Chapter 266: Friend’s blessings (2/2)

“…Seriously, thank you for setting this up together with Mahiru for my sake.”

“Ufufu, I’m Mahirun’s one true friend after all~ Of course I’ll help with whatever my adorable friend is planning. For~ you~”

Chitose sounded more elated than usual as she handed over the box, which was heavier than Amane had assumed.

Since it was a present chosen by Itsuki and Chitose, there should not be any problems. Of course, Amane would be delighted unless the present was too tasteless. They had fine taste, so the present chosen should not cause worry, but the plain weight had him looking mystified.

“…Let me ask first. What’s inside this?”

“Yaa, you’re asking now? I can say what it is though?”

Amane glanced aside at Mahiru, and found himself  suddenly uneasy.

“Oy, what’s with the meaning in those words?”

“Ahaha, just kidding. It’s not anything dangerous, just some bath powder and salts. One of them is what Mahiru likes, and the other is said to be good for metabolism. I thought the two of you can use it.”

“…Why for the two of us? Isn’t it usually for one?”

The item itself was good, but the unnecessary line itself had Amane frowning.

There was some skinship, but their current relationship remained pure. It would be real troublesome if everyone assumed the two of them bathed together. While that did happen before, they would wear a swimsuit or have towels draped over them, and it did not happen during every stayover.

Won’t this cause misunderstanding? Amane glared back, “Ehh~” and Chitose unhappily pouted back. Amane had the urge to pinch her cheeks, but he held back.

“Say, won’t this cause misunderstandings?”

“We have a real coward here.”

“Shut up Itsuki.”

“Hey hey…well, even if I do keep quiet about this, everyone knows about your feelings…oowww, I get it..”

Amane rubbed his fist at the flank of the approaching Itsuki, but it felt hard, and he felt like he lost out. Since he got Itsuki to shut up, Amane let out a deep sigh.

“I’m really grateful for the present, and your feelings, but just don’t say anything unnecessary.”

So he said as he tried to preserve his cheeks that were overheating with shame as he earnestly brought the present to his seat. And then, Itsuki pretentiously put his hands on his own hips, and retorted,

“Say Amane.”

Once they left the crowd, Itsuki put his mouth gently near Amane’s ear.

“What?”

“I never mentioned that you two are going to bathe together. The idea is that you two would bathe individually.”

“…Shut up.”

“I already kept my voice down though!?”

Amane realized that he dug himself a hole, so he pursed his lips and looked elsewhere. Itsuki in turn gave a hearty laugh, and giddily slapped Amane on the back.