Chapter 13: The Angel and the Cliche Development (1/2)

The park Amane and Mahiru first met was along the road home.

Amane’s apartment was more suited for fewer people, and it would be a little difficult to house a family. Thus, there were few children in his apartment block, and it seemed the other apartments nearby were the same.

Thus, the little park not too far away looked a little forlorn.

It was an empty place the children would not come to play at…and it was there that he spotted Mahiru on her way home.

“What are you doing here?”

“…Nothing.”

Mahiru was seated still on the bench, and narrowed her eyes once she spotted Amane.

Unlike the last time, they were more familiar. Amane could comfortably talk to her, but her answer was terse.

She did not seem wary, and instead, it seemed she was unable to say something.

“If it’s nothing, don’t just sit there looking helpless. What happened?”

“… It is nothing…”

While curious about how she appeared to be in a crisis, the latter did not say her reason.

There was a silent agreement that they would not get involved outside their apartments, but once he saw how troubled she was, he could not help but talk to her.

Mahiru might have hoped for him not to be a busybody.

It’s fine if she doesn’t want to talk about this, so he thought as he stared at her stiffened face, only to notice a few white strands on her blazer…to be precise, fur.

“You got fur on your uniform. Did you play around with a dog or cat or something?”

“Not at all. I just saved a cat that was unable to climb down a tree.”

“This old cliche… ahh, I get it.”

“Eh?”

“Sit there, don’t move.”

He immediately understood why she was seated on the bench. He made a long sigh and left for a moment.

Mahiru would definitely stay still.

Or rather, she could not move at all.

She’s always acting tough for strange reasons, so he sighed. He went to the nearest drugstore, bought a damp cloth and bandage. He then went over to the convenience store, and purchased ice typically reserved for coffee. He returned to Mahiru and found her at the same place.

“Shiina, remove your tights.”

“Huh?”

Mahiru glared at him icily once Amane stated so bluntly.

“Eh, even if that’s your response… look, I’ll turn away so that I’m not looking at you. Just cover yourself with my blazer and remove your tights. Cool the painful area, and stick the wet cloth on it.”

He shook the grocery bag in his hand, indicating that he took no pleasure in seeing her remove her tights, but her face clearly froze.

Bullseye.

“… How did you know?”

“You removed one loafer, there’s a slight difference in size of your ankles, and you don’t want to stand up. It’s so cliche how you twisted your ankle while saving a cat.”

“You talk too much.”

“Yes yes yes. Now remove your tights. Stretch your leg out.”

It was obvious, but she never expected Amane to notice her injury, and grimaced away.

She, however, took the blazer and laid it over her knees, probably intending to do as told.

And so Amane turned away from Mahiru, took the cup of ice from the convenience store, and poured water into it.

He sealed the opening, preventing water from leaking out, and took a towel from his bag, making an ice pack on the spot before he slowly turned around.

As told, Mahiru removed her tights, showing her bare legs.

Bare before him were the taut, soft, curvy legs devoid of useless fat, along with an unnatural swelling of the ankle.

“Looks like it’s not too bad, but it’ll worsen if you move too much. Let’s ice the injury for the time being. You may find it a little cold. Once it’s not so painful, I’ll put the cloth on you. Just rest.”

“… Thank you very much.”

“Next time, just be honest and ask. I’m not helping you because I want you to owe me a favor.”

Amane himself was hoping to at least repay some of the favors she showered him with.

Mahiru put her leg on the bench and cooled her ankle. There was no change in facial reaction, but she did not refuse Amane’s intent and merely sat still.

“Is the pain subsiding?”

“… A little better.”

“I’ll get you a wet cloth… don’t get angry at me and think I’m a pervert or stalker okay?”

“I will not say that to one I owe gratitude to.”

“That’s good.”

Amane once again emphasized that he had no impure thoughts as he knelt down to Mahiro’s position. He wrapped the damp cloth over Mahiru’s red swelling ankle.

He asked her how much pain she was in, and she said she could stand up and walk. But she remained seated to prevent the injury from worsening. At the very least, it was still a minor injury.