A Chance Meeting with the Past

"The two of you are going out today, right?" Shihoko inquired as the four of them took their seats at the breakfast table.

Amane's parents looked very pleased, and Amane started to regret telling them that he and Mahiru had made plans.

But his mother didn't mean to tease them. "I'm sure you're bored being cooped up in the house," she added quickly.

"Well, we're not really going anywhere in particular," he replied, "just taking a little walk."

"We haven't gone anywhere yet, so I'm looking forward to it," Mahiru added.

In the three days since they had arrived, Mahiru had gone shopping with Amane's father on the first day, but aside from that, they had passed the time at the house. Amane's parents had been keeping Mahiru busy, and it wasn't like she was going to wander aimlessly in an unfamiliar neighborhood.

Amane had expected his parents to take them out to places, but instead they had chosen to relax at home, so he figured he would at least show Mahiru around town.

"There's really nothing around here except parks and a supermarket, you know? It's a different story if we go into town, though. Do you want to go?"

"No, taking a stroll with you sounds just fine. I'm happy just walking together."

"…Is that so?"

He knew the answer. Mahiru didn't have any particular place she wanted to visit—just going out and spending time with Amane was enough for her. Her affection gradually warmed Amane's chest. He could see by her expression that she really was happy being with him, and he found himself looking away out of embarrassment and joy.

"You know, they already seem like they're more than just dating," his father remarked.

"We were like that when we were young, too, Shuuto," his mother replied.

"No, you weren't as well-behaved as Shiina here." "Oh, that's not nice!"

"But I thought you were cute just the way you were." "Well!"

Shihoko blushed as Shuuto complimented her. Thinking that it was too early to be listening to that kind of thing, Amane focused on stuffing his face with the omelet his mother had made for breakfast.

It was tasty enough, but even so, he really did prefer Mahiru's cooking—and not just because she was his girlfriend. Now that he was accustomed to Mahiru's cooking, he found his mother's food somewhat disappointing.

He looked over at Mahiru, thinking that he should ask her to make breakfast some other day, and saw her looking at his parents with a mixture of adoration, envy, and acute bashfulness.

Amane knew what she must be thinking and began feeling embarrassed, too.

…Of course, I don't think we could ever be as lovey-dovey as those two…

Even so, he did think it would be nice if they could get that close, to have what Mahiru was imagining. He did want that, even though he couldn't admit it out loud yet.

Looking again at his parents, who had always been affectionate toward one another, Amane imagined his own future someday and blushed slightly.

"Well, should we get going?"

Shortly after his parents left for work, Amane turned to Mahiru, who was sitting on the sofa.

It was still morning, and they weren't planning on walking that far. They were just going to take a relaxed stroll around the neighborhood, so he figured they would easily make it back in time for lunch—Mahiru was planning to make carbonara. They would return to the house by midday, so they wouldn't be outside for that long.

"Yep. I'm all ready."

"Well, there's not much to get ready for… We're planning to go into town another time anyway, right?"

"…On a d-date?"

"Yeah. But today, we can take it easy."

Amane figured Mahiru would want plenty of time to get ready for a real date. Today, they were just going on a simple outing. Even if it met the strictest definition of a date, it didn't feel like one for either of them.

A date was a special occasion, and Amane wanted to plan a whole day together. This was simply a casual stroll.

Mahiru couldn't conceal her delight at the idea of going on a date soon. She broke into a soft, euphoric smile.

"I'm looking forward to it."

"Mm. I still have to come up with a plan, so don't get too excited yet."

"I told you, as long as I'm with you, anywhere is fine."

"I know that, but since we're going to the trouble, I think it would be nice to go someplace that will make you happy."

Mahiru had told him that she was satisfied by just spending time together, and Amane could see that in her expression, too.

Nevertheless, as her boyfriend, he wanted to impress her.

"Well, that's a discussion for next week. For now, let's go on a normal walk, shall we?"

"Yes."

