This must be heaven on Earth…
Just moments after waking up, this thought surged into Amane's mind, his senses still clouded from his slumber. The very first thing he saw upon opening his eyes was his beloved girlfriend. She was nestled comfortably in his arms, and her flowing, silky flaxen hair was softly tousled. As her
carefully kept hair, which gleamed with a rich luster, draped over one of Amane's arms, she looked up at him with eyes reminiscent of precious gemstones, tucked snugly in his embrace.
Amane, still in a drowsy haze, felt confusion flicker through his mind for a moment as he registered Mahiru's presence beside him. He recalled the memory of her staying the night before—then it clicked. As it turned out,
Mahiru didn't slip away immediately like she had during their previous
sleepover. Instead, she'd decided to wait until Amane had roused from his sleep.
Mahiru realized right away that Amane had woken up, and wriggled a few times in his arms to find a pleasant position before turning to him with a shy smile. "Good morning, Amane-kun."
"…Morning. How long have you been awake?"
"Roughly ten minutes, I suppose. I thought it would be nice to enjoy this warmth while savoring the sight of your sleeping face before I start to
prepare our breakfast."
"…Is it fun watching me sleep?"
"Yes, of course. It serves as my energy source, you know?" Mahiru's face beamed with satisfaction and spirit. "Thanks to you, I'm full of energy this morning," she added. Her words alone were enough to stir a flutter within
him, so Amane hugged her tightly in an attempt to mask the curious ticklish feeling.
Amane's sudden embrace had taken Mahiru by surprise, but she quickly relaxed before wrapping her arms around his back after he softly whispered, "Give me some energy, too." Considering that Mahiru was taking her time, it meant they still had plenty of time to spare. Amane enjoyed the moment, seizing the opportunity to relish her softness, her warmth, and her refreshingly sweet scent. Smiling at the sight, Mahiru joked, "Oh, are you indulging yourself again?"
Amane almost wanted to retort, Just whose fault do you think that is? But he decided against it, as the answer to that question was surely obvious to Mahiru. Without saying anything further, she let Amane snuggle up to her, allowing him to do as he pleased.
In his arms settled a beloved existence, one to whom he could swear with utmost certainty that he could dedicate his everything and that she too would accept him in return.
I feel true happiness, from the bottom of my heart.
Amane allowed this boundless joy to permeate every fiber of his being, earnestly savoring the warmth he found reluctant to let go.
He was living such a merry morning that, without thinking, he almost let his eyes close once more. However, Mahiru noticed that his breathing had relaxed to a rate akin to sleep, and promptly patted his back in a gentle manner.
"Amane-kun, please don't fall back asleep."
"…The option to lie in bed and skip class is a tempting one."
"That doesn't sound like something an honor student such as yourself should say."
Amane couldn't help but chuckle at Mahiru's teasing whisper as he reflected on those words. He may have uttered them, but both Amane and Mahiru were seen as disciplined students, with no records of being tardy or absent at school. That being said, the situation at hand was so tempting that it seemed capable of bending even their diligent personalities.
"Do you really want to stay in bed that badly? Could this be the magic of the futon?" Mahiru joked.
"It's more like your magic, I'd say." Mahiru's presence proved much more tempting to Amane than that of the futon, which suggested that if they weren't careful, they might end up skipping school, sacrificing Mahiru's attendance as well.
Mahiru, who was becoming more and more of a temptation for Amane to fall back asleep, let out a sigh not of scolding, but of equal parts amazement and embarrassment at Amane's reply. "Geez." Then, she finally began to shift herself, moving to slip out of his arms.
"Then, if I move away, you'll be freed from this magic spell. Come on, get up and get dressed."
"…I know I need to, but still…"
"I won't spoil you when it comes to everything, you know. Come on, get up, wash your face, and freshen yourself up." While Mahiru readily indulged him when the time was appropriate, she was firm about switching gears.
Easily anticipating Amane's attempt to wrap himself up in the futon, she playfully snatched the blanket away from him.
Amane was going to get up even without Mahiru's urging, but seeing her rousing him so cheerfully, he smiled in a way that wouldn't catch her attention.
In the future, this certainly wouldn't be a bad way to wake up.
For the record, Amane was fully capable of waking up on time if he really intended to, but he couldn't help thinking it was nice to fool around like this, as long as it didn't trouble Mahiru. He didn't want to make mischief, but he believed it was acceptable to rely on her and act a bit spoiled from time to time seeing as Mahiru seemed to enjoy taking care of him.
As Amane thought that, a chill spread across his body. He got out of bed and started to take out clothes to change into. The moment he opened the closet, Mahiru's demeanor shifted, and a sudden tension lingered in the air. This prompted Amane to stifle a laugh with his hands over his mouth. His shoulders shook visibly.
