And so, 'X' Day Arrived for the Angel

Although Amane had now started to work part-time, that didn't mean he spent all of his days off with Mahiru. She had her own life, and there were times when she wanted to be alone or spend time with someone else. Additionally, she'd been plotting something behind Amane's back as of late, and because of this, he often spent the time relaxing at home until dinner or hanging out with Itsuki and the others on any weekdays he didn't have work.

"Say, Mister Newlywed. You sure it's fine and dandy for you to be hangin' out with us? Your wife won't start sulking on you?"

At Itsuki's invitation, both Amane and Yuuta were brought along to taste- test a new product launched by a coffee chain. They ordered takeout, and headed over to a nearby park by the station to enjoy it, but just as they did so, Itsuki asked that question out of the blue.

Prior to this, Itsuki had half-jokingly suggested, "Whaddaya think of heading to Amane's café instead?" but Amane shut him down firmly.

"Who're you calling a newlywed?" Amane retorted. "Anyway, this is my free time, so it's not like me hanging out with my friends is a problem or anything. It'd be a different story if I was with girls, but you're just my guy friends, so it's purely just for fun. We're only messing around."

"Gosh! So now you're saying you just mess around with me…!?"

"You're the one who said that when you invited me, what are you even… And if you're taking that meaning of 'mess around,' then we've never had a relationship like that to begin with, so that's out of the question." Amane looked at Itsuki with a blank look.

Itsuki wriggled his body back and forth dramatically, deliberately acting as though Amane was his partner and had cheated on him. Soon enough, he reverted to his usual self and dropped the act, now nodding knowingly.

"But of course," he said. "Ain't no way I can split a hot and heavy couple like you two apart."

"You've got Chitose, man. And I don't need you." "Now that's just cruel."

"Well, you'd just get in the way if you were with them, Itsuki." "That's pretty harsh of you too, Yuuta, don'tcha think?"

Nonchalantly throwing shade, Yuuta was drinking his newly-released limited-time Frozen Shake, all the while ignoring Itsuki's comment with an innocent expression.

A week had passed since the start of November, and the weather had already begun to hint at the onset of winter. …I'm surprised he chose to drink that in this cold weather, Amane thought to himself as he sipped the hot matcha latte that he'd ordered.

Itsuki, now under the impression that he has no allies to speak of, intentionally made a show of sulking for a good ten seconds or so before starting to heartily gorge on his limited-time sweet potato latte.

"Well, moving on," Itsuki began. "You're fine hanging out with us, but are you sure you ain't tired or anything?"

"If this was all it took to get tired, then I reckon Kadowaki'd be run ragged day after day," replied Amane.

"Hmm. Well, we do make sure to take proper rests during club activities, and it's not as mentally taxing compared to serving customers, so it's not that bad, I guess," Yuuta clarified. "I mean, I'm running because I enjoy it. But what about you, Fujimiya? You don't get stressed from working?"

"Not particularly. It's not like I totally enjoy serving customers or anything, but most of the customers are more on the calmer side since they tend to be older in age. My seniors are kind to me, not to mention polite, and they taught me the ropes carefully. Sure, I might feel pressured at times because of my shortcomings, but the environment itself isn't stressful."

Not even a full month had passed since Amane started working, but from the bottom of his heart, he was grateful that Ayaka had introduced him to this part-time job. Gaining skills from customer service would likely be useful in the future, and he found it a blessing to be able to work alongside such good-natured people.

Frankly, Amane believed that half of what made a great job depended on one's coworkers, so he was especially thankful to have a work environment with calm employees.

I'll give her something as thanks when I get the chance, Amane promised to himself, shrugging his shoulders as he swirled his paper cup around in a circle.

"It really is a great workplace. So much so that it's wasted on me, I reckon." "That's good to hear," Yuuta replied. "The work environment is incredibly important when it comes to having a job, after all. There's no chance I'd wanna be part of a workplace that sees its employees as disposable pawns."

"Yep. You bet I would've quit right away if it was like that. It's a part-time job, sure, but that doesn't mean we don't have a right to choose which one we want. Our mental and physical health take priority, and Mahiru'd probably hate the idea of me working at a place like that."

"She really loves you, doesn't she?" Yuuta teased.

"I… don't think that has anything to do with what we're talking about, y'know."

Amane looked at Yuuta, thinking, He just felt like saying that, didn't he? but Yuuta simply responded with a bright smile, so Amane turned his face away, now a little embarrassed.

"If I'm not mistaken, you do work at a café, right?" asked Itsuki.

"Yep, it caters more to a wealthy customer base, though. But the food and drinks are all so good; no wonder we charge a lot for them."

The café placed heavy emphasis on the quality of the coffee beans. They were carefully selected based on their origin, roasting levels, and how they blend, and this attention to detail was unmistakably portrayed in their coffee. Needless to say, it wasn't just coffee that they prided themselves on—they also took great care in adjusting the taste of their other menu items, including food, although there weren't that many to choose from. This attention to taste resulted in the café becoming a hidden gem of sorts; a place loved by its regular clientele. Knowing this, Amane couldn't help but wonder who on Earth Fumika really was. Even her own niece, Ayaka, seemed to have trouble fully

understanding her, and this only left Amane feeling even more confused.

"Just askin', but, has anyone ever hit on you while you were there, Amane?

Happens often, right?"

"What's with your impression of cafés, man… Nobody has. I do get some compliments from some calm and composed ladies, telling me that I'm cute, but

I reckon they find my clumsiness endearing, like they're looking at me in the eyes of a grandparent or something."

There were quite a few older ladies and gentlemen who watched over him with a warm, or perhaps, gentle smile as he was a new and inexperienced member of staff. While Amane hadn't made any major mistakes so far, he had made his fair share of minor ones, all of which they graciously overlooked. Treated with so much understanding, Amane felt both grateful and somewhat apologetic.

As a result, there were plenty of elderly people who could afford to spend their time at the café leisurely. Plus, there were fewer younger customers, so there hadn't been any cases of girls trying to hit on him.

Besides, there were other employees who were more outgoing and physically attractive than Amane was. Even if someone did come in with the intention of flirting, they would most probably go to them instead.

The most Amane had gotten was a casual remark from a woman of his grandmother's age, saying, "I would love to introduce you to my grandchild," but of course, he had a girlfriend and politely declined her offer.

"You've got this… appeal to older people, I guess. You're always gentle and polite, and it shows in the way you act." Yuuta shared his thoughts.

"I'm serving customers; of course I can't carry myself sloppily... Well, given the clientele, they must prefer someone quiet and modest like me. They talk to me quite often, after all."

"Wouldn't that make you popular?"

"Kinda. But only as someone to strike up a convo with," Amane clarified. "And things like gender and age have nothing to do with it. The atmosphere's rather relaxed, so even the staff'll start chatting with the customers when they're free."

This was likely because it didn't have the feel of a common coffee chain, but rather came across as a gentle and relaxed space with a welcoming atmosphere. More than anything else, the fact that many of the regulars were easygoing and benign allowed the café to maintain its air of peacefulness.

"Imagining you all popular with the madams sure is amusing," commented Itsuki.

"Hey now… it's not like that. That's disrespectful to them. You gotta stop these weird fantasies of yours."

"The fact that I can actually see that happening is a little scary."

