The Future We Will Walk Towards

The first time Mahiru was met with clear hostility was when her age entered the double-digits.

"You're so unfair, Shiina-san." A classmate suddenly blurted out on the way home from school, when they found themselves alone together. Usually, Mahiru walked home with some of her other friends, but today, since they had other plans, she ended up walking with another classmate of hers, a girl whom she didn't interact much with. They just so happened to be heading in the same direction.

Mahiru interacted with everyone around her, and as such, didn't find it a difficult task to talk with the girl. They had been engaging in a harmless conversation on their way home when she voiced this unexpected comment. It was only natural for Mahiru to be confused.

"I'm 'unfair'? How?"

Not having specified what was unfair, Mahiru was puzzled as to what the girl meant. As she waited for her classmate's explanation, the girl seemed to mistake her composure as arrogance and glared at her. The sudden hostility from a girl typically calm and reserved took Mahiru by surprise, leaving her unsure of how to respond.

Mahiru always conducted herself well at school. She never ostracized anyone and always made efforts to be friendly and keep a smile as she talked to others. Moreover, she didn't treat this classmate any differently than anybody else—she even tried subtly to include the girl when appropriate to ensure she wouldn't feel left out.

If she was upset about that, Mahiru could perhaps understand her feelings. However, the word the girl used was 'unfair,' which as far as Mahiru could tell, didn't seem to indicate any negative feelings about the way she interacted with her classmates.

Completely clueless, Mahiru's ignorance was apparent. Frustrated by this, the girl's eyebrows arched in a clear display of her irritation, her lips trembling as she tried to spin her words.

"Like, Suzuki-kun's just all over you," she explained, her tone of voice too sharp for her to just be sulking. Noticing that, Mahiru now understood the root of her dissatisfaction. But she still couldn't fathom why the girl deemed it 'unfair.' This 'Suzuki' the girl mentioned must have been a male classmate of hers. This boy was the only 'Suzuki' that had been interacting with Mahiru as of late.

Indeed, Suzuki had in fact talked to Mahiru on several occasions and even teased her at times, but in her eyes, it was nothing more than that. However, the girl seemed increasingly angered by Mahiru's seemingly indifferent attitude.

"He's always chatting with you, always trying to spend time with you, and always laughs when he's with you!"

She was correct that Suzuki, being the mood maker among the boys, and Mahiru, being prominent among the girls, had opportunities to talk. But that was the only reason. Although Suzuki was indeed giving her a fair amount of his attention, Mahiru, who responded uniformly to everyone, felt it was unfair to be attacked for something so trivial.

"Suzuki-kun fell for me first! Could you not just take him away from me!?" "I'm not trying to," Mahiru responded. She wanted to add that Suzuki wasn't even 'hers' to begin with, but she sensed the girl wasn't in the mood to listen, so Mahiru had kept her reply brief.

"Why do you keep talking to him, then?" the girl questioned. "If you don't actually like him, then just stop it."

"I've only ever spoken to him as a fellow classmate," Mahiru replied, stating it as a simple fact.

"You're so lying!"

There was no lie behind Mahiru's words. She had only told her the truth as she saw it, but to the girl, the story must have appeared differently. No matter how Mahiru explained her perspective, it seemed the girl wouldn't be convinced, which left Mahiru in a troublesome situation. To her, Suzuki was just a classmate, and she hadn't the slightest romantic interest in him at all. In fact, he was actually the kind of person she had a hard time dealing with.

Mahiru, while behaving well and being friendly, was actually a quiet person by nature who moved at her own pace, and she preferred not to have that pace disturbed. Mahiru couldn't bring herself to like someone who, despite not being on close terms, approached her as if they had always been good friends, especially when they didn't understand her disinterest and kept pushing forward.

But I see why she might think that. Mahiru contemplated that perhaps it wasn't unreasonable for the girl to misunderstand, given how he was always overly friendly and pushy with everyone, and that Mahiru had always interacted with him in a non-confrontational way.

