame.
“Just give it up. Besides, some people are thankful for you flirting like
that.”
“How come?”
“If the boys chasing Shiina would finally shift their attention
elsewhere, the girls will be happy.”
This was something Amane had considered as well. Not all of the girls
treated Mahiru in the same way. Amane knew that some of them had mixed
feelings towards her because she attracted the attention of the boys.
Until now, Mahiru had been alone. She was a lone flower who didn’t
show intimacy to anyone, but now she specified Amane as her important
person and showed no interest in others. This alleviated the disgust
harbored by some people.
Mahiru once said, “Not everyone likes me, and there are some who
speak ill words of me behind my back.” Amane thought that the world of
girls was terrible, but given their situation now, at least Mahiru would
finally be relieved of their hate.
“Girls really do try their best. But now, after all this, everyone will
understand that Mahiru is just an ordinary girl. She also doesn’t like people
calling her an angel, and thinks it’s too shameful.”
“That’s no surprise.”
“Yup. Yuuta also had a subtle change in expression every time he was
called the Prince. This much is normal.”
According to Kazuya, Kadowaki was also uncomfortable with the title
of the Prince. As he expected before, Yuuta also had the same troubles as
Mahiru, so Amane silently prayed for him.
Amane hoped Kadowaki could eventually find someone that
understand him, just like Mahiru did.
(I hope that person treats everyone equally, is gentle and kind, and is
the type to stay honest with themselves)
“…What are you talking about?”
Just as Amane was wishing for Kadowaki’s happiness, Mahiru
finished talking with Chitose and walked over.
Mahiru probably didn’t hear what they were talking about, but she
noticed Amane’s cheeks were flushed, so she looked at the three of them,
her eyes containing a little surprise.
“Ah, Shiina? We weren’t talking about much, just that you’re also just
an ordinary girl.”
“You talked about that kind of topic…?”
“Ah, no, well… now, our classmates see you as a normal girl, rather
than an angel, Mahiru.”
Amane almost forgot about what happened this morning and
summarized their small talk to Mahiru. Now understanding, she nodded and
said, “That’s true.”
“I know that in a certain way, I’m seen as an idol by some. That much
is true.”
Hearing Mahiru’s quiet mutter, Makoto and Kazuya both
showed expressions of “as expected”.
Both have known Kadowaki for a while, and noticed similar things in
him too, so they understood how Mahiru felt since she was quite similar to
him.
“But, I don’t care about what they say.”
“Really?”
“Um… After all, as long as Amane-kun sees me as an ordinary girl,
it’s fine.”
Although only Amane, Makoto, and Kazuya heard her whisper so,
her destructive power was more than enough.
Mahiru’s cheeks flushed slightly, and she smiled bashfully. Amane
wasn’t the only one fascinated by it.
He heard Kazuya and Makoto gasping next to him. Even
passing classmates who just happened to look by now stared at Mahiru’s
expression in a daze.
“…Fujimiya, think of a way to control your girlfriend.”
Then Amane heard in a soft voice, “There are many victims around
us.” He desperately agreed, but love was helpless like that. Or rather, he
himself was the biggest victim and was trying his best to stabilize his wildly
beating heart.
“…Really, she’s love-struck.”
Hearing Kuju’s helpless mutter, Mahiru blushed again, smiling deeper
as if affirming it.
“Amane-kun, how about lunch?”
After the morning classes were over, Mahiru carried a bag over and
walked to Amane’s seat. There were two bentos inside.
Amane planned to have lunch with the usual group during break time,
but he was hesitant since it could cause trouble for everyone instead.
Although he sometimes ate with Kazuya and Makoto, now talking to
them regularly, they still refused to eat with him today on the basis that
“Lone wolves like us shouldn’t witness the carnage”. Sadly, Amane
didn’t have the confidence to deny their words. He slipped up during class,
after all.
“Hmm. If you’re okay with it, Itsuki, let’s eat together.”
“Did you really think we wouldn’t join you?”
Itsuki, Chitose, and Yuuta all approached Amane and Mahiru with
their wallets, smiling wryly.
“Yeah, don’t talk like that. It’ll be the same as usual.”
“Itsuki…”
“After all, if no one is here to stop you two, the number of dead people
around would greatly increase. I think it’s better to have us here.”
“Tha- …no comment.”
Considering the interactions between the couple today, Amane could
understand what Itsuki was saying, but he was still uneasy about it.
Of course, Amane didn’t outright plan to do those things, but he and
Mahiru were prone to entering their own world without realizing it. Itsuki’s
worries were somewhat justified.
“Anyway, we’ll just act the same as before.”
“Well, for me, I hope Mahirun will attack more and escalate things
further~”
“If it comes to that… I won’t be able to stand around you guys
anymore. Your feelings are just too sweet… even just thinking about it!”
“You too, Kadowaki?”
“My face is getting hotter just imagining it, although seeing you two
being happy is also nice.”
As their smiles were filled with pure blessings, Amane was speechless.
