Through the Eyes of an Onlooker

"Amane-kun, would you like to go shopping with me?"

It was a certain day off, some time after Amane and Mahiru had begun dating.

Mahiru's visits to Amane's house had become a daily occurance, and Amane, who heartily greeted her with a "Welcome," was promptly met with this suggestion from Mahiru, barely pausing in his greetings.

Mahiru had brought up the idea while they were on their way to the living room, making it clear as day that Mahiru was eager to go. Typically, she was quite reserved in expressing her desires. She seldom voiced her wishes when she wanted something, wanted to do something, or wanted to go somewhere, and when she did, she often prefaced it with "If you don't mind, Amane-kun, could we…" So, when Mahiru explicitly asked him out like this, it meant there must be a clear purpose for wanting to go shopping with Amane.

"Sure, why not. I don't have any plans today."

After they both sat down on the sofa and Amane agreed, Mahiru's face noticeably brightened up, making it almost impossible for Amane not to smile in response.

Did it make her that happy?

Seeing her smile bloom so suddenly made him feel delighted as well. "Did something catch your eye?"

"Yes, well, various things did."

"Gotcha. Leave carrying the bags to me."

Amane thought that perhaps Mahiru was happy to go out with him, but it also seemed like she might need him as a walking pole hanger to hang shopping bags on. Recently, Amane had gained a decent amount of muscle, so he could handle a bit of weight. Determined, he then looked at Mahiru with a spirit of readiness.

But, her now-dampened eyes returned him a look of exasperation. "Geez, why is that your first thought…? I simply wish to go shopping with you, Amane-kun. Emphasis on the 'with.' Do you understand?"

Amane had been half-joking, but Mahiru seemed to want to clear up any potential misunderstandings, highlighting her point with a smile. The pressure was potent enough that it left Amane overwhelmed and he obediently nodded, "Oh, right…yeah, I understand."

"Really, geez. I want to go with you because there are items I want to pick out with you, okay? It's not as if I'm using you as a bag carrier. You know that, don't you?"

"Sorry, sorry. My bad for not understanding a woman's heart." "That's better."

Whenever Mahiru scolded Amane, or whenever she sulked, she would playfully thump on his body, a gesture that had increased since they started dating. Amane secretly smiled as he recognized this behavior of hers. After a while, Mahiru seemed to have calmed down, her playful thumps turning into gentle pats. Seizing the moment, Amane reflected on the question Mahiru had adorably asked just moments earlier.

"So, what're you gonna buy?"

But strangely, as soon as he asked about what she wanted to buy, Mahiru suddenly sealed her lips.

"Mahiru?"

Despite her strong desire to go shopping, she fell silent the moment he asked about the specifics. The drastic change in her mood left Amane puzzled, but he noticed Mahiru glancing his way tentatively.

"…Um, you won't get upset or think it's weird, will you?" Now I really wonder what it is that she feels like buying. "You should know by now that I don't get upset easily." "So, you won't think it's weird?"

"There aren't many things that can weird me out. Still, I won't know until you tell me what it is."

Mahiru was a fairly sensible person, so Amane found it hard to imagine she would buy anything that would make him uncomfortable or upset.

Whatever it is, she wanted to shop for it with me, so it can't be anything out of the ordinary.

And yet, her hesitation suggested it could be something she felt awkward about.

So it's not anything weird, but instead something Mahiru might not be comfortable telling me, Amane racked his brain. Yeah, I'm completely lost.

Something that Mahiru's okay with but might make me do a double take or get upset when I see it… If Mahiru's expecting that sort of reaction from me, then could it be…lingerie?

After intense thought, Amane surmised that lingerie being the item was indeed a valid possibility. But it was hard to believe that Mahiru of all people would brazenly suggest this without getting embarrassed, as she wasn't the type to show such things to others. And since there was no physical intimacy between Amane and Mahiru, it seemed out of character for her to suggest choosing something like that together with him.

Then, what on earth does she want to buy? Amane hadn't an inkling as to what it could be.

"…U-Um, you see, it's just that…" Mahiru struggled her words out, "you know how I've been spending more and more time at your place?" Her modest voice began trying to clear Amane's confusion.

"More and more? You're pretty much always here now, apart from when you take a bath or go to sleep."