I still don't remember acting like I was interested in him, though, Mahiru then thought. She felt a bit exasperated about the situation, which was unavoidable given the circumstances.

"Whatever. Just stay away from Suzuki-kun, got it?" the girl pressed. Mahiru sighed in response. "If that's what you want, Inoue-san."

Though she felt somewhat bossed around, Mahiru had no particular desire to talk to Suzuki beyond being classmates, so she accepted it readily. She was perfectly content to maintain a certain level of distance from him. The girl snorted at this, seemingly satisfied with her answer, and pushed past Mahiru, running off as though she no longer had any use for her.

Left standing there, Mahiru watched the girl dash away, her school bag swaying all the while. "Wow," she muttered. While she wasn't well acquainted with her, the girl, who Mahiru thought was quiet and kept to herself, turned out to be hiding quite the intense temper. Reevaluating her impression of the girl, Mahiru continued on her way home as she usually did.

✧ ₊ ✦ ₊ ✧

"Ojou-sama, it's common for people to become defensive when they sense someone they care about might be snatched away," Koyuki explained tenderly. "This can happen a lot with children especially."

Having never been in love herself, Mahiru couldn't quite wrap her head around the girl's feelings. When she told Koyuki, who had come to do housework, about what happened on the way home from school, Koyuki gently replied with a bittersweet smile. The way she responded was not to scold her, but rather it was a gentle, persuasive way of speaking, which only left Mahiru even more puzzled.

Becoming aggressive when in love was something she couldn't understand at all.

Why take it out on others? She continued to wonder.

"'Snatched away'?" Mahiru parroted. "But I don't even want him." "A very sharp tongue indeed, Ojou-sama."

But it's true. I don't even want him, Mahiru thought inwardly as she looked at Koyuki, who still had a wry smile on her face.

"You see, when a person falls in love, they often fear losing the one they like to someone else. They become anxious, afraid of the possibility that something they desire might be snatched away right before their eyes. So, to prevent this, they try to ward off any potential rivals who could pose a threat to them."

"So she's trying to keep me at bay?" Mahiru then asked. "Precisely," confirmed Koyuki.

This explanation helped Mahiru better understand the reasoning behind the girl's behavior, but it also made her even more puzzled about other aspects.

"But Suzuki-san doesn't even belong to her, does he? So I don't understand why she told me not to 'take him away' from her. Since when did she earn the right to say things like that?" Mahiru wondered, puzzled by the girl's assumption that Suzuki already belonged to her.

On the top of her head, Mahiru had never noticed any particular connection between him and the girl…but even as she searched her memory, she still couldn't recall any times the girl made any moves on Suzuki. She had seen her approach him timidly, but that was all she had noticed.

"Not everyone is capable of separating emotions from facts like you,

Ojou-sama. Perhaps you'll come to understand these feelings someday, so be careful not to speak too harshly about them. And remember, saying you 'don't even want' someone can cause arguments, so it's best to keep such thoughts to yourself."

"Why does that happen?"

"It can make them think, 'What, so you don't care about something that I want?' They could feel as if you are belittling them and their desires, or implying that what they want isn't actually worth seeking."

"But that's a strange reaction, isn't it?" Mahiru noted. "Telling someone not to take something away, and then getting angry when they say they didn't even want it to begin with."

"People's feelings are complicated, after all," Koyuki replied, her vast life experience leaving Mahiru convinced of her perspective.

If Koyuki-san says so, it must be true, Mahiru reasoned. Nevertheless, she still couldn't see herself getting involved with someone who was greatly swayed by their emotions.

"Being afraid to lose someone and actually projecting that feeling onto another person are two separate matters. You understand that, don't you, Ojou-sama?"

"Yes, I do."

"Excellent," Koyuki approved, "…I believe that one day, when you find your special someone, you will come to understand that feeling—the anxiety of seeing the one you love looking at another girl."

