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“Oh, did Shiina-san let the cat out of the bag?”

At lunchtime, Amane extended his thanks to Ayaka for helping Mahiru, and she returned a mischievous smile to him. Without giving it away, Ayaka had secretly collaborated with Mahiru to orchestrate Mahiru’s surprise celebration, which Amane was grateful for. Though at the same time, he also felt slightly deceived. Ayaka’s silence meant that Souji was in on it, implying that the whole event had been kept secret by everyone taking part.

This level of collaboration was undoubtedly thanks to Mahiru’s popularity. While Amane couldn’t help but admire her influence, he inwardly questioned the necessity of such an elaborate plan. Naturally, Mahiru’s desire to surprise Amane must have been the main motivation.

“Did you figure out the secret ingredient yourself?”

“Pretty much. I just kinda thought it tasted similar, that’s all.”

“So it was easy to tell, after all. Maybe the coffee at my aunt’s place is just that delicious.”

“…By the way, what made you suggest coffee to Mahiru?”

“Oh, Shiina-san was having trouble deciding on the cake, so while we rummaged through recipe books and magazines together, I suggested putting coffee in it. Then she got on board with the idea. It was a great suggestion, if I do say so myself,” Ayaka smiled.

While Amane wore a bitter smile, he had to agree that it was delicious, so he simply nodded.

“From the looks of it, you were quite satisfied with the result, so all’s well that ends well. I’m sure Aunt Fumika will be thrilled.”

“…I’m truly grateful for the owner’s help, but do we have to give her all the details?”

Expressing his thanks for her help was the natural thing to do. Though he still couldn’t shake this feeling of unease given her lively nature, Amane believed that sharing some of what happened with Fumika was unavoidable. Given her first impression however, the thought of dealing with her boundless excitement was a daunting one.

Ayaka seemed to have caught on to Amane’s point, giving a slightly wry smile and murmuring, “W-Well, I think just a brief explanation would do. My Auntie isn’t the type to pry too much…probably.”

That ‘probably’ only succeeded in fueling Amane’s anxiety, but considering that Fumika wasn’t a bad person at heart, and that the conversation would serve as great sustenance for her, he figured it would be okay. As long as it was in moderation, that is.

“Anyhow, thank you so much. For going to such lengths for someone like me…though Mahiru would get angry if I said that. Thanks.”

“Not at all~. Helping out for a friend’s birthday is the natural thing to do. So, here’s something from me as well.”

Ayaka then pulled a somewhat large, wrapped box from her backpack. It was just slightly too big to hold with one hand. Amane was swiftly taken aback as he hadn’t expected to receive anything from her. “Looks like my surprise was a success too!” Her cheerful declaration snapped him back to reality.

“Here, this is from me and Sou-chan. Please accept it.”

“You didn’t have to go to all this trouble, but…thank you. Can I ask what’s inside?”

“Protein!”

“No changes there, huh.”

Her energetic response led Amane to chuckle and accept the gift. Ayaka then proudly exclaimed, “That one’s really tasty and has a great absorption rate! It’s even Sou-chan approved!” while showing off a smug face, which made Amane laugh even harder.

Had Souji been with them, Amane could imagine him retorting “Don’t use me as your guinea pig,” with an exasperated look on his face.

Realizing what Amane was thinking, Ayaka smiled brightly and added, “Rest assured, Sou-chan said ‘Well, protein is protein, so I’m sure it’s fine,’ when he had a bunch! We tested them thoroughly, so don’t be shy!” She maintained her cheerful smile.

Sounds just like a shady lab experiment to me, Amane thought, but after seeing Ayaka’s unexpectedly radiant smile, he decided to keep his thoughts to himself. Sometimes, holding one’s tongue was the way to go.

“At any rate, thanks for everything you’ve done. You have been a huge help, Kido.”

“It’s fine, it’s fine. I’m meddling because I want to, and actually, Sou-chan’s also told me to keep my meddling in moderation.”

“I don’t think you’re meddling. You’ve genuinely helped us out a bunch.”

“Hmm, but only because I wanted to, so you shouldn’t worry too much, Fujimiya-kun. Plus, there’s something in it for me as well.”

“Like what?”

“Heh heh heh… If you get along well with Sou-chan, then he will be in a better mood. And when he’s in a good mood, I get to spend even more time touching his muscles.”

“…I see.”