Amane offered her his hand, and she accepted with a little squeeze.

That made him feel nervous, and he smiled a little to hide his embarrassment as they left the house, holding hands.

Even though Amane hadn't been home in about a year, the area around his childhood home hadn't changed much, and as he guided her down familiar streets, he began feeling a little nostalgic.

They continued holding hands as they walked, and people looked at Mahiru enviously as the young couple who looked the part of students on vacation passed by. Amane found this a little funny and laughed.

The stares alone were proof of what a beauty Mahiru was, which was a good thing, but the number of people who stopped to look was amusing.

"Why are you laughing?"

"Hmm? Because you're so beautiful. You're turning heads." "Well, I can't help it if other people fall for me."

"And what if I fall in love?"

"…I'll let you stare as much as you want," Mahiru teased, smiling impishly.

"Well then, I'll have to look to my heart's content once we're home." Amane smiled, too, and pulled her by the hand into a nearby park.

The park was relatively spacious, with lots of greenery, so it was a place where people in the neighborhood came to relax.

In the large sandpit, kids played in the sand, screeching in their high- pitched voices, or took turns going down the slide that was next to the jungle gym. Their parents watched them from nearby benches and sometimes got up to play with their children.

Amane and Mahiru smiled a little at the very mundane, yet charming, scene.

"They're all so lively," she said.

"They look that way because we're not as energetic. We can't run around like that anymore."

"You never liked running anyway, did you, Amane?"

"No, I don't mind it. I just hate it when we have to run at a particular pace, like in gym class."

Plenty of people disliked gym. Not all of them hated exercise, they just didn't like being forced to do it in front of others. Amane was like that. On his own, and moving at his own pace, he actually enjoyed exercising. He just hated the class.

"Hmm, maybe I'll go play with the children," Mahiru said.

"That might look weird, and you're not really dressed for it. Besides… What am I supposed to do while you leave me here?"

"You're right… But I think it looks kind of nice. I never got to play like that when I was little, so…"

Mahiru added that she had mostly played alone in her garden, and Amane squeezed her small hand again.

"…Still, maybe not right now, but, well, how do I put it? …Someday, I hope we do have a chance to play here."

"Huh? O-okay…?"

Mahiru didn't really seem to understand what Amane meant. But he didn't mind that she hadn't caught on to what he was implying. He figured they had plenty of time to talk about that sort of thing later, well after high school was over. He didn't need to pressure Mahiru into thinking about a future family—and anyway, he didn't think she would turn him down.

Mahiru had tilted her head in confusion, so Amane smiled and gently tugged at her hand. Staying in the shade as much as possible, they slowly walked through the park relaxing while gazing at the flowers blooming in the flowerbeds and enjoying the refreshing breeze that blew through the gaps in the trees.

Occasionally, one of the married women from the neighborhood would greet him as she passed. "Oh, aren't you the Fujimiya boy?"

The women would smile and wish him well. It wasn't unpleasant, but it was rather awkward.

The two of them ambled around for a long time and eventually decided to take a break. They purchased drinks from a vending machine and settled down on a bench in the shade.

"Come to think of it, you're already totally used to my parents' house, aren't you, Mahiru?" Amane asked after taking a swig of his sports drink.

Mahiru blinked her caramel-colored eyes several times in surprise at the abrupt change in topic, then her face softened into a smile.

"Yes, I am, thanks to you all." "Actually, you fit in better than I do." "I—I do?"

"You do. Like it's already your home."

Mahiru blended in so well into the Fujimiya household that it was almost like she had belonged there from the beginning. Of course, Amane's parents were always affectionate, but Mahiru seemed to receive special attention. Even without Amane around, his parents doted on her so much it was like she was already their favorite daughter.

Mahiru, for her part, seemed to be growing more comfortable in their home.

"Are you enjoying your time at my house?" he asked.

"Yes. Heh-heh, it's really been nothing but fun since I arrived at the Fujimiya household. Your parents have been so kind to me."

