Animate Special: One Day, I Shall Introduce Myself Like This

One day, around halfway through their summer vacation, Amane's cell phone rang on his desk.

Mahiru reflexively glanced at his phone screen, and it displayed Itsuki's name.

"Amane-kun, Akazawa-san is calling you."

"Huh? Itsuki? Sorry, I can't get it right now. If it's fine with you, could you pick it up for me?"

Amane was cleaning out the bathroom, and Mahiru came up to him to inform him about the phone call. Amane simply allowed her to answer it on his behalf.

Amane's feet were covered in water and foam, his hands covered by plastic gloves, and it didn't seem like he would be able to leave the bathroom at a moment's notice. Mahiru nodded obediently, went back to the living room and pressed the answer button on the phone.

"Hello? Hello, this is Shi... this is Fujimiya speaking."

Mahiru almost reflexively gave her own name. After giving Amane's last name, the person on the other end of the phone sounded momentarily confused.

"Huh? Is this Shiina-san? Is Amane there right now?"

"No, he cannot answer the phone right now. If you don't mind, please let me pass on what you want to tell him."

"I see. Sorry to interrupt you like this when you're busy. Last time I went to Amane's house to study, I forgot some notes behind. I'll be passing by, so can I come pick them up?"

"Yes. We're at home now, I'll ask Amane-kun right away..."

Before she could finish her sentence, the doorbell rang.

"...Never mind, I'm going to open the door."

"I'm really sorry."

It seemed that Itsuki had called when he was at the entrance of their apartment building.

Mahiru thought that Amane wouldn't refuse, so she hung up the phone and unlocked the entrance electronically. Then Mahiru walked towards the bathroom, and Amane pecked out from inside the bathroom door.

"What? Is Itsuki coming over now?"

"He's coming to collect his notes."

"Ah, from the last time he came over. I left them in the top-right drawer of the living room TV cabinet, so hand them over to him please. I think I still need some more time over here."

"Okay, I understand."

Amane seemed to be quite used to facing such situations and had no problem at all with Itsuki's visit. Mahiru thought that they were quite close friends and couldn't help but smile.

Then, just as the doorbell rang, she found the notes that Itsuki wanted, right where Amane had told her they were.

"I'm sorry, Shiina-san. To interrupt your time together like this."

When she opened the door, Itsuki was standing outside, a somewhat troubled smile was shown on his face, and his hands were clasped together.

"No, not at all. Here are your notes."

"I really appreciate it. Thank you for going out of your way to give it to me."

"Itsuki! If you're coming, let me know in advance!"

Hearing Itsuki's voice, Amane shouted from the bathroom.

"You think you have the right to talk smack about me? What kind of house owner doesn't go and greet their guests?"

"I'm just cleaning the bathroom."

"Oh, that was rude of me. Sorry for coming over unannounced. I feel bad for disturbing you two, so I'll take my leave now."

Even though they weren't facing each other, Itsuki was smiling happily and bantering with Amane as if he was right in front of him. Mahiru, between them, couldn't help but laugh along with him.

"Ah, Shiina-san." Itsuki called out to Mahiru in a low voice.

'Is there a problem?" Mahiru leaned over and tilted her head slightly in confusion. He smiled at her, the corners of his mouth raised.

"Hopefully you'll start giving his last name to people sooner, like you just did."

Understanding what Itsuki said, Mahiru's face flushed red at once. Seeing her reaction, Itsuki was satisfied, and smiled as he said, "I'm off then, see you next time," and quickly walked off.

Mahiru remained frozen in place for a while. Meanwhile, Amane had finished cleaning and came out of the bathroom, and he looked at her with a puzzled expression.

"…Mahiru, is something wrong?"

"No-Nothing!"

'Of course, Amane-kun can't know about this,' Mahiru thought and kept her mouth firmly shut. Mahiru could only turn her head away from Amane's doubting eyes.