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?"