"They're doting on you even more than I do." "Amane, you mustn't pout."

"I'm not pouting. Not while you're with me." "…Okay."

Amane was glad to see that Mahiru was being welcomed into his home, even if it did mean that he was somewhat neglected. He was hopeful that eventually she might one day become a permanent member of the family.

Amane was happy as long as Mahiru was with him, and she had already shown him that she would always come back to him. So he didn't have a problem with his parents monopolizing her a bit. And he knew that once they returned to their apartments, he would be able to have her all to himself again.

Mahiru seemed embarrassed by Amane's words, and she pressed her forehead against his arm to hide her face. He reached out to stroke her hair, thinking that she was so cute when she did that.

"…Fujimiya?"

His hand stopped at the sound of someone's voice calling out to him.

When he looked up, he noticed someone else nearby. He had been so absorbed in his conversation with Mahiru that he hadn't seen the other person approaching.

Oh, that's right, I knew there was a chance I would see him if I came home.

The voice belonged to someone Amane had tried for the longest time to forget, even avoiding him in his dreams. He had left his hometown to get away from that person, although he'd always known that they might run into each other again someday.

In the recesses of his heart, Amane had been anticipating their meeting.

This time, however, Mahiru was there beside him, and Amane stayed calm and composed. He took a deep breath, letting his hand fall, and turned to face the voice—to face a boy who stood at the center of so many memories.

"It really is you, Fujimiya! I didn't know who you were for a second until I heard your name!" the boy who used to be Amane's friend said.

Toujou, who Amane no longer considered a friend, stood there staring at him. The last time Amane had seen Toujou's face was at their middle school graduation, and his appearance and attitude hadn't changed much since then.

On the other hand, Amane had changed a lot, on the outside and inside, over the two years that had passed since they had their falling out. And he had styled his hair and dressed up for the day's outing, so he certainly ought to have been difficult to recognize.

Ever since he had made his relationship with Mahiru official, Amane had felt like anybody who had known him before would scarcely believe that he was the same person. There was nothing surprising about Toujou's reaction.

Toujou wore the same irreverent smile he always had. Like Itsuki, he was a flashy, confident guy, but they didn't have anything in common otherwise. Sure, Itsuki liked to joke around, despite looking like a fresh-faced, agreeable young man. But Toujou had a genuinely cruel sense of humor.

At first, Toujou seemed a little uncomfortable with Amane's lack of response, but right away he broke into a broad smile.

"It's been a long time, huh, Fujimiya?"

"Yes, it has."

"You left home, didn't you? You're back now?"

"It's summer vacation, so I'm just visiting," Amane answered smoothly. "Glad to see you're looking well."

He had been able to answer more steadily than he would have expected, probably because he was surprised but not shaken.

Amane had already prepared himself for this possibility. His former friends still lived in their hometown, so of course they would be around. It was pure chance that he had run into one of them like this, but now that he did not live near them, they were mere strangers with whom he had no real connection.

There was one small twinge of resentment in his chest when he thought of the past, but when he felt Mahiru's warmth by his side, that unhappiness seemed to dissolve.

"So what's with the girl?" Toujou asked. "Don't tell me you're out here picking up chicks?"

"Of course not; no way. This is my girlfriend." "Hmm?"

Toujou gave Mahiru an appraising look. He didn't appear too amused by the word girlfriend.

Toujou had an expression that Amane had seen sometimes when they'd been friends. He knew what that look meant right away.

It was the face Toujou made when someone else had something that he didn't have.

"Aren't you all grown-up, with your girlfriend? The crybaby with the cute face turned into a man after all, huh?" Toujou smirked as he teased him, but Amane didn't think much of it.

Amane had expected the words to hurt, but he didn't feel a thing. It was like a gentle breeze had blown past, no force behind it at all.

Instead, he was more worried about whether Mahiru was getting angry at Toujou's mockery.

