This is terrible.Amane looked towards Mahiru who was seated properly next to him, and sighed.
He had no choice after the tragedy at the veranda, and could only invite Mahiru in.
After all, if he tried to bluff the couple, those two would have strange ideas on their own. It would be better for him to be honest, and prevent unnecessary guesses and misunderstandings.
And if he did not shush them properly, what would happen next would be really terrifying.
"...Erm, I am really sorry."
"It's not your fault."
Mahiru sounded apologetic as much as she could, but this was the one thing she was not at fault at.
It was a White Christmas, the first snow of the season, so she could not help but go to the veranda to see the snowfall.
If Amane had heard the window open, he would have hurried over to stop the couple, but there so happened to be music blaring, so in fact, he did not hear it.
Mahiru herself probably did her best not to make a sound, and he did not notice.
Looking at the duo who were reflecting upon their actions, Chitose's eyes sparkled as she brought her face close.
"So, your neighbor's the Angel, Amane!?"
"Erm, please do not call me Angel if possible..."
It appeared the Angel did not want to be called so straight to the face, so she refused demurely. Chitose however leered away, and one had to wonder if she was listening.
Itsuki in turn scratched his cheek as he frowned, looking back and forth between Amane and Mahiru, frowning.
"Ehh, then...looking at what we know so far, Shiina-san's living next to Amane, and often cooks for him, am I right?"
"...Yeah."
"We-well...I owe Fujimiya-san a favor, and I saw that he was not eating healthily, so I was worried..."
Mahiru began to explain how the two of them met, and also how the relationship continued; "I see." so Itsuki answered, but his face showed that he could not accept this explanation, somehow.
If he were in Itsuki's shoes, Amane too would not have accepted this explanation.
There was no way an ordinary boy like Amane would have an outstanding girl like Mahiru taking care of him.
"Hmm, I sorta know what's going on, but it's incredible that you don't have other feelings for Amane, Shiina-san. You're already a commuting wife."
"Pfft."
The term he usually would not hear caused him to snort.
A commuting wife...the situation did seem similar, now that he mentioned. Every day, Mahiru would cook dinner for Amane, and during rest days, she would accompany him for lunch, and she would occasionally drop by to clean up. It seemed the case, especially when Itsuki mentioned so.
The difference was that there was no love between them.
And when Mahiru heard Itsuki say that, she widened her eyes, only to switch to her outside smile, "I have no intention to, and this is impossible." she denied it.
Amane imagined her dealing with Itsuki and Chitose in the same manner at school, and felt an itch in his heart.
"Well, I have no bad thoughts at all, that's why Shiina's helping me out."
"It's fine when you say this, Amane, but this is a strange combination...the prodigy's cooking for you...wait, was the doll given to Shiina-san?"
"...Sorta."
"Heh."
"Shut up."
"But I haven't said anything?"
"Your face is annoying."
Chitose praised Mahiru, and continued to stare at the latter's face intently.
"It's the first time I'm looking at you up close; you really are so beautiful, an Angel. Pretty face, white skin, long eyelashes, silky hair, slender body."
"E-erm...?"
Once he noticed Chitose's bad habits at it again, Amane let out a huge sigh.
Amane was bad at dealing with Chitose.
It was not because he hated her, in fact, he was impressed by her personality...but there were moments when he could not handle her. She got agitated easily, overly concerned at times, and he found it too tiring to deal with. There was another similar person in his household after all, so this awareness was stronger.
In other words, the similarity to his mom had him unable to deal with.
Chitose's personality and likes were similar to Amane's mom...especially their utter fondness for pretty and cute things.
Mahiru might seem really pitiful if he did not stop Chitose.Oh goodness.Amane grumbled, and dope slapped Chitose on the head right when the latter was about to return her hand out.
He did not use much strength as he was just trying to stop and retort, "Owie." but a shocked Chitose muttered, pulling her hand back from Mahiru.
"You don't have to do that."
"She's a shy one. No skinship until you're familiar with her."
"So it's fine when I'm familiar?"
"Ask Shiina that. Before that, note which state you're at."
Mahiru clearly looked as though she wanted to run away. It seemed his choice to stop Chitose was the right one.
And once she saw how Mahiru was...somewhat perturbed, Chitose seemed to have realized the reason why he stopped her.
"Sorry about that. I got too excited that I want to touch you."
"Y-yes...?"
Chitose's sudden confession of wanting to touch Mahiru left the latter confused. She did not know what to do, and looked towards Amane, pleading to him for help.
"Ah-Shiina, Chitose's a weirdo, but she's not a bad person...I think."
"Are you even vouching for me? You're just rubbing it in, aren't you?"
"Can you even deny that now?"
"Not at all!"
Chitose heartily boasted, stared at Mahiru intently, and with a serious look, reached her hand over.
This time, she was asking for a handshake.
"Let's start from being friends. Please take care of me."
"Eh? Y-yes, please take care of me...?"
Upon being asked to shake hands, Mahiru extended her hand apprehensively.
Chitose would want to be friends with anyone she was interested in, and given her personality, it felt like Mahiru was going to be at her mercy. Well, since they were going to be normal friends, he had nothing to say.
He could only hope that Chitose would show some restraint however.
"Yep yep, a new friendship is born."
"Manage your girlfriend already."
"I'll try."
Amane retorted at Itsuki, who always let Chitose get away with so much, and sighed again as he saw Chitose grinning away while holding Mahiru's hands.
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