Chapter 15: The Angel’s Grace? (1/2)

“Thank you very much for the previous day. Here, the parka and pants you lent me.”

Mahiru delivered dinner in the tupperware as usual, along with a paper bag.

He could see something inside the bag…probably the parka and jersey pants he lent her the previous Friday. It seemed she had folded them neatly.

“Hm, how’s your injury?”

“It does not hurt anymore. I shall not do heavy exercise until I am completely healed.”

“That’s fine. I remember you were sitting by the sidelines during gym class, right?”

“Yes.”

As a precaution, Mahiru watched them from afar, which was the right thing to do. She did not seem to be in pain, but she was a little mindful of that ankle, so it probably was not healed completely.

Amane nodded in agreement, and then recalled the smile back then.

“But well, I guess the Angel’s really popular. One smile got all the boys enthusiastic.”

“I told you not to call me that… I too was troubled. Was it something worth being that happy about?”

“Well that’s what happens when a beauty smiles at them. Didn’t you see the girls squealing when Kadowaki waved at them?”

“… Kadowaki… ahh, that really popular one?”

Mahiru looked disinterested, or rather, she had no interest at all. She could not remember him, and only recalled him after Amane’s explanation.

He was no Angel, but Kadowaki was a relatively famous boy in school, so it was surprising that she did not recognize him just from hearing his name.

“You don’t have any interest in him?”

“No. We are in different classes, and there are not very many chances to get along.”

“Hmmm? But the other girls look interested in him, saying that he’s cool.”

“He is good-looking after all. I have not spoken to him, and never got involved with him. He does not matter to me.”

“You’re pretty blase about this.”

“If people can fall for each other just because of looks, how have you not fallen for me?”

“Oh, so now you realize how cute you are.”

But Mahiru’s words hold weight.

A beautiful appearance was a reason to harbor feelings for someone, but not so much to like.

Having agreed that, he had to admit that Mahiru was a pretty girl, though he was a little surprised that she had some self awareness of that, and would actually agree with that sentiment.

“There is always a commotion around me, and I will know even if I do not want to. Objectively, I understand that my looks are passable, and I have not been neglecting them.”

Mahiru said as a matter of fact, not a hint of arrogance in her voice.

In fact, she probably did everything she could to maintain her beauty.

Her face itself was pretty, but she was not satisfied with just that.

Her hair appeared to have a halo befitting her moniker as the Angel, and her skin was perfect and unblemished. She was always doing housework, but her hands did not coarsen, and she did trim her nails.

She had a fine, curvy body, and that was not something attainable within a single day.

“You’re right, what you just flatly said is the truth, and I’m not uncomfortable with that. So, does that mean that you’re not embarrassed to be praised?”

“I will find it annoying if others praise me too much.”

“A beauty sure has her troubles.”

“Along with the rewards that come with that, so it is not all bad.”

“You’re making it sound like someone else’s business…”

“What? Is it better for me to answer ‘that is not the case’ with a bashful look?”

“No, I know it feels really awkward for you personally.”

“I guess so. I do also feel it is pointless to put up such a facade with you.”

“Yeah.”

He would feel gaudy if Mahiru was to correct her unfiltered manner of speech, and would feel some goosebumps if she treated him as she did to others at school. He hoped she would remain the way she currently was.

Habit sure is scary. If she acted like the Angel at school here, he would find it surreal.

The Mahiru Amane knew of was the one present before him, not the one at school.

Both of them concluded it was for the better, so Amane looked towards the tupperware brought towards him.

It was a larger portion than usual, containing several dishes. It was more of an early-bird bento box than mere leftovers at this point.

“Quite a lot today.”