He glanced over and saw Mahiru blinking. Then she broke into a broad smile.

Mahiru's smiles came in several different varieties, but despite their close relationship, Amane didn't recognize the one she was wearing. It was different from the smile she had worn when Amane had been belittled on Sports Day and from the one she had used on the guys who had tried to pick her up at the pool. The emotions behind this smile were unreadable. Amane felt a little uneasy seeing it. He wasn't sure if he should be relieved or worried. Toujou, on the other hand, grinned with satisfaction.

"So, new girlfriend, did you know this? Amane's not too bad-looking now, but years ago everyone used to tease him for having a girly face until he cried."

The malicious words didn't surprise Amane in the least. "How very nostalgic," he muttered.

With Mahiru beside him, holding his hand, Amane thought that, in the end, Toujou was just another ordinary guy from his past.

Toujou had always been physically bigger than Amane, and smart and cheerful, the kind of guy who always said what was on his mind. And he'd always had lots of friends. That made it much harder for Amane when Toujou, with his many advantages, betrayed him and bad-mouthed Amane behind his back. Amane had suffered terribly because of Toujou's abuse.

Now his mind was calm. It wasn't that he didn't care, but rather that he felt as if he had gained more perspective. Things like that happened, and faced with it now, Amane did not flinch or tremble like he had back then.

Toujou's cheeks reddened slightly, and his gaze grew sharp. He seemed rattled by Amane's composed response.

"You seem awfully calm… Hey, girlfriend, what do you see in a guy like this? His only redeeming feature is his family. Do you know how uncool he used to look?"

Toujou switched his focus to Mahiru and started talking to her, but she looked back at him with her unchanging gentle smile.

"I've heard everything from Amane already. Although, I didn't know that he had such a cute face and everything…"

"I didn't tell you because then you'd want to see the photos."

"Heh-heh, I've already seen them, though… And they were adorable," Mahiru added in a quiet voice.

Amane shot her an exasperated look, and she responded with an honest smile for just a moment before reverting to her inscrutable angelic visage.

Amane smirked a little at Toujou, who was frozen in place for a second by Mahiru's smile.

"I don't really care; you can say whatever you like. It's just your perception. I'm not afraid of you anymore, and I'm confident that my girlfriend's feelings aren't going to change because of something bad you say about me."

Amane had nothing to fear from Toujou, because now he had a loving and supportive partner. The past was behind him, and it was nothing more than a healed wound.

He had the love of his life by his side and wasn't afraid of anything.

"As far as I'm concerned, everything that happened back then is over, Toujou."

So no matter what you say, it can't hurt me—that was the meaning behind the look in his eyes as he stared at Toujou calmly.

Toujou's eyes bulged as he appeared irritated by Amane's placid demeanor. But before he could open his mouth, Mahiru opened hers.

"…Come to think of it, you were asking what I see in him, weren't you?"

Mahiru stood up beside Amane, stretched to her full height, and stared Toujou down. He winced ever so slightly in the face of her captivating intensity.

Her eyes weren't cold so much as lacking in warmth, and her calm, but keen, sharp gaze bored into Toujou.

"Do you choose who you associate with based on money? Do you

pick your friends by whether they have any value? You'll never get a single thing you want by choosing like that, and I doubt you'll ever be satisfied."

"Wha…?"

"I have money, but I've never truly been satisfied… I have money, but my heart was always cold," Mahiru said quietly, gently placing her hand over her heart.

Amane felt a tight pressure building in his chest.

As far as social standing, Mahiru was surely blessed. Her household was wealthy enough to employ a housekeeper, and everything she owned was high quality. She had told him that the only thing her parents gave her was money. For that reason, Mahiru didn't attach much importance to wealth. Rather, she sought human warmth instead.

Toujou hadn't been able to hurt Amane, but he felt pain in his chest when he thought about Mahiru's circumstances, which showed how little Toujou mattered to him now.