"We have…started dating, haven't we?" "Yep."

"So, um…i–if it's okay, may I keep more of my personal belongings here too?"

"Huh? Yeah, sure."

In other words, Mahiru wanted to keep more of her belongings at Amane's place, being considerate about the design and how it looked since it was, when it came down to it, his home. This was a request so adorably modest that Amane felt ashamed of his earlier baseless and vulgar speculations that had popped into his mind. Without letting his internal turmoil show, he readily and without hesitation accepted Mahiru's meek request, causing her eyes to widen in surprise.

"…What a quick answer," she said.

"Well, you do spend most of your time here, Mahiru. It's natural that you'd need more of your things the more you're here."

Mahiru already had a few of her personal items at Amane's place: hair care products, some reference books, writing materials, and recipe books—the bare minimum she needed. Amane had never found them bothersome. Fortunately, his apartment was unusually spacious for a single occupant, a deliberate choice made by his parents who were particular about security, convenience, and location. Though Amane had once thought it would be far too big for him, he was now very grateful to have such a spacious apartment since he began spending time with Mahiru.

He gently tapped Mahiru's head as if to encourage her to bring more of her things, to which she looked up at him hesitantly.

"What's the matter?" he asked.

"…Um, i-is it…okay if we get…m-matching items?" "Matching items?" Matching what, exactly?

Sensing Amane's confusion, Mahiru continued shyly. "As it is now, the dishes at my place and yours are mixed up, aren't they?"

"They are, yeah."

Amane had only prepared the very bare minimum he needed in terms of dishes. He was living alone and wasn't confident in his cooking, so didn't see the need for any more. He'd brought cheaper dishes he had from his family home, and they had been decreasing in number over time due to breakage—mostly Amane's doing. Since Mahiru started coming over, they had been using a mix of his and her dishes. Although they tried to match the colors the best they could, the lack of uniformity on the dining table was apparent.

"So, um, I want to…use the same ones." "…Sure."

"B-But, it isn't as if we're lacking dishes, so if it gets in the way…" "Sure, let's go buy some. The ones I have are just the most basic cheapest stuff I could get, and there's plenty of space for more."

Amane could never refuse Mahiru's wish for matching items.

"Actually, you should know more about that stuff than I do, Mahiru. You're in my kitchen more than I am and you've seen how I accidentally break dishes sometimes. If anything, I wanna get some more too."

Mahiru was undoubtedly more familiar with the kitchen, understanding the number of dishes and space available. Amane sensed her hesitation to buy new ones was due to uncertainty about whether it was okay to buy them on her initiative and where the funds would come from. Amane was on board with the idea for the former, and as for the latter, Amane still had about a third of money left in his account that was set aside for him when he moved in.

He had never been one with material desires and had gotten by with items brought from his parents' home or arranged by them, so he hadn't bought much of anything himself. Besides, thanks to Mahiru's everyday efforts, their food expenses were considerably reduced. Amane, being someone who bought only what was necessary, actually hadn't been wasteful with his money.

Consequently, since Amane had quite a bit of money left over in his account, buying a few more things wouldn't pose a problem for his living expenses. He was deeply grateful to his parents, who allowed him to live alone and ensured his well being, even though it must have cost them an extra penny. He had no intention of mentioning this specifically, but even if he did, his parents wouldn't mind his request to buy matching dishes with Mahiru. In fact, they might even say something like, "Preparing for your new life together is important," and possibly transfer even extra money to him.

"…I don't want to force you."

"I know, but I also agree that having matching dishes would make it feel more like we're eating together."

"…Yes."

Since Mahiru, who had initiated the conversation, became hesitant, Amane reassured her by hugging her and gently rubbing her back. Mahiru quietly leaned into him, nodding happily.

✧ ₊ ✦ ₊ ✧

Not wasting a moment's time, Amane promptly accompanied Mahiru to the shopping mall, following her lead to a particular store. According to her, "Inside this store is the dishware that caught my eye."

Amane wasn't typically a fan of crowded malls and found Mahiru's familiarity and efficient guidance reassuring as she pulled him along energetically, a step quicker and more buoyant than usual. He couldn't help but smile, enjoying her navigation without pointing out her obvious excitement.

