It was a normal day off.
Mahiru had almost run out of the shampoo she used daily, and had gone out to replenish her stock. While she did, she also stopped by her regular beauty salon to get her hair treated and trimmed.
On her way back, she decided to take a break at a café. Though the place was packed—likely due to the holiday—she looked around for an open space, and spotted a familiar face seated in a corner. However, Mahiru wasn't sure if she should greet them. If it had been Chitose, she easily would have offered a greeting, but this was someone she rarely engaged with directly.
We're not exactly close, to be perfectly honest.
The person in question was Yuuta. Mahiru was unable to grasp the distance between them when they met like this at a café.
Truth be told, to her, he was a friend of Amane, Chitose, and Itsuki—nothing more.
While they would talk normally when they met, if asked, she'd find it hard to call him her friend. Itsuki was already a little distant, and Yuuta, being a friend of Itsuki's, was even more so.
They were friends of friends, so to speak. And while it was clear that he wasn't a bad person, she couldn't exactly say they were close either. Their relationship was of that kind, and they weren't close enough where one would go out of their way to start a conversation when bumping into the other in public.
"Hmm." While holding her tray with both hands, Mahiru hesitated for a moment, but after considering that she might get in the way of customers around her if she continued, she tentatively approached Yuuta. He was sitting at a table for two, quietly reading. "Hello, Kadowaki-san."
"Huh? Oh, Shiina-san. Hello."
Mahiru greeted Yuuta unassumingly, but his face lifted in mild surprise by the sudden mention of his name.
Since it was a day off, Yuuta was wearing casual clothes which, even to Mahiru, made him look quite handsome. Just lifting his head caused a stir among the other women in the cafe. Seeing the people around him reacting as he changed his expression of surprise to a soft smile, Mahiru thought he must be having a tough time too.
"Out shopping today?" Yuuta asked.
"Yes," Mahiru affirmed, "I stopped by for a little break and happened to see you here."
She shook the shopping bag on her wrist to show him, to which Yuuta nodded in understanding.
"Ah, I see. Good work. Wanna use the seat across from me? It doesn't look like there are any others free."
"Thank you very much, I shall take you up on that offer."
Though she felt it might be somewhat rude or shameless of her, Mahiru agreed and took the seat opposite him.
Considering their statuses at school, sharing a table like this might have been a bit risky. After all, it was entirely possible for other students from their school to be around.
But no other seats were free, and a quick scan around the café showed that none would likely be available anytime soon. It was an unavoidable choice.
Setting down her tray, Mahiru took a deep breath. Yuuta was already smiling, pulling the loose-leaf paper towards him that had been spread out on the table. There were also textbooks and a pencil case; he'd evidently been studying alone.
"So, Kadowaki-san…it seems like you have the day off from club activities.
Are you studying?"
"Yep. I thought about doing it at home, but my sisters are pretty noisy." "Your sisters?"
Mahiru remembered that she'd once heard from Amane that Yuuta had sisters, but she couldn't help widening her eyes at the word 'noisy,' which he'd said in a somewhat troubled tone.
She didn't know about his family, but it was hard to imagine that the sisters of Yuuta, who was rather calm and composed for a high school student, could be so problematic.
Noticing Mahiru blink repeatedly in disbelief, Yuuta added, "It's hard to believe, I know." He offered a bitter smile. "…This isn't something I should say to another woman, but you see, when you're a guy with multiple sisters, you sort of end up in situations where you can't exactly go against them. You're often outnumbered and have no choice but to listen to what they want…and you end up worked to the bone."
"Oh, wow. So some families like that do exist."
Mahiru, who was an only child, naturally couldn't understand how it felt to have an older sister. Unless, for all she knew, her mother had a child somewhere else.
More than that, she didn't quite grasp the concept of what a typical family was like, so she didn't know how siblings usually interacted with one another. Even when people mentioned that there was a hierarchy, it didn't resonate with her.
