An Important Promise with the Angel

"...Tonight, is it okay if I don't go home…?"

For a moment, Amane couldn't wrap his head around what she had said.

The instant he heard that quiet murmur from within his arms, Amane's mind ceased to function. Quite some time passed before the meaning of her words really began to sink in.

'...Is it okay if I don't go home,' huh…?

In other words, she had timidly stated that she wanted to spend the night together with Amane in his house. He and Mahiru were indeed lovers and had spent the night together before, but this time was different. Mahiru had confessed that she wanted to stay the night, not just to support him, and not by accident, but because she wanted it for herself.

As his train of thought, which had slowed down to a fraction of its usual speed, began to truly process her intent, Amane's cheeks began to heat up like burning wood in a fireplace.

She really wants to stay the night. That's what she's saying.

As expected, even Amane could tell that Mahiru must have really pushed herself to say such brave words, especially with things as they were right now. In fact, as Mahiru leaned in closer to him, Amane could sense that she was somewhat tense—her body was trembling slightly. He was unsure whether this was because of embarrassment or the tension they had been building up between them.

Amane had never once thought that Mahiru would ask him such a thing, so he looked down, and Mahiru's delicate body trembled as she felt his gaze. Then she looked up at him, her face half-buried within his arms. He noticed that her eyes, which were more wet than usual, wavered as if she were torn between embarrassment and sweet expectation.

Amane gazed steadily back at her, and in response, Mahiru buried her face deep into his chest and listened to the sound of his heartbeat, as if to escape from his attention. He could feel it, when Mahiru moved her lips as if she wanted to say something, perhaps wanting to scold him for his lack of response, but then Amane slowly cleared his throat and managed to squeeze out words in a voice that failed to hide his astonishment:

"...E-Erm. With… what intention…?"

"I–I meant exactly what I said. I don't… want to be separated from you, Amane-kun. I want to feel you close to me," Mahiru clarified.

No longer sputtering, Amane was now instead frozen stiff by what Mahiru had said, almost holding his breath in surprise. Mahiru then glanced up at him shyly.

"This much… is not enough. I bottled it up for two days. I want to… spend more time with you, Amane-kun."

"Th-That goes for me as well, but you know… well, wouldn't this be kinda bad?"

As Mahiru should be aware by now, Amane was a respectful man. Even so, if his girlfriend told him she wanted to stay over and they were in a situation where nothing and no one could get in their way, one thing could lead to another, and they could end up going that route.

Amane took pride in his strong will, but at the end of the day, he was a high school boy with a libido as strong as any other his age. Once the temptation of his beloved Mahiru fell upon him, he could instantly switch from being innocent and rational to a mindless beast capable of ravaging her.

Not wanting to put his desires before his reason, he thought that such a situation should be avoided at all costs. While it was possible that Mahiru may not desire to do the things he was imagining, instead having a pure and innocent desire to spend time with him, Amane's rationality urged him to prevent things from escalating too far nonetheless.

Mahiru continued to stare into his eyes as she responded, "For lovers, staying overnight is considered normal, right?"

"W-Well, maybe your average couple wouldn't be against doing that, but…."

"You mean to say that we aren't a normal couple?"

"I didn't mean it in that way. I just mean that, well, we've only been dating a few months."

"I have already stayed over with you back at your parents' house, Amane- kun. It's too late for that now."

"Ugh."

Amane was at a loss for words, and Mahiru began to look worried. "...Are you against it… that much?"

"I'm not against it at all!"

Quickly reflecting on how he had raised his voice to deny her lonely words, Amane resolutely looked into Mahiru's eyes, which were now frozen with surprise.

"This goes without saying, but of course I'm happy," Amane continued, "I'm delighted that you say you don't want to leave me, and I want to be with you more as well. After all, I'd even sleep with you every night if I could."

Relieved, Mahiru blushed at the words 'every night,' and while Amane considered that it may have been too early to tell her that, he still wanted to let her know that he wanted to stay by her side. He made sure not to look away.

"That said, I don't know what'd happen, and I'd hate it if I was the only one who got lost in the moment. I don't want to do anything that you don't want me to do, Mahiru. …Haven't you thought about what I might do to you if you slept over?"

"I place my full trust in you, Amane-kun."

Mahiru spoke without hesitation, and Amane tried to convince himself that she simply wanted to sleep with him by her side. This was born from the trust that she had in him, trust that he would not harm her.

Amane wanted to grant that wish of hers, and just as he was deciding that it was time to strengthen his resolve, Mahiru gave him a small poke.

"Please don't misunderstand me. It's not as if I am taking advantage of your trust or anything like that, but if there's anything you would like me to do, then… I'll accept it, head on."

"Huh?"

"Amane-kun, you are the kind of person to take full responsibility, right?" "Th–That goes without saying. As a person, and as your lover, I swear I won't do anything irresponsible to you, Mahiru." "In that case, there are no issues."

"I guess you're right."

Isn't that the same thing as using my trust against me? Amane thought, but Mahiru gave him a reassuring smile, showing the true depth of her trust in him, so there was no way he could allow himself to betray that feeling.

Amane wondered if he could really maintain his discipline, and although he was extremely anxious thinking about the upcoming night, if he wanted to spend it with Mahiru, refusal based only on worry was not an option.

He wanted to stay by her side. Even if that proved to be a little stressful for his body.

He spoke out confidently to Mahiru, who was bundled between his arms, but when he met her eyes once more, she grew increasingly embarrassed. After avoiding eye contact for a while, Mahiru added, "E-Erm, I-I would like to ask you to be gentle… in a lot of ways."

Perhaps to show her willingness to go wherever Amane led, she pressed her body against him even harder. He didn't know whether to be embarrassed or pleased by her antics, so instead, he pursed his lips and hugged Mahiru back.

...How should I handle this?

Amane ended up accepting her proposal to stay over. But once he had calmly mulled it over, he reminded himself that he was about to cross a very dangerous bridge.

For the time being, Amane let her stay overnight under the premise that he wouldn't lay a finger on her. He knew that she would accept him no matter what he did, but he'd felt that the balance between his reason and instincts was crumbling, and recently, he had been leaning more towards instinct.

No, wait. I'll get questioned harder if I don't take the initiative here.

Probably.

He could imagine Itsuki saying, "Now's the time to make a move!" But in truth, it was against Amane's wishes to give in to momentum and simply rush into things. If anything were to happen, Mahiru would be the one affected the most, so it was only natural for him to hesitate taking the next step.

He was aware of this possibly being overkill, but it was precisely because of the seriousness of that notion that this reason could not be ignored. He couldn't allow himself to entertain the idea that simply because he liked her and because they were lovers, that was reason enough to take the next step.

"...Well, erm, how about you head home and take a bath first? It's not like you can use your regular shampoo here, after all," Amane asked Mahiru, who had been laying silent in his arms, and she was suddenly flustered.

Even if she were to stay over, Mahiru would not be able to perform her usual skin care routine in Amane's house. There was also the issue of providing

her with a change of clothes. He had said what he did, believing that it would be more convenient for her to first prepare herself at her home, but for some reason, Mahiru's body trembled at his words.