They soon arrived in front of a store that appeared to specialize in Scandinavian dishware. The shop had an elegant ambiance at first glance, with chic music playing inside that tickled the ears. The dishware on display was sophisticated—simple yet classy—and Amane thought they perfectly suited Mahiru's taste.

"The items here aren't too expensive, and they have elegant designs and great durability. I use them at my place too," Mahiru explained.

"Oh, so you wanted to share what you liked with me. That's why you brought me here so eagerly."

"Sh-Should I not have? Um, if they aren't to your liking, Amane-kun, we can browse in some other stores."

"You dummy, why do you sound like I'm blaming you? I'm just happy you're showing me the stuff you like."

Amane, not having a strong preference for dishware, appreciated that Mahiru wanted to choose items she liked. Since they would share the dishware, choosing something they both liked was best. He had learned from his parents that the secret to harmony was to compromise wherever he could. Therefore, it felt only natural for him, who had no particular preference, to let Mahiru, who clearly had a preference, take the lead.

"Both of us would be happy if we used things that you like, Mahiru.

Wouldn't you feel happy if you saw me enjoying what I liked too?" "I would, of course."

"Then that's great."

Amane was grateful that Mahiru, like him, could delight in the happiness of her lover. If their values had been vastly different, it could have led to complications later down the line. Feeling the greatness of his parents, who boldly lived by the principle that being happy together doubled the joy, Amane held the now delighted Mahiru's hand and entered the store.

The dishes, neatly aligned on the shelves, were all tasteful in appearance.

Amane wouldn't think to use dishes that had realistic, pastel-colored floral designs, but here, the floral designs were more patterned and abstract-looking. The clean lines and color schemes were something Amane wouldn't mind using regularly.

"We should focus on buying sizes we'll use often. I tend to choose designs that stand out to me, but if they're an impractical shape or size, I just end up storing them away," Mahiru murmured, carefully selecting among the many options.

"I understand that feeling," Amane said. It was similar to choosing clothes. Often, he would buy something he liked the design of, only to find it didn't suit the season or the color didn't match his existing wardrobe, eventually becoming just another unused item in his closet.

The fact that I don't go out much is a big reason too, though.

As someone who didn't dress up for anyone, the emptiness of realizing a purchase was a waste, even though it was to his liking, was something Amane had experienced several times. The same applied to dishware. No matter how much he liked the design, if they weren't practical for everyday use, it was pointless. If the size or shape was inconvenient for serving food, they might soon end up forgotten at the back of a shelf, never to be used again.

"We also need to consider things like the size of the dining table since we'll be using them together."

"Yeah, my table isn't exactly massive."

Another issue was space. Amane's dining table was designed for just one or two people. He had bought something compact since he hadn't expected to host anyone and didn't need more space for himself. However, it now seemed like he'd shot himself in the foot.

"I was living alone back then, but I wish I'd picked out a bigger one now." "Well, perhaps we can consider purchasing a larger one down the road. For now, we can make do with what we have." "True."

If the table ever becomes an issue in the future, let's consider buying a new one, Amane mentally noted. For the time being, he moved around the store, following Mahiru's lead. Being a store that Mahiru liked, she often stopped to carefully evaluate the items, making it hard to decide.

"Hmm, it's hard to choose. They all look lovely," she said. "I'm glad you're enjoying yourself."

"I already had so much fun just going out together. I'm in such high spirits that I might end up buying things we don't need."

"It's okay to splurge once in a while though, especially since you're usually so prudent with your money."

"That's no good! I might forget our objective in coming here if I do that, so please be my brakes, Amane-kun."

"Leave it to me."

I highly doubt I'll need to do that with how strong Mahiru's self-restraint is, but sure. Despite that thought, Amane nodded anyway. Mahiru seemed even more delighted with his response and eagerly began comparing dishes, unable to decide between the options in front of her. As her boyfriend, Amane found her adorable in this state and couldn't help but smile as he watched her.

He wondered if perhaps he should voice his opinion, but he didn't want to dampen her enjoyment. Mahiru looked as though she was on cloud nine and muttered "These dishes might suit the home well," and placed a simple flat plate with small flowers and an ivy pattern around the rim into the shopping basket hanging on Amane's arm. She clearly looked pleased.

