Chapter 112: What are lovers? (2/2)

“…Like holding hands?”

“We’ve been holding hands.”

“Spending our vacation together?”

“That’s normal.”

“Going out together?”

“We did it.”

“Hugging?”

“Yes.”

Unfortunately, Mahiru’s knowledge was about as much as Amane, and the examples she raised were what they did before.

It was no wonder that if anyone was to ask Amane what would lovers do, he could not think of it immediately.

What do lovers do exactly…Amane wondered, and sighed. Mahiru timidly tugged at his sleeve.

He did not know what was going on as he looked towards Mahiru again, and found her blushing for some reason.

“…Erm, it is hard for me to say so, embarrassingly so…bu-but have we been doing lover acts even when we were not dating…?”

Silence beckoned upon Mahiru’s words.

…Now that we mention it. No, wait, we’ve been doing this without saying it outright…!?

Both of them naturally lived together in the same space, held hands, and went dating, so they did not realize these were acts usually done by couples who were rather close to each other.

No, Amane might have known right from the beginning, but he paid no mind to them as he was too used.

“I-I too have been working hard, to get you to look back at me…but, these really are things, lovers do, if I think about it.”

“…N-now that you mention it…”

“So, how about we act like normal, rather than have this unnatural understanding that we are lovers…well, we just need to touch each other every day, spend each day together. That is good for us. There is no need to beat around the bush. Let us just go at our own pace…is it okay, to continue dating like this…?”

At our own pace. These words resonated hard in Amane’s heart.

…We don’t really have to restrict ourselves to this.

Amane was anxious, wondering what were acts between lovers, but he really did not need to. Mahiru liked Amane, and Amane liked Mahiru, which was why they dated. This was the only fact they needed.

They did not have to force themselves, and just needed to spend time understanding each other. That was all.

“I guess. Sorry, I just feel…I’m not taking it easy at all. I don’t know what to do for our first date.”

“…Yes.”

“…Erm, in other words…even though we’ll be the same as before…I’ll do so while expressing my feelings for you.”

He wrapped her hand, her palm. Her blushing face looked a little red.

She bashfully lowered her eyelids, and held his palm back, leaning onto his elbow.

“Amane-kun.”

“…Yes?’

“…I am happy with just this.”

“Yeah.”

Amane muttered in agreement, and silently enjoyed the warmth next to him.