"Every family is different, but in my case, my sisters are rather strong-willed…"
Mahiru chuckled. "You're a gentle and mild-mannered person, Kadowaki-san, so I assume you end up catering to your sisters' wishes."
"You sure have a way with words, huh?"
"I thought a positive spin would be more appropriate."
Regardless, the fact remained that Yuuta was troubled. She thought it wasn't good to sympathize with him against his sisters in a negative way, so she took the route of complimenting him. In response, he gave her a somewhat uncomfortable expression.
He didn't seem to harbor any ill feelings towards his sisters, so it wasn't as though he hated them. Knowing this, Mahiru concluded that she probably hadn't misstepped.
"Anyway, there's always some sort of chore dumped on me when I stay at home, and I wasn't in a serious enough mood to study in the library, so I came here for a breather."
"I see," she understood what he was saying, but something still didn't click, "but could you really consider this a 'breather'?"
Glancing around, Mahiru noticed that there were young women frequently stealing glances in their direction and whispering amongst themselves. She had no interest in hearing the content of their conversations, but they were probably talking about Yuuta.
He seemed to understand what Mahiru was getting at, as he showed a faint smile. "Hmm, somewhat, I guess. I'm used to this now, after all."
"You have your share of troubles too, Kadowaki-san." "Aha ha ha, not as much as you, Shiina-san.
"In that case, let me respond with, 'I've grown used to it as well.'" "We both have our struggles, don't we?"
"Indeed. It's quite problematic."
Mahiru and Yuuta were similar in this regard.
While they both smiled bitterly when called such things, they were known by the nicknames Angel and Prince, and both were impeccably good-looking individuals.
They tended to receive unsought attention from the opposite sex and were often approached or admired. Looking at the current situation, Mahiru felt as though they had similar experiences.
The difference lay in the fact that Mahiru deliberately acted the way she did, while Yuuta was likely just being himself. It was unlikely that Yuuta had a hidden side to him like Mahiru.
"So, Shiina-san, you think of it as problematic?" "Oh? But I didn't say what I found problematic." "Neither did I."
Mahiru chuckled. She'd thought they were somewhat alike, but they might also even have slightly similar personalities. While Yuuta didn't appear to be as conniving as Mahiru, he also didn't come across as someone completely innocent or straightforward either—there was more to him than that. The smiles they exchanged conveyed a mutual understanding not to probe any deeper.
"Anyway, continuing this guessing game won't get us anywhere, so let's not probe further. It's impolite. Besides, it's true that you have your own issues too, Shiina-san, so let's just say we both have it tough."
"Agreed."
Mahiru felt slightly relieved that Yuuta quickly dropped the topic, saying that it was pointless to dig deeper into each other's affairs. Still, she felt as though she shouldn't let her guard down completely.
Knowing that he got along well with Amane, who wasn't fond of socializing and was rather guarded, Mahiru knew there wasn't an issue. Plus, she had thought highly of Yuuta's character, even just as someone she sometimes saw at school.
He had even kept her Golden Week date with Amane a secret when they happened to bump into one another, and treated her calmly without much of a reaction for her status as the Angel. Thus, she thought of him as quite a good person.
And yet, she found herself being subtly cautious around him.
Once, she had the impression that Amane struggled to deal with other people, but the one who really struggled dealing with other people was Mahiru herself.
Operating under the principle that one should not trust others easily, she maintained a thin, invisible wall to protect her personal space while acting as an angel. Perhaps that was why she couldn't fully trust him. She didn't dislike him; rather, she just didn't know him well, making him an enigma in her mind.
Unaware of Mahiru's internal assessment, Yuuta looked at her with his usual gentle smile.
"So, were you out with Shirakawa-san today or something, Shiina-san?" "No, I went out alone today. Chitose-san seemed to have plans with Akazawa-san, and it isn't like we're always together anyway."
Certainly, Chitose was her closest same-sex friend, but they didn't always do everything together. Chitose had many other friends, and she sometimes spent time with them or with her boyfriend, Itsuki.