Then, Kadowaki added, “But you still have to pay attention to your
surroundings, otherwise it’ll be unbearable for others.”
Regarding this point, Amane could understand Kuju’s and Hiiragi’s
rejection, so he nodded seriously.
“…Then, to the cafeteria, right? I don’t have a bento, so I’ll have to
buy lunch from the lines.”
“Uhh…”
“Then let’s go~ what’s today’s set meal?”
“I think it was fried chicken?”
“Huh, not bad. The fried chicken here is very delicious and the skin's
pretty thin.”
Itsuki chuckled, then waved his wallet and walked out. Amane silently
thanked him and followed behind them to enter the cafeteria.
“…Amane-kun, this is your lunch.”
In the cafeteria, their group occupied five seats. After the three who
bought food returned, Mahiru took out a bento from her bag and handed it
over to him.
Then, Mahiru took out her own bento box. Amane’s share was bigger.
Although Amane didn’t eat a lot, the appetite of a male high school student
was larger than a girl’s and this much was needed to satisfy his appetite.
“Well, thank you.”
“Mahirun’s bento looks great~”
“It’s not for you.”
“How stingy~”
Chitose puffed up her cheeks cutely, but fortunately, Mahiru offered
her own share, “You may take some of mine.” Her ballooned face quickly
deflated.
Although Chitose acted very childish, her carefree smile, words,
actions, and expressions that came with it made Itsuki look very pleased.
Watching the conversation between the two girls, Amane opened the
lid of his bento.
It contained the leftover chicken with small tomatoes and spinach,
butter fried corn flavored in soy sauce, boiled broccoli, painted octopus
sausages, and last of all, Amane’s favorite omelet.
There were a lot of main dishes, as Amane’s big appetite was taken
into consideration.
Amane would eat anything and also liked to have vegetables, but
having meat would promote his appetite. Coupled with the eggs he liked,
Amane was full of energy.
“I made more of Amane-kun’s omelet, okay?”
“I think I can do my best for another afternoon just with the omelet
alone.”
“Such an exaggeration.”
“No no, I’m serious.”
Amane liked his egg dishes a lot. For him, omelets ended up
stimulating his energy more than meat would. Therefore, the increase in
portion was exactly what he wanted.
Amane hurriedly said “Itadakimasu,” expressing his gratitude to the
food as well as Mahiru, before extending his chopsticks towards the omelet.
When eaten, it was damp and slippery; and after a bite, the stock oozed
out. The fresh fragrance and sweetness were intertwined, making Amane
raise the corners of his mouth into a smile.
The omelet was so delicious that Amane couldn’t bear to swallow it
immediately. He chewed slowly, enjoying the taste of it on the tip of his
tongue.
He should eat slowly as a precaution, but more importantly to him, he
just wanted to savor it for as long as possible.
Amane ate his bento without concealing the joy in his expression as if
saying, “It’s delicious as always.” Yuuta looked at him and let out a sigh.
“…You’re really enjoying the food, Fujimiya.”
“You’re right, it’s really delicious.”
“I know that. But Shiina must be very proud of herself when you’re
eating it so deliciously.”
Yuuta spoke to Mahiru, who looked at Amane with a smile on her face,
her cheeks were slightly red. Smiling, she said, “Yes. Amane-kun always
praises me for the delicious food. I’m very grateful.”
“The hard work I put into cooking wasn’t in vain, after all.”
“It feels great if someone cooks for me, not to mention it’s very
delicious.”
“I have mastered Amane-kun’s preferences, and I will continue to
work hard in the future.”
“It’s okay to carry on as usual.”
“I still want to cater to your preferences completely, Amane-kun.”
“I think you can just do what you like. Everything you cook is so
delicious, Mahiru.”
Amane had no plan to leave Mahiru, and he wasn’t expecting Mahiru
to adjust around him, and he also wanted to learn what Mahiru herself liked.
He didn’t want Mahiru to accommodate him blindly, but for the two of
them to adjust to each other together. Amane also wanted her to cater to her
own preferences too.
Amane nodded emotionally while eating the octopus-shaped sausages,
which a cute face painted on with sesame seeds. Beside him, Mahiru smiled
in embarrassment and shrank her shoulders.
Seeing the faint blush on her face, Amane couldn’t help but look
around and saw the dumbfounded look in Itsuki’s eyes.
“…You two were immersed in flirting before we could even stop it.
Seriously, what should we do?”
“…That wasn’t flirting.”
“Chi, are you listening to this?”
“It means~ this is just the beginning for them, not at their level of
flirting yet!”
“Hey, the pair of you.”
“This was a little subtler than what you did in the classroom, in that
way, you could say you weren’t flirting. However, even this much would
show others that they have no chance to intervene at all.”
Hearing those words, Amane shifted his gaze from his desk to the
surrounding seats and found boys in the same and senior grades glaring at
him.
Although their gaze was full of murderous intent, after Mahiru glanced
there they hurriedly looked away, so he understood very well.
