Chapter 143: The Restless Night and Warmth (1/2)

That night, Amane laid on the bed, closed his eyes, and waited for sleep to come. However, he just could not sleep, and laid there.

Usually, he could fall asleep easily, but he just could not on it was this particular day. He was strangely excited, and restless.

He wondered why it was, and felt it was probably due to his encounter with Tojo.

Though Tojo was a former friend, and one of the reasons why Amane suffered, Amane felt that the goosebumps and shivers associated with them were long gone.

He felt relieved after their encounter, and somewhat emotional.

He realized how much support he received from Mahiru after they met, how much he grew, and also, an unspeakable sense of achievement.

However, he probably would be unable to sleep if this kept up. He got up, intending to breathe in some fresh air outside to clear his mood. He put on his slippers, and went to the veranda.

He opened the window, and was met with damp air, causing him some discomfort as he was already in the air conditioned room. The summer temperatures remained high even at night. It had been the case over the past few nights, and it was no wonder that he felt hot.

The air was fresh though. There were no lights from the nearby residential areas, and he could see pretty stars. These were sufficient in killing time, alleviating his boredom before he slept.

He leaned on the railing, enjoying the quiet space and the radiant starlights. Suddenly, he heard a rubbing sound at the window.

It did not come from his room, but from the other room connected to the veranda. He turned around to see Mahiru dressed in a one piece nightgown, poking her upper body out as she looked back at him.

“…You still awake, Mahiru?”

Amane never expected her to be still awake.

It was the middle of the night, and Mahiru had a regular pattern in her lifestyle. As she mentioned before, she would sleep before midnight, so he never expected her to be awake, let alone arrive at the veranda.

“I feel a little sleepless…are you unable to sleep too, Amane-kun?”

“Well yeah…lots of things happened after all.”

“…Yes.”

Lots of things happened, Mahiru went to the veranda, her eyes lowered as a result of those words. “Ah, no, that’s not what I mean.” Amane noted wryly.

“Look, I’m not thinking about those things, you know? I guess I’m reflecting more on how much I’ve grown.”

Mahiru’s momentary concern was excessive.

Amane had no further thoughts about Tojo. He merely felt his own changes, and would never imagine the latter’s face again. He was no longer threatened.

Mahiru seemed relieved when Amane said with a chuckle, and she too gave a little smile.

“Fufu…you have become stronger and matured, Amane-kun. You probably grew a lot since middle school.”

“Yeah. About 20cm or so.”

“You really grew.”

“Of course.”

AMane had changed, not simply in terms of height, but more importantly, his heart changed over the past year, and the manner he viewed things too changed.

Looking back at the past, he felt he was a really unlikable, nonchalant, and arrogant boy. After all, because of them, he could not deny the part when he was not cute, not sociable.

He felt that he was more poised compared to before.

The reason that was due to the dearest girl next to him.

“As you said, you have grown, Amane-kun. Physically and emotionally.”

“…Yeah.”

“Do you have confidence?”

“Yep.”

“That is good. Even if you do not, I shall support you.”

“Thanks for that. Really.”

Mahiru showed a warm smile, and put her hands on the railing, looking up at the sky. Amane had an urge to dote on her.

She would smile next to him, just like this. She would stay by his side to support him, to encourage him. She hoped for him to be by her side. Amane was really elated to have such a precious, rare person, next to him.

“…Say, Mahiru.”

“Hm?”

“…I want to touch you.”

“Eh?”

Mahiru slowly turned towards Amane once she heard these sudden words.

Her expression was filled mostly with shock. Amane was embarrassed by the words he said, and yet he had no intention to correct himself as he stared at Mahiru’s perturbed, faltering eyes.

“…I have an urge to touch you. Can I?”

He really wanted to touch her.

He wanted to feel the warmth of Mahiru, who loved him, doted on him, and supported him.He wanted to experience that fact that she was by his side.

And as Amane stared at her intently, her caramel-colored eyes flickered, before they were lowered bashfully.

“…Not that you cannot.”

Once he heard that little murmur, Amane felt a little more warmth in his heart.

He understood that he was allowed to do so, and reached his hands for Mahiru.

However, he wanted if he should embrace her at the veranda. Thus, he touched her palm instead.

He felt the feeble hand that strongly supported him, and led him on. He brought her into his room.

This house was cooler than the apartment Amane stayed at, but it was still hot at night, so the air-conditioning was switched on. They felt a cool breeze once they entered.

It was the middle of the night, so he silently closed his window, and sat Mahiru on the bed.

There was no sofa, and they could only sit there. Amane had no other intentions. Once he let her sit however, she froze, and turned stiffly towards Amane, causing him to chuckle.

“I won’t do anything.”

“Y-yes.”

“Are you looking forward to it?”

“O-of course not?”

“As a guy, I feel rather conflicted here.”

“Eh?”

“Just joking…I just want to touch you.”

Amane had no intention of doing that thing that would cause her to be immediately wary. He wanted to wait for her to be ready, and not force the issue just to have her.

She finally relaxed, and Amane slow wrapped his arms around her back. She too wrapped her arms around his.

He felt a soft sensation slowly filling his heart, had a scent of the sweet fragrance, and an unspeakable sense of happiness. Once again, he felt a looming desire to dote on her, and embraced her as much as he wanted.

Mahiru too narrowed her eyes comfortably in his clutches.

She never said how happy she was, but surely she too felt the same as Amane, considering the soft smile on her lips and the peaceful mood emitted from her.

…I really love her.