"…Are you particular about the dishes at your place too?" Amane asked. "Yes, I am. I carefully select my favorite ones. To me, it's a nice feeling to eat food from one of my favorite plates, or even just one that's pretty."

"Yeah, I get that. It's visually appealing and somehow makes the food seem tastier."

Even the generally indifferent Amane knew from experience that attractive dishes made food seem more delicious and increased his appetite.

"If the meal itself was the only thing that mattered, leaving the frying pan or pot directly on the table and eating from paper plates would be the most convenient way to eat. It minimizes the washing up," Mahiru went on. "But doing that lacks grace."

"It would make things way easier, but it wouldn't make for a great experience," Amane agreed.

"Taste is most important, yes, but appearance matters too. It's like people, the first impression is crucial."

"I'm surprised to hear you say that, honestly."

Amane had thought that Mahiru, often judged by her appearance, wouldn't offer her opinion on such matters. However, she shook her head with a wry smile.

"It's like cooking. You can't develop an appetite if the food is messily served, right? If you don't take the first bite, you aren't able to appreciate the taste."

"Yeah, I do see what you're getting at."

"And the same applies to people. A positive first impression makes others more inclined to interact with you, and it becomes easier to build a deeper connection. Well, in the case of people, it's less about being attractive or beautiful, and more about appropriate hygiene and cleanliness. People who fail to maintain a basic level of appearance don't usually inspire others to engage with them."

"Ouch."

"Why do you seem hurt by that?"

"Oh, you know, it's just that I used to not care much about how I looked until a little while ago."

Amane hadn't paid much attention to his appearance until he started making an effort to walk alongside Mahiru. That's why he saw himself in her words. He used to think it was enough just to be hygienic—his clothes were often unironed, and his overgrown bangs created a gloomy aura. He wasn't unhygienic, but he lacked any hint of freshness, something he now reflected on with regret.

"Your appearance never felt unclean to me, Amane-kun, though you did look a bit gloomy, and your room was a mess."

"Thanks a bunch for helping me out back then."

Mahiru giggled. "Now you're even able to do it without my help. You're doing great."

"Yeah, I can't just keep relying on you for everything."

"It's great you have a goal in mind." Mahiru tried reaching up to pat his head. "Good boy, good boy." But when Amane stopped her, her face clearly showed her disappointment. However, the disappointment shown in her cheeks was soon recolored with embarrassment once Amane then succinctly said, "We're in public." He wished to refrain from receiving outside headpats and was relieved to have stopped her just in time, even though he felt a bit regretful.

"A-Anyway…" Mahiru continued in a slightly flustered voice, embarrassed by her near mishap outside. "Using dishes that are pleasant to the eye really enriches the dining experience and your mood. But I also want to consider your preferences, Amane-kun."

"I don't really mind what you choose. Like I said earlier, I want whichever one you want, Mahiru. I trust your eye for detail, and I also want to like the things that you like."

"…Please stop flirting out of the blue like that," Mahiru retorted. "I really wasn't though."

"Geez."

Mahiru directed him a quizzical look, but Amane felt he wasn't flirting at all, making her glance feel more akin to an accusation than anything else.

Without a hint of anger, she showed a cute pout, saying "You're always like this, Amane-kun," a line he'd heard plenty of times before.

Mahiru then put two dishes she had apparently chosen into the basket. "Of these two, which do you prefer?"

She showed him a plate with blue and yellow geometric patterns against a white background, and another with beautiful mint green adorned with white foliage. Neither looked too flashy but had the kind of beauty that would make them suitable as decorative pieces. Amane, who generally leaned toward brighter, clearer colors for clothes, pointed to the one with blue and yellow patterns.

"I like this one, but what about you, Mahiru?" "Okay. In that case, shall we get a matching pair?"

Mahiru quickly accepted his choice and returned the other plate to its original place before adding two of Amane's chosen plates into the basket. Amane felt a bit uneasy, wondering if it was suitable for Mahiru to rely on his choices for something she was looking forward to.

"That's fine by me, but are you sure you aren't holding back for me? We can just go with the one you like, you know?"