Mahiru had already checked Chitose's schedule for the day and hadn't even invited her along. It wouldn't make sense to inconvenience her just for hair care shopping, and she didn't want to interrupt her time with her boyfriend either.
"Ahhh, Itsuki mentioned something like that. It's just that I always imagine you and Shirakawa-san together."
"Hehe, we haven't been interacting for that long, actually."
"Maybe it's the strong impact? Whenever Shirakawa-san sees you, she's always like, 'Mahiruuun!' and runs over to you."
"Indeed, she does pay a lot of attention to me."
Mahiru was, in fact, well-cared-for by the outgoing Chitose. Because Chitose was quite proactive in approaching her, people around them quickly had the impression that they were very close.
The way they treated each other suggested they had been friends for many years, but in reality, they had only been friends since the start of the year.
Strictly in terms of time, not much had actually passed.
"I saw that you two were close, but I guess it hasn't been that long at all, huh. In our first year, both you and Shirakawa-san were in different classes… When did you start getting closer?"
"I believe we started interacting more directly around the beginning of this year."
"Ah, so it's been less than half a year."
"I'm genuinely grateful that she's been so kind to me. Very much so." Why Chitose took such a liking to her still remained a mystery, even to
Mahiru. Yet she'd been saved numerous times by Chitose's straightforward, cheerful demeanor. There were moments when Chitose was a bit too energetic, but that was part of her charm.
"Well, Shirakawa-san really seems to like you. I hear about you from her quite often."
"…What is Chitose-san doing… Honestly." Mahiru hadn't expected that Chitose would be talking about her even to Yuuta and couldn't help chiding her, even though she knew Chitose wasn't there.
She'd shown sides of herself to Chitose that she wouldn't show to Yuuta, so Mahiru was genuinely concerned about what might have been said. However, Yuuta looked at her the same way he always had, so she'd like to believe that Chitose hadn't been filling his head with weird ideas.
I should have a word with Chitose-san later… Mahiru decided, taking a sip of her now considerably cooled café au lait.
Meanwhile, Yuuta gazed at her with a gentle expression. "…I'm surprised at how easily you're talking to me."
"What do you mean?" She asked in response after moistening her lips.
Yuuta paused, struggling for the right words. "Hmm, what's the best way to word this…" His words sounded evasive. "Well, it's odd for me to say, but we're not particularly close, are we, Shiina-san? To you, I'm probably just a friend of a friend. I thought it might be awkward with just the two of us."
Mahiru blinked several times, surprised that Yuuta had mentioned something she'd also been concerned about. However, his eyes had a considerate, almost troubled look, accompanied by a vague smile. This reassured her a little, and she lessened her wariness of him slightly.
"Well, to say I had absolutely no reservations would be a lie, but I am fairly aware of what kind of person you are, Kadowaki-san."
"I'm grateful you approve of me. I totally assumed you found me unpleasant, Shiina-san."
"'Unpleasant? How?"
"Well, more like an 'It'll just cause trouble if I get involved with this guy, so let's avoid him,' kind of feeling?"
Yuuta, as Mahiru had suspected, was an astute and perceptive individual. He was sensitive to the opinions of others. The reason they both kept their distance from one another was to avoid any likely complications. Of course, Mahiru wasn't interested in him in that way, which was the biggest factor, but she also suspected that getting involved with him even casually would stir up trouble.
Being a girl popular among the boys and Yuuta being a popular boy among the girls, their potential friendship could invite unwanted jealousy and potentially cause harm to one of or both of them. It wasn't hard to imagine the negative speculations that would come flying their way.
If it weren't for Amane being friends with Yuuta, she wouldn't even have considered the idea of sharing a table like this. Since she wanted to avoid increasing any unnecessary worries, she would likely have chosen to keep her distance, and let sleeping dogs lie.
Even though they were both popular enough to have earned embarrassing nicknames, it was likely that Yuuta had also kept his distance for the same reason. From Mahiru's perspective, however, the more convincing explanation was simply that neither of them were particularly interested in the other.
