Chapter 10: And so, ‘X’ Day Arrived for the Angel
Although Amane had now started to work part-time, that didn’t mean he spent all of his days off with Mahiru. She had her own life, and there were times when she wanted to be alone or spend time with someone else. Additionally, she’d been plotting something behind Amane’s back as of late, and because of this, he often spent the time relaxing at home until dinner or hanging out with Itsuki and the others on any weekdays he didn’t have work.
“Say, Mister Newlywed. You sure it’s fine and dandy for you to be hangin’ out with us? Your wife won’t start sulking on you?”
At Itsuki’s invitation, both Amane and Yuuta were brought along to taste-test a new product launched by a coffee chain they frequented. They ordered takeout, and headed over to a nearby park by the station to enjoy it, but just as they did so, Itsuki asked that question out of the blue.
Prior to this, Itsuki had half-jokingly suggested, “Whaddaya think of heading to Amane’s café instead?” but Amane shut him down firmly.
“Who’re you calling a newlywed?” Amane retorted. “Anyway, this is my free time, so it’s not like me hanging out with my friends is a problem or anything. It’d be a different story if I was with girls, but you’re just my guy friends, so it’s purely just for fun. We’re only messing around.”
“Gosh! So now you’re saying you just mess around with me…!?”
“You’re the one who said that when you invited me, what are you even… And if you’re taking that meaning of ‘mess around,’ then we’ve never had a relationship like that to begin with, so you were finished before you even began.” Amane looked at Itsuki with a deadpan stare.
Itsuki wriggled his body back and forth dramatically, deliberately acting as though Amane was his partner and had cheated on him. Soon enough, he reverted to his usual self and dropped the act, now nodding knowingly.
“But of course,” he said. “Ain’t no way I can split a hot and heavy couple like you two apart.”
“You’ve got Chitose, man. And I don’t need you.”
“Now that’s just cruel.”
“Well, you’d just get in the way if you were with them, Itsuki.”
“That’s pretty harsh of you too, Yuuta, don’tcha think?”
Nonchalantly throwing shade, Yuuta was drinking his newly-released limited-time Frozen Shake, all the while ignoring Itsuki’s comment with an innocent expression.
A week had passed since the start of November, and the weather had already begun to hint at the onset of winter. …I’m surprised he chose to drink that in this cold weather, Amane thought to himself as he sipped the hot matcha latte that he’d ordered.
Itsuki, now under the impression that he has no allies to speak of, intentionally made a show of sulking for a good ten seconds or so before starting to heartily gorge on his limited-time sweet potato latte.
“Well, moving on,” Itsuki began. “You’re fine hanging out with us, but are you sure you ain’t tired or anything?”
“If this was all it took to get tired, then Kadowaki would be run ragged every single day,” replied Amane.
“Hmm. Well, we do make sure to take proper rests during club activities, and it’s not as mentally taxing compared to serving customers, so it’s not that bad, I guess,” Yuuta clarified. “I mean, I’m running because I enjoy it. But what about you, Fujimiya? You don’t get stressed from working?”
“Not particularly. It’s not like I totally enjoy serving customers or anything, but most of the customers are on the calmer side since they tend to be older in age. My seniors are kind to me, not to mention polite, and they taught me the ropes carefully. Sure, I might feel pressured at times because of my shortcomings, but the environment itself isn’t stressful.”
Not even a full month had passed since Amane started working, but from the bottom of his heart, he was grateful that Ayaka had introduced him to this particular part-time job. Gaining skills from customer service would likely be useful in the future, and he found it a blessing to be able to work alongside such good-natured people.
Frankly, Amane believed that half of what made a job into a great job depended on one’s coworkers, so he was especially thankful to have a work environment with calm and supportive employees.
I’ll give her something as thanks when I get the chance, Amane promised to himself, shrugging his shoulders as he swirled his paper cup around in a circle.
“It really is a great workplace. So much so that it’s wasted on me, I reckon.”