"Not you as well, Kadowaki…"Amane shot him a bewildered look, but

Yuuta wore an even more serious expression in response, which prompted Amane to make a firm clarification.

"Not a chance that'd happen."

After all, Amane already had someone he truly loved with all his heart and had practically promised his future to. There was no way he would ever be swayed by other women; in fact, he was confident in the fact that he wouldn't even be tempted. Moreover, the other party wouldn't want Amane to make a misunderstanding like that, either.

Good grief…, Amane sighed, to which Itsuki shrugged his shoulders before taking a glance at his wristwatch.

"Now then, looks about time," he then said. "Time for what?" asked Amane.

"About time I returned you to your rightful owner, I guess?" "C'mon…"

It was no lie that Amane belonged to Mahiru, but she wasn't the possessive type, nor would she get jealous over him hanging out with his fellow guy friends. However, Kadowaki also agreed, saying, "Oh, right. You've got a point," which only left Amane bewildered.

"It's not quite five o'clock yet, but it's getting colder and the sun's already setting. Should we call it a day here? Either way, we probably all have plenty of things to do when we get home."

"Well, I guess so…" Amane went along with the suggestion.

"Then let's call it a day here. I'm freezin'," Itsuki said, turning toward the park entrance.

Having promptly decided to head home, Itsuki appeared eager to leave, but all of a sudden, he changed his mind. He turned toward Amane.

"Hey, Amane." "What is it?"

"Tomorrow, there'll be plenty of things I'll wanna say, and plenty of things I'll wanna ask. So prepare yourself."

Amane was taken aback by Itsuki's grin and his sudden, yet strange comment as he left. Yuuta, now letting out a bittersweet smile, also bid him farewell. "As do I. See you tomorrow, yeah?"

Conflicted, Amane felt like he'd been left behind in an odd manner. He tilted his head and wondered what was going on before heading on home.

✧ ₊ ✦ ₊ ✧

Upon arriving home, Mahiru greeted him like she usually did. Or not. Instead, she came up to him while showing the biggest of smiles. Her eyes sparkled brightly, and her unreserved smile looked both soft and gentle. But above all else, the faint blush that spread across her cheeks was clearly a testament to her high spirits.

"Welcome home, Amane-kun."

"I'm home. Seems like you're in a pretty good mood."

Amane was glad to see Mahiru in such a good mood, but he had no clue as to why she was like that. It was the norm for her to greet him with a smile once he arrived home, but she never seemed as happy as she was today.

He couldn't grasp the reason, so he was left feeling rather puzzled. However, Mahiru, seemingly oblivious to his confusion, simply smiled even more.

"…From your reaction, it seems like you really didn't notice anything today, Amane-kun."

"Notice what?"

"I find it a little troubling that you have completely forgotten what day it is, but… today is your birthday, you know?"

Hearing Mahiru's slightly exasperated tone, Amane involuntarily let out a sudden, "Ah!"

"Honestly, geez. …Happy birthday, Amane-kun."

"…I completely forgot. I don't give much thought to stuff like this when it's about me."

While it was odd for him to be reminded of his own birthday by Mahiru, it had entirely slipped his mind; he hadn't been aware of it at all. Plus, Mahiru wasn't aware of his birthday last year, either. Over the past few weeks, Amane had been so preoccupied with getting used to his part-time job, not to mention his daily training, jogging, and studying. With that, he'd completely forgotten about it.

To begin with, while Amane considered birthdays a milestone, he rarely felt the need to be conscious about them. This was likely a big part of the reason he'd forgotten, given that he tended not to celebrate his own birthday. Back when he lived with his parents, they would celebrate the occasion properly, but ever since he started living on his own, he stopped giving it much thought. That way of thinking had led him to now.

"It matters to me, you know?" Mahiru made clear. "I am truly grateful for this day, Amane-kun, as it was the day you were born. Without you, I would not have learned how to truly trust and love someone."

She smiled awkwardly at the fact Amane had forgotten, and gently took his hand.

"Thanks to you, Amane-kun, I learned that love is a feeling that truly exists around us. Now, I can live knowing I feel genuine happiness. Happiness that rises from the bottom of my heart. I am incredibly grateful that you were born, and that you met me."

Her eyes, now shining with a soft, warm light that was very different from when they first met, gazed at Amane. The hand that intertwined with his was warm, as if embodying the heat that Mahiru held for him at this very moment. It conveyed a gentle, yet incredibly comforting warmth.

"Thank you for being born, and for coming into my life… Thank you so, so much."

Hearing her voice, and seeing her smile, both showcasing her genuine feelings of happiness and joy, Amane felt a blush creep onto his cheeks. He realized then, that the feeling of being appreciated and blessed in such a manner could cause his body to heat up. The feeling was far from unpleasant, and was instead fairly comforting and fluffy, a sensation distinct from having one's body heat up due to embarrassment. Only after meeting Mahiru had he come to understand such a feeling, but knowing that she cared for him so much, Amane discerned that he was a fortunate man indeed.

"…Likewise. Thank you for being so considerate, and for celebrating this with me," Amane stumbled in his reply, unsure of how to best convey both his emotions, and the heat he felt.

Mahiru blushed shyly. "I have prepared a small feast for you tonight, so please look forward to it. Also, before we eat… I have two things I would like to apologize for."

"Hm?"

Apologize for what?

As Amane tilted his head down in confusion, Mahiru lowered her eyes, looking somewhat awkward.

"Erm, it seems that you realized I was trying to hide something from you.

I'm sorry for making you worried."

Amane now realized that her strange behavior, which he'd been suspicious about until now, had all been in efforts to prepare for today's special occasion. "Ah, right. About that… Well, I get what was going on now after seeing all this. I didn't think you'd do anything terrible to me, Mahiru, so I was more worried about whether I might've done something wrong."

"I cannot see you doing something that would upset me, though," Mahiru noted. "This happened because I am not that great at hiding things, which in turn made you feel uneasy… I'm sorry for keeping secrets from you, Amane-kun."

In all likelihood, she had acted that way precisely because she wanted to surprise him on his birthday, and that led her to making preparations in secret. Mahiru wasn't the type to keep things hidden from Amane, and she clearly felt guilty about doing so. Her secret was more charming than anything else, and given that she pulled it off for Amane's sake, he had no intention of blaming her in any way.

"Not like I'm fussed about it, really." He eased her worries before asking, "…And what's the other thing?"

"Erm… S-Since I was making preparations for your birthday in secret, it seems that everyone else decided to keep quiet so as to not spoil the surprise. But in reality, they were supposed to celebrate at school earlier today. So, um, because of me, I hindered the blessings that you were supposed to receive today…"

"Ah… So that's how it was."

Both Itsuki and Chitose had already known about Amane's birthday, and given how considerate they both were, they wouldn't hesitate to celebrate a friend's special day. The fact that nobody had mentioned a thing the entire time was certainly a major factor in why he had forgotten what day it was.

They were in on Mahiru's little secret, which was why they stayed quiet. Amane figured that they invited him to hang out after school just to keep him occupied for a little while.

"Those guys…" While Amane muttered that somewhat irked line under his breath, he knew better than anyone that he meant it in good faith.

Mahiru looked apologetic for what she'd done, and Amane was at a loss for how to respond. Her head was now pointed toward the floor.