"I see. There are indeed things to be cautious about, but that doesn't make you an unlikable person, Kadowaki-san." "…I guess that's true."
"While we kept a certain distance to avoid unnecessary rumors, it's not like I had any particular thoughts about you."
Even now, I'm still somewhat cautious around him—he seems rather shrewd, Mahiru thought, though she didn't find Yuuta's personality disagreeable. In fact, she considered him to be of the preferable sort. While she generally disliked interacting with others, she deemed his nature acceptable, at least to the extent of holding a conversation like this.
"Well, thanks," responded Yuuta.
"Conversely, I was actually wondering if you were the one having reservations about me."
"Not really."
"That's good then, I suppose."
Mahiru understood that he hardly ever spoke to her, out of consideration for his influence. But she'd also noticed that even when others weren't looking, Yuuta's demeanor barely changed. She could sense slight awkwardness from him at times, which made her wonder if Yuuta had some reservations about her.
However, Yuuta had instead lowered his eyebrows in response to her question, looking troubled. Apparently, she hadn't hit the nail on the head—instead, the look on Yuuta's face suggested that he hadn't expected Mahiru to phrase it that way.
Had I misunderstood? Mahiru thought, revising her evaluation with a soft sigh.
"By the way, is it alright for you to be having tea with me?" Yuuta asked. "Come again?" As she sighed, thinking that she still had a long way to go,
Mahiru received a question that she didn't quite understand. She'd ended up replying in her normal voice, which surprised Yuuta, so when Mahiru cleared her throat and reasked, "In what way?" he wore an awkward smile that was different from before.
"I mean, don't you…need to go to Fuji— …go back to his place soon? Or is it fine not to?" Yuuta deliberately avoided using the name, likely out of consideration for the public setting. But in that case, Mahiru wished he hadn't asked at all. She nearly spilled her café au lait from the shock.
Meeting Yuuta's gaze cautiously so as not to reveal her agitation, Mahiru found Yuuta looking back at her with an oddly curious expression.
"Wh–Why would you say that?"
"Huh? Well, you're always together, aren't you?" "H-How did you know?"
"Well, to be honest, it's pretty obvious… With how you treat each other, anyone who sees you two together would figure out that you're always together."
Yuuta had already been told that Mahiru often cooked meals at Amane's house, and had understood that they were on close terms. But Mahiru hadn't at all expected him to imply that they were always together.
Indeed, Mahiru was often at Amane's house, almost to the point where it felt like her second home. She even spent most of her time there outside of mealtime. Amane had never rejected her, either—instead, they had naturally come to accept this as their routine. Still, being told that by someone who wasn't really involved with them came as a great shock to her.
Then, being subtly reminded that others had caught on about her feelings for Amane was another shock. Almost groaning, Mahiru had to struggle to maintain her usual expression, whether she was successful or not.
"…It's not as if I'm there e-every day."
"Still more than I'd expected. Maybe like six days a week, then?"
"I won't deny that. We're splitting the cost of food, so naturally, we end up eating together."
Yuuta nodded solemnly. "It's natural for you to be with him all the time, after all."
Mahiru, unable to restrain her responses any longer, shot him a suspicious glare. "…What exactly are you trying to say, Kadowaki-san?"
"Huh? Nothing in particular, really…hmm. If there's one thing I had to say, it's that you seem much more lively now than when I see you at school."
"Doesn't everyone feel that way among friends?"
"Maybe, but it's a different lively compared to when you're with Shirakawa-san."
Mahiru closed her lips, unable to offer a reply. Yuuta then waved his hand gently with a soft look, as if to reassure her.
"It's not that I want to make a big deal out of it or anything. I was just thinking that maybe you'd prefer spending time with him than me. Aren't you worried about making him jealous?"
It appeared that Yuuta was concerned in his own way, but for Mahiru, such words were bad for her heart.