“That’s good to hear,” Yuuta replied. “The work environment is incredibly important when it comes to having a job, after all. There’s no way I’d wanna be part of a workplace that sees its employees as disposable pawns.”
“Yep. You bet I would’ve quit right away if it was like that. It’s a part-time job, sure, but that doesn’t mean we don’t have a right to choose which one we want. Our mental and physical health take priority, and Mahiru’d probably hate the idea of me working at a place like that.”
“She really loves you, doesn’t she?” Yuuta teased.
“I… don’t think that has anything to do with what we’re talking about, y’know.”
Amane looked at Yuuta, thinking, He just felt like saying that, didn’t he? but Yuuta simply responded with a bright smile, so Amane turned to look away, now a little embarrassed.
“If I’m not mistaken, you do work at a café, right?” asked Itsuki.
“Yep, it caters more to a wealthy customer base, though. However, the food and drinks are all so good, that it’s no wonder we charge a lot for them.”
The café placed heavy emphasis on the quality of the coffee beans. They were carefully selected based on their origin, roasting levels, and how they blend, and this attention to detail was unmistakably obvious in the taste of each cup. Needless to say, it wasn’t just coffee that they prided themselves on—they also took great care in adjusting the taste of their other menu items, including food, although there weren’t that many to choose from. This attention to taste resulted in the café becoming a hidden gem of sorts, and a place loved by its regular clientele.
Knowing this, Amane couldn’t help but wonder who on Earth Fumika really was. Even her own niece, Ayaka, seemed to have trouble fully understanding her, and this only left Amane feeling even more confused.
“Just askin’, but, has anyone ever hit on you while you were there, Amane? Happens often, right?”
“What’s with your impression of cafés, man… No. Nobody has. I do get some compliments from some calm and composed ladies, telling me that I’m cute, but it’s more like they find my clumsiness endearing, like they’re looking at me with the eyes of a grandparent or something.”
There were quite a few older ladies and gentlemen who watched over him with a warm, or perhaps, gentle smile as he was a new and inexperienced member of staff. While Amane hadn’t made any major mistakes so far, he had made his fair share of minor ones, all of which they graciously overlooked. Treated with so much understanding, Amane felt both grateful and somewhat apologetic.
Put simply, there were plenty of elderly people who often spent their time at the café leisurely. Since there were few younger customers, there hadn’t been any real opportunity for girls trying to hit on him.
Besides, there were other employees who were more outgoing and physically attractive than Amane was. Even if someone did come in with the intention of flirting, they would most probably go for one of them instead.
The most Amane had gotten was a casual remark from a woman of his grandmother’s age, saying, “I would love to introduce you to my grandchild,” but of course, he had a girlfriend and politely declined her offer.
“You’ve got this… appeal to older people, I guess. You’re always gentle and polite, and it shows in the way you act.” Yuuta shared his thoughts.
“I’m serving customers; of course I can’t carry myself sloppily... Well, given the clientele, they must prefer someone quiet and modest like me. They talk to me quite often, after all.”
“Wouldn’t that make you popular?”
“Kinda. But only as someone to strike up a conversation with,” Amane clarified. “And things like gender and age have nothing to do with it. The atmosphere’s rather relaxed, so even the other experienced staff will start chatting with the customers when they’re free.”
This was likely because it didn’t have the feel of a common coffee chain, but rather came across as a gentle and relaxed space with a welcoming atmosphere. More than anything else, the fact that many of the regulars were easygoing and benign allowed the café to maintain its air of peacefulness.
“Imagining you all popular with the madams sure is amusing,” commented Itsuki.
“Hey now… it’s not like that. That’s disrespectful to them. You gotta stop these weird fantasies of yours.”
“The fact that I can actually see that happening is a little scary.” Yuuta piped up.
“Not you too, Kadowaki…”Amane shot him a bewildered look, but Yuuta wore an even more serious expression in response, which prompted Amane to make a firm clarification.
“Not a chance that’d happen.”