"When I met Amane, my heart was filled with happiness for the first time. So what I see in him doesn't have anything to do with money or even looks. It's what's inside that matters. I don't think anything else is important," Mahiru asserted.

Without pitying or dismissing Toujou, she held his reflection in her intently calm eyes. "If wealth is all that matters to you, that's fine, I suppose," she continued. "I'm not trying to deny other people's priorities in life. But to me, Amane has more value than any other person, and as long as he understands that, it's good enough for me."

Her angelic smile transformed into her true smile as she looked at Amane.

That brought him great relief.

"That's plenty, Mahiru," Amane said. "But—"

"No, listen, I'm getting really embarrassed from hearing you say all that…but it does make me happy. You can tell me all that stuff when we're alone together."

"…Okay."

If he'd let her, Mahiru would have probably moved on to listing everything she liked about Amane. But her enchanting smiles were wasted on Toujou, who was less than a stranger to him now.

"Thank you," he whispered quietly as he stood up and took a step to stand in front of Mahiru.

Facing Toujou now, everything that had happened before seemed very distant. Years ago, Toujou had seemed so dazzling and huge, he had looked so frightening, but Amane had grown a lot, physically and mentally, and he wasn't afraid of him anymore.

He didn't have to look up at him anymore, either. When Amane straightened up and faced Toujou, he actually had to look down a little. Amane didn't tremble in the least, even with Toujou staring right at him.

"Toujou," Amane said his name quietly.

"Wh-what is it?" came the flustered response.

…I really have gotten past it, huh?

Amane didn't feel anything looking at Toujou. He really had let go of the past. Amane was calm, something he never could have imagined when he left his hometown because he feared confronting the other boy.

Behind him, Mahiru sensed Amane's mood and didn't try to stop him.

I guess it's time to make a stand.

A stand against the past that I tried to ignore, and against Toujou, the symbol of it all, and against the weak version of me who was hurt back then.

In a certain sense, coming back home may have been fate. It gave me the chance to put these things behind me.

Toujou looked flustered at Amane's cool demeanor. He looked like he was wondering what Amane was going to say.

Seeing Toujou like that, Amane smiled a little.

"At this point, I feel kind of grateful to you. You used me and afterward cut me off, but even so, I had some fun back then, and I enjoyed your company."

Amane didn't have any intention of airing his grievances to Toujou. In the past, he had been hurt and had suffered—but he had learned, since then, to accept it as just another kind of experience. One that had been a key part of his development.

Amane liked who he was now. He'd met Mahiru and started a wonderful relationship.

"So in the end, I'm glad I spent time with you guys. Because of it, I was able to meet Mahiru. Actually, I think you using me was good for both of us. You did hurt me, but I think I probably became a bigger person because I was able to overcome what happened. It was hard, but I found something important, and it's all thanks to you guys."

In a certain sense, Toujou, and the rest of Amane's former friends who were not present, had been major factors that had led him to Mahiru.

And now they were no more and no less.

"Thank you… Now, I've got nothing more to do with you and nothing else to talk about, so that's all I have to say."

His words of thanks were also words of parting.

Amane didn't have any desire or even a reason to get involved with Toujou. Amane lived in another town and went to another school. He was planning to go to university there, too. Attending different schools, they would go on to live in different places and learn different things. Toujou was just someone he used to be friends with and was now a stranger.

Toujou stiffened as if he had been hit by a bolt of lightning when he heard these words coming straight from Amane's heart.

Amane turned his back to him.

All the lingering discomfort he felt toward the other boy had melted away.

"Well, Mahiru, shall we go?" "Yes."

"Mm."

He took Mahiru's hand, feeling faintly embarrassed.

Mahiru had already lost any interest in Toujou and was looking only at Amane.

Amane gave Mahiru a small, wry smile, and without looking back, as if he did not care for the former friend who was not yet far behind, they left the park together.