Jealousy, of all things…
In the first place, Amane wasn't the type to get jealous over who Mahiru interacted with. His personality being what it was, he never got jealous over something or someone that didn't belong to him.
The one who did, had always been Mahiru. "…If he did, then I wouldn't be having such a hard time."
"Aha ha."
"On the other hand, do you believe he would get jealous, Kadowaki-san?" "Hmm, strange to say this since I brought it up, but I don't think he would.
Even if you told him you had tea with me, he'd probably just say, 'Oh, I see,' and move on."
"…You understand him very well." "Has it happened before?"
"Yes, I once spoke with Akazawa-san one-on-one. Before any hint of jealousy, he was concerned about whether we had talked about anything unnecessary."
"Sounds just like him."
"It's not as if he would get jealous, so it's not an issue."
"If anything, I feel like you'd be the one getting anxious over things like that, Shiina-san."
He can read people so easily like that. Perhaps I should consider him someone difficult to deal with after all…? Mahiru couldn't help thinking that.
Unlike Amane, who was candid and straightforward despite his usual calm demeanor, or Itsuki, who always seemed to see the bigger picture while wearing a carefree smile, Yuuta was a deep thinker, the type who hid his thoughts behind his smile—a troublesome opponent if ever made an enemy.
Itsuki could be difficult to interact with too, but he was unequivocally on Amane's side and had motives that were easy to understand, making it easier to interact with him. But she couldn't quite get a read on Yuuta's position.
She ended up staring at him with a studying look to probe his intentions, to which Yuuta responded with a lowered brow and a smile.
"Sorry, I didn't mean to tease you. It's just that when it comes to him, you're easy to read."
"…Is it really that obvious?"
"Yup." Yuuta nodded without a moment's hesitation.
Unable to bear it, Mahiru subtly pressed her cheek and let out a soft sigh. "I must be more careful, it's still too early."
"'Early', huh." "Indeed. Early."
"Hopefully, the right time for you will come soon."
While Mahiru wondered if there was a meaning hidden behind Yuuta's words, it likely was just pure support from him. It wasn't as though she had room to complain—she also had a faint shadiness about her in the eyes of others. Even so, she still found it difficult to read his thoughts and narrowed her eyes slightly.
"…Excuse me for asking while you're right here, but have you ever been told that you're difficult to read?"
"Don't you get that a lot too, Shiina-san?"
With a slight laugh, Mahiru replied, "People often say that, yes, but behind my back."
Indeed, Mahiru was in no position to criticize Yuuta in that regard.
She maintained her façade as the Angel, and treated everyone with courtesy, kindness and politeness. When said by those who disliked her, that line was akin to calling her two-faced, but there was nothing Mahiru could do about that.
She was used to being spoken ill of. While she received words of praise from many people, she also received words of envy, jealousy, and resentment. Ever since establishing her Angel persona, it had really only happened behind her back, but even then, there were still those who'd bad-mouth her while ensuring she could hear them when she was alone.
She understood that the brighter the light, the darker the shadow it casts.
That's why she never sought to change that aspect of herself, nor did she believe she could.
I've already grown accustomed to it. I've resigned myself to it.
Without changing her expression, she placed those feelings into her smile, conveying them without words.
At this, Yuuta's smile darkened. "So you've picked up on that, huh?" "Yes, I have."
"…You really have it tougher than I do."
"Well, I'm accustomed to it." She probably shouldn't have, but it had become so routine that it felt like everyday life. It had become her everyday life. "Don't give it a second thought," she continued. "In fact, things would become worse if you tried anything."
"I'm not foolish enough to add fuel to the fire," Yuuta responded. "Thank you for your wise decision."
Yuuta had the good sense to stay an outsider, knowing his own influence all too well. It was a relief for Mahiru. He must have known that it wasn't anything a sense of justice alone could solve.
"Make sure to tell him before it gets painful for you." "Good point. I will give it some thought."
