Memories of the Past

As his parent-teacher meeting was scheduled for today, Amane had of course taken the day off from work. After the meeting was over, he accompanied Shihoko back home.

Mahiru usually spent most of her time at Amane's place, and today was no exception. As she had been waiting for him in the living room, she

trotted over to the front door after hearing the sound of it unlocking. Shihoko was no longer surprised by this, so it seemed that now, she also considered it ordinary.

Amane was unsure whether to feel dissatisfied or embarrassed about how she had accepted it as the norm. However, since it was now so typical of them that nobody even commented on it anymore, he figured his only

choice was to drop it.

"Oh, Shihoko-san, you came to visit." Mahiru greeted her with an

enthusiastic smile as if she were welcoming a relative home for an annual

visit. Though they had met during the cultural festival, the many events that had occurred since then made it feel like a distant memory.

Even more enthusiastic than Mahiru was Shihoko, who gleefully exclaimed, "Oh my, Mahiru-chan, you look well!" She embraced Mahiru tightly, a delighted expression on her face.

Mahiru, although with red cheeks, accepted her embrace happily, so Amane had no reason to complain. That said, Amane couldn't help but pick up on how Shihoko kept sharing a much more emotional reunion with Mahiru than with him, her own son. The two of them continued to enjoy their affectionate moment for a while until Shihoko, noticing Amane's bemused gaze, said, "Amane might get jealous, so I'll leave it at that," completely misunderstanding the situation. This only made Amane's gaze sharpen even further.

"Did you come for Amane-kun's meeting today?"

"Yes, exactly. With it being this time of year, meetings like those are unavoidable. And now that Amane is in the latter half of his second year, his teacher applied a bit of pressure to make sure I attended."

Although it was rare for a student at Amane's school to live alone, the school administration acknowledged his situation. During previous meetings, they had no issue with his parents' absence… However, with exams soon approaching, the school had concerns about the lack of coordination between his parents and teachers, and as a result, they had requested that Amane bring his parents for the next meeting if possible.

Amane did think it would be awkward if his parents were absent during every meeting. Since he also understood his teacher's concerns about the upcoming exams, Amane made sure to ask his parents to attend this time around.

"Is Shuuto-san at work?" Mahiru asked.

"Yes, he is. It's a busy period for him, so he wasn't able to take any time off. Though, personally, I would've loved a four-way meeting."

"That'd feel incredibly pressuring, so don't even suggest it. Regular meetings make us students feel awkward enough as it is."

Shihoko chuckled, "Oh, I'm sure they do. You should get used to the awkwardness while you have the chance, Amane. Once you graduate, you won't have any of those meetings again."

To students, parent-teacher meetings were a universally awkward and somewhat intimidating ordeal, but for parents, they flew by all too easily.

Either that, or it was simply that Shihoko tended to casually breeze through them. Seeing his mother thoroughly enjoying her position as a parent, Amane sighed deeply.

✧ ₊ ✦ ₊ ✧

As it was already mid-November, the season when temperatures dropped and hot drinks tasted better, the tea that Mahiru made was delicious enough to warm his entire body. Having given up the sofa to Mahiru and Shihoko, Amane sat cross-legged on the floor, sipping his tea slowly while looking up at the two of them. Mahiru still seemed to be getting along with his mother better than he did.

"Your parent-teacher meeting is tomorrow, right, Mahiru-chan?" Shihoko immediately stepped onto a landmine of a sensitive topic, causing Amane to nearly choke on his drink. However, he managed to mask his reaction as he cleared his throat, knowing that overreacting would only provoke Mahiru.

Looking up at Mahiru, Amane noticed that she had her usual smile on her face.

"Yes, although it's certain to be more of a student-teacher meeting. I haven't informed my parents, so it won't be a genuine parent-teacher meeting," Mahiru said.

Even after receiving the notice about the parent-teacher conference, Mahiru had never brought it up in conversation nor had she informed her parents, which was to be expected. Shihoko, who knew a thing or two about Mahiru's family situation, observed her unchanged, calm expression. With her usual demeanor, Shihoko let out a "Hmm," sounding thoughtful yet equally untroubled.