(I’m not sure whether I should be ashamed of being heard by them, or
if I should be happy that I held back compared to this morning)
Amane showed a stiff smile, and Yuuta whispered, “I thought you did
it deliberately...”
“…Seriously, your relationship is great, but it’s way too easy for you
two to enter your own private world. Shouldn’t you pay more attention?”
Although Yuuta added another sentence, “It worked this time,” his
voice was a little helpless, and Amane pursed his lips in response.
✧₊✦₊✧
“…Why am I being surrounded?”
Back in the classroom after lunch, the boys gathered around him.
Mahiru seemed to have left to buy a drink with Chitose, so she wasn’t
in the classroom. Itsuki and Yuuta saw Amane being surrounded, yet they
just smiled and said, “Okay, just calm down and answer the questions,” and
began preparing for the next class.
“Those two are just…,” Amane thought. But if he couldn’t handle this
situation well, how could he interact with others easily in the future,
especially Mahiru? After thinking this, he had no choice but to sigh silently
in his heart, and then obediently let everyone surround him.
It was mostly boys that gathered.
They simply wanted to vent their dissatisfaction with him, no
malicious intent involved. The atmosphere they gave off wasn’t meant to
intimidate Amane, at least.
“You’re so annoying, you’re the thief of the century, stealing
everyone’s Angel like that…”
“How did I become the thief of the century? Besides, Mahiru isn’t for
everyone.”
“I’m so envious that you’re getting handmade bentos made by the
Angel.”
“We’re already dating, after all. I can’t help you if you’re complaining
about stuff like this.”
“But you picked the lone flower so easily.”
“Actually, it wasn’t that easy…”
Everyone voiced their dissatisfaction, but these voices were more like
awkwardness or anger, and they weren’t too harsh on him. Although the
boys showed slight jealousy towards Amane, they didn’t seem to oppose the
relationship itself. Itsuki, who was secretly eavesdropping, looked towards
him and smiled, tilting his head. It seemed that there was no salvation for
the poor Amane.
“Anyway, how did you two even meet? You said that you met last
year, but how?”
“Ah, what should I say… there was a time Mahiru was soaked in the
rain, so I lent her my umbrella and started a conversation. That’s probably
it.”
“That’s it!?”
“It wasn’t just that though, it’s actually more like after meeting
Mahiru, she couldn’t stand how my life was in such a mess and started to
take care of me.”
“You’re too lucky, you know that?”
“I can’t deny that.”
The encounter between Amane and Mahiru was full of coincidences.
If Mahiru didn’t receive a call from her mother that day, if Amane
didn’t notice her at the park, if he actually took a good bath, or if he messed
up somehow, then the two of them wouldn’t have gotten together. In short,
it was almost fate. If any of these conditions weren’t met, they might not
have developed a relationship like this.
Therefore, the romance between Mahiru and Amane must’ve been a
miracle.
Amane shrugged, lowered his eyebrows, and smiled, then the
classmate in front of him sighed slightly.
“…I’m not trying to belittle you, but I really don’t understand why the
Angel likes you. In terms of looks or academics, there must be someone
better than you. Although I understand how you two met, I wonder how
there was any opportunity for her to fall in love?”
“When she fell in love with me, or why, I haven’t asked Mahiru about
this, so I don’t know either.”
Amane only understood that Mahiru admired him, but since when did
she start to have such feelings, Amane didn’t know. He couldn’t answer this
question by himself; only Mahiru herself could.
Amane smiled ambiguously, not knowing how to answer. Briefly after,
another student laughed. Since he helped out at the study meeting hosted by
Mahiru last week, this student had started to occasionally chat with Amane.
“I can probably guess a little bit. Because Fujimiya is always calm,
alongside him being considerate of others and their feelings, the Angel
probably fell for those qualities of his, right?”
“Yes, it seems that Shiina doesn’t particularly like popular people.
Maybe, instead of choosing people who will expect something from her,
she prefers just being in the company of someone peaceful, right? Fujimiya
may not talk well… but he never denies others, or treats others as fools, so
it would be really easy to stay with him.”
“Speaking of which, now that I think about it, Fujimiya seems to be
really fond of Shiina. It was like that during the study meeting and during
the physical education class and cooking practice. You are so gentle with
her, even when you barely manage your own body. Make sure to protect
her, man.”
“So that’s how Fujimiya was caring about Shiina in the shadows.”
The two boys began to ignore Amane and started praising him. Amane
hurriedly glared at both of them.
“Hey, Konano, Yamazaki, that’s enough.”
“Look, he’s shy.”
“This is the so-called frankness of his, I get it.”
“You two…”
The two didn’t seem to be afraid of Amane’s glare at all.
It was better for those who envied him to listen to their conversation,
but Amane was feeling uncomfortable in the face of their comments. Then,
familiar laughter was heard from outside the crowd.
“Ahaha, although Amane keeps to himself, he’s really loyal and
considerate, Mahirun must’ve fell for that~”
“Is that so? Wait, Shirakawa, when did you show up?”