"Hmm…," Amane gently tapped her head. "Truth be told, I don't think it matters too much; not the date, the location, or whether they were able to give me their blessings in person or not. I mean, I completely forgot about it 'cause of how busy I've been lately, and it's not like they have to celebrate it today, right? I think they're being considerate in their own way."

"But still…" Mahiru's hesitance rang clear.

"I'm going out on a limb here, but they probably believe that I'll be happiest if I accept the celebration that you prepared for me, Mahiru. That's why they all worked together to keep it a secret, I think."

They all had the desire to celebrate Amane's special occasion in their own way, and that led them all to cooperate with Mahiru. Even if he wasn't given words of celebration on the day itself, Amane didn't mind. He was fully aware that they were wishing him well without being told.

"I realize that I'm blessed with thoughtful friends who care about me, and just knowing that makes me feel celebrated. There's no rule saying they can't do it indirectly, and I don't judge friendships based on whether they do that or not, anyways."

Different people had different ways of celebrating, and if this was their way, then that was fine by him. Amane was never the type to quickly judge others based on their words alone, nor did he remember becoming that kind of person. Plus, the relationships he had built were not at all shallow; their feelings alone were more than enough.

Nevertheless, Mahiru still looked a tad dejected at the outcome, prompting Amane to let out an awkward smile. He stroked her head tenderly and gently peered into her face.

"Besides," he began. "By the looks of things, I'm gonna get swarmed tomorrow… So, I ask you to keep me all to yourself today, Mahiru. They'll probably bombard me with questions, so let's make sure we have enough to brag about, okay?"

"…Yes."

Amane adorned the end of his sentence with a mischievous, teasing smile, and Mahiru was swept along by this, breaking out into a smile of her own before nuzzling her face into his chest.

✧ ₊ ✦ ₊ ✧

"…You've made quite the feast," Amane couldn't help but share his true thoughts, his genuine admiration leaking out as he scanned the array of dishes laid out on the table.

The dishes Mahiru served for his birthday were, in a nutshell, all Amane's favorites. Usually, she would plan their meals with nutritional balance in mind, but not today. Perhaps due to Amane's self-proclaimed love for eggs, she had prepared a variety of egg dishes for him to enjoy. But no matter how much he liked them or how nutritious they were, eating too much of the same food was far from ideal, so Mahiru typically limited how much he'd consume, but it seemed that those restrictions had been lifted just for today.

The most eye-catching dish on the table happened to be the omurice, a dish consisting of fried rice covered in a hard, omelet-like shell, which Mahiru then topped with beef stew. She didn't make this dish often, as not only did she have to start preparing the dish a day in advance, it also cost a considerable amount of time and labor to make.

Other dishes laid out before him ranged from chawanmushi, a variant of egg and custard; to a potato salad served with plenty of boiled eggs; to even tamago kinchaku, a dish combining both fried tofu and soft boiled eggs simmered in dashi stock and soy sauce. The servings were of typical size for your average high school boy, but the sheer variety of food was nothing to scoff at, and they consisted purely of Amane's favorite foods. While there was a plain lack of vegetables, that was more due to his love for eggs rather than him disliking his greens.

"This is an assortment of your favorite dishes, Amane-kun; I made them without any consideration for nutritional balance or a specific cuisine. It's okay to indulge yourself once in a while." Or so Mahiru said, but she promptly followed it up with, "We can simply have an extra helping of vegetables tomorrow to make up for it," before letting out a gracious giggle.

Her cheeks were faintly tinged with joy, clearly delighted that Amane had taken a liking to her surprise.

"Oh, speaking of which," she continued. "I will dish up some dashimaki tamago for tomorrow's breakfast. Since I made a lot of food for our dinner, I have a feeling that they would be more delicious after resting overnight. I shall also prepare your favorite salmon to go with it, Kyoto-style. Would miso soup with tofu and white radish be okay, too?"

"Sounds like an early morning feast…," Amane commented. "But then again, what's in front of me is even more of a lavish meal already."

"Hehe. Please enjoy it while it's still warm. Today's beef stew turned out particularly tender, if I do say so myself."

"Awesome! Simply nothing beats a good omurice with beef stew. It's justice."

Although Amane wanted to jump up and down in joy at this rarely served favorite of his, he held himself back, and put his hands together in gratitude. "Thanks for the food." Without forgetting to thank her for the food, Amane immediately took a bite of the beef stew omurice, a smile unconsciously spreading across his face.

The beef was so tender it could be cut with a spoon, and when it reached his mouth, it bore a succulent, not at all dry texture that was incredibly delicious. The high quality of the meat was evident from the first bite.

This careful combination of the stew's rich flavor and the omurice is something to die for, Amane nodded. As he reached for the other side dishes, moving at a pace that was fast yet not unrefined, Mahiru watched him with a warm smile as she ate elegantly.

"…Is something wrong?" Amane asked.

"Nothing," Mahiru replied. "It's just that as the one who prepared the meal, seeing you eat everything with such enjoyment gives me a feeling of accomplishment."

"Well, that's because it's really good. Even saying it's the best wouldn't be an exaggeration."

"I will be satisfied as long as you think it's the best, Amane-kun. But rest assured, I won't rest on my laurels."

Amane smiled wryly at the relentlessly stoic Mahiru, and he happily continued to devour his food. In the blink of an eye, the plates were soon emptied. There were quite a few dishes, but Mahiru had given him a reduced serving of each, so Amane was able to finish them easily, especially since he'd garnered an increased appetite after getting a job.

Looking at Amane who had neatly finished his meal, Mahiru beamed a satisfied smile, then slowly rose from her seat to place the dishes in the sink. However, just as Amane tried to stand up to help, she told him in a gentle but firm tone, "The star of the day should take it easy," leading Amane to reluctantly sit back down.

Once all the dishes lined up on the table were finished, Mahiru turned back to Amane and wore a beaming smile.

"After dinner comes dessert. I hope it will be to your fancy." "…Would this be what you were practicing in secret, by chance?"

At this point, Amane could take a guess at what Mahiru had been hiding. The occasional sweet scent wafting through the air when he came home was probably from her baking a cake just for him.

"Yes. It felt wrong to serve something that I wasn't satisfied with myself, so… I made many adjustments to ensure it was to your liking, Amane-kun."

He had wondered why she was worried about gaining weight, but now it all added up. She had likely been testing different ways of baking cakes and eating them. Depending on what it was, desserts could be high in calories. If she consumed each cake that she made, it'd be no wonder that she was concerned about her weight. On top of that, Mahiru hated wasting food, so she probably made it a point to finish everything.

"Anything would've fit the bill if you made it, Mahiru… but that would be rude of me to say. I'm happy that you've gone so far for me, but don't overdo it, alright?"

"I didn't overdo it," she claimed. "…Though I did do my fair share of exercising afterwards."

"So that's why your figure hasn't changed, you can see the effort for sure.

Your self-discipline really is admirable."

"It's not an issue as I only gained a small amount, and my waistline hasn't changed at all. Now, I shall bring it over, okay?"

Saying that, Mahiru brought a plate from the refrigerator with what seemed to be a homemade chocolate cake.

She gently placed it down onto the dining table, a small clink resounding as she did so. The cake was already cut into easy-to-eat slices, and Mahiru quietly served a piece onto a plate for him.

Looking at the piece in front of him, it seemed to be a chocolate gâteau. Or perhaps, closer to a chocolate ganache instead. Judging by looks, it was a finely textured, dense cake.