"How should we change?" he then asked. "Should I go to the bathroom first?"
"…Please do. But you mustn't peek."
"As if I'd peek. Don't you think that's something we'd have to ask permission for?"
They may be dating, but Amane didn't consider actually watching her change. That would be an invasion of privacy, and after all, their current feelings of embarrassment were much stronger than before. For Amane, seeing Mahiru change wouldn't be much of an issue beyond her feeling embarrassed and shrinking away. However, the same couldn't be said for Mahiru. It was clear that they wouldn't be able to look each other in the eyes for a while, and they both might feel like dying from mutual embarrassment after.
"D-Do you want to see?"
"…I'd be lying if I said I didn't want to. But I don't want to do anything that might upset you, and it'd be a bit of a problem to get too excited so early in the morning.
"Y-You're right, but…"
"Yeah, so let's not go there. It's not always right to expose every little thing about each other."
This went without saying, but Amane was curious. However, he knew better than to act on said curiosity at the moment. He believed that such private matters should only be shared after establishing genuine consent, and certainly not first thing in the morning on a school day.
"That much I can say for certain." Amane shrugged his shoulders and was about to leave the room when Mahiru returned in a slightly exasperated voice back, "That's one of your strengths, yet also a cause of frustration, Amane-kun."
✧ ₊ ✦ ₊ ✧
After changing, as Mahiru had said she would prepare the day before, Amane enjoyed a solid breakfast consisting of dashimaki tamago,
Kyoto-style salmon, a few pre-made side dishes, miso soup, and white rice. Once finished, he focused on getting ready for school by making himself look presentable.
Since he had already prepared his textbooks and other items the day before, all he had to do was tie his necktie and put on his blazer, but he paused with the tie in hand, lost in thought for a moment.
"Is something the matter?" Noticing Amane's contemplative pause, Mahiru approached him with a curious voice. Amane, although feeling a tad hesitant, extended the necktie he was holding along with a tie pin he had kept hidden towards Mahiru.
It was his birthday present—the tie pin she had given him the day before. He wanted Mahiru—the person who gave it to him—to be the one to put it on him for the first time.
"Could you tie my tie for me?"
When he asked timidly, Mahiru blinked in surprise, but soon understood his intention and smiled brightly, nodding in agreement. "Okay," she said.
Very respectfully, Mahiru took the tie and tie pin, then knelt in front of Amane, who was sitting on the sofa, to wrap the tie around his neck.
Although tying a tie on someone else should be different from doing it for oneself, Mahiru managed the task smoothly and quickly fastened Amane's tie without any hiccups. She then attached the beautiful
flower-engraved tie pin to the tie with movements that could only be described as impressive and gracious.
Although Amane rarely wore tie pins outside of formal occasions, this one somehow felt just right—perhaps due to the fact that Mahiru had been the one to choose it for him.
"…Does it suit me?" wondered Amane.
"Of course. I picked it out especially for you, so naturally it suits you."
Seeing Mahiru smile with unwavering confidence, Amane's cheeks naturally softened into a smile as well. "You have a good eye for this kind of stuff, so if you say it suits me I can rest easy."
"It's perfect," Mahiru assured. "Paying attention to accessories is also crucial to being fashionable."
"I just wanted to know if the present you gave me suited me, not necessarily if it was fashionable."
"Rest assured, it certainly suits you."
While Mahiru had a tendency to view Amane through rose colored glasses, she always tried to offer an objective perspective when it came to matters of appearance, so there didn't seem to be any issues on that front. As the tie pin was barely visible beneath the lapel of his blazer, it may only make a subtle difference, but such fine touches to one's attire were truly crucial in elevating one's appearance.
Amane naturally straightened his back, as wearing something chosen by Mahiru brought him incredible joy. It was possible that his desire to seem worthy of standing by her side had influenced him greatly.
Feeling the gift from Mahiru, pinned close to his heart, Amane experienced a gush of happiness and newfound confidence surge from within him, this time even stronger than before.
"…Truly, you become so strikingly handsome when you look confident that it genuinely catches me off guard, Amane-kun." Mahiru muttered quietly as Amane adjusted his shirt and donned his blazer.
"And when I don't look confident?"
"You look more on the cute side, I would say. Still handsome, though." "Well, there are plenty of things I want to say about that, but it doesn't
matter. I'm handsome now, right?" "Yes, very much so."
"…To the point where standing next to you wouldn't be a problem?" Amane wouldn't hesitate when it came to standing by her side. However,
he occasionally wondered if he looked out of place in that position. Regardless of what others may think, he had no intention of leaving her side, but it would be impossible to claim that he wasn't concerned about how he was being perceived.