Amane suddenly realized that a terrible misunderstanding might happen after telling her to take a bath, considering the atmosphere they had between them right now, and sure enough, Mahiru squirmed about in his arms as if she couldn't stand it.

He hurriedly tried to clear up the misunderstanding, "Y-You've got it wrong, okay? I didn't mean it that way, y'know?"

"E-Erm… Amane-kun." "Yes?"

Amane was worried that she may have taken his words too seriously, but once she looked up, he realized that Mahiru didn't seem to be embarrassed by his words, and instead felt quite the opposite.

"Shihoko-san and Shuuto-san… they took their bath together, did they not?"

"W-Well, that's true, I guess?"

"I–I don't mean anything by this. I really don't, but… erm, since I'm already staying the night, I want… to take a bath. Together… with you," Mahiru suggested.

In response to the trembling voice of his girlfriend, Amane stared at Mahiru for a moment, unable to process what she had just said.

...Did she just say, 'Together?'

When it came to bathing, naturally, they would not be wearing clothes. In other words, they would be exposing each other's bodies without the cover of even a single piece of cloth.

If that were to happen, Amane couldn't be confident in his ability to hold himself back. He was sure that once that scene became a reality, he would forget about everything else and simply indulge himself in the soft skin before him.

Mahiru was more aggressive than usual, and Amane struggled to hide his embarrassment. His gaze darted around the room as he scratched his burning cheeks.

"I just, well erm, wouldn't that be… pretty bad? We'd be in there naked, after all…"

"E-Erm, that's…. I-If I wear a swimsuit, will it be okay?"

"W-Well, I can't deny that wearing a swimsuit is a good idea, but... are you prepared to have your skin touched that much?"

Even Amane couldn't guarantee he'd be able to keep his hands to himself if his lover was within arm's reach in such a defenseless state. Whether she was aware of his thoughts or not, Mahiru's long eyelashes fluttered as she cast her eyes downward.

"If we are going to wash each other's backs, touching cannot be avoided." "Y-Yeah."

"I-I'm not against it, just to make it clear. I like being touched by you, Amane-kun. If I were really against it, I would not have said something like this."

"...True."

Mahiru's words truly had no underlying meaning; she simply wished for them to bond like Amane's lovey-dovey parents often did. Since Amane understood that, he nodded and didn't say anything more for a moment.

Amane gazed away for a second before turning to Mahiru again. "So in other words, erm, if I put on my own swimsuit, we'll have an acceptable compromise, right?"

"Y-Yes."

"You sure you're alright with this?"

"A woman never goes back on her word."

Amane thought that was a line more appropriately spoken by a man, but Mahiru seemed to have proposed the idea with determination, and he did not want to dishonor her courage. In short, it was just a matter of how much he could endure.

Now that Amane had found his one and only true partner, he too longed for a close relationship just like his parents. Starting off by sharing the bathtub wasn't such a bad idea to him. As long as he could keep his desires in check, they would be able to maintain their strong relationship.

Since summer vacation had ended, he remembered that he had stored his swimsuit at the back of his closet, not expecting to use it again this year. Amane reached for it, muttering "Alrighty," as he tried to quiet the thumping in his chest.

✧ ₊ ✦ ₊ ✧

Once he changed into his swimsuit and entered the bathroom, Amane felt extremely uncomfortable and nervous. Mahiru had told him to go in first, reasoning that it would take her a long time to get changed into her swimsuit, but the longer Amane was left waiting, the more his heart pounded.

Amane had seen her in a swimsuit once before, but this time, they would be in a closed, confined space together—just the two of them, alone. With this happening during a sleepover, naturally, Amane was more nervous than delighted.

In the first place, Amane had assumed that bathing together was only done by couples who were already experienced. The thought left him embarrassed and expectantly nervous.

Despite not being submerged in hot water, Amane's body had heated up. He pursed his lips as he agonized at the thought, unsure of whether he wanted Mahiru to come soon or not. As he mulled it over, he heard the door creak.

Turning around with awkward movements, Amane was greeted by the dazzling sight of his lover's flawless skin. Mahiru timidly looked at him.

The fact that Amane froze up the moment he caught sight of her was inevitable.

...So it was this, huh. The swimsuit Chitose had mentioned…

Chitose told him that day that Mahiru had bought two different swimsuits, and Amane was suddenly reminded of that fact.

This time around, it wasn't the swimsuit she had worn when they played around in the pool. What she was wearing now was a black bikini that contrasted heavily with her white, porcelain skin. There wasn't a single unnecessary decoration; it was just a simple piece of cloth covering her skin. Despite that, the surface area covered by the cloth was not small and could be classified as a normal bikini.

And yet, she looked sensational. It was likely due to her amazing figure.

As he had expected, no matter how many times he looked at her, Mahiru looked nothing short of phenomenal.

Everything, from her slender neck that flowed down to her décoletté, to the defined outline of her ample bosom, to her gently-sloping waistline, was eye- catching; her tight, yet undeniably soft body was exposed, and could be best described as the ideal figure.

Mahiru would normally not expose herself in general, and she especially was the type of person to rarely expose her chest, so Amane previously had almost no chance of seeing it for himself. But now, she had made it clear that only he was allowed to lay eyes on her body.

It was an ultimate weapon she had brought out herself, but even the way she shamefully tried to hide the front of her body with her arms, perhaps because she felt his eyes on her, was sexy. The way she had positioned her arms caused her mountains to bunch together, and as a man, Amane could only call it a great view, but it proved hard to keep his eyes on the prize given his current state.

Regardless, Amane's gaze swam around as he struggled to look at her directly, though this seemed to bother Mahiru, as she frowned slightly.

"...Does it look strange?"

"N-No. That's not true. It suits you well, but..." "But…?"

"...How should I put it? It's really stimulating."

Mahiru's cheeks turned red for obvious reasons as Amane murmured, trying to force the words out of his mouth.

She was likely keenly aware of this. Ordinarily, it would be a decision that Mahiru would never make. The bikini was made of nothing more than plain cloth and string, making it a little unreliable for hiding her skin.

"That's why I did not wear it at the pool. It would be embarrassing if other people saw me."

"Why'd you buy it, then?"

"W-Well, that's because… Chitose-san said that unless I did this, you won't succumb to me, Amane-kun."

"Just what am I supposed to be succumbing to…"

Rubbing his temples in response to Chitose's comment, he glanced at Mahiru again.

...Well, if I'm shown something like this, I might actually succumb to something…

That was just how destructive Mahiru's appearance was. Amane had a desperate urge to crouch down on the spot and keep her out of sight until he could calm himself down.

However, he was not going to get the chance, so he took deep breaths to regain his composure and glanced again at Mahiru. He felt like he almost couldn't stand the situation, or rather, it inspired an insatiable itch that he hesitated to scratch—a man and woman were in such a narrow space, barely dressed.

"Ah—Well, for now, let's get our hair washed." "Y-You're right."