"In other words, there's room for me to go with you."

"Mom." Hearing her say something so outrageous, Amane instinctively began to stand up.

Despite that, Shihoko continued with a completely serious expression. "A parent-teacher meeting is just that—a parent-teacher meeting. Nowhere does it specify which parent has to attend. As long as they're a guardian,

anyone can go, right?" Shihoko described her plan as if it were a stroke of genius. "Besides, she's practically my own daughter, so there's no harm in hearing about her plan for the future. The way I see it, I'm no different from a guardian."

"What are you saying with such a straight face? There's no way our teacher won't say anything."

"Then how about asking Shuuto-san to go? They might not notice at first glance."

"But you said yourself that Dad couldn't take the day off." Though Amane realized his retorts were falling flat, he couldn't help but say something—his words just kept spilling out. "Actually, that's not even the point. You have to think about how Mahiru feels as well. If an outsider suddenly joins a conversation about her future, even if you're close, Mahiru might get uncomfortable."

"Oh, that's a great point. Silly me, I got ahead of myself." "No, I'm happy you feel that way!" Mahiru exclaimed. "You don't have to be considerate about Mom, you know."

"It's not that I'm being considerate, it's just, um…it really did make me happy, and I'm grateful. Those are my true feelings." Mahiru gently shook her head, showing no signs of lying. She didn't appear to harbor any feelings of discomfort or confusion about Shihoko's offer. However, it was clear that her genuine happiness wasn't the entire story. While Mahiru displayed a mix of longing and admiration, there was also a hint of resignation in her expression.

"How wonderful it would be if that could happen." Despite Mahiru not uttering a thing, Amane felt as though he could hear those words.

"Since it inevitably involves having to discuss my family matters, I believe that the teacher would ask you to refrain. Even if you went out of your way to attend, it would likely be a waste of time…"

However, Mahiru quickly returned to her usual smile, grasping Shihoko's hand and looking into her face. The fleeting glimpse of bittersweet emotion that had momentarily crossed Mahiru's face was no longer visible.

"Um, please allow me to accept your feelings. It makes me happy that you think of me as your d-daughter, Shihoko-san."

"Oh my! You're practically my daughter already." "Mom," interjected Amane.

Shihoko responded with a chuckle. "Even Amane's getting all shy now." "I'll get mad," he grumbled. Whether Shihoko noticed Mahiru's subtle

change or not, she used Amane as a segue to change the subject and lighten the mood. He immediately went along with it, although not without shooting his mother a slight glare.

Shihoko thoroughly enjoyed Amane's reaction and looked at Mahiru with a playful smile. She teasingly whispered, "He's just hiding his embarrassment, isn't he~?" with a carefree smile.

"That's what makes him so cute—he's so easy to read. Right, Mahiru-chan?"

"Amane-kun is always cute." "Mahiru…"

"Oh, didn't you know? I'm always thinking that you're both cool and cute, Amane-kun."

For women, 'cute' was a kind of compliment, one often used with the meaning of finding something endearing. However, after considering how Mahiru usually behaved, there was a real possibility that she genuinely thought he was cute in the childish sense, which made her comment particularly hard to ignore. Rather than cute, Amane wished to be seen as cool. At the same time, however, he was aware that he had shown Mahiru some of his more pitiful sides before, which would be quite frustrating for him if that was the reason she perceived him as cute. Though he didn't voice any complaints, he felt justified in sending her a disapproving glance.

Seeing that Amane wouldn't directly make his dissatisfaction known, Shihoko continued to grin at him mischievously. "Wow! You must really be honest with Mahiru-chan. She gets to see sides of you that you don't even show your parents~"

Mahiru giggled. "I think Amane-kun is always honest."

"I can only hope he is," Shihoko replied. "Now, Amane doesn't show much honesty when he's with me. He used to be so adorable and direct when he was younger."

"I believe most boys his age struggle to be honest with their mothers.