Next, Mahiru carefully added a dollop of whipped cream and a sprig of mint. Appearance-wise, it was still remarkably simple.

"I made a chocolate gâteau. You aren't particularly fond of sweet things, Amane-kun, so I thought you would prefer something that would go down easily with a drink. I opted for milk given the cake's rich flavor, so please have them together if possible."

"Following the cook's recommendation is the best way to enjoy a meal, so I gratefully accept."

Since Mahiru had gone to great lengths to prepare it for him, he had no doubts that it would be excellent. Without hesitation, Amane cut out a piece of the chocolate gâteau with his fork as Mahiru watched over him.

Just as it appeared, the cake had a very fine, dense texture, giving it a firm feel when pressed. Still, he could cut through it easily. As Amane cut a small piece and gently placed it into his mouth… the first sensation he felt was the intense, rich flavor of chocolate.

Best described as sticky or viscous, the delicacy felt more akin to a ganache than a gâteau. Yet, it wasn't quite a ganache, either. The dough was finished with a delicate balance and it yielded a smooth texture in the mouth, melting and dissolving as he ate.

Not too sweet, yet not at all bland, Amane could definitely pick apart the finer, subtle flavors within the chocolate. He felt as if it had been adjusted to take full advantage of chocolate's qualities.

"…So delicious." His words came from the heart, sincere and without flattery. Mahiru then let out a sigh of relief at his praise, and smiled.

"I'm relieved that it suits your tastes. I was aiming for just the right balance of flavor and texture."

"I can't believe how delicious it is. It's incredible how you managed to make this."

"Hehe. If that's your response, then it brings me immense satisfaction as the maker. It was truly worth the effort."

Mahiru, who giggled like a ringing bell, looked at Amane as he relished the chocolate gâteau with a somewhat mischievous smile.

"By the way, did you notice it?" she asked. "I added a secret ingredient."

When asked what it was, Amane closed his eyes, focusing his senses on his taste buds. Amidst the distinct sweetness and depth lingered a rich, astringent aroma distinct from chocolate, which lingered deeply. It was a scent that Amane had recently become accustomed to smelling at work.

"Hm… Coffee? But, uh… Huh? Is this… from my café?"

The delicate taste and aroma reminded him of the coffee served at his current workplace.

Though it was a guess he'd simply thrown out, Mahiru clapped her hands together, smiling as she said, "Spot on! I'm surprised you figured it out."

"I was just guessing," Amane explained. "But since Kido was in on the secret, I figured that it was possible."

"You're very observant. …Oh, and just so you know, I have not paid it a visit in person yet. As you may have deduced, Kido-san helped me procure coffee beans from the café you work at, Amane-kun. I am truly grateful to the owner, too. She even helped with blending to enhance the richness and depth of the chocolate."

"So even Itomaki-san was in on it… Explains that feeling I've had recently about her smirking when she sees me…"

Amane hadn't expected that Fumika, the owner, would also be involved. He broke out in a cold sweat thinking about the implications for what was to come during his next shift at the café. However, their coffee was certainly delicious.

He'd heard that freshly ground coffee was exceptionally good, and Amane had been considering buying a coffee mill and giving it a shot at home. But still, he hadn't expected to taste it this way.

"Hehe, I only asked Kido-san for help, but somehow the word spread... I'm glad that they were willing to cooperate with me and that you didn't catch wind of it, Amane-kun."

"Honestly, Mahiru…" She didn't seem to hesitate to put in effort for him, and Amane couldn't help but feel bashful.

Not wanting to let his embarrassment show, Amane started to cut another piece of the chocolate gâteau, but Mahiru gently stopped him, smoothly taking the fork from his hand.

Lifting his head, Amane's gaze met Mahiru's, a sultry, captivating smile playing on her lips.

"It's a special occasion, so shall I feed you? Since it's your birthday, I thought I should at least do that much."

"Huh? N-No, that's a little…" "No need to be shy."

Ignoring Amane's hesitation, Mahiru smiled as if to blow it away as she gently held the chocolate gâteau near his mouth. Amane groaned, but obediently ate the cake. Mahiru behaved like this because she knew he'd never come to hate her, and while Amane felt his chest prickling with shame, he still immersed himself in the euphoria welling up inside him.

✧ ₊ ✦ ₊ ✧

While Mahiru continued to feed him his portion, making Amane feel like he'd die from embarrassment, she still wore a satisfied smile as she happily watched his flustered reaction.

"Was it delicious?" she asked.

"…It was, but was there really a need to feed me?"

"Yes, there was. You are the star of the show today, after all."

"I'd definitely be a laughing stock if anyone else was here, though… But since it's just the two of us here, it's alright."

If Itsuki and the others had been here, they'd definitely laugh and tease him. Failing that, they'd smile and throw warm, fluffy looks his way. Although the high-spirited Mahiru would likely not mind any onlookers, having looked forward to this day more than even he did, Amane himself would undoubtedly writhe in shame.

…I'm definitely gonna get back at her when I celebrate her birthday.

He drank milk to reset his palette, which thanks to Mahiru had grown sweeter for two different reasons. Meanwhile, Mahiru smiled and took something out from her bag, which she had kept by her side.

It was a white box slightly larger than her palm, adorned with a navy-blue ribbon. Not being so dull as to not realize what it was when presented at this time, Amane instinctively looked at Mahiru. Blushing lightly, her cheeks revealed her embarrassment.

"It's your birthday present. I'm unsure whether you will like it, though…," she said, sounding a bit uncertain. She gently placed the box in Amane's palm and shot him nervous glances.

It seemed he could open it here; he deduced that Mahiru probably wanted to see his reaction. She went out of her way to give it to me now, so I suppose I should open it in front of her? Amane carefully untied the ribbon and opened the box, revealing yet another velvet box inside.

He thought he'd find the present placed directly inside, and was momentarily taken aback. However, he realized that this meticulous packaging must've reflected Mahiru's desire to surprise him.

For it to be wrapped so many times… What could it be?

Amane wondered about its contents and gently opened the inner box.

Inside… he found a clip-like item with a subtle white sheen.

Carved in it was a perforated floral pattern. At first, Amane wasn't sure what it was, but he quickly recognized it as something he wore when attending school ceremonies.

"…A necktie pin?"

"That is correct," Mahiru affirmed. "…Honestly speaking, I was at a loss about what to give a man. I considered a common gift like a wristwatch, but I worried you would hesitate if I bought an expensive or showy one, and preferences can differ vastly. Besides, you already have a watch that you seem fond of, so…"

Since Amane always had his smartphone on hand, he generally wasn't one to wear a wristwatch all that often. The one exception was a watch he received from his parents as a gift for enrolling in high school, which he wore only when going out.

They had splurged a bit on it, and understandably, Amane had his reservations when it came to wearing it at school. Plus, he didn't spend long hours outside, so he rarely had the chance to wear it. Despite this, he made it a point to wear it whenever he went out with Mahiru, and she seemed to remember it, too.

"That being the case, I chose something you can wear occasionally but wouldn't ordinarily go out to buy yourself," Mahiru began. "Our school allows us to wear tie pins as long as they're not too gaudy outside of ceremonies, doesn't it? I thought I should settle on something you could continue using even as a working adult."

