New Interactions

Upon returning to school after the holiday, following the cultural festival, the atmosphere was slightly restless, perhaps because the excitement of the festival hadn't completely faded just yet.

Even Amane's class, which was usually more on the calm side, was at least twenty percent livelier than usual. There were classmates whispering from time to time, mostly about who had started dating who, and Amane was keenly aware that the cultural festival had an effect on student relationships, namely the blooming of new couples.

The occasional glance would come his way, but they were mainly directed towards Mahiru, so it was more likely that the topic was her appearance at the cultural festival and whatnot.

"Mornin'."

Itsuki entered the classroom, looking a tad drowsy, and headed straight over to Amane. Amane waved his hand loosely in response and replied "Mornin'," as he briefly examined Itsuki's face. Amane hadn't followed up to ask Itsuki how it'd been at home, after he confided his worries during their karaoke session.

Itsuki was bound to be down in the dumps if Daiki had said something to him afterward, but as far as Amane could tell, Itsuki appeared to be his usual self. Amane was relieved, but didn't show it.

"Good morning, Shiina-san." Itsuki turned to Mahiru, "Today, you're still...

Hmm?"

"Good morning to you, Akazawa-san. Is something the matter?"

Mahiru stood by Amane's side as if it were the most natural thing in the world, and Itsuki smiled as he greeted her. But when he saw her face, Itsuki suddenly grew suspicious, his eyes narrowing. He examined her closely as if to confirm something, then scratched his cheek.

…What's with that expression?

Amane narrowed his eyes in the same way, wondering if some kind of issue had arisen, but despite Itsuki looking like he had something he wanted to say, the look he gave to Mahiru clearly wasn't out of criticism. This left Amane perplexed.

"...Come on, Amane-kun. Over here." "Huh?"

"Just c'mere." Itsuki insisted, calling him over for some reason, so Amane blatantly flashed a skeptical look as he let Itsuki lead him over to a corner of the classroom. After that, Itsuki tried to inconspicuously huddle close, and quietly began his interrogation.

"Hey, did you cross the line with Shiina-san?" "HUH!?"

Amane's sudden shout caught Mahiru's attention, causing her to look over from a distance to see what was happening. Trying to prevent himself from blushing with embarrassment at the thought of saying something inappropriate, Amane waved his hand and simply replied, "It's nothing." But as soon as Mahiru's gaze shifted away for a moment, Amane turned to glare at Itsuki, though the astounded look that greeted Amane left him speechless.

"Hey, hey. Why d'you think we moved over here, man? Don't blow it." "Don't blow it? That's only because you said something weird out of the blue."

"I'm not being weird. You just haven't realized that those kinds of vibes are just rolling off the two of you all over the place…" Itsuki began. "Shiina-san seems a little different than usual, and besides that, you seem to have recently closed some distance with her. You've always been close ever since you revealed your relationship, but it's clear as day that the mood you've got between you now is even more…"

Being told that there was a change in their atmosphere, Amane briefly glanced in Mahiru's direction. She was waiting quietly by his seat, looking at him curiously. But when they locked eyes, she turned bashful.

"Nothing's changed, has it?"

"You just can't see things objectively. Both of you are always flirting, yes, but the atmosphere you two have going right now differs quite a bit from what you had during the cultural festival. You've got a we belong to each other vibe going now, like you two already know one another really well."

"Whatever you're imagining, it didn't happen." "Oh, really?"

"At the very least, we didn't go all the way."

If Amane remained vague here, Itsuki would start grinning as if he saw through everything, so Amane poked Itsuki's side with his fist, attempting to disrupt that annoying face of his. There was a bit of force behind the prodding, but Itsuki was seemingly completely unfazed. "Stop trying to hide your embarrassment." Itsuki said, laughing. Feeling frustrated, Amane stomped on Itsuki's foot, though he also let out a soft sigh of resignation.

Amane shuddered at Itsuki's perceptiveness, having noticed this change right away, but Amane had intended to tell Itsuki and Chitose about what lay ahead for him and Mahiru either way. He wasn't planning on sharing how far they had gone physically, but he did believe that he should at least tell them of his future plans.

"...In the first place, I don't intend to go that far yet. I made a promise with Mahiru."

"A promise?"

"That I won't do it until I'm able to take responsibility. I said that I'll take responsibility for the rest of my life, and asked her to please wait until then."

As Amane informed Itsuki of the promise, once again realizing it was something too embarrassing to share openly, Itsuki's eyes widened in surprise, and then he looked at him with a subtly exasperated, but impressed look that contained conflicting emotions.

"I think your perseverance and sincerity are amazing, and I really do respect it, man. But will you be fine doing it? In every sense of the word."

"...I might not be okay, but it's fine. I want to take good care of her, and, erm, I'm serious about her."

Having found someone to walk with him forever from now on, Amane wanted to respect and cherish her.

Truth be told, Amane was a little worried about whether he'd be able to endure through the wait, but he couldn't break his promise. He'd be too embarrassed to do so now, after all, so he planned to push through one way or another.

"That's just like you, Amane. You really are head over heels for her." "Shut up."

"Well, I'm sure Shiina-san's over the moon if you're that serious about her. By the way, if there's a time you really can't take it anymore, just let me know.

I'll help you out with a support item."

"I know what you're planning to give me, but it's none of your business, dude."

"Pretty sure you'll regret trying to act cool before long, though…"

Feeling a little uncomfortable about his friend's crude concern, Amane refused the offer. However, Itsuki simply shrugged his shoulders in response, seemingly exasperated.