Chitose, who wasn’t in the classroom before, poked her head inside.
“Eh? It’s because lunch break is almost over. Besides, I got a message
telling me you were surrounded by everyone while we were away, so I
came back to take a look. By the way, Mahirun is here too.”
“Yes, I’m sorry.”
The person at the center of the attention, Mahiru, spoke with a
somewhat apologetic expression.
Classes would resume in the afternoon. The person of interest would
surely find out since it was being discussed in the classrooms.
Everyone understood it in their mind, but they appeared to have
forgotten and gotten carried away.
Amane sneaked a glance over towards Itsuki and saw him shaking his
phone in his hand. He was the culprit that called Chitose and Mahiru back.
(Should I thank Itsuki for his help, or should I complain about why he
didn’t just come over and help me out himself?)
Seeing Amane surrounded by everyone, Mahiru smiled helplessly and
approached him. Today, Amane’s side was solely Mahiru’s territory. She
didn’t care about the gaze of the crowd.
“I have never mentioned that to Amane-kun… Why do I like him? It is
difficult to answer, but I think it is because Amane-kun accepted me as
myself and still treated me with respect, and cherished every bit of me.”
Her calm voice sounded very gentle.
“I have also said before that although Amane-kun seems to be
indifferent to the people around him, he is actually considerate and
gentlemanly. He will lend a hand when others are uncomfortable and won’t
talk about superficial comforts casually. He had been watching me,
conveying his thoughts through his actions, and tolerated my weaknesses.
Not just that, but Amane-kun encouraged me, supporting me until I could
help myself. After experiencing these things, it’d be unusual if I wouldn’t
start to like him… or it could be that those things convinced me he was the
only person in my world.”
In other words, from that day on spring break and the day Mahiru met
her mother again, Mahiru was convinced of her love.
After realizing this, Amane felt his cheeks suddenly flush.
He wanted to ask Mahiru when and why she admired him, but he
wasn’t expecting to be answered in this manner; in front of everyone, no
less. Accompanied by Mahiru’s happy and bashful expression, her loving
and tender voice was also revealed.
Amane also felt extremely shy, having an immense urge to run away.
“Amane-kun is a person who can tolerate me, cherish me, respect me,
and care about me. Although he is shy and a little frank, he is always gentle
with me. So the more I understand him, the more I adore him.”
“Please, don’t say anything else…”
“Of course, it couldn’t be said that he has no shortcomings. For
example, he is very indifferent to his own affairs and has no self-
confidence. But recently, he has tried to sharpen his own appearance, which
to me, comes off as very handsome. He also turned out to be a little timid,
which is also cute.”
“…Forgive me.”
Hearing what she said, Amane was nearly ashamed to death. He didn’t
wait for Mahiru to finish talking before covering her mouth with his hand,
but it was too late.
However, there wasn’t just one blushing person here.
Mahiru’s explanation had essentially turned into her showcasing her
happiness. Seeing this, the faces of the students who heard her talking were
flushed, their eyes wandering around aimlessly.
“Why are you saying this here?”
“Because, if I take this opportunity to explain how much I like Amane-
kun and what a wonderful person you are, I can prevent conflicts with
everyone, I think.”
“It’s wicked to say that so deliberately… Besides, now even the things
that aren’t good about me are exposed.”
“Such as?”
“…The last ones.”
“But what I said was the truth. Of course, those parts of Amane-kun
are also great. Your shortcomings are very cute.”
“I’m sure it’s annoying, I’m a coward anyway.”
What Amane understood here was that his girlfriend had hit him where
it hurts.
Amane, biting his lip, felt a little complicated. At this time, a small
laugh came from beside him.
“Obviously, I’m innocent enough,” Amane muttered in a voice that
only Mahiru could hear, and turned his head away. Then, Mahiru began to
lightly hit Amane’s arm; since she also recalled her own innocence.
As Amane accepted this extremely cute attack, he calmed his heart and
cheeks. Then, a few distinct sounds could be heard which seemed to be
implying something.
The source of the sound was Chitose. She kept a posture while making
a sound, with her hands folded together and her eyes looking a little
helpless.
“Okay, time for the intimacy to stop here~ The classroom’s gonna burn
to the ground… You see this doting and sweet couple right here? Are there
any warriors who dare to intervene?”
“I wouldn’t dare.”
“How could anyone win against that?”
“It’s like being kicked by a horse.”
After Chitose asked, the boys shook their heads weakly, and Amane
drooped in shame.
He didn’t expect Mahiru to speak so much in front of everyone, yet he
was also at fault for not having the courage to ask earlier. Now he was
ashamed to death, and looking at Mahiru, he saw a slight smile, one full to
the brim of confidence and happiness.
“How should I say this… Shiina, in front of the person she likes, she’s
just an ordinary girl.”
The girl that said this had been silently observing till now. When
Mahiru heard this, her eyes widened, her expression turning into a smile of
innocence and mischief.
