Chapter 21: Friend’s Inquiry (1/2)

“Hey hey Amane, did it go well with the one you gave the present to?”

Given that they went shopping together, he would have to report in. The following day, Chitose was grinning away as she went to hear out from Amane.

He was fine with the fact that she, who was in a different class, came looking for him. However, that kind of smile was something he really did not want to deal with. He really had the urge to just go bye there and then.

“It’s not the relationship you think of, and that development didn’t happen.”

At the very least, he did not choose the present out of romantic feelings, nor did he have any other thoughts.

There was no doubt he was delighted, but there existed none of the development Chitose looked forward to.

“No, but well, is there really nobody that makes your heart flutter? She’s definitely not just an acquaintance, and she’s a girl. Come on, some gossip here.”

“We don’t have an unspeakable relationship.”

With Itsuki backing Chitose up, Amame could only deny vehemently.

Mahiru was happy, yes, but there was still some trouble, and he did not want to discuss this with others.

He did not want to feed into their curiosity, so he answered as callously as possible, and Itsuki pondered a little as he had his hand by his mouth.

“…Hmm. Hey Amane.”

“What is it?”

“Did you give it to your neighbor?”

Truly, Itsuki’s high awareness and EQ was disastrous to him.

“…Why do you think so?”

“If we consider those you know, or those you took care of you, the only one that fits that bill is the neighbor. You ain’t a local, you hardly interact with girls, and someone has been feeding you recently, so you’re grateful to her, right?”

“Who knows.”

“Hmm…Amane, you’ve been looking better recently.”

“Ah, I think so too.”

“So, she’s been giving you food often, and you wanted to give her a birthday present as thanks?”

Itsuki was completely correct, and Amane did his best not to let his cheeks twitch.

And that was why Itsuki was terrifying, for his deductions seemed as though he witnessed it all. He might appear frivolous, but he was serious and attentive, and also rather popular. However, Amane really hoped Itsuki would shower these aspects to Chitose only.

“You’re coming up with wild guesses now?”

“I don’t know the truth, so I’m just imagining it. So is it true?”

“Who knows?”

“You’re petty.”

“Petty~”

“Shut up.”

No matter what they said, he was unwilling to be honest.

If he accidentally blurted it just a little, he would have to spill the beans. Itsuki was one thing; the current high school girls who loved their gossip would have interrogated him like no tomorrow.

In this world, there were magical creatures who could turn anything unrelated to love into something involving one. Troublesome they truly were.

Goodness, so he sighed as he packed his bag, lifted it, and returned home.

It was a tactical retreat, and also an evasion against their bombardment of his heart.

“Bye then. Go do your lovey-dovey things and ignore me now.”

“We’ll do that without you saying that though?”

“…Ikkun, let’s go stalk him and find that lady…”

“Who in the world says that before the target? And you don’t have that thought at all. The most you’ll do is to come to my apartment gates.”

“Tch.”

Her cute lips formed a pout, but Chitose’s eyes were serious.

At this point, Amane felt a shiver realizing that Chitose was not joking, and would really do it, so he left the duo behind and hurriedly left the classroom.

“…That was close.”

“What was?”

Once he returned home, Amane blurted out, and Mahiru asked him with intrigue.

Mahiru arrived immediately after buying the ingredients, but it was a little too early to make dinner, so they had a little rest. It seemed Amane’s little whisper was overheard.

Just to note, she was being the same as usual.