"Why do you think I am holding back…?" Mahiru asked in return. "Like I asked earlier, I wish to decide together with you, Amane-kun. I like both of them equally as much, so choosing the one you like out of the two would make using them more enjoyable, wouldn't you agree? I, too, want to like the things you like."

Having his words mirrored back at him, Amane truly understood what she meant by "You're always like this, Amane-kun." He swallowed the mix of embarrassment that swelled from deep within his chest and the joy surpassing it that soon followed.

"…Yeah." He nodded, and Mahiru, seemingly satisfied with getting her way, smiled brightly and sidled up to Amane's arm.

"Now that we've narrowed down what we prefer, let's pick one out together, shall we? …Is that okay?"

"Sure is."

This must be the joy that comes from being happy together, Amane thought, as a deep sense of bliss seeped into his heart. While immersing himself in this happiness, Amane returned Mahiru's gentle smile with one of his own as she took his hand.

✧ ₊ ✦ ₊ ✧

After choosing plates and soup mugs to use together, Mahiru stopped by a section of the store unrelated to dishware. Though primarily a dishware shop, it seemed to carry a general range of kitchenware, including but not limited to general cooking utensils. She was drawn to a display shelf lined with bento boxes and water bottles furnished with vibrant designs. "Can we browse this section too?"

"Sure, why not," Amane answered. "But you already have some bento boxes though, right? Did they break?"

"…No, I mean for you, Amane-kun."

"For me?" Amane blinked in confusion, surprised that she had suddenly mentioned him.

"Oh, it appears you don't fully understand," Mahiru began to explain. "You see, our portion sizes are different. While it's less than the average guy, you still eat more than I do. Hence, my lunch boxes might be a bit small for you. Plus, using tupperware instead somehow feels uninspiring."

"O-Ohhh." Amane realized what she meant.

Since they started dating, Mahiru had often made him lunch since they could eat together. And when they did, they used her lunch boxes: a multi-tiered one when eating together, and a two-tiered one with both compartments packed with food when eating with friends, though the rice balls were prepared separately.

Truth be told, Amane wasn't particularly fussed about the type of container. However, Mahiru had strong opinions against using tupperware. She insisted, "I simply cannot let you carry it around in tupperware. It doesn't match the look, so to speak," and Amane simply went along with her wishes.

"I'm sorry for all the trouble you go to," Amane apologized.

"I don't prepare lunch for you every day, and it's either prepared in advance or leftovers from dinner when I do, so it isn't that time-consuming. Besides, you say that, but you also help me prepare them in the mornings after getting out of bed, don't you? It makes me happy when you say it's delicious, so it isn't trouble at all."

"Still. As always, I appreciate it. Thanks to you, I get to have delicious food every day."

Amane knew that other high school boys would be green with envy over his frequent delight in her cooking. Inwardly, he bowed to Mahiru, acknowledging her extraordinary compassion and kindness. Her care for him was not just angelic—it approached that of a goddess.

"I should be the one thanking you," Mahiru chuckled, "you make it seem so delicious when you eat it."

Her ever-so-gentle nature was something Amane deeply valued, yet he still felt as if her cooking for him was a great burden to her. He couldn't ask her to prepare him lunch every day.

As Mahiru mentioned, the side dishes were often extras from dinner or made using pre-prepared ingredients. However, the dashimaki tamago, which she almost always added—or rather, Amane had asked her to add—was always meticulously prepared fresh in the morning. That, and marinated dishes that were seasoned and left to rest overnight were also cooked in the morning. She did all that, despite it originally being a time she could spend resting.

Amane was truly grateful. In fact, one could argue that Amane ought to return the favor and make Mahiru's bento instead. While he often assisted her in the kitchen, the bulk of the effort was undeniably hers. It seemed only fair for Amane to prepare their lunch from time to time.

"Can I try making lunch next time?" Amane suggested the idea.

"You, Amane-kun?" On Mahiru's face was the most surprised expression she had shown all day.

"Oh, are you worried my skills can't hack it? Pretty sure I can handle it now."

Mahiru knew of Amane's current culinary ability. Still, her knowledge of his initial lack of skill might still cause her some concern, in spite of his considerable improvements. His recent success in preparing dinner for Mahiru was proof of that, having been met with a positive reaction. Amane's offer to handle preparing their lunch, while somewhat impulsive, was backed by a solid confidence in his ability to manage it effectively.

