It was true he had paid some attention to her, but Suzuki was the type who was always smiling, so it wasn’t inaccurate to say he had been smiling at Mahiru. But for Mahiru, who always treated everyone the same, the only reaction she could have to being attacked like this was confusion. “I liked Suzuki first! Can’t you keep your hands off him?!” “I don’t remember ever putting any on him.” She wanted to add something about the boy not belonging to this girl in the first place, but she could tell that she wasn’t in the listening mood, so she settled for a shorter answer. “Well then, why do you talk to him? If you don’t like him, knock it off!” “But I’ve never talked to him as anything more than a classmate.” “Liar!” Far from lying, Mahiru was telling the truth. But from the other girl’s perspective, it didn’t seem to look that way. Mahiru was really at a loss for how to explain things so the other girl would understand. To Mahiru, Suzuki was simply a classmate, and she didn’t have even the slightest interest in him as a member of the opposite sex. If anything, he wasn’t her type. Though she acted like a good girl and played the part of someone who was cheerful and sociable, the real Mahiru was the type of girl who wanted to live quietly and not be disturbed by others as she lived her life. The boy was cheerful and friendly, and so naturally he got along well with people. But Mahiru didn’t care for the way he approached her and talked to her as if they had been good friends for a long time, even though they didn’t know each other that well. She didn’t like the type of people who came on so strongly without realizing how the other party might feel about it. Upon reflection, Mahiru concluded that it was possible that because Suzuki was pushy and overly familiar with everyone and Mahiru treated everyone the same, the girl had gotten the wrong idea. She felt a little bad. But still, Mahiru was certain she hadn’t acted as if she liked Suzuki, even a little bit, so she couldn’t help but be a bit annoyed by the accusation. “Anyway, don’t get too friendly with Suzuki.” “Sure, if that’s what you want, Miss Inoue.” For some reason, Mahiru was getting ordered around. But she didn’t particularly want to talk to Suzuki anyway, and she was happy keeping the same comfortable distance with him as with any other classmate, so the demand didn’t bother her at all, and she accepted it easily. The other girl seemed satisfied with that, and she snorted and pushed her way past Mahiru to leave, bumping into her as she went as if to say that she had no more business with her. Mahiru stood there flabbergasted, watching the other girl’s back as she ran off, her backpack swaying. “That was awful,” she muttered. Mahiru hadn’t really had much to do with Inoue before but had always thought she was quiet and well-behaved. She was surprised to find this girl apparently had a nasty temper. Reevaluating her opinions after this unexpected exchange, Mahiru followed the road home, walking the same way she always did. “Young lady, you should know that girls can get aggressive when it seems like the person they care for might be taken from them. Especially when they are young.” Mahiru had never been in love and didn’t really understand the other girl’s feelings. Miss Koyuki had come to do the housework, and when Mahiru talked to her about the incident after school, she gave her this answer gently, with a strained smile. Miss Koyuki’s way of gently, gently warning Mahiru, which was not at all a rebuke, only made things even less clear. She just couldn’t understand why someone would become aggressive when they fell in love. She could only wonder how someone could take that out on others. “He might be taken? But I don’t even want him!” “That’s awfully harsh, young lady.” She looked at Miss Koyuki and insisted that it couldn’t be helped, since she really didn’t want the boy, but Miss Koyuki kept wearing the same strained smile. “Well, when you’re in love with someone, you get scared that the person you care for might become someone else’s sweetheart. You worry greatly that the one you want might be taken from you, right out from under your nose, and you may end up confronting the person who seems likely to steal them, asking them to back down.” “So she’s warning me off?” “I believe so, yes.” In that case, Mahiru could appreciate the principle behind the girl’s conduct, but there was something else she understood even less now. “But Suzuki never belonged to that girl in the first place. I don’t understand how she can tell me not to take him. When did she get the right to say things like that?” The girl had spoken as if Suzuki was already completely in her possession, and Mahiru found that curious. She felt like the girl hadn’t even had that much contact with Suzuki anyway, and…though she searched through her memories, she couldn’t recall her ever approaching Suzuki before. She had seen her timidly speak to him, but that was all. “Not everyone is able to separate facts from their feelings as well as you can, young lady. I’m sure that someday you, too, will understand her state of mind, so we mustn’t speak badly about the girl. Besides, you will antagonize her if you say you don’t care for the boy, so how about you keep that to yourself, all