During ceremonies, only tie pins bearing the school emblem were allowed, but otherwise, there were no restrictions. Though, most boys simply found them too much trouble and didn't bother with tie pins at all. Amane was one such boy, and rarely wore one. In fact, he had nearly forgotten their existence, but if it was a gift from Mahiru, he would likely wear it every day.

Presumably, Mahiru had chosen an everyday item as a gift because she wanted him to wear it.

"I could have given you a tie, of which you need many once you're a working adult... but as students, our ties are selected for us. School rules are school rules, after all. When the time comes for you to wear a suit, I shall choose another gift."

"...Yeah, thanks. I'll use it with great care."

Even without her saying it, Amane could feel her desire to stay by his side from now on. His heart was naturally filled with warmth and joy. Of course, Amane had planned on it from the start, but feeling this sentiment from Mahiru made him both embarrassed and elated.

From now on, I'll definitely make sure to cherish both you and this tie pin, Mahiru. Always.

With this resolve engraved into his heart, he etched it into his memory so that he would never forget, and smiled at Mahiru. Seeing this, she let out a relaxed smile, her tension fading.

"I'm glad; I was a little worried whether you'd like it or not. Truth be told, I was aware that it's not exactly a typical choice of gift for a high school boy."

"If it's a gift from you, Mahiru, I'm confident I'll be happy no matter what it is."

"Hehe. I know that, but I still wanted to give you something that you needed, Amane-kun. You don't have any materialistic desires and you take good care of what you do have, so it was tough to think of a gift."

Amane didn't really wish for anything in particular, and this seemed to trouble Mahiru. All he could do was give a wry smile.

"Everything that you give me will make me happy. That's how I see it." "…That's a little scary," Mahiru admitted. "You make it sound like you would be pleased even if I gave you a candy wrapper."

"I'd assume that you found something interesting about it, like it had a fascinating or cute pattern. And then I'd keep it."

"I would absolutely not do that, though!? If I was going to do something like that, I would just give you the candy itself!"

"Well, I knew you were joking around... If it's something you packed your feelings into, Mahiru, I'd be happy with anything."

"…Geez."

While Mahiru's tone sounded dissatisfied, her face, no matter how you looked at it, was relaxed. She was probably just trying to mask her embarrassment.

Let's wear this tomorrow. Amane looked at Mahiru happily before gently putting his tie pin away, looking forward to tomorrow. It was then that Mahiru reached out and timidly grabbed the hem of his shirt.

"There's one last… small present, you could say."

Her tone was hesitant, and Amane tilted his head to one side, wondering if something was wrong.

"Today, I will listen to whatever requests you may have. From now, until midnight."

The moment Amane heard Mahiru's words, he nearly choked. He was grateful he hadn't just been drinking milk. If he had, he would've undoubtedly spat it out.

Coughing lightly, Amane faced Mahiru, who looked back at him with a determined expression. It seemed she was serious.

"…That line is dangerous…" "But… we are lovers." "Even… so."

Amane felt like he'd said something similar before, but in any case, it was beyond dangerous for a woman to listen to whatever a man wanted. Even if they were lovers, what's dangerous will always be dangerous.

"…I'm unsure whether I should call you reserved or say you lack desire, Amane-kun."

"That's not what this is about… You shouldn't do that. You're a girl, after all."

"I cannot imagine you would do anything bad to me, Amane-kun." "…And what if I did?"

"As I have mentioned before, I would have you take responsibility."

With her innocent, trust-filled gaze fixed on him, Amane unconsciously felt defeated. He scratched his cheek and then gently reached for Mahiru's body. "I'd take responsibility even if I didn't do anything... dummy."

The truth was that Mahiru was soft towards him, and her willingness to accept anything Amane did was a little frightening. Even if they had made a promise to each other, he was a healthy young man, and there might be times when his reason failed him.

It goes to show how much she loves me, I suppose.

But no matter how you slice it, she trusts me way too much.

Amane gently pulled her closer, embraced her soft body as he buried his face in her shoulder. Taking a deep breath, he noticed the scent of body soap was stronger than usual, indicating that she'd already taken a bath.

If I said I wanted her right here and now, she'd probably nod her head.

While he had no intention of breaking his promise, he could easily imagine her shyly agreeing, which made him realize just how scary his sugary-sweet girlfriend could be. There was no telling when he'd lose his self-restraint.

A man's reason is thinner than a piece of tissue paper. If provoked, it could easily be shattered. Amane refocused his mind, thinking, I gotta tread carefully… and gently let his lips slide toward her cheek, breathing out softly.

Mahiru immediately shivered once he did so, clearly sensitive and extremely weak to his tickling. It would have been obvious to anyone who saw her.

That said, Amane had no intention of letting anyone else see her act like this. Only he needed to know just how sensitive she was. Only he needed to know her weaknesses.

She continued to wriggle about in his arms, but she didn't resist. With a slight smile, Amane gently brought his lips close to her ear.

"…Oh, right… It's been a while, so perhaps I'll have you be my hug pillow again."

Although Mahiru seemed to want him to make a request, Amane carefully chose one within the limits of rationale. Knowing full well that his request would let him spoil her to his heart's content, Mahiru's face flushed crimson from within his arms.

He meant exactly what he said; he wasn't going to go any further than literally using her as a hug pillow, but strangely, he had a feeling that she was having some peculiar fantasies. To be expected, even Amane wasn't up to replicating what they'd done during their last sleepover. Back then, he'd luckily managed to stop himself at the very last moment, but who knew what would happen next otherwise.

"...I only asked you be my actual hug pillow," clarified Amane. "What were you imagining?"

"N-Nothing at all! Something so improper… I would never!" "Hey, I never said what you were imagining, did I?"

When Amane pointed out that he hadn't referred to anything specific, Mahiru's cheeks turned even redder than before, so much so that she almost looked ready to emit steam. Mahiru glared at Amane with half-teary eyes, squirmed, and managed to wriggle out of his grasp.

"B-Baka!" she stammered. "You're such a dummy, Amane-kun."

"I didn't even do anything."

"Uuu… Even so… You're still being mean."

"Alright, I'll admit that was pretty mean of me. Sorry. You were so cute that I couldn't help myself, Mahiru."

Mahiru didn't mind being touched, and looked adorable as she allowed Amane to tease her. He ended up taking it a little too far, and there was no doubt she would sulk if he kept going. Therefore, Amane promptly apologized in advance, leaving Mahiru unable to voice any more of her complaints. She expressed her dissatisfaction by lightly tapping on Amane's chest.

Mahiru, without even trying to hide her heavily flushed cheeks, enacted her adorable revenge on Amane, to which he chuckled while stroking her head. But as expected, she still seemed a bit sulky, looking as if she had a small balloon stuffed into her cheeks.

"…I–I shall go and get my change of clothes, so please take a bath while you wait for me, Amane-kun." Seeing that Amane's warm smile had remained unchanged, Mahiru had made her escape at last. That said, she was bound to return soon regardless.

Amane, meanwhile, was momentarily taken aback by Mahiru's rabbit-like getaway, but he chuckled at the feeling that bubbled up afterwards—one of wanting to cherish her.

✧ ₊ ✦ ₊ ✧

Mahiru had already returned by the time Amane finished his bath and made his way over to the living room. She had changed into her pajamas, choosing to wear the light pink bunny-themed pajamas she'd bought recently. Amane hadn't expected her to wear it today, however, and was simply wearing his regular pajamas despite having a cat-themed onesie of his own.

