Chapter 4: The Angel’s porridge, and the current situation (1/2)

“…Anyway, please rest for today, and do drink plenty of water. Use this to wipe your sweat. I have prepared a basin of water; please soak the towel, squeeze it dry, and wipe it.”

After dinner, Mahiru quickly brought another packet of isotonic drink, a basin of water, a towel, and a spare cooling sheet to the side table.

After all, she should not be staying in a stranger’s house, especially one of the opposite gender; Amane too would have felt awkward, so he accepted her actions.

And as Amane stared, Mahiru checked if she had omitted something.

…For someone doing it out of her sense of duty, she sure is thorough.

Mahiru might sound vicious, but she was serious and thorough in whatever she did. Amane gave a wry smile as he started getting used to her.

Well, we won’t get involved with each other after this. Thanks for the care though.

It was unlikely he would be more involved with her. After all, she was just taking care of him this once.

And since they would not interact again , he would use this opportunity to ask something he was curious about.

The medicine might have been taking effect, for he was starting to feel a little groggy, but the fever seemed to have subsided a little. His thoughts were clearer compared to before.

“Erm, can I ask you something?”

“What is it?”

Once everything was set, Mahiru looked over to him,

“Why were you sitting on the swing when it was raining? Had a quarrel with your boyfriend?”

He was still curious about the previous day’s incident, which resulted in this.

Back then, Mahiru was on the swing, soaked in the rain; why was she there?

Having seen her wear the expression of a lost child, Amane was concerned and shoved the umbrella to him.

But he did not understand why she had such an expression.

She appeared to be waiting for someone, so he wondered if she had a quarrel with her boyfriend or something, but Mahiru looked towards him, dumbfounded.

“My apologies, but I have no boyfriend, nor do I have any intention of getting one.”

“Huh? Why?”

“On the contrary, why do you think I have one?”

“Since you’re so popular, I thought you would have one or two at least.”

Being able to talk to her like this, Amane felt she was a more resolute, yet popular, ordinary girl. It did not seem the case to those around him though.

She was an adorable, innocent, obedient, and humble pretty girl with an angelic appearance that was love at first sight.

She was the top ranking student for the year, adept at sports, and as he just learned, great at cooking. Surely she would be popular.

He had seen others actually flirting with her and knew that a few of his classmates had considerable interest in her.

She was spoiled with options;  he could not imagine her not dating at all.

He used the term, one or two at least, as he meant, but Mahiru’s face froze once she heard that, and it contorted a little.

“Not at all. I do not think I am one without restraint to be dating a few males at once. Absolutely not.”

Her eyes turned cold as she flatly denied it, and Amane immediately realized that he stepped on a landmine.

For a moment, he felt a chill, but it was probably due to the cold. For some reason, it seemed the room turned frosty.

“Sorry, this isn’t what I mean. My apologies.”