Their embarrassment seems to get the better of them. But even if his words can be strong, Amane-kun is still kind. I think it's wonderful how he gets all quiet when he realizes he's said too much."

"Exactly. He's at that age now where he wants to act tough. But his personality hasn't actually changed at all, so I'm not worried about that."

"Why does my place always become enemy territory…" Amane muttered.

Even at his parents' house, he had felt like he was in enemy territory, so he hadn't expected to feel the same way even in his own apartment. When Shihoko was around, Mahiru wasn't always on his side—sometimes, she would quietly team up with Shihoko against him, so Amane couldn't afford to let his guard down. This time, too, Mahiru had joined forces with Shihoko to whittle down his HP.

"Oh, that's because anywhere I go becomes my territory, no?"

"That's enough out of you, Mom. Seriously, you're a real piece of work." "This is what I mean, Mahiru-chan. The way he tries to hide his

embarrassment is adorable."

As Shihoko chuckled, adding, "They're only words, after all," Mahiru laughed along. It was at this moment that Amane's HP gauge had reached the red.

"You get along quite well, don't you?" Mahiru giggled. "This isn't what you call 'getting along,' Mahiru…"

Noticing Amane's tremendous mental exhaustion, Mahiru chuckled softly and said, "That's how it looks from the outside," while winking at him adorably.

✧ ₊ ✦ ₊ ✧

Shihoko stayed for about an hour before gracefully leaving in a hurry, exclaiming that she had work the next day. The lively atmosphere quickly settled down, returning to one of calmness and tranquility.

Amane felt relieved that the usual peaceful atmosphere had returned, but part of him wished that Shihoko could have stayed for a little while longer, seeing as Mahiru enjoyed her company. However, since Shihoko

often made comments that would get under his skin, perhaps her early departure was actually for the best. If only she didn't tease him so frequently, Amane would have liked her to stay by Mahiru's side.

"Hehe, I'm glad to see that Shihoko-san is well." Mahiru leaned back on the sofa with a comfortable smile.

Amane, sitting next to her with a wry smile, took a sip of his now cold tea. "Ahh, well, she's always energetic, but it's nice to see that she's doing well. I just wish she'd calm down a bit, though. Like, actually."

"I think it's a good thing," Mahiru replied. "It's very much like her." "Well, I guess you could put it that way."

"Hehe, you aren't good at dealing with Shihoko-san's lively nature, are you?"

"It's more that I'm not good with how I keep catching strays."

Mahiru, despite being partially responsible for powering up Shihoko's liveliness, simply laughed, unaware of the effect that she had. In Amane's mind, as long as Mahiru was having fun, then he had no intention of blaming her for it.

Yeah, I might have to learn how to better deal with my mom after all, Amane thought to himself. He sighed, knowing that it was something he hadn't managed to do in seventeen years.

"Shihoko-san seemed to be quite busy," Mahiru remarked softly, perhaps recalling their conversation and how Shihoko had hurriedly taken her leave.

"Yeah, she has some deadlines at work apparently. I'm just grateful that she made it here. Dad wanted to come too, but he's crazy busy right now, so he couldn't make it."

"Hehe, you're dearly loved, aren't you?" With a gentle, envious smile, Mahiru spoke in a heartfelt tone. Amane bit his lip slightly as he took in her words, while Mahiru simply gazed at him softly. "I can read you like a book, Amane-kun. You were worrying deeply about my meeting, weren't you?"

Amane stiffened, feeling as though a sharp knife were thrown at him right when he'd least expected it. Noticing his reaction, Mahiru smiled tenderly and said, "It seems I was right on the nose," in a voice ever so gentle. In reality, Amane should have acted as if nothing had been on his mind. Mahiru realizing the worries he harbored could come to burden her.

However, after seeing the expression she wore, Amane couldn't bring himself to just laugh and hide his feelings.

"That way of showing kindness is very typical of you, Amane-kun. Even so, I don't wish to add to your burden, so you didn't need to worry yourself over it," Mahiru said as she smiled at the awkward look on Amane's face.