He had continued to work on improving himself, but whether those efforts were visibly paying off was another question. Amane, knowing Mahiru's answer but asking anyway, received a response filled with an indulgent smile. "Honestly, Amane-kun…" Mahiru then lovingly caressed his cheek. "Don't worry. You're handsome on the inside and the outside. I won't let anyone complain, but even ignoring my personal feelings, you're a wonderful person."
"I see. That's good then… Shall we head to school?"
"Yes."
As Amane stood up and extended his hand, Mahiru grasped it without any hesitation. Because Mahiru always offered him her genuine feelings, Amane could stand tall beside her and walk forward, holding her hand. It was thanks to her that he had managed to change himself to this extent.
I can't ever let go of her.
Vowing once again to never let her go and to always make her happy, Amane gave Mahiru a soft smile as they left the house together.
✧ ₊ ✦ ₊ ✧
"…From the looks of it, you must've really enjoyed yourself last night, eh?"
After parting ways with Mahiru, who'd apparently had some errands in the staff room, Amane entered the classroom only to be greeted by a grinning Itsuki. As Amane had expected, he'd instantly become the object of Itsuki's teasing at school, just one day after his birthday. Incidentally, it looked like Chitose hadn't arrived yet.
While it was nothing new, facing Itsuki's teasing in person brought on an even stronger bout of embarrassment than Amane had imagined, causing his eyebrows to naturally furrow reflexively. "Don't make it sound so suggestive. We just celebrated like one normally would."
"Sure, sure—whatever you say." "Oh, come on…"
Itsuki noticed Amane's raised eyebrow and patted his shoulder with a knowing grin. "Just kidding, man. Anyway, it looks like Shiina-san's preparations went off without a hitch. I'm glad."
"Thanks for helping her out." Amane sighed, unable to bring himself to scold him, and instead let out a brief grunt.
"That said, I didn't really do much, though. If anything, Chi and Kido-san were the ones who did most of the work. They were the ones giving advice and helping out with everything."
"Even so, you went out of your way to keep it a secret, right? I'm really grateful."
"Well, a surprise is what makes it all the more special, don'tcha think?
I'm glad you had a memorable birthday. Once again, Happy Birthday." Itsuki, being the considerate friend he was, smiled and gave Amane a pat on the shoulder again.
"…Thanks." Amane responded quietly. His cheeks, flushed with a mix of happiness and embarrassment, almost relaxed as he bit his lip.
Chitose isn't here yet, so I'll have to thank her later as well, Amane considered, given that she had offered plenty of advice to Mahiru. Chitose would almost certainly tease him for it, but it felt like a small price to pay for her kindness. Amane was ready to accept it graciously.
Savoring the simple joy of having friends who were willing to celebrate his birthday, Amane let out a sigh, which seemed to attract the attention of classmates who had apparently been listening in.
"Huh? It was Fujimiya-kun's birthday?" a girl in class called out.
"Yep, yep—it was yesterday, actually." When Itsuki confirmed it, their classmates exclaimed in a somewhat loud voice, "Really?!" and turned to look their way.
"Why didn't you say anything?" the same girl reacted. "Shiina-san and everyone else didn't mention anything about it, so I had no clue!"
"U–Uh, well, it was meant to be kind of a surprise and stuff, so…" Amane muttered.
"Oh, gotcha. But not telling us kinda sucks… Now I don't have anything to give you today… Would juice be okay?"
"Then I'll give you this candy," one boy offered. "It's a limited edition 'enoki mushroom rice' flavor."
"That sounds nasty as hell… C'mon, don't just dump it on him." "What was that?! More like addictive as hell! It's so good!" "Terrible taste, much?" retorted the girl.
"You're so mean! Enoki mushroom rice is delicious!"
"I guess? It's way too bitter. I wouldn't say it's a suitable flavor for candy to begin with."
"Your logical argument hurts both me and the company making it!"
Amane was left wholly and utterly bewildered as his classmates gathered around in droves, apparently having caught wind of their little
conversation. Itsuki smiled a little and whispered, "They're nice people, aren't they? Don't think too hard—just accept them."
Ever since Amane decided to change his behavior in front of everyone, he had felt a slight shift, bringing him a bit closer to his classmates... But this was the first time they had approached him so freely to celebrate, and it made his heart feel inexplicably warm. Had he remained shut away, avoiding interaction with others, he never would have been surrounded by people like this.
"…Um, thank you everyone. I'm really happy." As he thanked them, unable to fully hide the embarrassment in his voice, the classmates around him broke into bright, genuine smiles, prompting Amane to mutter "Thanks," once again, a bit more softly.