Mahiru nodded along in a way that seemed to betray her true feelings. She turned her head down to hide her cheeks, which were flushed despite her not yet soaking in the hot water. Then, she pulled out a bottle of liquid from the waterproof bag she had left on the bathroom floor.

Amane's favorite shampoo was made specifically for men, so naturally, he wasn't expecting Mahiru to use it. Mahiru had brought her own shampoo with her, but for some reason, he was also met with an awfully large number of other bottles.

Impressed, Amane wondered for a moment if girls always used so many different products when bathing. Mahiru then glanced over at him, saying, "If you would please sit on the chair…" and pointed at the chair with her finger.

In other words, she intended to wash him herself. "N-Nah, I can do it… myself."

"...I would like to do it."

Amane knew what she was going to say, but was surprised by Mahiru's direct yet modest statement. So, he allowed himself to be driven by her momentum, obediently taking a seat.

Mahiru stood behind Amane. Thinking that he was about to be washed, Amane was surprised to see that Mahiru was instead holding a hairbrush. Presumably, it was also an item she had brought with her.

"Your hair, Amane-kun. I've always wanted to take care of it at least once."

Mahiru started to brush his hair, her prior tension vanishing from her face as she did so—or rather, she seemed pleased. Ah. She definitely flipped a switch here, Amane thought, and while it was better than acting awkward, Mahiru had a tendency to lose herself in her thoughts, when concentrating on a task, and get carried away. This time would be no exception, or so Amane was thinking.

As for Amane, he was grateful for the change in atmosphere. It allowed him to rid his mind of the tension building up due to the situation. Even if he would constantly try to hold back any physiological responses, his body tended to have a mind of its own.

Besides that, Amane also found Mahiru's touch to be very comforting. He had once fallen asleep just by having his hair stroked during a lap pillow, so Amane was aware of how good it felt to be taken care of.

Thinking back to that time, Amane closed his eyes, intending to leave everything to Mahiru. He heard a small giggle from behind him.

"I see you've relaxed all of a sudden."

"Well, I mean, if you say you'll take care of it, Mahiru, then I'll let you do as you please. I know that you'll make me feel good, after all."

"I shall do my best to live up to your expectations."

Mahiru, who seemed delighted at the task she was entrusted with, replied with a smile as she carefully combed through Amane's hair.

"It is important to first remove any excess dust and dirt with a comb before rinsing under hot water. But your hair is short, Amane-kun, so you may not need to go to such lengths."

"So that's how it is. It always seemed like it was a pain, so I didn't bother brushing my hair before taking a bath."

"Your hair isn't just short, Amane-kun, but it doesn't tangle easily, either. It's naturally tidy, so perhaps you don't need to think about combing it too often. I have long hair that tends to tangle easily, so it is necessary for me to comb it."

"You must be pretty diligent to keep it looking so well-groomed, considering how long your hair is."

Amane opened his eyes and looked at Mahiru in the mirror; her hair was long enough to fall below her waist with ease. Despite that, no split ends could be seen, and her hair was in perfect condition. Her smooth, silky hair boasted a beauty that any girl would admire.

Amane admired her hair, thinking about how hard it must be to maintain, and heard a small giggle from behind him.

"Well, I have good hair to begin with, so I'm not extremely anxious about it… but I do pay attention to its quality. Tidy hair will look nice no matter what kind of clothes I'm wearing."

"...You really are so girly."

"I want to be proud of who I am, after all."

Mahiru stated as she finished brushing his hair and picked up the showerhead. Amane saw her reach for it and closed his eyes, knowing that she was going to rinse his hair with hot water.

Gently, Mahiru informed, "I shall begin rinsing now," as she tenderly sprayed water from the showerhead onto Amane's hair.

"Let's do a thorough pre-washing here. When using styling products, it's better to wash them off here to some extent."

"Looks like the lecture's started."

"Your hair is naturally good quality, Amane-kun, so it will be even better if you take good care of it."

"That's what I thought. Taking care of it every day would be troublesome." "You mustn't get sidetracked when it comes to this," Mahiru spoke in an exasperated voice, "Honestly, geez."

Since Mahiru started washing his hair, the tension and embarrassment had completely faded. Their conversations carried on as usual as the awkwardness subsided.

"Well, I'm sure that bathing together will come naturally for us in the future, so let's take it one step at a time," Amane commented after considering Mahiru's proposed daily care routine. He thought it would be a little troublesome to do that every day, but Mahiru, who was rinsing his hair under the shower, froze. Mahiru stood there for roughly ten seconds, before finally turning off the shower as if she had suddenly been thawed. In the mirror, Amane could see her silently squeeze out some shampoo and proceed to lather it on a loofah.

"E-Erm… Mahiru-san?"

"...It's one of your downsides to be able to say such things so casually." "Ehh…?"

Mahiru's cheeks flushed as she kneaded the foamy shampoo through Amane's hair. He noticed that Mahiru started to handle his hair rather roughly. Or was that just his imagination?

"...I'm very happy, but you can no longer be exasperated by Shihoko-san now, can you, Amane-kun?"

He vaguely understood the meaning behind Mahiru's words, and although late, he also realized what he had said to her prior. His cheeks also heated up.

He used to look back in dismay at his parents bathing together. But now Amane had implied that he, too, would bathe with his partner every day once they got married. He was in no position to talk.

"Amane-kun. I will be mad if you don't zip your mouth right now." "I'll be careful."

The embarrassment that had finally faded from each other had returned, and both Amane and Mahiru blushed as they then silently focused on washing his hair. While doing so, Mahiru finished the hair treatment routine neatly and skillfully.

After thoroughly rinsing Amane's hair, Mahiru hesitated as she retrieved a bottle. It was labeled: Body Soap.

"...E-erm, um... Y-Your body, too."

Amane, who had understood what Mahiru was trying to say, suddenly felt his body stiffen.

He knew that naturally, after having washed his hair, his body was next, but Amane had never guessed that Mahiru would propose the idea herself. She did say that she would wash his back, but he hadn't expected her to follow through with it.

"W-Well, erm… Ah—Y-You don't have to force yourself, you know?"

"I-I'm not forcing myself! E-Erm… even I can do this much. It's just that, erm… I would like you to wash your front… I-I will just wash your back."

"I-It'd help me out if you'd do that."

As expected, it would be a big deal for Mahiru to wash his front as well. Amane immediately nodded in response to Mahiru's words and looked down at his feet. His somewhat faded embarrassment from earlier was growing once more. Furthermore, his body was heating up even more, probably due to the situation going beyond his expectations.

Standing behind him, Mahiru diligently lathered body soap with the loofah.

The sound of cloth rubbing against skin could be heard.

Amane was painfully conscious of the awkward atmosphere. They were in the bathroom, where only the sound of their breathing and the frothing of soap could be heard.

"...Erm… Then, please excuse me…" Mahiru whispered in a timid tone, perhaps having finished lathering the soap. Then, a soft, fluffy sensation spread across Amane's back.