“Yes, I’m just an ordinary girl.”
Mahiru finished speaking without hesitation and then showed Amane a
shy expression.
(This might actually increase her popularity instead…)
Thinking this, Amane casually patted Mahiru’s head to conceal his
shame.
✧₊✦₊✧
Amane felt that today had been quite a long ordeal. He was constantly
being glanced at, making him rather uncomfortable.
Although Amane purposely let them stare at him, there were many
eyes focused on him, tiring him out mentally.
However, not all of their feelings were negative, and there was no lack
of genuine curiosity and happy cheers mixed in.
The latter of which were mostly from the girls, showing that Mahiru
was very popular.
“Mahiru, let’s go home.”
Amane spoke to Mahiru after school, who was also about to return
home. After a day of class, at last, Amane could escape from all kinds of
people’s sights.
Amane and Mahiru didn’t join any clubs. If Mahiru joined a particular
club, it would cause trouble, and affect the members.
This was the choice that Mahiru made while fully understanding her
influence, but the fact that she mustn’t allow herself to attend one saddened
Amane a little.
As for her, Mahiru didn’t mind at all. Instead, she said the cute
sentence, “I only met Amane-kun because I didn’t join a club…” and
Amane became embarrassed.
“Well, I’ve been waiting for a long time.”
Mahiru packed up her things and showed a soft smile, which made
Amane’s expression naturally calm.
What made Amane happy was that they could return home together
now, compared to before when they had to stagger their times for
appearance’s sake.
“We’ll be leaving then.”
Amane picked up Mahiru’s bag that was resting on the table and said
this line to Itsuki, who was next to him.
Yuuta had already gone to his club and was no longer seen in the
classroom.
“Well, I’m too embarrassed to disturb the two newlyweds, so please do
go back affectionately.”
“What newlyweds?”
“Ah, my bad, you two are old couples.”
“Says you.”
Although Amane glared at him saying, “What are you even talking
about?” Itsuki didn’t seem to take it seriously. On the contrary, he had a
happy face, and still wore the usual frivolous smile in front of Amane’s
stern gaze.
“I’m right no matter how you look at it, Chi, don’t you think so too?”
“I agree~”
“You’re so annoying. Is it really alright for the idiot couple to say such
a thing?”
“Oh, then you’re the second-generation idiot couple. Because I am the
first-generation, I deem you an idiot couple.”
“Hey…”
“There there, Amane-kun should also calm down.”
Amane planned to flick Itsuki’s forehead, but because Mahiru
dissuaded him, he decided against it.
“Akazawa, please don’t make so much fun of Amane-kun.”
“Mahiru…”
“Amane-kun isn’t being honest, and would be embarrassed if you tease
him. Just leave it here for now.”
“Mahiru, why are you starting too?”
“I’m joking.”
Even Mahiru started to tease him, which made Amane feel
complicated, but because Mahiru was smiling happily with her real smile
even at school, Amane couldn’t bring himself to stop her.
In the past, she always showed a beautiful textbook-like smile that
everyone would praise, hiding her real smile away in the shadows. And
now, her smile and attitude were unrestrained, and Amane certainly
couldn’t blame her for it.
Having said that, Amane was unwilling to back down obediently
without a little revenge, so he planned to tease Mahiru until he was satisfied
when they got home.
“Okay Amane-kun, let’s go now.”
Mahiru seemed to have noticed something and urged him a little
flusteredly. Amane smiled, saying “Yeah,” and took Mahiru’s hand.
✧₊✦₊✧
“I think it’s great to be able to publicize our relationship, now we can
go out and buy things together like this.”
At the supermarket, Mahiru whispered with emotion while selecting
the ingredients for today’s dinner.
The supermarket wasn’t a place student couples would usually go to,
but Amane and Mahiru also didn’t specifically arrange a date there.
Considering that they had to prepare dinner, the two came here
together to prepare.
“After all, it was impossible to come here together before.”
“Well, we can do a lot of things without secrecy in the future, such as
going out to buy things together.”
“Yes. If needed, we can decide what we want to eat on the spot.”
“Hmm…”
What they wanted to eat was always decided in advance, but from now
on, if there was a sudden urge for a specific dish, they could still discuss it.
Tonight, they originally planed to eat dishes based around Japanese
cuisine. However, Amane saw the daily meal set in the cafeteria at
lunchtime and said that he wanted to eat fried chicken, and Mahiru was
ready to fulfill his wish.
Mahiru grabbed some chicken thighs and put them in the basket that
Amane was holding. She said, “After eating meat for a while, it would be
better for us to eat fish tomorrow” as if she was already thinking about
tomorrow’s dinner.
“What should we eat tomorrow?”
“Anything is fine… you aren’t embarrassed if I say that? Well, how
about horse mackerel?”
“It just so happens to be in season, so that’s good. Then tomorrow, let’s
eat fried horse mackerel marinated in onion vinegar, not too sour, right?”