✧ ₊ ✦ ₊ ✧
"…It seems that Amane-kun has become quite popular in the short time I was away."
Having finished her errands and returned to the classroom, Mahiru saw Amane being surrounded by his classmates. She looked amazed yet happy at the sight. Her surprise was understandable, given that seeing Amane at the center of attention wasn't exactly an everyday occurrence. Yet, what truly captivated her was not his sudden surge in popularity, but rather the warmth enveloping her heart as she observed their classmates celebrating him.
"Ah—good morning, Shiina-san! And don't you worry, we won't steal Fujimiya-kun away from you or anything!"
"I—I wasn't worried about that. I was simply surprised to see him surrounded by everyone."
"True, the only other time Amane was surrounded like this was when he announced his relationship with Mahirun. I'm surprised too." Chitose, who had entered the classroom with her, was also astonished to see the commotion surrounding Amane, her eyes widening. When her eyes met Amane's, she flashed him a playful smirk. "If the old you saw this, he'd be gobsmacked."
"Well, I do believe I'd have been speechless." Amane himself acknowledged that his former self carried a gloomy aura, which was worlds apart from the person he had become. The old him might have found the person he was now difficult to deal with. That didn't mean, however, that Amane disliked who he had become.
He had learned to put in the effort to stand beside the person he cherished most, and although he wouldn't say he'd stopped belittling himself entirely, he did so less often. Perhaps the most accurate way to put it was that gaining confidence had given him peace of mind.
Having experienced firsthand how love could influence a person, Amane looked back on his past self with a blend of embarrassment, bitterness, and a touch of nostalgia. Swallowing those feelings, he simply smiled weakly.
Chitose, bubbling with excitement, exclaimed, "You've become so much more open than before, haven't you? You're a prime example of how falling in love can change someone."
"Shut up. Is that a problem?"
"Nope! I think it's a good thing, really. Not that you were bad before, but you look much happier now. You smile way more," Chitose said, poking her cheeks with her index fingers to emphasize her point, causing Amane to instinctively touch his own cheeks.
Glancing at Mahiru, he saw her nodding with a tender smile, as if the shock had already worn off. "Also, your smile is much gentler than before. Isn't that right?" Mahiru asked.
"Exactly!" one girl agreed. "The look in your eyes is totally different. It's not as obvious as when you look at Shiina-san, though."
"Well, obviously he'd be totally smitten when it comes to Shiina-san. Just look at how much he adores her."
"It's gotten to the point where lately, you look like you might even be more smitten than the Angel herself," another claimed.
"…I get it, so please don't look too much," Amane urged. "I'm aware that I'm sweet to Mahiru."
Amane was careful not to let his guard down and reveal too relaxed of an expression around Mahiru, though it looked as though his classmates had already noticed his tendency to soften up when they were together.
Voices of agreement could be heard around them from both male and female classmates.
Amane felt a renewed sense of embarrassment welling up from within and a ticklish sensation around his lips. Sensing this, Chitose clapped her hands to change the mood, saying, "Anyway, we should probably leave it at that before Amane starts sulking."
She shouldn't have started it then, Amane reasoned, but he also understood that she had her own unique way of celebrating him.
With a slight smile, Chitose pulled out a wrapped box from her bag. "So, even though it's a day late, here's a present from me and Ikkun!"
"…Really, thank you so much for being considerate and going through all this trouble with Mahiru."
"Heh heh heh. Well, I am Mahirun's one and only best friend, you see~. I'm always ready to get on board with my adorable friend's schemes and plots. Here you go!" Chitose handed the surprisingly heavy box to Amane with a burst of excitement in her voice.
If Itsuki and Chitose had chosen the present together, it probably wasn't one that missed the mark. While Amane hoped that it wasn't something too silly or nonsensical considering the timing, he would be grateful to receive anything from them, unless it was utterly outrageous.
The pair had great taste, so Amane wasn't worried about their choice of gift, but the unexpected weight made him look at it with curiosity. What could it be?
"…Just asking, but what's inside?"
"Aw, you're asking that now? I mean, I could tell you, but…"
A wave of unease washed over Amane as he glanced over at Mahiru for a moment. "Hey, what's with that suggestive response?"
"Aha ha. Just kidding, just kidding. It's nothing dangerous—it's a set of bathing powder and bath salts. Some with scents that Mahirun likes and some that are perfect for metabolism, according to the reviews. I thought maybe the two of you could use them."
"…Why are you assuming we'll be using them together? Normally, you'd use them on your own." Amane appreciated the gift, but her unnecessary comment caused him to frown.