"My special someone…" Even though Koyuki had said that, Mahiru couldn't quite grasp the concept.

Of all the relationships Mahiru had built, her favorite was her bond with Koyuki. However, her fondness for Koyuki was, of course, not rooted in romantic love, nor did Mahiru believe she would ever develop feelings for a boy that were stronger than her liking for Koyuki. She had once come across a book stating that girls mature faster mentally, a notion that seemed true to her. In her eyes, the boys in her class appeared rather childish. She never looked down on them, but their tendency to act on impulse or emotion often left her feeling exhausted.

Mahiru was also plenty aware that she was mature for her age, making her feel an even greater disconnect from her peers. Perhaps it was simply a matter of not finding common ground in their conversations. Whatever the case, this self-awareness made it difficult for her to imagine falling in love with someone. However, she harbored a hope that such feelings might become possible as she grew older, and intended to heed Koyuki's advice, keeping an open mind about the future.

"If I ever do fall in love, I want to be careful not to lash out at other people." "That's wise. If the person you like notices you getting upset about others around them, connecting with them could become a difficult task." "Difficult…"

"Indeed. Now, Ojou-sama, imagine that there is someone who claims to like you. This person then starts acting hostile towards people you interact with, acting purely out of their own selfishness. How would that make you feel?"

"It would make me keep my distance."

It would be better not to associate with those kinds of people, Mahiru realized. That much was clear, even to her.

"Exactly. It can be frightening otherwise," Koyuki affirmed. "Yes."

Mahiru couldn't imagine that someone who failed to cherish what she considered important could cherish her properly either. As she sensed that such a person would impose their selfish idea of "care" and end up causing harm, Mahiru had no desire to become close with someone like that. Reflecting on this, whether Suzuki truly liked Mahiru or not was now beside the point. The fact that the girl had acted aggressively toward someone he cared for marked her as potentially harmful in Mahiru's eyes.

Mahiru understood that the girl's aggressive behavior was fueled by feelings of jealousy, which was also something she deemed unfair. While Mahiru wasn't angry about this, she couldn't help but wonder why the girl hadn't been able to channel those feelings of jealousy into something more constructive for herself.

"It's a mystery to me," Mahiru began. "Why would she just say that it's unfair, instead of making an effort to be noticed by the person she likes? Does she think that, by calling the situation unfair, he will somehow come to like her?"

If the girl thought Mahiru was being unfair, perhaps the girl could have strived to be more like her. Wouldn't it have been more appropriate for her to make an effort to catch his attention? While Mahiru wouldn't assert that she hadn't made any effort at all, from what she had seen, the girl hardly made any attempts to appeal to him. She neither actively initiated conversations nor seemed to make an effort to understand the things he liked.

Expecting to be loved back without making such efforts seemed impossible even to Mahiru, who admittedly had a limited understanding of romantic feelings.

"Hmm… Ojou-sama, you mustn't mention that to anybody else, okay?" "I know. I only said it because I'm talking to you, Koyuki-san."

Despite her youth, Mahiru had figured out the boundaries of social interaction, understanding what could lead to ostracization. She had always tried to avoid upsetting others, navigating her way as the well-behaved girl she was known to be. Mahiru knew that her earlier questions weren't ones she should ask to the girl in question. Yet, she still couldn't fathom the question of 'why' all by herself. Thus, she chose to confide only in Koyuki, who was not only an adult but also someone she deeply trusted.

For Mahiru, working hard was simply the natural thing to do. Even though the process might be fraught with difficulties, the act of giving effort itself was not a burden to her. She believed that as long as the conditions weren't exceedingly harsh, perseverance would allow her to achieve her goals. But that was precisely why Mahiru found it all so perplexing.