After all, Amane already had someone he truly loved with all his heart and had practically promised his future to. There was no way he would ever be swayed by other women; in fact, he was confident in the fact that he wouldn’t even be tempted. Moreover, the other party likely wouldn’t want Amane to make a misunderstanding like that, either.
Good grief…, Amane sighed, to which Itsuki shrugged his shoulders before taking a glance at his wristwatch.
“Now then, looks about time,” he said.
“Time for what?” asked Amane.
“About time I returned you to your rightful owner, I guess?”
“C’mon…”
It was no lie that Amane belonged to Mahiru, but she wasn’t the possessive type, nor would she get jealous over him hanging out with his fellow guy friends. However, Kadowaki also agreed, saying, “Oh, right. You’ve got a point,” which only left Amane bewildered.
“It’s not quite five o’clock yet, but it’s getting colder and the sun’s already setting. Should we call it a day here? Either way, we probably all have plenty of things to do when we get home.”
“Well, I guess so…” Amane went along with the suggestion.
“Then let’s call it a day here. I’m freezin’,” Itsuki said, turning towards the park entrance.
Having promptly decided to head home, Itsuki appeared eager to leave, but all of a sudden, he changed his mind. He turned back to Amane.
“Hey, Amane.”
“What is it?”
“Tomorrow, there’ll be plenty of things I’ll wanna say, and plenty of things I’ll wanna ask. So prepare yourself.”
Amane was taken aback by Itsuki’s grin and his sudden, yet strange comment as he left. Yuuta, now letting out a bittersweet smile, also bid him farewell. “As do I. See you tomorrow, yeah?”
Conflicted, Amane felt like he’d been left behind in an odd manner. He tilted his head and wondered what was going on before heading home.
✧ ₊ ✦ ₊ ✧
Upon arriving home, Mahiru greeted him like she usually did. Or not. Instead, she came up to him while showing the biggest of smiles. Her eyes sparkled brightly, and her unreserved smile looked both soft and gentle. But above all else, the faint blush that spread across her cheeks was clearly a testament to her high spirits.
“Welcome home, Amane-kun.”
“I’m home. Seems like you’re in a pretty good mood.”
Amane was glad to see Mahiru in such a good mood, but he had no clue as to why she was like that. It was the norm for her to greet him with a smile once he arrived home, but she never seemed as happy as she was today.
He couldn’t grasp the reason, so he was left feeling rather puzzled. However, Mahiru, seemingly oblivious to his confusion, simply smiled even more.
“…From your reaction, it seems like you really didn’t notice anything today, Amane-kun.”
“Notice what?”
“I find it a little troubling that you have completely forgotten what day it is, but… today is your birthday, you know?”
Hearing Mahiru’s slightly exasperated tone, Amane involuntarily let out a sudden, “Ah!”
“Honestly, geez. …Happy birthday, Amane-kun.”
“…I completely forgot. I don’t give much thought to stuff like this when it’s about me.”
While it was odd for him to be reminded of his own birthday by Mahiru, it had entirely slipped his mind otherwise. He hadn’t been aware of it at all. Plus, Mahiru wasn’t aware of his birthday last year, either. Over the past few weeks, Amane had been so preoccupied with getting used to his part-time job, not to mention his daily training, jogging, and studying. With that, he’d completely forgotten about it.
To begin with, while Amane considered birthdays a milestone, he rarely felt the need to be conscious about them. This was likely a big part of the reason he’d forgotten, given that he tended not to celebrate his own birthday. Back when he lived with his parents, they would celebrate the occasion properly, but ever since he started living on his own, he stopped giving it much thought. That way of thinking had led him to now.
“It matters to me, you know?” Mahiru made clear. “I am truly grateful for this day, Amane-kun, as it was the day you were born. Without you, I would not have learned how to truly trust and love someone.”
She smiled awkwardly at the fact Amane had forgotten, and gently took his hand.
“Thanks to you, Amane-kun, I learned that love is a feeling that truly exists around us. Now, I can live knowing I feel genuine happiness. Happiness that rises from the bottom of my heart. I am incredibly grateful that you were born, and that I met you.”