Amane may end up having to rely on such a measure in the future, but at least at this stage, that wouldn't be necessary. Furthermore, the question of how Itsuki had obtained that kind of item floated to the surface, and Amane was tempted to grill him on how he'd got his hands on something like that.

With a dramatic sigh, Amane resolutely returned Itsuki's irked look. "Anyway, I plan to be together with Mahiru after graduation, and to that end, I've got preparations to make."

"Preparations, as in?"

"Ah, good morning, Fujimiya-kun. What are you sneaking around here for?"

As if on cue, Ayaka entered the classroom at just the right time, and Amane waved his hand at her. She looked at the two of them with curious eyes as she sauntered over to them.

"Hmm, what's going on? It's a little suspicious to see two boys whispering to each other all sneakily like that," she said. "One vote for Akazawa-kun bringing up something weird with Fujimiya-kun."

"Not even an ounce of trust in me, huh!?" Itsuki retorted.

"Hahaha." Ayaka laughed casually as she brushed him off, and then she looked at Amane, hesitant, seemingly contemplating whether she should say something or not. She glanced over at Itsuki, unsure if she should deliver the news with him present, hinting, Akazawa-kun's here, but should I say it? Or should I tell you later?

As far as Amane was concerned, he had no intention of hiding his part-time job from Itsuki, and he'd planned to tell Itsuki the reason for him getting one anyway. So, when Amane asked, "Have you made any progress on what I asked?" Ayaka then smiled, looking a little relieved.

"About the part-time job, my aunt said it was a-okay, so we were wondering if you could let us know when you're free to stop by."

"Okay, got it. I'll call you later." "Okayy. Roger that!"

"Sorry for this, I know I'm troubling you."

"No problem. I want to help when my friend's in trouble, and besides, my aunt said she was over the moon that I relied on her for once."

Seeing a slightly troubled smile from Ayaka, Amane couldn't help but faintly smile wryly in return. She seemed to be doted on heavily by her aunt, for she was showing a troubled look. But for Amane, as the one who'd been helped by her, he was nothing but grateful for the job introduction. He considered giving her a proper token of his gratitude down the road sometime.

With a wave of her hand, Ayaka said, "I'll see you later," and headed back to her seat. As she left, Amane turned to look at Itsuki, who nodded back in understanding.

"I've got the gist of it. Sounds like you've got a lot on your plate, man." "My parents said they wanted to cover the cost of the wedding ceremony, but at the very least, I want to buy the ring myself," Amane cleared up. "I chose to do this, so I should at least do some of the work to achieve my wish."

It wouldn't be acceptable for Amane to leave everything related to the wedding to his parents, especially considering the fact that it was his own vow to keep. For the sake of his pride, he should prepare for at least some part of it with his own power.

Although it didn't feel like everything was entirely his own effort, since he had gotten the job through Ayaka's introduction, he believed that it was acceptable to seek help from others to achieve his goal smoothly, nonetheless.

"You really are committed when it comes to making decisions, aren't you?" Itsuki observed. "I do think that it's admirable. But…"

"But?" probed Amane.

"...Why didn't you ask me first, if you needed help with something like that?"

Surprised by Itsuki's sulky remark, Amane stared at him for a moment before making a big deal of ruffling Itsuki's hair.

"I'll rely on you properly next time."

This all seemed to embarrass Itsuki, however, as he shook Amane off and prodded him in the shoulder. Amane knew he was just trying to hide his embarrassment, so he laughed like Itsuki had earlier, letting the whole thing slide.

✧ ₊ ✦ ₊ ✧

"Ahaha, yeah, even Ikkun would sulk about that."

After lunch, Chitose was curious as to why Itsuki had been acting somewhat sulky in the morning and called Amane out into the hallway to ask about what happened. He scowled. Amane knew that if he honestly told her the circumstances, she'd slap him on the back with a nonchalant smile, but she still showed no signs of stopping her assault. If anything, her attacks escalated and she said "Amane, this is why you're so…" with a fed up expression.

Chitose seemed more intent at driving home her point rather than delivering pain with her slaps, and there seemed to obviously be another reason at play. Amane also knew he was the one at fault, so he stayed put, pressured by her broad smile.

"Ikkun has all sorts of friends and connections, and yet you turned to someone else instead of relying on him. Of course he'd feel a little upset about that. After all, other than Mahirun, Ikkun is your closest friend, right?"

"Ugh, I-I do feel bad about that…"

Amane had remembered the work invitation that Ayaka had given him a while ago, which was why he asked her for her assistance. However, Itsuki was bound to not appreciate that decision.

Amane considered Itsuki his closest male friend, and he'd relied on him a great deal up until now, so he felt sorry for how he'd made Itsuki feel left out this time around. In part because Amane believed he relied on Itsuki a little too much, he tried to avoid causing him any additional burden. In this case, however, it seemed to have backfired.

"I'm sure he wanted you to rely on him," Chitose continued her explanation. "Ikkun's proud of being your best friend, and he feels like he's indebted to you since you saved him in the past."

"I saved him…? If anything, I'm the one who's always being saved. The one who should be repaying the favor is me," replied Amane. "I don't want to cause him any more trouble than I already have."

"That's one of your shortcomings, Amane. You tend to feel like what you think of yourself is the same as what others think of you. You shouldn't deny that from his perspective, Ikkun has been saved by you. Denying that fact would be as good as denying his feelings as well, wouldn't it?"

"...I really do feel bad about it."

"Well, as long as you understand how he feels. If you're feeling remorseful, how about consulting him about something else? Of course, that includes me as well."

With a smile that shone brighter than ever, Chitose looked up at Amane with a beaming expression. Amane's cheeks twitched in response.