Although Amane smiled wryly at Ayaka’s mischievous and self-serving motives, there was more to her than meets the eye, which was a quality that anyone familiar with her could tell. Her natural inclination to care for others was evident even from Amane’s limited interactions with her, and it seemed that she genuinely enjoyed doing so.

Moreover, she had a habit of playing her help down, urging Amane not to worry about returning any favors. Thus, after thanking her for her consideration, Amane shrugged and said, “Well, as long as you and Kayano are okay with that, then I guess it’s fine.

✧ ₊ ✦ ₊ ✧

“Today was amazing, wasn’t it?”

After they returned home and finished dinner, Mahiru murmured this in a soft tone as they relaxed on the sofa together.

Amane understood exactly what she was referring to and responded, “Yeah.”

Mahiru then relaxed her cheeks out of pure joy, as if she herself was the one being celebrated. Relief, satisfaction, and delight. Her expression showed a delicate combination of such emotions as she smiled at Amane, making him feel unbearably shy to the point of inadvertently shifting his gaze to the TV.

Laid out on the coffee table between the sofa and the TV were a number of presents that he’d received from his friends. Starting with the gifts from Itsuki, Chitose, and Ayaka, he also received some from classmates with whom he hadn’t been particularly close to, that were given to him in the moment’s excitement. They consisted mostly of snacks and drinks, but Amane felt both shy and joyful to receive the blessings from his friends despite trying his hardest not to let it show. Last year, there wasn’t any kind of commotion in class as he had only told Itsuki and Chitose about his birthday, so in comparison, the celebration he received this year felt almost surreal.

As someone who would typically consider himself to be indifferent, Amane hadn’t particularly longed for such a grand celebration. Yet, he couldn’t help but feel genuinely happy to receive such birthday wishes.

“…I wasn’t expecting everyone to congratulate me that much. Though I did pass on that enoki mushroom rice flavored candy.”

Mahiru giggled. “I was slightly curious about it, personally.”

“You’d probably need something to cleanse your palate after, that’s for sure.”

Mahiru, with her stronger thirst for culinary knowledge, was more fascinated in obscure exotic snacks than Amane was. While Amane appreciated the gesture, he was less adventurous with his palate, politely declining the more unusual treats. As if to make up for it, he was instead given a beef stew flavored candy, which looked suspiciously like a concentrated bouillon cube. Perhaps his classmate was a true connoisseur of these eccentric choices of treats.

Puzzled yet slightly amused by the unexpected hobby of a classmate he hadn’t spoken to frequently, Amane took a look at all the gifts given to him by his friends and classmates. He felt a genuine sense of happiness, but a creeping sense of doubt and faint anxiety began to overshadow his joy. 

“…Is it really okay for everyone to celebrate me so much?” Amane’s words slipped out unexpectedly.

Mahiru’s gentle expression quickly shifted, replaced by a mix of annoyance and unease, looking at him with a faint pout. “Why do you seem so worried? The reason why our classmates all congratulated you is because you’ve managed to interact and form friendships with them. It’s all a result of your own merit, Amane-kun. Do you understand?”

“Sorry, sorry. I’m not trying to put myself down or anything. Somehow, it just didn’t feel real to me. That’s all. I usually don’t tell people about my birthday.”

Amane felt as though he was pressuring people that he wasn’t particularly close with to congratulate him on his birthday without any sort of lead-up or advance notice. He was perfectly happy receiving just a few words from those he was closest to.

There’s way more people than before, so you can’t blame me for being surprised, was the message that Amane was trying to convey.

“Hehe, that just proves how you’re recognized and blessed by those around you, Amane-kun. It’s something to feel joyful about.”

“Yeah, I hope so.”

“Amane-kun.” Mahiru countered with a disapproving voice, which caused Amane to break into a smile. Faced with her look so stern it urged, You mustn’t belittle yourself, it would be impossible for him to remain mired in negativity.


“Sorry, sorry—I know… I am happy.”

“Yes… Please, accept their congratulations sincerely.” Mahiru leaned on his upper arm with her usual smile, and feeling the slight pressure and weight, he relaxed his cheeks and glanced down at Mahiru. Her happiness for his birthday celebration was entirely genuine, even acting as though it were her own special day. This led him to believe her joy was truly heartfelt.

…So, in reality, Mahiru does see birthdays as events meant to be celebrated.