While they had some level of physical intimacy, their relationship was a pure one. Amane didn't want them to be known as a couple who often bathed together. Not that they hadn't bathed together before, but it was always with swimsuits or towels. Plus, it wasn't as though they bathed together each and every time Mahiru stayed over.
"Others will get the wrong idea," said Amane, frowning, to which Chitose replied with a dissatisfied "Awww…" in a way that made him want to pinch her cheeks, but he managed to refrain.
"Don't say anything that people might misunderstand," Amane repeated. "This is what you call being a wimp."
"Itsuki, be quiet."
"Yeah, yeah, sure thing… Though even if I don't keep quiet, I feel like everyone already knows you two are getting pretty hot and heavy… Ow, okay, I get it."
Amane pressed his fist into Itsuki's waist as he walked over, the plain, hard sensation that returned made him feel a slight sense of defeat.
However, having successfully silenced Itsuki, Amane let out a deep sigh. "I genuinely appreciate the gift and the thought both of you put into it,
but please, don't say anything you shouldn't." While saying this, Amane somehow managed to keep his cheeks from burning up with shame as he returned to his seat with the present held carefully in his hands.
Itsuki followed, placing a hand on his waist in an exaggerated manner. "Say, Amane…" Once away from the group of classmates, Itsuki leaned in close to Amane's ear.
"What?"
"Nobody said anything about you having to bathe together. The assumption was that you'd take turns if one of you stayed over…"
"…Shut."
"I whispered that super quietly, though!?"
Amane, realizing all too late that he'd shot himself in the foot, bit his lip and turned away, while Itsuki laughed and slapped Amane on the back to tease him.
✧ ₊ ✦ ₊ ✧
"Oh, did Shiina-san let the cat out of the bag?"
At lunchtime, Amane extended his thanks to Ayaka for helping Mahiru, and she returned a mischievous smile to him. Without giving it away, Ayaka had secretly collaborated with Mahiru to orchestrate Mahiru's surprise celebration, which Amane was grateful for. Though at the same time, he also felt slightly deceived. Ayaka's silence meant that Souji was in on it, implying that the whole event had been kept secret by everyone taking part.
This level of collaboration was undoubtedly thanks to Mahiru's popularity. While Amane couldn't help but admire her influence, he inwardly questioned the necessity of such an elaborate plan. Naturally, Mahiru's desire to surprise Amane must have been the main motivation.
"Did you figure out the secret ingredient yourself?"
"Pretty much. I just kinda thought it tasted similar, that's all."
"So it was easy to tell, after all. Maybe the coffee at my aunt's place is just that delicious."
"…By the way, what made you suggest coffee to Mahiru?"
"Oh, Shiina-san was having trouble deciding on the cake, so while we rummaged through recipe books and magazines together, I suggested
putting coffee in it. Then she got on board with the idea. It was a great suggestion, if I do say so myself," Ayaka smiled.
While Amane wore a bitter smile, he had to agree that it was delicious, so he simply nodded.
"From the looks of it, you were quite satisfied with the result, so all's well that ends well. I'm sure Aunt Fumika will be thrilled."
"…I'm truly grateful for the owner's help, but do we have to give her all
the details?"
Expressing his thanks for her help was the natural thing to do. Though he still couldn't shake this feeling of unease given her lively nature, Amane believed that sharing some of what happened with Fumika was unavoidable. Given her first impression however, the thought of dealing with her boundless excitement was a daunting one.
Ayaka seemed to have caught on to Amane's point, giving a slightly wry smile and murmuring, "W-Well, I think just a brief explanation would do.
My Auntie isn't the type to pry too much…probably."
That 'probably' only succeeded in fueling Amane's anxiety, but considering that Fumika wasn't a bad person at heart, and that the conversation would serve as great sustenance for her, he figured it would be okay. As long as it was in moderation, that is.
"Anyhow, thank you so much. For going to such lengths for someone like me…though Mahiru would get angry if I said that. Thanks."
"Not at all~. Helping out for a friend's birthday is the natural thing to do.
So, here's something from me as well."
Ayaka then pulled a somewhat large, wrapped box from her backpack. It was just slightly too big to hold with one hand. Amane was swiftly taken aback as he hadn't expected to receive anything from her. "Looks like my surprise was a success too!" Her cheerful declaration snapped him back to reality.
"Here, this is from me and Sou-chan. Please accept it."
"You didn't have to go to all this trouble, but…thank you. Can I ask what's inside?"
"Protein!"
"No changes there, huh."
Her energetic response led Amane to chuckle and accept the gift. Ayaka then proudly exclaimed, "That one's really tasty and has a great absorption rate! It's even Sou-chan approved!" while showing off a smug face, which made Amane laugh even harder.
Had Souji been with them, Amane could imagine him retorting "Don't use me as your guinea pig," with an exasperated look on his face.