That evening, Amane closed his eyes in bed and waited for sleep to find him. But as he lay there, he did not feel sleepy. Amane usually never had trouble falling asleep, but that night he couldn't even catch a moment's rest. He was strangely alert.

He knew it was probably because of his encounter with Toujou earlier in the day.

His former friend was one of the people who had caused Amane a lot of heartache, but Amane no longer held even a small fragment of ill feeling or uneasiness in his heart toward those boys.

He felt refreshed after encountering Toujou and even a little emotional over it.

Meeting Mahiru and spending time with her, earning her trust and support, had helped him grow a lot. He felt indescribably moved by it.

…I'm glad I got out of this town like Dad suggested.

If he had remained there, Amane would have never gotten over his past and wouldn't have matured like he had. He probably would have pretended not to see his pain and would have lived his whole life trying to ignore it.

Everything was thanks to Mahiru, Itsuki, and the rest of them. Gratitude toward his friends and the pleasant realization that he had finally overcome his past filled Amane's chest.

But it didn't seem like he was going to get any sleep. So Amane decided to take in the outside air and got up, put on his slippers, and went out onto the veranda.

The moment he opened the door, the hot, uncomfortably humid air rushed into the air-conditioned room behind him. It was nighttime, but the evenings had been sweltering for several days in a row.

Even so, the sky was clear, and he could easily see the stars now that he was away from the lights of the city. It was the perfect setting to kill time and boredom until he got sleepy.

While Amane was leaning against the railing, enjoying the quiet atmosphere and the twinkling of the stars, there was a sudden sound of a sliding door being opened.

It wasn't coming from his own room. When he turned toward the noise that came from the other room connected to the veranda, he saw Mahiru dressed in a long nightgown, poking half her body out to look at him.

"…Mahiru, you're still awake?"

He had never expected her to still be up.

The night was late, and his family was fast asleep, plus Mahiru had told him that she kept a regular schedule and always went to sleep before midnight. It was surprising that she was still up—and moreover that she would step out onto the balcony.

"Somehow, I just couldn't sleep… What about you, Amane? I guess you couldn't, either, huh?"

"Mm… There was a lot of stuff on my mind." "…I guess so."

Mahiru was out on the veranda now, too, and she cast her eyes slightly downward when she heard him say those words, so Amane smiled wryly. "It's not that I'm not over what happened, you know? I think it was just a lot for me to come face-to-face with those strong feelings and realize how much I've matured."

Mahiru didn't need to worry about that.

He wasn't thinking about Toujou anymore. He was just appreciating how much he had changed. Toujou's face hadn't so much as flitted through his mind. Amane wasn't threatened by him anymore.

Mahiru looked relieved when Amane told her this with a smile, and she put on a small one of her own.

"Heh-heh… You've become stronger, Amane, and grown up, too. Not to mention, it sounds like you've gotten a lot taller since middle school."

"Mm, I guess so. I've grown about twenty centimeters since my first year of middle school."

"That's amazing." "Yeah."

Amane had definitely changed. His height was one thing, but in the past year, his mental state and his perspective on everything had shifted, too.

Thinking about it now, he saw that in the past he had been unsociable, cynical, and rude. His former friends hadn't been entirely at fault, but it was still a fact that Amane had not made it easy for anyone to get to know him.

He thought his current self was more composed than before.

The reason for that composure was because of the beloved girl by his side.

"It's like you said, Amane. You have matured. Mentally and physically."

"…I guess I have."

"You're more confident now, right?" "Yeah."

"That's good, then. Even if you lose your confidence, I'll support you."

"I'm grateful for that, truly."

Mahiru smiled gently and looked at the sky, placing her hands on the railing beside him. Her loveliness threatened to overwhelm him.

Mahiru nestled close to Amane and smiled. By his side, she supported him. She encouraged him. This incredibly lovely, precious person wanted to be with him.

"…Hey, Mahiru?" "Yes?"

"…I want to touch you." "Huh?"