Of course, Amane knew that it was simply finely lathered body soap. But in such a place, in such a situation, being in such close proximity to Mahiru, who was only wearing her swimsuit, it must have been a man's instinct to think even for just a moment that her fruits had brushed against him.

The sensation of the bubbles gently spreading across his back made him feel ticklish.

Mahiru moved her hands courteously, but since she was clearly applying the foam with utmost care, she must have felt a little nervous. Amane wasn't so attentive when he washed himself, so he wasn't used to that much care being put into the process.

"...Amane-kun, you have a surprisingly large back, do you not?"

He heard a small whisper surface once the foam had spread evenly across his back.

"Surprisingly, you say. Compared to your back, Mahiru, of course mine would feel bigger."

"It's because it's yours that it feels so big, Amane-kun. Or should I say… I've grown used to relying on your back this whole time."

And then, Amane felt a palm press up against his shoulder blade.

"Do you remember that time when I sprained my leg? You even carried me home on your back."

"Yeah. I remember, I remember. That was when you saved the cat and got yourself hurt, right?"

"...At that time, I was really happy. I tried not to show it on my face, though."

"You were really at a loss back then, after all."

"...I think that you always look out for me, Amane-kun. You're always there to support me."

Abruptly, the palm still placed against his back slipped across his body, instead coming to rest on his flat chest, as she hugged him from behind. With the distance between their bodies now zero, Mahiru rested her lips on Amane's shoulder, clinging to him firmly.

Feeling the presence of something far softer, and far weightier than bubbles press up against his back, Amane stifled a gasp.

"I'll carry you as much as you want, Mahiru, and I'll support you. Besides, I promised not to take my eyes off you, so I won't just disappear or anything."

"..... Yes."

"But, well, this position is a bit hard to bear right now, so I'd appreciate it if you could let go of me."

Once he implied that they were touching him, her body jolted. But there were no signs of her letting go.

"...Even if you don't carry me, I want you to stay close to me. Though, I will not dump all of the burden onto you. I want to walk with you, every step of the way."

"That's right."

"Also, I heard that you would be happy if I were to do this when I sleepover, Amane-kun."

"Chitose—!"

Amane unintentionally muttered, musing that although it was an interesting scheme, Chitose must have been subtly suggesting something else. "Chi- Chitose-san only gave me some advice, and I wished to do it," Mahiru quickly informed him as she wrapped her arms around him even tighter as if to soothe him.

Amane felt an even plumper sensation grace his back and couldn't help but groan.

It wasn't as if he was against it; he was definitely happy, but he felt as if the shackles that had kept him sane were being scraped away. The fact that Mahiru was clinging to him deliberately rather than accidentally was quickly whittling down his endurance.

"I-I get it now, so please step away from me. It's a bit of a problem... I don't want to overheat before I get in the bath."

It would have been ideal if he'd been able to enjoy himself candidly, but the current Amane lacked the composure to do that. He'd insisted that he wanted to cool his head and body off a little since he was full of vitality, but surprisingly, Mahiru obediently let go.

The reflection in the mirror clearly displayed Mahiru's reaction: timidly crouched down, she fidgeted at the embarrassment that rushed to her after the fact.

Mahiru, who couldn't decide whether to act bold or not, groaning "Uuuu," wrapped herself in her arms, grabbing her shoulders. Amane thought briefly that if she was going to get embarrassed, she shouldn't have gone so far with her stunt to begin with.

As for Amane, he now felt more relieved than embarrassed, so he smiled lightly and turned to face Mahiru. He gently snatched the foamy loofah from her hands.

"I'll do the rest myself, so you just do your own care routine, Mahiru." " Yes."

"You seem kinda dissatisfied, or is that just me?"

"N-No, not dissatisfied, or rather… e-erm, I had prepared myself for this, so it feels a little anticlimactic."

"Just what did you think I would pull in a place like this….?" "W-Well, that's, erm…. Washing each other's backs."

"That was something you suggested in the first place, Mahiru... Or did you really want me to wash your back?"

"Th-That's not it! It's just, erm, you seem to not want to touch me, Amane- kun…"

Almost coughing involuntarily, Amane stared at Mahiru for saying something so outrageously dangerous, half out of embarrassment and half out of reproach. Mahiru's face turned even redder.

" B-But Shihoko-san and Shuuto-san always wash each other well."

"Hearing that about my parents makes me feel complicated… Well, in the first place, my parents are married, so it may be too early for us… What I mean is that, w-well, rather than touching, maybe it's better just to relax together in the bathtub."

Amane proposed that idea, thinking that it would be safer to use the bathtub normally. Otherwise, his hand could slip into all sorts of unexpected places. In response to Amane's words, Mahiru let out a, "...I-I understand," sounding as if she had convinced herself.

Huh? Didn't I just suggest something really outrageous? Amane questioned himself for a brief moment, but before that realization bombarded him with shame, "I shall take care of myself, so please turn the other way~" Mahiru spoke up in a poised manner. Amane was swept away by her newfound momentum and obediently turned his back.

Glancing toward the mirror, Amane noticed that Mahiru's ears were bright red as they peeked out from between the strands of her hair. He dared not point that out, however, as Mahiru would find out that he had been looking at her, so he pretended to have not seen a thing. As they sat with their backs to each other, embarrassed, Amane continued washing the rest of his body.

Aware that Mahiru would take longer to wash than himself, Amane took the liberty of soaking in the bathtub first. However, Mahiru, as she finished tending to herself, glanced his way now and again, so he was at a loss for what to do.

Amane hadn't the foggiest clue as to what she wanted to say. Without a doubt, she was conscious of the remarks about touching in the bathtub from earlier, but from Mahiru's gaze, which looked as if she were hoping for something, Amane could tell that she wanted to ask for something from him.

It didn't seem to be a matter of caution, but considering that he was worried about not being able to understand her feelings, he definitely noticed that Mahiru's caramel-colored eyes wavered as she met his gaze.

"E-Ermm, where should I… soak myself?"

At the word 'where,' Amane blinked once. This apartment was purpose- made for one or two people living alone, but the bathtub was fairly large. It was possible for two people to bathe together provided that they were careful of their feet, but at most, it would be a little cramped. Amane was careful not to stretch his legs out of consideration for Mahiru; that way, she would have plenty of space on the other side of the tub.

And yet, Mahiru had likely phrased that as a question due to Amane's prior slip of the tongue.

"...W-Well, it's pretty empty… you can just soak wherever you'd like."

Despite what he had said earlier, Amane couldn't very well tell Mahiru to come close to him, so he threw the choice back to her. Mahiru lightly pressed her lips together and made a pout before slowly climbing into the bathtub.

Just as Amane was expecting to be greeted with the sight of pure white skin, devoid of any suntan, a flaxen-colored veil enveloped his vision. "Ah—." Mahiru was sitting between Amane's loosely crossed legs as he let out a gasp.

Of course, while Amane had said she could sit 'anywhere,' Mahiru settling herself down in between his legs was something he did not expect. Amane was stunned. Aware of this or not, Mahiru leaned against his body, placing her full weight on him.

Her hair was tied back, so Amane directly felt the touch of her bare skin.