Of course, nothing is for certain when it comes to people's relationships, but the other person will never look your way unless you make some kind of effort. So, why would anyone choose to neglect that? Do they think that just wishing for something is enough to get it? Mahiru asked herself. And then, there was something else—a slight but significant thought. For Mahiru, who had yearned for and yet never received a certain kind of affection/love despite her earnest efforts, there was one more crucial part she couldn't fathom. She has already been given the love I longed for but never had, so why does she want even more than that? And all without giving any effort to achieve it? Such thoughts swirled around in her mind.

While it was unknown whether Koyuki sensed Mahiru's complex emotions or not, she quietly smiled and gently bent down to meet Mahiru's eye level.

"Ojou-sama, you naturally give everything your best effort already, so it might be a little difficult for you to understand." Mahiru could detect faint hints of something akin to pity, mixed with a bitter undertone, in her voice. "There are fewer people than you might imagine who can keep doing their best, enduring pain for a wish that may never be fulfilled. The ability to persevere like that can be considered a talent in its own right."

"A talent…"

"Far too easily, people will hope for a stroke of good fortune to come their way without any effort… They tend to wait for the easiest solution."

"Does good fortune like that actually exist?" Mahiru asked curiously. "Hmm, let's see… It's true that occasionally, one might encounter fortune purely by chance. However, the crux of the matter lies in how one uses that fortune," Koyuki elaborated. "People mistakenly believe that a sudden stroke of luck will continue to bless them time and time again. 'Oh, it happened once before, so surely it will happen again,' or so they assume…and once they experience that good fortune just once, they then attempt to replicate that one-time success a second time, and in turn, often neglect the effort that's actually necessary to achieve it. As a result, they end up empty-handed, having wasted their time and possibly their only opportunity to obtain what they truly desired."

Koyuki's advice reminded Mahiru of a children's song she'd heard once before, also sounding as though it was backed by real-life experience. She listened quietly to her words, which, though gentle, carried the sharpness of a lesson.

Seeing this, Koyuki offered her a warm smile. "We've digressed a bit, but you are someone who can persevere tirelessly, Ojou-sama. It's a wonderful trait to have, and something you should take pride in." Koyuki took Mahiru's hand. "However, you still shouldn't expect the same effort from others, okay?"

She might have grown, but Mahiru's hands were still small compared to Koyuki's, and they were covered by hers in their entirety, providing Mahiru a feeling she wasn't averse to. In fact, she even found the gesture pleasing. In the truest sense, Mahiru had never had anyone reach out to her, and Koyuki, who understood her genuine emotions, was the only person whose touch Mahiru found truly comforting.

"Ojou-sama, should the time arise when you find someone you like, it is important that you give your best efforts to catch their attention," Koyuki advised softly. "…There is no doubt in my mind that the person who meets your standards will be truly wonderful indeed. But remember, such admirable individuals are often the object of many people's desires. If you fail to seize the opportunity to make them yours, they may very well slip through your fingers. Surely, you wouldn't want that to happen, would you?"

"No, I wouldn't…" Mahiru shook her head in agreement, yet she couldn't fully envision it. The idea of having someone she loved by her side was something she struggled to imagine. In truth, Mahiru was unfamiliar with the concept of someone being close to her, as it was an experience she had never had. "But that's only if I find someone I like, right? I don't think that will happen."

"Ojou-sama, how would you describe your ideal partner?" Koyuki asked. "…Someone who can become family with me," Mahiru revealed. As soon as those words left her mouth, Koyuki's face clouded over, prompting Mahiru to immediately regret saying them. While the same went for her, Koyuki too was hypersensitive to the word 'family.' She was concerned about Mahiru's parental situation on a level much higher than anybody else.

Regardless, Mahiru had almost given up hope. No matter how much she wished or cried until her tears dried up, or clung to that hope, her parents would never give her the light of day. Thus, if she could ever find herself capable of loving someone else, she longed for a person who would stand by her side and spend their life with her as a family.

"If you find and foster a connection with the right person, I believe that over time, you can create a family together. But before reaching that stage, is there anything specific you intend to search for in a partner while dating?"