Mahiru turned slowly toward him at these abrupt words. She looked surprised, mostly, and Amane felt embarrassed, but he didn't want to retract his request. He stared into Mahiru's eyes as she shook with bewilderment.

"…I feel like I want to touch you; is that bad?" He very much wanted to.

He wanted to feel the warmth of this girl who loved him, cared for him, and supported him. He wanted time to really appreciate her being there with him.

Under Amane's direct stare, her caramel-colored eyes wavered, then looked down in embarrassment.

"…It's not bad," she answered quietly.

Amane felt the warmth within his chest grow again.

As he was still taking in Mahiru's acceptance, Amane extended a hand toward her.

But he was hesitant to embrace her there on the veranda, so he just touched her palm.

As they walked together, Amane took her hand, which was so delicate, yet had always encouraged him and guided him. He led her into his room.

It was late at night, so he closed the door quietly, and Mahiru sat down on the bed.

There was no sofa in the room, so the bed was the only place for her to sit. But the moment she sat down, Mahiru's body stiffened, and she looked at him awkwardly, which made him smile in spite of himself.

"I'm not going to do anything," he assured her. "O-okay."

"Were you expecting me to?"

"Th-that's not what I thought at all."

"In that case, I have some complicated feelings, as a man." "Huh?"

"Just joking… Right now, I just want to feel you, Mahiru."

Mahiru looked nervous for a second, but Amane wasn't intending to do anything that she had to worry about. He wanted her full consent—when she was ready to give it. He would never force her into anything.

Mahiru finally relaxed, and Amane slowly wrapped his arms around her. She returned the embrace, and his chest steadily filled with indescribable euphoria from her softness and familiar sweet smell. Feeling the love well up inside him again, he squeezed Mahiru tight to have his fill of her.

In his arms, Mahiru closed her eyes pleasantly.

She didn't say out loud that she was happy, but a satisfied smile crept across her face, and she seemed content, so Amane was sure that Mahiru felt the same way he did.

…I love her so much…

Day by day, the feelings deep in his heart keep growing, filling him with passion and joy from head to toe.

Even when he thought he couldn't possibly love Mahiru any more, his feelings grew steadily stronger and more ardent, and he knew they would probably never disappear. Just like his parents, his feelings of love would only deepen. His love would be gentle, elegant, and dazzling, and it could transform into a deeper love that would never fade or dissipate.

He loved her, truly from the bottom of his heart.

Filled with irrepressible emotion, Amane spontaneously lifted Mahiru's chin and gave her beguiling lips a kiss.

He saw her caramel-colored eyes blink dramatically up close. Then, the next moment, a dull pain hit his forehead. He pulled his face away from the impact.

This time it was Amane's turn to blink, as he recoiled from the steadily spreading pain. Mahiru, the probable source, looked obviously bewildered, her eyes wavering unsteadily.

"…Ow!"

"S-sorry! You surprised me."

"N-no, I'm the one who suddenly… I'm sorry."

He realized she had bumped into him in her surprise, and he couldn't possibly blame her. He was the one who had kissed her without her permission.

From Mahiru's reaction, Amane thought regretfully that he ought to have held out a little bit longer. Her eyes darted around the room, and she hunched over.

"I—I didn't dislike it, so…you just really startled me, is all… Um… T-try once more, please. It'll be all right this time."

Her shy voice trembled, but she squeezed her eyes shut and turned her face upward, arranging herself into a posture ready to accept a kiss. Amane smiled a little and obliged her.

With no bump on the head to drive him back, he took advantage of the fact that Mahiru was accepting the kiss to really savor it.

Her lips were softer and juicier than his own.

He was suddenly worried about whether his own lips were dry and causing Mahiru any discomfort, but she didn't seem displeased, not that he could see. She was shaking a little as if he was tickling her as he nibbled at her softly, and he found her indescribably precious.

He pulled away for a moment, but Mahiru was so cute, and his desire to continue overruled his self-control, so he pressed his lips against hers again.