Whether he liked it or not, he was getting aroused. "...You did say I could soak anywhere, right?"

Mahiru's cheeks were dyed red as she looked back at him with a modest yet almost triumphant smile. Amane wasn't able to comment on it, however, as his face and body had not yet calmed down; he simply replied, "Yeah, I did."

"In that case, there's no problem, right?"

Mahiru, who had said that clearly, to encourage herself, then suddenly headbutted Amane with the back of her head. He wasn't hurt, but it itched him both mentally and physically, so he gently grabbed Mahiru's shoulder to stop her.

Instantly, her body trembled greatly, and the sound of waves rippling echoed through the narrow bathroom.

"Perhaps I should leave after all?" Mahiru wondered to herself quietly.

"N-No, it's not like I'm against it... Erm, I-I was wondering exactly how we were going to touch each other," Amane replied.

"..... Was it not you who proposed that idea?"

"Well, that's true, but…"

Mahiru now seemed to be confused, which Amane softly laughed at, so he gently wrapped his arms around her, musing that it wasn't as if he didn't understand how she felt.

Her body stiffened for a moment before she started to wriggle out of an overabundance of embarrassment, and the reason was obvious. Amane wanted to lightly embrace her, so he asked her to calm down.

"...Could you stop squirming for me?"

Amane knew that Mahiru would eventually quiet down even without him intervening, but just in case, he whispered gently into her ear. She shuddered again, but obediently stopped squirming. Instead, she settled herself further in between Amane's legs.

Amane was happy that she had calmed down. But at this rate, if this continued in the direction it seemed to be going in, both of them would quickly become too embarrassed to interact with each other at all.

...As expected, it's impossible for me to touch her without hesitating.

Amane had hesitated to touch her more than the time they were at the pool, but in this situation, it couldn't be helped. In this tight, but completely private space, they mutually consented to be stuck so close to each other. But, there was no way they wouldn't be conscious of it.

For the time being, Amane focused on the process of deciding how to act right now to distract him from other sensations, and gently embraced Mahiru as he normally would.

The scent of shampoo, which was stronger than usual, surprised Amane for a moment, but he was still able to keep his reasoning. In any case, he rubbed Mahiru's tense body to ease her tension.

Amane had never touched Mahiru's torso or stomach directly before, but it seemed that the way Amane gently hugged Mahiru was enough to reduce her tension and soothe her.

Mahiru, who leaned her head against Amane's arm, let out a sigh of content after being silent for a while.

In such a quiet room, the sound of their sighs could be heard clearly. They both listened quietly to the sound of water drops dripping from the faucet and rippling on the surface of the bathtub as it very slowly warmed their bodies.

"...Erm, Amane-kun, you won't start to hate doing this, will you?" Mahiru asked timidly.

For a while now, neither of them had said a single word. They quietly snuggled together while basking in the water, enjoying its warmth.

"...Th-This is something I have noticed myself, but I feel like I've been messing up and nothing I do ever works."

"Ah, so that's what it was. There's no way that I'd hate it. I know how much you like me, Mahiru, and that you're doing your best for me even though it's embarrassing for you."

"Please don't mention that, geez." "I mean, it's true."

"I-If you realized that, then why don't you understand my intentions...?"

Mahiru muttered in a voice full of embarrassment, as her voice trailed off with each word, and she shrunk down between Amane's arms again.

Amane was not so dense that he misunderstood what Mahiru wanted or what she wished for. However, it would cause his desires to surface, and if he actually allowed himself to succumb to them, his momentum would likely be much greater than what Mahiru desired. He intended to keep tabs on his own behavior to prevent that from becoming a problem.

"...I'm not too confident I can control myself, so I would be troubled if you provoked me too much, young lady."

"You say that, but you have been looking rather composed for a while now."

"No, not at all. Feel free to check."

If she brought her ear close and listened to his heart, she would hear an obvious, unconcealable thumping.

Mahiru was a little hesitant after hearing Amane's suggestion, but then shifted herself to face him and put her ears on his chest, which had recently begun to look toned as a result of Amane's training.

Right now, Amane could hide his embarrassed face by soaking himself in the bathtub. However, it would be difficult to hide his rapid heartbeat. His heartbeat was faster than normal, and Mahiru blinked as she raised her head.

Amane smiled as he returned her gaze. "That's what I said, right? …That I can't keep my composure."

With Mahiru's consent, Amane had begun bathing with his first and only girlfriend. He wanted to touch her. He wanted to strip off her swimsuit. He wanted more.

The reason why Amane didn't do any of that was because he didn't want to hurt Mahiru. He felt strongly that it'd be wise for him not to act so rash, because it would affect their relationship forever.

"...I thought this was something you would have gotten used to," Mahiru mused.

"No way that's the case. I do want to touch you, and there are various other things I want to do as well; I'm just holding myself back," Amane replied.

"Va-Various things…"

Mahiru blushed, perhaps lost in her imagination. Amane flashed her a wry smile as he caressed her head and Mahiru let him do as he pleased, accepting him.

She sure doesn't get shy when I touch her like this, huh, Amane thought. He tenderly patted her head while he stroked her cheeks as his fingers naturally followed the shape of her face, tickling her with his fingertips.

Mahiru closed her eyes slowly and relaxed, surrendering herself to Amane.

Her sweet, yet unbelievably sexy attitude surely came from her deep trust in him. Amane softly placed his finger on her chin and kissed her once… but then quickly pulled back.

"Huh?"

"...If I kiss you like that here, I'm likely to make you overheat, Mahiru."

Amane wanted to give her a deep kiss right there and then, but if he were to do that while her body was already steaming, Mahiru would undoubtedly become light-headed and boil over.

French kissing in itself was something that neither of them were used to, and were unaware of the appropriate limits. Otherwise, they would both drown in each other endlessly.

Amane judged that it would be dangerous—both physically and mentally— and decided to finish up considering that the situation was whittling down his endurance, but Mahiru seemed disappointed. "...Is that so?" she said, almost as if she had been expecting something else.

Amane couldn't help but chuckle when faced with Mahiru's blatantly obvious reaction that showed her true feelings, and Mahiru began lightly hitting Amane's chest, forcing him to suppress a smile. He then traced around Mahiru's lips with the edge of his thumb.

Mahiru lips, which were smoother and more luscious than Amane's own, opened slightly, trembling at the mere touch of Amane's fingers.

"...Were you disappointed?"

"You're such a meanie for asking something like that, Amane-kun."

Now sulking, Mahiru softly hit his chest once more after being teased and turned her back, crouching down between his legs yet again.

Amane knew that she wasn't truly sulking, but it wouldn't be a good idea to poke fun at her embarrassment either. He promptly apologized with a "Sorry," and delicately wrapped his arms around Mahiru, pulling her close again.

Though hesitating at first, knowing that he faced inevitable embarrassment, Amane quickly shook it off by moving his arms slowly and carefully as he secured his grip. Mahiru was tugged even closer to him, and Amane's hands were now laid across her stomach.