Realizing what Amane was thinking, Ayaka smiled brightly and added, "Rest assured, Sou-chan said 'Well, protein is protein, so I'm sure it's fine,' when he had a bunch! We tested them thoroughly, so don't be shy!" She maintained her cheerful smile.
Sounds just like a shady lab experiment to me, Amane thought, but after seeing Ayaka's unexpectedly radiant smile, he decided to keep his thoughts to himself. Sometimes, holding one's tongue was the way to go.
"At any rate, thanks for everything you've done. You have been a huge help, Kido."
"It's fine, it's fine. I'm meddling because I want to, and actually, Sou-chan's also told me to keep my meddling in moderation."
"I don't think you're meddling. You've genuinely helped us out a bunch." "Hmm, but only because I wanted to, so you shouldn't worry too much,
Fujimiya-kun. Plus, there's something in it for me as well." "Like what?"
"Heh heh heh… If you get along well with Sou-chan, then he will be in a better mood. And when he's in a good mood, I get to spend even more time touching his muscles."
"…I see."
Although Amane smiled wryly at Ayaka's mischievous and self-serving motives, there was more to her than meets the eye, which was a quality that anyone familiar with her could tell. Her natural inclination to care for others was evident even from Amane's limited interactions with her, and it seemed that she genuinely enjoyed doing so.
Moreover, she had a habit of playing her help down, urging Amane not to worry about returning any favors. Thus, after thanking her for her consideration, Amane shrugged and said, "Well, as long as you and Kayano are okay with that, then I guess it's fine.
✧ ₊ ✦ ₊ ✧
"Today was amazing, wasn't it?"
After they returned home and finished dinner, Mahiru murmured this in a soft tone as they relaxed on the sofa together.
Amane understood exactly what she was referring to and responded, "Yeah."
Mahiru then relaxed her cheeks out of pure joy, as if she herself was the one being celebrated. Relief, satisfaction, and delight. Her expression showed a delicate combination of such emotions as she smiled at Amane, making him feel unbearably shy to the point of inadvertently shifting his gaze to the TV.
Laid out on the coffee table between the sofa and the TV were a number of presents that he'd received from his friends. Starting with the gifts from Itsuki, Chitose, and Ayaka, he also received some from classmates with whom he hadn't been particularly close to, that were given to him in the moment's excitement. They consisted mostly of snacks and drinks, but Amane felt both shy and joyful to receive the blessings from his friends despite trying his hardest not to let it show. Last year, there wasn't any kind of commotion in class as he had only told Itsuki and Chitose about his birthday, so in comparison, the celebration he received this year felt almost surreal.
As someone who would typically consider himself to be indifferent, Amane hadn't particularly longed for such a grand celebration. Yet, he couldn't help but feel genuinely happy to receive such birthday wishes.
"…I wasn't expecting everyone to congratulate me that much. Though I did pass on that enoki mushroom rice flavored candy."
Mahiru giggled. "I was slightly curious about it, personally."
"You'd probably need something to cleanse your palate after, that's for sure."
Mahiru, with her stronger thirst for culinary knowledge, was more fascinated in obscure exotic snacks than Amane was. While Amane
appreciated the gesture, he was less adventurous with his palate, politely declining the more unusual treats. As if to make up for it, he was instead given a beef stew flavored candy, which looked suspiciously like a concentrated bouillon cube. Perhaps his classmate was a true connoisseur of these eccentric choices of treats.
Puzzled yet slightly amused by the unexpected hobby of a classmate he hadn't spoken to frequently, Amane took a look at all the gifts given to him by his friends and classmates. He felt a genuine sense of happiness, but a creeping sense of doubt and faint anxiety began to overshadow his joy.
"…Is it really okay for everyone to celebrate me so much?" Amane's words slipped out unexpectedly.
Mahiru's gentle expression quickly shifted, replaced by a mix of annoyance and unease, looking at him with a faint pout. "Why do you seem so worried? The reason why our classmates all congratulated you is because you've managed to interact and form friendships with them. It's all a result of your own merit, Amane-kun. Do you understand?"
"Sorry, sorry. I'm not trying to put myself down or anything. Somehow, it just didn't feel real to me. That's all. I usually don't tell people about my birthday."
Amane felt as though he was pressuring people that he wasn't particularly close with to congratulate him on his birthday without any sort of lead-up or advance notice. He was perfectly happy receiving just a few words from those he was closest to.
There's way more people than before, so you can't blame me for being surprised, was the message that Amane was trying to convey.
"Hehe, that just proves how you're recognized and blessed by those around you, Amane-kun. It's something to feel joyful about."
"Yeah, I hope so."