It was as if she had seen through all of his thoughts. Mahiru's expression carried no trace of pain—instead, she processed everything calmly, ready to accept her situation and her reality.

"Amane-kun, you don't need to worry about it, okay? It's clear that my parents are the ones at fault. It's strange that they refuse to take responsibility for what they created."

"Yeah…"

"And besides, I was certain that my parents would never come, which is why I decided against telling them about the meeting. As a result, there was no way they could possibly attend," Mahiru explained.

"As I cut the very possibility of it happening myself, I had no expectations to begin with," she said.

"This time, I brought it upon myself," she said.

After laying eyes on Mahiru's fleeting, delicate smile, there was no way Amane could remain calm and composed.

"It's impossible to hold on tight to the extremely thin and fragile thread that is the possibility they might care about me. It would break far too easily. I don't want to endure the emotional strain of clinging on to such a slim chance, which would most likely result in me struggling in vain. This is for the best."

"Mahiru…"

"I don't need my parents to be present for a parent-teacher meeting. I can make decisions for myself." Mahiru spoke firmly, her voice clear and steady. With a pensive look, she gazed at Amane with a calm smile. The warmth she usually showed him was nowhere to be seen.

"Even without consulting with my parents, I know that there are no issues with my grades and academic performance. I also appear to have tuition insurance, so I'm not worried about the money. Plus, there are separate funds set aside for my university or future employment. In a

way…I'm fortunate that they have made sure that I won't encounter any financial trouble. Considering their lack of presence in my life, they have provided the best financial support. For that, I'm grateful."

Mahiru's words implied that besides financial support, her parents had given her nothing. She let out a sigh of self-deprecation. Even her breath, which should have been warm, felt almost cold.

"In fact, I'm a rather fortunate person. They brought a wonderful person in Koyuki-san into my life, and perhaps out of a minute sense of guilt, they ensured I never lacked anything. Thanks to that, I have grown up just like any other," Mahiru said.

Conversely, without Koyuki, Mahiru would have certainly grown up walking down the wrong path. Despite that, Amane still couldn't bring himself to feel genuinely happy about it all.

"It's not a big deal," Mahiru continued. "I can decide everything on my own without my parents directing me…so, you don't need to look so sad, you know?"

"Sorry."

"Why are you apologizing? Goodness me."

Amane knew that cheap sympathy, consolation, or agreement would only hurt Mahiru further. He could only accept her words and the invisible tears they carried. As he grasped Mahiru's slender hand, her warmth, now lower than usual, gradually mingled with his own.

I hope even a little of my warmth can become hers, Amane thought, firmly enclosing Mahiru's slightly trembling palm and gently moving closer to her.

It seemed Mahiru thought it unusual for Amane to initiate physical contact without hesitation. Her eyes widened slightly before she squinted with a shy, almost ticklish smile. "It's okay, don't worry. The way I view my parents won't change—it's too late for that now. It would be a lie to say I'm not hurt at all, but I wouldn't say I'm particularly saddened by it either. For me, it's just an ordinary, everyday thing."

"You feel that way, even though you know it shouldn't be considered ordinary?"

"Yes. The fact is, it has become my normal. There's nothing to gain from turning a blind eye to the truth. Eventually, it will all come rushing back one

way or another."

Mahiru probably thought she wasn't as strong as she believed herself to be, but to me, she's much more resilient and true to herself than I'd initially thought, Amane realized. Feeling this, he tightened his grip on her gradually warming hand.

"I've come to terms with it, so it's fine. Precisely because I had to spend time alone, I was able to meet you, Amane-kun. That is something I am grateful for."

"…I see." To Amane, Mahiru appeared so bright and endearing as she unraveled her feelings with such dignity. This time, instead of just holding her cold hand, he wrapped his entire body around hers and pulled her close. Her slender frame trembled with surprise but soon relaxed in his embrace.

Despite her small body, Mahiru had lived an honest life of integrity, never once straying. Simply relaxing into Amane's embrace made her feel secure, showing just how much she trusted and relied on him. After wiggling around to find a comfortable spot where she could see his face, Mahiru looked up at Amane with a slightly troubled smile.