"No, I don't think anyone who has watched you cook recently would call you a bad cook. You've become quite adept, and your food is definitely delicious."

"Thanks."

"B-But, what made you think of doing it?"

"Ah well, I can't just leave everything to you, now can I? It doesn't feel right. Besides, I wanna try making one for you too, Mahiru."

Mahiru already had a lot of responsibilities on her plate. Amane wanted to share them with her, and intended to do so if possible. He understood that while someone could be more than happy to do something for someone else, it didn't necessarily mean it would also bring the other person joy. But if it was fine by Mahiru, Amane would gladly make her lunch. He wanted to create a cycle of joy where they both enjoyed giving and receiving.

"Can't I?"

"N-No, I'm delighted you want to, but…um, are you sure it's okay?" "Which?"

"…When I eat it, people around us might see the food." In other words, Mahiru was suggesting that other students in the vicinity may judge how the food looked.

"Uh, I guess there's nothing we can do if that happens. But if anyone actually says that, first just tell them I made it."

"The very moment somebody says that, I would consider distancing myself from them. Should the worst come to worst, I will cut ties with them."

"Isn't that a bit extreme?"

While Amane wasn't about to prepare unappealing food for her, his priority was primarily Mahiru's satisfaction. If she enjoyed his food, then it was fine by him even if other people criticized his skills. However, it would appear that Mahiru wouldn't take too kindly to anyone insulting her boyfriend.

"I mean," Mahiru continued, "if somebody was aware that my boyfriend had put in a lot of effort into making it and still openly criticized the food, I can only assume they would make negative comments again on later occasions. Not that I ever recall befriending anyone that would do that, however."

"I'm not one to talk, but you're pretty selective with who you keep around, huh."

"I realize how this sounds, but I believe it's important to choose your friends. I don't wish to allow people who would harm either myself or those I care about into my social circle."

"Well said."

In this context, Mahiru's criteria for choosing her social circle were based on whether they were beneficial or harmful to her. People were—some more than others—influenced by those around them. Put simply, people were shaped by their environment. If their environment was toxic, that could lead one down an undesirable path.

"…As a matter of fact, Amane-kun, you don't prepare unappetizing food anymore, so I believe it won't be an issue after all."

"I do try my best, but who knows."

"Nobody knows how well you've improved at cooking better than I do, Amane-kun. I've been watching you all this time."

Mahiru's deep trust didn't contain even a shred of doubt about his ability, which caused a warm sensation to spread through Amane's body.

Touched, he broke out into a smile. "Then I'll make sure to fully show you the fruits of my labor."

A mischievous smile played on Mahiru's face as she responded, "I shall be looking forward to it, okay?" applying some pressure.

"Sure, but don't get your hopes up." Amane lightly tightened his grip on her hand and then muttered, "Guess I've gotta try my best not to let you down."

✧ ₊ ✦ ₊ ✧

"Is there anything else that we need?" After placing their chosen dishware and new bento box into the basket, Mahiru had confirmed that they accomplished their primary objective. She then wondered whether they needed any other items. "There are mugs, but we have already purchased matching ones before."

"Hmm, maybe some cutlery?"

"Oh, right, cutlery. It would be lovely if we could buy matching ones." Mahiru was in agreement, reasoning that since they had already chosen matching dishware, complementing them with coordinating cutlery would indeed be the ideal choice.

"Having suggested that, the spoons and forks we have are simple in design, so we are effectively using the same ones already. I would like to find chopsticks that match too, but I expect this store won't have any."

The store mainly sold Scandinavian dishware. While they did appear to display chopsticks with cute designs on the side as bonus items, they had no options that should complement Japanese cuisine and its ingredients.

"I suppose we must look for another store," Mahiru then reckoned. "Yeah. Using chopsticks can be a hassle sometimes because I've got so many different ones. I don't mind the chopsticks themselves, though."

"It's very easy to mismatch them when you're in a hurry, after all. That is, unless you separate them all in advance."

Since sorting them was too much trouble, they were currently using mismatched chopsticks: some were from a hundred yen store with the same pattern but different colors, and others were your regular old plain, straight wooden chopsticks. It would have been easier to just discard the extras, but they kept using them as is out of laziness. Consequently, not only was it a hassle to choose the correct pairs, but the cheap chopsticks even began to peel. This made the storage area a cluttered mess.