"Amane-kun." Mahiru countered with a disapproving voice, which caused Amane to break into a smile. Faced with her look so stern it urged, You mustn't belittle yourself, it would be impossible for him to remain mired in negativity.
"Sorry, sorry—I know… I am happy."
"Yes… Please, accept their congratulations sincerely." Mahiru leaned on his upper arm with her usual smile, and feeling the slight pressure and weight, he relaxed his cheeks and glanced down at Mahiru. Her happiness for his birthday celebration was entirely genuine, even acting as though it were her own special day. This led him to believe her joy was truly heartfelt.
…So, in reality, Mahiru does see birthdays as events meant to be celebrated.
In fact, this held especially true if the birthday belonged to a close friend or someone dear to her. Even if it was for an individual that she wasn't too familiar with, Mahiru would still offer her sincere congratulations. Even so, when he recalled how Mahiru's birthday last year came and went without a party, a cold, sharp thorn pricked into the warm and fuzzy feelings that had accumulated in his heart throughout the course of the day. But—it was a thorny reminder that he didn't exactly hate. It was a warning urging him to reevaluate the reality of the situation, and it doubled as a catalyst to push him forward and ask Mahiru a certain question.
"Say…" "Yes?"
Amane had intended to call out with a voice as smooth as he could manage, buffed of any spikes or rough edges, but Mahiru, having sensed the subtle change in his voice, stopped leaning on him and straightened her back. Mahiru braced herself, not out of caution but perhaps in anticipation of an important discussion.
Amane cleared his throat. "You know, um, I'm not the best at keeping secrets, so you might notice things or become suspicious of me if I try to hide stuff—and it'd be bad for me if you found out and weren't happy about it. So, I thought I'd let you know in advance instead."
"What is it?"
"Your birthday's next month, right?"
"Ah…yes, now that you mention it." Mahiru looked surprised as if it had just occurred to her. Then, after several moments of contemplation, she nodded. Judging by her late reaction, she was completely oblivious to its arrival, seeing it purely as an event that was of no interest to her. It didn't even catch onto the edges of her thoughts, leading to her delayed response.
Amane sensed an overwhelming indifference toward herself, which he found hard to watch. "For you, having your birthday celebrated isn't really a pleasant feeling, is it?"
"It's not so much that I find it unpleasant…it's more like I'm utterly indifferent to it."
Just as Mahiru claimed, she never cared much about her own birthday. This was something Amane had known since her last birthday, but hearing it stated so bluntly, even after they'd begun dating, still brought him a pang of melancholy.
"To me, it's simply a day that marks growing a year older, not a day for celebration. I've hardly ever celebrated it," Mahiru explained. "Ah— But I was happy when you celebrated it last year! It's not that I'm indifferent to people celebrating that day—it's more like I can't bring myself to care about my own matters." She waved her hand in the air in acknowledgement. The little celebration she had last year was still fresh in her mind.
Realizing that he had made her worry, Amane felt slightly guilty and apologized. "Sorry. I didn't mean to make you say all that. I understand that to you, that day isn't particularly special."
Mahiru's upbringing and the environment in which she grew up, which Amane was well aware of, made it clear why her own birthday held no significance for her. As far as he could tell, Mahiru was no longer pained by her past. But for Amane, that alone wasn't sufficient.
Even if this was his ego speaking, Amane wished for Mahiru to feel as though she was truly loved, that she deserved nothing but happiness, and that her birth was an event worth celebrating.
"Um, this might just be my selfishness talking…but to me, your birthday is a very special day."
"Special…"
"Just like you consider my birthday to be special, I also consider your birthday to be more special than anyone else's."
Amane had heard from multiple people that Mahiru had gone to great lengths to prepare for his birthday. He also knew that her love for him was deep and sincere, coming from the bottom of her heart. He didn't want to become someone who simply sat back and relished her love. Amane strived
to return the same amount of love—if not more—for everything she had given him.
"Mahiru, I'm so in love with you that I don't know what to do. I'm so grateful, and overjoyed, that you were born into this world, and I will forever be filled with gratitude. In my mind, I'm always thanking you for being born, for meeting me, and for falling in love with me… To me, the day you were born is an incredibly special day."
Without question, Mahiru was the light of Amane's life. The day she came into this world was an extraordinarily special one, and he wanted nothing more than for her to realize this.
"So, uh—if you don't find it unpleasant, may I also celebrate your birthday? Just like you had celebrated mine? May I, from the depths of my heart, express my sincerest gratitude for you being born into this world?"