"You're such a worrywart, Amane-kun. I'm not so weak as to break down from something like this. If I let things get to me every time, I won't be able to keep on marching forward."

"It's not about being strong or weak," Amane began. "…I just can't stomach how something so painful has become ordinary for the woman I love. It's…frustrating. I want to be there to protect you, but I'm constantly reminded that there are things I can't do anything about."

The environment in which Mahiru was born and raised, as well as her current family situation, were both beyond Amane's reach. The past couldn't be changed, and the present was out of his grasp.

No matter how dearly he cherished her or how strongly he wished to protect her, there was little Amane could do as long as he remained an outsider. To forcibly cross that line would mean trampling on Mahiru's delicate heart. Therefore, the only thing Amane could do now was to envelop her gently, ensuring her delicate points remained unscathed, while shielding her from unnecessary noise and harm.

"This problem is mine alone… It's not that I'm rejecting your support. It's an issue that I must confront myself. Only I, as the person involved, can solve it." Mahiru understood that there was nothing Amane could do about it, nor did she wish for him to do anything in particular either.

Amane interpreted that Mahiru wished for him not to fix her problems, but simply to be her rock, never letting her hand go. As she quietly gazed at him from within his arms, Amane gently nodded softly.

"It's impossible for me to fully understand all your feelings, Mahiru.

After all, we were raised in two completely different environments." "I agree. Ultimately, I am me, and you are you. You can try to place

yourself in my shoes, but you won't be able to fully grasp how it feels." "Yeah," Amane concurred.

Whether he liked it or not, that fact remained an irreversible reality.

Amane was Amane, and Mahiru was Mahiru. They may have crossed paths and their lives may have intersected, but they could never become one.

Mahiru, as an individual, could never become someone else, nor could anyone fully and flawlessly understand the nuances held in the depths of her heart. Her emotions were hers alone. Her thoughts were something only she could truly understand.

Comprehending this, Amane had no intention of forcing Mahiru to reveal her feelings, nor would he try to do something for her against her will.

"But I really love how you try to understand me, Amane-kun. How you stay by my side and watch over me without forcing your own views."

"…Yeah."

"I can tell just how much you cherish and care about me. Thanks to that, I always feel so blessed as a person."

The words she uttered seemed to come straight from her heart. Mahiru, with a soft and innocent smile, nestled her cheek against Amane's chest, enjoying his warmth cozily as she leaned into him. This gesture was her unique way of showing the highest level of pampering. In response, Amane gently kissed her flowing flaxen-colored hair and rested his forehead against the top of her head.

"…I'll make you even happier, so if it ever gets too much, don't forget to

tell me. You tend to bottle things up and say everything is okay." "As I said, it's okay. Ah— I do mean it genuinely this time."

"…There are times when you say you're okay even when you aren't."

"I shall be careful from now on. I know that if I am hurt, it hurts you too. After all, that's just how much you love me, Amane-kun." Mahiru spoke with more clarity and unwavering confidence than ever before, undoubtedly accepting Amane's form of love.

After seeing her grow confident enough to say something so embarrassing, Amane's heart swelled with even more love for Mahiru. He held her tighter, wanting to melt into her warmth even more. Mahiru simply smiled and welcomed his embrace.

"If I were younger, desperate, and prone to getting upset, I might have said something like, 'You were raised with so much love, what would you know?' which would then lead to an argument."

"If you really had said that, then I wouldn't have any way to argue against it."

Amane knew himself that he'd been raised with an abundance of love and care from his parents, so if Mahiru ever said something like that, there would be nothing he could say to refute it. He could only see himself apologizing. However, even an apology could rub someone the wrong way depending on the situation.

No matter what was said, those who had something could easily provoke those who did not. This was a lesson Amane understood all too well from his own experiences.

"But saying that would only serve to hurt the both of us, so I don't intend to do so," Mahiru clarified.

"…You might not say it out loud, but haven't you felt that way before?" "Well, I certainly can't claim that I never have."