"...Are you angry too, Chitose?" "Ufufu," Chitose laughed.

She smiled strangely, and while her beaming face did seem to reflect her true thoughts, her eyes were not smiling. Chitose usually sported a carefree smile, but now it was hard to call it a genuine one.

"Well, of course I am! We've been close friends for a good year and a half, but you haven't confided anything in me with anything. Isn't that pretty sad?"

"Ugh. I-I'm really sorry about that. I'll be more careful from now on." "Honestly. You can be so cold at times. And besides, if you don't tell us about what you're trying to do, we won't know what to keep a secret from Mahirun, you know? You wanna surprise her, don't you?"

"...You make a valid point."

"You've got no choice but to spill the beans, then. Or else you'll just be shooting yourself in the foot."

Chitose jabbed him in his side, but Amane could only accept the blow as it was something he'd brought upon himself. After playfully prodding him in his sides for a while, Chitose took a deep breath as if to reset the conversation.

"That said, Amane, it comes as no surprise that you're thinking about your future with Mahirun, and I understand that you truly love her. It's just that, seeing you so lovey-dovey is quite a departure from the old you, isn't it?"

"Oh, hush."

Amane knew that he'd become much sweeter with Mahiru than he used to be. Plus, he had felt that he'd gotten closer to many other people than before. This change was caused by not only Mahiru, but also Itsuki and Chitose.

Although he was slightly annoyed with her calling it lovey-dovey, he couldn't deny that he was deeply in love with Mahiru, so it wasn't something he could refute. Having said that, it still wasn't amusing to have it be pointed out in such a way, so he inadvertently made a sour face.

"Anyway, I've already made up my mind. So, uh, I'd appreciate your help, if possible."

Wanting assistance from a woman's perspective and simply as a friend, Amane bent his waist and lowered his head before Chitose, asking for her cooperation. A sigh of exasperation reached his ears.

"I'll help you even if you don't ask. After all, it's for the sake of my best friend's happiness." "Chitose…"

"I'm obviously talking about helping Mahirun, you know? You're being all wishy-washy about it now, so your friendship ranking just nosedived."

"Geh… Nothing I can do now."

"Fufu, I'm just kidding around. You're both dear friends of mine. I want things to go well for you two, and if I can help somehow, I will."

When Amane lifted his head, Chitose was standing before him, wearing her usual bright and cheerful smile. Seeing her standing tall with pride, he felt a sense of relief wash over him. He smiled in return, lightly tapping her shoulder.

✧ ₊ ✦ ₊ ✧

"I see. So you're going somewhere with Chitose today."

After school the same day, when Amane tried to go home with Mahiru like they usually did, she turned him down in an apologetic voice. Shrugging it off with a smile, Amane accepted her response.

He had no intention to restrict or compel her to always be together with him, to begin with. There was absolutely no reason why they had to be together all the time. In fact, Amane couldn't understand why Mahiru was so concerned about it herself.

As he reflected on his usual attitude, wondering if he gave off the impression that he was the type to be possessive, Mahiru was still looking apologetic.

"Erm, I might be late coming home today. Since Shihoko-san will be with me, I don't think we will run into any problems."

"Mom? Why her?"

Words he wasn't expecting came flying at him and inadvertently, Amane stared sternly into Mahiru's eyes. His parents hadn't returned to their hometown yet. Apparently, they'd taken an extended vacation using their paid leave and were going sightseeing on the way back, at Shihoko's request.

Amane was aware that his parents would be wandering around the area today since they were planning to go home tomorrow, but he really hadn't expected that not only Mahiru but also Chitose would get involved.

"Shihoko-san wants to talk with Chitose-san…," Mahiru explained, her voice trailing off.

"I know for a fact that Mom's gonna plant unnecessary ideas in her head," replied Amane.

"Ahaha, there's no way she would do something like that…"

"With my mother, it's absolutely possible. If it comes to that, I'm counting on you to stop her, Mahiru."

However, Amane understood that there was a greater likelihood that even if Mahiru wanted to stop her, Shihoko's momentum would be too strong to be stopped. So, Amane didn't place much hope in it. With a desperate plea to at least prevent his Mom from sharing the details of his black history, Amane gazed at Mahiru, not intending to stare too passionately, but she blushed and swiftly looked away.

Having finished her preparations to go home, Chitose approached the two of them with a chuckle. "Hey, hey! What're you two newlyweds doing over here?"

"I'm just worried that you might get some strange trinkets of knowledge from my mom," returned Amane.

"I see you've finally stopped denying that you're a married couple… Anyways, I was wondering what on Earth you were doing, staring at each other like that. But you don't have to worry about that."

"Mom's the type to reveal all sorts of things without realizing it. With a massive smile on her face, too."

"Oh-ho. In other words, there's something you wanna hide from us." "Nothing of the sort, I just don't want my childhood stories being dug up and shared with others. You wouldn't like that either, would you?" "Ugh, well that's…"

Amane became friends with Chitose in highschool, but according to the tidbits he'd heard from Itsuki and Kadowaki, Chitose used to act like a different person—seemingly with a personality polar opposite to the one she had now.

That topic could almost be classed as her own dark past, so naturally, Chitose was against talking about it much. You know what to do if she tries to ask anything unnecessary, implied Amane as he looked at her, and Chitose nodded. "I get it, I get it," she relented, shrugging her shoulders.

"Well, putting that aside, there's also something I'd like to discuss with Shihoko-san myself, so it's not like we'll only be talking about you, Amane."

"What are you gonna talk about?"

"Now that, my friend, is a secret among us girls. And so, I'll be borrowing your wife, too. That okay?"