"…Someone who listens to me, stays with me, and makes me feel at ease when we're together would be nice. Someone who thinks things through with me when I'm struggling, and would stay by my side and wait for me when times are tough. That's what I would like," Mahiru responded thoughtfully.

Although Mahiru found it hard to imagine herself falling in love, she knew that if that moment ever became reality, it would be with someone with those qualities. Someone who would genuinely listen to her words, stay by her side, look only at her, and cherish her in her entirety. That was the kind of person she envisioned.

…But would someone like that really love me back?

Mahiru believed that at her core, she lacked an element of charm. She could understand why someone might like her for the act that she maintained, but failed to imagine anyone loving her for who she truly was, stripped of her façade.

Moreover, Mahiru had yet to experience how it feels to develop romantic feelings for someone else, so it was natural that she couldn't truly grasp the concept.

It would be nice if someone like that was out there somewhere. She held onto this slender hope as she looked up at Koyuki, noticing a subtle firming of her grip on her hand.

"Ojou-sama, when the time comes, you will surely meet a wonderful individual yourself."

"…Okay."

"Nevertheless, you still mustn't fall in love with any rotten gentleman, okay? Avoid those who see you merely as a commodity, fail to treat you as an equal, or try to define who you should be as a person. Look for someone sincere and kind, someone who always acknowledges your efforts and accepts you for who you truly are," Koyuki urged. Her voice growing more and more hoarse, she then added, "…Ojou-sama, I can't remain by your side forever. That's why, all I can do is hope that you will one day find someone who makes you happy."

Mahiru finally understood why Koyuki had been so insistent in her advice.

She wouldn't always be there for her.

Koyuki wasn't Mahiru's mother. She was a hired housekeeper—a stranger.

Their relationship was fragile, dependent on the whims of Mahiru's parents. Should they choose to dismiss Koyuki, their relationship would shatter immediately.

Though she filled a role similar to that of a mother, Koyuki never acted as one. She always addressed Mahiru as 'Ojou-sama,' preserving a professional demeanor to avoid giving Mahiru any misguided expectations. Koyuki was aware that she could never truly take the place of Mahiru's mother.

Realizing this truth, communicated to her in a manner so distant and yet so direct, Mahiru bit her lip. Noticing her distress, Koyuki once again enveloped Mahiru's hand with her own, offering a comforting warmth. This gentle heat permeated from their clasped hands to Mahiru's eyes, her face teetering on the edge of tears.

"You mustn't neglect the effort required to be chosen by the one who will bring you happiness, okay, Ojou-sama? You may be approached by a myriad of people. Some individuals might try to take advantage of you, while others may try to belittle you. However, never forget that the value you have cultivated in yourself will never change… It's neither just your appearance nor just your talents. Someone who will love you for who you are will one day appear before you."

Though not her mother, Koyuki was someone who worried about her more than anyone else, concerned about her future and gently guided her toward a brighter path. As Koyuki wove those caring words, Mahiru felt a tightness in her chest. Despite that, Mahiru nodded faintly in response, hanging her head all the while.

✧ ₊ ✦ ₊ ✧

"Well, in a way, that's how I've managed not to fall for any rotten men." Mahiru, whose eyes had been scanning pages that seemed a bit yellowed and faded, closed the diary she was reading, letting her impressions spill.

In the end, everything Koyuki-san had taught me turned out to be true, and my ideal qualities in a partner weren't wrong either, Mahiru thought. With a pat, the sound of the air being pushed out and the pages clapping together echoed, but Mahiru was unfazed as she closed her diary. She stood up and placed it on the table in front of her before sitting back down.

Without any hesitation, she leaned back greatly on her seat and turned her head up as if looking behind her. Her gaze met with Amane's, who had been serving as her makeshift sofa. Having grown quite accustomed to sitting between his legs, Mahiru, while still feeling a bit embarrassed, chose this position over sitting next to him, secretly pleased that it allowed them to stay even closer. However, Amane's brows were slightly furrowed.