Her eyes, now shining with a soft, warm light that was very different from when they first met, gazed at Amane. The hand that held his was warm, as if embodying the heat that Mahiru held for him at this very moment. It conveyed a gentle, yet incredibly comforting warmth.
“Thank you for being born, and for coming into my life… Thank you so, so much.”
Hearing her voice, and seeing her smile, both showcasing her genuine feelings of happiness and joy, Amane felt a blush creep onto his cheeks. He realized then, that the feeling of being appreciated and blessed in such a manner could cause his body to heat up. The feeling was far from unpleasant, and was instead fairly comforting and fluffy, a sensation distinct from having one’s body heat rise due to embarrassment. Only after meeting Mahiru had he come to understand such a feeling, but knowing that she cared for him so much, Amane figured that he was a fortunate man indeed.
“…Likewise. Thank you for being so… considerate, and for celebrating this with me,” Amane stumbled in his reply, unsure of how to best convey both his emotions, and the heat he felt.
Mahiru blushed shyly. “I have prepared a small feast for you tonight, so please look forward to it. Also, before we eat… I have two things I would like to apologize for.”
“Hm?”
Apologize for what?
As Amane tilted his head in confusion, Mahiru lowered her eyes, looking somewhat awkward.
“Erm, it seems that you realized I was trying to hide something from you. I’m sorry for making you worried.”
Amane now realized that her strange behavior, which he’d been suspicious about until now, had all been in efforts to prepare for today’s special occasion.
“Ah, right. About that… Well, I get what was going on now after seeing all this. I didn’t think you’d do anything terrible to me, Mahiru, so I was more worried about whether I might’ve done something wrong.”
“I cannot see you doing something that would upset me, though,” Mahiru noted. “This happened because I am not that great at hiding things, which in turn made you feel uneasy… I’m sorry for keeping secrets from you, Amane-kun.”
In all likelihood, she had acted that way precisely because she wanted to surprise him on his birthday, and that led her to making preparations in secret. Mahiru wasn’t the type to keep things hidden from Amane, and she clearly felt guilty about doing so. Her secret was more charming than anything else, and given that she pulled it off for Amane’s sake, he had no intention of blaming her in any way.
“It’s not like I’m angry about it, really.” He eased her worries before asking, “…And what’s the other thing?”
“Erm… S-Since I was making preparations for your birthday in secret, it seems that everyone else decided to keep quiet so as to not spoil the surprise. But in reality, they were supposed to celebrate at school earlier today. So, um, because of me, I hindered the blessings that you were supposed to receive today…”
“Ah…so that’s how it was.”
Both Itsuki and Chitose had already known about Amane’s birthday, and given how considerate they both were, they wouldn’t hesitate to celebrate a friend’s special day. The fact that nobody had mentioned a thing the entire time was certainly a major factor in why he had forgotten what day it was.
They were in on Mahiru’s little secret, which was why they stayed quiet. Amane figured that they invited him to hang out after school just to keep him occupied for a little while, as well.
“Those guys…” While Amane muttered that somewhat irked line under his breath, he knew better than anyone that he meant it in good faith.
Mahiru looked apologetic for what she’d done, and Amane was at a loss for how to respond. Her head was now pointed dejectedly toward the floor.
“Hmm…,” Amane gently tapped her head. “Truth be told, I don’t think it matters too much; not the date, the location, or whether they were able to give me their blessings in person or not. I mean, I completely forgot about it because of how busy I’ve been lately, and it’s not like they have to celebrate it today, right? I think they’re being considerate in their own way.”
“But still…” Mahiru’s hesitance rang clear.
“I’m going out on a limb here, but they probably believe that I’ll be happiest if I accept the celebration that you prepared for me, Mahiru. That’s why they all worked together to keep it a secret, I think.”