Amane wasn't surprised.

In fact, he felt a strange sense of relief at how easily and clearly Mahiru confirmed what he had secretly feared. No one lived their life with only positive emotions, and realizing that Mahiru, who seldom showed the opposite, also had such feelings made him cherish her even more.

"Even if I were to complain, it's something that can't be changed or

improved. It would solve nothing. Blaming your environment, which is beyond your control, would not accomplish anything either, would it? I

would regret it as soon as the words slipped out of my mouth. I'm sure of it."

Mahiru's expression remained calm as she rationally explained, "I don't want to start a fight, nor do I want to hurt you. To begin with, it's only

natural to have differences… My family lacked the affection found in most families, so we were the exact opposite of the majority. Many situations have reminded me of that fact. I had feelings of jealousy during elementary and middle school, and have since reflected on them all."

It's a miracle she didn't become jaded after all this, Amane thought, but he then realized that Koyuki's presence must have played a significant role.

"I haven't experienced the conflicts that come from being loved or how annoying meddling parents can be, so I can't really say anything on those fronts. That's why, although I do get a little bit jealous sometimes…I think

I'm handling it all in a healthy way," Mahiru concluded. She looked at Amane worriedly, causing Amane to smile bitterly at himself and his own

pitifulness.

Which one of us is worrying about who here…?

"Mahiru, you rarely let your emotions get the better of you, and I

understand that you know your own feelings well and come to terms with them… Ah— Is it okay to say I understand you there?"

"Yes. After all, you're absolutely right… I can feel that you always keep a close eye on me," Mahiru said with a soft giggle.

"Of course I do," Amane replied. "You're the one I love—I'll always be watching you." Because she was the one he loved, Amane wanted to know her better. Because she was the one he loved, he wanted to be able to understand her. Because she was the one he loved, he wanted to make sure she was comfortable. He wanted to do things that made her happy. He

wanted to keep her away from anything unpleasant.

There were many reasons, but simply put, because he loved Mahiru, he wanted to look after and protect her. He wanted to look beyond the surface and see her for who she truly was, so he made this clear without hiding it. Mahiru, nestled in his arms, squirmed lightly in response and repeatedly butted her head against his chest.

"…You're starting to resemble Shuuto-san more and more with how you can say things like that so calmly, Amane-kun."

"How did you even get that from this conversation?" "I just did!"

When Mahiru suddenly brought up Shuuto's name, Amane felt a question mark practically appear above his head. Mahiru, however, turned away as if to say no explanation was needed and butted his chest with her head one more time.

She's just trying to hide that she's embarrassed, Amane thought. He gently patted Mahiru's back, to which she pouted slightly. Amane chuckled, thinking, This is adorable too, which appeared to have released Mahiru from her pouty mode. "Goodness me," she said tenderly, no longer trying to resist or protest.

"Still, I'm glad you think I'm acting more like my dad. He really is an upstanding man," Amane said.

"That's not quite what I meant, but you aren't wrong either, so I suppose that works. Be proud of it, okay? I'm sure Shihoko-san would say the same," Mahiru replied.

"Mom's head over heels for Dad, so I feel like the bar will be set pretty high."

"Hehe, who knows?"

When Amane looked into Mahiru's cheery face, he met her mischievous smile and contented eyes. Clearly in high spirits, she leaned back against his chest, making Amane tilt his head curiously. He naturally softened his expression and embraced the affectionate Mahiru warmly as she snuggled up to him. Together, they shared each other's warmth.

While fondly relishing the sensation of Mahiru nuzzling up to him with the endearing sweetness of a kitten, Amane suddenly voiced something lingering in his mind.

"Oh, by the way…" "Yes?"

"Do you really think I take after my dad?"

"Yes, you're the spitting image of him. Um, not just in appearance, but especially in how you act and speak," Mahiru explained.

As they were father and son, it stood to reason that they resembled one another. However, Amane had asked that as a preface for another question he wanted to ask.

"If so, do you take after Koyuki-san?"

