089. Walking Home with Miss Angel

The rain was relentless, drumming against the pavement like a melancholic symphony. Natsukawa Kanade stared at the gray sky, an involuntary sigh escaping his lips. For reasons he couldn't quite explain, rain always seemed to drag his mood into the depths. It wasn't that he disliked the rain itself—it was more that the weather seemed to mirror his inner turmoil, as though mocking him by reflecting his gloomy state.

He shook his head, chuckling at his own melodramatic thoughts. How cliché. Am I really so childish to think the weather is playing games with me?

Still, the fact remained: his mood was as overcast as the sky. And with the rainy season looming, he had a feeling he'd be stuck in this funk for a while.

Just as Kanade opened his umbrella and prepared to step into the downpour, a voice called out from behind him.

"Good evening, Kanade."

The voice was sweet yet familiar, carrying a warmth that cut through the cold rain. Kanade turned, already knowing who it was.

"Shiina?" Sure enough, it was her—Shiina Mahiru, also known as Miss Angel.

She stood there, radiating a quiet elegance even as droplets clung to her hair. Her beauty was undeniable, almost ethereal, with an aura of grace that made her seem untouchable. Yet, Kanade knew better. Beneath that angelic exterior was someone far more human—a girl who, once she stepped into his private space, could be surprisingly childish.

Mahiru pouted slightly, crossing her arms. "You're so slow. I've been waiting for ages."

"Waiting for me? Is something wrong?" Kanade tilted his head, puzzled. It wasn't like Mahiru to wait around for no reason. If she needed something simple, like a trip to the convenience store, she'd usually just text him. Anything more serious could typically wait until they were home.

"No, nothing's wrong," she mumbled, averting her gaze. Then, almost as an afterthought, she added, "I just... forgot my umbrella."

Her voice softened, tinged with embarrassment. She glanced at the long umbrella in Kanade's hand, as if hinting at what she wanted.

Kanade blinked, then smirked knowingly. "I see. Shall we share?"

Mahiru's eyes lit up, and she nodded. "Okay!"

He opened the umbrella, holding it high enough to shield them both. As they stepped into the rain together, Kanade glanced sideways at her.

"Not worried about being seen walking with me?" he teased, his tone light. He knew Mahiru well enough to see through her little tricks. She might act like sharing an umbrella was no big deal, but he could tell she'd planned this from the start.

Mahiru's delicate frame stiffened, and a faint blush crept across her cheeks. "I-It's just helping each other out... nothing more," she stammered, her voice barely audible.

Her embarrassment only made Kanade's grin widen. "You do realize people might misunderstand if they see us, right? I can already hear the rumors starting."

Mahiru's lips pressed into a pout, her blush deepening. "It doesn't matter! Let them talk if they want to. Besides, it's not like you're lacking in admirers, is it?"

Kanade blinked in surprise. "What's that supposed to mean?"

Her tone shifted, growing more pointed. "You're practically drowning in attention, Kanade. First, there's Shinomiya-san, who's already like a perfect match for you. Then there's that new girl, the one who's been acting like your personal fangirl. Honestly, how many girls are you planning to charm?"

Kanade scratched the back of his head, suddenly feeling self-conscious. "It's not like that. You're overthinking it."

"Am I?" Mahiru's pout deepened, but she said no more.

Kanade sighed, deciding it was best to change the subject. "The new girl you're talking about is Iino Miko. She's a first-year who just joined the student council. She ran for a position during the elections, so she's technically my junior."

As they walked, Kanade felt a strange compulsion to explain himself further, like a husband trying to reassure a suspicious wife. The thought made him glance at Mahiru again. With her puffed-up cheeks and sulking demeanor, she did resemble a newlywed who was upset over her husband's wandering eyes.

The comparison was almost too fitting.

"But Iino-san's not what you think," Kanade continued, his voice calming. "She's been assigned as a 'supervisor' for the student council to ensure integrity and fairness. Apparently, she has some... misunderstandings about how we operate. Today, she decided to monitor me as part of her duties."

Mahiru tilted her head, her curiosity piqued. "Misunderstandings? What kind of misunderstandings?"