They all had the desire to celebrate Amane’s special occasion in their own way, and that led them all to cooperate with Mahiru. Even if he wasn’t given words of celebration on the day itself, Amane didn’t mind. He was fully aware that they were wishing him well without being told.
“I realize that I’m blessed with thoughtful friends who care about me, and just knowing that makes me feel celebrated. There’s no rule saying they can’t do it indirectly, and I don’t judge friendships based on whether they do that or not, anyways.”
Different people had different ways of celebrating, and if this was their way, then that was fine by him. Amane was never the type to quickly judge others based on their words alone, nor did he remember becoming that kind of person. Plus, the relationships he had built were not at all shallow. Their feelings alone were more than enough.
Nevertheless, Mahiru still looked a tad dejected at the outcome, prompting Amane to let out an awkward smile. He stroked her head tenderly and gently peered into her eyes.
“Besides,” he began. “By the looks of things, I’m gonna get swarmed tomorrow… So, I ask you to keep me all to yourself today, Mahiru. They’ll probably bombard me with questions, so let’s make sure we have enough to brag about, okay?”
“…Yes.”
Amane adorned the end of his sentence with a mischievous, teasing smile, and Mahiru was swept along by it, breaking out into a smile of her own before nuzzling her face into his chest.
✧ ₊ ✦ ₊ ✧
“…You’ve indeed made quite the feast,” Amane couldn’t help but share his true thoughts, his genuine admiration leaking out as he scanned the array of dishes laid out on the table.
The dishes Mahiru served for his birthday were, in a nutshell, all Amane’s favorites. Usually, she would plan their meals with nutritional balance in mind, but not today. Perhaps due to Amane’s self-proclaimed love for eggs, she had prepared a variety of egg dishes for him to enjoy. But no matter how much he liked them or how nutritious they were, eating too much of the same food was far from ideal, so Mahiru typically limited how much he’d consume, but it seemed that those restrictions had been lifted just for today.
The most eye-catching dish on the table happened to be the omurice, a dish consisting of fried rice covered in a hard, omelet-like shell, which Mahiru then topped with beef stew. She didn’t make this dish often, as not only did she have to start preparing the dish a day in advance, it also cost a considerable amount of time and labor to make.
Other dishes laid out before him ranged from chawanmushi, a variant of egg and custard; to a potato salad served with plenty of boiled eggs; to even tamago kinchaku, a dish combining both fried tofu and soft boiled eggs simmered in dashi stock and soy sauce. The servings were of typical size for your average high school boy, but the sheer variety of food was nothing to scoff at, and they consisted purely of Amane’s favorite foods. While there was an obvious lack of vegetables, that was more due to his love for eggs rather than him disliking his greens. [10]
“This is an assortment of your favorite dishes, Amane-kun; I made them without any consideration for nutritional balance or a specific cuisine. It’s okay to indulge yourself once in a while.” Or so Mahiru said, but she promptly followed it up with, “We can simply have an extra helping of vegetables tomorrow to make up for it,” before letting out a gracious giggle.
Her cheeks were faintly tinged with joy, clearly delighted that Amane had taken a liking to her surprise.
“Oh, speaking of which,” she continued. “I will dish up some dashimaki tamago for tomorrow’s breakfast. Since I made a lot of food for our dinner, I have a feeling that they would be more delicious after resting overnight. I shall also prepare your favorite salmon to go with it, Kyoto-style. Would miso soup with tofu and white radish be okay, too?”
“Sounds like another feast for the morning…,” Amane commented. “But then again, what’s in front of me is lavish enough of a meal already.”
“Hehe. Please enjoy it while it’s still warm. Today’s beef stew turned out particularly tender, if I do say so myself.”
“Awesome! Simply nothing beats a good omurice with beef stew. It’s justice.”
Although Amane wanted to jump up and down in joy at this rarely served favorite of his, he held himself back, and put his hands together in gratitude.
“Thanks for the food.” Without forgetting to thank her for the food, Amane immediately took a bite of the beef stew omurice, a smile unconsciously spreading across his face.