Chitose smiled and entwined her arm with Mahiru's, to which Mahiru lowered her eyes in shyness, but then happily sidled up to her. Amane had no issues with it if Mahiru was okay with it, but he was still slightly concerned about what they were going to discuss.

Don't say anything weird if you can help it. Please, thought Amane, reminding his mother in his mind as he watched the two girls clinging to each other cozily. However, a girl suddenly appeared and called out to him, peeking her head out from somewhere.

"Huh? You two aren't going home together today?"

Ayaka, sporting a neatly done ponytail and an amicable smile, was surprised to see Chitose pulling Mahiru along by her hand.

"Ah, Kido." Amane responded, "They said they'd be running an errand together today."

"I see, I see. In that case… Shiina-san, may I borrow your husband for a bit?"

"Huh?"

Mahiru froze in place at Ayaka's sudden request, unsure of whether she was more surprised that she'd referred to Amane as her husband or that she'd asked to borrow him, even though they were only friends. It remained unclear which one it was, but what was clear was that Mahiru was left staring at Ayaka, her expression suggesting that she'd been caught quite off guard.

Ayaka turned back to Amane. "If you don't have anywhere to be, Fujimiya- kun, I'd like you to go out with me after this. Ah, and don't worry, Shiina-san! I don't mean that like a date!"

"I-I wasn't at all worried about that, though…," Mahiru insisted, her voice tapering off toward the end.

Since Ayaka was the one inviting him, it was likely something related to his part-time job.

Even though it was a sudden arrangement, it was a good opportunity nonetheless. Since it was related to his new part-time job, his parents coming to visit was convenient, considering the needed paperwork. The employment contract required a parent's seal of approval.

"And what about you, Fujimiya-kun? You free?" "Well, not like I have anything planned."

Amane didn't have any plans other than his usual training session and his assignments. Although luckily, this meant that he was able to accommodate her sudden invitation.

"That's great! We both happened to have no plans today, and since the two of you are always together, it's pretty hard to bring myself to barge in. I was pretty hesitant to ask you in the first place, you know?"

"It's not like we're always stuck together. We don't spend every second together even when we're at home."

"From what I can see, you two are always around each other, is what I meant. Even the way you phrased being at home together sounds like you're flirting with her, saying it like it's a natural occurrence and all," Ayaka said, dragging out the end of her sentence. After she implied that lovers aren't usually together to such an extent, Ayaka giggled at Amane, who had remained silent, unable to argue back at all. "Well, I guess that's because you two are close and important to each other. Isn't that right, Fujimiya-kun?"

"...Yeah, that's right. Is that so bad?"

"Nu-uh, I think it's good because it warms my heart just watching you two.

Though I gotta say, Shiina-san's really being treasured, isn't she?"

Mahiru blushed and exuded an aura of happiness at the word treasured, but everyone around her had been caught in the crossfire, falling victim to her as collateral damage. However, Mahiru herself wasn't aware of what she'd done, it seemed. Amane had a feeling that Ayaka was doing it on purpose, but he couldn't really complain since he owed her a great deal.

Be that as it may, once Amane gave her a look that implied, Just don't tell her the reason I'm getting a part-time job, Ayaka responded to him with a smile and a thumbs up, to which Amane heaved out a sigh, leaving it at that.

✧ ₊ ✦ ₊ ✧

After parting ways with Chitose and Mahiru, Amane walked with Ayaka, letting her lead the way. Their destination seemed to be far enough away that it needed to be reached by train, but it wasn't too far from where he lived, so it shouldn't pose a major issue to his commute.

The real question was whether or not they'd actually hire him… However, when Amane asked Ayaka about it, she replied, "Don't worry, don't worry." and smiled at him.

"My Auntie's shop is run by a small staff, and they've been getting more and more customers lately, so they were looking for someone polite wanting to help out. The wage is great, but it seems they were struggling to find someone who fit the atmosphere of the coffee shop and would be liked by the customers. And then came your offer, Fujimiya-kun! I was like, how lucky! It felt like a total godsend, that kind of thing. I'm sure you'll be able to handle it just fine, Fujimiya-kun."

"Not sure if I'm particularly polite, though."

While he wouldn't go out of his way to be rude, if called polite, Amane had to tilt his head in confusion. He liked to think he had necessary manners, but they were far from the ideal example of politeness.

He shrugged his shoulders, telling her that she was overestimating him, but Ayaka immediately replied with a cheerful, "No need to be modest!" dismissing Amane's worries. "You can handle yourself well around people and you adjust your attitude accordingly. Also, Fujimiya-kun, you act really politely in front of the teachers, just like an honor student."

"They are my elders, after all, and figures of authority, too… I'd rather have them think of me positively than negatively. Plus, there are benefits to having a good relationship with the teachers."

Of course, Amane treated those older than him or in positions of authority with respect, but there was also the ulterior motive of improving his grades and advancing onto college. These were things that were made easier by being on good terms with the teachers. While that wasn't everything, there was still a certain level of calculation involved in his decision to treat them the way he does, so he wouldn't really label himself a true honor student. True honor students were people like Mahiru and Yuuta. Amane was just adept at giving the impression that he was like them.

Musing that he lacked charm for thinking in such a way, Amane shrugged his shoulders, and Ayaka responded with a light smile.

"Isn't that fine?" Ayaka eased his nerves. "The important thing here is whether you have good manners and can adapt to different situations while showing others respect. In other words, acting in line with the TPO. Putting your personal intentions aside, the only thing that matters in the end is the result. And

if the results are good, then your inner thoughts don't matter quite as much." [2]

"...Is that also the kind of person you are, Kido?"