"Huh? M-Me?" Confused, Mahiru stammered in a high-pitched voice. The question seemed to be one she hadn't considered before.

"Yeah. After everything you've told me, it just makes me wonder whether you resemble Koyuki-san."

Personality and behavior could be determined by genetics, or they could be influenced by the traits of close people around you. While there was no telling which one was at play for Mahiru, she certainly didn't seem to resemble her mother, and from what Amane had heard, she didn't seem to take after her father either. Therefore, it wouldn't be surprising to think that she resembled Koyuki, who likely had a significant impact on her personal development.

"I—I'm not sure… Um, it's true that Koyuki-san has taught me many things, so in that sense, we may be similar… but it's not something you can confirm until you see for yourself…"

"Yeah, I guess you're right. But I bet you take after her." "And you say that based on what…?"

"Intuition, I guess? I really do think you might be similar, though.

Probably."

"Geez."

It might seem like a thoughtless or remiss statement to make, but strangely, Amane was certain that it was true.

Mahiru had mentioned that she admired Koyuki, describing her as a very elegant, kind-hearted, and gentle person. To Amane, Mahiru embodied those exact same qualities. Whether consciously or not, their similar behaviors made it hard to believe they weren't alike. Although Amane had no way to confirm this since he hadn't met Koyuki, he felt certain that she must be a wonderful woman, just like Mahiru.

"Thinking about it again, I'd really like to meet her someday. She's important to you, isn't she?"

"Yes, she is the person who took care of me the most and is very dear to

Um, it has actually been a while, so I would like to see her again. But she has her own circumstances, and considering her health issues, I can't

impose on her. We do exchange letters occasionally, but…I would still love to see her," Mahiru replied.

"I see… Do you write regularly?"

"I do, although I only write roughly once per season to avoid bothering her out of the blue. I've kept all her letters safe. They are my treasures."

"Yeah."

Mahiru spoke with her cheeks flushed and a genuine smile. The sparkle in her eyes made it clear just how much she cherished Koyuki. Seeing how deeply Mahiru admired her made Amane even more eager to meet the woman who had such a profound impact on Mahiru's life.

"…Oh, I remember. I have a photo that Koyuki-san added in one of her letters. Please wait a moment, I shall go get it from my place," Mahiru said. She gently freed herself from Amane's loose embrace, stood up, and gave him a bright smile before heading to her apartment.

"Are you sure? You don't have to go out of your way…"

"You seem curious about what kind of person Koyuki-san is. Plus, I would like you to know more about her too."

"I mean, she's basically your surrogate parent… She's someone

important to the woman I love, so of course, I'd like to know about her." "…There you go again with that. Geez," Mahiru murmured. Even though

they were Amane's genuine feelings, Mahiru pouted and puffed out her cheeks. However, her delight was unmistakable as her eyes relaxed with happiness. She hurried out of the room, her slippers pattering softly on the floor.

Since these items were precious to her, Mahiru must have kept them well-organized. She quickly returned to Amane's apartment, holding a cute box with the care one might use to carry a baby. After a brief, "I have

returned," she sat on the sofa and placed the box on her lap.

The box was sized perfectly to fit the letters. Mahiru gently removed the lid, revealing envelopes aligned neatly on the inside. There was a small note or memo at the top of the stack. Internally applauding her meticulous organization, Amane watched as Mahiru's pale-white fingers carefully

moved the memo aside to retrieve a specific envelope. Adorned with a lace pattern, the envelope was neatly cut, which made it likely to be opened using a letter opener. This made it easy for Mahiru to take the photograph which was placed inside.

Mahiru held out a glossy piece of paper and handed it to Amane. On its face was a picture of a woman holding a swaddled baby, a serene smile on her face. The woman wore a gentle and somewhat calm expression, and Amane guessed she was likely older than his own parents. She looked down at the baby in her arms with a smile filled with bliss and grace.

"This is Koyuki-san. She seems to be at her son's place with his wife and family, doting on her grandchild. Her son must have taken the photo."

"So that's why she's holding a baby… I knew it, though. I feel like she resembles you in some ways."