Mahiru's back was almost completely uncovered, so each time their skin would suddenly touch, her body quivered.

While it was easy for Amane to understand why Mahiru trembled, there was nothing he could do to prevent it. In the first place, Mahiru had entered the bathtub like she did, despite being aware of Amane's hesitations, which was something that Amane also accepted.

"It's really warm here." "...Yes."

"Are you fine with… staying like this for a little while longer?" Amane hinted that he wouldn't do anything strange to her and hugged Mahiru gently. Her tension faded and she obediently entrusted her body to Amane.

Feeling rather relieved that she had granted his request, Amane gently stroked her slender belly. Mahiru wriggled around like it tickled her.

Even when not submerged in water like it was now, Mahiru's skin remained smooth and pleasant to the touch—as if all unnecessary details had been wiped away. Despite the perfection of it, Amane noted how different it felt compared to his own skin, a strange sensation that could only be described as girlish softness.

While she found it vaguely confusing, Mahiru didn't seem to dislike having her belly touched by him. She lightly tapped his arm with her finger in protest, but as proof that she wasn't against it, Mahiru promptly switched tactics and started to caress Amane back.

With a splash, Mahiru enacted her tender revenge against Amane's arm. Suddenly, yet gently, she turned around, while continuing to press her weight up against him.

"Amane-kun."

"Hm? Something wrong?"

"Erm.... about what we were talking about earlier."

"Earlier?"

"About, erm… kissing."

Although Amane was in no position to say this about others, it appeared that using direct language was not one of Mahiru's strengths. She stammered as she spoke and her voice was rather quiet.

"What about it?"

"...W-When we get out of the bath, you'll do it with me, right…? Is that okay?"

Having heard Mahiru say something so endearing, Amane buried his face into her shoulder, much to Mahiru's surprise. Flustered, she immediately began to hit Amane's arm playfully.

"Wh-What happened to you all of a sudden?" Mahiru asked.

"Don't mind me," Amane continued, " I was just thinking that you shouldn't say such adorable things. Anyway, both of us want to do the same thing, so please prepare yourself once you've left the bath."

"Eh…? Uuu… P-Please pretend that I did not ask that…"

Amane hugged Mahiru gently, knowing that she would undoubtedly be overwhelmed if he were to no longer hold himself back. But, he held on tight, like he never wanted to let her go.

"Don't wanna."

"You're such a meanie."

"Yeah, I'm exactly that—a meanie."

Amane responded with a calm and gentle whisper, and Mahiru, seemingly unable to bear the situation any longer, muttered, "Baka," and prodded Amane in the knee, which was by her side, in order to express her dissatisfaction.

✧ ₊ ✦ ₊ ✧

Amane felt that if they stuck to each other like that in the bath any longer he'd lose it, so he decided to call that enough contact for now, and got out of the bath.

Having finished his daily washing routine, Amane then dried his hair in the living room and waited for Mahiru's return.

For a brief moment, Amane considered leaving his hair wet while waiting, aiming to have Mahiru spoil him some more, but he had a looming feeling that she would scold him, so he dried his hair quickly instead.

Amane also thought about waiting for Mahiru in his bedroom, but since that would likely make the atmosphere too intense, he decided to wait in the room where they usually spent time together. It also helped him to hide how fast his heart was beating.

Trying to hide his nervousness, Amane turned on the television. It was then that he heard a noise coming from the hallway. Amane guessed that the sound was Mahiru approaching, but he was too embarrassed to turn around to face her. He pretended to be absorbed in watching the television instead.

After a few moments, Amane finally looked up at her… and he felt instantly relieved at the sight. If Mahiru had returned wearing a risqué nightgown, Amane would've adamantly suspected that she was testing his endurance, but Mahiru was actually dressed in a modest knee-length negligee with a matching cardigan.

The negligee was made of a silky yet glossy fabric that was laced with a sheer material that gave her outfit a tinge of layered transparency. It was designed in such a way that it didn't reveal the true curves of her body, however, so it didn't look indecent.

The negligee itself was suspended by straps and had no sleeves, but since Mahiru had worn a laced cardigan over it, it wasn't as revealing as one might expect. Instead, it simply helped embellish Mahiru's prim and proper attitude.

Embarrassed by Amane's stare, Mahiru shrunk back a bit shyly, but she didn't try to hide herself. Instead, she steadily returned his gaze, looking in his direction as if peeking at him.

"D-Does it look strange on me?"

"Not one bit. Those clothes are cute and suit you rather well. I was just thinking that they're different from the ones you wore back at my parents' house."

"O-Of course I can't wear these clothes at your parents' house. Erm, but right now you're the only one seeing me, Amane-kun, so I am trying my best."

Mahiru fidgeted as she spoke and sat down next to Amane politely. Then, she leaned to the side, and rested her body on him.

The sensation of thin fabric paired with the fresh, sweet, yet not overpowering aroma—one slightly stronger than the one he had experienced in the bath—caused Amane to tense up, despite him trying to calm himself down moments before.

Amane felt that way simply from being next to her. If he were to hug Mahiru now, he would undoubtedly lose himself to her charming scent.

"Frankly, I was worried about what I'd do if you came in wearing some indecent-looking nightwear."

"Actually, I had thought about that," she confirmed.

"Listen here…"

"But, erm… I-I thought that if I was too… aggressive in what I wore, I might overwhelm you," Mahiru cleared up, "In fact, I'm sure of it." The sight of her muttering shyly was, frankly, adorable. If there was even a single man willing to back down after seeing such a spectacle, they'd warrant a trip to the nearest eye doctor.

"...I wouldn't be put off by that," Amane confirmed. "I'd be happy to see you wearing it for my sake, Mahiru."

"I–I still won't wear it, okay?" "So you won't, huh?"

"Do you want me to wear it?"

"Well, yeah. Someday, well… I think I'll want you to wear it. If you ever feel like the time is right, Mahiru, go ahead and show it to me."

"...Someday, okay?"

"Yeah, someday. …For now, you don't need to overdo it."

While seeing Mahiru writhe in embarrassment would be a cute sight to behold, there was no need to force her to wear those clothes when she hesitated to do so. For Amane, waiting until Mahiru chose to wear it because she wanted to was of utmost importance.

Amane then tried to drop the subject, but tilted his head at Mahiru, as he noticed that she seemed to want to say something more. But in response to his quizzical look, she pouted, saying sharply, "It's nothing." Amane then gently took her hand without pushing the matter any further.

Although Amane simply held her hand as he usually did, he could feel Mahiru's body stiffen briefly. But once Amane moved to lovingly wrap his arms around her in silence, her tension melted away, and she rested her head on his arm. Mahiru snuggled up to Amane, not at all forcefully, but as if to say she'd never let go. Amane in return also slightly leaned on Mahiru.

With perfect timing, the variety show ended, and the monotonous voice of a newscaster flowed from the TV into the living room. Amane listened to the voice half-asleep, unable to fully concentrate on the comforting warmth next to him. He changed the manner in which he held Mahiru's hand.