“Yeah.”
Amane laughed and said, “You really know me too well,” and Mahiru
shyly replied, “Because I have been cooking for you for half a year.”
Indeed, after eating together for 6 months, Amane also started to
understand his own preferences. In this way, although it had only been just
over half a year since the two got involved in this relationship, a lot of
things happened, making Amane sigh out loud.
“…We started dating in half a year, it’s amazing.”
“That’s a long time in my opinion? You were so slow, and even turned
a blind eye even when you noticed my feelings, Amane-kun.”
“Um… I’m sorry”
“Fufu, I’m not going to bully you now, I know that you adore me.”
Mahiru smiled like a prankster, making Amane feel a little
uncomfortable. But in the end, the problem was that Amane couldn’t make
his mind up, so he fully admit his mistakes.
“Well, I will clearly express my love from now on.”
“Yes, I will too”
“…I’ll be embarrassed if Mahiru does it too much though, so please be
modest.”
“Embarrassed?”
“…Don’t turn me into a wolf.”
If Mahiru started acting spoiled again, Amane’s rationality might go on
strike, so he hoped that Mahiru would stop before it was too late.
Mahiru seemed to understand Amane’s message, and her face blushed,
her mouth twitched as if to make a noise. Hearing her reply in a small
voice, “I, I will pay attention…”, Amane tried to prevent himself from
blushing too, and simply nodded.
“Itsuki?”
“What’s wrong?”
“…Is Mahiru more popular now than before she started dating me?”
In the classroom, Mahiru was surrounded by many of their classmates.
Amane looked at her and asked him quietly, and Itsuki replied with “Yeah,”
after looking the same way.
A few days after the start of their relationship, Mahiru’s popularity
continued to increase.
She was already the most popular in the grade, but now she was
constantly surrounded by everyone.
Among them, the proportion of girls was higher than that of boys, but
the boys also cast an enthusiastic look at her. Seeing those looks, Amane
felt a little complicated.
“I also sort of understand why Shiina is more popular than before.”
“How so?”
“Well… she used to look like she was separated by a layer of glass, but
now she seems more approachable. I think that because you two started
dating, Shiina, who was originally unattainable and difficult to reach, now
shows her more girly side.”
Indeed, the nature of her smile had changed after they started dating.
Although the angelic smile would naturally be there at times, she
began to show more of her real side too. Compared to the slender and weak
smile she usually wore, she began to show more of an innocent smile of a
young girl.
Little by little, Mahiru no longer acted like an angel but revealed her
hidden self. Amane was happy about this, but at the same time harbored
some complicated emotions because the smile that only he knew had now
been shown to everyone.
Amane wanted everyone to know that Mahiru shouldn’t be treated as
an idol but instead as an ordinary girl, yet them seeing her real side makes
him feel upset. This contradiction of his feelings made him hate himself.
“How should I put it, I just feel a little awkward. Her true face that
only those closest to her would see is now shown to everyone. It’s
obviously a great thing, but I still feel stingy in my heart.”
“That’s a manifestation of your urge to keep her to yourself… but she
isn’t everything that she’s showing now, she must have a lot of expressions
that will only show to you.”
“That’s true.”
When touching Mahiru, she would show a shy and a little joyful
expression; when she felt awkward, she would puff up her cheeks and pout,
showing off her dissatisfaction; when acting spoiled, she would have a soft
and sweet smile like she was sucking honey. These were all expressions that
only Amane was allowed to see.
“Besides, you're the one that changed Shiina. She has that smile
because of you. Don’t be put off by it, how about you go up and say ‘My
Mahiru really is so cute!’?”
“…I wouldn’t dare to declare sovereignty like that, but I won’t be
jealous anymore.”
“As if that’s the case. You flirt so much in front of everyone anyway.”
“Th-that’s… not intentional.”
“If it was deliberate, that would just be daring. Besides, even if
unintentionally, you two unconsciously kill everyone around you.”
Itsuki poked Amane’s head, saying, “watch out.” Amane could only
purse his lips.
Recently, some classmates blushed when passing by Amane and
Mahiru, and their eyes glazed over.
There wasn’t special close contact between the two, and there were no
intimate conversations, but some classmates still turned bright red, which
left Amane a little confused at times.
The jealous sights remained, but the number of warm looks given to
them had increased. Amane heard the boys in the class who came to find
faults due to their jealousy conclude, “Seeing their relationship is this good,
even I know I can’t interfere, this sweetness is something to die for…”
Hearing other people say that Mahiru is only looking at him, even
though Amane felt shy, he was a little happy.
“But it’s also Shiina’s interest to not let others take you away from
her.”
“How could I be stolen? I’m not as good as Mahiru, so no one would
be interested in me. Even if I were, I would only embarrass myself.”