right?” “What for?” “Hearing someone say they don’t care about something you want can make you feel like they are mocking you or questioning why you want that thing.” “So even though she’s the one who told me not to take him, if I say I don’t want him, she’ll get angry? That’s so strange.” “Humans can be that way.” Miss Koyuki had vastly more life experience than Mahiru, so if she said that was so, Mahiru was satisfied that it was. But still, she felt a surge of feeling like she didn’t want anything to do with people who brandished their emotions like blunt weapons. “Knowing you don’t want to take the boy and throwing that fact in the other girl’s face are two different things. You understand that, don’t you, young lady?” “Yes.” “Very good… I think you will understand once there is someone you like. I think you will understand the anxiety that comes when the person you like looks at another girl.” “…Someone I like?” Even hearing it from Miss Koyuki, the idea didn’t quite sit right with Mahiru. Among Mahiru’s few personal relationships, Miss Koyuki was the person she liked the best, but of course, she didn’t have feelings of romantic love toward her, nor could she imagine having any feelings for a boy that surpassed what she felt for Miss Koyuki. She had often seen books that said girls developed mentally earlier than boys, and honestly, it did seem to Mahiru that the boys in her class were more childish. That didn’t necessarily mean she looked down on them, but they did a lot of impulsive, impetuous things, and interacting with them tired her out. Mahiru had always been aware that she was also too mature for her age, and she had had the sense that she was never able to get very close to her peers because there was too much of a gap between them. They weren’t on the same wavelength, she could say. Because of that, she had never been able to clearly imagine herself falling in love with someone. But she knew that it would probably happen once she was grown up, so she intended to take Miss Koyuki’s warnings seriously. “Even if I do start liking somebody, I don’t want to take it out on anyone else.” “That’s right. Plus, if the person you like hears other people complain about you, that will make it more difficult for you to get close to that person.” “Difficult?” “Suppose there was someone who liked you, young lady, and that person forcefully confronted your good friends with their selfish feelings; what would you think of that?” “I would stay away from that person.” Mahiru understood that it was obviously best not to become too friendly with that type of person. “Exactly. You would be afraid of them, right?” “Yes.” If someone was careless with things others valued, she really doubted they would treat her with any more care. She could imagine such a person would force their ideas of what was important onto her, and she would get hurt, so Mahiru wasn’t interested in getting close to anyone like that. Once she considered that, leaving aside the question of whether Suzuki actually liked Mahiru, the kind of girl who would aggressively confront anyone she even suspected he liked was obviously a hurtful person. She understood why Inoue had gotten aggressive and jealous and called her sneaky, and Mahiru wasn’t angry about it, but she also thought the girl could have found a better way to address her feelings. “But what I’m curious about is why did she just call me sneaky, rather than trying to get the person she likes to like her back? Does she think she can get him to like her just by calling me names?” If the girl thought Mahiru was so sneaky, perhaps she ought to become more like Mahiru. Shouldn’t she, Mahiru wondered, make some effort to get the boy to turn and look at her? She wasn’t saying the girl hadn’t made any effort, but as far as Mahiru had seen, she’d hardly done anything to appeal to the boy and get him to like her. She never proactively went to talk to him, and she didn’t seem to be trying to learn about the things he liked. Even Mahiru, who didn’t understand anything about love, thought it would be difficult to get someone to love you that way. “Hmm. Young lady, you mustn’t ask that question of anyone else, all right?” “Okay. I only said it because I’m asking you, Miss Koyuki.” Even Mahiru, in the short amount of time she had lived, had determined there were certain social boundaries that had to be observed and that other people would reject her if she said certain things out loud. In order to be a good girl, she had been trying the best she could not to get on people’s nerves. Mahiru knew it wouldn’t be wise to ask the other girl whatever came to mind. But “why” was the only question Mahiru hadn’t been able to resolve on her own, so she had asked Miss Koyuki, who was an adult and someone she trusted. To Mahiru, trying hard was normal, and although it was often difficult, Mahiru was never opposed to putting in the necessary effort. She had always thought if someone did their best, so long as there were no adverse conditions, they would be able to accomplish their desired goal. That was exactly what made this so curious. Still, leaving aside the question of whether or not the girl could even possess the boy in the first place, since it was a matter of human relations after all, if she never