Chapter 20: The Angel and her birthday (1/2)

Once he was done asking Itsuki and Chitose for advice, Amane finally chose the present, and on Mahiru’s birthday, he looked at her back, feeling really tense.

His payment to Chitose was the special crepe from the shop before the station (the winter limited berry berry special), and having convinced her to buy something else, he added that to his present…but at this point, he was wondering how to hand it over to Mahiru.

The one who was supposed to celebrate her birthday was making dinner as usual.

He did not know what the menu was, but it seemed she was making Japanese food. She was acting naturally as usual, nothing too different about her.

He could not sense any birthday vibe from her. The way she acted so calmly, one would wonder if she remembered it.

Even after dinner was served, nothing changed. They did converse over dinner, but ate as normal.

He really did not know when he should give her the present, so he looked towards the paper bag with the present hidden behind the sofa, frowning.

After dinner was over, he cleaned the table, and returned to the living room, finding Mahiru at the two seater sofa. It seemed she brought a book here.

Even when reading a book, she was pretty like a painting. Truly she befitted her moniker of Angel.

He was wondering if he should sit next to her…but he could not simply remain tentative. So he raised the bag placed there, and sat next to her.

She suddenly lifted her head.

She probably noticed his presence and the ruffling of the paper bag, and her caramel-colored eyes looked towards him, and then towards the paper bag he was holding.

She seemed a little confused. It appeared that at this point, she had yet to notice it was her birthday.

“Here. have it.”

Amane nudged the bag onto Mahiru’s knees, leaving her all the more flabbergasted.

“What is this?”

“Isn’t it your birthday?”

“It is…but how did you know? I do not remember mentioning it to anyone else.”

She had a wary glint in her eyes, “You left your student ID on the table the last time”, but once she heard that, she might have accepted this explanation, and reverted back to her usual look.

“You do not have to worry. I do not celebrate my birthday after all.”

Amane might not have mistaken the sudden cold, callous voice from her.

Looking at her eyes, it appeared the word birthday itself was a taboo to her.

I see, so he thought.

Even though it was her birthday, she had no change in attitude not because she did not remember it.

She probably forgot about it because it was troublesome to her, probably.

If not, there was no way she would have used that tone.

“Ah I see. Just think of it as thanks for the daily stuff. I just wanted to repay you somehow.”

So he handed the present to her, with the rationale being that, fine, you don’t have to celebrate your birthday, but a gift for your usual care. Take this as my thanks, and not a birthday.

He ate such delicious food every day, and she even helped him clean up from time to time. These were trivial things, but she really took care of him. Even if it was a small thing, Amane wanted to repay Mahiru.

While he easily accepted her rationale, he insisted on giving her the present, which left her somewhat confused. So she frowned a little, receiving the present.

She looked towards the item in the bag that was wrapped in paper.

“…May I open it now?”

“Yeah.”

He nodded, and Mahiru nervously reached her hand into the bag, pulling the box out. She carefully peeled the wrapping paper, and undid the ribbon.

Amane himself felt extremely nervous to have someone else open his present before him.

Inside it contained the hand cream Itsuki recommended. He bought it in a set, so the large box contained some snacks too.

Just to note, it was an odorless one suitable for housework, not a scented trendy one. It was gentle on the skin, its selling point being that it keeps the skin moist.

He checked the reviews on the internet, and it seemed he did not need to worry about the effects, probably.

“Sorry that it’s not something valuable. I think your hands will become dry when you do housework. There are those without scent, but I guess you already have them. I heard it’s gentle for the skin, effective even.”

“A practical item.”

“Actually, you emphasize much on practical items.”

“I guess. Thank you very much.”

You understand me well, so she smiled, and his lips relaxed.

It seemed she did not have a bad impression of him.

There was one other item…but it was embarrassing to open it before her. He wanted her to notice it before she returned home, if possible.

Unfortunately for him, Mahiru seemed to have noticed something else in the bag, and peered into it.

“…Why is there another?”

“Ah, no, well, actually. It’s a selfish, subjective add on.”

“Add on?”

“…Add on.”

He averted his eyes, merely answering so. Mahiru tilted her head, not understanding what Amane meant, but she felt it would be faster to open the bag, so she took the item out.

He used a packaging of similar color to the bag, so that it would not stand out, and stuffed it to the bottom. This item was too big and noticeable however. There was no way she would not have noticed it.

It did not contain a box, but a polyester bag. It was just large enough for Mahiru to hold in both hands.

Mahiru carefully undid the dark blue ribbon, can I get away from here now, Amane wondered as he stared at her…she cautiously removed the content.

With two hands, she cautiously lifted the item, and looked rather surprised as her eyes widened.

“…A bear?”