“…Although you say you aren’t that good, your average specs are
actually very high. First off, you don’t mention things that don’t need to be
said. Although your words are a bit unpleasant sometimes, they're very
gentlemanly, distinct and honest. In the eyes of a girl, you could be
regarded as a good catch. Your appearance is decent, although your body is
a bit bland, you’ve got a good head on your shoulders, and in sports… well,
you’re just ordinary. Although you’re sometimes a little rude, your
personality is fine, and you’re also dedicated and honest. You’ll be seen as
an enviable object to have, right?”
“When you praise me this much… I feel sick…”
“Your words aren’t always on point, so you just lost 50 points. Even
so, it’s obvious when you say something you don’t mean. As long as you
don’t dwell on your bad parts, you’re fairly straightforward in nature.”
“Are you trying to say I’ve got a bad personality?”
Although not as bad compared to back when he was most helpless,
Amane still felt that he had a poor personality.
The compliments of good character and straightforwardness were
more suited for a man like Yuuta, who was as good a man on the inside as
he looked on the outside, and shouldn’t be used for a man like Amane, who
wasn’t exactly the most diligent.
“I think you understand others well and are very direct. Chi said
something similar once, that you’re honest and easy to figure out.”
“What’s up with you two.”
“All in all, your mouth can be foul, but in fact, you’re very upright,
and you care about others. It’s just that you often speak harshly.”
“Well, sorry I don’t speak well.”
After Amane turned his head away, Itsuki laughed and came over to
pat Amane on the shoulder. Amane pushed back with his elbow, then
whispered, “Thank you.”
✧₊✦₊✧
“You’ve become more approachable after you started dating Shiina,
Fujimiya-kun.”
It seemed that like Mahiru, Amane’s impression had also changed.
Before interacting with Mahiru, Amane barely spoke to unfamiliar
people apart from formal greetings, and nobody would take the initiative to
talk to him either.
“…Have I?”
After the other party suddenly mentioned that, Amane didn’t know
how to respond and simply shrugged.
Amane was now helping out a classmate after her previous helper
asked to leave, as they were worried about being late for their club if they
continued to help with duty work.
Mahiru had originally planned to help him together, but there was
another girl in the class who wanted to discuss something with her, so they
moved to the corner of the classroom to talk.
The level of other people’s enthusiasm about them remained the same
as before. As a boyfriend, Amane was pleased with this, but also a little
worried about her.
Amane was cleaning the blackboard after finishing the classroom.
Then, the girl on duty today took a pen to record something in the class log,
glanced at his expression, and then laughed.
“You sure have changed a lot, huh? Before your image change, you
always made people feel uncomfortable, Fujimiya-kun. You had a ‘don’t
talk to me’ kind of aura around you. I thought you were afraid of people.”
“I still feel a little sorry about that”
“Fufufu, why apologize to me? That’s just your nature, I don’t intend
to make any irresponsible comments about it. I just thought that you had
few but very close friends, so when I saw you and Kadowaki-kun become
friends, I was very curious about how that happened. Now, a few days after
your image change, I understand that although you haven’t changed too
much, you now spend time trying to get along with others, or rather trying
to form a group.”
“…Kido, are you good at observing others?”
“Well, it’s one of my hobbies, after all.”
Amane was surprised that she could see through him so well.
Although Amane had some general knowledge of his classmates’
personalities and thought Kido was just like Chitose, one who talked and
laughed in the center of the crowd, that was all he knew.
This girl was Kido Ayaka if he remembered correctly.
Because they’d never spoken much before, Amane only really knew
her by her face. However, someone like that should’ve had no reason to
carefully observe Amane.
“…Anyway, it isn’t good for me to stay in my own little world, right?”
“Was it for Shiina?”
“No. Not so much for Mahiru, but myself.”
Mahiru didn’t ask Amane to change himself, and Amane didn't want to
put the blame on her. It was his own wish, and he hoped he could improve
himself without relying on her.
“The reason why I decided to change myself was that I felt that to be
with Mahiru, I had to get out of my comfort zone. It was my own decision.”
Although Amane felt that Mahiru liked him even before he bravely
took this step, Amane still wanted to change himself because he wanted to
make himself more confident.
He was trying to change himself to become more qualified as the one
standing next to Mahiru. To put it bluntly, it was for his own self-
satisfaction, Amane’s own decision, and it wasn’t influenced by Mahiru’s
thoughts.
Amane asserted that it was all for himself. Kido, who’d now finished
logging the records, laughed inexplicably as if she’d just heard something
interesting.
“Shiina’s so loved.”
“…That wasn’t what I meant.”
“Fufu, it sure sounds like it though.”
Kido smiled contentedly and said, “Thank you for the treat.” Amane
couldn’t help but feel a little ashamed, but there was no mockery in her
eyes, and Amane could only hold back his breath.
“Well, the love you have for her is so deep, man. If you didn’t like her
to that extent, you wouldn’t have decided to change yourself. Working hard
for the person you like, I think that’s great. This is love, love indeed.”
“…There’s nothing wrong with that.”
“Yeah, and that’s great. And Shiina also loves you deeply, so why
don’t you say that since she’s looking over here right now.”