Since they had been sitting close until just a moment ago, Mahiru didn't believe Amane had any issues with their current position, but she still couldn't help but wonder whether something was amiss. As she looked into his eyes, Amane muttered, "Why do I feel like I'm being made fun of here?" a dejected look clouding his face.

Now realizing that he had misunderstood her earlier mumbling, Mahiru hastily shook her head and pulled Amane's wandering arms, which seemed hesitant to embrace her again, closer to her own body. "No, it's just a misunderstanding. As I was reading my diary, I suddenly recalled what Koyuki-san had taught me about never falling in love with a rotten man."

Up until a moment ago, Mahiru had been re-reading her diary while sitting between Amane's legs. Amane, who could have easily read the contents from his angle, chose not to peek out of respect for her privacy. However, Mahiru had still been sharing snippets from her diary, reminiscing about various incidents with a "Oh, something like this happened, didn't it?"

As they reminisced, happily laughing together over the recorded memories, Mahiru and Amane reflected on past events. However, Mahiru thought that Amane might struggle for how to react to stories of her early childhood, so she read those parts of her diary quietly to herself. It seemed that this led to her accidentally murmuring to herself, which Amane mistakenly took as a subtle jab to him.

"Oh, was that all?" Amane said. "It sounded like you suddenly had something to say, so…"

"I'm sorry for the misunderstanding. I just ended up saying it out loud as I was reminiscing…" Mahiru replied.

"Oh. It's fine, it's fine. I just went and got the wrong idea." "…To be clear, you definitely aren't a rotten man, Amane-kun." "But I am the spoiled rotten kind," he joked.

"Geez." Mahiru lightly scolded him in response to his teasing joke. "You keep talking about yourself with self-deprecating jokes lately, Amane-kun.

Honestly."

"You think?" Amane responded quizzically.

"Indeed. How could anybody take a look at you and claim that you have bad qualities, Amane-kun? You're sharp, a capable homemaker, genuine, sincere, and gentle. You don't just find someone like that everyday, you know?"

"Are you sure you aren't wearing any rose-tinted glasses? Are you okay?" "Yes, I'm okay. I'm wearing no such thing."

"You must be looking at me through some kind of filter then." "Like I said, there's no such thing. Geez."

Amane seemed unable to accept honest, straightforward praise, which left Mahiru slightly bemused. She understood his feelings, so she decided to refrain from going overboard with the praise. Amane himself might believe that he still had a long way to go, but in Mahiru's eyes, he was already more than enough, even perfect in his abilities. At the very least, he was now exceptionally skilled in a wide range of household tasks, enough to put other boys his age to shame.

Despite her high regard for him, it seemed that Amane himself was still not fully convinced of his own worth. While his desire to improve was commendable, Mahiru wished he could also better grasp his own strengths and qualities. "Amane-kun, you are already a fine, independent man. In fact, you should take things easy for a change and let yourself be spoiled a bit more, even if just for a day. It would give me the perfect chance to pamper you more."

"Please don't spoil people who are desperately asking not to be spoiled. I wanna spoil you instead, Mahiru."

"But if you did that, I wouldn't be in any condition to face others anymore…"

"I think we're already past that point, if you ask me," Amane retorted with a smile, wrapping his arms around Mahiru's stomach, to which she simply fell silent.

Mahiru was currently sitting between Amane's legs, using his body as a backrest, lounging comfortably. It was a relaxed, indulgent posture, one unthinkable to take in public settings as her pampered state would be on full display. To any onlookers, it would indeed appear as if Mahiru was being spoiled by him.

Amane, for his part, seemed genuinely pleased with Mahiru's affectionate behavior, willingly letting her have her way and even encouraging her to be more indulgent. He seemed to welcome their current situation, fully enjoying their time together.

