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

What Mahiru muttered was the true identity of that thing.

It was a doll not too big, large enough for an elementary school girl to huge.

It had faint colored fur similar to Mahiru’s hair. On its neck was an aqua blue ribbon tied like a necklace. It showed an innocent look, dark glossy buttons sewn as eyes, reflecting Mahiru.

She might be thinking, a doll? In high school?

No matter the age, girls often do like cute things. But this was what he chose after hearing Chitose’s advice.

It was really embarrassing for a boy to go buy this thing alone, so he had Chitose buy this for him, the payment being the crepe from the station shop.

Chitose kept laughing at him from the choosing part to the very end, and perhaps he would have felt less ashamed if he went alone. Well, bygones be bygones, it was pointless to mention it.

“…I think girls will like this.”

He scratched his head, muttering with an explanation to no one in particular.

He really was bad at this.

After all, he had never given a present to someone of the opposite gender, except to his mother when he was young. He never expected himself to do this.

Would she feel disgusted to receive such a cute doll from a boy…he glanced aside discreetly at Mahiru, and saw her staring intently at it.

Nobody could tell if she was happy or sad, she merely stared at it stoically.

“Well, I can throw it away if you want.”

Can’t be helped if she doesn’t like it, he joked, having determined so. Mahiru scowled as she turned her face around.

“I will not do such a thing!”

“Y-yeah. Given your personality, I don’t think you’ll do that, Shiina.”

Her reaction was stronger than he expected, and he nodded while stumbling back. Once again, she looked at the bear.

“…I will not do, such a cruel thing. I will, treasure it well.”

The thin wrists were clinging onto the bear doll firmly, embracing it.

She resembled a kid who did not want her  favorite toy taken away, and like a mother embracing it lovingly.

One could say that she really treasured the bear from the way she embraced it.

Gyuu, there seemed to be a fitting sound effect as she embraced it firmly, and looked down at it.

The expression on the face was not the usual aloofness, and not the usual shock whenever she was startled by Amane. It was one of relief, kindness, love, and affection.

Her innocent smile was so pure. He stared at her with bated breath, finding her so beautiful, so adorable.

…I shouldn’t be looking at this.

He inadvertently had such a realization as she stared at her expression.

While he was not in love with her, this absolute beauty was showing such expression, which only he saw, and even his heart was beating wildly.

He saw her treasure the doll greatly, showing a faint smile, look so adorable that anyone else would be mesmerized. Even he, who knew his own bland personality, was nearly mesmerized.

He put his hands on his face, affirming how hot his face was, and it definitely felt much hotter as usual.

He was obviously too bashful, “…Damn it.” and so he cursed with a volume Mahiru could not hear.

Luckily, she was not paying attention to him, for half her face was buried into the bear doll as she embraced it lovingly.

That sight of her was similarly adorable, and Amane restrained himself greatly to avoid squeeing.

“…I’m glad that you like it so much.”

He wanted to say something, but he eked out these words, and the eyes stared back at him.

“This is the first time I received such a thing.”

“Eh, given your popularity, I thought it would be normal for you…”

“What do you think I am…”

She sounded a little dumbfounded as she gave him the look, which relieved him a little, for he no longer had to see that face again.

“…I never told anyone of my birthday. I dislike it, and I never said it”

Dislike, so she said as she looked towards the bear.

The eyes she had when she looked at the bear was so calm, completely different from her words, and Amane felt a dissonance there.

“I feel scared receiving presents from people, even those I do not know, or those that I have no relation to, so I would not accept it.”

“But you accepted mine.”

“…You are not something I do not know, Fujimiya-san.”

So she whispered as she buried her face into the bear as she looked at him. He started to regret staring at her directly.

She unwittingly looked up at him, showing a relaxed innocent face befitting her age. Truth be told, she was adorable.

She was so adorable, he inadvertently had the urge to pat her head, and the moment he was about to, he hastily reeled it back in.

“…What is it?”

“No, it’s nothing.”

Mahiru tilted her head in confusion, either having noticed Amane’s hand that had twitched, or the anxiety that was exploding in him.

With that alone, his eyes were seized. Pretty girls are truly terrifying things.

But if he were to admit bluntly that she was cute, even he would be ashamed. “Huh?” and he was sure this would be her answer.

And if he said such words, Amane would die in many ways, so he decided to contain this impulse for now.

“…Thank you very much, Fujimiya-san”

Amane averted his face, and Mahiru’s soft voice entered his ears once again.