Amane wasn't going to insist on a celebration without considering her own wishes on the matter. Should she feel uncomfortable with the idea, he was perfectly content to treat the day just like any other. If she preferred to spend the day quietly, Amane was ready to drop the topic and continue their daily life as normal. However, if she was on board with the idea, Amane was determined to celebrate the best he could by utilizing all the resources at his disposal. He wanted to convey that there were people around her who were grateful for her birth.
Still staring straight at her, Amane waited for Mahiru to answer after posing that question. Immediately after, he noticed a change in her expression different from just moments before—one of surprise. A hint of uncertainty and fear flickered in her eyes… She looked at Amane with disbelief.
"…Are you sure?" she asked.
"You aren't against it?" Amane returned.
"No no, not at all. Umm, I'm very happy. It's just, to think someone like me would…"
"Mahiru, remember before? Didn't you look at me like you didn't want me belittling myself? It's not good to then go and do that very same thing yourself, you know." Without restraint, Amane spontaneously grabbed Mahiru's cheeks—a show of her bewilderment, uncertainty, and
anxiety—before giving them a good pull. Teasingly playing with her cheeks, which were neither too squishy nor mushy in their softness, Amane sought to gently dispel any negative feelings that might be sinking into her heart.
Then, a truly silly sound, "Owkay, I—I undewstand…" spilled from her mouth, which couldn't quite close all the way.
Although Amane was careful to avoid causing pain, it still must have been somewhat shocking to Mahiru, as she continued to look at him with a dazed expression even after he let go. When he asked, "Do you realize how much you mean to me now?" the color in her face began to subside, suggesting that him playing with her cheeks was not the sole reason for her surprise.
She murmured soft, yet wordless "Ah…"'s and "Uuu…"'s from under her breath, and then, hesitantly, she looked up to face Amane. The shadow of anxiety had all but vanished from her expression.
"…Thank you so much. Just having my birthday celebrated by you, Amane-kun, fills me with happiness… It's a strange feeling. I've always believed that my birthday was of no importance at all."
"Then, from this year onwards, I'll make sure that you'll no longer have any reason to continue believing that."
Mahiru's indifference was likely rooted in the complicated relationship she had with her parents. This was an aspect of her that Amane could never completely erase, nor did he want to. It was part of what shaped Mahiru into the person she was today.
If nothing else, it was crystal clear that this indifference stemmed from a vulnerable place within her—one that she didn't want others to touch.
Therefore, Amane wanted to overwrite this seemingly dismissive apathy. He wanted to make her feel that she had people who cherished her, and were grateful for her existence.
"Hosting a massive party with everyone…isn't really your style, is it, Mahiru? Let's celebrate it peacefully, together."
"…Okay."
Although sociable, Mahiru was also a naturally shy—or more accurately, wary—girl, and as such, preferred a quiet environment even during her birthday. As she preferred not to make her birthday known to many, Amane felt that celebrating it in private would be a better idea. It appeared that, now, Mahiru wasn't averse to letting her close friends know about her upcoming birthday. A conversation with her and the ever eager Chitose could be a great way to explore potential ways to celebrate.
As Amane was slowly yet surely planning future arrangements, he noticed Mahiru looking at him intently. She appeared to be slightly embarrassed and uncomfortable, yet still visibly happy as she shrunk herself into a ball.
Amane couldn't help but let out a small laugh. "You really aren't used to having a party thrown for you, are you, Mahiru? We've barely even planned anything yet."
"I-I know, but…"
"Well, I'm glad that you don't seem to mind the idea… So, that means I'll be moving behind the scenes to prepare a party for you. Please let me off the hook just this once."
Mahiru giggled. "Okay~."
Having already discussed about him celebrating her birthday, Amane felt it would only be fair to straightforwardly announce his intention to make arrangements in secret. He figured that Mahiru would pick up on this the moment he mentioned her birthday, but given that he wanted to avoid causing any possible anxiety about the celebration, he decided to request
permission for his inevitable 'suspicious behavior'. In response, Mahiru began to giggle happily.
Mahiru's light smile and bright voice brought with it a sense of relief for Amane, and he began to stroke her head as she leaned into his touch with slight neediness.
"I'll do my best to make you as happy as possible. I'll also put effort into researching things from various angles and viewpoints."
"And you let all this slip in front of the person herself?" "Ah—"
"Hehe. Honestly, you can be so careless at times."
"I can't argue with you there. You hit the nail on the head."
At this, Mahiru chuckled, her laughter ringing out soft and melodiously. "I shall look forward to it."
"Sure. I'll do my best to meet your expectations." "Okay. In that case, I will be waiting eagerly."
Seeing that Mahiru, who had previously been indifferent, was now excited for her birthday to arrive, made Amane more pleased than anything else. With a firm nod, he had resolved then and there to make the remaining month unforgettable for her.