Chapter 11: The Angel’s First Time (2/2)

It certainly was not as good as one baked in a pizza kiln, but the toppings ranged from standard to kid specials. Surely, there would be some matching Mahiru’s tastes.

Seizing the change in topic, Mahiru took the menu and quickly scanned her eyes over it.

The transparent-looking roasted tea colored eyes stared at the photos of various pizzas.

Those eyes, always devoid of emotion, seemed to be sparkling with life.

…Wait, is she actually looking forward to this?

Perhaps he was thinking too much, but she appeared a little excited, for once she had a look at the menu, she pointed at a four-topping pizza typically found at parties, “This is what I want.” she said.

Mahiru peered over to him, seemingly hiding behind the menu, and once he agreed, her eyes began to glow.

He smiled wryly at her obviously elated face, and with a single hand, he dialed the number listed on the advertisement.

About an hour later, the pizza arrived, and Mahiru quickly ate it.

There were four flavors, and she seemed to have trouble deciding which one to choose from, before she started with the bacon and sausages.

Not unexpectedly, she showed a princess-like side as she chewed on the pizzas in small bites.

She was holding it in her hands, but there was some elegance to how she ate. It was likely she was raised to do so.

But at the same time, he found her as adorable as a little animal.

She narrowed her eyes at the stretching cheese strands, the relaxed cheeks of her smiling face looking strangely adorable.

Typically, she looked really mature, poised even, but right now, she was acting her age.

And as she munched down on the pizza in little bites, Amane had the urge to pat her on the head.

“… What?”

“Nothing. Just that you look like you’re enjoying this.”

“Please do not stare at me.”

But her displeased frown was not cute in the slightest.

“… Well, to say this, you aren’t cute at all.

“That does not matter. After all, you will be uncomfortable with me acting like I would at school, no?”

“Sorta. I’m more used to you being like this than at school.”

He never interacted with Mahiru at school, let alone talked to her.

All he could see was the flawless, genial, beautiful smile that everyone else saw.

And in contrast, she was showing no heed to others this time.

This might have been the true Mahiru, and her gestures at school were simply her ‘going outside’ mode.

“For me, this part of you right now isn’t that tiring.”

“The un-cute part?”

“Don’t be so vindictive…but well, I don’t know what you are thinking of at school.”

“Mostly about dinner, and lessons.”

“You’re still playing the fool?”

Amane was implying that Mahiru was hiding something, but the latter merely took him literally.

It appeared she was not pretending, and she looked at him with a displeased look.

“No, that’s not what I mean. I mean that I can’t see your heart, so like, I don’t know what you’re thinking at school, and you’re still unfriendly now, but it’s easier to interact when you can express your feelings honestly.”

“… Is my behavior at school inappropriate?”

“That’s how you deal with things, and I don’t think that’s bad. But you’re not tired?”

“No. I have been like this since young.”

“Guess it’s ingrained.”

If she was ingrained with that mentality since youth, her etiquette was understandable. However, this meant that she was consciously acting like ‘an ideal child’ and was doing so because she had no choice.

But he could not bring himself to ask more about such family details she had vaguely hinted at.

“Well, it’s good to be able to relax though? I managed to relieve some of your stress.”

“… I cannot relax when you are so hopeless.”

“Sorry about that.”

He shrugged in an exaggerated manner, Mahiru giggled happily.