Until now, he had simply cupped his palm around hers, but now, Amane intertwined their fingers together. He searched for the perfect position to bring her fingers close to his, implying that he would never let them go. Her slender fingers, which had been sufficiently warmed up due to the bath, did not resist Amane's gesture. Mahiru simply gripped back in return, as if responding the same way to him.

"...It's about time. Let's get some sleep."

Mahiru quietly and softly squeezed Amane's hand once more after hearing the words that he said so naturally.

They moved to Amane's bedroom as they continued to hold hands tightly, and Mahiru looked around a little upon entering.

Mahiru had entered Amane's bedroom many times before, so there shouldn't have been anything unfamiliar to her, but given Mahiru's nature, she probably had refrained from scoping out his room the previous times she had been there. Or perhaps, Mahiru was simply letting her mind wander, and was looking around the room to stop thinking about what they would do next.

Although Mahiru kept her true intentions hidden, she turned her gaze to his desk and let out a small smile.

"...You've been taking good care of your stuffed animal, haven't you?"

Saying that, Mahiru pointed to the cat plushie that she had won for him at the arcade during their Golden Week date.

While it may have looked out of place in Amane's room, since Mahiru had worked so hard to win it for him, putting it away would be both a pity and a waste, so Amane decided to leave it on display.

Other people basically never entered his room, so he figured it wouldn't be a big deal, but now that she had pointed it out to him, he was left feeling a little embarrassed.

"Well, just to the point of making sure it doesn't get dusty. I don't sleep with it in my arms like you do, Mahiru."

"A-Are you making fun of me?"

"Why'd you ask? It's very cute, so there's no reason to make fun of you.

I'm glad that you're treasuring it."

Mahiru was extremely fond of the stuffed animal he gave to her on her birthday, and she seemed to be sleeping well with it wrapped in her arms. Chitose, who had occasionally stayed at Mahiru's house, gave him a detailed report of Mahiru doing so, so it must have been a regular occurence.

Mahiru seemed embarrassed that she was sleeping while hugging a stuffed animal, for her eyes began to dart around the room before suddenly landing back on Amane with a sharp glare, as if blaming him. As soon as Amane complimented her honestly, however, her anger vanished and she simply felt embarrassed.

"...I always take good care of what you give me, Amane-kun."

"Thanks for that. ...You didn't bring it with you today, did you? Kuma-san, I mean. Your teddy bear."

"Erm, that's because… I have you with me tonight, Amane-kun." "...Yeah."

Whether Mahiru wanted to use him as a body pillow or to become a body pillow, Amane wasn't going to ask her which one she was imagining. As long as Mahiru would be able to hug to her heart's content, that was all that mattered. Likewise, Amane intended to hug Mahiru to his heart's content.

He thought about embracing her right away, but Amane's eyes gravitated once more towards the cat plushie on display by Mahiru's side. The toy's large, yet emotionless round eyes felt like they were staring intently at him, as Amane thought about the ways in which he could draw Mahiru closer.

This situation was reminiscent of a child chancing upon their parents' intimate moments, and this thought left Amane feeling embarrassed. Strange and unfamiliar, it was a feeling that Amane had never felt before, given that his relationship with Mahiru hadn't yet developed that far before this point. However, he couldn't help but feel something like that, despite the strangeness of the sentiment. Without thinking, Amane silently grabbed the blanket that was draped over his chair and used it to cover the stuffed cat.

"...Is something wrong?" Mahiru questioned.

"W-Well, I feel like I can't relax right now, while it's watching me… That's all," Amane replied.

Even though he knew the stuffed animal could not see them, for an inexplicable reason, Amane couldn't help but think that it would be bad for the thing to be able to see what was going to happen next—or rather, what Amane was likely about to do to Mahiru.

Of course, Amane wasn't intending to escalate things to a point where he'd chip away at his own sanity, but even so, he hesitated to give Mahiru the kind of attention that lovers do, in front of the cat's pure, innocent eyes.

"Fufu. You're concerned about it too, aren't you, Amane-kun?" "Shut up."

"That part of you is rather cute, you know?"

"Is that something you can say when you go to sleep while hugging Kuma- san?"

"I thought we were finished talking about that, right? Geez!"

Amane chuckled and accepted Mahiru, who was upset at the topic being brought up yet again. Evidently, this didn't seem to sit well with her, because she pressed her free hand into Amane's side—although in the gentlest of punches.

Understandably, Amane wasn't in any pain as a result. Conversely, the pleasant tickling sensation it caused to his side only added to the charm of Mahiru's protest.

While Mahiru's cute attempts at a counterattack were efforts to hide her embarrassment, she would only resort to physical retaliation when it came to Amane. He understood that it was only because it was him that she would take revenge by touching like that, so Amane had no intention of resisting it or hating her.

Mahiru continued her gentle punching barrage on Amane's chest for a while, but gave him a slightly resentful look before long, as he was utterly unfazed. Silently, Amane smiled and caught Mahiru's hand, which had been loosely balled into a fist.

That being said, all Amane did next was intertwine their fingers together, which allowed their palms to press against each other.

At this, Mahiru's eyes widened, then her cheeks flushed faintly as she dropped her gaze to the floor. Amane knew that she wasn't against it, so he squeezed her palm gently and escorted her further into the bedroom by the hand. Mahiru sat down on his bed without any resistance whatsoever, following Amane's lead.

Amane looked at Mahiru, and rather unsurprisingly, despite her cooperation, saw a hint of surprise lingering on her face. Letting go of her hand, Amane sat down next to Mahiru—and hugged her gently, before continuing.

"...Erm, is it okay to pick up where we left off earlier…, in the bathroom?" "Y-Yes."

Amane has asked her for confirmation, and in return, Mahiru gave him the go-ahead with a touch of awkwardness in her voice.

I don't think she dislikes it, but she's all nervous again now, Amane thought, but he had gone too far already to stop now, so he gently lifted Mahiru's chin and lovingly nibbled her lip.

He wasn't sure whether she'd gotten used to it a little, but at the very least, Mahiru's cheeks hadn't immediately flared up with passion or lust.

What welled up was a joy that sunk in as far as it could go, a love that threatened to drown him, and a euphoria that kindled the warmth in his heart. Amane's urge to envelop Mahiru tenderly and cherish her was stronger than his urge to pounce on her, and slowly, slowly, he pressed his lips against Mahiru's, with utmost care, in an effort to soothe her tension.

They felt as though they were melting into one being, despite them only brushing their lips against each other, and as Amane pecked at her lips to enjoy the smooth sensation, he could hear the faint sound of Mahiru's ticklish giggling.

It was a voice that nobody else could pick up on—a voice that they alone could hear.

Amane wanted to hear more of her voice, so their kisses, which had only been a faint nibble of the lips until now, grew stronger. Deeper and deeper, they kissed, as if seeking out the heat within each other, and their connection grew even stronger. Sharing heat, kissing each other heartily like this was something they hadn't gotten used to, but even so, Mahiru had certainly accepted Amane.

Every time a sweet, muffled voice that sounded like it was stuck in her throat leaked out of the corner of her mouth, Amane felt a rush of arousal that he couldn't even begin to describe.