gave it any effort, she wouldn’t even be able to get him to look her way. So why was she failing to put any effort in? Mahiru wondered. Could she get the boy just by saying she wanted him? Despite not making any effort at all, this girl was already getting the kind of love Mahiru desperately wanted and worked so hard for, yet could never have. Why did she think she could get even more love just by wanting it and not putting in any work? That was what Mahiru wondered, just a little. Miss Koyuki smiled calmly, and it was unclear whether or not she was aware of the complicated mix of feelings in Mahiru’s heart, but she gently bent forward so she could meet Mahiru’s gaze, and she peered into her face. “Young lady, you try hard at everything you do, so I suppose you might not understand it.” Even Mahiru could tell there was something bitter, like faint pity, in Miss Koyuki’s voice. “There are many fewer people than you think who are willing to work hard for what they desire, no matter how difficult it might be, without knowing whether or not their wish will be granted. Your ability to keep on trying is another way in which you are gifted.” “…Gifted?” “People like to take the easy way out and believe that great things will just fall into their laps without them having to lift a finger… They tend to take the path of least resistance.” “Do things ever work out that way?” “Mm, good question. Sometimes good things do happen, so I suppose it is possible. The question is what you do from there. People convince themselves a bit of good luck from out of nowhere is going to continue forever. Things worked out one way before, so they ought to work out a certain way next time, they think… And as a result of chasing that one-time bout of good luck, and ceasing to make any effort of their own, it’s possible that people get nothing and waste their time and never manage to acquire the things they want.” What Miss Koyuki was saying reminded Mahiru of a nursery rhyme she had heard somewhere before. She wasn’t sure why, but it sounded like Miss Koyuki’s warning was accompanied by real-life experience. Mahiru quietly listened to her words, which were gently spoken but had the edge of a moral lesson. Miss Koyuki smiled sweetly at her. “I got a little off track, but the point is that you, young lady, are diligent and hardworking. I think that those are wonderful qualities and strong points you ought to be proud of.” Adding that Mahiru mustn’t demand the same level of effort from others, Miss Koyuki squeezed her hand. Although Mahiru was growing up, an adult’s hand still seemed big to her, the way it completely enveloped her own. She didn’t dislike it—in fact, it made her happy, which must have been because, in a very real sense, Mahiru couldn’t get anyone else to reach out for her hand. Miss Koyuki was the only one who knew Mahiru’s exact feelings and the only person who could touch Mahiru without making her uncomfortable. “Young lady, once you’ve found someone you love, you must do everything you can to get them to look your way… I think that anyone who measures up to your standards will probably be someone truly amazing. When you’ve got something good, other people are always after it. If you don’t hold on tight with your own two hands, it might slip right through your fingers. That’s the last thing you’d want to happen, right?” “…Yes.” Though she nodded in agreement, Mahiru couldn’t quite picture it. She just couldn’t imagine having someone she loved by her side. Actually, since she had never had someone snuggle up to her before, it was more accurate to say she didn’t even know what that would look like. “But you’re talking about what happens when I find someone I love. I don’t even want to do that.” “What would your ideal partner be like, young lady?” “…Someone who would make a family with me.” Miss Koyuki’s face clouded over at the words that rushed from Mahiru’s mouth, and Mahiru immediately regretted saying them. Miss Koyuki was the person most bothered by Mahiru’s relationship with her parents, other than Mahiru, and the word family always put her on edge. She knew Mahiru had already mostly given up. No matter how much Mahiru wanted it, even if she screamed and cried until she ran out of tears, her two parents would never look her way. That was all the more reason why maybe, just maybe—if Mahiru ever fell for someone else, she hoped it would be someone who would snuggle up close to her, someone with whom she could pass the days as a family. “If you make a connection with a wonderful person, then in the end, you’ll be able to build a family. Before that, while you’re dating, is there anything you think you will look for?” “…I’d like someone who listens carefully to what I say, someone who will stay by my side and who makes me feel relaxed when I’m with them. Someone who will think things over with me when I don’t understand them and stay with me patiently when things get tough. That would be good.” Mahiru couldn’t imagine ever falling in love with a boy. But if she did, she was sure it would be someone like that. Someone who would listen carefully to her, who would stay by her side, who would have eyes only for her, and who would treasure her always. …I wonder if anyone will ever love me? Mahiru had always felt