In fact, this held especially true if the birthday belonged to a close friend or someone dear to her. Even if it was for an individual that she wasn’t too familiar with, Mahiru would still offer her sincere congratulations. Even so, when he recalled how Mahiru’s birthday last year came and went without a party, a cold, sharp thorn pricked into the warm and fuzzy feelings that had accumulated in his heart throughout the course of the day. But—it was a thorny reminder that he didn’t exactly hate. It was a warning urging him to reevaluate the reality of the situation, and it doubled as a catalyst to push him forward and ask Mahiru a certain question.

“Say…”

“Yes?”

Amane had intended to call out with a voice as smooth as he could manage, buffed of any spikes or rough edges, but Mahiru, having sensed the subtle change in his voice, stopped leaning on him and straightened her back. Mahiru braced herself, not out of caution but perhaps in anticipation of an important discussion.

Amane cleared his throat. “You know, um, I’m not the best at keeping secrets, so you might notice things or become suspicious of me if I try to hide stuff—and it’d be bad for me if you found out and weren’t happy about it. So, I thought I’d let you know in advance instead.”

“What is it?”

“Your birthday’s next month, right?”

“Ah…yes, now that you mention it.” Mahiru looked surprised as if it had just occurred to her. Then, after several moments of contemplation, she nodded. Judging by her late reaction, she was completely oblivious to its arrival, seeing it purely as an event that was of no interest to her. It didn’t even catch onto the edges of her thoughts, leading to her delayed response.

Amane sensed an overwhelming indifference toward herself, which he found hard to watch. “For you, having your birthday celebrated isn’t really a pleasant feeling, is it?”

“It’s not so much that I find it unpleasant…it’s more like I’m utterly indifferent to it.”

Just as Mahiru claimed, she never cared much about her own birthday. This was something Amane had known since her last birthday, but hearing it stated so bluntly, even after they’d begun dating, still brought him a pang of melancholy.

“To me, it’s simply a day that marks growing a year older, not a day for celebration. I’ve hardly ever celebrated it,” Mahiru explained. “Ah— But I was happy when you celebrated it last year! It’s not that I’m indifferent to people celebrating that day—it’s more like I can’t bring myself to care about my own matters.” She waved her hand in the air in acknowledgement. The little celebration she had last year was still fresh in her mind.

Realizing that he had made her worry, Amane felt slightly guilty and apologized. “Sorry. I didn’t mean to make you say all that. I understand that to you, that day isn’t particularly special.”

Mahiru’s upbringing and the environment in which she grew up, which Amane was well aware of, made it clear why her own birthday held no significance for her. As far as he could tell, Mahiru was no longer pained by her past. But for Amane, that alone wasn’t sufficient.

Even if this was his ego speaking, Amane wished for Mahiru to feel as though she was truly loved, that she deserved nothing but happiness, and that her birth was an event worth celebrating.

“Um, this might just be my selfishness talking…but to me, your birthday is a very special day.”

“Special…”

“Just like you consider my birthday to be special, I also consider your birthday to be more special than anyone else’s.”

Amane had heard from multiple people that Mahiru had gone to great lengths to prepare for his birthday. He also knew that her love for him was deep and sincere, coming from the bottom of her heart. He didn’t want to become someone who simply sat back and relished her love. Amane strived to return the same amount of love—if not more—for everything she had given him.

“Mahiru, I’m so in love with you that I don’t know what to do. I’m so grateful, and overjoyed, that you were born into this world, and I will forever be filled with gratitude. In my mind, I’m always thanking you for being born, for meeting me, and for falling in love with me… To me, the day you were born is an incredibly special day.”

Without question, Mahiru was the light of Amane’s life. The day she came into this world was an extraordinarily special one, and he wanted nothing more than for her to realize this.

“So, uh—if you don’t find it unpleasant, may I also celebrate your birthday? Just like you had celebrated mine? May I, from the depths of my heart, express my sincerest gratitude for you being born into this world?”

Amane wasn’t going to insist on a celebration without considering her own wishes on the matter. Should she feel uncomfortable with the idea, he was perfectly content to treat the day just like any other. If she preferred to spend the day quietly, Amane was ready to drop the topic and continue their daily life as normal. However, if she was on board with the idea, Amane was determined to celebrate the best he could by utilizing all the resources at his disposal. He wanted to convey that there were people around her who were grateful for her birth.

Still staring straight at her, Amane waited for Mahiru to answer after posing that question. Immediately after, he noticed a change in her expression different from just moments before—one of surprise. A hint of uncertainty and fear flickered in her eyes… She looked at Amane with disbelief.