"…I meant if you spoiled me even more," Mahiru meekly added.

"I, for one, would actually welcome that with open arms," Amane admitted. "I still want to respect and treat each other as equals, but at the same time, I also just want to keep pampering and doting on you," Amane whispered ever so tenderly, bringing his lips close and kissing the back of her head.

For a brief moment, Mahiru wondered, Who was it that turned Amane-kun into such an unwittingly skillful charmer? But she quickly dismissed the thought, realizing that probably she, along with his own parents, were the prime culprits. She decided not to dwell on it any further.

Even Mahiru herself, having been with Amane for several months now, realized that her actions had shaped his doting nature, so she couldn't blame him in the slightest. Moreover, being spoiled and showered with love by Amane was far from unpleasant for her. Thus, despite letting out groans of embarrassment, she let Amane do as he wished.

Although Amane was showering her with affection, his cautious and shy nature remained unchanged. His displays of love were gentle, often limited to kissing Mahiru's hair and enveloping her in a tender embrace. Amane held a principle of never wanting to do anything that might make Mahiru uncomfortable. Despite his bold words, in practice, he often acted in a somewhat reserved manner.

Yet, today, he seemed intent on lavishing Mahiru with plenty of his affection. He enveloped the demure Mahiru in his arms, refusing to let her go.

"…I should really tell Koyuki-san sometime soon," Mahiru mused. It was only natural for her to want to share with the person who had been most worried about her how she had found someone she loved, how she was now in a relationship, and how cherished she felt in this newfound bond.

"About us dating?" Amane returned.

"Yes," Mahiru affirmed, "…that I've found my ideal partner." "…Your 'ideal'? Me?"

"While my ideal partner was, of course, someone who can truly love me… I have always wanted somebody who could also respect and care for me just as a regular girl—somebody who was willing to accept me as I am."

In essence, Mahiru's ideal was someone who respected and loved her for who she was, and Amane perfectly embodied this ideal. She could confidently say there would never be anyone else who cherished and understood Mahiru, someone who deeply loved her and respected her choices as Amane did. To her, he was a beacon of understanding and light in her life.

"Well, I'm honored to have met your standards," replied Amane.

"Quite the opposite," Mahiru said. "I'm the one surprised that I meet your standards, Amane-kun. Truth be told, I must have seemed like quite the handful before."

"You shouldn't sell yourself short like that, Mahiru." "But…"

Mahiru recognized her own strengths and talents. Yet, she still believed there were significant flaws in her personality. Beneath her angelic exterior, she possessed a keen, critical mind, but was also intrinsically lonely and anxious at heart. She longed for someone's presence while simultaneously resisting the idea of letting anyone get too close. That was the true nature of Shiina Mahiru—a mosaic of contradictions.

Amane had managed to reach through Mahiru's defenses, reaching out to the frightened child within. He didn't break down her walls or slip through a crack; instead, he knocked directly at the front door and spoke to her earnestly and directly, waiting patiently for Mahiru to extend her hand to him. His sincere and honest nature was something precious, although Amane himself might not fully realize that this trait he possessed was invaluable.

He really has no idea, does he?

Some might label Amane as indecisive or lacking assertiveness, depending on their perspective. However, for Mahiru, these traits were precisely what made Amane remarkable. That said, she still couldn't deny that there were times when his excessive caution proved a tad troublesome.

"I don't think I'll ever meet anyone more wonderful than you, Mahiru," Amane declared.

"Oh, are you settling for me?" Mahiru teased lightly.

"You know that's not the case," he responded earnestly. "…I'm not looking at anyone else but you anyways."

Even without being told, Mahiru was well aware that Amane only had eyes for her, so she couldn't help but giggle. "…Yes, I know." However, Amane took her laugh as teasing.

"Why are you laughing?" he asked, making a slightly sulky expression. "Oh, I was just thinking about how lucky I really am." Surely, there was nobody in the world who wouldn't feel blissful after experiencing the love from their beloved.