like she was not really an attractive person. She could tell people liked her good-girl persona, but she couldn’t imagine anyone would ever like the real her once that facade was stripped away. And anyway, at the moment, there was nothing to indicate that she was ever going to fall for someone, so it still didn’t feel like something that could really happen. Mahiru thought it was probably all right to just hold on to the fleeting wish that it might be nice to have someone someday. When she looked up at Miss Koyuki, who was holding her hand, Miss Koyuki squeezed her hand a little more firmly. “I’m sure you will also meet a good person someday, young lady.” “…Right.” “You mustn’t get mixed up with worthless men. Anyone who sees you as something to be consumed, or who doesn’t see you as his equal, or who tries to tell you what kind of person you have to be is no good. Find yourself someone who will see you for who you are, who will see the effort you put in and recognize your worth, someone who will accept you as you are, who is honest and kind… I won’t be able to stay by your side forever, young lady. There is nothing I can do but hope you will find someone who will make you happy.” When she heard those last words, added in a hoarse voice, Mahiru finally understood why Miss Koyuki was warning her so sternly about all this. There was no way Miss Koyuki was going to be able to stay by Mahiru’s side forever. Miss Koyuki was not Mahiru’s mother. She was employed as a housekeeper, and was a complete stranger otherwise. Her relationship to Mahiru was weak enough that if her parents ever fired Miss Koyuki on some kind of whim, it would sever the bond between them. Even though she often fulfilled a maternal role, just like she was doing at the moment, Miss Koyuki never acted as if she were Mahiru’s actual mother. She called Mahiru “young lady” and maintained a certain amount of distance, probably so she didn’t give Mahiru any naive hopes. That was because, no matter what happened, Miss Koyuki could not become Mahiru’s mother. Having that fact thrust at her dispassionately and yet directly, Mahiru bit her lip, and Miss Koyuki once again wrapped up Mahiru’s little hand in hers. A deeply penetrating warmth traveled through Mahiru’s hand and collected near her eyes, where it warmed her whole face. “You have to always try your best, young lady, so you can win the love of someone who will make you happy. I suspect all sorts of different people will probably approach you. There may be people who want to use you and people who will speak ill of you. However, they will never be able to diminish or take away the time and effort you put into yourself… I’m certain someone will come along who loves you for exactly who you are and not just for your appearance or your abilities.” She wasn’t Mahiru’s mother, but Miss Koyuki was the person most concerned about Mahiru and most worried about her future prospects. And she was the only one who told her things in an attempt to gently guide her toward a brighter future. Mahiru felt a sensation like something tightening in her chest as she gave a small nod, then hung her head. “So I guess that’s why I haven’t gotten mixed up with any bad men.” Mahiru had been staring down at the pages, which were a little yellowed and faded. One way or another, she thought, Miss Koyuki’s instructions had been correct, and Mahiru’s heart had not steered her off course. With a rustle of pages, she closed the diary shut. It made a snapping noise as the air was pushed out and the pages collided, but Mahiru paid no attention to that. She half rose as she closed the notebook, then returned to her seat again after setting it on the table in front of her. Without any hesitation, she leaned her whole body back and bent her neck to look upward, where she locked eyes with Amane, on whom she was lying instead of the sofa. Mahiru had gotten quite used to sitting in between Amane’s legs, and even though she still felt a little shy about it, she was now able to glue herself to his side rather than sitting beside him normally. She felt happy inside as she used Amane for a chair, but he frowned slightly. They’d been pressed right against one another until a moment earlier, so she didn’t think he would have any complaints about the position, but maybe something had happened… When she gazed into his eyes, he grumbled gloomily, “Why do I feel like I’m being put down?” That was when she realized he had misunderstood the comment she had just made to herself, and in a panic, she shook her head at Amane, who was wondering whether he should embrace her or not. “No, no, you’ve got it all wrong. I was looking at my diary, and I remembered Miss Koyuki saying I mustn’t get involved with any bad men.” Until a moment earlier, Mahiru had been sitting between Amane’s legs, rereading her diary. From where he was sitting, Amane had plenty of opportunities to see the contents of the diary, but perhaps out of consideration for her privacy, he hadn’t even tried to peek at it. Despite that, Mahiru had been describing the sort of things that were in there as she read through the diary. They had been laughing together, reminiscing over things that had happened to them both. But Mahiru had figured, naturally enough, that Amane