“Look there,” Kido said, motioning Amane to look at the corner of the
classroom. Amane looked over per her instructions, and Mahiru, who had
finished talking with others, was standing there alone. She showed a
somewhat uneasy expression, perhaps because Amane was having a very
happy chat with other girls without her.
“Shiina’s looking at you”
“Mm.”
“Then please explain this to Shiina? After all, I have a boyfriend
myself, so I don’t intend to make her jealous.”
Kido smiled badly and stood up. At the same time, a boy’s voice came
from outside the classroom and said, “Kido, you’re not finished yet? You’re
going to be late for your part-time job.”
“President, wait a minute, I just have to submit this first.”
After thinking about it, Amane felt he was still anxious about starting
work, but she didn’t appear to be the same and responded to the boy slowly.
Amane and Kido’s eyes met, and she winked mischievously.
“Fujimiya-kun, thank you for helping me. As a thank-you gift… I only
have this, so forgive me. Then, goodbye.”
Kido quickly took something out of her bag and put it on Amane’s
palm, then hurriedly ran out of the classroom.
“She’s like a storm.” Amane thought as such and looked at what she
had handed over to him. He found that it was a high-protein chocolate
wafer. Yuuta once recommended one to Amane before, saying that they’re
convenient for replenishing energy after exercise.
“She didn’t need to return a gift for that… but why did she give me
something like this?”
(Why did she carry something like this when it has men as its primary
consumer? Did she really think I was too thin and needed to exercise
more?)
With such questions in his mind, Amane looked at the door where
Kido had left, and at that moment Mahiru walked to his side.
Although there was no dissatisfaction on her face, there was a hint of
hesitation shown.
“…You look quite doubtful of me.”
“I-I’m not suspicious of you? You two just seemed to be talking very
happily, so I’m curious as to what you were chatting about...”
Sure enough, her boyfriend chatting with other girls made Mahiru feel
uneasy.
Amane didn’t want to make Mahiru feel unhappy, and Kido should’ve
also thought it was a normal chat, but since Mahiru felt this way, he would
reflect on it.
“Sorry for making you feel anxious. Just now, we were talking about
the fact that I’d changed. Kido mentioned that I seem to have changed a
lot.”
The topic of love was embarrassing, and Amane didn’t specifically
mention it, but this should’ve given her a rough explanation.
Stroking her head, Amane told her little by little what they had just
talked about. He probably calmed her down a bit, and Mahiru’s uneasy
expression gradually calmed, forming the soft look of a smile. Amane had
discovered recently that a little intimate contact with Mahiru would calm
her mind.
“Of course, you’ve turned into a cheerful and fine young man, Amane-
kun. The difference from before is clear.”
“I felt withdrawn before, but that should be very different from now.”
“It’s undeniable that you were very quiet before, and even gave off
some pressure to other people, Amane-kun. It seemed like you were quite
difficult to approach…”
“Well, she did say that I am much more approachable now.”
“Fufu. But so far, Amane-kun, you’re still lacking initiative, and you
only respond well when someone talks to you first. I feel like, after taking
the opportunity to publicize our relationship, people have come to chat with
you more, and everyone will find that you’re less indifferent about others
than they thought. Moreover, you’re much softer than before now, Amane-
kun.”
Mahiru seemed to retaliate against Amane who was stroking her head
by poking his cheek with her finger. Amane, who felt a little embarrassed
by it, lightly grabbed and removed her hand.
But instead, Amane held her hand and rubbed her fingers while they
intertwined. This should be enough to satisfy Mahiru’s desire for intimate
contact.
Mahiru’s smile was a little happier than before. “Lately, Amane-kun,
you’ve looked a lot brighter,” she whispered. Amane was a little ashamed
and slightly staggered his eyes.
“…I think I must’ve changed after living with Mahiru. Also, if I have
to say it, I think Mahiru is also easier to talk to than before as well.”
“Then, I changed after being with Amane-kun.”
“…Really?”
“Of course”
Even without looking, Amane felt that Mahiru was smiling happily. He
deliberately didn’t look at her, instead squeezing her hand as a
counterattack to hide his inner shame.
Late June was the start of monsoon season, where it was always
somewhat cloudy outside.
It was the same today. Raindrops constantly fell from the gloomy sky.
The vision of the surroundings was even worse than usual, and the foggy air
gave people a sense of seclusion.
“…Ah, it feels so humid.”
“After all, it is the rainy season.”
The entire school was filled with sluggishness, there was no way
anyone could be productive. Even the members of the usually active sports
club all looked depressed, creating a gloomy atmosphere.
Even Chitose, who was usually lively and active, couldn’t stand the
weather. She sat in her seat and collapsed weakly onto the table. Just like
last year, she had no energy, and even her normal hairstyle had changed.
She usually just left her hair naturally hanging down, but perhaps
because of the humid weather, she had tied her hair up in pigtails.
Nevertheless, the random hairs sticking out of place needed some fixing.