"Surprised? I'm actually the type who can be quite pragmatic. I don't necessarily look for the benefits in everything I do, but at the same time, I don't think it's strange to find some sort of benefits before doing something. To a certain extent, anyway. I don't always act out of the goodness of my heart."

So Ayaka said in a casual manner. Amane blinked in surprise at her harsh and clear-cut way of thinking, but his reaction wasn't one of shock or avoidance, but a sense of camaraderie.

"It's the same deal this time, too," Ayaka continued, "I proposed the idea because there were benefits in it for me. It's not one hundred percent out of goodwill or anything."

With Ayaka admitting it as straightforwardly as she was, it was easy for Amane to understand her good nature. "So, what's the benefit for you this time?" Amane asked, a slightly rueful smile showing on his face.

Ayaka had responded to his sudden and unreasonable request, and Amane believed that she accepted it mostly out of the goodness of her heart, but it seemed that she didn't want to admit to it herself.

"Well… of course, it's partly because my aunt's in trouble, but… the main reason is that I want to help Sou-chan make more friends."

"Kayano?"

"Yeah. Sou-chan is the quiet type and he tends to space out a lot, so he doesn't show much interest in others. But he seemed to have a good impression of you, Fujimiya-kun, and you also tend to keep to yourself. I thought you two would get along quite well, which is why I introduced you to the coffee shop Sou-chan works at instead. That way, I'll have solved both the issue of short staff and help Sou-chan make a new friend at the same time." Ayaka revealed her intentions and then apologized, saying. "I'm sorry. There were actually a lot of benefits in this for me." She looked somewhat dejected as she said so, and Amane laughed, shaking his head.

"Don't be sorry. That's the first I've heard about Kayano working here, and I'm a little surprised, but we're already acquainted. I can rest easy knowing that someone I know is working there, too, so I'm glad."

"Really? I'm glad to hear that." As if her tension had been lifted all at once, she looked relaxed and relieved. Amane was convinced that Ayaka was indeed a good person at heart.

"Anyway, that's all well and good," Amane said, changing the topic. "But you don't work at your aunt's place even though your boyfriend works there?"

"Uh… About that, there's a reason for that too…" replied Ayaka. "As I mentioned earlier, my aunt does love me, but she likes being with Sou-chan the most."

"That so?"

"When we're together, we just end up glancing at each other and smiling, not getting any work done. We've been doted on together since we were little, you see. And if I were there, I'd get distracted by Sou-chan whenever I see him. Sou-chan would even say, 'Looks like you're about to drool, so cut it out,' or something like that."

"...Heh."

"Y-You just laughed, didn't you? Even I can tell right from wrong, I'll have you know! I wouldn't drool in front of other people!"

Ayaka blushed faintly and sulked, but her words lacked conviction and only added to its hilarity, prompting Amane to deliberately not hide his amusement and laugh out loud.

✧ ₊ ✦ ₊ ✧ 

After calming down the sulking Ayaka, Amane finally arrived at the coffee shop, which had a calm ambience to it.

The coffee shop had a classy atmosphere that made it almost seem old- fashioned, and it clearly appeared to cater to an older clientele, judging by its sophisticated appearance that exuded a tinge of high-class luxury.

"...Is this really the place?" Amane asked, bewildered.

"Why are you doubting me?" responded Ayaka. "This café is a nice and calm place, right?"

"I do think it's a nice place and all, but are you sure a student like me is fit to work here?"

When discussing the topic of cafés that hire students as part-time employees, one might imagine a typical large chain store, but the place Amane was brought to was on the opposite end of that spectrum—it had nothing short of a dignified air to it.

"And that's why I invited someone like you, Fujimiya-kun. Young but just as reliable. Anyways, let's go greet my aunt first," Ayaka explained, before tacking on "Though, I don't really feel like it…" in a whisper, clearly expressing her reluctance. Showing an awkward smile at Ayaka's hesitant but ultimately positive mindset, Amane followed behind Ayaka out of curiosity about this aunt of hers.

As she pushed open the heavy door, featuring a prominent "CLOSED" sign, the faint creaking of hinges coupled with the cheerful chime of the doorbell somehow brought him a wave of nostalgia.

The café Ayaka had escorted him to lived up to the expectations one garnered from seeing its exterior, with a remarkably serene ambience on the inside. The interior décor was simple yet elegant with a dominant color scheme of dark oak and white, and the store itself was impeccably clean and well- maintained, adding to its impression of sophistication. Against one of the walls was a bookshelf packed full of literature that covered every inch of the wall.

At first glance, Amane noted that the café didn't seem to have that many seats. The limited number of seating spaces was a clear indication that the establishment was privately owned, unlike the large chain coffee shops. However, thanks to that, the café managed to represent a very tranquil and relaxing space, and this made it the perfect place to take a breather from the hustle and bustle of the noisier chain stores.

Today appeared to be a day off, and there was not a single customer in sight, so Amane couldn't stop himself from admiring the décor without reservation. Suddenly, a woman dressed in a navy blue apron came out from the back room.

First appearances painted her as a calm woman roughly a decade older than Amane.

She was a gorgeous woman with long black hair that seemed to suit the ambience of a coffee shop or old bookstore, but she appeared incredibly quiet and reserved, which made it hard to believe she was the aunt of the cheerful and friendly Ayaka.

"Oh… Ayaka-san. Welcome," said the woman.

"It has been a while, Aunt Fumika." Ayaka replied, bowing politely. The woman she referred to as Fumika looked back at her as she did so, giving her a gentle gaze and a smile.