wouldn’t have anything to say about things that had happened in her early childhood, so while she was looking over entries from that period of her life, she had been reading silently to herself. Because of that, it seemed like he had misunderstood the comment she’d thoughtlessly made to herself, taking it as a snide remark against him. “What was that all about? You suddenly sounded like you were implying something.” “I’m sorry for giving you the wrong idea. I was reminiscing, and it just came out…” “Hm, it’s fine, it’s okay, I misunderstood all on my own, after all.” “…You are not a bad man, Amane. Of course you aren’t.” “But I am totally spoiled.” “Well…” His tone was slightly joking, so she answered him in a slightly critical tone of her own. “You always say that about yourself, Amane, but at this point, I don’t think that’s accurate anymore.” “You think so?” “It’s hard to say what I would point to and claim you’re spoiled. You’re clever, and you can do all the housework, you’re good at taking care of people, and you’re a kind, honest, and gentle person. There aren’t many people like you.” “Are you sure you’re not putting me up on a pedestal? That’s what it sounds like.” “I’m certain. Your feet are firmly on the ground.” “Then, you must be using a very good filter when you look at me.” “I am not, geez.” Mahiru was getting annoyed with Amane’s refusal to accept a compliment, but at the same time, she could understand how he was feeling, so she decided to refrain from complimenting him too much, which could have come across as mockery. Amane himself might still feel like he had a long way to go, but from Mahiru’s perspective, he was good enough. If anything, he was already better than good. In any case, he had reached the point where he could handle any kind of housework, which put him head and shoulders above the other boys his age. Despite that, it seemed like Amane himself had yet to accept that fact, so Mahiru usually praised him for his ambition, but she wished he would develop a more accurate picture of himself. “Amane, you’re already an impressively self-reliant guy. Actually, it would be more worth my time spoiling you if you would get a little bit more useless and depraved each day.” “Stoppp it; don’t go spoiling me, please! I want to spoil you instead.” “If you do that, I won’t be fit to be seen by other people anymore, will I?” “I can barely show you off as it is, though.” With a laugh, he wrapped his arms around Mahiru’s midsection, and she held her tongue. In their current position, Mahiru was sitting in between Amane’s legs, leaning back against his body and relaxing. It was a lazy posture that would have been unthinkable for Mahiru to adopt outside the house, and she looked like she was demanding his attention. If any outsider had seen her, she had no doubt they would say she’d been spoiled rotten by Amane. Amane actually seemed happy Mahiru was acting so spoiled, and he was letting her do as she pleased, and even letting her fawn all over him, so he actually seemed to welcome this situation and be enjoying himself. “…I could get even worse.” “I’d like you to, personally. I want us to be on equal footing and respect one another, but I also want to dote on you and completely spoil you rotten.” Amane brought his lips to the back of Mahiru’s head as he whispered that in a soft but penetrating voice. She would have liked to complain to somebody for making Amane into such an unwitting romantic, but Mahiru herself and Amane’s parents were probably to blame for that, so she stopped thinking about it too deeply. Now that they had been dating for several months, Mahiru could appreciate how her own actions had helped to form the way Amane doted on her, so she was in no position to criticize him. And anyway, it wasn’t like she disliked Amane’s behavior when he treated her tenderly and showered her with love. So although she groaned in embarrassment, she let him do as he pleased. He was showing his love for her, and yet Amane was still naturally cautious and reserved, and he only went so far as to kiss her and gently wrap her up in his arms to hold her. He was determined not to make her uncomfortable, so though he spoke confidently, he was often actually quite restrained. And yet this time, he seemed to want to be really affectionate toward her. He wasn’t having any trouble wrapping the tranquil Mahiru up in his arms. “…I had better let Miss Koyuki know before too long, huh?” It was only natural Mahiru wanted to tell the person who had been the most concerned with her well-being that she had finally found someone to love, that she was dating him, and that he treasured her this much. “Let her know we’ve started dating?” “Yes… And tell her I got my hands on my ideal partner.” “…Ideal? Me?” “Of course, the main condition is that you love me, but…I’ve always thought I wanted someone who would respect me as a woman and treasure me, someone who would accept me for who I am.” In other words, Mahiru’s ideal partner was a person who would respect her for who she was and love her. She was sure Amane fulfilled that ideal better than anyone else could. She could say definitively that no other person would ever appear who would treasure her as much as he did, or understand her as well, or have such