Chapter 257: An Anxious Maiden’s Heart (1/2)

The part-time work was three to four days per week, fluctuating depending on the shift, but usually within this period.

He could earn money over the weekend, but he chose to spend time with Mahiru. A student’s duty was to study, and he could not slack, which the owner Itomaki agreed. She had been cheering for him in many ways, along with the true reason for his work.

It was a rest day, and Amane had nothing to do since morning.

Lazy he might be, he did do some muscle training and jogging, quickly finished his assignments, and finally got some rest.

It was a lifestyle much improved from the past. He noted wryly that he was actually living a healthy lifestyle.

After doing all his tasks in the morning, there remained something he was curious about.

Yes, the thing Mahiru had been hiding recently.

Seems like she’s being jittery about something today too.

Mahiru visited Amane in the afternoon, and looked a little tense. She was a little calm after she had eaten oyatsu, but she looked a little nervous when he looked over at her. Clearly she was hiding something.

Amane did not point it out, and so she reverted to her usual calm till this point.

He sat on the sofa, and she sat next to him. She was calm, but she looked a little listless, or rather, she had something on her mind.

He finally had a break, and wanted to enjoy Mahiru…but it would be inappropriate when she was so spaced out. He hoped to hug her, at least, and replenish the lack of Mahiruism caused by his part-time work life.

“Mahiru.”

“Yes?”

“…Can I hug you?”

He was relieved to see a reaction, but he asked cautiously, and Mahiru blinked away, showed a faint smile, and nodded.

She spread her arms wide, so he went along with her goodwill as he gently embraced her.

On this day, it was the smell of chocolate.

…There’s a sweet smell everyday, huh?

Mahiru really liked sweets, but even she would not snack on them too often. She would manage her own body size seriously, and never would indulge.

Recently however, there was often a sweet smell around her.

Amane was not too fond of such foods, but he liked the sweet scents. He did not dislike the sweet fragrant scents from her whenever they touched.

However, he did not think anything more than, nice smell. He cautiously brought her slender body to his side, and when he tried to close in on her and gently touch her waist, she jolted.

“Ya!”

It seemed she instinctively blurted this refusal, and Amane sensed that his head started to cool rapidly.

They usually leaned upon each other, and direct contact might not be appropriate, even though she was his girlfriend. Perhaps it was a matter of mood, or perhaps it might be that she did not want to be touched, just like now.

I messed up, Amane gave such a look as he moved away from Mahiru. Mahiru looked up at his face, confused.

“…Sorry. I got too greedy.”

“Eh, I-I do not hate it! You are mistaken! Th-this is a misunderstanding! I do not dislike to be hugged by you, Amane-kun!?”

It seemed she realized Amane thought she rejected him, and she hastily flailed her hands, voicing her opinion.

“But you don’t want to, right?”

“I d-do not want…I am concerned about my belly now.”

“Belly?”

“…I-I may have gotten a little fatter. If you wrap my waist, that is a little.”

Mahiru said, put her hands on her belly, and Amane was perplexed.

Mahiru had perfect management over her body size, and appearance and touch-wise, he could not feel that she got any fatter.

Just moments ago, he was worried that she was so skinny, it affected her health. Perhaps it would be healthier for her to grow a little more flesh.

“Where? You still look rather thin, probably because of your dietary habits.”

He knew that Mahiru would do some stretches and simple exercises at home, sometimes go out for a jog, or even play the fitness games of the game console at his place.

Even as part of the going home club, Mahiru would never scrimp on exercise to keep herself beautiful. It was impossible to imagine her getting fat.

He did not think so, but for some reason, Mahiru was unwilling to look at him in the eyes.

“…Did you?”

“N-not at all. I have not slacked on my exercise, and I am more hardworking than before. I have balance in all my meals…but…other than those meals…”

“You’ve been snacking?”

“Snacking, you say…yes, I have been. That is the reason.”

“That’s surprising.”

Mahiru was particular about her body, and thus her food intake. It was surprising that she could eat so much to the point that she was worried.

“Well, there is what they call fall’s appetite, and the food’s delicious. We got more delicious food that’s different from summer’s, no wonder you would snack on oyatsu.”

“…It is because I have been indecisive.”

“Eh?”