Chapter 259: The Waiting Angel (2/2)

“I prepared a little feast for you today. Please look forward to it. And, before we eat…there are two things I want to apologize for.”

“Hm?”

Things to apologize for? Amane tilted his head, and Mahiru lowered her eyes awkwardly.

“Erm, you noticed that I have been fidgeting around. I am sorry for causing you unrest.”

“Ah, that…well, looking at it, it’s obvious. I don’t think you’ll do anything cruel about me. I”m just worried if I did anything bad.”

“I do not think you would do anything to me. However, I caused you worry because I cannot really hide things…I am sorry for hiding something from you, Amane-kun.”

Mahiru probably wanted to surprise Amane, to prepare for his birthday, which was why she had that attitude. She really could not hide it from him, and felt guilty as a result.

It was cute that she was hiding something, and for Amane’s sake. He had no intention to blame her.

“I don’t mind that…and what’s the other?”

“Erm…I-I was preparing for your birthday secretly, and everyone seemed to have understood me, so they never said to you all to create this surprise. Actually, I wanted to celebrate this with everyone at school, but because of me, it affected the blessing you should have received on this day, Amane-kun…”

“Ah so that’s how it is…”

Both Itsuki and Chitose knew of his birthday, and they were the type to celebrate a friend’s birthday. Thus, since they never spoke up, it became a big reason as to why Amane forgot about his own birthday.”

They did not say anything so as to go along with Mahiru’s plans, and Itsuki’s invite after school was probably to delay Amane.

Those guys, so he muttered, but he knew how gentle his voice sounded at this point.

He was at a loss on how to deal with the apologetic Mahiru, so he gently tapped her head while she looked down.

“Hm, to be honest, I don’t really mind about date, location, or whether I was though. I already forgot everything about it. It’s not that we have to celebrate, today, right? Those guys are being caring for our sake.”

“But.”

“I’m not really sure, but they probably think that you planning this birthday celebration will be the biggest happiness I can get, so they teamed up to hide this from me.”

The assistance to Mahiru this time was their way of celebrating Amane’s birthday.

Even if he did not receive their blessings on that day, he did not mind. He already understood that they sent their best wishes towards him.

“I know I’m really fortunate to have such caring friends around me, and it’s really a blessing. We don’t have to celebrate immediately. I don’t gauge our friendship based on whether they looked for me.”

The manner of celebration differed per person. If this was how they would celebrate, Amane felt that was fine.

He felt there were no words or things to reliably gauge a person, and the relationships formed were not that shallow. Their goodwill was more than enough

Mahiru looked a little devastated however. Amane showed a wry smile as he gently patted her head, and peered at her face.

“And it looks like I’ll be surrounded tomorrow…you have me to yourself today, so when they ask tomorrow, I got something to brag, okay?”

“…Yes.”

Amane joked with a chuckle, and it seemed Mahiru did not expect so, for she too smiled, and put her face into Amane’s chest.