"I'm glad you came. You rarely drop by even when Souji-kun's around, so I've been quite lonely."

"Uu, I'm sorry about that…" Ayaka answered. "I thought I might be bothering you, Aunt Fumika."

"Bothering? Don't be silly… Just having the two of you here makes me delighted. You both work so hard."

"But that's a problem in itself," Ayaka quietly murmured, but it seemed like her words didn't reach Fumika's ears. As he watched the two of them interact from a step behind, Amane tilted his head in confusion.

From the woman's appearance to her mannerisms, there was nothing out of the ordinary that would make Ayaka feel uncomfortable, so Amane was nothing short of perplexed. Upon observing their brief conversation, Amane had her down as a perfectly ordinary woman. In fact, the impression she gave off was one of calm and refined femininity, and he couldn't find any signs of the discomfort that Ayaka supposedly experienced.

If anything, there was an abundance of affection for Ayaka in the woman's eyes, and considering this, it was hard for Amane to understand why Ayaka felt uncomfortable around her aunt.

While it was true that everyone has their own thresholds for discomfort, and as such, he knew that he couldn't properly understand the whole situation yet, it was hard to grasp the reasoning behind her feelings.

As Amane watched Ayaka faltering slightly, the woman's gaze suddenly turned to him. Her pitch-black eyes flickered for a moment as if assessing him, but just a moment later, it softened into a gentle gaze.

"Would this boy be the one you mentioned, Ayaka-san? The one interested in working part-time?"

"Ah, that's right. He told me he wants to work part-time," Ayaka explained. "Fujimiya-kun, this woman is the owner of the coffee shop, Itomaki Fumika. She's my aunt."

"I am Fujimiya Amane," he said politely. "Thank you for taking the time to meet with me."

"Well… it's no problem. After all, it's a request from Ayaka-san. I trust her judgment when it comes to assessing people's skills, so I don't see any issues with it," Itomaki said, smiling ever so softly. Her expression eased as she gave him another quick look up and down, and then smiled at him once again.

Her elegant yet unfathomable smile exuded an overwhelming pressure, making Amane's hair stand on end. "Speaking of which, what kind of relationship do you have with Ayaka-san?"

"She's a classmate and a friend. To both me and my girlfriend."

Feeling a strange shiver run down his spine, Amane promptly denied any suspicions she may have had, and her smile grew even gentler. With the uncomfortable chill gnawing at him dissipating, Amane realized that he'd most likely given the right answer.

"Is that so? I'm happy to hear that," Fumika said, seemingly relieved. "Since Ayaka-san and Souji-kun are in love with each other, it would be troublesome if you'd start to crush on her."

"I have a girlfriend who I have pledged my future to, so something like that is out of the question."

"Oh wow! That's wonderful…!"

As her black eyes sparkled and shone with a glint of light, Amane instinctively took a step back. However, Fumika, paying no heed to his reaction, blushed at what he'd said instead.

Her expression resembled that of a lovestruck maiden, and although a little late to the party, Amane gradually began to understand why Ayaka was having trouble handling her.

"It's wonderful to have such strong determination at your age. Did you apply for the job with that in mind?"

"That's right. Erm, I want to give my girlfriend a ring…"

"That's wonderful! Indeed, how lovely! If you're willing to work here with us, then by all means…!"

"Auntie!? Such a quick decision? Actually, I had a feeling this would happen… but still!"

Amane was frozen in place, having been hired even without a proper interview. Ayaka sighed with a perplexed and almost fed up expression on her face. Meanwhile, Fumika was beaming with a happy smile, clearly pleased with herself.

"Auntie, it's not good to pry too much, you know," Ayaka cautioned.

"Oh, I won't pry into things he doesn't want to share, okay? But I am curious how those two met…"

"Please keep your curiosity in check, Auntie. Or else I'll feel sorry for Fujimiya-kun, who would end up getting dragged into your hobby and your job." "I will ask for his permission, okay?" Fumika insisted. "And I will only use the situation as reference material."

"Hobby and job…?" Amane asked, not keeping up with the conversation. "Aunt Fumika runs this café, but it isn't her main job," Ayaka began to explain. "She's actually a writer and has other ventures on top of that, so I'm not too sure why she even runs a café…" Ayaka was skeptical, however. She blurted out, "Which makes it all the more strange that everything turns a profit despite that…" since the café wasn't her main business. Fumika, on the other hand, wore a smile that concealed her inner thoughts as she looked back at Ayaka.

"Needless to say, this café is running perfectly from a monetary standpoint," Fumika confirmed, "So you don't have to worry about us going out of business. Our employees are paid a generous amount, too."

"Auntie, please make sure you calculate their hourly wages properly. Don't just give them pocket money, okay?"

"You don't have to be such a worrywort…"

As Ayaka earnestly lectured the frowning Fumika, Amane mulled over a newfound worry of his. Can I really start working here? he thought, feeling a little uneasy about what was to come.

✧ ₊ ✦ ₊ ✧

For better or worse, Amane had been hired on the spot, and he then made his way back home, employment contract in hand. While it was less of an actual job interview and more of a simple meeting, Amane was relieved that he seemed to fit the bill of his employer.

Amane wasn't sure if it was suitable for the decision to be made so quickly, but it was a good thing that he'd found a job. In fact, everything had been going so smoothly for him that he worried there might be a catch later down the line. All that remained now was to have both himself and his parents sign and stamp the contract before returning it.

Ayaka apologized to him on the way home, but he'd already heard that Fumika had an unrelenting personality, so it was no surprise that Ayaka was intimidated by her. Her aunt was a different type from Shihoko, with the latter's approach being more on the forceful and pushy side.