Usually flowing down her back, Mahiru's hair was instead loosely tied up behind both her ears, and she looked extremely adorable with the hood on—a very off-duty kind of look, if you will. It was in stark contrast to her attire during the last sleepover. Despite having a jacket at the time, her negligee was quite revealing—enough to shake Amane's sanity. So this time around, he felt at ease.

"…It really suits you. Very Mahiru-like," Amane commented. "What exactly do you mean by that?"

"Like, small, fluffy, cute, a bit clingy or lonely… it resembles you a lot…"

Mahiru, like the image of a rabbit, was a bundle of softness, fluffy and lovable, yet a tad lonely. While this differed from the actual behavior of a bunny, it was fittingly symbolic of the somewhat lonely Mahiru.

Amane had meant it as a compliment, but it seemed Mahiru wasn't having it. She glanced up at him with a pouty expression, and upon seeing his damp hair, her frown deepened even further.

"I now understand what you think of me, Amane-kun… But more importantly, aren't you deliberately neglecting to dry your hair when I'm around?" Mahiru scolded him as she fiddled with his hair, shortly asking, "Why don't you dry your hair with the hairdryer?"

She caught on, after all.

Amane showed a bitter smile. Whenever Mahiru wasn't around, he made sure to dry his hair properly. Only when she was around and seemed to have nothing else to do, he would occasionally dry his hair only with a towel, preferring to have Mahiru handle the rest.

Knowing that it was a nuisance, Amane limited this behavior to every once in a while. It was a subtle way for him to seek her attention and be spoiled. The delight of Mahiru touching him, paying attention to him, was too sweet for him to resist. He knew it was childish, but he couldn't bring himself to stop.

"You're just imagining things… Is what I'd like to say, but yes, I did it on purpose. I wanted you to do it for me, Mahiru."

"Goodness me… But since I enjoy it, I don't mind. You simply want to be spoiled in your own way, Amane-kun."

He had mixed feelings at being read like an open book, but the sight of Mahiru's giggly smile left him thinking, Well, this is fine, too, while feeling a tad relieved.

"Please have a seat," she said, beckoning him to sit down on the sofa. She then looked at him with an expression that seemed to say, It cannot be helped. However, she was unable to hide her joy, her lips curling into a smile as she turned on the hairdryer.

The hairdryer they kept at home was a silent one, and it hummed quietly as a breeze warmer than Mahiru's hand blew in his direction. He'd already gotten rid of most of the water using his towel, so all that remained now was to finish up by drying his hair of the remaining moisture.

Mahiru carefully applied warm air, saying, "I see you haven't been neglecting to take proper care of your hair. Very good," as she ran her fingers through his hair to check its quality.

Just as Mahiru meticulously cared for her skin, not just for herself, but for when Amane touched her, Amane mostly made sure to take care of his hair in the same way. He figured that doing so would make Mahiru happy, as it would give her a pleasant sensation whenever she touched him.

His hair remained silky smooth thanks to his efforts, and it also made drying his hair easier, as it would no longer snag.

"…I once again think that your hair is naturally lustrous, Amane-kun."

"It's from my parents. It's the soft type of hair, though, so it gets tangled pretty easily."

"But the softness makes it easy to keep it glossy, right? Perhaps I should have given you a variety of hair care products as a present," she half-joked, now having finished drying his hair. She pulled a comb out of nowhere, saying, "Let's make it even more silky," and began to tidy up his fluffy, puffed-up hair. In doing so, she styled his hair in the way she liked best.

"If you'd be happier with me having a glossier hairdo, I can go get some better products."

"I–It's less about being happier… It's just satisfying to touch, and I find enjoyment in combing your hair."

"Then, imma go ask Kadowaki for some recommendations. If it makes you happier, then I'll be happy too."

Plus, Amane was almost certain that she'd touch him more often if he did that. Though, he dared not tell her that was his main goal.

If his personal growth made Mahiru happy, then not only was it worth striving for, but it would also help boost his confidence… But just as he thought this, Mahiru pressed her forehead up against his arm, placing her comb on the table.

While quietly laughing at her now-familiar way of hiding her embarrassment, Amane watched the rabbit-eared hood on her head twitching with every movement she made, making him smile even more.

"Hey, Little Miss Bunny—looks like all four of your ears have gone pink," Amane playfully remarked.

"Please be quiet," Mahiru blurted. "…You should have worn a onesie too, Amane-kun. I'm the only one here dressed like a bunny rabbit."

"Then it'll look like a cat grooming a rabbit's fur." "It would be adorable, right?"

"…I'm fine with you being the only adorable one here, Mahiru."

While the sight of a cat and a rabbit—a potential predator and prey—getting along so well would be heartwarming in its own right, Amane couldn't shake the feeling that he lacked the cuteness to pull off being a cat.

His physique had grown stronger as of late, much more so than it was in the past. Plus, his innocent, child-like features had been slowly but steadily fading from his face. Despite losing his adorable appearance a while back, Mahiru still insisted Amane was cute, which baffled him. But since it boiled down to personal taste, he'd just have to accept it.

Perhaps the blush on her cheeks had cooled down a little, for Mahiru looked up at Amane, and strangely found some kind of cuteness in his features. Then, intentionally without warning, he stole her lips.

Mahiru blinked several times before blushing once again, but she didn't resist at all. Rather, she seemed to be delighted, and relaxed her body upon being embraced, as if telling Amane to do as he liked.

He softly nibbled at and gently, ever so slowly parted her glossy lips, which were reminiscent of sakura-colored seashells. Mahiru meekly accepted him without objecting. 

Lately, she had slowly but surely started to accept his affection and began returning in kind, which he found to be utterly adorable.

As he monopolized her feeble voice that faintly spilled out, his heart danced at the sight of the cute little rabbit trembling yet accepting the wolf all the same. It wasn't as if Amane had gotten used to such kisses either, and frankly speaking, his passion for her was overflowing and he felt as if he was on the verge of losing control. Knowing from past sleepovers that she could get frightened if he were too aggressive, he instead kissed her as gently yet as intimately as he could. "…Rather than a cat, I should have bought a wolf onesie instead," she murmured somewhat ruefully as she tried to catch her ragged breath, shortly after their lips had parted.

A grin spread across Amane's face. "If only you did—because then the only adorable one here would've been little bunny Mahiru," he teased, suppressing the embarrassment that welled up from their kiss.

"Meanie."

Mahiru pouted, her lips now even more moist than before, as she then playfully headbutted his arm as if to express her dissatisfaction.

"…Haven't you been losing the innocent charm you had when it comes to things like this?" Mahiru observed, sounding a tad upset.

"I never had any to begin with."

"Liar. You used to behave like you didn't know what to do…"

"Oh, be quiet."

It was his first time dating, so him being inexperienced was to be expected. Now, he was able to just about mask both the embarrassment and nervousness that came with acting like lovers, at least on the surface. But it was only natural that he was clumsy at first.

If innocence equated to cuteness, then he'd rather that cuteness belong to Mahiru alone. Amane didn't want to show his awkward side to his girlfriend.

"…Next time, I shall do something that will blow you out of the water, Amane-kun. Especially since I'm always the one getting surprised by you."

