Chapter 61: The Angel and the One who understands (1/2)

“The~rice’s~delicious~!”

Chitose finished her lunch, and heartily rubbed her belly.

She looked really overjoyed, given her expression, and Mahiru too smiled happily. The latter loved to serve others, so the sudden attack on this day might not be a bad thing to her.

“Well~ Shiina-san, you can really cook anything. I never thought you could make a half cooked omelette with the inside runny and the outside like an omelette.”

“It is thanks to the teacher who taught me how to cook.”

“You learned how to cook?”

“Well, I guess. She said that if I can cook for myself without trouble, I can proudly cook for anyone without shame.”

“Heh~! If you’re so good at cooking, I think your teacher’s really amazing!”

Mahiru was probably referring to the caretaker she was mentioned about.

Surely that caretaker was the only one at Mahiru’s old home who actually treated her well.

“I wonder if I can have such skills if that person teaches me.”

“Just control your curiosity and you should be able to cook something decent if you don’t be too adventurous.”

“Eh, but I can’t start if I’m not being adventurous?”

“If you don’t do that, you should be able to do anything… your curiosity and mischief ruins everything…you just needed to follow the recipe…”

Chitose should be able to do better than average as long as she played it safe. Given her lively personality and bad habits, the actual result would drop by a rank.

She was free and lax like a cat, but not as obedient as one, and such was her problem. She could be obedient if she wanted to, but it seemed to be tiring to her.

She could be a wise woman if she instinctively knew when to calm down, but her personality just would not allow her to do so.

“Even including cooking, you should watch how you talk at least. There’s a perfect example before you, see?”

“Ehhhn, but I can’t become like Mahirun here. It’s too restraining.”

“Aren’t you being rude to Shiina?”

“Nn, but Mahirun seems very restrained too, or a little suffocated.”

From time to time, Chitose would read a person’s true personality to a shocking precise level.

“Mahirun at school just feel lifeless.”

“…You think so?”

“Nn, we’re in different classes, so I can’t say, but it feels like instead of you acting boring, it feels like you are taking a few steps back and looking at everyone from far away. It’s like you’re kind to anyone, Mahirun, but you never open your heart to anyone else.”

It was likely, no, Chitose was definitely correct.

Mahiru appeared a good child who was kind to everyone, but in fact, only a rare few could see beyond her façade.

Mahiru wanted to be a good child, and did her best to avoid showing her true personality.

She herself knew this best, and looked a little gloomy. However, Chitose grinned away as she reached towards Mahiru, seated next to her.

“You’re being super duper cute at such a private setting here, Mahirun. That’s why I know this is your real self,. I prefer this side of Mahirun~”

Ehehe~ she giggled as she latched firmly onto Mahiru. The latter looked aside for a moment, seemingly a little perturbed, but she did not seem to refuse as she made some limited contact with Chitose.

“Say Mahirun, I think you can act a little more honest~ see, Amane’s been pampering you, you know? He’s always pampering those he’s familiar with; you can seal the deal immediately if you ask to be spoiled by him, Mahirun?”

“I will not!”

“Eh~?”

“…It is not what you are expecting, Chitose-san.”

Mahiru turned her head abruptly, “Real~ly?” and Chitose smiled, looking towards Amane for some reason.

Amane probably could not do anything even though she was looking at him. If Mahiru did not ask, there was nothing for him to think about, and he could not pamper her. Mahiru hoped to be independent, and it was best to respect her wishes.

But, just if…if she said she wanted to be pampered…he could not say he would be unwilling.

He did not have any reason to hesitate. If Mahiru was willing to express all her troubles in her heart to him, and ask him to help her, he had confidence that he could hold up her little back, as though everything was to be expected.

Once again, he realized how close their relationship had become, and felt awkward about it, but he did not express it as he looked towards Chitose and Mahiru making contact with each other.

“Well, pretty girls on such good terms are really good for the eyes.”

“What are you saying?”

He ignored Itsuki’s perverted words as he saw the two of them getting along well. Mahiru finally had a friend of the same gender she could show her true personality to, and he was a little relieved.

Naturally, Chitose’s stayover place was at Mahiru’s house.

Amane thought she would prefer to be with Itsuki, “But I’ve been living with Ikkun often, so I want to be with Mahirun this time”, so after dinner, she went to Mahiru’s place happily.

He knew they were close to each other, and that Itsuki often stayed over at Chitose’s place, so there was nothing strange about those words…but for some reason, he felt a little awkward knowing the fact that they had been staying over often.

What are you imagining, you silent pervert? Itsuki shot Amane such a look, and the latter stomped on the foot again, being merciful enough not to stomp on the pinky.

“Say, you don’t have to hide your embarrassment by stomping on others, right?”

“Your fault for guessing randomly.”