Chapter 46: Regretfully going to School

Dropping Ruby off was easy and enjoyable. The three of us walked together, joking around, drawing the attention of students from various schools—not that we paid them any mind. Afterwards, Mahiru and I proceeded to our school. 

In what felt like no time, the school gates loomed ahead, a familiar sight swarming with students. Groups huddled together, chatting or checking their phones, while others rushed inside to avoid being late. A few eyes flickered toward Mahiru and me—some curious, some outright staring but I ignored them.

Our hands remained locked as we stepped into the school, sparking a fresh wave of whispers. It was my way of making it up to Mahiru for earlier with Ruby. Now, everyone knew—though they didn't need to know all the specific details.

[Amane.]

Y-Yeah? It was going to take a while before I got used to the system speaking to me directly.

[One of your rewards activated during the upgrade.]

Rewards? I walked in mild confusion as Mahiru and I approached the school gates. I couldn't recall any pending rewards.

[The "Opportunity" from when you acquired the land of two businesses.]

Ah! Like a light bulb flicking on, my mind lit up. But then...

What kind of opportunity? A simple question, yet I had no clue what the answer was.

[Most likely, it's your harem situation. I'm 99% sure.]

I internally nodded. The system was probably right, though I hadn't expected the opportunity to be this bizarre. I figured it'd be something financial or business-related—not this. With nothing more from the system, I refocused on my surroundings.

The sound of lockers clattering open and shutting filled the air as students swapped their outdoor shoes for indoor ones. A faint scent of cleaning solution lingered, mixing with the cool morning air drifting in from the entrance.

Mahiru had already switched her shoes, and I hurried to do the same as we joked.

"You've gotta be faster than that!" she teased.

"Yeah, yeah."

She radiated excitement, her happiness infectious. Getting to be herself was doing wonders for her. Before, she had hidden behind a facade, but now, after everything we'd been through, she didn't have to care about anyone else's opinions.

I need to text Its—

"My, my, Tsun-Amane, to think you've got the angel wrapped around your finger!"

An arm draped around my neck out of nowhere. Itsuki grinned, pulling me down slightly before whispering, "But didn't you also have that Sawako woman?"

I nodded. I opened my mouth to respond, but Mahiru beat me to it.

"Yeah, Amane has a harem," she whispered, wearing a mischievous smile.

Itsuki flung himself backward as if struck by divine judgment, clutching his chest like he was suffering a fatal heart attack. Keeping his voice just low enough for only Mahiru and me to hear, he gasped dramatically.

"A-A harem?! My dear Amane, when did you evolve into a protagonist of legend?!"

Smirking, I flicked my hair back. "I told you, didn't I? Nah, I'd win!"

"T-To think you were truly the honored one!"

We locked eyes.

A deep understanding passed between us. No words were needed.

"Idiots," Mahiru muttered, walking ahead, but she didn't really leave. The little angel was still watching over us, just a few steps ahead.

Itsuki and I held our intense gaze for a few more seconds before bursting into laughter and catching up.

"Ah, Angel-san, my name is Itsuki Akazawa. Just call me Itsuki since I'm sure we'll be hanging out more often!"

"Mahiru Shiina. Just call me Mahiru, and don't ever call me 'Angel' again, please."

She started off polite, but that last part came out colder than ice. Itsuki raised his hands in surrender.

"Yeah, man, she doesn't like it," I added.

"Clearly. What the hell did you do?"

I thought back on it. It wasn't me—but this was a perfect opportunity.

"I teased her a lot, you know."

Mahiru blushed slightly but gave no insight. Itsuki, in a rare moment of intelligence, nodded a few times. Then, after a long look at me, he gave an exaggerated thumbs-up.

I matched his energy before he walked into our classroom. I had to walk a little further to drop Mahiru off.

In mere seconds, we stood outside her classroom, but something about just dropping her off felt wrong. At least with Ruby, I gave her a big hug before she ran off. I could do the same here… but I doubt that's what Mahiru wants.

"See you after school? Oh—wait, you have kendo, right?"

I had nearly forgotten. We talked about so much on the way here that some details slipped my mind.

"Yeah, but I should be done around five. Plus, I can always come over!"

"Hehe, I could come over too!"

"Want to?"

Mahiru playfully placed a finger at the corner of her lips, saying nothing. Slowly, she moved it to the center—her meaning clear.

"A secret, huh?" I chuckled. "Enjoy your day, and come eat lunch with us!"

"O-Oh! I forgot to make lunch!?"

Her disappointment was clear.

Muah~

I kissed the top of her forehead, causing a scene—but I didn't care. I couldn't kiss her on the lips, but I appreciated how much she already thought of all of us—the harem—so fondly. I knew it wasn't exactly what she wanted, though.

"W-W-Why here?!" she stammered.

"'Cause I wanted to."

I ruffled her hair, leaving her even more flustered, then gently put her hands down and walked back toward my class under the gazes of my classmates.

As my neutral expression returned, those gazes… disappeared.

Am I scary or something?