In response to Mahiru's quiet murmuring, Amane once again sealed her lips to prevent her from uttering any further schemes. He savored her sweet lips with all his senses.

✧ ₊ ✦ ₊ ✧ 

After they had kissed for a while, Amane led Mahiru to the bedroom.

Despite having been in Amane's room several times and having experienced a few overnight stays, Mahiru seemed a tad nervous, for her hand that he held showed a slight hint of tension.

While chuckling softly at Mahiru, Amane playfully traced her hand with his fingertips to soothe her. He then subtly invited her to bed. Clearly embarrassed, Mahiru sat on his bed looking like a little bunny about to be devoured by a wolf.

To answer cuteness and endearing appearance, Amane retracted the fangs that were on the verge of pouncing on his prey, sat down beside her, and soothingly stroked her head to put her at ease. While he had told her that he wouldn't do anything, her tension was no doubt due to her being in his bedroom. "I won't eat you up. Like I said, today I'll just have you be my hug pillow,"

Amane emphasized once more. "I–Is that so?"

"…Were you expecting something else?"

"I was not! It's just that, erm, you're gradually getting more and more…" "More what?"

"…More composed, and you're getting more masculine, too… It's embarrassing. I–It's not fair," Mahiru stuttered, looking up at Amane while awkwardly squirming.

Amane chuckled slightly, now aware of how well he seemed to be disguising himself. Sure, he may appear composed on the outside, but in reality, he was panicking internally. In fact, knowing Mahiru to the intimate extent that he did only made it even tougher for him to remain composed.

However, he couldn't scare her by being too pushy or hasty, and he thought it would be unmanly if he seemed too nervous, so he was simply trying to appear calm.

"Pretty sure I told you before that I don't actually have any composure. I just don't let it show on my face since it's pretty lame for a guy to get all nervous."

"So if I asked you to show it, you would?" "Nope."

"That's so not fair."

"You'd just see me getting flustered and red in the face, y'know? Wouldn't that be kinda pathetic?"

They had been dating for going on five months now; it wouldn't be the best of looks if Amane blushed at even the smallest of touches and kisses. Women would likely find a dependable man more appealing, and he figured that she'd be more at ease if he acted calm during intimate situations. However, this didn't seem to apply to Mahiru.

She timidly grasped the hem of Amane's shirt. "…Would it be selfish of me to say I want to see the real you, Amane-kun?"

She asked in a quiet, anxious voice, to which Amane covered his face with his hand and heaved a quiet sigh. Apparently, his effort to act cool was an unnecessary concern.

"…I want you to understand that I just wanted to look good in front of you because... well, I love you."

Mahiru stiffened for a few moments as Amane embraced her from the side, resting his forehead on her shoulder, but Mahiru soon let out a small laugh.

"You are always both cute and cool, you know?" "The cute part is unnecessary."

"Fufu. …Being able to see both sides of you is my lucky privilege."

Unable to say anything in response to her delighted voice, Amane rolled onto the bed with Mahiru, trying to cover up his embarrassed expression. Trying her best to cushion the impact, Mahiru's tied-up hair swayed to and fro ever so slightly. Given her rapid blinking, however, it must have still caught her off guard.

Under Mahiru's gaze, Amane found his embarrassment to be considerably stronger than hers, but he pushed further, bringing her into his embrace and burying his face in her generous curves.

Perhaps an effect of her bunny pajamas, Mahiru's mounds were warm and fluffy to the touch, yielding supplely. The scent given off from her was lavish, a unique blend of sweetness and freshness so superb that words simply couldn't capture.

If Mahiru had been acting somewhat worried yet expectant, Amane may have gotten more excited, but that wasn't the case. She was instead in relaxation mode, and since Amane hadn't even considered taking things a step further for the time being, he caved in to the feeling of comfort and bliss that enveloped his body.

Although momentarily taken aback, Mahiru soon realized that he wasn't going to do anything to her and began running her hand through his hair. It was yet another soothing gesture.

"You're being pampered a lot today," Mahiru commented. "…It's fine, right? Let me have this."

"Yes, yes."

Amused, Mahiru chuckled, seemingly seeing through his attempt to hide his embarrassment.

"You're rather bold today, Amane-kun."

"I thought I should indulge myself today. By touching you lots."

"That's fine, of course. But, how should I put it... you are touching me like you usually do. Erm, I… was expecting you would touch me a little more... directly."

"Well, yeah—but while I do enjoy touching you, and I do wanna know more about you, just being by your side and feeling your warmth is enough for me. That's all I need to be satisfied."

Lifting his head from her soft peaks, Amane held her delicately, embracing her slender body. He didn't intend to act on the fantasies that Mahiru once imagined. If he were to do something like that every time they spent the night together, Amane was certain he'd lose control of himself before long. He knew she would accept him with an adorable reaction, enticing him to want her more and more without limit.

Still, he really did not intend to do anything tonight.

Just because he was a man didn't mean that he always wanted to do those things. After all, spending time peacefully with the woman he loved was enough to make him happy.

While they may be less satisfied physically compared to their last sleepover, where they touched each other intimately, the emotional satisfaction they shared in this moment was by no means less fulfilling.

Now, the woman he dearly loved and wanted to pledge his future to was nestled close by his side, her gaze filled with trust and love. Nothing else could give him a greater sense of security, happiness, and satisfaction than this.

Just her warmth was enough to leave Amane with a sense of contentment, and Mahiru snuggled up to his chest, telling him that she thought the same way.

"…Me too," she affirmed. "I am happy just being by your side, Amane- kun."

"I'm glad. If it were only me, I feel like it'd be kinda unfair somehow. Like I'm finding happiness far too easily."

"I feel the same way when you are next to me, you know? As long as you are with me, Amane-kun, that is all I need, but…"

"But?"

"I would be even happier if I could touch you."

As she said those incredibly cute words, Mahiru looked up at Amane, her eyes pleading for the go-ahead to touch him.

"Oh, you want to touch me? I don't really mind, but I can't imagine a man's body being all that pleasant to touch."

"Really? Since I do not have much muscle myself, I think it is a good thing that you are muscular… Like when I trace your stomach, it feels firm and rugged."

Having gotten his permission, Mahiru reached out and touched Amane's chest and abdomen hesitantly with her fingertips, which made him squirm slightly from the ticklish sensation.

Ayaka's influence is definitely showing here… But I guess it's fine. As long as Mahiru's enjoying herself, I don't really mind. Realizing that Mahiru seemed to be having fun touching him like this, Amane then recognized that he may be too soft on her.

"My daily training has started to pay off now, I reckon. Guess you could say I've graduated from being a bean sprout?" Amane joked.

"I think it is coming along nicely—your body is firm, and you do not have any unnecessary fat. You feel sturdier compared to before."

"…Yeah, don't bring up the past. I was super skinny back then."

Being reminded of the time when he first met Mahiru made him feel unbearably embarrassed. Though Amane now had a reasonably toned body with muscles, he used to have a very unreliable physique.

He didn't have much fat, but his body was so skinny it could be described as straight-up weak, definitely a far cry from a muscular build. Looking back on it now, he felt like punching his past self and telling him to work harder.

Mahiru did seem to prefer his current physique, so Amane was glad that he'd put all the effort in to better himself. The more he trained, the more stylish he looked when he put on his clothes, which helped prove that his decision to become a fitting partner for Mahiru was the right one.