Itomaki-san's the type of person that I can't let cross paths with Mom.

Today, his mother had met up with Chitose, but personally, he thought that those two were also bound to be a dangerous combination. In all honesty, Amane was worried about what might happen during their little outing. Both Chitose and Shihoko were aware of the line they shouldn't cross, so he believed it'd be okay, but there was no doubt in his mind that Mahiru would become a victim to their momentum.

Guess I'll console her when she gets home, Amane decided, opening the front door to his apartment.

Seemingly to himself, Amane quietly announced his return, "I'm hooome… Wait, Dad?"

"Welcome back."

Amane thought nobody was home, so he whispered his greeting once he returned home. However, to his surprise, he was then greeted by Shuuto, who he assumed was out sightseeing somewhere. Amane was momentarily taken aback.

His parents were the ones renting out his apartment, and each had a spare key, so it wasn't all that strange for them to be there, and Amane didn't intend to kick up a fuss about it. However, he'd assumed that Shuuto was accompanying his mother on her outing with Mahiru and Chitose, so it came as a surprise to see Shuuto in his apartment. Shuuto looked puzzled at Amane's surprise.

"Oh, I did contact you, but perhaps you didn't notice. Shihoko-san and the girls are having dinner elsewhere, so I thought I'd sort out your employment contract and whip something up for us to eat while I'm at it."

On the way home after wrapping up the job interview, Amane had sent his father a message telling him that he'd been accepted, and that one of his parents needed to sign the employment contract. However, Amane had put his phone away right after and must've not realized that he'd received any messages.

Having heard him, Amane took out his smartphone and noticed a notification indicating that Shuuto had sent him a message.

"Ah, my bad. I didn't notice. Also, wouldn't it have been better if you'd gone along with them, Dad?"

Amane had heard that they'd all gone out, but he hadn't expected them to stay out together until dinner. He understood that they got along well, most likely hitting it off, but he didn't know what to make of the fact that his father had been left out of the loop.

"Haha, this time is meant for the three of them to bond together. I figured that if I was there, Shirakawa-san would be reluctant to act as she usually does, right? So, I thought it would be better to yield from the get-go and do my own thing… but after reading your message, Amane, I thought it was perfect timing." In short, it would've been uncomfortable for both parties if his father accompanied the girls on their day out. Amane was convinced. Now understanding that his mother hadn't brought Shuuto along out of consideration for Chitose, he shrugged his shoulders. "Was that for the best? Staying here even though it's your precious day off?"

"We came out here with the intent to see you and your friends in the first place, Amane. The sightseeing was just an added bonus, you see. I used to live here, so it's not as novel an experience for me as it is for Shihoko-san."

"Well, you have a point, but…"

"And besides, wouldn't it be lonely for you to eat all on your lonesome?

I'm worried about your cooking skills, too."

"...In case you were wondering, I can cook food now." Amane retorted, pouting. "The normal kind." He responded in a grumpy voice in retaliation to his father's teasing tone. Although only to a certain extent, Amane was right in saying that he was capable of cooking. Needless to say, his skills couldn't match up to Mahiru's culinary prowess, but he had still improved a great deal compared to when he'd first moved into his apartment.

As long as he followed the recipe properly, preparing the food exactly in line with its instructions, Amane had progressed to the point where even Mahiru would give him a passing grade.

Amane spoke with a slightly sharp tone, not wanting to look like he hadn't been making any effort to improve on his shortcomings, but for some reason, Shuuto's smile deepened as he listened to him.

"I see, I see. So you can do it if you try, after all, Amane. That's amazing," praised Shuuto.

"...Are you making fun of me?" Amane snapped back.

"No way; I'm not making fun of you in the slightest. It's just that cooking with a child of mine has always been one of my dreams, so I'm happy that the opportunity has so suddenly presented itself."

Faced with Shuuto's benign and affectionate smile—devoid of any malicious intentions—Amane's suspicions subsided. He looked at his father, who then asked him, "You'll lend me a hand then, won't you?" seemingly convinced of his skills.

Of course, Amane had no intention of leaving everything to his father, but he couldn't help but smile bitterly at the way he spoke, likely having realized what motivated Amane to practice cooking. Amane thought that he still couldn't match up to his father.

"...Yeah, of course."

Shuuto nodded his head and gave a gentle smile. Following suit, Amane changed the nature of his smile as he nodded back, letting his bitter expression fade.

✧ ₊ ✦ ₊ ✧

After they had finished devouring the meatball pasta that they had made, Shuuto and Amane took a breather. But just as they did so, they heard the sound of the front door being unlocked, which signaled the return of Mahiru and Shihoko.

As Amane headed to the entrance, thinking that it'd be strange of him not to welcome Mahiru, he found her and Shihoko standing there, both of them holding an assemblage of shopping bags.

No matter how one looked at it, they had amassed a haul of shopping bags far too excessive to only be one day's worth of shopping. For someone like Amane, who didn't harbor a particularly strong desire for material possessions, he couldn't fathom what they'd do with it all or what could possibly even have been contained within them.

"...What's with all this excess baggage?" Amane asked, dumbfounded.

"Oh, don't worry Amane. There's enough for your share too, you see?" Replied his mother.

"I'm not really concerned about my share, but why did you go shopping and what did you buy?"

Knowing that his parents made a good income, and that they were generally not the type to waste money, Amane assumed that his mother must've really wanted whatever she bought. Even considering that, however, it was quite a lot of stuff.

"It's all clothes and cute accessories that I bought for Mahiru-chan, I suppose. Plus, we went all out, and bought clothes for you too, you know? Hand- picked by Mahiru-chan, mind you."