Amane ideally wanted to pick out a robust and good quality pair, in line with Mahiru's motto of making the most of what you had for as long as you could.

However, even Amane could understand that for chopsticks, going to a specialty store would be the safest bet.

"There's a store in this mall that sells chopsticks, so shall we make our way over there? That way, we might be able to find, um, matching ones."

"Sure, let's do that. Oh, but Mahiru, your hands are smaller than mine. If we get ones the same size, I don't think you'd be able to use them properly. So let's get them in different sizes if we're picking out ones that match."

After squeezing Mahiru's hand, "Hmph," Amane heard her let out a quiet sound of discontent. He too wanted to get chopsticks with a matching design, but intentionally buying ones the same size would make using them trickier. There wasn't any need to match them to that extent.

"It's because your hands are small and cute." "You're poking fun at me, aren't you?"

"Not at all. I'm happy they're small, see? They fit perfectly in mine." After momentarily letting go of Mahiru's hand, Amane lightly grasped it again, this time covering it from above. Her small palm fit effortlessly into his without struggle.

As Mahiru's gaze alternated back and forth between Amane and their perfectly intertwined hands, he chuckled. "See? A perfect fit, right?" He then noticed that the faint frown which had started to form on her face had now eased.

"…I shall let it slide just this once."

"Thanks for letting me off the hook," he joked. "Alright, let's wrap this up and pay."

Although Mahiru wasn't big on being called small, she humbly accepted being praised as cute. At this, Amane smiled secretly and looked around. Gotta find the registers… Spotting them a little further inside, he was about to make his way over when he overheard what seemed to be a nearby couple happily chatting.

"Hey, doesn't this look pretty sweet?" "Whaaat, really? Looks super lame!" "Oh c'mon, don't say that."

"Just kidding, sheesh. We're gonna be living together starting today. It's a very special occasion, so we have to choose carefully."

Apparently about to start living together, the couple was happily picking out dishes while huddled close together. They both laughed while lifting up and inspecting various items. Their conversation, full of warmth and enthusiasm, was so lively that it made even an onlooker feel its intensity. They continued to fill their basket with dishes, laughing joyfully together all the while.

Seeing them, Amane stopped in his tracks.

Wait a second, he thought.

Is it possible that everyone else nearby saw us the same way too…?

The moment Amane realized that, a heat so intense rushed to his face that he thought it might burst into flames. He could feel a burning itch rise as if his face was being seared. The couple themselves seemed to be oblivious to Amane and Mahiru's presence and soon moved to another section of the store.

"Amane-kun?" Mahiru shot him a worried look, noticing that he had stopped walking. However, Amane couldn't bring himself to look her in the eye.

"…Hey, can I say something I just realized?" "Yes?"

"…Don't we, uh, kinda look like a couple that's shopping for stuff to live together?" Engulfed in a heat too intense to endure alone, Amane attempted to dissipate the flames that threatened to scorch him by sharing it with Mahiru.

Almost immediately, he saw her beside him, similarly engulfed in an intense fervor as if she too was on the brink of being consumed by the flames.

"Li–Li–Live toge…" Mahiru's voice, a quiet stammer, trembled with such intensity that it almost formed a melody. Gently, she lifted her free hand to her flushed face. Her cheeks, matching Amane's in hue, were painted a deep crimson.

Still, Mahiru never released their intertwined hands. This behavior only served to further fuel Amane's flames. Her body trembled suspiciously, and she took several deep breaths to calm herself before finally looking back up at him.

A vivid mix of embarrassment and confusion reflected within her caramel-colored eyes as they glistened on the verge of spilling over. Beneath those layers, a profound warmth and a hint of sweet anticipation flickered, subtly revealing deeper emotions.

"…N-Not yet," she muttered, "it's still too…soon." "T-True…yeah. It's still too soon."

It was still too soon.

Uttering those words, Mahiru hurriedly led him by the hand toward the register, looking as if she might run away without a moment's notice. Amane, while trying his utmost to calm the heat within him, rolled the words 'not yet' around in his mouth, following her lead to the register.