"Fufu. But regardless, I had still thought you were a boy back then. I realized the difference between our bodies when you carried me on your back that one time."

"Well, that's a given. …You have a super slim body shape, after all."

Mahiru was soft and petite thanks to her own constant efforts, but even with aspects that she couldn't change, like her bone structure, she was still rather delicate. It could even be said that she was petite overall.

"…I may be petite, but I am tougher than you think, Amane-kun."

"Still doesn't change the fact that you're delicate, though. I often think that I have to touch you gently. Feels like you might break otherwise."

"You say that, but you have never touched me using that much strength before."

"My point still stands," Amane insisted. "…You know how much I want to cherish you, so being gentle is something I have to be mindful of. You are important to me, after all."

To the best of his ability, Amane wanted to be both kind and gentlemanly toward Mahiru. He planned to cherish and protect her for the rest of his life going forward, so he needed to be careful not to hurt her in any way.

It wasn't that he wanted to be overprotective, but no matter how much Mahiru worked on improving herself, she would still remain a delicate woman. She was naturally weaker and less robust than men due to gender differences, and Amane felt that he must be considerate of that.

Amane fully understood that Mahiru didn't want to be coddled, so while respecting her independence, he wanted to treat her gently and make her feel comfortable. He wanted to make sure that he'd never make her cry.

Then, Amane whispered in her ear that he intended to spend the rest of his life making her happy, making his determination clear. Mahiru blushed in response, and Amane's earlier embarrassment paled in comparison to how red Mahiru's face became as she softly replied, "Th–Thank you very much…"

"…It's your birthday, Amane-kun, but I feel like I'm the one receiving all the blessings today."

"No, no. I'm the one with all the blessings, okay? And besides, the date's already changed."

Amane had received a lot from Mahiru, and his desire to cherish her was ultimately born solely from his own feelings. It wasn't something that Mahiru had to worry about. Plus, the date had already changed before they had realized it—his birthday had now passed.

They had been cuddling and kissing on the sofa and bed, and before they knew it, more time had passed than they had thought. While it may have been a short birthday, Amane felt he had received more than enough happiness.

"Oh, you're right… I–It's such a shame; I wanted you to make a few more requests…"

"Time sure flies, huh. I guess I can't ask for anything more now." "So, what were you planning to ask?"

"…I was hoping you'd give me a kiss before we go to sleep."

They had been doing nothing but kissing until just a little while ago, but they had all been initiated by Amane. It was rare for Mahiru, who was more shy than Amane, to take the initiative herself. Even though she seemed to enjoy kissing, she was simply too embarrassed to take the lead.

Given today was his birthday, Amane figured he might as well ask her to kiss him the way she wanted to, which was something that he'd be embarrassed for others to know.

He considered the request to be quite significant, but for some reason, Mahiru looked puzzled and slightly exasperated.

"…You really do lack desire, don't you? I was hoping you would ask me for something a little grander than that."

"I already feel so satisfied, what else would I ask for? I have you—my girlfriend—by my side, celebrating the day I was born with me, and sharing warmth. That's enough for me. It's not that I don't have desires, but right now, consider me satisfied."

"Then…" Mahiru paused. "That means I must be greedy." "You? Greedy?"

Amane had always considered 'greedy' to be the furthest thing from Mahiru's personality, but she nodded and frowned slightly, a serious look showing on her face.

"Truth be told, I am lonely when you go to work, Amane-kun, and I always find myself longing for you to return home quickly. I also worry whether women are trying to make advances on you. You are a very handsome man, Amane-kun. What would I do if you were to become popular with the ladies? I often wonder about the possibility. I do not intend to interfere with your decision, and I am not at all worried about you cheating, but part of me still feels anxious. I cannot help but think, 'Please don't leave me.'"

Mahiru nestled her face in Amane's chest before confessing that she didn't want to be a hindrance. Yet…

"I don't ever want you to leave me," she added in a murmur. "I want you to touch me more. I want you to stay by my side forever and ever. …I must be greedy for thinking this way. Perhaps my love is too heavy a burden…"

Amane broke out into a smile upon hearing Mahiru's heartfelt confession.

Mahiru was expressing how much she cared for him, and how important he was to her. She longed to constantly be by his side, and that—was proof of how much she loved him.

If anything, he felt truly blessed to have her as his lover.

As Mahiru had described her strong affection as greed, Amane smiled slightly, pouring a little more strength into the arm he'd wrapped around her back, embracing her harder.

"…Chances are that my love's a lot heavier than yours, Mahiru. Much more so than you think."

Mahiru had described her love as being heavy, but if that was the case, then Amane's was heavier. He had absolutely no intention of letting her go.

There may be a chance he would swallow his bloody tears and let her go if it meant Mahiru finding true happiness, but otherwise, that notion held true. Amane was determined to make her happy himself and would spare no amount of effort to achieve that.

Amane would never shift the responsibility onto Mahiru by insisting it was for her sake. He was doing his best to make her happy on his own accord, living his own life responsibly while shouldering the weight of emotions that he himself could not fully endure.

"In my family, our love is heavy because we are devoted. And I reckon I'm no exception either. Perhaps you haven't fully realized it just yet, Mahiru, but having heavy love isn't about being possessive or imposing restrictions—it's about the depth and intensity of the feelings we have for one another. That's how it is for me. I won't ever let you go no matter what happens. I don't want you to look at anyone else other than me. …So, sometimes I wonder what I'd do if you ever grow tired of me."

Amane was aware that his feelings were heavy.

Knowing that having a shallow relationship would be rude to Mahiru, Amane had proposed a serious relationship with the intention of spending their entire lives together, but this arrangement would probably seem too heavy to outsiders. Promising a lifelong commitment with her while still attending high school. He was trying to do just that, and calling it 'heavy' simply wouldn't cut it.

And yet, Mahiru smiled happily. Her smile was beaming with pure joy and delight.

"To be loved to such an extent, I consider myself truly blessed," began Mahiru. "Never letting me go, only looking my way… Would you not say that is ideal?"

"Is it really?"

"It is," she affirmed. "…I am the same, Amane-kun. I cannot let you go anymore, so the feeling is mutual. I'll never allow you to look anywhere else, okay?"

Having heard her say something that was totally out of the question, Amane simply nodded at Mahiru, who smiled back at him in satisfaction as she shifted her body slightly upward.

A devilish smile played on Mahiru's well-defined face as she drew closer. "I shall give myself to you, Amane-kun, so please give yourself to me, okay?"

She whispered passionately, and their distance closed.

Their faces were so close that their breaths intermingled, and in the next moment, they quickly shortened the distance, leaving no air between them as their faces touched.

Their lips lightly brushed against each other, a kiss so gentle, and yet it ignited a fiery passion. It brought a sense of reassurance and happiness, a pleasant mix of sensations that made their hearts swell with warmth.

Despite only lasting a few seconds, it gave them a kind of satisfaction different from that of a deep kiss. Then, Amane met Mahiru's gaze and smiled.

Without a doubt, they both only had eyes for one another. There was nothing to worry about.

"…Good night, Amane-kun. Sweet dreams." "Good night, Mahiru."

Snuggling up to Amane, Mahiru let out a blissful smile that implied, 'You belong to me,' and Amane too returned a peaceful smile, gently closing his eyes.