05 – an encounter under the cold sky
As he declared, Amane remained only acquaintances with Mahiru.
The day after he was nursed back to health, he felt better. As such, he went out to buy something from the convenience store, when by chance, he saw her – he didn’t talk to her, however. Despite this, Amane felt a little relieved at seeing this.
Even as school started and the week ended, the state between them remained the same.
But if a slight change did happen, it’d be the fact that they now acknowledged each other when seeing each other at school.
“You seem well.”
“Thanks to you.”
On the way back home, Itsuki also got worried about the half-dead Amane and checked on him when they met in the elevator to see if he was okay. On Saturday, he sent him a message. “Are you still alive?”
Even if Amane sent back a message saying that there was no problem, Itsuki was still apprehensive, but upon seeing Amane in such a lively state, he breathed a sigh of relief.
“Man, you looked like you were in the dumps so I got worried for a bit there. It’s nice that you got cured and all, but make sure you get your act together too, yeah?”
“Just like someone I know.”
“Huh?”
“Nah, it’s nothing. I know you’ve been worried since Saturday, so I’ll get to cleaning up.”
Nope. Get rid of that mess right now, or so he heard when he was thrust into the job.
The mess probably wouldn’t go away in just half a day.
Amane turned around and sulked, such that Itsuki couldn’t see him pouting.
“Well, I hoped you’d be more pumped about this, but it’s okay. Next time I come over I’ll make sure I can actually walk around.”
“…I’ll try.”
He put on his shoes, went to school, and entered the hallway on the way to his classroom, but on the way he took notice of a noisy classroom and couldn’t help but turn to the side.
Through the window, he saw Mahiru, as beautiful as ever, surrounded by a large crowd of both boys and girls.
When she talked, she put on a peaceful smile, much to the total opposition of the wry smiles she gave out the other day.
Itsuki also noticed the situation and decided to take a look in the same way, and, seeing Mahiru’s figure, showed a state of understanding. (tl note 得心 tokushin, lit. understanding, probably resignment)
“Ah, Shiina. She’s as popular as ever. Guess that’s what you get for being hot.”
“Well, she’s like an angel. Do you find her cute too, Itsuki?”
“I guess. Well, I’m taken, so it’s more like appreciation.”
“Of course you’d bring up your girlfriend.”
Itsuki was in fact actually taken. He had a girlfriend named Chitose.
They were a couple with great synergy, and seeing them together made for a heartwarming scene.
Itsuki didn’t seem to get offended by this, instead laughing it off as it was a common occurrence.
“How about you? Do you find Shiina cute?”
“She’s cute and that’s it.”
“That was straightforward.”
“She’s like a flower beyond our reach. There’s no use interacting with her, just looking is fine.”
“You’re not wrong.”
There was a slight problem in that statement in the sense that Amane was nursed by her, but this was a whole different world from the apartment.
Amane got on good terms with Mahiru, but he had no intention of going further in the future. Excellent people are attracted to excellent people.
It’d be unlikely that a degenerate like Amane and an angel like Mahiru could conceivably get together.
Yeah, we definitely won’t interact again, he thought.
“…what are you eating?”
This statement was promptly disproven while Amane was drinking jelly drinks on his veranda.