deep, attentive affection for her and her choices. To Mahiru, Amane was her star supporter, a ray of sunshine in her life. “I’m honored that I meet your expectations, Mahiru.” “Actually, I was surprised I met your expectations. No matter how you look at it, I was the more tiresome of the two of us.” “You’re putting yourself down too much.” “I mean…” Though of course she knew, as everyone else did, that she was a capable person, only Mahiru herself knew how troubled she was on the inside. A secretly bitter girl who wore the mask of an angel. A girl who got lonely and anxious easily. A girl who craved companionship from someone, anyone, and yet stubbornly refused to let anyone in. She was a bundle of contradictions. That was who Mahiru Shiina was. Amane had made it past her stubborn defenses and taken the hand of the little girl who had been hiding on the other side. He hadn’t busted down the wall exactly, and he hadn’t slipped through a crack, either; he had knocked boldly at the front door and faced her directly. He had taken his time and waited for Mahiru to extend her hand to him. Amane himself didn’t seem to understand what a sincere and honest person he was. Men like him were truly hard to come by. He really doesn’t seem to be aware of it himself. Depending on how they looked at him, some people might call Amane a loser, or judge him to be a pushover, but Mahiru thought those reflected Amane’s most wonderful qualities. That said, she couldn’t deny in some ways he was too much of a late bloomer, and it was true she had felt impatient with him at times. “I feel as if I’ll never meet anybody more amazing than you, Mahiru.” “Oh no, are you settling for me?” “No way, you know that’s not what I mean… Actually, I don’t have eyes for anyone else.” “…I know.” Even without him telling her, Mahiru knew perfectly well Amane only had eyes for her, and she couldn’t keep herself from smiling. But Amane pouted just a little. He must have thought she was laughing at him. “Why are you smiling?” “Oh, I guess I was just thinking again about what a lucky girl I am.” She doubted there was anyone who wouldn’t be happy, feeling so much love from their beloved partner. “…Mahiru, right now, are you happy?” “Yes, I’m happy. Can’t you tell by looking?” When she wasn’t playing the part of the angel or anything, when she was just ordinary Mahiru, she thought she was a very easy person to read. That was because she was just an ordinary girl, who responded to the things Amane did and said with ordinary human emotions. When Mahiru looked up at Amane from within his arms, Amane’s eyebrows drooped in relief, and his face softened into a smile when he saw her fully relaxed expression. “…Mm, I’m glad,” he whispered, and he sounded happy from the bottom of his heart. It made Mahiru feel bashful. He was already holding her, but he hugged her tightly and drew her even closer to him. Amane’s embrace was gentle yet powerful, as if to tell her she didn’t have to go to the trouble of putting on an act for him. “I’m going to try even harder than ever before, to make you even happier. If there are any ways I’m lacking or places where I’m inadequate, make sure you tell me so.” “Let me see. Sometimes you only think about me, and you let yourself be an afterthought. That’s a really bad habit.” Amane’s greatest shortcoming was that he had a tendency to neglect himself and say he was doing it for Mahiru’s sake. It didn’t make her happy to be prioritized to the point that it harmed Amane, but Amane failed to notice that it didn’t bring Mahiru any joy, because he was trying so hard. If she didn’t point out such things and chide him for them, it was liable to lead to problems for them down the line. “I—I don’t mean to do that, really… For me, it’s like your happiness is my happiness, so if I can get you to smile, then I’m pleased, too.” “You’re a real dummy, Amane.” “…How do you figure?” “Because you must know by now that I’m the same way.” With how clever Amane was, he ought to understand what Mahiru was trying to say. Because they were both two of a kind. Amane picked up on her meaning right away. He frowned, looking obviously dejected, and apologized. “…Sorry.” Mahiru smiled at him, feeling keenly how much she loved these honest parts of him. “It’s really okay. I said this before, too, didn’t I? I love you, Amane. When you’re happy, I’m happy… So please, don’t just prioritize me; make yourself a priority, too, okay?” Just as Amane’s happiness was tied to Mahiru’s happiness, her happiness was tied to his. Seeing the person she loved with a smile on his face, not suffering any hardships, delighted her more than anything else, and that alone was enough to make her feel deeply satisfied. It was probably because they could both share those feelings that Mahiru felt so fortunate. She wanted to believe the same went for Amane. “Please, let me make you happy as well, Amane. You want to find happiness with me, right?” It was no good for Mahiru alone to be happy. It was no good for Mahiru to be happy without him. The important thing was Amane and Mahiru were happy together. Mahiru absolutely did not think she could be satisfied if either of them was wanting for happiness. That would eventually become the seeds of disaster. “…Yeah.”
Chapter 187
29 min read