"It must be your imagination. We aren't related by blood at all." Amane felt as though he could hear the voice in Mahiru's heart continuing after her, saying, "How great it would be if we were," which pained him. Still, determined not to let her sense his feelings, Amane

deliberately kept his tone light and cheerful.

"Hmm. If you ask me, this isn't about being related by blood. I think that after spending time together with someone, people start to resemble one another in certain ways. Like how they talk, how they think, and how they act."

Blood was not the only thing that shaped a person. While genetics certainly played a role, Amane believed it was Koyuki's support that had the greatest effect on the Mahiru he knew today. Seeing her photo only convinced Amane of this fact even more.

"At the very least, I think you smile just like Koyuki-san does," Amane said.

Mahiru had likely never objectively seen her own smile.

Not only did Mahiru not enjoy having her picture taken, but she rarely took photos herself. Worse yet, she often put on a forced smile when she knew a photo was being taken. She was unaware of the genuine smile she showed when she was alone with Amane.

Despite a fair amount of hesitation, Amane picked up his phone, scrolled

through his gallery, and tilted the screen toward Mahiru to show her. He had once captured a moment when Mahiru was smiling happily while spending time with him, but she had simply blushed and forgave him for taking the photo without ever looking at it herself.

Mahiru had refrained from checking the photo out of respect for his privacy as it was on his phone, which was a missed opportunity. Had she looked, she would have realized just how much she resembled Koyuki.

"You have such a beautiful smile, see? The way the corners of your mouths curl, the looks in your eyes, the way the edges of your eyes soften—they're all the exact same. I know it's just a photo, but the impressions you give are identical."

Displayed on the screen was Mahiru's smile, one equally as sweet and beautiful as Koyuki's. It was a smile showing such satisfaction it was as if she had gathered all the happiness in the world. Seeing her own genuine smile for the very first time, Mahiru stared intently at Amane's phone screen. She then touched her own cheeks with her fingers in disbelief, her eyes glancing back and forth between the photo of Koyuki and the phone screen.

"…This is the first time anyone has told me that."

"Well, probably because nobody else has seen it, right? If there isn't anyone else besides the two of you, then you wouldn't know. I believe there are some similarities you just can't notice yourself. If I met her myself, I'd probably be even more convinced."

While just a single photo wasn't enough to gauge everything, Amane was sure that his prediction would turn out correct.

"…Similar," Mahiru murmured. She reflected on Amane's words, savoring them. She exhaled and whispered, "I'm so happy," in a trembling voice before leaning against Amane's arm.

Mahiru looked down and hid her face as she pressed her head against him. Even without looking, Amane could tell that the expression on her face was not a negative one. He watched her as she held the photo up to her chest carefully so as to prevent creasing, and smiled. Quietly, he stayed by her side until she was satisfied.

✧ ₊ ✦ ₊ ✧

"Mahiru, it fell."

When she looked up, Mahiru looked like her usual self, yet there was a hint of pride showing in her relaxed face as she carefully and delicately returned the fallen photo back where it belonged.

At that moment, a note placed on top of the bundle of letters had slipped off, which Amane casually picked up. The side with writing happened to be facing up, so his eyes naturally traced the ink adorning the small note. The words were penned neatly and skilfully, with a kind of elegance different from that of Mahiru's handwriting. Written on the note were three lines: the first a series of Roman letters, the second a series of numbers, and the third a combination of kanji, hiragana, and numbers.

Amane caught a brief glimpse of the note, and after realizing he shouldn't look too closely, he hastily looked away. Then, he gently placed the note back inside Mahiru's treasure box.

"Ah, thank you," Mahiru said.

Smiling away innocently, Mahiru didn't find Amane's reaction suspicious. She simply thanked him sincerely, closed the lid, and held the box close to her chest as if it were something precious.

Someone Mahiru treasured. An existence precious to her, which she had shown only to Amane. Watching Mahiru show the deep respect she felt for Koyuki, Amane patted her head, savoring her joy while trying to ignore the guilt that slowly welled up within him.

"…What should I do?"