"I see you went out of your way to buy stuff I wouldn't normally wear at all."

Amane had mixed feelings about having his mother buy clothes for him, but since Mahiru had helped her in picking them out, they couldn't be all that bad. He would have to ask Mahiru later to get the full story, but for the time being, Amane couldn't shake the feeling that they'd brought back way too many shopping bags.

As Amane looked at Shihoko with a mixture of astonishment and disbelief, she slipped past him with a light-hearted smile, leaving him to exchange glances with Mahiru, who had been left behind.

Mahiru seemed a little perplexed, or rather, her face showed a hint of doubt that they might've bought a little too much during their outing. However, it appeared that Shihoko had purchased everything with Mahiru in mind, and her enthusiasm while doing so was bound to be contagious, so Mahiru likely couldn't bring herself to stop his mother.

"...Don't tell me you bought anything weird."

"W-We didn't buy anything like that, you know...?" "I see. That's good to hear, then."

Amane breathed a sigh of mild relief at Mahiru, who was instead showing him a curious look, and he promptly took the shopping bag from her. He wasn't sure whether the bag belonged to her exactly, but it didn't sit well with him to burden her with carrying it.

As he watched Mahiru take off her shoes, Amane's ears perked up towards the living room. Shihoko was discussing something with Shuuto, and it seemed to be related to his part-time job as he noticed Shihoko chiming in with the occasional "Oh my!" almost like a catchphrase.

Although Shuuto was the one who signed his employment contract as Amane's guardian, it might've been appropriate for him to inform his mother of it beforehand, even though her signature was not technically necessary for the legal procedures.

To be frank, it was partly because Dad was easier to get a hold of, and partly because I couldn't catch Mom, I guess.

Although his parents had ended up coming into his house, their initial plan was to go sightseeing instead. Thus, once they took a quick break, Shuuto and Shihoko would probably return to their hotel.

As Mahiru leaned on Amane's body while changing into her slippers, he felt a ticklish sensation. While he waited for Mahiru, she suddenly looked up at him as if she'd just remembered something.

"By the way, how did the interview for your part-time job go?" "Right… Well, it seems like they liked me, since I got the job."

Amane hadn't expected to get hired so easily, and was a little bewildered by it all. However, Mahiru casually replied, "I knew you would be accepted, Amane-kun," seemingly unsurprised.

This made him feel like Mahiru was overestimating his abilities, or rather, that she placed too much trust in him. However, Amane also knew that if he voiced that thought, she'd scold him while saying, "There you go belittling yourself again," so he kept his mouth shut.

"Out of curiosity, what kind of person is the café owner?" Mahiru asked. "Well, how should I put it?" Amane began to explain. "She's a unique kind

of… Onee-san, I guess." "Onee-san."

"I was told she was Kido's aunt, but she seems to be pretty young compared to her mother, so she feels more like an older sister, I'd say."

Amane refrained from asking her age given that it was taboo to ask a woman about such details, but from appearances, he thought she was probably in her mid to late twenties.

Incidentally, Amane had asked Ayaka for the details on their way back from the café, and it seemed that her mother doted on her younger sister, Fumika, who was much younger than she was. Fumika came to adore her older sister in return, and quickly also grew fond of her niece in much the same way. As a result, Fumika had a tendency to dote on Ayaka like a cat.

Amane gently poked at Mahiru's now stiff cheeks, sensing that words older sister had made her tense up ever so slightly.

"Don't worry about it, Mahiru. She seems to be the type who loves watching couples, and she was even asking to hear stories about you and me getting along."

Anticipating that a small twinge of jealousy would arise, Amane quickly added that comment to prevent it. Mahiru blushed and shrunk uncomfortably, as if feeling uneasy about what he'd said.

"...I'm not doubting you or anything, okay? I was just wondering what I'd do if she fell in love with you, that's all…"

"Not a chance."

"There is a chance," Mahiru insisted. Amane smiled wryly back at her, who was emphasizing it for some reason, persistent with her argument. He gently patted her head and felt sorry for her, thinking that it was wrong of him to make her feel uneasy.

At first, Mahiru looked slightly annoyed, but she gradually relaxed as Amane continued to gently run his fingers through her soft hair, savoring the pleasant texture.

"Even if that were to happen, I wouldn't act on it. And if, by some chance, it were to cause problems with my work, I'd quit on the spot," Amane clarified.

"I-I don't expect you to go that far… I was just feeling a little, erm, uneasy."

"Exactly. That's why if it ever made you feel uncomfortable, I'd be better off not working there. My goal isn't to go to work itself, but to earn the money I need to achieve my goal."

Given how Ayaka's aunt behaved, it was impossible for her to fall in love with Amane in the slightest. However, in the unlikely event that it did happen, he'd begin searching for another job, albeit while feeling apologetic towards Ayaka.

Amane was working in order to make Mahiru happy, and if doing so ever brought her sadness, there'd be no need to persist with his current approach. He'd try to find another means of pursuing his goal.

He had no intention of muddling up his priorities, and knew better than to confuse his goal with the means he took to achieve it. Amane believed that he wasn't foolish or daft enough to fall into that kind of trap.

"And that's why you don't need to worry," Amane added, and hearing this, Mahiru buried her face into his chest. "Something wrong?" he then asked.

"...That's what I love about you," replied Mahiru. "Just that?" Amane countered, poking fun at her.

"...That's one of the things I love about you. Baka." Mahiru muttered under her breath. After Amane teased her slightly, she playfully headbutted his chest, bringing a smile to his face. He then gently caressed her head as he accepted her playful gesture.