"…Mahiru, are you…happy now?"

"Yes, very happy. Can't you tell just by looking at my face?"

Mahiru never thought of herself as an angel. Far from it. In her eyes, she was just an easy-to-understand girl—just Mahiru. Her joy, her anger, and her sorrow were all sensitive to his words and actions, just like any other girl. As she looked up at Amane from within his embrace, he saw the relaxed expression on Mahiru's face and smiled softly.

A look of relief softened his features. "…Really? I'm glad," he whispered, his voice imbued with sincere joy and contentment. At this, Mahiru's cheeks flushed with embarrassment, and she instinctively drew his arms closer around her, hugging him even more tightly. In response, Amane adjusted his embrace, making it simultaneously softer and firmer, wrapping her in a hold that was both comforting and reassuring.

"I'll never stop striving to make you even happier and happier. If you ever notice anything I'm lacking or failing to do properly, then do let me know."

"Well, I would say that the way you only ever think about me and not yourself is something you should really start to work on."

Amane's flaw lay in his tendency to neglect himself in favor of Mahiru.

While his intentions were noble, Mahiru didn't find happiness in being prioritized at the expense of his well-being, and Amane, in his eagerness to please her, would sometimes overlook that fact. Mahiru understood that it was crucial to point out and gently reprimand this behavior. If left unchecked, it could lead to issues that would be detrimental to both of them in the long run.

"I-I didn't mean it like that… To me, your happiness is my happiness. If I just see your smile, then it makes me happy too."

"You're such a dummy, Amane-kun." "…Why do you say that?"

"I mean, surely you must realize I feel the exact same way, right?" Mahiru explained, confident that the perceptive Amane would understand. After all, they were exactly alike in that respect.

Amane quickly grasped her point and, visibly crestfallen, lowered his eyebrows and apologized with a simple "…My bad." This candidness of his was another aspect Mahiru fondly appreciated, and she smiled warmly at him, feeling a deep affection for these sincere traits.

"As long as you understand. Haven't I told you this before, Amane-kun?

Because I love you, seeing you look so happy fills me with joy in just the same way… So please, don't just prioritize me. You should prioritize yourself just as much, okay?"

Just as Amane's happiness was linked to Mahiru's, her joy was equally connected to his. Seeing her loved one spend his days without suffering and with a smile always brought her the greatest joy, filling her heart with immense contentment. Since they both share this sentiment, Mahiru considered herself truly fortunate. She believed that Amane felt the same way.

"And please, let me make you happy too, Amane-kun. We should be happy together, right?"

It wasn't enough for Mahiru to just feel happy or to just attain happiness on her own. The most important thing was finding happiness together with Amane.

They could never truly be happy if either type of happiness was lacking.

That would only spark the beginning of misery.

"…Yeah," Amane replied, his words slightly choked. Mahiru watched as his face slowly transformed into a tender, slightly fuzzy smile. From her position nestled between his legs, she shifted her body to face him and assumed a traditional, upright kneeling position. And just like that, as if to seal his words with her own, Mahiru gently pressed her lips against his. As she released her lips and closely yet endearingly gazed into his eyes, Amane briefly gave a startled look before his expression shifted to one of bashful restraint, his lips tightly pursed.

"…Did that make you happy?" she asked, a devilish smile playing on her face.

Amane's eyes softened as if to say he was pleasantly defeated, his gaze remaining warm and close. "…Maybe I could do with just a little more."

With that, Amane, too, wore a mischievously playful smile, wrapping his arms around Mahiru and pulling her close, burying his face in her neck. "Oh, you." As this affectionate gesture tickled both her body and heart, Mahiru giggled softly and spoke in a voice that was more affectionate than scolding, accepting his kiss.

I should write about how incredibly happy I am right now, Mahiru thought, considering how to conclude her diary entry for the day.