The beef was so tender it could be cut with a spoon, and when it reached his mouth, it bore a succulent and moist texture that was incredibly delicious. The high quality of the meat was evident from the first bite.
This careful combination of the stew’s rich flavor and the omurice is something to die for, Amane nodded in appreciation. As he reached for the other side dishes, moving at a pace that was fast yet not unrefined, Mahiru watched him with a warm smile as she ate elegantly.
“…Is something wrong?” Amane asked.
“Nothing,” Mahiru replied. “It’s just that as the one who prepared the meal, seeing you eat everything with such enjoyment gives me a feeling of accomplishment.”
“Well, that’s because it’s really good. Even saying it’s the best wouldn’t be an exaggeration.”
“I will be satisfied as long as you think it’s the best, Amane-kun. But rest assured, I won’t rest on my laurels.”
Amane smiled wryly at the relentlessly stoic Mahiru, and he happily continued to devour his food. In the blink of an eye, the plates were soon emptied. There were quite a few dishes, but Mahiru had given him a reduced serving of each, so Amane was able to finish them easily, especially since he’d garnered an increased appetite after getting a job.
Looking at Amane who had neatly finished his meal, Mahiru beamed a satisfied smile, then slowly rose from her seat to place the dishes in the sink. However, just as Amane tried to stand up to help, she told him in a gentle but firm tone, “The star of the day should take it easy,” causing Amane to reluctantly sit back down.
Once all the dishes lined up on the table were finished, Mahiru turned back to Amane and wore a beaming smile.
“After dinner comes dessert. I hope it will be to your liking.”
“…Would this be what you were practicing in secret, by chance?”
At this point, Amane could take a guess at what Mahiru had been hiding. The occasional sweet scent wafting through the air when he came home was probably from her baking cakes just for him.
“Yes. It felt wrong to serve something that I wasn’t satisfied with myself, so… I made many adjustments to ensure it was to your liking, Amane-kun.”
He had wondered why she was worried about gaining weight, but now it all made sense. She had likely been testing different ways of baking cakes and eating them. Depending on what it was, desserts could be high in calories. If she ate each cake that she made, it was no wonder that she found herself concerned about her weight. On top of that, Mahiru hated wasting food, so she probably made it a point to finish everything completely.
“Anything would’ve fit the bill if you made it, Mahiru… but it would be rude of me to say something that downplayed such effort. I’m happy that you’ve gone so far for me, but don’t overdo it, alright?”
“I didn’t overdo it,” she reassured him. “…Though I did do my fair share of exercising afterwards.”
“So that’s why your figure hasn’t actually changed, you can see the effort for sure. Your self-discipline really is admirable.”
“It’s not an issue, because I only gained a small amount, and my waistline hasn’t changed at all. Now, I shall bring it over, okay?”
Saying that, Mahiru brought a plate from the refrigerator with what seemed to be a homemade chocolate cake.
She gently placed it down onto the dining table, a small clink echoing dramatically through the room as she did so. The cake was already cut into easy-to-eat slices, and Mahiru quietly served a piece onto a plate for him.
Looking at the piece in front of him, it seemed to be a chocolate gâteau. Or perhaps, closer to some kind of chocolate layer cake instead. Judging by looks, it was a finely textured, dense cake.
Next, Mahiru carefully added a dollop of whipped cream and a sprig of mint. Appearance-wise, it was still remarkably simple, but certainly elegant.
“I made a type of chocolate cake. You aren’t particularly fond of sweet things, Amane-kun, so I thought you would prefer something that would go down easily with a drink. I opted for milk given the cake’s rich flavor, so please have them together if possible.”
“Following the cook’s recommendation is the best way to enjoy a meal, so I gratefully accept.”
Since Mahiru had gone to great lengths to prepare it for him, he had no doubt that it would be excellent. Without hesitation, Amane cut out a bite of the chocolate cake with his fork as Mahiru watched over him.
