章節 107: The Angel’s Request
Even after hearing Itsuki's story, Amane sang along and chatted casually with
everyone just as before, and before he knew it, it was time to go.
After karaoke, the other partygoers decided to go eat dinner at a casual
restaurant, but Amane and Mahiru were splitting off from the group. Everyone
was reluctant to let them leave, and even Amane felt a little sad to go, but it
would have been terrible if anything happened to Mahiru, so they headed
home.
From serving customers at the culture festival, to cleanup afterward, and then
a party after that, the day had been one event after another, so his body was
pretty tired, but the fact that he still wasn't completely fatigued was probably
because he had been training his body with exercise. He still had a spring in his
step by the time they made it home.
"Ah, I'm wiped out."
"Heh-heh, you worked hard."
They ate the simple dinner that Mahiru had prepared for them that day and
settled in to relax.
It could have been that both of them were feeling slightly mentally drained
from waiting on customers, but Mahiru's smile seemed more subdued than
usual. It wasn't that it lacked brilliance, only that there seemed to be less
energy in her smile than usual.
Amane was concerned that she also seemed to be feeling a little awkward.
"…Is something bothering you?"
"Huh?"
"Ah, you just don't really seem yourself. I was worried that something
unpleasant or troubling might have happened today at the culture festival."
"N-no…troubling? Not really."
"That's not a very convincing denial."
"Well, there was that thing the first day…"
"…Sorry, for making you remember that."
"Ah, n-no that's not what I meant! …Troubled…I guess you could say…right
now, there is something on my mind."
Amane didn't worry that he was being rejected or unwanted because he was
talking to Mahiru, and he didn't know what she was worried about yet.
No matter how close Amane and Mahiru were, without words, they could not
really communicate. That was precisely why they had decided between
themselves to always listen to what the other had to say. But even though
Mahiru must have remembered that agreement, she seemed to be having a
hard time speaking. She kept moving her lips as she struggled with the words.
From the way she was acting, Amane assumed that he must be the cause, and
that she must be unhappy with him, and yet she didn't seem like she was
blaming him for anything.
He stared straight into her slightly wavering caramel-colored eyes wondering
what on earth was the matter. Eventually, Mahiru parted her lips slightly, and it
seemed like she was ready to talk.
"…I…I said that I had some things I needed to talk to you about after the
culture festival was over, didn't I?"
"Hmm? Ah, right, you did say that."
"So the thing is…I'm not really sure how to say this. Amane, well, this might
be the wrong way to put this, but I'm the only one you think of, right?"
"Yeah."
"And you don't have any interest in other girls, do you?"
"What? Of course not…"
Obviously it would be a problem if he was checking out other girls, despite
having a girlfriend.
"Well, that makes me incredibly happy, and I also think it's one of your
virtues, Amane. But because you only have eyes for me…you're probably
indifferent to the attention you're getting from other girls."
"I think they're just wondering how someone like me ended up with someone
like you."
"…They like you, Amane, and you're not paying attention, so you don't even
notice."
Amane blinked dramatically at her totally unexpected words, and a slightly
bitter smile appeared on Mahiru's lips.
"Earlier, at karaoke, when I went to the bathroom, I just happened to
overhear some classmates talking about how great you were. The same thing
happened during the culture festival. You looked so cool, and even the
customers were complimenting you."
"I never really noticed any of that stuff. Are you sure?"
"Yes… I'm happy that other people are finally recognizing your charm… At the
same time, I hate the idea that my Amane, the Amane that only I know, is
disappearing. Along with the assumption that I'm the only one you might be
interested in."
In short, Mahiru had been feeling the very same emotion that he had been
feeling toward her. The nature of it was a little different, but basically, she was
jealous.
"The culture festival is over, so please let me say this. I really…I kind of hated
seeing you smiling at customers, looking as cool as you did. You're supposed to
be all mine."
Mahiru made her best effort to say what she had to say, in a slightly faltering
tone of voice, and embraced him, emphasizing the point that he belonged to
her.
He knew he shouldn't laugh at her confession of jealousy and possessiveness,
but a smile automatically rose to his lips.
…She really loves me, huh.
He had once again glimpsed the endlessly pure and vast well of affection that
Mahiru had for him, and he knew that he also felt the same for her. It made him
a little self-conscious.
Although she showed a slight bit of hesitation, Mahiru didn't give up and
clung tightly to Amane. He used his opposite arm, the one she wasn't holding
onto, to stroke her head.
"Rest assured, please. There are plenty of things that everyone else doesn't
know about me, and the only one who'll get to discover them is you, Mahiru…
For starters, did you know that I'm a more jealous guy than you thought?"
Mahiru hadn't really experienced it yet, but Amane's feelings of jealousy
could be very strong.
Showing his jealousy openly wasn't really in Amane's nature. He was too
immature, and Mahiru's popularity was common knowledge and not something
that he could try to change, so he had resigned himself to it. He also understood
perfectly well that Mahiru's attention wasn't wandering or anything.
That said, he still didn't find it very pleasant, and if he could, he would've had
her always stay in arm's reach.
"These past two days, with so many eyes on you, I've been so jealous, I've
been thinking that I don't want to be apart from you."
"…Yeah."
"You're the only one I see, Mahiru… I'm already yours and yours alone, so hog
me all you want. And I'll keep you all to myself, too."
As if to get back all the time they had lost to the culture festival, Mahiru
snuggled up next to Amane, and he put his arms around her and wrapped her
whole dainty body in his embrace. After stiffening for just a moment, Mahiru
entrusted everything to him, and leaned against Amane.
She was no longer a maid who smiled at everyone. She was just a regular girl,
showing him the special smile that was meant for him alone.
Mahiru's eyes were sweet and full of trust as she peered up at him. Amane
smiled at her utterly straightforward affection, and in order to ease any worries
that she was still holding, he stole a kiss from her anxious lips.
Her lips were just as sweet as her eyes, and he felt himself melt into them
ever so gently. Mahiru happily closed her eyes and accepted Amane's delicate
kiss.
He wanted to cherish his time with Mahiru as much as humanly possible and
didn't kiss her too deeply, keeping it light and sweet. They were kissing each
other, which was just enough to feel each other's heat. When Amane stopped,
he rubbed Mahiru's back in a comforting way. She drew her lips away slowly
and reluctantly.
Her eyes, flooded with tears, but harboring a quiet and loving—yet expectant
and greedy—look, lingered on Amane with some embarrassment.
He didn't understand the meaning behind her look, and before he could ask
her what the matter was, Mahiru buried her face in Amane's arms and seemed
to be hunting for something with her slim fingers.
Timidly, she gripped his shirt, and in his arms, he heard her whisper quietly,
"…Today…is it all right…if I don't go home?"
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