Yuuta offered the best advice he could. However, Mahiru had no intention of relying on Amane unless absolutely necessary.
Still, it was comforting to know she had someone to turn to, and she could see that Yuuta's suggestion came from a place of concern. With that, Mahiru nodded sincerely and finished her long-cold café au lait.
✧ ₊ ✦ ₊ ✧
By the time Mahiru finished some additional shopping after parting ways with Yuuta, it was already evening. When she returned home, or more accurately, to Amane's place, a warm sensation filled her chest at the sight of Amane diligently preparing dinner. Still unaware of her return, he was hard at work in the kitchen handling vegetables by himself, following the recipe Mahiru had left for him.
Lately, he had been wearing his apron with confidence. Watching him measure ingredients and scrutinize the recipe, an indescribable sense of endearment welled up inside her, making her lips curl into a smile.
"I'm home," announced Mahiru.
Amane, who had been engrossed in his task, visibly jumped at her voice. He looked over at her and when their eyes met, she offered him a warm smile.
His eyebrows then drooped in an apologetic fashion. "Ah, welcome home.
Sorry—I was so focused I didn't even notice."
"I suspected as much. It was clear watching you," she replied, but Mahiru had no intention of blaming him. Rather, the sight of him cooking on his own filled her heart with warmth—in fact, she felt genuine happiness and joy from the situation. "You should've just waited for me to return home," she added. "I did send you a message saying I'd be home soon, you know?"
"I haven't checked my phone, sorry. Still, wouldn't it be easier for you if I prepped some things before you get back?" Amane asked. Mahiru felt a mixture of itchiness and joy when he then laughed, adding, "Today's dish must've taken you a while to prepare, right? With it needing to marinate and all."
Amane had come a long way—from initially relying solely on her taking care of everything to then helping out, and now even taking the initiative to cook, his growth was incredible. If the Amane from six months ago could see him now, he'd be amazed.
"Thank you," Mahiru softly muttered to Amane, who had been extremely considerate to ensure her outing was enjoyable. However, Amane himself found this somewhat amusing, saying, "That's usually my line."
"I really do like that about you," she said thoughtfully, placing her freshly purchased items on the sofa. As she tied her hair back and returned to the kitchen where Amane was, she found him staring intently at her for one reason or another.
"Is something the matter?" she asked.
"Not really, it's just that your hair looks extra silky today. Well, it's always silky, but today it's especially lustrous."
"…Did I mention where I was going today?"
She had told him she'd go shopping but hadn't mentioned visiting the beauty salon. It was natural to see changes in someone's hair after they visited a beauty salon, but if they weren't told, then it was something only someone paying close attention would notice.
Mahiru never slacked when maintaining her hair, so her treatment at the beauty salon hadn't made any dramatic changes to her appearance. While the quality of her hair had improved, it was mainly the texture that had changed.
"Huh? Well, I thought I shouldn't pry, so I hadn't asked for any details. It's just that your hair looks more elegant than usual with it tied up. Very smooth, and pretty."
"You really do pay close attention."
"…So, did you go to a beauty salon? I see."
After hearing Mahiru affirm that her hair quality had improved, which helped him understand where she'd been, Amane effortlessly complimented her, saying, "You look even more beautiful." Averting her gaze, Mahiru once again thanked him, softly responding, "Thank you very much."
Amane, seemingly unaware of any change in Mahiru's expression, checked the recipe pinned on the fridge and chuckled, "Maybe I should go there sometime soon as well."
Mahiru was torn between being impressed by Amane's casually observant comments and the urge to complain about them. Trying not to say anything, she washed her hands and stood next to him. As she marveled at Amane's prep work—a skill that he now seemed to have perfected—she checked the next step in the recipe and peeked into the fridge.
"Did you enjoy your outing?" Amane asked.
In response to the question coming from beside her, Mahiru gave a small smile. "Yes—it's nice to head out alone once in a while."
"That's great. You haven't really been going out much lately."