Just as it appeared, the cake had a very fine, dense texture, yielding easily at first, the bottom layer gave it a firm feel when pressed, almost as if it was two different materials for each layer. Still, he could cut through it easily, so it wasn’t heavy despite being so dense. As Amane cut a small piece and gently placed it into his mouth… the first sensation he felt was the intense, rich flavor of chocolate.
The top layer was sticky and gelatinous, and that part of the delicacy felt more like a firm pudding than a cake. Yet, it wasn’t all like pudding, either. The bottom layer was clearly a fairly light but finely textured and rich cake, yet it all maintained a mysterious delicate balance that yielded a smooth texture in the mouth, melting and dissolving as he ate.
Not too sweet, yet not at all bland, Amane could definitely pick apart the finer, subtle flavors within the chocolate. He felt as if it had been adjusted to take full advantage of chocolate’s qualities.
“…So delicious.” His words came from the heart, sincere and without flattery. Mahiru then let out a sigh of relief at his praise, and smiled.
“I’m relieved that it suits your tastes. I was aiming for just the right balance of flavor and texture.”
“I can’t believe how delicious it is. It’s incredible how you managed to make this.”
“Hehe. If that’s your response, then it brings me immense satisfaction as the maker. It was truly worth the effort.”
Mahiru, who giggled like a ringing bell, looked at Amane as he relished what seems to be a chocolate impossible cake with a somewhat mischievous smile. [11]
“By the way, did you notice it?” she asked. “I added a secret ingredient.”
When asked what it was, Amane closed his eyes, focusing his senses on his taste buds. Amidst the distinct sweetness and depth lingered a rich, astringent aroma distinct from chocolate, which lingered deeply. It was a scent that Amane had recently become accustomed to smelling at work.
“Hm… Coffee? But, uh… Huh? Is this… from my café?”
The delicate taste and aroma reminded him of the coffee served at his current workplace.
Though it was a guess he’d simply thrown out, Mahiru clapped her hands together, grinning ear to ear as she said, “Spot on! I’m surprised you figured it out.”
“I was just guessing,” Amane explained. “But since Kido was in on the secret, I figured that it was possible.”
“You’re very observant… Oh, and just so you know, I have not paid the place a visit in person yet. As you may have deduced, Kido-san helped me procure coffee beans from the café you work at, Amane-kun. I am truly grateful to the owner, too. She even helped with suggestions for blending the flavors to enhance the richness and depth of the chocolate.”
“So even Itomaki-san was in on it… Explains that feeling I’ve had recently that she’s always smirking when she sees me…”
Amane hadn’t expected that Fumika, the owner, would also be involved. He broke out in a cold sweat thinking about the implications for what was to come during his next shift at the café. However, their coffee was certainly delicious, and he could understand the desire to incorporate it into the recipe.
He’d heard that freshly ground coffee was exceptionally good, and Amane had been considering buying a coffee mill and giving it a shot at home. But even then, he hadn’t expected to taste it this way.
“Hehe, I only asked Kido-san for help, but somehow the word spread... I’m glad that they were willing to cooperate with me and that you didn’t catch wind of it, Amane-kun.”
“Honestly, Mahiru…” She didn’t seem to hesitate to put in effort for him, and Amane couldn’t help but feel bashful.
Not wanting to let his embarrassment show, Amane started to serve himself another piece of the cake, but Mahiru gently stopped him, smoothly taking the fork from his hand.
Lifting his head, Amane’s gaze met Mahiru’s, while a sultry, captivating smile played across her lips.
“It’s a special occasion, so shall I feed you? Since it’s your birthday, I thought I should at least do that much.”
“Huh? N-No, that’s a little…”
“No need to be shy.”
Ignoring Amane’s hesitation, Mahiru smiled sweetly, to sweep away his concerns, as she gently held the forkful of cake up to his mouth. Amane groaned, but obediently ate the cake. Mahiru behaved like this because she knew he’d never come to hate her for it, and while Amane felt his chest prickling with shame, he still appreciated the euphoria that he recognized was also welling up inside him.
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