Kanade hesitated. He trusted Mahiru, but there were some things better left unsaid—like the specifics of Kaguya Shinomiya's antics. "It's complicated," he said at last. "Let's just say she has a very... vivid imagination."

Mahiru, however, was quick to express her concern. "Eh? Isn't that risky? I heard that first-year is in charge of discipline. If Kanade gets caught doing something questionable, wouldn't that be terrible?"

Kanade chuckled, amused by her worry. "Do I really strike you as the kind of guy who'd get himself into trouble like that?"

Mahiru crossed her arms, her caramel-colored eyes narrowing slightly. "Hmph. Who knows…"

Her tone carried a teasing lilt, but Kanade caught the subtle undertone of doubt. When it came to relationships, Mahiru clearly held her reservations about his character. To her, Kanade's reputation as a bit of a playboy was undeniable. Surely, someone like him would trip over his own charm one day and face well-deserved punishment.

Feigning a wounded expression, Kanade sighed dramatically. "Wow, so this is what Miss Angel thinks of me. I'm heartbroken! I might need the comfort of a cute girl to recover from this betrayal…" He punctuated his statement with a playful wink in her direction.

Mahiru stiffened, her cheeks immediately flushing a soft pink. "Sh-Shame on you! Someone like you acting cute is just… ridiculous! And you're not cute at all!" she huffed, glaring at him with a mixture of embarrassment and irritation. Her usual composed demeanor faltered, leaving her visibly flustered.

Kanade's grin widened as he tilted his head. "Oh? So you're saying I'm not cute at all? That almost sounds like you've thought about it before."

Mahiru panicked, her caramel eyes widening as she realized her slip-up. "You… you're so silly!" she stammered, clearly trying to regain her composure. "You're like a kid who steals his mom's lipstick, scribbles on the wall, and then asks, 'Does my drawing look good?' Don't think you can just act cute and get away with it!"

Kanade raised an eyebrow, clearly entertained. "Wait a minute—didn't you just say I wasn't cute at all?"

Mahiru froze. Her words had betrayed her yet again, and Kanade's teasing grin only made it worse. A flush of red spread across her cheeks, creeping up to her ears. She looked like a deer caught in headlights, her mind racing to find a way out of the mess she'd unintentionally created.

"You… you didn't hear anything!" she exclaimed, her voice rising in pitch. "Don't say anything else!"

Desperate to salvage the situation, Mahiru raised her hands, attempting to cover both Kanade's eyes and his smirking mouth at the same time. But her small hands couldn't manage both tasks, and she quickly gave up. Instead, she balled her fists and lightly thumped them against his chest, her voice dropping to a near whisper.

"Stupid Kanade… stupid…"

Her words were soft, almost endearing, and Kanade's smile softened in response. "Yes, yes, I'm an idiot," he replied, his tone gentle. He adjusted the umbrella with one hand to keep it steady against the rain, while his other hand hovered protectively near her to ensure she didn't slip on the slick pavement.

The warmth of his presence seemed to calm her, and Mahiru lingered close, her head resting lightly against his chest. The moment stretched on, quiet and tender, until Mahiru finally broke the silence.

"If you're feeling sleepy, why not wait until we get home?" she murmured, her voice barely audible. "I'll lend you my shoulder…"

Kanade blinked, caught off guard by her uncharacteristically soft tone. "Mahiru?"

She didn't respond, her thoughts seemingly elsewhere. He opened his mouth to say something but was interrupted by a small voice from nearby.

"Mom, look! These stupid couples!"

Both Kanade and Mahiru froze.

Mahiru's grip on the hem of Kanade's jacket began to tremble, and her face turned a brilliant shade of red. Before Kanade could react, she let go completely and bolted away, her footsteps splashing through the rain.

"Mahiru! It's still raining!" Kanade called after her, but she didn't stop or even look back.

Left standing there, umbrella in hand, Kanade could only sigh. "And she says I'm the silly one…"

The rain continued to fall, drenching the streets as Kanade watched Mahiru disappear into the distance.