He heard a muffled groan and couldn't tell if it was conveying surprise or objection, but in an attempt to soothe her, he gently caressed her lips, then settled into giving her lots of little pecks.

Sometimes he garnished his kisses with small happy sounds.

He narrowed his eyes, thinking how cute she was, and gently kissed her repeatedly, holding her petite body in his arms.

After tasting her lips again and again, he eventually did pull away, and Mahiru buried her face in Amane's shoulder.

"…Y-you didn't ask me if you could do it so many times." "D-did you hate it?"

"N-no. I just wasn't ready…and I'm embarrassed, is all… It's my first time," she whispered quietly.

Amane heard another meaning in those words, and his heart skipped a beat.

"…Amane, was that really your first kiss? You seemed more confident than me."

"Not at all… I just—I wanted to kiss you so much I couldn't stand it, so maybe I was a bit pushy…"

"N-no, it wasn't bad… I knew you were going to do it, so it was fine… D-do it some more now," she said with her eyes turned upward. Not even Amane was enough of a wimp to refuse her.

Even as he kissed Mahiru again, he tried to match her pace and forced himself to take it slow. He placed his palm on the back of Mahiru's head, and she didn't pull away.

When Amane shifted to get a better angle to enjoy her soft lips, he noticed his heart beating so hard it was practically deafening.

"…Heh-heh." Mahiru laughed quietly in the interval between kisses and placed her hand on Amane's chest. Holding Amane at bay, she looked up at him. "…Before I fell for you, Amane, I wondered what the point of kissing was. But as someone who loves you from the bottom of my heart, it makes me incredibly happy." "…Are you happy now?"

"Yes."

"…Me too."

"Heh-heh, then we agree."

Mahiru seemed embarrassed, but she put on a carefree smile. He kissed her once more, and as he was tasting the slight sweetness of her lips, he felt her body tremble slightly.

Worried he had made her uncomfortable, he backed away, but Mahiru smiled awkwardly. "It's fine"—she drew her body in closer to him—"you're nice and warm," she whispered.

"…Are you cold?"

"I guess I am; the timer on the air conditioner doesn't seem to have cut off yet, so…"

The air-conditioning was actually set to a higher temperature than it was during the day, but even so, the room was fairly chilly. It would shut off eventually, several hours after they went to sleep, but at the moment, Mahiru must have been cold in her thin nightgown.

After all, her arms were exposed in short sleeves. It was no wonder she was freezing.

"If you like, maybe I could warm you up?" "Oh, would you please?"

He had asked in jest, but Mahiru unexpectedly took him up on the offer.

"What do you want me to do?"

"What do you think I want you to do?" "I wonder, what could it be?"

"Take your best guess."

"…You're not gonna let me off easy, eh, Mahiru?" "Heh-heh, not this time."

"Sure, sure. All right then, how about I do this, since that's how you're going to be?"

Still holding Mahiru tight, Amane fell over onto the bed.

In his arms, flaxen hair fluttered down softly, and caramel-colored eyes opened wide in surprise.

After kissing Mahiru's cheek again when she was frozen stiff, Amane covered their bodies with the large terry cloth blanket draped over the side of the bed. Finally seeming to realize what had happened, Mahiru brought her face closer to Amane's chest.

"This way, we'll both be warm." "…Yes."

"I can also provide my arm as a pillow, as an optional service."

He offered his arm to her, and with a small smile, Mahiru hesitantly rested her head on it.

Seeing her face so close, Amane smiled. Then Mahiru's smile transformed into something a little more impish.

"Now that I've taken you up on the optional service, is there a cost?"

"A very special price, just for you, Mahiru. You've got to make omelets for tomorrow's breakfast."

"All right, I'm in."

"You're already tucked in, aren't you?"

The two of them laughed together, and Amane wrapped his other free arm around Mahiru's back and closed his eyes, embracing her.