“…Are you sure?” she asked.

“You aren’t against it?” Amane returned.

“No no, not at all. Umm, I’m very happy. It’s just, to think someone like me would…”

“Mahiru, remember before? Didn’t you look at me like you didn’t want me belittling myself? It’s not good to then go and do that very same thing yourself, you know.” Without restraint, Amane spontaneously grabbed Mahiru’s cheeks—a show of her bewilderment, uncertainty, and anxiety—before giving them a good pull. Teasingly playing with her cheeks, which were neither too squishy nor mushy in their softness, Amane sought to gently dispel any negative feelings that might be sinking into her heart. Then, a truly silly sound, “Owkay, I—I undewstand…” spilled from her mouth, which couldn’t quite close all the way.

Although Amane was careful to avoid causing pain, it still must have been somewhat shocking to Mahiru, as she continued to look at him with a dazed expression even after he let go. When he asked, “Do you realize how much you mean to me now?” the color in her face began to subside, suggesting that him playing with her cheeks was not the sole reason for her surprise.

She murmured soft, yet wordless “Ah…”’s and “Uuu…”’s from under her breath, and then, hesitantly, she looked up to face Amane. The shadow of anxiety had all but vanished from her expression.

“…Thank you so much. Just having my birthday celebrated by you, Amane-kun, fills me with happiness… It’s a strange feeling. I’ve always believed that my birthday was of no importance at all.”

“Then, from this year onwards, I’ll make sure that you’ll no longer have any reason to continue believing that.”

Mahiru’s indifference was likely rooted in the complicated relationship she had with her parents. This was an aspect of her that Amane could never completely erase, nor did he want to. It was part of what shaped Mahiru into the person she was today.

If nothing else, it was crystal clear that this indifference stemmed from a vulnerable place within her—one that she didn’t want others to touch. Therefore, Amane wanted to overwrite this seemingly dismissive apathy. He wanted to make her feel that she had people who cherished her, and were grateful for her existence.

“Hosting a massive party with everyone…isn’t really your style, is it, Mahiru? Let’s celebrate it peacefully, together.”

“…Okay.”

Although sociable, Mahiru was also a naturally shy—or more accurately, wary—girl, and as such, preferred a quiet environment even during her birthday. As she preferred not to make her birthday known to many, Amane felt that celebrating it in private would be a better idea. It appeared that, now, Mahiru wasn’t averse to letting her close friends know about her upcoming birthday. A conversation with her and the ever eager Chitose could be a great way to explore potential ways to celebrate.

As Amane was slowly yet surely planning future arrangements, he noticed Mahiru looking at him intently. She appeared to be slightly embarrassed and uncomfortable, yet still visibly happy as she shrunk herself into a ball.

Amane couldn’t help but let out a small laugh. “You really aren’t used to having a party thrown for you, are you, Mahiru? We’ve barely even planned anything yet.”

“I-I know, but…”

“Well, I’m glad that you don’t seem to mind the idea… So, that means I’ll be moving behind the scenes to prepare a party for you. Please let me off the hook just this once.”

Mahiru giggled. “Okay~.”

Having already discussed about him celebrating her birthday, Amane felt it would only be fair to straightforwardly announce his intention to make arrangements in secret. He figured that Mahiru would pick up on this the moment he mentioned her birthday, but given that he wanted to avoid causing any possible anxiety about the celebration, he decided to request permission for his inevitable ‘suspicious behavior’. In response, Mahiru began to giggle happily.

Mahiru’s light smile and bright voice brought with it a sense of relief for Amane, and he began to stroke her head as she leaned into his touch with slight neediness.

“I’ll do my best to make you as happy as possible. I’ll also put effort into researching things from various angles and viewpoints.”

“And you let all this slip in front of the person herself?”

“Ah—”

“Hehe. Honestly, you can be so careless at times.”

“I can’t argue with you there. You hit the nail on the head.”

At this, Mahiru chuckled, her laughter ringing out soft and melodiously. “I shall look forward to it.”

“Sure. I’ll do my best to meet your expectations.”

“Okay. In that case, I will be waiting eagerly.”

Seeing that Mahiru, who had previously been indifferent, was now excited for her birthday to arrive, made Amane more pleased than anything else. With a firm nod, he had resolved then and there to make the remaining month unforgettable for her.



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