"Well, by nature, I'm more of an indoor person. If there's no specific reason to go out, I usually stay at home. I don't have the energy to go outside just for the sake of trying to find something to do."
"Ha ha, I totally get it," related Amane. "I also won't go out without a reason to."
"You prefer watching movies or playing games at home, right, Amane-kun?" "Yep, exactly. I'm more of the laid-back type."
While Amane was more of an indoor person than Mahiru, it wasn't like he spent all his days off cooped up. He played with Itsuki and the others, or went running as part of his training. He also did some physical activities, so he couldn't be categorized purely as an indoor type.
"Incidentally, I happened to run into Kadowaki-san today. We chatted for a bit."
"Oh, I see. He has no club activities today, after all. What was he doing?" "…Really, you understand him very well."
Mahiru's words weren't directed at Amane, who was standing before her.
"Hmm, strange to say this since I brought it up, but I don't think he would. Even if you told him you had tea with me, he'd probably just say, 'Oh, I see,' and move on," Mahiru remembered what Yuuta had said at the café. The reality was just as he predicted, leaving her feeling slightly frustrated.
"Huh, what do you mean?"
"Nothing. I just happened to see him studying at a café and we shared a table. He said that if he did it at home, his sisters would 'work him to the bone.'"
"Ha ha, he does say his sisters are quite intense. It must really be something if Kadowaki's saying it."
Amane, being his friend, knew more about Yuuta than Mahiru but had apparently never met his sisters. Imagining the situation, Amane seemed to find it amusing.
"…What's wrong?" Noticing Mahiru was lost in thought, Amane asked with a tone of concern.
She shook her head lightly. "…I was just thinking that, well, Kadowaki-san isn't someone you should be careless around."
"Did he do something?"
"No, it's like…because we're in the same category of people, there was this…strange sense of tension between us when we were together…"
She couldn't possibly say that she found it unfair, so Mahiru softly described what she'd felt today. Amane seemed to more or less understand, replying, "Ah, like you're both feeling each other out."
"Both of us have our positions, so it becomes scary to do it unconsciously." "I do get what you mean, but Kadowaki's a good guy, you know?"
"I understand that. I do, but I'm afraid of people who are unconditionally kind. Individuals who act without expecting something in return are trickier to deal with than those who do."
Without a doubt, Yuuta was a good man.
Although he was the kind of person who made one think he was hiding something, Mahiru sensed that it wasn't anything malicious. Certainly, he was tricky to read, but Mahiru believed he was likely a good person. But for her, who had made it to this point by not readily accepting others, she still couldn't fully trust him.
She knew he was thoughtful and had an excellent character, and was likely supporting her relationship with Amane with good intentions. Yet, she couldn't help but try to read between the lines, even if she didn't get a sense of something hidden.
"I get what you're trying to say, but I don't think you have to be that cautious."
"I do understand that, you know." Still, Mahiru was wired to be wary of people.
"Well, if you don't like him, you don't have to force yourself to interact with him. Maybe I should stay on my toes a bit, too."
"No, it's not that I dislike him," she denied, "it's just…" "Just?"
"…There are things that I find to be a bit…"
Strangely, it was the level of Yuuta's understanding of Amane that bothered her. Yuuta had only started interacting with Amane since about the start of the new term, but to her surprise, he already seemed to have a precise understanding of Amane. The idea that someone else could claim her role as the one who best understood Amane made her uneasy, despite her knowing he didn't 'belong' to her.
"Are they bad feelings?"
"No, not like that…it's just something I'm selfishly thinking. It's not like I dislike him or anything."
"I see. Well, compatibility is a thing, so it can't be helped."
"I mean…it's like, Kadowaki-san seems to understand you incredibly well, Amane-kun…"
"Really?"
"Yes, really."
"…Why are you sulking?" "I'm not."
I'm not jealous of Kadowaki-san or anything. Definitely not.
She assured herself of such as she added the seasoning Amane had measured beforehand into the pot, and Amane tilted his head quizzically.