He was aware that what he was doing was simple, but now that he'd come this far, the fever-like feeling was steadily accumulating, and Amane's momentum was building up as if something was pushing him from behind.

The stiffness of Mahiru's slender body had long since vanished. In fact, she was leaning against Amane's body lightly, as if her strength had been sucked away. Just the thought of her soft limbs touching him through her thin negligee made him hopelessly, dearly, and longingly, reach out his hand to her.

When he touched her hips through the negligee with the hand he had been embracing her with, Mahiru trembled slightly, a reaction that only Amane, who was kissing her, could notice.

Amane gently stroked her hips with his palm, and just from that, Mahiru twitched and wriggled her body slightly. There was no sign of her running away. She simply took in the invasion of Amane's palm.

That fact fueled his inner passion and eagerness above all else.

Amane's palm naturally soared up Mahiru's body, and almost entirely instinctively, she quivered long before Amane reached anything truly sensitive.

Suddenly, Amane realized just what he was about to do. He stopped moving his palm in a hurry and stopped savoring her lips to create some distance between him and Mahiru, but instead, she buried her face in Amane's chest of her own accord. Her face was completely flushed, and she was teary-eyed.

Mahiru's hand, which Amane had thought would push him away, was placed on top of his. It was as if she were telling him not to let go with the gentle pressure of her delicate palm.

"...Erm, I do not intend to retract what I said before… when I asked to stay the night."

The slightly muffled voice emerging from within his chest had certainly spun such words before, but this time, it was Amane who had tensed his body.

His eyes met Mahiru's as she glanced up at him.

Mahiru's face was stained a deep red due to their kisses, and in her expression, he could see that she was begging him to not stop. Her caramel- coloured pupils were so wet, as she nervously observed Amane's next move, that she looked like she would start shedding sweet teardrops at any moment.

Amane swallowed hard without thinking.

Mahiru would probably—no, definitely—accept what Amane was about to do. So much so, that even if it meant giving up something precious, something that Mahiru could only surrender once, Amane believed that she would accept his wishes and gladly offer it to him.

That was just how much she trusted him—how much she loved him. Even Amane had his pride, though.

Was it truly okay for him to respond to her trust, and her love, by continuing down this path?

Endlessly, all sorts of conflicting thoughts swirled around inside his mind. The desire that was eagerly urging on his body and the desire to love her from the bottom of his heart. Both of these feelings were clashing in his mind, shattering his sanity.

Mahiru shuddered as he exhaled.

She was clearly leaving everything about what would happen next to Amane, so she was feeling anticipation and anxiety thinking about where things could lead.

Women often had no choice but to accept the repercussions of situations like these, as their bodies tended to be small and frail. And, if something were to happen, they would be the ones carrying the burden.

Considering that, Amane's answer was clear. "Well, you see…"

"Y-Yes?"

"As for how I feel, I want to make you mine, Mahiru." "...Yes."

As for how long Amane had been waiting for the day to come when he and Mahiru would be united, she likely had no idea.

No matter how much Amane would be teased or laughed at by Itsuki and the others for his decision, he fought to retain his control, even knowing that he naturally had desires of his own, and he'd even dreamed of them before. Ever since they started dating, he'd distracted himself with crude delusions in order to comfort himself, despite the immense guilt he felt while doing it.

Even so, the reason Amane hesitated to extend his hand further was wholly due to him fixing his gaze on the future.

"...But, you know. Erm, I'm not old enough to take responsibility just yet, and if something happened, you would be the one troubled. Well, of course I would take responsibility if something did happen, but it's not like I can promise a legally definite relationship right away."

There was only one way for him to take responsibility.

The only problem was that, in accordance with the law, one could not get married until they were eighteen years of age.

If something were to happen during the act, a baby would be born during their times as a student. No matter how much knowledge he gained and how many countermeasures he were to take, it would only reduce the likelihood of conception, not eliminate it.

If that were to happen, it would affect Mahiru's life in the future, and there could be people who would judge her harshly for it. Amane would only be hurting her. In turn, it'd be possible that Mahiru would give up on her own past hopes and dreams for her own life.

There was no way Amane could sacrifice Mahiru's future to satisfy this single momentary impulse.

"It's precisely because I love you, Mahiru, that I want to put you first. In the future, once you find things that you want to do or study, I don't want to interfere with those goals. We will spend a lot of time together from now on, and considering that, I think that your life shouldn't be dictated by the feelings and desires of a single moment right now."

"...I see."

"I am fully prepared to spend the rest of my life with you, Mahiru. It's just that, I…"

"Anything more than this is fine, you know?"

He thought Mahiru had cut him off to call him a coward, but she gave him an innocent smile, like she was troubled and yet blessed with an unexpected happiness.

"I understand that you are very considerate of me, Amane-kun, and that you love me very deeply. To be cherished this much… I'm so, so happy."

Mahiru, who giggled as if she was satisfied from the bottom of her heart, lightly kissed Amane and smiled once more as their faces nearly touched. "...I love this side of you, Amane-kun… from the bottom of my heart!"

This time, it was Amane who kissed the one dearest to him, a lovely girl whose smiles overflowed with more happiness than anyone else, as he once more wrapped her small body within his arms.

"Could you please wait until I can take responsibility?"

Seemingly aware of Amane's inner conflict, Mahiru lowered her eyes ever so slightly before nodding with a bashful smile and diving deep into Amane's chest.

Mahiru had undoubtedly been greeted by the loud thumping of his heart. "Then, I shall save myself until the time comes," Mahiru announced in a voice so gentle and brimming with contentment that anyone would be able to say that she was wholeheartedly overjoyed. Then she looked up a little from Amane's chest and showed him a smile completely full of happiness.

Amane hugged Mahiru again and whispered, "I'll make sure to treasure you," and gently felt the comforting heat and softness of her body.

Of course, Amane had no regrets about his choice. He hadn't lied about wanting to take good care of her. He was fully prepared to make her happy for the rest of his life.

That said, his body just couldn't handle it any longer, so he wanted her to cut him a little bit of slack—just this once.

"...Hey."

"Yes?"

"Can I say something shameful?"

"Please do. As the one that I love, I shall accept your cool side, your shameful side, and your every request."

Though he was subtly flustered by Mahiru's tolerant attitude, Amane kissed her on the nape of her neck, steeled himself, and began speaking.

"...Well, you see... Can I touch you? …Just a little."

He had no intention of wasting his resolve. There was no way he would break his vow.

He just wanted her to let him slightly alleviate the desires that were swarming inside his head.

Mahiru seemingly did not expect Amane's request, and her eyes blinked and flickered greatly, before she blushed a clear red.

However, it wasn't the color of rejection, but of approval, and after looking up at Amane in embarrassment, she kept her eyes downcast.

"...P-Please, be gentle with me."

Perhaps it was foolish of him to think that there was even a faint hint of anticipation in her whispering voice. Nevertheless, Amane bit down his joy at her acceptance, gently took Mahiru's hand and dropped his body down onto the bed.